Notes to Pastors

Atlantic Coast Conference

August 29, 2014

Dear Pastors and Church Leaders,

Thank you for the leadership role you carry as an ACC pastor. From time to time you will receive the Notes to Pastors column. Some items listed here are specifically for pastors, while other items may apply to additional ministry leaders in your congregation. Please pass along these items as appropriate.

Blessings as we serve together,

Brook Musselman

Atlantic Coast Conference Coordinator

A message from MC USA to credentialed leaders

To: Credentialed Leaders

If you have not yet received a survey from Mennonite Church USA, please be in touch with Shelley Buller: email: shelleyb@mennoniteusa.org or 866-866-2872, ext. 34257. The due date is September 8.

Below is a copy of the original letter from Ervin Stutzman which accompanied the survey, sent August 8. A reminder message was sent August 18. Both contained your link to the survey.

Letter from Ervin Stutzman

Attention Pastors

Congregational Report Request

In preparation for October's Fall Assembly, please send me your church's one-page report. Click here for a detailed description of what to write. Please send these reports no later than August 31.

Assembly Delegates

Please compile and send the list of voting delegates from your church to the Fall Assembly. You may include one youth delegate in your congregation's delegation.

Both items can be emailed to brookm@atlanticcoastconference.net. Thank you!

Mark Your Calendars!

Thursday September 18 - Credentialed Leaders Dialogue Day at Forest HIlls MC

Friday, October 24 - Leadership Resource Day with Ruth Haley Barton, held at Ridgeview MC

**seating is limited, register early!

Friday, October 24 - Annual Multi-Generational Women's Dinner & Event - An Evening with Jessica Crawford

Saturday October 24 - Fall Assembly Celebration, held at Blossom Hill MC - "LET THERE BE LIGHT: celebrating the glory of God, shining among us"

*NEW* Friday February 13 - ACC Credentialed Leaders Retreat with option of Feb 12 overnight stay, Refreshing Mountain Camp, more info soon

ACC Gatherings: Fellowship over Food

As another way to build connections, groups from each ACC church have been encouraged to host or attend a time of fellowship and sharing over a meal. On Monday, members from the Conestoga and Frazer congregations gathered at the home of Pastor Brenda Martin Hurst for supper. Read about their experience here.

Click here for more details and suggestions about how to get involved

Frazer Invitation

As a reminder, leaders from Frazer Mennonite would love the opportunity to meet with leaders from other ACC member churches to talk about their ministry and journey as a congregation, and to discuss their hope of joining the conference. If interested, contact Pastor Brenda Martin Hurst at 610-644-3397 or brenda@frazermennonite.org.

Credentialed Leaders' Dialogue Day

September 18, 2014
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Forest Hills Mennonite Church
100 Quarry Rd, Leola, PA 17540
Lunch will be provided with a basket for donations

This gathering is in preparation for Fall Assembly, when delegates will again take up the question of Frazer Mennonite Church's request for membership in ACC. The Executive Committee will bring a recommendation for delegates to consider and take action on. On Sept. 18, pastors and credentialed leaders will be invited to reflect on this focus question: "What wisdom, suggestions, or counsel would we share with Executive Committee as they work to draft a recommendation to delegates?"

August -September Paycheck Stuffer

What do you do when a friend or co-worker turns to you for a listening ear and advice for a personal problem or concern? You can't become his or her therapist, but here are a few suggestions for being a supportive friend:

The Supportive Friend

Congregational Facilitation Available

Nancy Sauder from the Neffsville Congregation and Julie Dunst of Zion Mennonte are part of ACC's Facilitation Team and are available to facilitate congregational discussions in preparation for the Frazer Mennonite membership vote at the Fall Assembly. Nancy has worked in mediation and facilitation for more than 20 years and Julie holds a master's degree in conflict studies from EMU in addition to her experience as a mediator. If you would like help in discerning this need or to schedule a session, contact Nancy (nancy@saudermediaiton.com, 717-569-1567) or Julie (julie.dunst@gmail.com, 484-955-4059).

*Note Services are available through by arrangement of individual congregations and facilitators, not through the ACC office.

Facilitator Training for Samaritan SafeChurch Child Sexual Abuse Prevention

October 2-4

Lancaster Conference Office, Lancaster, Pa.

Hosted by Lancaster Mennonite Conference, this training will include information about recent changes to PA law about reporting suspected child abuse to become effective January 1, 2015. Volunteers will be "mandated reporters" and there will be new legal responsibilities.

Please contact Brook Musselman at the ACC office if you're interested in attending this event as an ACC representative.

Flyer

Centered in Christ

Building Connections

Sharing God's Love

This phrase appears on various conference publications and is central to the vision of ACC.

As a supplement to face-to-face greetings and conversations, we'd like to develop a more robust online church profile to help build connections and show how we share God's love. The profiles will represent each congregation on our web page and can be easily introduced on our facebook page, in addition to linking to your church's webpage.

Help those from other church families get to know yours by filling out the form at this link, which we will use to create an introduction for your church.

Convention in Kansas City

Are you getting ready for the 2015 convention in Kansas City, from June 30-July 5? If you've got questions about what convention is all about, and how it will interface with the Mennonite World Conference Assembly Gathered, check out this helpful list of frequently asked questions and answers.