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Disciples Home Missions Updates




January 11, 2015

In This Issue
*From the President
*Disciples Care Exchange
*Black Ministries
*Disciples Advocate
*Disciples Women
*Family & Children's Ministries

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General Assembly
July 18-22, 2015
Columbus, Ohio
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From the President

In making preparation for the New Year I have revisited the work of Lester McAllister in An Alexander Campbell Reader. I hope you are as proud as I am to be a member and friend of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). I say 'member and friend' because the lines distinguishing membership are quickly fading in the institutional church. Membership once defined an insider from an outsider. In many of our congregations today, there is no firm line between members and non-members, only a sense that if you are present with the body then you are a part of the body.  

 

I am glad that the lines are fading because Christianity at its worst is just a numbers game. You can count who is in and who is out until you are red in the face, and forget that our call is to witness and serve from the doorsteps of our congregations to the ends of the earth, regardless of the numbers. Number keeping belongs to God and not to us. As President of Disciples Home Missions I have witnessed some very small congregations doing some pretty powerful work. I have also witnessed some of our largest congregations doing some pretty powerful work. The size of the congregations or their membership numbers do not set the pace for these houses of worship. Their participation in God's unfolding mission does!

 

Here are a few Lester McAllister takes on Alexander Campbell and Alexander Campbell quotations from Lester McAllister that you can use to get a head start on the New Year:

  • "Alexander Campbell believed that only through the church would it be possible to strike at the roots of social injustice."
  • "It requires but little reflection to discover that the fiercest disputes about religion are about what the Bible does not say, rather than about what it does say."
  • "Style no man on earth your Father; for he alone is your Father who is in heaven: and all ye are brethren. Assume not the title of Rabbi; for ye have only One Teacher; neither assume the title of Leader; for ye have only One Leader - The Messiah."
  • "On the Front Door of our church in New York: "This church defends no doctrine but Christ, Preaches no gospel but love, Has no purpose but to serve."

Happy New Year. You and your congregation will be in our every prayer at Disciples Home Missions as we together find better ways to cut through the minors of our faith and witness to the majors. Numbers are minor and God's mission is major. Go straightway to the mission and the numbers will take care of themselves!

 

Missional-ly yours,

 


Meet New Staff for DHM & NBA

Director of Disciples Care Exchange and Affinity Group Ministries

Monica Wedlock Kilpatrick serves as the Director of Disciples Care Exchange and Affinity Group Ministries.  As Director of the Disciples Care Exchange, which is a shared ministry with Disciples Home Missions (DHM) that focuses on organizing, resourcing, and connecting Disciples-related health and social service ministries, Kilpatrick serves as staff support for the Exchange. This includes supporting the Exchange Advisory Team, actively engaging new partners and the facilitation of gatherings, learning opportunities, and peer groups.

 

Read More!


Black Ministries

Black Ministers Retreat 2015 Registration Open until February 20

Registration is open for Black Ministers Retreat, March 3-5, 2015 in Montgomery, Alabama! Join us as we explore this year's theme, Time for a Shift: Transforming a New Generation of Disciples, through transformative worship, fellowship, and educational workshops. This year's events and location will also coincide with local celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the historic Montgomery to Selma March. It will be an experience not to be missed!

 

Register online - Deadline: February 20


Disciples Advocate

"Soar" will be the theme for the 2015 Spring Issue of the Disciples Advocate. This is the theme for the 2015 General Assembly and is based on Isaish 40: 28-31: "But those who hope in the Lord  will renew their strength. They will SOAR on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint".

 

The copy deadline for this issue will be January 30, 2015 and will be mailed to subscribers in late March. Please contact Wilma Shuffitt if you would like to submit an item in this issue.

Disciples Women
Disciples Women...on the MOVE!

 

Disciples women are part of a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. Where do you see Disciples women on the move?

  • Women have been grappling towards equality and a voice in the world.
  • Women march against human trafficking and to protest victimization.
  • Women plow through obstacles to complete the tasks they have at hand and to keep actively moving forward.
  • And...women also come to the realization that they are daughters of God and sisters of Christ and they SOAR in their ministries.

Disciples Women is collecting stories and pictures of Disciples women on the move...whatever that looks like, whatever that means to you. You are invited and encouraged to post pictures and stories to all types of social media and use the hashtag #DWSOAR. We will be monitoring and collecting these stories and pictures. Of course, you can also post them to Disciples Women's Facebook page but don't forget the hashtag.

 

We will celebrate these images and stories at General Assembly 2015. Please share with us and the world how you see Disciples Women on the move.

 

Just Women

Spring 2015 Bible Study pre-orders are now being accepted. Orders received BEFORE February 1, 2015, will be shipped FREE. "Women of the New Testament: Finding their Voices" is being written by Rev. Dr. Stephanie Buckhanon Crowder, Rev. Daphne Gascot Arias, and Rev. Dr. Cathy Myers Wirt. This is the second year for the study to be written in its entirely by Disciples women scholars. The Spring Bible study sold-out in 2014.


Family & Children's Ministries

Upcoming Vibrant Faith Trainings

Vibrant Faith is a GREAT resource for congregations. Check out their upcoming training dates for Do What Matters!: A two-day training experience for congregational leaders. Locations are available across the country.

 

Family Friendly Opportunities at General Assembly 2015

Disciples Home Missions is hosting a special family friendly luncheon on July 19, 2015 at GA. Purchase tickets when you submit your GA registration. (Children 12 and under are free.)

 

Children Worship & Wonder Story Teller Trainings

February 6-8, 2015

First Christian Church ~ Florence, AL

 

March 6-8, 2015

Kingsway Christian Church ~ Germantown, TN (Memphis area)

 

March 13-15, 2015

Guyton Christian Church ~ Guyton, GA

 

Register now or contact Jessica Kramer with any questions.

 

Upcoming Interdenominational Events

Christianity21: January 22-24, 2015 ~ Phoenix 

21 speakers deliver 21 big ideas in 21 minutes each

 

And The Children Shall Lead Them: February 21-22, 2015 ~ Chapel Hill, NC

An Inspiring Model of Ministry for intergenerational faith formation brought to you by the UCC Faith Formation team and the United Church of Chapel Hill

 

Progressive Youth Ministry: March 19-21 ~ Chicago 

(Disciples leaders will have a gathering as a part of this event. Details to come.)

 

Faith Forward 2015: April 20-23, 2015 ~ Chicago

Bringing together children's and youth ministry leaders for collaboration, resourcing, and inspiration toward innovative theology and practice.

Be sure to look for the latest issue of the Disciples Advocate online.

 

Also, check out the Disciples Home Missions Web site

for more congregational resources.

 

Rev. Ron Degges 

President

Disciples Home Missions
Phone: (317) 713-2684