October 8, 2014

Pastors hear challenge, encouragement

 

Words of challenge from a fellow pastor. Words about the context and state of the North American church. Words of encouragement from the general minister. And a lot of words of welcome and fellowship.

 

About 200 pastors and more than 30 spouses gathered in San Diego for the General Minister and President's Pastors Conference for a time of renewal and reconnection Sept. 30-Oct. 2. Worship designed by Rev. Caroline Hamilton-Arnold began with music by Andra Moran and Steven Daniel King and continued when the Rev. Dr. William Lee asked a simple question inspired by John 21 - "Do you love Me like you used to love Me?" He urged pastors to remember the excitement and passion of their call.

 

Rev. Brian McLaren continued the following day with a survey of Christianity in the North American context that acknowledged the challenges of the culture, but was decidedly hopeful for the future of the faith. He reminded the pastors that Christianity is at its heart a grassroots movement fueled by the rich tradition of stories we have in the Bible.

 

General Minister and President Sharon Watkins closed out the event using the words of Isaiah 40, reminding those gathered that, "there is no place where God is not." She echoed the last verses of the chapter, that we are a movement - walking, running and soaring - making a highway in the desert for God's people.

  
October 12-19 is the Week of the Ministry

During Week of the Ministry, we ask that you consider urging your peers or congregation to participate in Week of the Ministry activities or honor your pastor's ordination.


As part of this celebration, Pension Fund has developed resources for use in your Week of Ministry activities. Visit our website at 

www.pensionfund.org/week-of-ministry to download resources and our "Ministry Still Matters" video.  Also, follow along on our Facebook page during the week of Oct. 12-19 as we will be posting inspirational stories from other pastors.

We hope that you will join us in celebrating Week of the Ministry, and supporting those in or interested in a career in ministry. Because, after all, "Ministry Still Matters."

 

News in the Church                                   Other News

Who takes care of our regional ministers?

By Jaquelyn Foster

 

It is likely that most of us - whether pastors or lay persons - think of our Regional Ministers when we need their particular ministry, when our congregation is looking for a new pastor, or when pastors are searching for a new congregation. We might call our Regional Minister if the congregation or pastor is in conflict or crisis. If we are on a Regional Board or Commission or we attend an Assembly, we might see our Regional Ministry staff there. All in all, however, we might not give much thought to the lives of those who are in Regional Ministry.   We who live our life and ministry in the local congregation, or in chaplaincy or another setting tend to forget, if we ever knew, what the day to day life of those in regional ministry is like. Read more

 

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A Labor of Love and Faith

By Rev. Ayanna Johnson Watkins

 

"I refuse to believe..." They struck me as odd words to be hearing at a ministry conference, particularly a ministry leadership conference. But as pastor and retired social worker Milele Hobbs went on talking, what I heard was actually profoundly faithful. "I refuse to believe in the recovery-relapse cycle," she declared, "that continued relapse is a thing to be accepted." Trained in social work myself, I had also been taught this "truth" of my discipline. Rev. Hobbs, however, had chosen to supplant this conventional wisdom with faith in boundless divine possibilities. It led her to start Gomer's House, a residential addiction recovery program and ministry nonprofit targeting those who had repeatedly failed in other treatment programs.

Rev. Hobbs was one of 12 ministry leaders Rebecca Hale and I were blessed to gather this past month as a cohort of "social entrepreneurs of faith," Disciples clergy and laypersons who have started or are considering starting ministry nonprofits with a focus on serving their wider communities. Read more

 

 

College leadership grants available 

The Disciples Leadership Program (DLP) at Eureka College accepting applications

The leadership grant from the Disciples Leadership Program is awarded to freshmen based on leadership, service and academic excellence, and the commitment to explore during college a life of faith-based servant leadership. Seminary-bound students interested in our pre-ministry track are encouraged to apply, but all qualified DOC students of any major and vocational aspiration with exceptional leadership and service will be equally considered. DLP Fellows receive full tuition plus two on-site mentorships exploring service anywhere in the world, a $6,000 combined stipend for travel-related expenses. The DLP is a top-tier scholarship at the college, and is awarded to only two candidates per year with the academic preparation to maintain a 3.0 or better in college. (Qualified students are also encouraged to apply for the Reagan Leadership Program.  Go to www.eureka.edu for more information.) For more information contact Chaplain Bruce Fowlkes at [email protected], or call (309) 467-6429.Review of DLP Applications begins December 1.

 

General Youth Council application process is open

The General Youth Council is accepting applications!  Applications will be accepted until October 15, 2014. If you are an adult or a youth who is interested in serving on the General Youth Council please fill out and turn in your application. The next term begins January 2015 and goes through December 2016.

 

Texas Christian speaks up about college suicides

 

Ecumenical group speaking up about Tennessee abortion legislation

 

California church celebrates 160 years

 

Virginia church celebrates 178 years

 

Iowa church celebrates 150 years

  

Search for Regional Minister begins

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Capital Area Region is seeking to call an ordained minister and Transformational Leader in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to the position of Regional Minister. A Regional Profile and Position Description are posted on their website. 

 

All applicants are required to provide updated Search and Call paperwork in order to be considered. Furthermore, all applicants are required to submit a Letter of Interest to the Christian Church Capital Area Regional Office addressed to:

 

Search Committee Chairperson

The Christian Church Capital Area

8814 Kensington Parkway

Suite 208

Chevy Chase, MD 20815-6743

 

The application deadline is 24 October 2014.

 

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Families and anti-poverty advocates form Equal Voice Action

By Rev. Ken Brooker-Langston

 

On Sept. 22, in Atlanta, a new nationwide organization was officially launched. The organization, Equal Voice Action (EVA), has as its guiding purpose providing a strong and effective voice in public policy for and by families negatively impacted by poverty. The unique thing about EVA is that is led by families who are struggling within and against poverty. These leaders are then supported by local, regional, and national grassroots advocacy and community organizing groups that work in diverse ways to combat poverty.

 

Three Disciples advocates were present at this inaugural event: Rosetta Robinson, director of congregation and community emergency support at Interfaith Works of Montgomery County, Maryland; Rev. S�kinah Hamlin, director of the Ecumenical Poverty Initiative; and Rev. Ken Brooker Langston, executive director of the Disciples Center for Public Witness and director of the Disciples Justice Action Network. As part of the event, all three Disciples participated in and provided leadership to a workshop about faith-based organizing hosted by the Ecumenical Poverty Initiative.

 

"We are excited that such a bold step has been taken to amplify the voices of families around issues of economic justice and poverty!" said Skinah Hamlin. "We now have a real opportunity and mechanism to have enhanced national-local partnerships and joint advocacy while being led by low-income families in the work. Equal Voice Action Now! "

 

"There are still a number of questions to be answered and things to be worked out regarding how this new national organization will relate to other organizations," said Rosetta Robinson. "But EVA certainly has the potential to enhance greatly the work of local organizations working on poverty-related problems. It was an inspiring time of community building around the themechange is possible."

 

The costs associated with the gathering at which EVA was launched were underwritten by the Marguerite Casey Foundation, a grant-making institution dedicated to giving low-income families an equal voice in the public debate about public policies affecting their lives.

 

 

Other News and Resources
Events
LTS offers webinar for Sunday School teachers
Resources

Registration Opens for Online Course: Stewardship and Scripture 

 

Sign up for Disciples Immigration Legal Updates 

 

Seven new devotions, issue papers for immigration issues

 

Clergy Continuing Education Grant application process begins Sept. 1

 

Family and Children newsletter signup

 

The Landscape for Mission four-session video study series examines current context

  


July 18-22, 2015
Columbus, Ohio
Ministry in Action

Oklahoma mission trip not halted by ebola threat

 

California church invites all to O & A anniversary celebration

 

Texas church joins ecumenical prayers for Middle East

 

Kentucky church music director brings music to community

 

Ohio pastor's ministry based on inclusion

 

Missouri church continues to honor late pastor with ALS run

 

Pennsylvania church reaches out with guitar lessons

 

North Carolina Christians raise voices and glasses

 

Missouri church adds memorial aspect to animal blessing

 

Oklahoma church invites community back to Sunday School

 

Kentucky boy scouts kayak for camp

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