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Find out ways to honor your pastor or for pastors to share the uniqueness of their own ministries.
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Financial course for pastors, congregational leaders offered
from the Pension Fund
A recent survey of Disciples pastors indicates that seven in ten pastors are feeling financial stress at home. A significant number of those pastors have considered leaving the ministry due to financial stress. In addition, 80 percent of church lay leaders worry about the finances of their church. Concerns about money are stressing our church.
When our church leaders feel financial stress, relationships become stressed. Resentment between pastor and church can grow. It becomes hard to lead a stewardship campaign, or invite others to give, or even keep up with one's own giving. Money becomes a barrier to ministry.
Pension Fund, with the help of Lilly Endowment, Inc. wants to help reduce the stress felt by our pastors and churches. This is the goal of the Excellence in Ministry program. One part of this program is financial education, which is why Pension Fund has partnered with Lexington Theological Seminary to offer an online Financial Literacy Academy for pastors, their spouses and congregational leaders. This Academy is open to all pastors who are interested in sharpening their financial skills for both their household and their church. Household money topics include strategies for paying down debt, how to save for retirement and handling clergy taxes. Topics in church finance include what to know as an employer, training for those who handle money and how to build trust with donors.
Courses in personal finance (for clergy and their spouses) begin in January 2017. These courses will be offered on four consecutive Tuesday evenings. An additional four courses on Congregational Finance will be offered later in the spring for pastors and lay leaders. Registration for the Financial Literacy Academy ends January 13.
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Help needed in Louisiana
Disciples Volunteering has issued a call for help in Louisiana to assist with flood clean up. Work opportunities are only open until the end of October. Read more
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It's that time! The first two weeks of October are the time to order your General Assembly polo shirt. Available in a range of colors, the shirts will be produced the third week of the month and shipped the fourth - hopefully in time for your General Assembly Promotion Sunday Oct. 30! |
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| News in the Church Other News |
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Disciples Peace Fellowship report
By Mary Jacobs
Members of the Disciples Peace Fellowship Executive Committee met Sept. 12-14 to focus on the call of keeping alive the passion for peace and justice among Disciples in this time. Conversations centered on a living vision that considers new definitions of war and violence and a call to reflect on how peacemaking is central to our faith and mission as Christians. This summer's DPF Peace Internship program added a new dimension when DPF and Global Ministries entered into a partnership to bring two Palestinian women to serve as peace interns as part of the Global Ministries focus on the Middle East. This kind of partnership was created for face- to-face opportunities for new understanding of the issues of peace and justice in Israel and Palestine. The committee received the full report describing the role and the impact that the five peace interns had as they participated in Disciples Regional youth camps, the National Youth Event in Florida, and racial/ethnic ministry gatherings.
Members include: Rebecca Littlejohn, Chrissy Stonebraker-Martinez, Kathryn Russell, Laura Phillips, Sarahann Callaway, John Brock, Mary Jacobs, Cathy Nichols, and Phoebe Spier, DPF Peace Intern Coordinator.
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Community Navigator Webinars
 Participants are equipped to provide reliable information about the immigration system, help protect others from scams, and empower their own communities.
The first webinar, which is the foundation of all subsequent sessions, will be Oct.12 at 7:30 pm EDT. Register today!
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Nominations due Nov. 1
The General Nominating Committee is accepting nominations for the 2017-2019 General Assembly moderator team and General Board. Other ministries will also have access to this database when looking for people with the passion and skills needed for their own boards. Click here for more info
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Election eve prayer serviceThe Council on Christian Unity of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) believes that Christians still can get together at the places of prayer as one body of Christ no matter what kind of political opinions we hold as citizens. In order to help you organize an ecumenical prayer service for election eve/day, Rev. Kara Markell, Lake Washington Christian Church, Kirkland, WA, has created a liturgy for an Ecumenical Prayer Service for Election Eve/Day.
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Circle of Protection invites participation
The Circle of Protections wants to urge the moderators of the U.S. presidential debates to ask candidates questions about what they will do to address poverty. If you would like to join the effort you can tweet to the addresses provided.
- Oct. 9 (presidential nominees), Martha Raddatz from NBC (@MarthaRaddatz) and Anderson Cooper from CNN (@andersoncooper)
- Oct. 19 (presidential nominees), Chris Wallace from FOX News (@FoxNewsSunday)
You can also follow @TheCofP and retweet their messages.
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Clergy Continuing Education Grants available
The application period for the 2017 Clergy Continuing Education Grants is now open now to
Oct. 31. Applications completed by Disciples clergy with standing (Ordained or Commissioned) over the next two months will be considered for awards to be distributed in 2017. These awards are to help DOC clergy participate in continuing education experiences in 2017 that will enhance their gifts and graces for ministry. You can find out more, and access the application process here.
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Did you know?
 Disciples Mission Fund provides much of the funding for the ministries mentioned in today's Disciples News Service. Included are ALL the regions, Disciples Home Missions' Refugee & Immigration Ministries and Disciples Volunteering, Council on Christian Unity, National Benevolent Association and Communication Ministries (publisher of this newsletter). You can give online or through your congregation.
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If you are interested in advertising in future issues of the Disciples News Service, please contact Fred Jones
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| Events, Resources and Ministry in Action |
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 Events |
Find more events on the calendar hosted by Chalice Press
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 Resources |
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WEBINAR: Becoming a Welcoming Church: Safe Sanctuary Protocols
Presented by NBA's Prison and Jail Ministries
In this webinar, you will learn from a legal expert the conditions and restrictions applicable to those convicted of sex offenses, and from a pastor, how to establish protocols and procedures that make it possible to welcome them into your faith communities.
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 Ministry in Action |
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We are instruments
We are called to action in the face of violence. A page of resources and possible actions has been posted on disciples.org.
You are encouraged to access the Injustice Anywhere documentary hosted by the National Benevolent Association's website and the accompanying study materials specifically for interracial understanding. The film was produced in response to the troubles in Ferguson, MO, that began in August 2014.
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You can find ways to plug into mission and more through these ministries.....
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Get ready for YOUR
Mission Gathering!
Use the videos and other materials online to brush up on the identity statement. Global Ministries also offers a new book about mutuality in mission, Restoring Hope. Join the prayer effort and receive weekly prompts for prayer and action. Find out more and sign up for information on the Mission First! page. You can also share your stories of mission on the Mission First! Facebook group. |
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The Disciples News Service, also known as The DiscipleŽ, is distributed weekly or as needed by Communication Ministries. For changes to your subscription options or to subscribe to this newsletter, please visit:
disciples.org/dns/subscribe-to-dns/
If you are interested in submitting news for distribution in the Disciples News Service, please review our "Guidelines for Submitting News and Information to Disciples News Service":
disciples.org/dns/submitting-news/
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The next deadline to submit news for consideration
in the Disciples News Service:
Friday, September 30, 2016
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