News from The Northwest Conference

News from the Northwest Conference

Pastor's Perspective

Emotional Fields

by Rev. Jeff Burton, soon-to-be NWC Director of Pastoral Care & Development

I came across that term a few years ago in reading the book, "Congregational Leadership in Anxious Times" by Peter Steinke. It was an eye-opening moment that helped me to reconcile an observation I had made over the years. Have you seen people elected to leadership positions in the church who, when they step into position, function from a completely different paradigm than what you expected?

For example, think of the accountant who suddenly in the church functions as a mystic. Or someone with strong objective/analytical skills based on their occupation, but in church leadership they are filled with subjectivity and feelings. The simple answer is that people will often behave differently in different emotional fields. Steinke cites the work of Murray Bowen in this area.

When people's occupations generate hard decisions and challenge, church can easily become the field where they go to relax and experience peace. The church is a very unique emotional field. What pastor does not understand that?

For pastors the "occupation" field and the "church" field are the same field. That gives us a unique perspective and a unique calling to lead. Combining a field where there is a mission that is important which requires difficult decisions, with a field where we are family and everything is accomplished by relationships is no easy task, but it is the nature of the church. We cannot afford to be sluggish about the mission or insensitive about the relational investment needed to carry it out.

METRO + NORTH

Converge 2013 coming to Twin Cities and Little Falls

This fall, the NWC is offering Converge METRO on Sept. 14 at Brookdale Covenant Church in Brooklyn Center, MN, and Converge NORTH on Sept. 28 at Grace Covenant Church in Little Falls, MN.

The deadline for Converge METRO registration is next Tuesday, Sept. 10, so make sure to recruit your leaders and sign up soon!

These one-day training events will feature a variety of workshops designed for pastors and lay leaders to come together to learn and be inspired. The topics covered include:

Discovering Your Church's Identity
Congregational Vitality Pathway Primer
Essential Financial Reporting
Basic and Advanced Church Communications
Creating a Culture of Generosity
Chaos to Clarity: Organizing Your Youth Ministry
Healthy Church Governance
Creating a Healthy Financial Culture
Enabling Persons with Disabilities
Advocacy for Victims of Abuse
Effective Children & Family Ministry

Registration and promotional materials, along with more details, are available now on our Converge page.

Registration deadline was Aug. 30

The NWC Ministerial Association Retreat for pastors, church ministry staff and spouses, will be held Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 2013, at Sugar Lake Lodge in Grand Rapids, MN. The registration deadline for the event was Aug. 30. If you have not yet registered, you may call Sugar Lake Lodge directly to check if there is still availability.

For a look at this beautiful setting visit sugarlakelodge.com.

This year's focus will be on constancy with Remy Diederich leading us through a retreat experience that will equip you and your church in "Overcoming the Losses We Incur in Ministry."

Download the retreat brochure and registration materials on our Ministerial Association page.

Fire Relief Benefit Concert planned for Community Covenant

Sept. 8 at 5 p.m.
Minnehaha Academy (North Campus)

Five weeks after arson destroyed the sanctuary of Community Covenant church and damaged much of the church offices, hope is rising again. "We were knocked down, but not knocked out. With Jesus on our side, we're going to make it. Even more, we are going to come back stronger," said Pastor Luke Swanson.

Come share in an evening of song, testimony and hope.

Featuring Community Covenant Gospel Choirs

Guests: Music by Sherrie Jones and Sanctuary Covenant Church and local Gospel artist Robert Robinson

Download the event flyer for more information.

Buffalo Covenant Church will host a Faith@Home Weekend, Oct. 5-6

On Saturday, Oct. 5, Buffalo Covenant Church will host the Faith@Home focused church seminar from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This seminar is for pastors, church leaders and volunteers, providing guidance in weaving the Faith@Home focus across every ministry of the church. The cost of registration is $25 per person, but senior pastors attend for free. Churches are encouraged to bring a team of leaders who can work together to effectively implement Faith@Home in their congregation.

Sunday is the Extreme Family Makeover Parenting Seminar from 3 to 6 p.m. Pastor Mark Holmen will inspire parents with the importance of establishing their home as a discipleship center for their family. Childcare will be available for the Parenting Seminar.

Mark the dates now and be sure to bring a team of church leaders, including your senior pastor to the Saturday seminar and a bunch of parents to the Sunday seminar. Download the flyer for details.

Covenant Orientation Class to be offered at Bethel University

History of the Evangelical Covenant Church will be offered at Bethel University (St Paul, MN) Nov. 4-8.

Download the registration form

NWC Website
Church Resource Bank

Our website features a great tool for churches requesting or giving away materials and resources. On the Church Resource Bank page, you can browse available requests or give-aways, and submit a new resource to share with churches in need.

September 3, 2013

IN THIS ISSUE

Pastor's Perspective

Converge 2013

Ministerial Association Retreat

Community Covenant Fire Relief Benefit Concert

Buffalo Covenant hosting Faith@Home Weekend

Covenant Orientation

NWC cal icon tan

September 4-6

CRIM Retreat - Covenant Pines Bible Camp, McGregor, MN

September 14

CONVERGE Metro - Brookdale Covenant Church, Brooklyn Center, MN

September 28

CONVERGE North

- Grace Covenant Church, Little Falls, MN

September 30 - October 2

Ministerial Association Retreat - Grand Rapids, MN

October 8-9

Faith Community Nurse Retreat - Covenant Pines Bible Camp

October 26

VIVE - Crosstown Covenant Church, Minneapolis, MN

January 11, 2014

Recharge - Twin Cities

March 14-15, 2014

NWC Women Ministries Renewal Conference - Buffalo Covenant Church, Buffalo, MN

April 4-5, 2014

MOVE - First Covenant Church, Minneapolis, MN

May 1-2, 2014

Ministerial Association Annual Meeting - Rochester Covenant Church, Rochester, MN

May 2-3, 2014

NWC Annual Meeting - Rochester Covenant Church, Rochester, MN

NWC Job Postings Page

Pastors and ministry leaders, if you have people in your congregation who are exploring ministry, on a part- or full-time basis, please refer them to our job postings page.