Message to the Conference | Carrie Call and Conference Minister Colleagues appear with the director of the Berlin Mission, September 13, 2024 | |
Greetings Penn Central members and friends,
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20a, NRSV)
On an errand at my car dealership, the gentleman waiting on me shared that he and his fiancé were planning to serve as missionaries overseas. This young man had experience with mission work, as he described it, with the “untaught” – that is, people who had never learned about Christianity. That included people of other faiths. I was struck immediately at the irony of the encounter, as I recently returned from the 200th anniversary of the Berlin Mission in Berlin, Germany.
Mission is a fraught topic. Depending on the branch of Christianity, the word has various interpretations. For some it includes preaching and teaching the Bible, working toward conversion. For others it is running a community meal, and no Jesus-talk happens. In mainline churches, mission talk raises concerns about colonialism and experiences of those who were the recipients of mission work.
- My time in Berlin showed me a more nuanced reality up close. For two days I reflected, sang, and ate with Bishops and other representatives from 20 countries where the Berlin Mission has sent its missionaries or established partnerships beginning in 1824. The oldest was South Africa, where a mission was established in 1834. In a group conversation about the future of partnerships, the bishop from South Africa was vocal about two things: First, they were aware of the problems and mistakes missionaries made involving their people, from paternalism to lack of self-governance. Second, they were deeply grateful for the gift of the Gospel. Others from various countries spoke of the same thing. Yes, we recognize the complicated relationship within mission relationships and yet… thank you for bringing us the gospel. In a particularly poignant exchange as part of our closing celebration, the delegation from Tanzania presented a Bible to the mission leaders and said, “You came to us with a Bible in your language. Now we can come to you and give you a Bible in our language.”
I felt humility and gratitude that I could be there to hear the exchanges in person. What affected me the most, however, was the refreshing presence of nuanced conversations in which nothing was all good or all evil. Conversations that held the tension of what mistakes we made in mission work alongside the joy that people had in the gospel. There was honesty without judgment and listening without interruption. In short, there was an abundance of grace.
Upon leaving Berlin, I knew that in engaging in conversation about mission or other potentially fraught topics I will look more intentionally for the nuances, the both/and, the holding of space for complicated realities in which hurt and hope reside side-by-side or damage and healing may share a seat. These conversations are harder, yet they hold more space for transforming grace.
Thank you, members of Penn Central Conference, for allowing me to travel to Berlin to be part of this historic celebration. Our multiple partnerships with German regions are valuable and I give thanks for all who are involved and supportive.
Peace,
Carrie
Conference Minister
Penn Central Conference
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UCC Appeal for Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts
I was in North Carolina for a funeral over the weekend as Helene unleashed rain and wind over our state's highest elevations. The amount of rain coming at the end of a week of wet weather was far more than any geography could handle. My parents and I waited a little more than 30 hours for a message from my sister and brother-in-law who live in the mountains of Ashe County. We heard. They were safe. No power, no water, no cell service - save the one lady with a magic phone in their small and devastated town.
I know many wait for that call still. Even as the clean-up begins for others.
One of the UCC outdoor ministry sites in the NC mountains, Johns River Valley Camp, where I camped, worked, and was married, sustained heavy damage. UCC churches are among the many from Florida to Tennessee who are assessing each of their situations.
The need is great and will last for some time to come. Buckets and hygiene kits, financial donations, mission teams and more. Check out this information from our national settings office of Global HOPE to see how you can help. Read the full article here.
Rev. Nora Foust
Associate Conference Minister
Penn Central Conference
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Printable eNews are available. Pastors and secretaries, please feel free to share with your congregation members that don't get this weekly email. Download and print this PDF with the weekly message to the conference, prayers for Penn Central and brief list of events. | |
Scheduling Notes
Sunday October 13 - Trinity UCC, East Petersburg - Rev. Dr. Carrie Call preaching
Sunday October 20 - St. Johns' Tylersville UCC, Loganton - Rev. Dr. Nora Foust preaching
Sunday October 27 - First Reformed UCC, Sunbury - Rev. Dr. Nora Foust preaching
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Prayers for Penn Central Conference
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. Ephesians 6:18 (NLT)
This week, we pray for each other as we continue to live into God's calling...
St. Luke's UCC, Lock Haven
Sandy Hill UCC, Loysville
St. Peter's UCC, Lykens
St. Luke's UCC, Dalmatia
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Neighbors In Need offering
Sunday, October 6
In 2024, the Neighbors in Need theme is “Mental Health Justice For All!”
Supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States, including the Council for American Indian Ministries (CAIM), justice and advocacy, and direct service projects supported by Justice and Local Church Ministries.
This offering is received on First Sunday of October as part of World Communion Sunday.
Order envelopes or posters here.
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Save the date: November 9, 2024, 9:30AM - 12:30PM
Special Fall Meeting
Votes on 2025 Budget, sponsorship of STAR Church Coalition resolution and Keystone Conference vote.
In person and online. More details, registration and official call to meeting coming soon.
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Register now for Keystone Study Group Town Halls
Due to the complex nature of the possible merger, town hall meetings on the subject have been broken into three topics:
1. Timeline, Staffing, Finance
2. Timeline, PA UCC Mission Focus
3. Timeline, Associations.
There are four opportunities to attend a webinar on each of the above topics. They will be hosted by different conferences, but you can attend any. The schedule is below; click the date and time to register. You can also find this information on our website on the Keystone Study Group page under Resources.
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Innovation Grant Applications Being Accepted
In 2018, Penn Central Conference established an Innovation Grant program to assist churches. As originally planned, the window for applying for a grant is from July 1 through October 31 each year. Funding is from the Strengthen The Church offering and the proceeds of the Conference investments which amounts to approximately $25,000 per year and is supplemented as needed from other sources.
The Grant Application can be found here or is available on the Conference website under the Resources tab at the top of the page. The drop down list reveals Documents and Forms and clicking on that enables you to scroll down to the Finance section, then select PCC Innovation Grant Form.
This same application is for use by Lebanon Association churches and groups to apply for a St. John’s, Lebanon grant. These grants are funded through the investment proceeds of monies that were received from the sale of the Building of St. John’s, Lebanon which amounts to approximately $5,000 per year.
If you need or want any further information, contact the Conference Treasurer, Mike Price, at treasurer@pccucc.org or Paul Keller, Office Manager at pkeller@pccucc.org.
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2025 Meck and Moss Award Nominations
Nominations accepted through November 30
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2025 Meck and Moss Awards. The Meck and Moss Awards are awarded annually to Lancaster Theological Seminary alumni, of any denomination, who demonstrate commitment to the excellence of ministry. The Alumni Council’s Awards and Recognition Committee will select award recipients.
The Meck Award honors the memory of Allan S. Meck, who graduated from the Seminary in 1911 and served as president from 1947 to 1957. The Meck Award is presented for distinguished service in the practice of pastoral ministry.
The Moss Award honors Robert V. Moss Jr. ’45, who graduated form the Seminary in 1945 and served as president from 1957 to 1969. The Moss Award is presented for distinguished service in the practice of specialized ministry (i.e., chaplain, administrator, educator, judicatory staff, etc.).
Learn more about the selection criteria here. Submit a nomination by November 30th here.
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Association Events
October 13 - Lancaster Association Fall Meeting - 3:00PM
October 20 - Harrisburg Association Fall Meeting - Hummelstown UCC - 2:00PM
October 20 - Lebanon Association Fall Meeting - 3:00PM
October 26 - Central Association Fall Meeting - 9:00AM
November 3 - Mercersburg Association - St. John's UCC, Chambersburg - 3:00PM
November 9 - Gettysburg Association Fall Meeting - 10:30AM (fellowship luncheon following the Keystone Conference vote)
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Open & Affirming
The next ONA Ministry Team meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 10, 2024. We will meet at 3 PM.
Topics of discussion include:
1) PA Wide ONA Meeting at the Summer Gathering
2) Winter Gathering
3) Updates
ZOOM information;
Topic: ONA Ministry Team
Time: Oct 10, 2024 03:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting HERE: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89972394588
Meeting ID: 899 7239 4588
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ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND!
| Educational Opportunities | Registration is important for planning purposes, even for virtual events, so please let us know if you need to cancel your registration so we have the most accurate numbers. | |
Congregational Boundary Training
October 14, 2024
6:30PM via Zoom
This session will feature discussion on Behavioral Covenants, Financial Boundaries, and Pastoral Relations. Anyone is welcome to join, consistory/council members are highly encouraged to attend. Register here.
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Boundary Training in 2024
Via Zoom - 10:00AM and 6:00PM
These boundary trainings are a repeat of topics covered in the first half of 2024.
Intersectionality and Power Dynamics - October 15, 2024
In this session, ACM Rev. Dr. Nora Foust will discuss ways in which we as leaders in the church navigate ever changing power dynamics as culturally more and more important intersections are defined. Her participation in a training event with Rev Lori Tapia, the DOC National Pastor for Hispanic Ministries, and Dr. Sharon Fennema, our UCC Curator for Join the Movement, led to the development of this culturally relevant discussion. Register here
Undercurrents and Riptides Online - November 19, 2024
In this session, we will discuss the hidden (and obvious) dangers of ministry in an online world. From Social Media to AI to Pornography, the internet can pull us in many directions and not all of them are good for us. Register here.
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From PSEC
Advanced Boundary Training: Pastoring While Experiencing Your Own Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Challenges
October 23 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm via zoom
In this three-hour Advanced Boundary Training on ZOOM, the issues around pastoring to others while experiencing your own challenges will be explored. When clergy are experiencing a crisis themselves, how can they remain pastorally effective while also tending to their own needs? How much should one share with your congregation about your own physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges? How does one set up healthy boundaries with a congregation, while also acknowledging their desire to care for you? These issues and others will be discussed in this training with a mixture of teaching, discussion, and case studies.
Registration: https://advbdry1023.eventbrite.com
| Retired Minister Boundary Awareness Training – will take place on Wednesday, November 13, from 1:30 – 4:30pm ET. Registration is here; this three-hour training may meet Association or Conference requirements for boundary training for retired clergy | Church Futures Commission | |
Discover What Coaching Could Do For You: Free Initial Coaching Session for all Penn Central Clergy & Consistory/Council Presidents
The Penn Central Church Futures Commission invites you to experience the clarifying, empowering, and strategic benefits of coaching. Unlike a mentor or a consultant, coaches aren’t there to tell you what to think, feel, believe, or do. Coaches’ deep listening and intuitive questions support clients in their identified growth, problem solving, and strategy implementation, while evoking new awareness. One of the greatest benefits of coaching is that it provides an intentional partner who is there to confidentially support, encourage, and strengthen you in your ministry. The best way to understand what coaching is, is to experience it yourself. Therefore, the Church Futures Commission is providing free initial coaching sessions for all Penn Central clergy and Consistory/Council Presidents. For those wanting to pursue additional coaching, the next three sessions, scheduled over a four-month period, will be available at a 50% discount. Click here to access the Church Futures webpage, where you can learn about our two professionally trained coaches and to schedule your initial session with one of them.
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UCC Webinar: Project 2025 as a Threat to God's Creation
Project 2025 is a compilation of policy proposals and a presidential transition project launched by the Heritage Foundation. The proposed policies would have far-reaching implications from bolstering the US military to cutting social welfare programs. In this webinar, we will look specifically at what Project 2025 would mean for environment justice. Our panelists will include Xavier Boatright from the Sierra Club, Rachel Cleetus from the Union of Concerned Scientists, and Abigail Cipparone from the Advocacy Office of the United Church of Christ. Even if you cannot make the webinar at its scheduled time on October 9th at 1 pm ET, still sign-up, and we will send you a link to a recording of it. Register now!
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The 3-month Jubilee program is for adults who are interested in weaving social justice into the fabric of their faith while learning effective tools to build a more just, compassionate world. This online program provides a foundational introduction to boost your knowledge, skills and confidence in working for change. Justice Jubilee begins in October and space is limited - apply today.
Scholarships are available thanks to the UCC's FaithINFO team.
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2024 Financial Ministries Webinars
4th Wednesdays of the Month – 7:30pm Eastern (6:30 Central)
October 23 – End the Year Strong: Making the Most of Year End Giving
https://UCC.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcsdemqrz8qGNJJOs_gDoFH2nxcItmlhUGD
November and December can be the strongest months for giving in charities. How can we make the most of this generous time in our culture? The conversation will lift up ideas and messages to promote giving to congregations.
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From our friends and partners | |
Fractured Lives, Fractured Churches
Presented by Pennsylvania Southeast Conference and Lombard Mennonite Peace Center
October 12, 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Church of the Good Shepherd, Boyertown
American society is fracturing as more and more families experience estrangement with their loved ones. Tensions in American public life affects their private lives and vice-versa. Americans lack a shared identity, disagree on the nation’s purposes, values, and history, and are becoming more and more intolerant of those with whom they disagree. Estrangement in private lives often leads to intense tribalism in public life. Anchored in Family Systems, the workshop is designed to help leaders understand phenomenon of estrangement, how it comes about and how can the church be a gathering place for restoration and healing.
This Workshop Will Help You/Your Church…
– Learn how estrangement has played a role in the life of your church and family
- Transform estrangement into restoration and healing
- Learn how to have meaningful relationships with individuals with different opinions
- Overcome triablism to view the world through a more unified lens
Who Will Benefit:
- Clergy who are interested in learning a proactive approach to managing estrangement in their church
- Church lay leaders who want to gain confidence in their position
- and how to best manage challenges
- Anyone interested in learning how to manage self and become a
- positive representative for the church
To register, click here.
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Parish Resource Center
Grant Writing for Small Organizations
Applications due October 9, 2024
Four Sessions: Oct. 23, Oct. 30, Nov. 6, Nov. 13. 12:00-1:30pm
We have structured the course to walk participants through creating their own grant application. Each session will teach a step in the process, then give suggested homework for grant teams to work through in between sessions. Each grant team should leave with a grant application ready to submit. This series will sell out, (max of 12 organizations/churches) so apply today! Register here.
Secure Your Church’s Information
November 12, 2024 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Learn how congregations can protect the information entrusted to them, and proactively educate congregants to identify scams and protect themselves. Don’t let the hard work you’ve done building a community of trust be turned against you. This workshop is ideal for pastors, church administrators, lay leaders, and others who are entrusted with sensitive information and the policies around handling it. Register here.
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Continuing Education Opportunities with Eden Theological Seminary this Fall! Check out these opportunities and know that Rev. Betsy Bruaw (mission theology global community) and Rev. Dr. Nora Foust (justice-seekers and peacemakers) will be facilitating two of the cohorts. These are for anyone and continuing education credit is available. Most content is asynchronous but there is a monthly synchronous zoom with your facilitator. Each cohort is $250 and grant funded financial assistance is available, just ask Nora. Contact Betsy or Nora if you have questions or check out the website for all the fall options (including UCC History and Polity) and more information.
The Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry has fall courses available in theology with Dr. Eric Seibert. Courses are 6-weeks and include synchronous zooms each week. Courses are $325. Contact program director Dr. Darryl Stephens at stephensd@moravian.edu for more information.
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Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry
Fall Classes
Theology II: Leadership and Community, Tuesdays, 6:30–8pm ET via Zoom, Oct 15–Nov 19, 2024
Instructor: Dr. Eric Seibert
Each six-week class is $325, Earn 2.5 CEUs
This class is appropriate for lay leaders, members in discernment, and clergy. Even if you've already studied theology, these classes will offer new perspectives and stimulating discussion.
Registration and information: paacademyofministry.org OR https://www.lancasterseminary.edu/programs/pennsylvania-academy-of-ministry/
Explore Our Crossroads Lay Leadership Programs
Our introductory course, Compass, begins October 17 and takes participants through two different paths. First, it is a discernment process to help the participant identify their gifts, passion, and style. Through reading, journaling, and a valuable small group process, participants are encouraged to explore, articulate, and hone their personal sense of call as a lay person in the church and in the community.
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PATHWAYS Theological Education, Inc.
Are you looking for Continuing Education Units in theological education or pastoral care or leadership training? Insightful and open-minded, PATHWAYS inclusivity invites conversation with the text and among the learners in a broad variety of courses. The Ministerial Preparation program can fulfill the requirements for authorized ministry but any of the PATHWAYS’ courses will fulfill your need to ponder your faith, to discern your gifts and call, or to build your faith community leadership skills. (https://www.pathwaystheological.org/)
The new term begins October 16 with the following 6-week courses :
Understanding the Bible, Intro to New Testament, Old Testament Hermeneutics, Intro to Storytelling, Preaching, & Proclamation, Writing about Faith & Religiton for the Public, Variety of Beliefs within Christianity, and Ecological Theology.
A short 4-week course, Singing the Bible, begins October 9, 2024.
The next UCC History and Polity course begins January 8, 2025.
Go to the website to see the full schedule of Fall courses.
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Directory
Rev. Dr. Carrie Call, Ph.D.
Conference Minister
email: ccall@pccucc.org
Phone: 717-433-3196
Rev. Dr. Nora Driver Foust
Associate Conference Minister
email: nfoust@pccucc.org
Phone: 717-652-1560 x3
Rev. Dwight Hein
Facilitator for Clergy Care
email: dhein@pccucc.org
Phone: 717-433-6306
C. Paul Keller
Office Manager
email: pkeller@pccucc.org
Phone: 717-652-1560 x3
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