Ministry Together

Clergy Resources from the Christian Church in the Upper Midwest

June | 2024

Change for Yearbook Reporting


Rev. Joshua Patty

Regional Minister and President


This month, I have learned that our general church will ask for worship attendance numbers in a different way in order to better account for digital participation.  This change will become explicit in the next reporting period in early 2025, but will be for worship services in 2024.


I hope that you are beginning to find ways to identify and record your participation onsite and online.  Even more, I hope that you are finding ways to adapt to these new hybrid types of ministry.  The church has always used technology to spread the Gospel (dating back to Paul’s letters, the printing press, and more recent electronic technologies).  There has been an adjustment period with many of these technologies, as we are experiencing now with various Internet-based technologies.


The best language to describe participation on location or in digital space is still evolving.  Personally, I have found some thoughts from Jim Keat, Digital Minister of Riverside Church (New York), helpful – he now distinguishes onsite and online participation.  You also can read some thoughts from our general church distinguishing between attendance and streaming views.


Other Interesting Reading


As I read about church-related issues, I’ve appreciated the on-going work of Scott Thumma at the Hartford Institute exploring the impact of the COVID pandemic on the church.  Recently, they published some findings about clergy health in the past 4 years based on their surveys and research.  This is a significant issue – and one that I believe our Pension Fund hopes to address more head on with the “Cornerstones” initiative that will officially begin at the September gathering in Washington, DC.

Regional Calendar

 

For more details go to the Regional website:

uppermidwestcc.org



May 31 Summer Camp Begins!

June 27 Operations Council

July 3 Praying Together - 9:30a



Looking Ahead



Sep 27-29

Women's Fall Retreat


Oct 19

All Congregational Gathering


Jan 20-22, 2025

Ministers Institute


July 12-15, 2025

General Assembly


2024 Regional Prayer Calendar

Worship Planning Opportunity

Marcia McFee, who leads Worship Design Studio, is offering our region (and other similar church ministries) a chance to purchase registration for all of our congregations to three upcoming planning retreats in August, January 2025, and May 2025.  These would offer themes for 1) Advent/Christmas/Epiphany, 2) Lent/Holy Week/Easter, and 3) Ordinary time in the summer.  Retreats would be livestreamed and recorded.  This would also include materials for a related series for each season that your congregation could use.


Learn more about these retreats and resources.


Would you and/or your congregation participate in this and use such worship planning materials?  Provided there is sufficient interest, this seems like an excellent way for our region to support your worship ministry.  Please let me know if your congregation would access and use some of these materials over the course of the next year.

2025 Boundaries Training

All ordained and commissioned ministers of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Upper Midwest are required to complete a boundaries course in 2025.  Our region is preparing a one-day onsite course for Wednesday, January 22 at the CCC (following Ministers Institute).  There also will be an online option of multiple shorter sessions covering the same material.


The 2025 Boundaries Training offered by our region will focus on our Ministerial Code of Ethics.  You are invited to help focus our time by completing a survey, which should only take a few minutes.  The survey asks two things.  First, help us prioritize the session by identifying the five bullet points of the code of ethics you most want discussed in boundaries training.  Second, you have the opportunity to suggest case study ideas for small group discussions related to potential boundaries violations. You can find the survey here.

Important News and Resources

Join Josh in prayer on the first Thursday of each month, at 9:30a. Praying Together will be on July 3rd. The link for July.

Useful

Summer Sermon by Rev. Josh Patty, Regional Minister


This sermon is for use at any time during the summer. Congregational offices and ministers will receive an email by July 24 with instructions on how to access it.

General Assembly


The General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will gather in person from July 12-15, 2025, in Nashville, TN. The theme: "Beyond" based on Ephesians 3:20-21. For more information.

Senior (55+) Retreat is now open for registration! To register.

All Congregational Gathering

October 19, 2024


Join Disciples from around the region at the Christian Conference Center for a day of fellowship and learning. Rev. David Yonker, pastor at First Christian Church, Burlington, IA, will be preaching. For more information and to register.

LGBTQ+ Youth Retreat


This weekend retreat for Disciples LGBTQ+ youth (grades 8-12) is a time for new friendships, sharing of experiences, and attending to one's spiritual connection. Retreaters will hear from a keynote speaker, share in worship and workshops, and explore some sites of St. Louis. This event is supported by multiple regions, including the Upper Midwest.


To register.

New Historical Society Website


The website includes access to digital resources and a new Disciples wiki. Find the website here.

General Church Gatherings


Transitions and Prayers
Please submit your celebrations and personal prayer requests to Liz Woodward, liz@uppermidwestcc.org.

Prayers for Clergy Colleagues


There is a holy and sacred responsibility for each of us to hold one another in prayer. Colleagues of all ages experience health issues, life-altering experiences filled with concern and joy, as well as the fatigue and energy of ministry. Take a moment to offer prayer for one another.


Continued prayers for John Caughron as he journeys the difficult path of ALS. Please remember John's family in your prayers as they support and nurture him during this illness.

General/Ecumenical Church Jobs


Congregations in Transition


Friends, these are the congregations in the Upper Midwest in the search and call process. Please keep them in your prayers during these transitions.


  • Altoona Christian Church is in the search and call process.
  • Bondurant Christian Church is seeking an interim.
  • Central Christian Church, Boone, is in the search and call process, with David Clark as the interim.
  • Highland Park Christian Church is in the search and call process and has called Arlene Johnson as interim.
  • First Christian Church, Adel has called Tim Johnson as interim.
  • Davis Street Christian Church, Ottumwa has called Terry Wise as their interim beginning in Jan 2024.
  • Lennox Christian Church is in the search and call process.
  • Trinity Christian Church, Bridgewater, will enter the search and call process.
  • Hedrick Christian Church is seeking pulpit supply.
  • Union Church, Ira, is in the search process.
  • First Christian Church, Muscatine and Nichols Christian Church are being served by Marcy Heil during the process of search and call.
  • Central Christian Church, Marshalltown has called Michael Carlson as interim.
  • Pleasantville Christian Church is beginning the search process.
  • First Christian Church, Estherville will enter the search process. Doug Burton plans to retire Jan 2025.
  • Howard Street Christian Church will enter the search process. Tom Burns plans to retire Aug 2024.

Looking to Serve?


Each month we list the congregations in the Upper Midwest who are in the search and call process. This month there are 20 congregations in the search and call process. It is challenging to identify enough pulpit supply, interim, and settled ministers for these many congregations to consider.


Please contact Josh or Liz to learn more or share your ideas.

Clergy Book Study Resumes in Fall

The regional Clergy Book Study held on the fourth Thursday, 2 pm, will read Michael Kinnamon's new novel The Nominee. Set in 1991 against the backdrop of America's intensifying culture wars, The Nominee draws inspiration from Michael's own experience of being nominated to serve as General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The prologue and the first four chapters will be the discussion material for August 22. September 26 will cover chapters five through eight. October 24 will cover chapters nine through twelve. This will be an engaging conversation about a time in the history of the Christian Church (disciples of Christ). The zoom link for the clergy study will be sent the morning on the session. If you are interested in participating in the book study, please email Liz Woodward at liz@uppermidwestcc.org

Continuing Education Opportunities

United Theological Seminary

Leadership for Social Justice Cohort


Application is due by July 1. To apply.

Pension Fund Gathering

September 3-5, 2024


The Pension Fund Gathering is in Washington, DC. For more information.

The Disciples Preaching Retreat

October 28-30, 2024


The Disciples Preaching Retreat, Beautiful Feet, will bein Phoenix, AZ. The Keynote Speaker will be Dr. Frank A. Thomas. For more information.

Continuing Education Requirement


All Upper Midwest clergy are expected to complete continuing education each year in order to be granted ministerial standing in the following years. Details on our regional website.

Resources and News

Clergy Sermon Resources


Six Part Sermon Series on the Psalms, from the Proclamation Project


"Within Us, Among Us" Preaching Resource, tied to 2023 General Assembly


Sermons by Mission Co-Workers, offered through Global Ministries


Mental Health Sermons, prepared by Mental Health taskforce of National Benevolent Association


Fourth Sunday Sermons, recorded and offered by AllianceQ for Disciples congregations to use

Other Resources


Children Worship & Wonder trainings, offered by Ministry Across Generations


Disciples Tech Corp, technology guides for congregations


Mental Health Resource for all active ministers and families

Important -- you do not need to be a member of Pension Fund to access this service, but only active minister of a DOC church


Free Stewardship campaign materials


"Marks of a Vital Congregation" videos


Practicing Our Faith website

Helpful Articles


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