• Registration deadlines this week: Discipleship Workshop in Mount Penn (Reading) this weekend, the Spring Youth Event, and next week's Boundary Training on Social Media
• Associate Conference Minister Rev. Sharon Morris writes about church closure, trends in our churches, and an upcoming workshop.

1. Whether a church is in the search process or not, our churches are in transition.
2. Good candidates are able to choose where they want to go. It is the candidates’ market. At times our churches are taking too long to choose a candidate and by the time they do, the candidate has taken another position.
3. Good pastors who are loved by their congregations as much as the pastor loves them; pastors who are being treated well and compensated; pastors that don’t have to battle every fall during budget time over their salary and benefits are staying put. There are congregations in PSEC who treat their pastors well and respect their pastors.
4. Good candidates demand and get good salaries and benefits. So, churches that are “pinching pennies” will lose out on good candidates.
5. Pastors coming into the UCC come to this denomination because of our inclusivity. However, many of PSEC churches are not there yet. Candidates are looking for ONA congregations and they are not interested in going to battle over that issue.
6. There are not enough pastors who want part-time work for all of the churches wanting their own part-time pastor.
7. PSEC congregations want things to stay the same and are afraid of the future which will bring change. Those congregations willing to surrender to the future trusting in God, will be fine; those that don’t…
8. Unfortunately, there will be more church closures.

• Annual Meeting info, including an agenda and workshop descriptions are at psec.org/annualmtg18
• To register now and get early registration rates, click here.