Important This Week

• Trauma and Healthy Boundaries Workshop Registration OPEN
• Share the new OCWM video and report
• 'Innovation and New Models of Leaderships' course coming from PAM

Webinar: Trauma and Healthy Boundaries July 10 - online

An Advanced Boundary Training will be held via Zoom July 10 from 9:00a-12:00p on "Trauma and Healthy Boundaries." Rev. Josh Blakesley and others will lead this workshop on the basics of trauma, and how it can potentially affect boundaries between a minister and their congregation, as well as other relationships within the congregation. The goal is to provide an understanding of trauma, while equipping pastors to set healthy boundaries for themselves and their congregations, as they spiritually and emotionally support those living with trauma. For a flyer, click here. To register, click here.

Faith-Based Security & Resilience Learning Series

The PA Office of Homeland Security, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, PA Emergency Management Agency, State Police, the three Fusion Centers across the state, Faithbased Information Sharing and Analysis Organization, and the Anti-Defamation League, is offering a quarterly virtual learning series to faith-based organizations on June 27. This learning series will provide valuable information to religious leaders, security personnel, and members of the houses of worship to enhance security and resilience. Click here for more information and to register.

From the Addiction & Recovery Taskforce: Stigma

“Addiction is one of the most stigmatized health conditions on earth and prevents people who are struggling from reaching out for help and isolates families affected by the disease who fear being judged by their communities. While over 20 million people in the United States struggle with substance use disorders, nearly half of Americans don’t think that addiction is a disease. 

Recent research shows that more than 80% of Americans are unwilling to associate with friends, co-workers, or neighbors suffering from a substance use disorder. Stigma also leads to discrimination in a variety of settings, including health care, criminal justice, employment, child custody, and housing, and creates barriers to accessing evidence-informed treatment and harm reduction services.” Addiction Policy Forum

Contact the Addiction and Recovery Taskforce for tools to reduce stigma.

UCC Climate Action Assembly Focused on Electrification

The next UCC Climate Action Assembly will feature Cora Wynet, who is the Senior Director of Research at the nation's leading electrification nonprofit. Every two months the UCC Council for Climate Justice hosts a Climate Action Assembly to further collective efforts on endeavors launched this year rooted in recent General Synod resolutions. Register now to join us!

'Innovation and New Models

of Leadership' from PAM

The Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry (PAM) offers Innovation and New Models of Leadership on Tuesdays from 7:00-8:30p July 9-Aug. 13. Rev. Dale Davis will lead this cutting-edge class, introducing you to the latest leadership models. The course features a podcast series produced for PAM, featuring well-known experts Gil Rendle, Karen Georgia Thompson, Doug Powe Jr., Lovett Weems Jr., John Schol, and Sarah Drummond. 2.5 CEUs. $325. Click here for information and registration. For a short video message from Rev. Davis introducing the course, click here.

'Together for tomorrow' initiative for planned giving

Learn how to promote planned giving in your congregation. Planned gifts provide a way for a donor to give out of their accumulated assets such as property or stocks to support a congregation or other charitable cause. This free course on July 10 and 17 will help you learn basic concepts, practice skills, and create an implementation plan for your congregation. Register for 'Together for Tomorrow Planned Giving in Your Congregation' here.

VBS materials to share

Is your church storing supplies, decorations, or curriculum from a previous Bible school that's in good condition but likely won't be used again soon? If you have VBS materials available that you would be willing to loan or donate to other churches, email brea@psec.org. To see the updated list with LOTS of materials churches are willing to share, click here.

Animating Antiracism in Faith Formation webinar series

The PSEC Church and Ministry Council has approved this program as fulfilling the requirements for Diversity Training AND three hours of continuing education.

Animating Antiracism in Faith Formation is a webinar series open to all church leaders who wish to expand cultural competency and examine the ways that race and power are present in ministry.

The program seeks to equip participants with shared language and frameworks that will assist them in their ministry of faith formation and build capacity to both identify and disrupt the church’s collusion with white supremacy and systemic racism.

The series includes four, 30-minute video modules which can be viewed independently. After completing each module, participants will also engage in a 1-hour deepening conversation facilitated by leaders who have been trained by Crossroads. In total, the series will be 6-8 hours in length. The cost for the program is $60. Each group is limited to 12-15 participants to allow for full engagement.  

Sessions are happening now, but you can register now for September opportunities. For more info and to register, click here.

New PSEC OCWM resources

At the Spring Meeting earlier this month, a 2023 OCWM Annual Report was released. Click here to read it, with details on annual financials, donor acknowledgements, a message from the Conference Minister, and more. A new OCWM video was also shared, providing a brief overview of OCWM and the Conference. It can be used in church meetings, association meetings, and more. The link to share that video is youtu.be/P79sdfESTBo.

This email is brought to you by your generous gifts to OCWM (Our Church's Wider Mission)! Thank you!