Before taking a break in July and August, Session met to receive updates and take action on committee realignment and an Antiracism Covenant, which we invite you to read about below. At the next meeting, in September, the Reverend Dr. Camille Cook Howe will have begun her ministry with us and will serve as Moderator of Session.

We look forward to this exciting new season for Fourth Church!

Dear Fourth Family,

The past month has been something of a whirlwind, including some vacation with our children as well as packing up the manse and moving to Kansas City. Carol and I moved into our new home two weeks ago and have been busy unboxing and deciding which end table goes where. We have reached the point that the stuff that remains unboxed will probably still be in boxes two years from now. We are largely settled in.

In the midst of this transition, we have had some time to reflect on the gift it was to serve you as Interim Pastor. We have also taken time to read through the many emails and letters that you sent to Carol and me. I wish I could reply to each of you individually, but this letter to you all will have to suffice.

You welcomed us, trusted us, and extended kindness to us, which we will never forget. It was a great privilege to work with the talented and committed staff at Fourth Church. You as a congregation are nothing short of inspirational.

I thank you for creating the fund to extend digital ministry. That will be important ministry for your future, as we now know without question that your reflection of the light of Christ, which has always been bright in the city, now shines far beyond. It is an honor beyond deserving that such a fund bears the name of an Interim. When I heard at the Coffee Hour that this fund was in my name, it honestly left me speechless — which, as you know, is an unusual circumstance for me. Carol and I will surely benefit from this ministry going forward, as a part of our hearts will always be with you. 

As you begin this new chapter of ministry with the Reverend Dr. Camille Cook Howe, know that you will be in our prayers, and we will be celebrating with you as you continue to do the good that is yours to do.

Blessings,

The Reverend Tom Are Jr. 

Pastoral staff responsibilities have been realigned to reflect our four ministry priorities arising from the long-range plan:

• Connection and Belonging
• Faith Formation
• Community Engagement and Partnerships
• Church Sustainability

In this alignment —

The Pastor — Camille Cook Howe — will lead Worship as well as Stewardship and Giving when she begins her ministry with us in September.

The Senior Associate Pastor — Rocky Supinger — is now leading Connecting Ministries, including the new member process.

The four Associate Pastors are dividing responsibilities as follows:

Nancy Benson-Nicol is leading Caring Ministries, which includes Deacons.

Matt Helms is leading Faith Formation Ministry, which nurtures our youngest children to our adults, and is working with the staff for youth, young adults, and adult education.

Joe Morrow continues to lead our Mission and Community Engagement Ministry.

Nanette Sawyer will — when she returns from sabbatical on September 2 — lead our emerging Online Ministry as well as Belonging Ministry, including fellowship groups, in addition to continuing her work with our Racial Equity Committee and Volunteer Ministry staff.

To further reflect our four long-range ministry priorities, Session has approved realigning its committees as follows:

The Belonging Ministries Committee advances the Session’s goal of fostering an all-encompassing culture of personal invitation and welcome that creates opportunities for deeper engagement through fellowship and volunteer service such that all people will feel a sense of belonging and experience meaningful, culturally diverse relationships.

The Caring Ministries Committee advances the Session’s goals of providing care and nurture to the Fourth Church community, especially during times of transition, stress, or need. In collaboration with pastors, the Board of Deacons, and Stephen Ministers, the committee administers resources and programs to both provide care and to equip the congregation in caregiving.

The Connecting Ministries Committee carries out the Session’s goals of connecting with our neighbors in outreach and invitation, connecting guests to church membership, and connecting members of Fourth Church to one another to grow in community.

The Faith Formation Committee carries out the Session’s goals of nurturing the faith of Fourth Church’s membership, from children to adults, using a diversity of settings and programs. It oversees and enhances the work of four subcommittees that provide focused attention on specific areas of Fourth Church’s ministry: Adult Education, Children and Family Ministry, Spiritual Formation, and Youth Ministry.

The Mission and Justice Committee advances the Session’s goal of participating in the realization of God’s “heaven on earth” in the Chicago area, the United States, and across the world. The committee stewards Fourth Church’s community service programs and community partnerships at the local, national, denominational, and global level with tools of direct engagement, grantmaking, advocacy, and volunteerism.

The Racial Equity Committee (REC) supports Session in ensuring that Fourth Church is a multiculturally inclusive, antiracist church in its membership, education, worship, governance, practices, and policies. Working with church staff, congregants, boards and committees, and fellowship and mission groups, REC focuses on identifying and undoing systemic racism at Fourth Church. This mission leads to recognizing instances of institutional racism, whether subtle or blatant, and actively working with our faith community to eradicate them.

The Stewardship and Giving Committee fosters a culture of stewardship and generosity at Fourth Church by contributing strategic guidance, encouraging giving as a spiritual practice, and supporting the development and oversight of initiatives that advance congregational giving to meet the church’s mission and organizational priorities.

The Worship, Music, and Arts Committee carries out the Session’s responsibility for ordering the worship of Fourth Church in concurrence with its Ministers of Word and Sacrament, educating the congregation about the church’s worship, and facilitating the congregation’s full and active worship participation.

The Young Adult Committee carries the Session’s goals of building relationships and cultivating the faith of young adults through social events, retreats, and spiritual formation.

Session adopted the Fourth Church Antiracism Covenant, which was drafted by the Racial Equity Committee (REC) and reflects the input and feedback of committees and groups across the congregation.

As expressed in the covenant’s statement of purpose, “at Fourth Church, we believe that loving one another as Christ has loved us means that we are called to directly address historical and present racial biases by actively opposing racism.

“In our church, we seek to embrace values and practices that enable us to experience Beloved Community, where differences are seen as assets that are celebrated and experienced as strengths. We commit to these values and practices so that all people will feel deep belonging and a shared sense of humanity, seeing the image of God in each other.

“We enter this covenant seeking ways to live into our antiracism call as individuals, as committees, and as a church. We understand and accept that we are all in different places on our antiracism journey, yet we take this path together trusting in God’s guidance and love.”

We encourage you to read the full covenant — including the ways in which we strive to live into our values and demonstrate our commitment — and to watch for ways in which to learn more and to be part of embodying what it means to be an antiracist faith community.

If you have questions or comments about the covenant — or would like to join the Racial Equity Committee in supporting this important work — the REC welcomes hearing from you.

Because our new pastor’s family will not be living in the Fourth Church-owned Walton Manse, the Board of Trustees is investigating selling the property at 220 E. Walton.

If you are a licensed Realtor and would like to be considered to represent the church in this matter, please email a brief bio to Allison MacDonna by this Sunday, July 20.

The three most-qualified candidates will be selected to present to the Manse Disposition Task Force, which will select one to represent the church.

We are eagerly looking forward to welcoming our new pastor, the Reverend Dr. Camille Cook Howe, and her family to Fourth Church this September!

Be sure to mark on your calendar —

• Sunday, September 21, when Camille will lead us in worship for the first time

• Sunday, October 19, when she will be formally installed as Pastor of Fourth Presbyterian Church.