Welcome, Meg!

We are thrilled to announce that Meg Long began serving as our Ministry Associate in the Springfield office on December 1. She comes to us with experience as a program/project manager, and has technical expertise in a variety computer system platforms. She also happens to be the daughter of Associate Regional Minister Jennifer Long.

She will be using the existing email address for that office, sgf@ccmadisciples.org, so maybe send her a message of welcome!

Safe Sanctuary

It is the mission of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to work for healing in a fragmented world. We recognize that the world is never more fragmented than when violence and abuse occur against those most vulnerable in our society. It becomes even more fragmented when said violence and abuse is perpetrated against or by a member of the church. 

As a community of faith, we must be committed to creating and maintaining programs, facilities; and a community in which members, friends, staff and volunteers can worship, learn, and work together in an atmosphere free from all forms of discrimination, harassment, exploitation or intimidation. This is not only good policy, most insurance carriers mandate congregations have a Safe Sanctuary Policy and require regular training.

In 2026, Rev. Zane Whorton and Rev. David Woodard will be leading Safe Sanctuary training for congregations throughout our Region. The first training will take place on Saturday, January 24 at Community Christian Church in Jefferson City from 10-1. The cost is $20 per congregation that participates - NOT PER PERSON. Cost includes materials and lunch. Register online now>

More dates will be added after the first of the year so that a training can take place relatively close to everyone.

Congratulations, Richmond!

Rev. Richmond Adams, Pastor of FCC in Neosho, has published a scholarly article within a just-released collection of academic essays entitled American Modernism (Re)Considered, edited by Robert C. Hauhart and Jeff Birkenstein. His article is entitled "Reconstructed Citizen Ladies: Celia Madden and Edna Pontellier as Precursors to Modernism and Modernity." The two women discussed are central characters in the late nineteenth-century novels The Damnation of Theron Ware (Harold Frederic--1896) and The Awakening (Kate Chopin--1898). 

Training Opportunities

There are new boundary and anti-racism training opportunities for clergy listed on our website and many are available online. As our ministers strive to fulfil their annual continuing education requirements, these options will offer a variety of date, time, instructor, and topic choices.

Check these pages regularly as additional sessions are added as they come to our attention.

Boundary Training --- Anti-Racism Training

RMN Messages for Advent

Coming up on Rural Ministry Network Spirituality page will be a special intergenerational reflection. We are thrilled that the youth of Boonesboro CC crafted our week 4 Advent post. Along with their minister, Rev. Randall (Randy) Robb, and Leslie LeSieur, a congregant and Director of the Center for Ministry and Lay Training, Harper, Ariel, Renner, Arianna, Aidan, Frankie, Charlie and Austin selected a scripture passage and then, in their own words, wrote what this passage means to them. This intergenerational activity is a wonderful way to encourage youth to read scripture and to thoughtfully process its meaning under the guidance of adults. It will be published next week here>