Quick Notes Update for October 10, 2022
Note our new email for the Synod Office:
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TICKETS SHOULD BE PURCHASED BY OCTOBER 13! |
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THIS COMING THURSDAY!
The Belhar Confession was first adopted by a South African synod in 1982, and Christian confessional responses to white-supremacist political and social structures remain an important subject forty years later. During that time, the Confession has traveled around the world and is used by a number of Reformed churches years after Apartheid ended in the 1990s.
Considering Belhar’s influence, the Reformed Church Center at New Brunswick Theological Seminary, the Center for Barth Studies at Princeton Theological Seminary, and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary will gather an international panel of scholars to discuss what it means to be a confessing church in twenty-first century North America.
“Confession Then & Now: Thinking With Belhar in North America” will be a free online webinar on Thursday, October 13, 2022.
The webinar will be in two parts:
• From 10:00 am to 12 noon (EDT), we will begin by “Witnessing to Belhar.” Hanna Reichel of will discuss the background of Belhar with Rachel Baard and Derek Woodard-Lehmen; then Nathan Jérémie-Brink will have a conversation with Belhar authors Alan Boesak and Dirk Smit and South African theologian Rothney Tshaka.
• From 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm (EDT), these scholars will be joined by pastors and theologians from across North America for “Witnessing with Belhar,” as they each explore what it means to be a confessing church in their particular context.
Participants in the day will include Alan Boesak, Professor of Black Liberation Theology and Ethics at the University of Praetoria, and Dirk Smit, Rimmer and Ruth de Vries Professor of Reformed Theology and Public Life at Princeton Theological Seminary. Both of them were involved with the original drafting and adoption of the Belhar in 1982. Other participants will include Rachel S. Baard, Assistant Professor of Theology and Ethics, and Director of the Master of Arts in Public Theology Program, at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Virginia; Nathan Jérémie-Brink, L. Russell Feakes Assistant Professor of Global Christianity at New Brunswick Theological Seminary; Hanna Reichel, assistant professor of Reformed theology at Princeton Theological Seminary; Rothney Stok Tshaka, Director of the School of the Humanities at the University of South Africa; and Derek Woodard-Lehman, Lecturer in Theology and Ethics at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
The North American panel is scheduled to include Morgan Bell, a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto; Stephanie Kaper-Dale, co-pastor of the Reformed Church of Highland Park, New Jersey; Riana Shaw Robinson of Oakland, California, a Teaching Fellow and cohort leader for the Faith and Justice Fellowship; Lydia Tembo, a member of the More Light Presbyterians National Board of Directors; Matthew J. van Maastricht, pastor of the Altamont and Guilderland Reformed Churches in New York and Adjunct Instructor In RCA studies at NBTS; and Lisa Vander Wal, pastor of the Reformed Church of Lisha’s Kill, New York, and vice president and steering committee convener for the Caribbean and North America Area Council of the World Communion of Reformed Churches.
While this online program is free and open to all, registration is required. Go to https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4cA4z0CUT5mhN2t9nmg6uw to register and receive a Zoom link for the webinar. A separate link will be announced to all registrants for an online Zoom forum that will be open all during the program for participants to visit resource rooms for the seminaries or arrange rooms for small group interactions.
James Hart Brumm, Director
The Reformed Church Center and The Theological Writing Center
General Editor, Beardslee Press
New Brunswick Theological Seminary
35 Seminary Place New Brunswick, NJ 08901
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A GREETING FROM THE NEW MINISTER OF CAMPS AT CAMP WARWICK
Good afternoon,
My name is Linnea, I am the new Minister of Camps at Camp Warwick. I am so excited to be here and glad to be reaching out with information for our upcoming event. On Saturday, October 15, 2022 we will be holding our second annual Trick-or-Treat the Cabins at Camp Warwick Event. Attached you will find flyers that can be used and shared. If you could please make this information available to the synods and local churches, that would be greatly appreciated. We have already sent things out on our end but know that news through the Regional Synods is also a great way for people to connect with us.
There are a few ways for people to get involved.
First, churches and congregations are invited to host a cabin. This includes coming up with a theme in accordance with the season and decorating a cabin front, side, or Collegiate Lodge entrance space. Groups are also asked to provide the candy that they will distribute to attendees. Groups are invited to arrive as early as 9:30 am to start setting up, we will gather before the event at 11:30 am for a prayer and blessing of the event, and then kick it off at 12 pm. We only have 30 spots available so churches are encouraged to register as soon as possible through this link or at our event page, https://campwarwick.org/trick-or-treat-the-cabins-at-camp-warwick/.
Second, if there are people who are interested in helping but not hosting a cabin, they can register through this link or on the event page. We are asking volunteers to arrive at 10:30 am to help set up, assist hosts if needed, and stay to help out with games and activities.
Lastly, invite your congregations and communities to this event! We ask that people register prior to the event so that we can ensure that we have enough for all who attend. People can register through this link or on the event page.
If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to me.
Grace and peace,
Linnea Berry (she/her)
Minister of Camps
Warwick Conference Center
62 Warwick Center Rd
Warwick, NY 10990
Phone: (845) 986-1164, ext. 101
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The First Reformed Church of Saddle Brook is seeking a part-time Worship Leader/Music Director to engage the congregation in praising God through music and liturgy, as well as leading a praise team for Sunday morning services and Holy seasons.
You have a personal and professional heart for worshipping God and inspiring others to join you. You have experience playing piano and organ. You are flexible, creative, and thrive in collaborating with the Pastor to foster Spirit-filled, Word-centered worship services using traditional and contemporary songs and hymns, and a variety of voices and instruments.
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Greetings!
The Church Multiplication Team has contracted with MissionInsite (see link at top) for one year. Any RCA church can request an analysis of their context. They can receive 3 different responses. Churches may search by zip code or by street boundaries or by another geographic description.
They will get data regarding Beliefs about God, Beliefs about Jesus, Beliefs about Moral and Spiritual Values, Faith and Religious Involvement in their context. They also get an Executive report about demographics. They can contact me aletashepler@gmail.com for assistance.
Peace and Grace,
Aleta Shepler
Church Multiplication Committee RSMAT
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A VIDEO RECORDING OF THE REFORMED CHURCH CENTER'S WEBINAR ON BLACK AND REFORMED THEOLOGY IS NOW POSTED AND AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING.
Editors comment: I attended this and it was very real and very challenging and well worth taking the time to watch.
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VOLUNTEERS OPPORTUNITY NEAR RUTGERS
Two Fishes ><> <>< Student Brunch Program
The College Avenue Community Church will begin a free brunch program for Rutgers students on Monday, October 3 and will serve brunch Monday through Friday through the academic year 2022-23.
We will serve meals from 11 am through 2pm each day. We need volunteers to help with the serving of food during those hours. We also need volunteers to help prepare food one hour before and clean up one hour after the serving hours. Volunteers are welcome to dine and drink as much coffee as they wish, free of charge, of course.
We welcome anyone of high school age and older. No heavy lifting is involved. Cleanliness and courtesy are the main prerequisites to being an effective volunteer. Each volunteer will receive a written job description to follow, so you are not working in a void. You will be provided all sanitary PPE equipment upon arrival.
With one in three RU students being food-needy, we anticipate serving some 200-300 students daily. Any one of them may be Jesus dropping in for the day!
Blessings,
College Avenue Community Church Consistory, Board of Deacons
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She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. - Proverbs 31:14
INSIGHTS FOR CONGREGATIONAL LEADERS:
PLANNING FOR SUCCESSFUL ADOPTION OF INNOVATIONS
I've been challenged this year to reach beyond our normal materials and find helpful insights from non-traditional sources. Here's a third installation in this series.
I'm teaching a Fall semester class at Montclair State called Mediated Organizations. Through the weeks, we study how organizations use computer platforms to support their work. Along the way we also study why people do or do not adopt new technologies that are offered. This is a major problem in some organizations, and it can be very costly when a new system is not well adopted by the members. One of the articles we read is titled Reflections: Sociotechnical Systems Design and Organization Change. . It is an interesting read not just about organizational technology adoption but for church leaders who are thinking about how to work with members to adopt any kind of change. Learning to think holistically about people and their psychology/history/relationships, along with the technologies we ask for, the tasks we undertake and the structures we work in, can provide a rich place for reflection and planning for the most successful change possible. The diagram below captures a small part of the article, and reminds us that people come with different past experiences, personalities, senses of efficacy and personal confidence, fears, anxieties...all of which can be considered and addressed in any change effort.
Interested in talking more about this?
Phil Bakelaar - rsmat communications
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INNOVATIVE MINISTRY
Rev. Donald VanAntwerpen is developing a unique virtual ministry. He invites others to follow and provide feedback and he reaches out through youtube.
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October 2-7, 2022: (Registration NOW OPEN)
PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY (Princeton, NJ)
The Art of Transitional Ministry –
Weeks 1 and 2 offered concurrently in-person —
Registration Fee:
The $495 registration fee covers the cost of all scheduled programs and listed meals per person.
Registration Ends:
September 26, 2022
Lodging information:
Accommodations at the Erdman Center on campus range from $60 to $120 per night, depending on availability. You may reserve a room by calling Erdman Front Desk at 609-497-7990.
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Greetings, dear siblings in Christ ~
We are excited to announce that registration is now open for all three of these opportunities: the She Is Called Holy Land trip, the She Is Called Women of the Bible online master class, and the CBE Conference. More details and registration links are included below.
We warmly invite you to join us and pass along these offerings to others in your faith community. Any questions? Do not hesitate to ask.
In Lavish Hope,
Liz and Lorraine
Women’s Transformation and Leadership
and Equity-Based Hospitality
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CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING OPPORTUNITIES!
She is Called Women of the Bible online study, Vol. 2
Thursday Evenings, 7:00–8:30 p.m. Eastern
July 7–September 1, 2022
Christians for Biblical Equality 2022 Conference
August 5–7, 2022
Atlanta, Georgia
She is Called Holy Land Global Experience 2022
November 9–20, 2022
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A SHARED RCA/CRC RESOURCE ENCOURAGING VIBRANT CONGREGATIONS |
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DID YOU MISS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION IN YOUR SEMINARY YEARS? WOULD YOU LIKE TO RENEW YOUR SKILLS? CHECK THE NEW COLLABORATIVE CRC/RCA PROGRAM BELOW (Click on the link for the full brochure) |
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Full-time Lead Pastor for North Branch Reformed Church, a thriving congregation of 300 active members in beautiful Bridgewater, N.J. Must be an ordained minister/pastor and have prior experience. Compensation: Commensurate with experience, following the Classis of Delaware-Raritan guidelines.
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Is God calling you to bi-vocational ministry?
The New Jersey Air National Guard is looking for clergy who meet these qualifications:
· Be a United States citizen, dual citizenship is not accepted.
· Possess baccalaureate degree with not less than 120 semester hours of undergraduate credit from an accredited college or university.
· Possess Master's Degree in Theology or related subjects (not less than 72 semester hrs) from an accredited institution.
· Be qualified spiritually, morally, intellectually and emotionally to serve Air Force personnel.
· Be less than 40 years of age at the time of appointment. Age waivers are considered for prior military service and critical faith groups.
· Pass the Air Force physical examination, and meet weight standards.
· Pass a National Agency Check security background check and qualify for a security clearance.
· Possess an ecclesiastical endorsement from a recognized denomination or faith. (The Reformed Church in America is a recognized denomination.)
· Be available for the minimum required paid training.
· Be available to attend the five-week paid Commissioned Officer Training (COT) and the six-week paid Basic Chaplain Course (BCC) within the first two years in the program.
· Be sensitive to religious diversity and provide for the free exercise of religion by all military personnel, their dependents, and other authorized personnel the military services serves.
In the New Jersey Air National Guard, a Chaplain provides religious ministries of worship, religious education, pastoral care, counseling and visitation. Military Chaplains are non-combatants; as such, they are not allowed to handle weapons when in uniform. Pay is commensurate with officer rank and years in service.
Curios?
Contact: (908) 336-2869
Rev. Dr. David Kahler - Minister of Word and Sacrament, Delaware-Raritan Classis
Ch, Lt Col, David Kahler – Wing Chaplain, 108th Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard
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ARE YOU INTERESTED IN IMPROVING YOUR TECHNOLOGY USE!
Would you like to:
Discuss church software for managing member information and online donations?
Learn to use email newsletters to keep members informed?
Rework your website to a more modern look?
Create online forms for people to register for events and provide feedback?
Create online visual databases like the livestream example above?
Take your livestream to the next level?
Develop a social media plan and a team to implement it?
REPLY TO THIS EMAIL AS WE FORM LEARNING GROUPS!
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CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE FOR THE COMPLETE UPDATE LETTER
Trustees Needed for the Warwick Conference Center
The Warwick Conference Center is a subsidiary corporation of the Regional Synods of the Mid-Atlantics and New York. The Board of Trustees for Warwick is made up of laypersons and clergy from both synods. We are currently looking for 5 people who are willing to serve on the Board of Trustees from the Synod of the Mid-Atlantics, especially persons with gifts in the following areas:
· Property (maintenance, sales, leasing)
· Legal (familiarity with NY law would be helpful)
· Finance and investments
· Human Resources
· Publicity and/or fundraising
If you are interested in serving, know of someone who might be, or if you have questions about what service on the board entails, please contact Rev. Jill Fenske (President of the Board of Trustees) at jcfenske@optimum.net or the synod office at rsmatoffice@gmail.com
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THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING CHURCHES FOR ADDING THEIR LIVESTREAM INFORMATION TO OUR ARCHIVES PAGE
Wyckoff Reformed
Three Bridges Reformed
Ocean Community, Mahahawkin
Parkside Community
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RSMAT churches are livestreaming and maintaining recorded service archives. This presents us with a unique opportunity to learn from each other and celebrate the amazing gifts in our community! Please use this webform to provide us with your church livestream link and a link to your recorded services archive. We will make a single page view available of all of this information so that you can visit around and get inspired!
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Are you using a VR headset and exploring how virtual reality might be used in ministry? Let's have a conversation! |
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MURAL and other online whiteboards provide a way to add more interaction to zoom meetings. Let me know if you want to explore this further. |
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GATHER TOWN is a fun way to add some social involvment to your online options. |
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DO YOU HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF ADAPTING AND INNOVATING TO SHARE FOR INSPIRATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT? SEND IT TO US! |
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NJ CONGREGATIONAL CENTER FOR CANCER CARE |
We have created an online gathering of all of the newsletters of the program. Find help for those facing cancer.
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CHURCH BASED MENTAL HEALTH NEWSLETTERS ARCHIVE |
We've created an online gathering of all of the newsletters the program has sent out during COVID. Very helpful insights to pass along to your congregations! |
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The information and materials that appear in the email newsletter, facebook page or on the Website of the Regional Synod of the Mid-Atlantics of the Reformed Church in America ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE OPINION OF THE REGIONAL SYNOD OF THE MID-ATLANTICS OF THE REFORMED CHURCH IN AMERICA, NOR ARE SUCH NECESSARILY ENDORSED BY THE REGIONAL SYNOD. THE ACCURACY AND VALIDITY OF THE INFORMATION IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PROVIDER OR AUTHOR. |
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