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Important This Week
- Register by Sunday for next week's Advanced Boundary Training on Over-Functioning/Addiction
- Sign up for the Mercersburg Convocation
- Find resources for this Sunday's One Great Hour of Sharing offering
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From the Conference Minister: Does the church still matter?
“Does the church still matter?” That is one of several important questions being asked at this June’s Mercersburg Convocation (
register here
). I suspect the answers would vary as widely as their sources.
One source worth considering is
www.philanthropyroundtable.org
which published a recent article titled, “
Less God, Less Giving: Religion and generosity feed other in fascinating ways
.” They begin with this observation and question — “[Fifty-seven] percent of all Americans today believe that efforts to help the poor, comfort the needy, relieve disaster victims, and otherwise serve the common good would be just as prevalent 'if there were no people of faith or religious organizations to do them.' As a factual matter, is that accurate?”
The article goes on to name the multitude of ways that religious people and communities help others concluding that, “It’s clear that America’s unusual religiosity and extraordinary generosity are closely linked.” From that perspective it is clear the church matters. It also hints a deeper, more pernicious and ancient truth
—
that the banner of the poor and the “least of these” will NOT be picked up by well-intentioned, religiously unaffiliated folks. While I intend no judgement by that observation, its implications are chilling.
You matter, your witness to the gospel matters, our church
—
that responds to the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick
—
matters. But we serve no one if we do not act on it. “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.”
Prayers that God will continue to bless you with much to do much,
Bill
Rev. William Worley
Conference Minister
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Budget and Finance Committee needs a few new members
The PSEC is looking for a few new members for the Budget and Finance Committee. The Committee is an important component of the Financial Operations of your Conference organization. Here is a description of the duties of the Committee:
- Attend 6 regularly scheduled meetings and special meetings as required. The meetings are usually held at the Conference office near Pottstown.
- Review and approve Conference Financial Statements in advance of the bi-monthly Consistory meetings.
- Review and approve the Conference’s annual budget. This is done once annually in advance of the Fall Meeting.
- Recommend Conference financial policies to Consistory.
- Other duties as necessary.
We are looking for folks with some financial background. If you are interested in serving in this important role within the PSEC leadership, please send an email to Rob Stilwell, describing your qualifications and a resume if available. His email address is
laurel.mountie@comcast.net
.
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Registration open for June 3-5 Mercersburg Convocation
Registration is open for the Mercersburg Convocation, set for June 3-5 to be held at Lancaster Theological Seminary. The theme will be "Mercersburg: Does It Matter?" In light of the current existential angst felt by American citizens in general and American Christians in particular we are drawn to the following questions: What really matters in our world today? What matters for the people of faith? What matters for people of no faith? Has cynicism and despair taken over? Have the traditional “Loves” commanded by Torah and reaffirmed by Christ gotten lost, sidelined, rationalized away?
Click here
for a brochure with registration form or
click here
to register online.
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Consistory Presidents gathering scheduled for May 11
A Gathering Community for Consistory Presidents is forming now. Many of our Pastors meet regularly in clergy groups to support one another, share ideas, and pray for each other. A gathering community for Consistory Presidents will offer similar opportunity for these critical lay leaders. As Presidents of Consistory (or other governing body of your church), we have opportunity and roadblocks facing us at all times. Our goal is to brainstorm, support, pray, laugh, and learn together in a confidential environment, so that we are strengthened to build healthy, vibrant, and faithful churches. There is no fee to attend.
Brenda Semach, Consistory President of Falkner Swamp Reformed UCC, invites you to a gathering
9:00-11:00a
Saturday, May 11
at Falkner Swamp,
2077 Swamp Pike, Gilbertsville
(Covenant Assoc.). Please RSVP to her:
kbsemach@aol.com
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Disaster Coordinator talks about Puerto Rico evacuees
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PSEC pastor writes on the future of church on CARD blog
This week's Center for Analytics Research and Data blog was written by Rev. Beth Lyon, pastor of Glenside UCC in the Philadelphia Association. Take a minute to read "
Ministry Among the Ruins
." Rev. Lyon regularly contributes to this blog along with other clergy and national staff. You can subscribe to the CARD blog at the link above by entering your email address on the right column.
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Ruling made: Clergy housing allowance continues
From the United Church of Christ's Facebook page:
In a much-anticipated decision, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals delivered welcome news to clergy today: the clergy housing allowance is constitutional. The decision reversed the ruling of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, which ruled in 2016 the clergy housing violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
In a 3-0 decision, the Seventh Circuit agreed with the Treasury Department’s arguments that the clergy housing allowance is constitutional because it puts ministers on equal footing with secular employees receiving the same benefits; it eliminates discrimination between ministers of different denominations, which may be smaller or poorer and thus less able to provide employer-owned housing; and it avoids excessive entanglement with religion by avoiding the need for the IRS to determine what activities are the business of the church. The court further found that the tax exemption did not have an effect of advancing religion, because under Supreme Court precedent, a tax exemption does not “’connote sponsorship, financial support, and active involvement of the [government] in religious activity.’” Finally, the Seventh Circuit concluded that the housing allowance fell within a long historical tradition of tax exemptions for religion. The court concluded that all of these factors demonstrate that the housing allowance does not violate the Establishment Clause.
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Sign up for 'How to Negotiate a Call Contract' workshop
The Church & Ministry Council is following up on the survey conducted last year with the actively serving female clergy. One of the results of that survey was a request for education regarding negotiating a call. Therefore, on April 10 at Trinity UCC in Pottstown from 1p.m. to 3 p.m. we will be offering a negotiating call workshop. This is open to ALL clergy not just female clergy. The event is free, but registration is required.
Click here
to register.
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One Great Hour of Sharing offering date this week
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The suggested date for the One Great Hour of Sharing offering is March 31. One Great Hour of Sharing, as part of Our Churches Wider Mission, is the special mission offering of the UCC that carries God’s message of love and hope to people in crisis. The UCC works with international partners to provide sources of clean water, food, education and health care, small business micro-credit, advocacy and resettlement for refugees and displaced persons, and emergency relief and rehabilitation. OGHS also supports domestic and international ministries for disaster preparedness and response. In 2017, OGHS offering received over $2 million to support disaster, refugee, and development activities. Visit the UCC website for
OGHS resources
, including videos, preaching/lectionary notes, sermon starter, bulletin inserts, children’s sermons, and more.
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Educational Opportunities
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Missed a week? Read past eNews here:
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