Navigating the Future

August/September 2009 The Connection 5 New ACT affirms leadership, personnel teams By Marilyn J. Kasperek The New Area Conference Team (New ACT) affirmed a work plan and began to set priorities for the next six months at their meeting on July 25, and reaffirmed that all decisions and recommendations need to be filtered through the vision and purpose statement. New ACT is responsible for presenting a plan of union to the June 19 uniting conference with enabling legislation to create the essential conference structures, such as offices, committees, agencies and teams, staff positions, and policies and operating procedures necessary to: „ Fulfill the mandates for the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry; Conference Administrative Review Committee; Conference Board of Pensions; Conference Board of Trustees; United Methodist Women; and United Methodist Men as stated in the 2008 Book of Discipline: and „ Enable the new conference to begin to fulfill its vision and purpose during its first year of existence - Conference Staff; Conference Offices, Committees, Agencies and Teams. Planning Teams New ACT is authorizing various Planning Teams to develop this enabling legislation for particular ministry areas. Teams currently working are: Communications, Ordained Ministry, Pensions ( Joint Distribution Committee), Assets Allocation, and Interim Sessions Committee, all of which presented written reports to New ACT indicating upcoming meeting dates and priorities. During their July meeting, New ACT affirmed the persons to be asked to serve on the Interim Leadership Development (Nominations) team. That team will be responsible for recruiting persons to serve on the committees that need to be in place for the new annual conference in the Upper New York Area by July 1. Those who serve on the interim leadership committee are eligible to be on the nomination report for leadership team in the new conference. The positions and teams that will be nominated include the Connectional Table (Conference Council), Transition Team, Conference Council on Finance and Administration, Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, Conference Administrative Review Committee, Conference Board of Pensions, Conference Board of Trustees, Lay Leadership (Nominations), Rules Committee, Conference Personnel Committee, Committee on the Episcopacy, Conference Statistician and Conference Secretary. Members asked to serve on an Interim Personnel Committee were also affirmed by New Act. The committee will present three qualified candidates to Bishop Marcus Matthews, who will become the bishop of the new Upper New York Episcopal Area, by Jan. 31 for each of the positions that must be in place for the new annual conference in the Upper New York Area. The positions are Director of Connectional Ministries, Director of Communications, Conference Treasurer, and Director of Administrative Services. It is possible that other positions will be added to the list if deemed necessary. As previously determined, anyone serving on personnel committee cannot apply for one of the positions in the new Conference. A list of those serving on both the Interim Leadership Development Committee and the Interim Personnel Committee will be available in August. Critical Question Teams New ACT is authorizing Critical Question Teams (CQT) to work with Planning Teams to encourage unconventional, risky and innovative approaches to the current and future challenges of ministry in the Upper New York Area. CQTs will also provide voice to a diversity of laity and clergy who are not part of the planning teams. New ACT may link CQTs with particular Planning Teams to facilitate innovation. Some of the identified CQTs Resource Teams include: „ Demographics Teams will provide Planning Teams with information and support in conduct of their work. „ The Ministry Context Taskforce will provide a demographic study of the new conference region in order to locate population concentrations, trends and possibilities for reaching our neighbors. „ Local Church Assets Taskforce will provide a demographic study of local churches in order to provide planning teams with: a map of the new conference area that locates the local churches within it; catalog of churches by size, worship style, urban or rural, predominant ethnicity; examples of particularly effective outreach ministry. „ Spiritual Foundations Team will help New ACT set a spiritual tone through prayer and study and will lead in training the Planning Team leaders to create an open and inclusive community based on Eric Law principles. „ Ron Isaman and Lauren Swanson will coordinate the Local Church Assets and Ministry Context Taskforces. A list of team members will be available later in August. These teams will gather information regarding the context for ministry and local church assets, providing reports as resources for whatever group or team needs them. Others may be added to the Task Forces to provide additional diversity. DTM introduced Worship led by the Rev. George Nicholas opened New ACT’s July meeting and formed a basis for reflection and prayer throughout the day’s business. Navigating the Future Conference transitions The Rev. Deborah O’Connor-Slater was introduced as the new Director of Transitional Ministries. Bishop Marcus Matthews shared an overview of the drafting of the Transitional Ministries job description and appointment process. She was selected for her gifts in the technical parts and her relationship building skills. She will bring a single-minded focus to New ACT in an intentional way, as New ACT members all have other jobs to do, and the Episcopal Office will provide support staff. Bishop Matthews, who served as a transition officer twice while a member of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, told New ACT he came to appreciate the importance and value of that position whenever a Conference engages in a major change or project. Rev. O’Connor-Slater is a New York West Area staff person who has among her responsibilities relating to New ACT and will bridge into the Transition Team. The position is for a two-year period and eliminates Rev. O’Connor-Slater from applying for any positions in the new conference, as well as any other appointment over the next two years. She is currently reviewing other conferences, which have between 175,000 to 200,000 members, a size similar to the new upper New York Conference size, looking at staff, budget, ministries which are successful, building, maintenance, and other areas. “One of the pieces, as I understand it, is for me to help with communication. I want to listen, not try to fix, listen and be able to speak accurately where Bishop Matthew’s vision is as prepares to enter into new annual conference,” O’Connor Slater said. “Bridge is a good term, I don’t have all the answers, I’m trying to catch up, but I hope I have right questions,” she said. Responding to questions raised by Kristin Dart and the Rev. Holly Nye regarding relationships with the Troy and Wyoming Conferences, Bishop Matthews said he hoped the Director of Transitional Ministries would be viewed as a gift from the New York West Area to work with all of the conferences through the joint distribution and assets allocation and similar groups. He indicated the majority of her work will be with the four conferences as she helps make people are ready for the new upper New York conference. “My authority is in the New York West Area,” Bishop Matthews noted. “The gift comes through New ACT, and we must be mindful of that and not assume someone is taking over. The intent is to help facilitate the work as we move toward July 1, 2010 when we will be the Upper New York Area.” O’Connor-Slater was given voice but no vote on New ACT by consensus Director of Transitional Ministries position created for NYWest Area Bishop Marcus Matthews has named the Rev. Deborah O’Connor-Slater to the newly-created position Director of Transitional Ministries (DTM) of the New York West Area. The two-year position was created to support both the New Conference Transition Team and Connectional Table during the first year of the new annual conference in the Upper New York Area. O’Connor-Slater was serving as the District Superintendent of the Central Lakes District in the North Central New York Conference. The Director of Transitional Ministries will be a member of the New York West Episcopal Office staff. The DTM will: „ serve as the direct liaison of the resident bishop in matters related to the creation of the new conference, „ facilitate accurate, timely and helpful communication between New ACT, its related teams, the New York West and Albany Area Episcopal Offices, the General Church boards and agencies and current annual conference committees, boards, agencies and teams, „ assist New Act in establishing and overseeing a new conference development work plan, Rev. Bill Gottschalk-Fielding, Convener of New ACT- the team overseeing development of the new conference in the Upper New York Area writes: “Regarding New ACT’s work in particular, the DTM will act as staff support to the team, giving particular attention to establishing and overseeing the new conference development work plan to ensure planning teams make adequate and timely progress. “With this added managerial help, New ACT will be able to devote more time, energy and leadership to strategic matters of great importance to the development of the new conference,” he said. 6 The Connection August/September 2009 ‘Lost boys’ speak at Summer Learning Fellowship Alex Piel, top left, and Atem Deng, right, spoke at this year’s Summer Learning Fellowship (SLF) held July 16 through 19 in Rutland, Vt., Deng, a Bible study leader for “The Beauty and Courage of Sudan: Why a Dream of Peace is Possible,” talked of his experience as a Lost Boy and his organization, the New Sudan Education Initiative (NESEI), which is trying to help fund schooling for girls in Sudan. Piel also share stories of his experience in the Sudan and his childhood spent as a refugee. With the assistance of the United Nations Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the U.S. government, both men came to the United States and now live and work in Colchester, Vt. Deng graduated from the University of Vermont this year and speaks at churches to promote NESEI. Left, Evie Doyon, Troy Conference Faith Formation Coordinator, leads singing during SLF. Other studies included Pearl Thomas, a Creek Indian from the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference will lead the course on “Native American Spirituality: Giving Our Hearts Away,” led by Pearl Thomas, a Creek Indian from the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference, and “Food and Faith,” led by Carol Suitor of Winooski, Vt., the Spiritual Growth Director for the Green Mountain District. Volunteers-in-Mission Nicaragua 2010 A team will be going to Nicaragua Feb. 3 through 17, 2010. The expectation is that the group will go to the northeastern region of the country. The team will work with Nicaraguan people to provide health care and health education and to do construction. Cost will be approximately $2000, but as more details are known, this might change. The size of the group will be limited to 12-15 people. If interested, contact the leaders, Jan and Pete Huston at hustonjp@sprynet.com or (518) 399-0919 as soon as possible to obtain an application or for more information. Belfast VIMPeace Project 2010 Mike and Pat Thomas will lead a Troy Conference VIM team back to Springfied Road Methodist Church and Forthspring InterCommunity Group in Belfast, Northern Ireland, next year from May 4 through 13. ommunity Group. The team will work on a variety of projects and continue fostering relationships with the people of Belfast. The team is limited to 14 people. The projected cost is $2,100. Contact Mike and Pat Thomas at mthomas6@nycap.rr.com or (518) 885-5889 by Sept. 30 to get an application. The VIM trip will include a tour of Northern Ireland and the parts of the western Republic of Ireland including spending a morning at Springfield Road Methodist Church and Forthspring Inter Community Group. Team members will also have the opportunity to explore Northern Ireland’s countryside and historical sites including Newgrange’s Passage Tombs, which are older than the pyramids; Belfast City; Giant’s Causeway; Derry and Londonderry; Glenveagh Castle; Galway; the Cliffs of Moher and the Ring of Kerry. For more information and itinerary go to http:// web.me.com/pmthomas6/2010_VIM_Tour Training for Early Responders Participants will earn certification in the early response stage of a disaster at a training scheduled of Nov. 6 at Shenendehowa United Methodist Church in Clifton Park, N.Y. Contact Jay Dunkleberger soon at jdunkleb@nycap. rr.com or at (518) 371-7071 VIM Rally Celebrate the work of the Volunteers-in-Mission teams from Troy Conference on Nov. 7 from 9:30 a.m. to late afternoon at Shenendehowa United Methodist Church in Clifton Park, N.Y. r the years. It will be held at Shenendehowa UMC in Clifton Park from about 9:30 until late afternoon. In addition, there will be some introductory training on Safe Sanctuaries and Diversity as they apply to VIM teams. Local projects Teams continue to be needed to work for one or several days at Emmaus United Methodist Church in Albany, N.Y. Contact Pete Huston if you are able to help here at hustonjp@sprynet.com or (518) 399-0919. Several other projects are in the pipeline for which work is being defined and priorities set. Teams are needed. contact Jay Dunkleberger at jdunkleb@nycap. rr.com or (518) 371-7071 for more information. August/September 2009 The Connection 7 Churches help create community during recession from page 1 Increasing need for help The Rev. Brolin Parker, pastor of Saratoga Springs United Methodist Church, N.Y., like many pastors in Troy Conference, has seen a significant increase in the number of people coming for help. “People who have always had a job, always had insurance, have lost that and it’s been rough. Certainly my counseling care has increased.” Parker also says that the “number of people coming in need for just the simplest thing for gas or food has increased, and many are people we’ve never seen before. Some are very embarrassed to come for help, but they are at an edge where they are trying to find whatever help they can.” The church has a discretionary fund, which is used to help people through rough times by providing vouchers for gasoline and food. Occasionally, some rental assistance or help in paying a utility bill is needed. Parker makes a point to stop what he’s doing to sit down privately and listen to their concerns and needs. “I try to embody Christ and meet people where they are, and listen to their story,” he said. “There’s never a moment of ‘How’d you get yourself in this mess?’ “It’s one of the gifts of this congregation—whoever walks through the door is welcomed in whatever way we can help them,” he said. “I think people who don’t know the church are surprised by their welcome and reception. Some people are so embarrassed–it’s a living lesson every day. It brings you back to the core values of what you’re about —meeting people where they are and offering hospitality of the church in Christ’s name.” Parker admits that there have been times when the congregation’s generosity has been abused. “It happens. That’s living into the risk of being Christian. You make your self vulnerable – we follow a person who exhibited a lot of vulnerability.” The same thing has been happening in Vermont, said Rev. Bill Neil, pastor of Hinesburg United Methodist Church, and program coordinator for the Joint Urban Ministry Program ( JUMP) in Burlington. He, too, has noticed a significant increase in the number of people who have come for help. “I really didn’t notice the increase until just the last month or so. [ JUMP] can only see 10 clients a day and in the last month or so, we’ve turned away about as many people as we see.” Unexpected response It would seem logical that worry about finances and rising unemployment would make people want to tighten the church budget. The recession has also had an impact on church endowments. Clunn said that his church had about $4 million in endowments. “We now have $2.8 million. The drop in dividends has an effect.” Some members are cautious and want to tighten the church belt. But Clunn says “the reality is we ought to be expanding. It doesn’t always take money to expand. You don’t have to start off new and expensive ministries – you can do simple acts of kindness. We don’t have to do great things, but we can do simple things with great integrity, great compassion, and great love. “It doesn’t take money to reach out in the community, to visit people in the hospital,” he said. “The church needs to wake up to that.” White agreed. She has been aware that even in the midst of anxiety; people are recognizing that there is a need to take care of one another. “People are coming with their children to bring bags of groceries to the food pantry,” she said. “They are aware that it’s not enough that we have enough to eat. Before we feast, we need to take care of those who are without. It’s really heartwarming. As usage of the food pantry has increased, so have the gifts.” After an article that White wrote appeared in the Ballston Spa newspaper about needing to feed neighbors, people who have no connection to the church have come faithfully to work in the pantry, White said. “Lots of people are [now] donating to the food pantry. Gayle Davis, pastoral care assistant at South Glens Falls United Methodist Church, N.Y. has noticed a huge increase in the number of people needing help. “So many people are in financial trouble,” she said. “South Glens Falls is a manufacturing community and people who have lost their jobs are supporting family members who have lost their jobs.” The church has long had a “bread and produce” ministry, Davis said, and “we’ve established a hospitality center where people come early and sit down and have a cup of coffee and chat together. The number of people coming has tripled. People rush to get here, desperate to get the food that’s available.” Local social service agencies have long referred people to the church’s food pantry. Two days before Christmas, the Rev. Kelly Warner, pastor of the church, and Davis welcomed a young couple who had walked down from a nearby motel where they had been housed. They turned to the church for help. “We gave them bread,” said Davis, “but when it came time for giving them canned soup, they couldn’t take it because they didn’t have a can opener.” Davis said the Department of Social Services will put people up at a motel, but motels don’t have the simple household items like dishes, utensils or can openers. That need led to the creation of a new ministry, one that provides can openers and other kitchen items as well as food and personal items. A lot of the items are inexpensive, so people are able to contribute, she said. “Sometimes I come in and someone has brought in eight can openers,” Davis said. “We publish a shopping list in our newsletter of items that we need.” Recently, TD Banknorth awarded the ministry a $2,500 grant, which helps provide items above and beyond what the congregation has donated. “We do this ministry because this is the ministry Jesus taught,” Davis said. “Jesus didn’t say ‘I will heal you if you come to my church;’ the church as an institution has to realize that we are to do this, not do this to get something back.” Creating community Food ministries such as food pantries or community meals are not uncommon for churches, but what has become obvious is that these ministries can become integral to creating areas of community. Last year, the women of the Keeseville United Methodist Church, N.Y., began offering a monthly supper from September to May. “We decided that as the cost of living went up that we should do something– not necessarily for people who receive assistance but for those who don’t have any extra money,” said member Henrietta Belair. In the beginning, around 30 people attended the meal; by April, there were 300 people being fed. Attendance soon outgrew the church’s fellowship hall, so the women began using the local Masonic Lodge. When that closed because heating costs were too high, the meal moved to the Knights of Columbus Hall. As the meal moved into bigger and bigger facilities, the ministry expanded beyond the United Methodist Church and became the joint effort of the Christian women of Keeseville. “It’s evolved from being a supper offered by the Keeseville UMC to becoming a supper offered by the Christian women of Keeseville—from one church to many,” said Pastor Edie Poland. “We’d like to advertise in the paper, but we can’t accommodate everyone,” said Belair. Instead, a flyer is sent home with children at the primary school. “The community is involved and it’s grown so rapidly it’s become a community dinner …” Belair said they had put out a basket for donations for the first two meals, “but people wanted to help, so we never have to ask for donations. “People just walk up to me and give me a check,” she said. Since our first two meals, when we provided the soup and sandwiches, we’ve never run out of money. A local market provides us with fresh vegetables or fruit once a month, free. They said as long as everyone is involved, they will stay involved—and they help clean up afterwards.” One of the reasons the meal is a success, Poland says, is the attitude of the people providing the meal. “They’re always smiling and they have a sincere desire to help. It’s also met a community need—not just for sustenance, but for fellowship.” “It’s a lovely place for people to get out of their houses in the wintertime– we start at 4:30 p.m,” Belair said. “There’s enough room that people can stay and visit. There’s not a lot of things you can do in the evening in the winter —people come and find it’s wonderful because of the camaraderie. Sometimes, a ministry doesn’t begin with the congregation, but is the private outreach of a church member. Living in one of Schenectady’s in- ner city neighborhoods, First United Methodist Church member James McFarland was feeding the children who were showing up at his back door looking for food even though economically it was hard on his family.. “He was doing a feeding ministry, and I asked what his church could do to help,” said Clunn. “I expected him to ask me to help him find food. Instead, he said, ‘You all have this beautiful kitchen at this church. Why aren’t you using it more’?” McFarland’s question led to a ministry that Clunn says has been “one of the most significant ministries I have done in any church,” he said The hungry or financially strapped of Schenectady can find a meal at the Salvation Army and City Mission Monday through Friday, but there was a gap on the weekends. “With rising gas and food costs, several of us began to talk about how we could help,” Clunn said. Last summer in July and August, the congregation began offering a Sunday breakfast, not to feed the poor, but to build community. The ministry is not about feeding the poor or dragging people into the church to raise membership numbers, he said. “It is about creating community—and it is working because people are starting to check up on each other. We don’t do it to bring people to Christ; Christ brings us to the people.” “People started getting on board and didn’t want it to end,” Clunn said. With support from anonymous donors, a gift of memorial money and donations from stores such as Hannaford, the church has been able to continue the Sunday brunch for the community. The program, which now feeds around 100 people every Sunday, was so successful, the congregation added a Saturday brunch through July and August to see if it is needed. McFarland has been joined by a team of nine volunteers who cook and serve the guests every single week, Clunn said. “I say a blessing at the beginning, and if I can, I sit down and talk to people. We use the church’s china and silverware instead of plastic and paper and we quickly noticed that offered dignity and respect to our guests.” Clunn said they will be setting up a “give-back” table, which lets people who come to breakfast volunteer to work at the food pantry, Habitat for Humanity or other programs. “It gives people, who often feel that so much is done for them, avenues to share their gifts and skills with their community. “It gives them an opportunity to develop a deeper sense of self-worth and dignity,” he said. “If we really want this to be about building community, then we have to give people an opportunity to be part of that. “We are definitely finding community,” agreed Davis. “I’ve been offering coffee and cookies or a snack [on the give-away days at the South Glens Falls church] and the people coming have established community with one another. There’s discussion and people talk about the hurts in their life. “That in itself has become part of the ministry,” she said. 8 The Connection August/September 2009 Lilly Endowment grant supports two-year program for young adult pastors Funded by a grant from the Lilly Endowment, “Companions in Ministry Two” (CiM2) will be offered to pastors in their 20s, 30s and 40s. The Upper Room Ministries program provides two years of guidance as well as support through readings, a five-day residential session in Nashville, Tn., Oct. 26 through 31, and “Companion Guides to serve as mentors/coaches/ spiritual directors. A previous grant from Lilly funded the first “Companions in Ministry,” which proved successful but not financially sustainable. A primary feature of CiM 2 will be helping pastors develop the support systems they need “back home,” after getting input at a five-day gathering in Nashville this fall. Participants will be expected to do some reading and contribute to a “virtual community” through the web. Cost for the two-year program, which ends with a three-day conference in Nashville in the fall of 2011, is minimal. Application deadline is Sept. 15. Approximately 50 pastors will be selected. More information and an application form is available through the website www.upperroom.org/CiM2 or by calling Donna Bryant at (877) 899-2781, ext. 7233 or dbryant@gbod. org. The Rev. Jerry Haas, Director of the Academy for Spiritual Formation, is Project Director for CiM 2. Speakers at the October session include Rev. Marjorie Thompson, a Presbyterian minister well-known for her work in spiritual formation and the Rev. Trevor Hudson, a Methodist pastor from South Africa, whose writings include The Way of Transforming Discipleship, published by The Upper Room. Members vote on new conference name Conference action on the proposed name, which must be approved by a newly formed annual conference, considered two amendments: one to retain the name “Central Pennsylvania Conference” followed by a second amendment to choose “Susquehanna Pennsylvania Conference.” After both amendments failed, members of the Annual Conference voted in favor of the name “Susquehanna Conference.” Following the vote, members of the Conference, joined in singing, “Shall We Gather at the River.”