JuNE 2013
the
EAST COAST COVENANTER A TRIANNUAL PUBLICATION OF THE EAST COAST CONFERENCE OF THE EVANGELICAL COVENANT CHURCH
www.issuu.com/eastcoastcovenanter
www.eastcoastconf.org
faithful & fruitful in mission HOWARD K. BURGOYNE SUPERINTENDENT, EAST COAST CONFERENCE
In piloting a sailboat, a skipper directs the crew as the boat tacks from angle to angle into a headwind. By announcing “Coming About!” the captain alerts the crew to a pending shift in direction – a swift pivot that leverages the current momentum to adjust course and heading. Since the boom (the horizontal mast) and sails must swing across the deck to execute this maneuver it’s essential that the crew move quickly - and duck strategically. Communication and coordination are critical to success. Once the captain observes the readiness of the crew and rigging, the order is given: “Come About!” The skipper swiftly turns the rudder so that the bow swings across the dead head angle of the wind and into the narrow angle that converts the opposing wind into progress. For over a decade now, many have been signaling that the Church of North America must come about in the way she conducts the ministry of Jesus. Most of the strategic assumptions and practices that directed the church over the last 20 and 40 years have clearly run their course. They are suffering from the principle of diminishing returns. In a phrase, Christendom is dead. The privileged place of the Christian church in American culture, perceptions of religion and its place in the public square, and the aspirations of new generations require a new approach to how the Church can be faithful and fruitful in mission.
The Evangelical Covenant Church began in the context of spiritual, ecclesiastical, and missional renewal. At our best we have always been a renewing and reforming movement of “mission friends.” In this case our heritage is our future, recast into the 21st century environment in which we live. If I could boil down the essence of this critical shift in direction and focus, I would summarize it in this phrase: it’s time to pivot from being Attractional to being Missional. The Church Growth movement of the Boomer generation sought to leverage the social sciences, marketing, and industrial thinking to make the Church and her message attractive and entertaining to the unchurched. To the extent that it succeeded, it filled churches with new consumers of Christian services. This was an extension (on steroids) of the Western concept of the Church as chaplain to the culture. Like Jesus’ feeding of the 5,000, it gathered a mega crowd, filled their stomachs, created a high expectation culture, and attracted the skeptics and seekers. Like the Transfiguration, it was an epiphany that some wanted to mass produce. When the church is missional (doing the works of Jesus, in the ways of Jesus), becoming attractional is at best a hazardous consequence. Jesus didn’t intend to use His power to launch a fast food empire. He used it to form mature disciples who make mature
disciples who do the same exponentially. It is never enough to gather a crowd. Our core focus needs to be establishing communities whose deep proactive love of neighbors, and hospitality for strangers opens hearts and minds for the sharing in word and deed of Jesus’ invitation to come and follow Him. The Church gathered (for worship, teaching and training) and the Church scattered (for outreach, discipling, and works of mercy/justice) is the rhythm Jesus gave His disciples. In the language of Acts, it’s moving from Temple courts to homes and neighborhoods. The Gospel is not simply about gathering crowds on weekends to attend a worship service. The Gospel is about making disciples who permeate the culture individually and in clusters to demonstrate the life of the Kingdom. When Jesus sent out the 72 they went out as missional communities (two by two) to preach, teach, heal, and deliver the oppressed. He launched a Church that would be measured by her sending capacity, not simply her seating capacity. On the move,
HAVE A QUESTION FOR HOWARD? Email him at howard@eastcoastconf.org
EAST COAST CONFERENCE 52 Missionary Road Cromwell, CT 06416 860.635.2891 www.eastcoastconf.org
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the east coast conference's 123rd
Annual meeting The theme “Coming About! Thriving in the Wake of Change” was one that drew testimony, story and celebration around the advancement of the East Coast Conference movement of God for the 123rd Annual Meeting in Harleysville, Pennsylvania on April 13, 2013. Drawing on the idea of when a sailing vessel tacks to leverage the power of the wind, the crew anticipates and accelerates in the swift pivot that adjusts course to a new angle. The crew does this again and again to advance the mission, while avoiding obstacles, adapting to conditions, maintaining momentum, and ultimately crossing the finish line. Delegates from the East Coast were welcomed by gracious hosts at Christ Covenant Church in Harleysville, PA and the Ministerium hosted by St. Peter's Covenant Church in Hilltown, PA.
state of the mission:
In his seventh Annual Report, Superintendent Howard Burgoyne updated the delegates on the Conference’s advance towards eight strategic priorities undertaken in 2008 towards the year 2020. Substantial progress has been noted in seven of the eight initiatives, and updated benchmarks for each of the eight priorities were presented to the delegates (see pg 3 box: Vision 20/20 Update). CHURCH PLANTING UPDATE:
Jason Condon, Director of Church Planting, reported the addition of four new church plants in 2012 (Highrock Quincy (Quincy, MA); Highrock North Shore (Salem, MA); Hope Church NYC (Astoria, NY) and Sanctuary (Providence, RI) while three more additional church plants will be added in 2013.
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CONGREGATIONAL Vitality UPDATE:
Kreig Gammelgard, Director of Congregational Vitality, preached at the Friday night Celebration Service, as well as sharing his highlights from his first year in the Conference at the business meeting Saturday. One highlight is Vitality Cohorts that have been formed over the past year. These Cohorts have often sprung out of groups of churches participating in Navigate together. As they walk the Vitality Pathway, these churches participate in Vitality Workshops together and their pastors participate in the Vitality Cohort for mutual support and accountability around moving forward toward becoming healthy missional congregations. Currently active cohorts are based out of Boston, the Chesapeake Bay Area, and the Central Connecticut region.
Delegates also welcomed the membership of Evergreen Covenant Church in Sanford, ME (pastor Frank Catalano), and remembered the ministry of two churches at the end of their Covenant ministry, Queenswest Church (Long Island City, NY) and United Covenant Church (Wilton, CT).
MOVE AWARDS:
Three MOVE Awards were presented during the meeting, given to individuals and churches who have displayed ‘courageous leadership and compassionate service.’ Grant and Miho Buchholtz Covenant Missionary Church Planters to Japan, preparing to plant a church in Ikebukuro, the Toshima ward of Tokyo, for their labor in Japan over the last several years during the tsunami.
FINANCIAL REPORT & ECC UPDATES:
In the Financial Report, for 2012, unrestricted giving from churches totaled over $495,000 increasing almost 9% from 2011. Additionally, giving to support Hurricane Relief totaled over $100,000, including a $25,000 matching grant from the East Coast Conference. Later in the meeting the delegates approved a revised and increased budget for 2013 of $1,323,875 of which $539,502 would come from churches and for 2014 of $1,429,335 of which $583,458 would come from churches. The largest expenses are for church planting, $553,856 and $625,461 respectively for 2013 and 2014. Overall Conference attendance increased 13%, reflecting both a significant numeric increase and the advance of ethnic diversity, now representing nearly 40% non-anglo cultures and persons.
annual meeting 2013 recap
Covenant Congregational Church, Jamaica Plain, MA A congregation that has loved and labored through generations and ministry life cycles to rediscover, again and again, how to thrive in the wake of change. In 2013 the church is joining other ECC congregations in forming a church planting partnership to launch and support New City Covenant Church in South Roxbury, MA (T.C. Moore, church planter), releasing both finances and people to support this new work. Great Lakes Conference Special Teams & Disaster Relief From the very first hours of Hurricane Sandy’s impact on the eastern shoreline, this group connected to pastors and churches in NY/NJ to organize a group to be first responders through prayer, fund raising and organizing a convoy of critical relief resources (food, water, hygiene kits,
cleaning supplies, etc) that arrived within days of the disaster's onset. In 2012 they raised $40,000 through grassroots level networking and continue to coordinate trips to the NY/NJ region.
Other Highlights:
The delegate vote approved the new Constitution and Bylaws, brought forth by the board at the 2012 Annual Meeting in Easton, CT. The new governing model will trim the size of the Conference Executive Board to 1418 members (currently 27); it allows flexibility in adding and deleting ministry commissions and teams by action of the Board; it also conforms in language and style with the governing documents of the ECC. New England Seafarers Mission reported on their expanding mission, now reaching 155 nations of the world over the last 15 years. A sister organization, the Seafarer’s Women’s Auxiliary has voted to dissolve corporately and enfold their ongoing ministry under NESM in 2013, transferring their assets to NESM for expanded mission. Stephen Cushing is Executive Director. Pilgrim Pines Conference Center reported on the challenges they are facing with changing trends in camping ministry, increased operational and capital expenses, debt service, and multi-year flat or declining attendance. The Pines sees the need and opportunity to engage new populations and generations with the opportunities to encounter Christ through the experiences of Christian camping and retreat ministry. David Cairns is Executive Director. Stephen Chester, professor at North Park Theological Seminary, spoke to the Conference Ministerium. Chester was originally scheduled to lead the pastors' fall Ashram, which was canceled due to Hurricane Sandy in fall of 2012. The Ministerial Association meeting was hosted by St. Peter's Church in Hilltown, PA - and was held Thursday-Friday prior to the Conference Annual Meeting.
NEXT YEAR & BEYOND:
At the conclusion of the meeting, Trinity Covenant Church in Manchester, CT was named as the host of the 124th Annual Meeting in 2014. Moreover, plans to begin arrangements for the Conference's 125th Anniversary are underway for the 2015 Annual Meeting in Worcester, MA.
vision 20/20
u p dat e
1. Starting & Strengthening Churches 2008: 100 + vital congregations growing deeper in Christ and further in mission; By 2020 we will grow to and support 120 churches; 2013:
2. Starting & Strengthening Churches 2008: Dozens of new churches planted and growing in every state and the District of Columbia; By 2020 our healthy churches will plant 50 new churches in every state in the conference and the District of Columbia; 2013:
3. Make & Deepen Disciples 2008: 5,000 new followers of Jesus being discipled and serving Christ in our churches; By 2020 we will be marked as disciple making churches by the spiritual maturity of 5,000 new disciples who are making disciples; 2013:
4. Love Mercy, Do Justice 2008: Our churches doubling the number of people they now serve outside their congregation; By 2020 we will be known by the distinctives of generosity and compassion in our communities and around the world by what we share with others and how we serve them; 2013:
5. Make & Deepen Disciples/Develop Leaders 2008: A new generation of believers raised up who embody the love, grace and justice of Jesus; By 2020 we will effectively resource our churches in developing thriving children’s, youth, young adult and marriage & family ministries that embody the love, grace and justice of Jesus; 2013:
6. Love Mercy, Do Justice 2008: Growing ethnic and cultural diversity and inclusion within and among our churches; 2013: By 2020 we will reflect the ethnic, racial,
& cultural diversity within the Conference as measured by our congregations and membership, mirroring the demographics of our mission field; 7. Develop Leaders 2008: Churches and districts partnering in local ministries and global mission.
By 2020 we will orchestrate six regional ministry networks as we partner in local ministries and global mission; 2013:
8. Make & Deepen Disciples 2008: Regionally expanded Christian camping and spiritual retreat ministries. By 2020 we will establish a Conference camping and retreat ministry in the southern half of the Conference. 2013:
Agenda materials and resources are available on the Conference website:: www.eastcoastconf.org/annualmeeting
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Conference N e w s & u p dat e s TRINITY COVENANT HOSTS NATIONAL CHURCH PLANTER ASSESSMENT CENTER In mid-May, the East Coast Conference hosted the National Church Planter Assessment Center at Trinity Covenant, Manchester CT. For the candidates within the conference, this meeting was a fairly momentous one as God blessed us with six pastors invited, and all six were "Recommended!"
One of the hallmarks of our denomination is starting and strengthening churches. Such a focus emphasizes both planting new churches and revitalizing established churches. In the East Coast Conference we believe we are a MOVEment of God.
Michael Carrion, Howard Burgoyne, and Jason Condon represented the East Coast Conference, along with seven other assessors from across the country and from Covenant Offices. A total of ten candidate couples came through from across the Covenant, with nine receiving a "Recommended." [The nine are "pictured" above - though, as the process isn't yet finalized and the official announcement of names hasn't been released, we can only give you this sneak peek!]
Our four priorities include MULTIPLYING congregations by planting new missional churches; ORCHESTRATING ministry networks for expanded mission; VITALIZING congregations by coaching leaders to embrace renewal; and EMPOWERING leaders to build a high trust culture with character and competence. Last week all of our priorities came together as Planting pastors and Vitality pastors came together for an ongoing missional cohort that had Boston area pastoral leaders discussing ministry, healthy and missional direction, and mutual support and partnerships.
Even though these new church planters were "Recommended" at the same time, the nature of each potential project means they will be rolled out in a staggered fashion over the next 12-24 months. Each will need parent or partner churches (perhaps through one of your churches!), and a wellconceived project plan before signing a Covenant Agreement. We look forward to being able to announce each new church planter as they begin to enter into the process of signing a Covenant Agreement with us - your prayers are coveted as each pastor continues on their journey of adding to our number in the Conference. Together with God we are clearly on the MOVE!
As we continue getting together for mutual support and encouragement we are discovering all that we have in common as we focus on advancing God’s Kingdom in our region. We might be able to go faster alone, but we can go further together!
Superintendent Burgoyne to go on Sabbatical This summer (July 1 - September 19) I have been granted a Sabbatical leave by the Conference Board. After seven years of labor, four without any Associate staff, it's time to step back into the intentional rhythms of rest and renewal. My plans for the Sabbatical are inspired by God's word to Abraham as he brought him into position to receive the land of promise (Genesis 13:14b), "Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west." Over these last seven years I've traveled the conference widely - but always with a focus to go to a particular church for a brief visit; I've not had opportunity to meander, to observe the land, the culture, the waters, the peoples - with a view to how God is present and at work. While I meander I also plan to read and ponder, with a particular focus on how the mission of God is most faithfully and fruitfully being advanced around us.
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CONFERENCE news & updates
With meandering and pondering I'll be praying too for discernment, for direction, for expanded vision for the Conference, for me and my Christian vocation among you. I welcome your prayers as I enter this spiritual discipline of rest. I know that during my absence the Conference will be well served and supported by our great staff. Jason Condon and Kreig Gammelgard will shoulder their work and mine, and Alicia Sturdy will continue to coordinate our administrative and communications responsibilities. I fully trust that when I return there will be much to report and celebrate as God continues to move among and through us advancing His Kingdom, blessing His Church, and loving His world. Maybe I'll see you out there this summer?
P R O F I L E : church of the resurrection
Church of the Resurrection (East Harlem, New York) was founded
when three local churches, supported by The East Harlem Protestant Parish, closed their doors in 1960 and united to become one stronger, more resourcefully effective church. Resurrection was inspired by the scripture: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted to preach deliverance to the captive, and the recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim a year when men may find acceptance with the Lord.” (Luke 4:18-19) Reverend Kimberly Wright first came to Resurrection in 1991 as a visitor, and, after learning of the church’s many outreach programs and ministries, she quickly became involved. She worked alongside Rev. Leroy Ricksy - the pastor of the church at the time in the Booker T. Washington Learning Center (established to house all of the programs within the church); and helped to expand and further develop the youth ministries.
facility that would serve the church, the Booker T. Washington Learning Center, and the wider area. On March 22, 2009, the congregation marched into their new facility singing, “We’ve Come This Far by Faith.” Aptly named, Church of the Resurrection is experiencing a series of new beginnings. Out of difficulty, decline, death, and demolition comes a new partnership, pastor, place and plan to renew and replant the church. Under Kim's leadership and care the church has surmounted great challenges. Now in joining the ECC, the church will receive (re)planting support and coaching, strengthening the remarkable turnaround and momentum underway. As part of the NYC/NJ Metro Cohort, Church of the Resurrection's ministry in Word and Deed will continue to flourish in the East Harlem neighborhood of New York City.
Soon afterwards, Kim officially became the youth pastor at the church, and Rev. Ricksy encouraged and supported her continued education, mentoring and sharing his vision with her for a new space for the Booker T. Washington Learning Center and Church of the Resurrection. As they worked on developing plans for this vision, Rev. Ricksy became gravely ill, and Kim became the assistant pastor, ensuring that the programs, members, and ministries were able to continue. Rev. Ricksy passed away in November 2006, and in April of 2007, the church called Kimberly to be their senior pastor. Her first responsibility was to demolish the original church and deliver a new multi-use community
Read the New York Times article on Church of the Resurrection online at: bit.ly/churchoftheres-nyt
Visit Church of the Resurrection on the web: www.resurrection325.org
Rev. Kimberly Wright Senior Pastor
Born, raised, and serving God in the East Harlem community,
Pastor Kimberly Wright has served as Senior Pastor of the Church of the Resurrection, a mission-driven church that focuses on the transforming power of God to reach and change people, for the past six years. Under her leadership, Resurrection has undergone a remarkable revitalization that includes the construction of a new church building, school and community space. Outreach efforts, membership and several dynamic ministries have also been developed under her leadership. As a teenager, the Lord saved and delivered Kimberly from a life of crime, addiction and degradation. In a myriad of ways, God uses her as an instrument of His love, His grace and His mercy. After 17 years of serving as a youth and administrative pastor, producing and co-hosting a Christian radio show on WWDJ and being a chaplain, Rev. Wright was elected Senior Pastor In January of 2009. Rev. Wright led her congregation into a newly built church and community facility that serves hundreds of people each week. She looks forward to establishing a Christian school and a church that is open and serving God’s people twenty-four hours a day. Rev. Wright is also involved with the East Harlem Churches and Community Urban Center since 1991, and currently serves as the Executive Director. There she creates effective educational programs that reach more than 350 children and adults throughout the year. Her four children are her foundation, her motivation, and her greatest inspiration. She has a genuine love for her family, community and ministry.
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Volunteers make NESM's wide reach and effective stewardship possible.
2013 PILGRIM PINES
SUMMER SCHEDULE MAYFLOWER Family Camp
2 0 1 3 C a m p s q ua n to
For over 50 years, Pilgrim Pines has offered one of the most unique programs you will find at any camp. With outstanding activities, high-quality staff, outrageous skits and campfires, and the amazing beauty of New Hampshire, you are set to have the time of your life. Discover real family closeness as you look forward to a whole week of fun and growing closer together. At Mayflower family camp you’ll be encouraged with reminders of God’s love and affection and invigorated with a fresh love for your family. You’ll enjoy quality time together in an inspiring, family-oriented environment.
Camp Squanto has welcomed students from all over the country for a week of high-paced fun and adventure. Throughout the week, we give each camper the opportunity to make a decision about following Jesus Christ. Your child will experience a healthy blend of recreational activities with peers, relational building with caring counselors, and inspirational learning about life and the God who created it. Our priorities are for your child to have fun in a safe environment, feel loved by our staff, and go home with a renewed appreciation for life. 2013 Camp dates:
2013 camp dates:
Week 1, June 29-July 6- Johnny Agurkis Week 2, July 6-13 Chris Ek Week 3, July 13-20 Adam & Amy Rohler Week 4, July 20-27 Kyle & Lindsay Small Week 5, July 27-August 3 Tom Nelson Week 6, August 3-10 Peter Ahn Week 7, August 10-16 Will Barnett
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Pathfinder (grades 2-3) June 26-29 Trailblazer I (grades 4-6) June 30-July 6 Junior High I (grades 7-9) July 7-13 Trailblazer II (grades 4-6) July 14-20 Junior High II (grades 7-9) July 21-27 Navigator (grades 8-10) July 28- August 3 Senior High (grades 10-12) August 4-10 Voyager I (grades 7-9) July 14-20 Voyager II (grades 10-12) July 21-27
Visit Pilgrim Pines : www.pilgrimpines.org
On a cruise ship day in Boston, from a few hundred to over 1,000 seafarers may pour through the four floors of the Seafarers Center. On a typical busy day, you may meet people from twenty or more countries. Each one of those individuals needs something, but what they need most is your kind and welcoming face with a smile and an open hand of friendship and fellowship. 2013 will be our busiest Cruise Ministry yet, with 119 ships set to call into the port of Boston. There are still many open days for a church group, small group or individuals. This is a great team building exercise for your staff or committee. This year our Board of Trustees are scheduled for a few days, we have a college professor coming in to help while she is researching volunteer opportunities for a book she is writing, and we even have NESM’s banking partner – Commerce Bank, Boston – signed up with their local branch office staff coming in on a Sunday. The work is light and fun. Dress is casual, and the work is rewarding. unreserved days for Summer 2013: July 4, 6, 9, 21 and 28 August 23, 27, 30 and 31
To sign up for any of these days or to view our online calendar detailing our VERY busy fall season, please visit: www.neseafarers.org/volunteer. All service opportunities take place at the Black Falcon Pier in Boston, MA.
Visit NESM: www.neseafarers.org
the Service of Consecration a Testimony from Peter Norland covenant community church, essex junction, vermont
Last month, folks from our congregation lit small fires, lifted heavy stones, got our hands dirty, and read aloud from our founding document—all as way to look towards the future God has for us. The Service of Consecration to the Lord's Future—a part of the congregational vitality pathway—was a unique time of worship and one that may well prove to be pivotal in the history of our congregation. For about a year now, Covenant Community Church in Essex has been journeying together along the congregational vitality pathway. We've held workshops (Veritas and EPIC) facilitated by Kreig Gammelgard, hosted various congregational conversations and activities along the way, listened to the scriptures in a new way, and generally begun to do the deep work of opening our hearts to God's Spirit in a new way. We are expecting God to do a new thing in not only our individual lives, but also the shared life of our congregation. We have moved ahead by fits and starts, at times wondering why this revitalization process is “taking so long” and at other times feeling challenged and energized by the surprises and good work along the way. Through it all, we have been conscious of God's leading and the guidance of the conference and denomination as we traveled the vitality pathway. Last month we approached a time of decision — the Service of Consecration. The Congregational Vitality materials call it a “Heart Check” — a time that separates churches that want to stay with the status quo and those that want to move ahead with God. It sounded like a big deal that we wanted to take seriously. So, we did what I expect many Covenant Churches do when coming to such a time: we ate together. We hosted what we called a “Fork-in-the-Road-Potluck.” At the potluck we set up various stations - each with a car-trip theme (“Traffic Jam,” “Let's Go,” “Road Map,” and more) - where we openly discussed our hopes for the future, our fears and current hang-ups, prayed for the church, and talked about what's next. This event gave our congregation the time and space to prepare ourselves for something as significant as consecrating ourselves to whatever God might be calling us to do.
Our Service of Consecration came a few weeks later on a Sunday afternoon. Our Worship focused on four sacred actions which each related to revitalization. We confessed our brokenness before God, writing down that which we needed to give to God on a piece of paper. We burned these sheets, and as the papers flew into the air and turned to ash, we visualized a symbol of God's forgiveness and transformation. And this activity brought new dimensions of joy to confession! We planted seeds together, a sign of burying old grudges, and that we are fertile soil out of which God will give the growth. We together took the stones of an old rock wall and built a cairn: a pile of rocks in the tradition of Old Testament, to be a witness to us of God's faithfulness. This rock pile will remain at the front of our sanctuary throughout the vitality process. And we stood and read in unison the words of the charter of our congregation—we are as hopeful today about God's mission in us and through us as on the day God first gathered us together. We are choosing God's future for us—whatever that might be. We do not know where this path will lead, but we know Who it is that leads us. God is indeed working a new thing in us. In the next season, we will be cultivating and nurturing what God is growing in our midst, and are excited to see what it is that God has in store for us. We dedicated ourselves — not to a program or plan or even a pathway — but rather to our God of Grace and love who says “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) For us at Covenant Community Church, the service of consecration and the sacred actions therein will not be remembered as “mere metaphors” but rather as powerful symbols of God's desire to renew and restore us, to empower and use us in new missional ways. The rock-pile in our sanctuary bears witness: when we came to the fork-in-the-road, we choose to continue on the way toward becoming more healthy and missional. By God's grace may it be so!
View templates of other congregations' Services of Consecration: www.covchurch.org/vitality/downloads/#services
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come about:
PASTORS DEVYN & RYAN CHAMBERS-JOHNSON AND PASTOR DREW HYUN DISCUSS THEIR OWN "COME ABOUT" MOMENTS IN THEIR MINISTRIES
thriving in the waKe of change
in the last two years, for example, and not dwelling on our lack of a youth group.
In the first several months of the Vitality process, the church got a renewed sense of hope and acted out of it. We began to stop living out of scarcity and living into abundance. This was seen in how we allocated money, our resources of buildings and people, and how we planned for future ministries. The most poignant example of this was in a church business meeting when we decided to spend money in the reserves to take care of necessary (but not vital) building updates. Within a few months, at the next business meeting, the church then chose to go above and beyond that to spend money to do a remodel which would aid and assist future ministries. Living into abundance meant intentionally looking for the ways God was at work - focusing on the fact that there were six baptisms
The balance between trusting in God and making strategic decisions for our church involves being committed to your plans but to hold them loosely. It is fairly difficult to describe, but you need to make sure you have a variety of people with strengths in different areas on the team. We make sure that teams aren’t stacked with “spirituality” or “strategy” people. The Vitality curriculum offered a test of strengths (spirituality, strategy, and chemistry) and people know what their strengths are and are empowered to speak into that area. I think it also has to do with a correct understanding of what it means to trust God: that trusting God means anticipated waiting and watching - but that it also means being willing and prepared to move when the Spirit moves. We are currently working on our strategic ministry planning, and this is our growing edge for sure. We will certainly learn more as we go.
Transitions Earl Dunbar Daniel Shaw
from Montclair, NJ (church closed) from Springfield, MA to Rockford, IL
Linda Williams
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from Interim to Pastor, Washington Depot, CT
from Eagle River, AK to East Greenwich, RI (Executive Pastor)
Cary Slater
I think the main "Come About" moment for us is one we're currently facing. We've reached a critical mass in our current location in Astoria and we're discerning what's next for us. Starting two new missional communities on Roosevelt Island and Manhattan are intentional ways we want to multiply congregations.
COMINGS & GOINGS
WITHIN THE CONFERENCE
from Wilton, CT (church closed)
Mike Mirakian
Neil Botts
Since the beginning, we've talked about being a "Go and Make" church, as well as a "Come and See" church. To succeed in both, we believe, takes certain values toward movement andrisk as well as excellence and safety. With that said, most of our outreach initiatives (which we call missional communities) are local, predominantly led by lay volunteers, and focused on serving some sort of local need. Meanwhile, we also have missional communities that are geographic and have formed through relational connections. We hope these geographic missional communities become the seeds of new local congregations in the future.
COVENANTER
We were invited by the conference to be part of a vitality cohort in this region soon after we arrived - an opportunity too good to pass up. As new pastors at a church which had expressed the desire to “revitalize” it seemed a great fit and a natural next step in the process. CCC's attendance at Veritas and other tasks they undertook helped reveal that the church needed to “come about” and move in a new direction.
Pastor Drew Hyun helped launch Hope Church NYC in September 2012, and has a particular passion for the transforming power of community. A graduate of UC Berkeley (B.A. '01) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div. '05), Drew resides in New York City (Roosevelt Island) with his lovely wife Christina and their son David, who recently joined our world in January 2012.
the EAST COAST
Ryan and Devyn Chambers-Johnson have been copastors of Community Covenant Church in Springfield, Virginia since April 2011. They moved from Chicago where they met as students at North Park Seminary. This past December, their family grew to include daughter Rosemary.
God has blessed us in one way - and we need to recognize this and live into this blessing. Strategically this opens us up to new opportunities for the Spirit’s movement in that direction in the future. We don’t have a youth group, for example, but we were able to send two college students to CHIC to assist as workers, and to partner our one high schooler with another youth group. (We also like to talk about percentages and not raw numbers: 10% of our church has been baptized in the last two years; 10% went to CHIC; etc.)
It's awfully tempting for us to simply stay where we are - literally and figuratively. We could downshift as a church and still reach the unspoken goal of most church plants - self-sustainability. (I should confess that as a church planter, selfsustainability is music to my ears!) But, we've made a decision to continually stay "missional" by multiplying congregations and sending people out. Obviously there's a difference between reckless risk and healthy risk, and I hope and pray that our decisions align more toward health, movement, and vitality rather than swelling, exhaustion, or irresponsibility. Thank God for the Covenant family in helping to manage those risks, as well as a team of exceptional leaders I work with at Hope. In terms of the balance between trusting in God and making strategic decisions, I it all comes down to the difference between the questions "Can we do this?" and "Should we do this?" I hope and pray that we're doing God's will, and the Lord's Prayer is a controlling guide for us (Your name, Your Kingdom, Your Will). Pastors Craig Okpala and Tim Maurer, as well as our Transitional Leadership Team, have really stressed the importance of prayer in this season of our church, and I couldn't be more grateful for their leadership. I know my own shortcomings can lend me toward more strategy and less prayer at times, and I am so blessed to journey with people who individually and collectively are pursuing God's will above all things.
Paul W. Kahn EDITOR / GRAPHIC DESIGN & LAYOUT / WRITER
Alicia Sturdy EDITOR
CONTACT THE COVENANTER: EMAIL US AT:
eastcoastcovenanter@gmail.com
Howard Burgoyne PUBLISHER
www.issuu.com/eastcoastcovenanter
Easton, CT from Youth Pastor to Senior Pastor, Easton, CT
EAST COAST CONFERENCE
52 Missionary Road, Cromwell, CT 06416 (860) 635-2691 FAX: (860) 398-5071 www.eastcoastconf.org
SUPERINTENDENT:
DIR. OF CHURCH PLANTING:
DIR. OF CONGREGATIONAL VITALITY:
OFFICE MANAGER:
FINANCE MANAGER:
Howard K. Burgoyne
Jason Condon
Kreig Gammelgard
Alicia Sturdy
Robin Jones