FALL 2016
THE
EAST COAST COVENANTER A TRIANNUAL PUBLICATION OF THE EAST COAST CONFERENCE OF THE EVANGELICAL COVENANT CHURCH
THE GOSPEL AND HOWARD K. BURGOYNE
Race, Class, & Gender
SUPERINTENDENT, EAST COAST CONFERENCE
"And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have been made like him. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all Christians – you are one in Christ Jesus." Gal. 3:28
THE DEVIL ENTERED INTO JUDAS ISCARIOT, baiting him to betray Jesus along deep cultural lines of religious and ideological conflict within Judaism about the nature of the Messiah. If the Devil would enter you to betray Jesus, what fault line would he use to easily bait you? Most likely, it would be along a social ideal, where self-protection, self-identity, and self-justification converge. Often these lie in the shadows of race, gender, and class. In these we are tempted to betray the real Messiah for one formed in our image – our kind. No wild messiah for us – we prefer ours tame and on call. The crown is just for show; it has no thorns, just precious gems. None of us needs to look far, or listen long to share the conclusion that our broader culture is caught up again in paroxysms of violent speech and physical assaults rooted in loathing and fear of the other. These fall along the aggravated distinctions of gender, race and class. Churches and Christians are not immune to this wasting disease. The disorientation of discourse in many social contexts threatens to sweep away the new creation message and ministry of the Gospel of reconciliation. The Accuser and the
Divider has always been at enmity with the Comforter and the Reconciler. The default narratives play out day by day in our cities and neighborhoods. We need the light and salt of the Gospel – and of God’s people – to illumine and cleanse this dark and diseased world. That’s what we are called to be – and to do. We need to draw our frame of reference from God! God’s very nature is a Union: The mystery of the One God, eternally existing in the circle dance of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Diversity –but not division; Distinction – but not rivalry. Honor, respect, and love – not dishonor, disrespect and hatred. God is a three-part harmony – an Eternal Anthem. The family unit and the church is called and created to be a visible witness in the world to this egalitarian complex unity. Christ – and Christ’s bride/ body – is the visible center of this harmony, where justice, righteousness, unfailing love and truth are on display (Psalm 89:14). The message and mission of Jesus has always been the formation and extension of peace and unity – peace with God, in union with Christ; peace with one another, in the unity of Christ. The social distinctions that have
Make no mistake about it! The Gospel of Jesus Christ is at once spiritual revelation and social reformation. These combine in the phrase, ministry of reconciliation. In this edition of The East Coast Covenanter we offer you insights and examples of this ministry of reconciliation at work across our region. I hope it will stretch and strengthen you!
On the move,
Have a question for Howard? Email him at howard@eastcoastconf.org
IN THIS ISSUE: From the Superintendent: “The Gospel and Race, Class, & Gender" Conference Conversations on Justice Open Door Immigration Services Ministry Movement Church + Hurricane Sandy Update Ashram 2016 issuu.com/eastcoastcovenanter
historically served as fault lines – where we place pressure and blame on the other – gender, race, and class – have been healed and made equal in Christ. We are, because of Christ, to no longer see one another through the world’s broken lenses where rivalry reigns. We are instead to see one another through the Kingdom’s new lenses where unity, love, and reconciliation reigns. This must be both taught and caught. It must come down to us from above as insight, and must be demonstrated to us from below as incarnation in the body of Christ. The incarnation is full of grace and truth. It is intellectual and visceral.
1 2-3 4-5 6-8 8
facebook.com/eastcoastconf
Updated East Coast Conference website 9 Vitality Fall 2016 Update 10 Vitality Add-On Retreat 2016 11 Conference News - BE Consultancy 11 Transitions 12 Save the Dates 12 eastcoastconf.org
EAST COAST CONFERENCE 52 Missionary Road Cromwell, CT 06416 860.635.2691
1
Conference Conversations on Justice David Holder, New York Covenant Church Dierdra Clark, New York Covenant Church Michael Carrion, Promised Land Covenant Church
IN LIGHT OF RECENT GLOBAL AND NATIONAL EVENTS OF DIVISION AND VIOLENCE, AND AS WE LOOK TOWARDS THE 2016 U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION THIS NOVEMBER, the East Coast Conference is focusing this season on “Engaging Justice for the Poor,” rooting its meditations on Galatians 3.28: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” To that end, three Covenanters actively engaged in justice issues spoke to both current state and future issues within the conference from their perspective: David Holder, Founder and Senior Pastor of New York Covenant Church and current Chair of the Board of the East Coast Conference; Dierdra Clark, Associate Minister at New York Covenant Church; and Michael Carrion, Pastor of Promised Land Covenant Church. Michael Carrion (MC): We have to recognize that it’s not just a one dimensional integration of diversity - you have multiple cultures, which bring nuances and cause us to assess our current ethos and surroundings and praxis. There are always interpretive practices that happen when you invite other voices to the table. They cause us to 2
self-assess, which is always a good thing. The East Coast Conference is in many ways leading the way - I’ve seen it stretch and grow from within (and that’s not an easy transition). It also causes us to see our deficiencies. Some say things like "Invitation without representation equals hypocrisy." As we’ve got these diverse cultures that God is bringing to us in the Covenant, we’ve got to now look like what we have coming to us. Dierdra Clark (DC): We all come to any discussion, any topic, with our own lenses. As Covenanters those lenses come from our understanding of biblical texts, but also our own life experiences, and also honestly, our own biases. As we seek to become a church that is more reflective of the world around us we are bound to find ourselves in relationships with people whose lenses are totally different from ours. It then becomes our job to have an open heart, and a willingness to listen to the experiences of others. Far too many times the experience of the majority is the assumed experience of all. For me, as an African American woman, this has meant that my life experience has sometimes been discounted and dismissed. It is very important as we deliberately and intentionally engage in relationships with others who have different life experiences -
that we accept those experiences as real and important. David Holder (DH): I’ve had great conversations with Superintendent Howard Burgoyne following his vision casting for issues surrounding diversity and justice in the Conference, and he’s been very supportive. In practical terms, particularly in terms of engaging more with neighborhoods in Black communities, we need a different paradigm in how we approach planting churches and having a better Conference presence of Black and Latino ministries. For example, typically, we can’t raise funds like a typical church plant. The model of church plants matching the amount the Covenant gives - while great - doesn't quite fit in all communities or contexts. Most plants in these communities don't have a network of people or friends that could pull off that model. We need to look historically back in seeing how churches were planted and think differently in terms of ways to accomplish this. MC: Regarding justice and the church, where does the Gospel take us? Right to the center of the crisis. And what do we do at
the center? We have to have more than just power and presence, but we have to be the Biblical, prophetic voice. Look for where is it that we can see love: because God loves cops; and God loves Black people; and God loves Latinos; and God loves everyone. How do we do live together in a reconciliatory intentional paradigm? That is the job of the church: going to the center of the crisis, and bringing peace and love while first deconstructing whatever hate bridges have been built, then building bridges of love, leading to unity. This is very easy to theologize about, but very hard to do pragmatically and in practice. That’s the tension in our world today. There are three sides in our world - the left, right and center. My perspective is that the center is where the problem is at, and that’s where the church needs to be be.
AN
Where is the prophetic voice in our Conference? I celebrate the Justice Conference being birthed out of our region. Not just in church planting and missiological efforts, but speaking to systems, leading the church to be agents of reconciliation from the center of love and power. A healthy missionary church is concerns about those who are voiceless. DC: We are all broken so in some way we are all havenots. I think when we start to understand that, we will be able to unite. For me, it is so telling that the second commandment is love thy neighbor. God in his wisdom relayed to us the importance of loving each other. And for me, the number one way to break down barriers and unite is through relationships. It is through understanding and loving our neighbor that we can empathize, we can share and we can love. DH: Our conference is part of that answer: let us develop this theological framework together, looking at how does the church represent the true meaning of unity. We have taken our Justice Conference from a New York conference to an East Coast Conferencewide one. We should have parallel message in the Conference about how the Church represents the true meaning of unity. How many coalitions do we see that are truly diverse and address justice issues in terms of ethnic, linguistic, socioeconomic, and gender lines, as well as theological lines. The church is nowhere near present enough along these fault lines, not even close. But this is a step in the right direction.
COVENANT JUSTICE CONFERENCE “The Polarization by Race in America: The Church as the Model for Unity”
OCTOBER 21-22, 2016
New York Covenant Church New Rochelle, NY Cost (Fri & Sat): $79 Register online at: covjustice.org Introductory Workshop: “Undoing Racism" KEYNOTE SPEAKER Rev. Dr. Raymond Rivera Chairman of the Board National Latino Evangelical Coalition CONFERENCE MODERATOR Rev. Dr. Michael Carrion Founder, Senior Pastor Promised Land Covenant Church
Morning Plenary Session “The Dehumanization of Black and Brown Bodies: Forming a Theological and Socio-Political Framework” Obery M. Hendricks, Jr. Professor of Biblical Interpretation New York Theological Seminary Visiting Scholar in Religion & African American Studies Columbia University. Michelle Clifton-Soderstrom Professor of Theology & Ethics at North Park Theological Seminary
Afternoon Plenary Session “The Church as the Model for Unity” Rev. Dr. Derrick Harkins Senior Vice President for Innovations in Public Programming at Union Theological Seminary Rev. Ruben Austria Founding Executive Director Community Connections for Youth
3
MINISTRY IN ACTION:
Open Door Immigration Services B Y A B B Y CO N GER | E X ECU TIV E D IRECTO R OF ODI S
OUR STORY BEGINS AROUND THIS TIME TWO YEARS AGO, CURIOUSLY ENOUGH, IN THE CHEESE SECTION AT TRADER JOE’S. Highrock North Shore’s Pastor Brynn Harrington was there picking up some goat cheese to make GrilledProsciutto-Wrapped-Honey-&-GoatCheese-Filled-Peaches (which are exactly as amazing as they sound) when who should she run into but one of Highrock’s newer parishioners, Sarah Sotelo, who was also there for goat cheese. Well, naturally, the two started talking and at one point, the conversation took a turn towards church ministry.
4
Sarah mentioned that she and her husband, Karlos, were looking for some new ways to get involved. So right there in the cheese aisle, they started brainstorming about some of the things the Sotelos get passionate about and Sarah suggested finding a way to serve the immigrants in our city, since they have unique experience themselves with that - Karlos having immigrated from Mexico, himself. Well it just so happened that serving our (quite large) immigrant population in Greater Salem, MA is something the church had been wanting to do for quite some time, and it also just so happened that some ideas towards that end had already been percolating in Lead Pastor Aaron Engler’s ever percolating mind. Ideas and dreams coalesced as a group
of Highrockers prayed and researched and brainstormed over LOTS of chips and queso, and after nearly a year, seeds of a new and much needed ministry in Salem started to take root. It is no secret that immigrants are often overlooked in our society. In part, this is due to a fragile or non-existent legal status, and in part because we (American citizens) do not commit to getting to know those who are different from us. It can feel like a daunting task. Yet as Covenanters who have our roots as an immigrant church, and as Christians, who follow Jesus who himself was “a stranger with no place to lay his head,” we believe we are called to welcome our immigrant neighbors and love them as we love ourselves.
Open Door Immigration Services (ODIS) has been developing as a ministry of Highrock North Shore that seeks to love our immigrant neighbors through provision of affordable legal services, which are not always readily or affordably available to those moving here from other parts of the world. ODIS’s formation has ultimately come about through the juncture of community need, congregational passion, and church support. The North Shore Community Development Coalition, which works with low-income and distressed neighborhoods in Greater Salem, asked for support from the church, and there was a clear sense of God’s leading to partner with them. This intersection of knowledge, experience and heart is where ODIS was born. With the support of The Immigration Alliance, ODIS has made significant progress toward becoming recognized and accredited by the Board of Immigration Appeals to offer immigration legal services to those in the Salem area. It is a long and complicated process that would be overwhelming without the support of The Immigration Alliance and the network of churches and denominations that it has created. There is a commitment to working together, across denominational lines, for justice.
came to ODIS asking for help with an application for asylum. Fatima and her entire family are Christians and their lives have been threatened in their home country. She is afraid to return home and wants to get her family help as soon as possible. Fatima told ODIS, “There is a oneyear deadline for asylum seekers. I want to apply as soon as possible because my family is in trouble and they are facing many difficulties. I really need a good experienced lawyer as soon as possible. It’s a very serious issue. Please help me and pray for me and my family.” Because of her connection with ODIS, her family has now been able to receive the help they need.
Learn more about ODIS at www.odisma.org.
“THE FOREIGNERS RESIDING AMONG YOU MUST BE TREATED AS YOUR NATIVE-BORN. LOVE THEM AS YOURSELF, FOR YOU WERE FOREIGNERS IN EGYPT.”
– Leviticus 19:33-34
PHOTOS: Previous page, top: Members of the ODIS
Members of Highrock are regularly approached by people who need help and don’t have the means to pay the steep legal fees. Fatima (name has been changed to protect her identity) is a Christian woman from the Middle East. She recently
team in Uruguay (starting back middle and moving right): Aaron Engler, Karlos Sotelo, Abby Conger This page: Members of the ODIS team break bread in Nicaragua (top) and bond together on a beach (bottom).
5
MINISTRY IN ACTION:
Movement Church + Hurricane Sandy Update B Y STEV E M ARTINO | PA STO R OF MOVE ME NT CHURCH | STAT E N I SL AND, NE W YORK
THE EAST COAST CONFERENCE OF THE COVENANT IS GROWING IN BOTH MISSION AND IN ITS DIVERSITY ACROSS THE MAJOR CITIES IN THE NORTHEASTERN PORTION OF THE UNITED STATES. To us in the Covenant this might be stating the obvious, but some reading might not fully understand the implications that this has; both positively and negatively in our regions As a new minister in the Covenant and a church planter I will try to briefly expound this thought using my personal experience on this matter. Showing the love of God to those who need love, giving voice to those who have no voice, and brining hope to those who find life hopeless; these are what causes
6
a person to be the change the world is looking for. Working tirelessly for the next two years and knowing God had called us to plant a church we sought support, mentorship and accountability from the Evangelical Covenant Church. Since entering into the East Coast Conference in January 2015, I have seen increased diversification among its pastors and church planters. This diversification has allowed more creativity, and increased sharing of ideas and perspectives to flow throughout the Conference. These aspects have created energy, vitality, and excitement in our churches. We have an expanse of resources in both perspectives and implementation of fresh ideas in our area. It allows us to exit the cookie cutter mode of modern day ministry and deal with our callings and context individually with cooperative influence around us.
The freedom of diversity in the Conference has allowed us to thrive in bringing missions teams from around the country to help minister to the needs of our area. We have been able to create a bridge between the haves and have-nots by being a voice and advocate for those in need. To families that have been in homeless and helpless since Sandy we have been able to supply them with clothes, food, Christmas gifts and even school supplies for their children. At Movement Covenant Church we find ourselves championing the cause of those whose lives have been forever changed by the storm. Diversification in the Covenant has allowed this. While diversification is a sign of good health and growth, there are, however, issues that have arisen as a result. Many have placed such a priority and passion in their areas of work and vision, that at times there arises a tension when others
are not as passionate as we are in an area of ministry. Issues regarding discipleship methods, helping the poor, ministry context and current political issues have caused this diversity to become more blatant than we might want. Our passions can easily lead to lines of contention. These lines are not easily crossed over due to the conviction and passion of those that hold them. Servant-based ministry and helping those in need through benevolent ministry in the church might hold a deeper root than it might in others. For some, discipleship models of one-on-one or small group might be their passion, for others, social justice and civil rights might be at the forefront. All these are righteous endeavors but should not be dividers. These dividers can cause us to sit at separate tables or feel relegated to certain tables when we gather together to express our views on ministry. When we come together as a conference we cannot choose to sit at separate tables based on our diversity, nor can we demand or expect others leave their table
to to sit at ours. Passion, world view, and experience cannot and should not divide us - but through the leadership within our conference, we must engage to a great impact by working together. Our tables should be joined together and be united by the Table of the Lord for unity and love towards each other's vision, mission, and call. Hurricane Sandy Update: Showing the love of God to those who need love, giving voice to those who have no voice, and brining hope to those who find life hopeless; these are what causes a person to be the change the world is looking for. October 29th 2012 Hurricane Sandy afforded this opportunity in our hometown of Staten Island NY. For the next four years we have worked tirelessly to help rebuild the homes and lives of those affected by the storm. To date we have helped 258 households, rebuilt 48 homes, fed tens of thousands of meals and distributed all types of goods from clothing to school supplies.
For the next two years, with the help of various mission teams and organizations we were able to continue on with the task of helping to rebuild Staten Island. During this rebuilding effort, the Lord placed upon my wife, Melissa, and my heart to plant a church that would continue to bring God’s changing love to those that are burden and oppressed by the weight of life. Through the support of the Evangelical Covenant Church and the East Coast Conference we were supported to plant Movement Covenant Church in January 2015 and blessed by them to continue with our relief efforts. Almost four years later our area is still being rebuilt with over 20% of the residents still without their homes. Many have resorted to waiting on NYC to rebuild their homes. But what of the homeowner who is in that hopeless in-between place. Enough of their house is rebuilt that they can live in it, but enough remains unfinished that they are restless, frustrated and hopeless.
7
A GATHERING OF MINISTERS AND SPOUSES FROM ACROSS THE EAST COAST CONFERENCE.
THEME: "A Higher Goal: Unity & Diversity in the Church" DATE: Sunday, November 13, 2016 (6pm) Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Through the financial and spiritual partnership of the Conference, this summer we were able to finish four homes and are currently waiting to complete a fifth. The freedom in the Conference has allowed us to thrive with bringing in mission teams from around the country to help minister to the needs of our area. We have been able to create a bridge between the haves and have nots by being a voice and advocate for those in need. We were also able to give out backpack and school supplies to 704 students whose families are still recovering from the economic loses incurred by the storm. In our neighborhood we were able to have an outreach to encourage those that are still in the rebuilding process with a carnival. Movement Covenant Church has hosted over 600 missionaries that aided us on our ongoing Sandy work. We were able to bless a local pastor with a new shed in his backyard built by a mission teams as well as a front door to replace
8
the one that was warping due to the storm. We saw a family that ran out of money trying to repair their home, blessed with a new HVAC system. I think of Dorothy, an elderly woman who was living with her kids in Maryland since Hurricane Sandy hit, who is now finally moving home after we finished sheet rocking and painting her house. Even more exciting, with the support of Covenant we baptized 26 this summer with 17 being teens and children. God is truly moving in the region thorough the hands of His people. Steve J. Martino is lead pastor and founder of Movement Church SI (themovementsi.com). He started Movement Church in 2015 in his home along with his wife Pastor Melissa Martino and a handful of people. Pastor Steve is a native Staten Islander who has served in the mission field in South East Asia, Mexico and Central America and as a youth pastor in Detroit, MI. He is currently involved as Director of Movement SI Disaster Relief in the recovery and rebuilding effort post Hurricane Sandy. Pastor Steve and Melissa have been married for thirteen years and are the parents four children.
SPEAKER: Our speaker, Christena S. Cleveland, is the acclaimed author of Disunity in Christ. Christena is a social psychologist and reconciliation scholarpractitioner who writes and lectures widely on the theology and practice of reconciliation. A wellrespected Christian author and speaker, Christena recently gave a keynote address at Urbana and is emerging as a key voice for racial reconciliation in the church. She is a faith-filled and faithful follower of Christ and a friend with many leaders in the Covenant Church. In worship there will also be prayers for Christian Healing, Holy Communion, and anointing for empowerment within your ministries. REGISTRATION: $200 A limited number of scholarships are available for those attending the FULL retreat and whose dues (where applicable) are up to date. It is hoped the financial restraints would not keep anyone from attending this meaningful gathering. Scholarships of $100 can be requested by emailing Jim StanleyErickson: pastorjim@christ-covenant.org. Individuals should register and pay for the retreat through the regular channels; once approved, scholarships will be reimbursed after registration is complete. Registration is being administered by Pilgrim Pines and can be done online at: www.pilgrimpines.org/retreats/eccashram Childcare available for speaker sessions during retreat. Send requests for childcare to: jim@pilgrimpines.org
Visit our updated home on the web! www.eastcoastconf.org
9
Bold & Sacrificial Obedience VITALITY FALL 2016 UPDATE THIS SUMMER, A CHURCH IN OUR CONFERENCE CONCLUDED ITS MINISTRY. Below are some comments I made to the congregation of Emmanuel Covenant Church in Nashua, NH at their banquet celebrating a quarter of a century of ministry. On behalf of the entire East Coast Conference, let me thank Emmanuel Covenant Church for being people of faith and obedience from the beginning of your ministry, until the very end. After reading through many of the historic documents from Emmanuel Covenant, I learned a great deal of the DNA of this church. It was started as a part of a strategic plan to reach a growing population center for Christ. Pre-launch meetings brought people compelled by scripture and the love of Christ together to be His ambassadors to reach people far from God. This church was launched by the Nashua Project Support Committee- a group of nine people representing many different Covenant churches in our conference, committed to enlarging the Kingdom of God. These parent and partner churches included neighboring churches in Bedford, NH; Waltham, MA; Lunenburg, MA; West Peabody, MA; Worcester, MA; Brewster, MA; and Cromwell, CT.
10
BY KREIG GAMMELGARD | DIRECTOR OF CONGREGATIONAL VITALITY
Praise God for such great team work among our churches!
within the next few months with Pastor Kevin Kokx.
Emmanuel Covenant has served hundreds of people, raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for ministry, influenced dozens and dozens of lives for eternity, invested time, energy, and resources to teach, reach, and serve people of every generation, and has scattered and watered the seeds of the Gospel for over 25 years. Thank you for your faithfulness and obedience… from the beginning until the end!
So… to those who have been here from the earliest days - thank you for your investment! Nothing you have done for the Lord has been in vain. To those who have served faithfully through the “middle years” - thank you for your faithfulness! Your perseverance will produce a harvest… because you did not give up! And to you who have led, and been discerning and obedient through these final days - thank you for that bold, selfless, obedient, surrendered discipleship!
As the last few years have been tough and your VIM has waned, you have diligently walked the congregational Vitality pathway, doing the hard work, asking the tough questions, evaluating and praying regularly and fervently, and recently saying ‘yes’ to the Lord’s leading of becoming a Living Legacy Church. Because you have been so bold and humble to hold all you have (and have built) loosely, the Kingdom of God will continue because of this congregation. You will be able to see the original purposes of this church continue, and the mission of God fulfilled in this region, because Living Legacy Churches’ assets are re-invested in this conference to plant new churches, which to this day remains the single most effective way to reach new people for Christ, and a new church is being launched in Nashua
God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit has been with you. He has used you. And, He will continue His good work through you for decades to come!! INTERIM NATIONAL ROLE As Dr. John Wenrich moves into his new role as the Executive Minister of Starting and Strengthening Churches, our own Kreig Gammelgard has been asked to step briefly into the Interim role as the National Director of Congregational Vitality. We are glad that we can share Kreig and his experience and gifts with many churches beyond our conference. Please be praying for him as he fulfills his dual roles through the remainder of the year.
Vitality Add-On Retreat
“CREATING & SUSTAINING A HEALTHY CULTURE IN YOUR CHURCH!”
Please join us at the 24-hour Vitality Retreat added on to the Fall Ashram - November 16-17: WHO: All Vitality Pastors, team leaders, and interested parties WHAT: How to build and sustain a healthy and missional culture in your church with special guest, Shaun Marshall WHERE: Pilgrim Pines Retreat Center WHEN: Following the close of Ashram (Wed, Nov 16 3pm - Thurs, Nov. 17 12noon) HOW MUCH: No cost to Vitality Pastors and Leaders. - $65 for other guests HOW MANY: We can accommodate the first 25 people who sign up REGISTRATION: Email office@eastcoastconf.org
It has been said that the number one job of the leader of any organization is to create and sustain the culture of that organization. Culture has been defined as “how we do things around here.” What you value, reward, tolerate, and even ignore - all contribute to the culture of your church. If you would like to improve the culture at your church, then join us for this important topic, and crucial discussion with a pastor who works on culture every day at his church. ABOUT THE SPEAKER...
Rev. Shaun Douglas Marshall serves as the Senior Pastor of the Community Covenant Church in Calumet Park, Illinois, a dynamic, multigenerational church family with a rich history spanning more than 65 years. Shaun previously served as Executive Pastor at the Citadel of Faith Covenant Church (Detroit, MI); New Life Covenant Church (Chicago, IL) as an Associate Minister and Director of Church Operations, the Evangelical Covenant Church as a Church Planting Coach, and the Willow Creek Association as an instructor and speaker. As a consultant, Shaun has served churches, non-profits and small businesses in the areas of leadership development, church growth and strategic planning. He is also the Founder of Manifest, a life-calling and leadership development movement which unites, equips and releases believers to follow Christ and influence the world. Shaun and his wife, Veronica, live in the Chicagoland area.
Conference News
For the most current news stories in the Conference, visit www.eastcoastconf.org/news
Barbara Ettinger welcomed as Conference Consultant As the East Coast Conference continues to navigate towards the future God has in store for this conference of churches, there is a steady advancing along a strategic tack marked by eight advancing priorities. These outline the mission priorities of the East Coast Conference as we look towards 2025: • Mobilize church planting • Organize regional networks • Vitalize congregations • Equip leaders • Make disciples • Engage justice for the poor • Nurture Covenant identity • Tell the story of Jesus Two of those priorities are to equip leaders and make disciples. As a servant to our congregations and mission agencies the Conference has long had a call to assist in these kingdom initiatives. The foundation of a spiritual movement is the quality and urgency of its discipleship. The ceiling of a spiritual movement is the quality and capacity of its leadership. In both regards the voice of Jesus should always be remembered: "It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters.” (Matt. 10:25). To help plot the territory and strategy for advancing our discipling and leadership ministries, the East Coast Conference has engaged Rev. Barbara Ettinger to serve on a part time contract basis this fall to research and outline strategic approaches that can lay the groundwork for
this conference-wide vision in discipling and leadership. Barbara serves full time on the national staff of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship where she manages theological formation strategies for ministry staff across the country. Prior to this national role Barbara served as Area Director for IVCF in planting and growing campus ministries across southern New England. She is an ordained ECC pastor, member of the congregation and governance board at Trinity Covenant Church, Manchester, CT, and a gifted thinker, teacher, and preacher. Barbara and her husband Jeff make their home in Vernon, CT. They have two grown sons. Every problem and opportunity the church faces has a solution that involves how it imagines and implements discipleship and leadership. Every problem. Every opportunity. Please welcome Barbara to the team in this part-time consulting role. Stay tuned as the Conference advances towards the 2017 Annual Meeting with an unfolding of strategies and resources to equip and encourage you and your ministries to make and deepen disciples and to equip leaders for kingdom impact and advancement. Please take a moment to welcome Barbara with a note of greetings at: rev.barbara.ettinger@gmail.com.
11
COMINGS & GOINGS WITHIN THE CONFERENCE
TRANSITIONS
Eric Palmquist to York, PA (Pastor), November 2016 Matt Marzluft from Azuza, CA to Springfield, MA (Pastor), October 1, 2016 Craig Carlson from Springfield, MA (Transition Pastor) to retirement, October 15, 2016 Kevin Kokx from Keene, NH (Staff) to Nashua, NH (Church Planter Residency), September 2016 Steven Hoffman from Bedford, NH (Staff) September 30, 2016 to open to call Geoff Twigg from Elizabethtown, PA (Brethren Church-Staff) to Silverdale, PA (Brethren Church-Pastor), September 1, 2016 Joe Riffe from IVCF Staff (Boston) to Fairfax, VA (Staff), August 1, 2016 Don Schiewer from Blacksburg, VA (Planter) to Toledo, OH (Planter), July 2016 Whitney Hall from Nashua, NH (Pastor), August 7, 2016 (church closing) David Guertin to Halifax, PA (Pastor), August 2016 Jason Mohn from Everett, WA to N. Easton, MA (Pastor), September 1 Earl Dunbar from N. Easton, MA (Interim) to open to call, July 31 T. Austin Bailey from Texas to Manchester, CT (Staff), July 24
SAVE THE DATES!
THE EAST COAST
127th Annual East Coast Conference
Annual Meeting Apr 27 - 29, 2017 Attleboro, MA
www.eastcoastconf.org
COVENANTER
Jan 30 - Feb 3, 2017 Galt House Hotel Louisville, KY www.covchurch.org/midwinter
Paul W. Kahn
EDITOR / GRAPHIC DESIGN & LAYOUT / WRITER
Sandi Lee
EDITOR / WRITER
Howard Burgoyne PUBLISHER
www.issuu.com/eastcoastcovenanter
EAST COAST CONFERENCE
12
52 Missionary Road, Cromwell, CT 06416 (860) 635-2691 FAX: (860) 398-5071 www.eastcoastconf.org
SUPERINTENDENT:
Howard K. Burgoyne
DIR. OF CHURCH PLANTING:
Jason Condon
DIR. OF CONGREGATIONAL VITALITY:
Kreig Gammelgard
OFFICE MANAGER:
Sandi Lee
FINANCE MANAGER:
Robin Jones