Compassionate response to immigrants from Disciples at La Asamblea

Cheri Metier, Church in Society's new Mission Project Consultant is happy to report that over $600 in total (including donations from University Christian Church, Casa de Oracion and others from July's La Asamblea) was raised and used for items specifically needed by those escaping violence in Central America. In just hours this significant amount was collected as a compassionate response to the immigrants fleeing horrific gang and drug violence in their homelands. These monies provided shoes, socks, underwear and feminine sanitary products for the health and comfort of those seeking asylum in the U.S.

As part of a contingent from La Obra Hispania and Refugee and Immigration Ministries of Disciples Home Missions, Cheri delivered these items to the Interfaith Center for Worker Justice of San Diego County (ICWJ) on July 21.  The contingent was warmly welcomed by Executive Director of ICWJ, Rabbi Laurie Coskey, Ed.D.  She was encouraged to learn that the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is taking advocacy leadership for refugees and immigrants and thanked us for the generous donations. 

To learn more about what the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is doing in response to this crisis visit the DHM website.

Email Cheri Metier, the PSWR Mission Project Consultant for the Church in Society Committtee.

Reflections on the 2014 National Convocation Biennial Session

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*The following article was produced by the General Church's Disciples News Service. To subscribe to their informative emails, click here.

"Be Still and Know" ... and act! Biennial Session celebrates past, future

There is an African proverb that says, "A people with no knowledge of their past are like a tree without roots." The board of the National Convocation made sure that participants in the 23rd Biennial Session in Columbus, OH have some roots.

Dramatic interpretations celebrating several personalities from the history of the black Disciples movement were included in plenary sessions. Jocoby Kenoly, the first black Disciples missionary to Liberia, visited through the performance of Rev. Jesse Jackson, telling of his call and the tools he used to carry it out. Several women were portrayed including Rosa Page Welch (Marilyn Williams), Sarah Lue Bostic (Sheryl Nelson) and Lucille Compton (Dee Long). Stories of the Struggle and a celebration of the merger agreement forming the National Convocation were also shared. And beautiful African traditions of dance, drumming and libation offerings were lifted up.

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Associate General Minister and Administrative Secretary for the National Convocation Rev. Dr. Timothy James shared his report on the state of the black Church reporting the strength of 479 congregations, remembering Eugene Randall and Raymond Brown and celebrating the current executive leaders of the denomination that include nearly 20 percent of regional ministers, Division of Overseas Ministries President Julia Brown Karimu and the new transitional president for Higher Education and Leadership Ministries, Rev. Chris Dorsey.

And there was preaching! Rev. Dr. Cynthia Hale of Ray of Hope Christian Church in Decatur, GA, kicked off the lineup that included Rev. Julian DeShazier (a.k.a. J Kwest) from University Church in Chicago and Rev. Dr. Irie Sessions, first woman called to pastor  Warren Avenue Christian Church in South Dallas and president of the Disciples Black Ministers Association.

In addition, national staff of the NAACP visited to bring the participants up to date on some of the legislative and educational efforts of the civil rights organization. Hilary O. Shelton, director of the Washington bureau and senior vice president for policy and advocacy, brought report cards on congressional votes, legislative priorities, a current action alert re: voting rights legislation and an opportunity to join the Quick Response Membership Network. Rev. Keron R. Sadler, HIV/AIDS specialist in the health advocacy branch, shared their three areas of work for institutional and systemic change - the Affordable Care Act, childhood obesity and HIV/AIDS. A grassroots effort to engage churches in the conversation about HIV/AIDS includes faith leader training and curriculum for seminaries (theblackchurchandhiv.org).

And as for action, Patricia Maples presided over reports during the business sessions  which followed up on efforts for strategic planning, nurture of clergy, the elder's efforts, a task force to eliminate racist language from Church governing documents, program audit reports as well as accomplishments such as more than 100 Disciples participating in the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington.

The following officers were installed during the final worship service: president - Rev. Jesse Jackson, Oklahoma City; vice president - Pat Penelton, St. Louis; secretary - Felicia Wright, Houston; and treasurer - John Tiggle, Houston.

Reflections on the 2014 Obra Hispana Assembly

The 2014 Hispanic Biennial Fellowship Assembly was July 16-19 in San Diego, CA. 

*The following article was produced by the General Church's Disciples News Service. To subscribe to their informative emails, click here.

Hispanic assembly time to celebrate faith

From the opening worship Wednesday to the banquet Saturday evening the assembly of Obra Hispana was a celebration of faith in Jesus - "Let's Celebrate What We Believe - Christ, Alpha and Omega". Animated preaching by National Pastor Huberto Pimentel, Dr. Samuel and Rev. Dr. Noemi Pagan was accompanied by lessons from the book of Revelation.

More than 120 volunteers from Casa de Oración in San Diego welcomed assembly-goers to the church, supplied valet parking, cooked and served gourmet meals, and provided energizing music for worship.

Samuel Pagan explained in a series of lectures that the texts, when viewed in their context, are not intended to cause anxiety, but rather bring hope, not judgment but salvation. He made his points with a gentle humor and candor.

They make room at the Hispanic Assembly to witness at the border. About 25 Disciples - both lay and clergy, local and general ministry staff - took time on Saturday to travel to the border with Mexico where they prayed on behalf of Central American children arriving at the border.Pastor Huberto Pimentel, prayed and commissioned them.   

Pimentel shared not only a sermon but also his personal reflections on the context of the ministry of the Central Pastoral Office for Hispanic Ministries. His message reminded the congregation of our mission to bring grace and truth to the broken by reflecting God's love in the world as Jesus did. In his report, Pimentel issued a call to the Hispanic churches to renew their relationships with both the Disciples and the Central Pastoral Office for Hispanic Ministries. He was forthright in laying out the financial situation and called for a youth development fund. Sadness at the departure or closing of 28 Hispanic congregations was shared. But he also lifted up in joy the growing vibrant churches, which included Casa de Oración, Coral Gables, Arise and others. Pimentel has announced his retirement in April 2016 prior to the next Hispanic Assembly.

And as with most meetings of this kind, there was business to be done and reports to be heard. Many general ministries as well as General Minister and President Sharon Watkins gave an accounting of their work and current initiatives. Reports from the Hispanic Conventions highlights were shared. Richie Sánchez, chairperson of the search committee for the next national pastor presented the names of the members and a projected timeline.

At Saturday's banquet, the assembly came together to celebrate and honor the following individuals with "Somos Uno" awards for their contributions to Hispanic ministries:

• Rev. Elizabeth Carrasquillo, advocate for Obra Hispana since inception
• Antonio "Tony" Rodriguez, second vice moderator for the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
• Pastor Isay Alvarez and the Primera Iglesia Cristiana de Vista, San Diego
• Rev. Mary Harris of Christian Theological Seminary

The Executive Hispanic Board of Directors was also installed on Saturday as part of the business section including: Rev. Joel Saucedo, Moderator; Pastor, Sammy Ramirez, Moderator Elect, Pastor Lori Tapia, Second Vice Moderator, Rev. Lorna Hernandez, secretary; Millie Semprit, sub secretary; Guillermina Percales, women's ministries vocal; Rev. David Cortez, vocal.

Visit the Obra Hispana webpage.

History + Polity at DSF - English + Korean Offerings

DSF (Disciples Seminary Foundation) will be offering Disciples History and Polity courses in both English and Korean in August.

The course being taught in English is August 13-16, Wednesday-Friday from 6:30-9:30PM and Saturday from 9AM-3PM at the DSF offices in Claremont. 

The course being taught in Korean is August 15-16 and August 18-19, Friday, Monday and Tuesday from 5PM-10PM, and Saturday 9AM-6PM at the DSF offices in Claremont.

This class will survey the history of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), from its foundings two centuries ago to the contemporary manifestations of the church. Emphasis will be placed on the context of American Christianity, the interaction of the church with the wider culture, and the establishment of the church within the western United States.

Although the class will provide a critical examination of the history, we will focus on the usefulness of Disciples history for understanding the denomination’s present and its resources for the future. The course will explore the present functioning of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in its congregational, regional, and general manifestations. We will also analyze the theological roots and developments of the Disciples tradition, and discuss directions of mission and ministry within the contemporary Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). 

This class will be offered in English and Korean. All candidates in the Disciples of Christ ordination process are required to complete a Disciples History + Polity course. At the end of the course, you will receive a certificate of completion. Be sure to file this certificate with Michel Johnson in the PSWR Office.

To register, visit dsf.edu/donate and "donate" the full tuition amount and then email info@dsf.edu to inform them of your donation/registration and direct your registration for the English Polity course or the Korean polity course.

Tuition cost and other information is provided below.

Stepping Deeper & More “Soul-Fully” Into Stewardship!

This article will provide all pastors and lay leaders with an update on Soul-Full and an invitation to participate in one or more of the Region’s dynamic stewardship education events scheduled for 2014.

Please find below a full list of stewardship events, ranging in topic from Creating a Culture of Generosity and Stewardship Planning 52 Weeks a Year, to Ministry, Mission & Money. Specialized topics focusing on Legacy Giving and Grant Writing will also be offered. In addition, the Region is excited to offer for all those interested in going green, our first ever, Creation Care Conference. 

We are thrilled to announce that leadership for these events will include: Bruce Barkhauer, the Director for the Disciples Center for Faith and Giving; Marilyn  Fiddmont, of the Christian Church Foundation; and, Nora Jacob, our very own, recent DSF, M-DIV graduate and grant-writing guru!

Clergy, you will be excited to know that CEU’s will be offered for each event.  

So, for all of you who have been asking for new and creative ways to bolster your stewardship understandings and programs, here are the perfect opportunities.  Pastors, this is also your chance to invite existing and potential lay leadership into a deeper understanding of what it means to be good Disciples stewards. 

Don’t wait, registration is only a call or click away, and seating is limited for some events.  You can register online at www.disciplespswr.org/ or by calling the Regional office at 626-296-0385. 

Now for the Soul-Full update, please read the following three paragraphs introducing how two congregations and one ministry group have begun getting involved.  

Story #1 comes from Pam Moore, Regional Board Moderator and pastor of the San Bernardino FCC. Pam connected her congregation to Soul-Full by sending me the following email:

Hi Dan, I visited our local UCC church on the day of their BIG yard sale.  I had them set aside all leftover shoes for me.  I now am the proud recipient of 8 boxes of shoes--not to mention the three bags that came out of Asa's room when he moved.  How do we get bags and materials for labeling these?  Pam

Story #2 is from Saundra Bryant of All Peoples Christian Center, who emailed me, “All Peoples would like to participate in the shoe campaign.  One of our board members would like to set up a receptacle at his office.  We can start with 20 bags.”

Story #3 comes from John Wolfersberger, former PSWR Regional Minister, who is now a member of the Redlands United Methodist Church. John called me last week to find out how to get his congregation involved with Soul-Full. This call led to Redlands UMC becoming our 1st ecumenical Soul-Full partner.  Their church will be sharing in Soul-Full as a way to fundraise for environmental upgrades on their congregation’s facility.

In closing, I want to share my favorite Soul-Full promotioal phrase to-date.  It comes from a member of the Redlands UMC who is challenging their people to participate by sharing the phrase, "Let someone else walk a mile in your shoes!"  

P.S. Ask your pastor about how your congregation is planning to participate in

Soul-Full Sunday, on, June 22, 2014!

   With Deep Gratitude for Gently Worn Shoes,

DanO (Oliver) - Your PSWR Minister of Stewardship and Giving

(Celebrating a Culture of Gratitude and Generosity in our Region and beyond!)