Time to Check your Congregations Info

Information updates

Now is a great time to make sure your congregation's information is up to date in ALEX. Since the data there feeds the find-a-congregation feature on disciples.org, it is vital to make sure your website, phone numbers, and emails are all accurate.

You may also notice that the tabs for congregational staff and ministers are separate now. This is to accommodate the feed from the ministers directory. (see below for more info)

Attendance

Did you know that this Yearbook reporting season your weekly attendance numbers will roll up for you and fill in that spot on your Yearbook report? Great incentive to keep those up! You can not only see your trends in real time, but save a little calculating in January.

 If you already have another software program where you are tracking attendance, you can pull those numbers out and upload them to ALEX. See the instructions

Ministerial staff

Ministers with standing who are associated with a congregation are now showing up in the congregation directory. If you discover that your congregation's minister listed is not accurate, or if you are a minister listed with a congregation in error, please contact your regional office so they can update their records and then pass the information to the Disciples Home Missions Office of Christian Vocations ministers directory. Once that ministers directory information is updated, the correction should appear in ALEX.

Yearbook Subscriptions

Yearbook subscribers have come to rely on some summary reports and tables in the printed yearbook. If you have a subscription to ALEX, you can still access this information.

Once you login as a subscriber, go to the pencil icon (Reporting) on the right and then click the "$ Subscriber Reporting" button.

·    For top congregations for baptisms, giving, participants - click on the "Top Results" tab

·    For the two-year comparison of regional numbers - click on the "Two-Year Region Comparison" tabs (financial or participants)

·    For congregational tables, you can use the search function under "Past Yearbook Entries" to sort and narrow the results, such as by region or year.

User & Subscriber Benefits

As a congregational user of ALEX, you already have access to powerful free tools to track your congregation's current attendance and giving trends as well as look at historical yearbook records.

·    Use of congregational directory for all in the US and Canada, that now includes ministerial listings

·    Use of attendance and giving tracking tools; ability to upload from other attendance software via spreadsheet

·    Ability to correct and make additions to contact information, website links, and staff

·    Ability to submit Yearbook report annually electronically; Disciples Mission Fund uploads automatically; attendance entered in system will roll up for annual averages

·    Access to PDFs of congregation’s yearbook reports and view bar charts of past reports (20 years, one at a time)

·    Download Excel of congregation’s yearbook attendance and giving reports (20 years in one sheet)

What you may not be aware of is that there is more to ALEX when you purchase a yearbook subscription, all in one convenient interface.

All of the above plus…

·    Link inside the application for general ministry and regional ministry reports

·    Searchable ministers directory with email contact if available

·    Full Yearbook data for immediate past year and previous 20 years for entire denomination

·    Links inside the program to additional data reports such as census information and demographics for your geographic area

Breaking Bread, October 2021

Why a Regional Gathering

“Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on…” – Hebrews 10: 22 – 25 (MSG)

We are one of thirty-one regions in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada. Overall, there are many parts of our regional manifestation that is the same. It is easy to recognize there are differences in our geographic territories, numbers of congregations, social and cultural celebrations. This is just to name a few. But there is one more uniqueness we have that I have not seen throughout our other sister regions and that is the existence of a Regional Gathering.

I have been asked by our gathering planning team to share a few thoughts on why this event (and theme). Our Region, like so many others, on the even years enjoys an assembly, it is where we come together, convening our congregations’ delegates for the purposes of conducting business, worship, education, fellowship and serving as a witness to the world. On the off years, we grew in need to stay connected with each other and wanted more opportunities to join in greater relationships, learning, celebrating and unity. Due to the pandemic and public health concerns we chose a virtual celebration.

Last year, our planning committee understood our call to embrace and embody “the new and living way.” This year, we thought about the hardships many of our BIPOC communities are facing, and the challenges our congregations and clergy are finding in responding to our changing culture, difficult conditions, and limited resources. What came to mind was the pericope of Joshua and this crucial time in his leadership. This is not an easy narrative, filled with complexities and still prime for our time as PSWR Disciples. It has not been easy these first two years of our journey. Sin embargo, estamos “Siguiendo El Camino.” However, we are “Continuing on the Way.”

I would like to thank the many volunteers, talents, gifts, and efforts that came from our congregations. Our Region is filled with a beautiful array of diversities in culture, languages, music, worship, social and theological perspectives and much more. Many of these will be reflected in this upcoming Regional Gathering, October 15 – 16, 2021. It has been shaped together with you at heart and in mind.

We are reminded again by the author in Hebrews to become “inventive… in encouraging love and helping out… and spurring each other on.” We are adding some new (to us) technical touches in our virtual Regional Gathering to help us understand, enjoy each other, and continue our building in relationships, learning, celebrating and growth in unity. Please register and attend to help witness our strength and to support the many efforts of our congregations. We are working and praying for a wonderful Regional Gathering.

Blessings,
Richie

Level 2 Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation Training

Pastors of the Pacific Southwest Region,

The Committee on Ministry is excited to announce LEVEL 2 Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation Trainings. It is our sincere prayer that as each of us continue to faithfully engage issues of racism and injustice in our world, we will see growing impact in our churches and all across our region. See below for a description of the training, or click HERE to be directed to the Clergy Training webpage for training dates/times. Please contact Michel Johnson at mjohnson@docpswr.org with any questions.

Level 2 training is for clergy who have taken the Level 1 training in the Pacific Southwest Region and need to renew their Anti-Racism training requirements as established by the Committee on Ministry. Sandhya Jha and David Bell will provide both training and coaching for the social-historical analysis of racism. (Bios below)

Level 2 training will help participants hone their analysis of institutional racism and look at their own organizations' governing documents to dream of how those documents can be more intentionally anti-racist. Participants will need to bring with them their own church or nonprofit's governing documents (bylaws), since the majority of the day will be practical application of anti-racism analysis. Please note that a review of institutional racism will be included at the beginning of the training, so it's okay if it's been a while since you covered that part of the content.

Rev. David Bell is the Minister for Indigenous Justice of Yakama Christian Mission.  David and his partner Belinda lives in the Toppenish Creek Valley of the Yakama Nation.  As minister of YCM for the last nineteen summers, David has transformed the mission’s patriarchal structure to one which recognizes its racist/colonist roots.  This recognition brought about the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Repudiation of the Christian Doctrine of Discovery in 2017 along with a call for action-based Indigenous justice.  For the better part of two decades David has led anti-racism trainings and promoted earth and indigenous justice.

Sandhya Jha serves as founder and director of the Oakland Peace Center, a collective of 40 organizations creating access, equity, and dignity for all in Oakland and the Bay Area.

Raised in an interracial and multi-faith family and witness to the sometimes subtle (and sometimes obvious) ways that racism and xenophobia show up in our society, it is not surprising that Sandhya’s career has been marked by work to effect public policy change (working in the office of Congressman Thomas C. Sawyer from Akron, Ohio), religious liberty and an alternative voice to the religious right (at

The Interfaith Alliance) and around the issues of housing for all (at East Bay Housing Organizations) as well as her work to build what Dr. Martin Luther King called Beloved Community (at the Oakland Peace Center).

ANTI-RACISM TRAINING BACKGROUND:  Fifteen years as an anti-oppression trainer and consultant, primarily with non-profits, youth organizing groups, universities and faith/interfaith organizations.

My most recent book, Transforming Communities: How People Like You are Healing Their Neighborhoods is being taught in community colleges, universities, seminaries and graduate programs for social justice, social work, criminal justice and urban planning.

HOW I UNDERSTAND ANTI-OPPRESSION:  Some consultants in the arena of cultural competence or Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are committed to fostering healthier interpersonal relations. I believe that is important. The reason I engage in anti-oppression is that I believe our individual and interpersonal work best thrives in an environment where institutional and systemic justice are explicit goals of the organization. In other words, justice creates the best container for kindness, compassion, and empathy. Therefore, my work with any organization will prioritize and support institutional/organizational practices and policies of anti-oppression, while also including cultural humility, anti-bias, and community issues. 

Breaking Bread, August 2021

This Way or That Way

May the peace of God be with you.

Let me express deep gratitude to all the region for an outpouring of cards, letters, emails, and phone calls that extended prayers, care, and sympathy during the passing of Jasmine’s father.  This generosity continued and overflowed to include special efforts by our regional clergy, staff, and leadership.  Our Regional Moderator, Rev. Dr. Norm Williams was firm for my focus to turn toward my family’s well-being.  Once more, I am grateful for all the understanding and patience as we continue to improve our response times and availability.    

It is hard to believe that almost a year has passed since our Regional Assembly.  Amid pandemic, we were already responding to multiple changes and challenges in mission and ministry.  Our congregations began discovering and embracing “the new and living way” for their communities.  While we are still in a pandemic, there has been a lot learned and gained.  Also, we have had many painful losses and change.  This year’s Regional Planning Committee challenges us to consider our parts in “Continuing on the way.”

Every day, like many of our pastors, our regional staff is searching, learning, and considering ways to encourage new forms of mission and ministry.  All our congregations are unique, and a one size fits all model will not work (as if it ever has worked for us with one way).  We do know for some it can be this way and still for others that way.  What we should work to avoid is losing patience with the new and returning totally to what was before the pandemic.  We need to keep a healthy sense of the congregation, working to keep this “new and living way” by “continuing on the way” that lies ahead.

One thing I would like to ask our readers to consider, our pastors have continued to provide us care and leadership amid one the most difficult times in ages.  Please consider writing or emailing a note of gratitude and if you’re a congregational leader, why not suggest the church board provide extra paid time off for some rest and renewal?  If you’re a CC (DOC) Clergy person, please consider a new service designed with you in mind provided on behalf of the Pension Fund for your better health.  For more information please visit: www.pensionfund.org/learntolive.

Please continue to keep in prayer our regional clergy, staff, and leadership in these difficult days of transition and changes.  We continue to keep you, our pastors and all our congregations, here and across the wider church in prayers as well.

Blessings,
Richie

Breaking Bread, July 2021

Connection and Re-Connection

Last year, the pandemic put limitations on Independence Day festivities and disrupted travel plans / modes of all kinds. There are traveling agency predictions and news reports of people traveling at an increase greater than pre-pandemic levels. There are plenty of social media stories, and photos of families being reunited in-person, sometimes having been a part for more than two years. I think we can all feel the power of these important lost connections being re-connected.

I can’t resist the question to some, to those who might have lost connections in their faith and / or with their faith communities. Are you planning to reconnect? I pray you’re considering a restart. I have witnessed a host of our congregations and clergy working their hardest to open the physical doors of the church, as safely as possible. Many are taking great efforts for those of us who might have grown weary from disconnection and need to find several ways to stay connected whether in-person or virtual. Please remember there is / are still COVID-19 restrictions and safety concerns to adhere and consider.

This summer is filled with opportunities for connections if you are looking for some time of hope and healing.  National Benevolent Association is sponsoring a webinar on July 14th with panelists (including our very own – Rev. Cisa Payuyo) “Tending to Our Spiritual & Mental Wellbeing After Crisis & Trauma.” Don’t forget to consider the special presentation from Project IMPACT and the PSWR African American Convocation Mental Health First Aid training course, limited in class space. “This summer Disciples can go deeper, learn what they can do locally, and connect with the ministries that resonate most deeply.” Consider a summer series Facing Brokenness - Conversations of Healing sponsored by Disciples Justice Ministries beginning July 11th. Disciples from across the United States and Canada will celebrate a Virtual Gathering on Saturday, August 7th under the text Romans 8:31 – 39 and theme: Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Amen. You’ll need to register for this event. These are a few of so many ways for you to connect and reconnect with faith and / or your faith community this summer.  

One of the “Marks of a Faithful Regional Church”[1] is gathering as a Regional Expression of the Church. Our Region will continue to thrive, with congregations working side by side in covenantal relationships, celebrating together our life and expression as part of the whole Body of Christ. Let us continue to remain faithful and safe in our summer filled with connections. Too, we’re excited about our upcoming Regional Gathering, please save the date October 15th - 16th offered virtually and with in-person opportunities. Stay Connected!

Blessings,
Richie

[1] https://cdn.disciples.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/06162554/MarksofaFaithfulRegionalChurch2007.pdf