Seminary has new institute, doctoral program | | The Disciples Mission Fund special day offering for Thanksgiving supports the Disciples Seminary Foundation and its students. The Thanksgiving offering will be received in most congregations Nov. 15 and 22. (No offering materials were printed and mailed this year. You can find downloadable resources on the disciplesmissionfund.org site.)
by Iliff School of Theology staff
Iliff School of Theology, part of the Disciples Seminary Foundation, is pleased to announce the creation of the new Institute for Religion, Politics & Culture, led by Rev. Amanda Henderson, effective Jan. 1, 2021. Henderson, an ordained Disciple clergyperson, has been the Executive Director of the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado for six years. “I am grateful for the opportunity to engage in work that gets to the deeper level narratives that shape our political lives. After years of engaging in political and advocacy work, I see the real need to build new understanding if we are to effect lasting social change,” said Henderson. In addition to conducting research on the way public policy and legislative initiatives are shaped by religion, the Institute will provide programming and consulting to legislators, policy advocates, and the public. The Interfaith Alliance of Colorado is providing funding for the creation of the Institute.
Since 2018, Iliff has been a proud DSF partner. Rev. Dr. Boyung Lee, senior vice president of academic affairs and dean of faculty, states “Our partnership provides an empowering opportunity to cultivate and nurture future courageous theological leaders who place social justice, ethics, peace, and diversity at the heart of their practice.” Iliff also works with the Central Rocky Mountain Region and Rev. Joan Bell-Haynes, the Executive Regional Minister.
Rev. Dr. Eric Smith, who is ordained in the Christian Church, leads Iliff’s new Doctor of Ministry in Prophetic Leadership program, which welcomed its first cohort of nine students last January. We are actively seeking our next Doctor of Ministry cohort to begin classes in January 2021. The program is designed to support church leaders with at least three years of experience seeking to develop theoretical knowledge, analytical skills, and contextual awareness that enables and advances the study and practice of prophetic leadership. The essential foundation of the program seeks to refine competencies and self-awareness within the contexts of culturally diverse congregations, denominations, and communities of intersectional identities and institutional cultures. | | Teaching justice 2020 style
Elementary-age youth are curious and ready to learn. Taking advantage of what they are hearing in the culture about social justice and inequities, the time is ripe for introducing concepts about poverty.
Rev. Kate Epperly, staff in Disciples Home Missions’ Ministries Across Generations who specializes in justice and advocacy for families and children, gathered a faith formation team in response to the Poor People’s Campaign June 20 event. Her grandsons were deeply interested in the broadcast.
“Jack (aged 10) not only watched the whole event, but also had a lot of questions. He immediately made a tagboard sign saying, ‘Black Lives Matter’ and posted it on the front door, but he wanted more,” she said.
Epperly got to work gathering materials and her colleague, Rev. Olivia Updegrove, collaborated. They consulted colleagues of color within the Disciples and the United Church of Christ to vet their work.
Based on an intergenerational model of learning, the web-based curriculum highlights the Poor People’s Campaign five “jubilee justice” principles around communities, inclusion, voice, lifting all, and the concept that there is enough for all.
The Poor People’s Campaign leadership has agreed to present and promote the new website produced by Ministries Across Generations.
“I have been so excited to share this journey with my grandsons Jack and James (aged 8 ) over the summer. I hope others can connect to this faith-based intergenerational, reflection-action education tool.” | | | | Have you heard about Alex?
This new tool will help your congregation track your attendance and giving. You will be able to make notes for each week right in the program. When it’s time to fill out your yearbook report, Alex will help you organize your numbers.
And there’s more!
You can update your staff and contact info in real time, so the directory is always up to date. And you can easily get in touch with other congregations through the congregational directory.
When January 1 rolls around, the other yearbook reporting tabs in Alex will be unlocked so you can add your in-depth information, like participant numbers, mission projects, demographics and more. You’ll have until March 15 to get that updated. This will take the place of the old yearbook paper forms and online form.
| | | | Thanksgiving offering received Nov. 15, 22
Higher education has been an important focus for Disciples since the very beginning of the movement. Throughout our history, Disciples have founded institutions of higher learning to educate students and form leaders to make a difference in the world. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is still committed to higher education.
In the midst of national and global challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, our higher education institutions are facing unprecedented challenges and they need our support now, more than ever. Even as they work diligently to ensure safe and healthy learning environments, the financial realities faced by many or our schools is adding additional stress to students, faculty and staff.
This year’s offering will take place on Nov. 15 and 22. You can also give online (please choose “Thanksgiving Special Offering” on the Designation Dropdown List). Your gift to the Thanksgiving Offering helps support the education of thousands of students at our fifteen colleges and universities as well as our seven seminaries and divinity houses. In addition, it helps continue the ongoing collaborative work of church and higher education that is such a foundational part of the heritage of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
Please give generously to this offering. You gift makes a difference in the lives of our students and it makes a difference in the world. | | | | Ohio regional pastor and president position open
The Regional Pastor and President provides executive and visionary leadership for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Ohio. The Regional Pastor and President will enhance congregational vitality and mission through a ministry of: authentic connection, presence, process development and creative leadership; spiritual development and practice in personal and communal life; pastoral care and nurture of the congregations and ministers within the Region through quality communication and wise, prayerful counsel; and attention to the development of community by encouraging networking, collaboration and cooperation of congregations and leadership. The Regional Pastor will be affirming and inclusive, creating a space where all Disciples in Ohio are welcome at the Table.
Applications due Nov. 30, 2020. | | | | Kentucky regional minister position open The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Kentucky is seeking to call an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to the position of Regional Minister. A Regional Profile and Position Description are posted on the following website: All applicants are required to provide updated search and call paperwork in order to be considered. Furthermore, all applicants are required to submit a Letter of Interest to the Search Committee Chairperson:
Rev. Kory Wilcoxson c/o Crestwood Christian Church 1882 Bellefonte Dr., Lexington, KY, 40502 The application deadline is Dec. 15, 2020. | | | | COVID-19 resources available
The Office of the General Minister and President has compiled a collection of resources and statements from Church leadership in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are updating this page with more resources as available.
| | | | Other News
From Lexington Theological Seminary's Creating Vital Congregations webinar series
In these unprecedented times, more than ever, we must have the courage to imagine a new church for a new world. We must give ourselves permission to change and also to live in freedom from fear.
- On. Nov. 7, Rev. Terri Hord Owens, general minister and president, will deliver a 2-hour session via Lextington Theological Seminary's series. Cost is $10 per sign on.
| | | | Missing piece for 2020 yearbook
The editors of the 2020 Yearbook & Directory apologize for a recently discovered error. The report of the National Benevolent Association, as submitted to the General Board in February of this year, was inadvertenly omitted from the printed yearbook published this summer.
| | Apply for a grant with the National Benevolent Association
The National Benevolent Association is currently running two grant programs. We invite disciples-affiliated organizations whose ministries have been detrimentally impacted by COVID-19 to apply for a COVID-19 NBA Response Grant. This grant was created to support new and changing projects created in service to those suffering because of the pandemic. Applications for this grant are rolling. | | | | Advocacy Toolkit from Disciples Justice Ministries
Hopefully you found a justice ministry this summer that piqued your interest. (Review stories linked from this page.) Well, there's something more you can do and do it right now! Many legislators are listening more closely to their constituents in this election season so it's your opportunity to bring up what matters to you in a virtual legislative visit. You can find out how to make effective visits with this advocacy tool kit that includes a video from our Disciples in Washington who are well-practiced. | | More opportunities to put ministry into action
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