· Web viewCOMMISSIONS. Church Health Commission. Healthy Pastor Team. Church Planting Commission. Evangelism & Discipleship Commission. Christian Education. Evangelism Committee.

COMMISSIONS

Church Health Commission

Healthy Pastor Team

Church Planting Commission

Evangelism & Discipleship Commission

Christian Education

Evangelism Committee

Prayer Mobilization Team

Youth Network

Global Ministries Commission

Leadership Commission

Chaplaincy Committee

Sec. 7 -Pg. 1

Commissions

7

CHURCH HEALTH COMMISSIONIncluding Healthy Pastor Team

The Church Health Commission continues to seek to serve the congregations of the National Conference by providing training and resources that will promote church health, encourage greater effectiveness in ministry, and assist our pastors and congregations to become more intentionally missional. In the course of the present conference year (2013-2014) the Church Health Commission has sought to fulfill these objectives through continued support for the formation and promotion of Affinity Groups, the sponsoring of Church Health Seminars, and the establishment of a Funding Criteria and Process for the funding of church health and revitalization efforts.

AFFINITY GROUPSAffinity Group Purpose Statement: An affinity group will be established when there is a need

for peer support resourcing, and/or training focused on a particular area of ministry. All groups will be under the leadership of the Commission. When established by the Commission, all of the following will apply:

1. The group will be led by a facilitator.2. The group will meet at the call of the facilitator for resourcing, discussion, education, etc.3. Groups may be started or ended as the needs of our pastors and churches change.4. Groups may be of any size, but may be divided into sub-groups by geographical location

or to keep the number of participants to a workable number.

Affinity Groups Presently Meeting and Reporting to the Church Health Commission:

Healthy Pastors Team – Purpose: to provide support, resources, and encouragement to denominational leaders and pastors, their families, and our churches in encouraging healthier lifestyles beneficial for effective ministry. Facilitator, Mrs. Margie Miller ([email protected]).

Natural Church Development – Purpose: to bring together leaders from local churches presently utilizing Natural Church Development resources. Facilitator, Rev. Gordon Lewis ([email protected]).

Governance -- Purpose: To provide an opportunity for church leaders to discuss models for local church governance. Current resource: The Evangelical Congregational Church Governance Manual. Facilitator, Rev. Gary Brown ([email protected]).

Turnaround Churches –Purpose: To provide an opportunity for pastors serving in turnaround situations to meet for study, discussion, prayer, and fellowship. Current resource: Leading Turnaround Churches, Gene Wood, Church Smart Resources, 2010. Facilitator, Rev. Gary Kuehner ([email protected]).

Pastor’s Wives – Purpose: to provide fellowship and support for the wives of pastors serving in the Delaware Region. Facilitator, Mrs. Carol Kuehner ([email protected]).

Dangerous Calling – Purpose: to provide pastors with the opportunity to meet to discuss the challenges and temptations unique to the calling of pastoral ministry. This group, which plans to begin meeting in September 2014, will utilize the book and video resource Dangerous Calling by Paul David Tripp. Facilitator, Rev. Jim Price ([email protected]).

If you have an interest in participating in one of the above groups you are encouraged to

contact the facilitator. If you are interested in facilitating the formation of a new group we invite you

COMMISSIONS

Sec. 7 -Pg. 2

Commissions

to contact the Church Health Commission chairperson, Rev. Gary Kuehner ([email protected] ) for guidance and support.

CHURCH HEALTH SEMINARSThe Church Health Commission sponsored two seminars this past year. Be Still led by Rev. Mike Campbell, September 21, 2013. Biblical Preaching Seminar led by Rev. Dr. Randall Pelton on the Great Lakes Region,

February 13, 2014.

This spring the Bishop and Conference Ministers led training seminars in each region: Church Leadership 101, and The Healthy Pastoral Relations Committee for pastors, lay delegates and members of local Pastoral Relations Committees.

FUNDING CRITERIA AND PROCESSThe Church Health Commission has a limited amount of endowment funds available each year

to financially support church health and revitalization goals. The following process and criteria was developed this past year to guide the use of available funds:

1. The pastor and local church leaders meet with the Conference Minister to discuss the situation leading to the request for funding. The Conference Minister has the responsibility to evaluate the situation and request and to decide whether or not to move forward with the process.

2. Moving forward, the Conference Minister requests the pastor and church leadership to submit a written funding request to the Supervisory Committee. Along with the specific amount being requested the proposal should also include the following information.

a. How the church got to this point (recognizing a ministry opportunity or dealing with a ministry challenge).

b. What the church needs.c. What the church will do with the financial assistance.d. What the church expects to happen because of the financial assistance.

3. The Supervisory Committee will review the request and decide whether or not to submit the request to the Church Health Commission for funding consideration.

4. The Church Health Commission will review the written proposal and base its decision to grant financial assistance on the following criteria:

a. Assessment of Church Health – measured by the completion of a Natural Church Development Survey (required and funded by the commission).

b. Recommendation – by the Conference Minister.c. Assessment – of the skills and passion of the pastor in ‘turn around’ work.d. Due Diligence – the process is to be followed including all needed forms, exercises, and

reports as requested by the commission. e. Hope—overall the evaluation of the situation should lead to a reasonable expectation that

the funded project will support realistic ministry goals of church health.

James Price

CH: HEALTHY PASTOR TEAMThe Healthy Pastors Team serves as an Affinity Group of the Church health Commission. Its

mission is to provide support, resources and encouragement to our denominational leaders, pastors and their families, and the EC churches by promoting holistic health and lifestyles that can, in turn, strengthen their ability to carry out their ministries.

This past year, at the 2013 National Conference, the Healthy Pastors Team organized the first ever 5K Rev Run/Walk. The event was open to pastors, their wives and lay delegates. Twenty-eight people signed up to either walk or run the course through the Messiah College campus before the official start of National Conference. The weather cooperated, and even though Messiah was undergoing construction which changed the 5K course several times, the event got off without a hitch. The course was marked with cones and water was provided before and after the event. T-shirts with the conference logo and 5K were provided for each participant and most wore their shirt for the run/walk. Extra t-shirts were sold at conference and all proceeds from the Run/Walk and the

Sec. 7 -Pg. 3

Commissions

t-shirts went toward Church Planting, $1,450. All the participants had their “Photo finish” picture viewed by the entire conference on the video screen. We applaud the participants and everyone who helped with the event.

The EC Leader is now featuring a pastor each month who has developed a healthier lifestyle. It serves to encourage all our pastors and gives them a peer they can go to and ask questions or share their trials in trying to develop a more balanced life. Stress and burn out continue to dominate the reasons why pastors leave their pulpits and return to the secular world. Margie Miller, FCN (Faith Community Nurse) serves on the Episcopacy committee, assuring she has the “pulse” on our Bishop’s health and can make recommendations and insights accordingly to the committee. Margie also serves on the Healthy Pastor Team.

Jackie Iatesta, FCN serves on the Church Health Commission giving input on topics for Church Health Seminars and is the interviewer for the EC Leader articles featuring the healthy lifestyles of our EC Pastors.

Looking forward to 2014 when the 2nd Annual Rev Run/Walk/Ride will take place at National Conference. Yes, biking is being added to include our bike enthusiasts. A participant can ride only or ride and then run or walk or just walk or run the 5K. Once again the proceeds will go toward church planting. The event is open to everyone, clergy or lay delegates and we look forward to increased participation in 2014.

Both Margie and Jackie have found their “roles” within the EC denomination change according to the needs of the people and seek to follow God’s leading in whatever role they are to play. They are both available as resources, consulting and friends to the entire denomination, the pastors, their wives and their families.

Jackie Iatesta

CHURCH PLANTING COMMISSION

The vision of the Church Planting Commission is that the Evangelical Congregational Church becomes a Church Multiplication movement, realized when churches plant healthy churches that plant healthy churches.

CPC MEMBERSBishop Bruce Hill (Chair), Leslie Cool (Church Planting Associate, Vice Chair), Ralph Owens (Secretary), Rob Barley, Tasha Byerly, Bud Daneker, Nathan Fry, Terry Jacobs, Jeff Martin, Ramon Mendez, Pam Ream, Mike Snedeker, Gary Brown (CM), Gary Kuehner (CM), Gordy Lewis (CM), Randy Sizemore – Advisory (Director Global Ministries).

We have a teeny, tiny dilemma – church planting, church health, church restart, church revitalization and missional church ministries – the lines between these various types of church and denominational ministries have sufficiently blurred to make the work of the Church Planting Commission (CPC) interesting, to say the least. As we process our responsibilities with and for our planters, especially proposed new planting venues, we are finding it ever more complicated to determine which agency or budget is responsible for which initiative.

In light of this increasingly more complicated world of church ministry, we are striving to keep in mind (and even then, holding the reins rather loosely) what we have tried to say on various occasions . . .

Church planting is the intentional, relational and redemptive work of the people of the church in identified communities or to identify people groups to the end that a new church (gathering of God’s people for church related ministries) is the fruit.

Though not a perfect definition, these words help us find our way in the fog created by the excitement to do something new and the reality of doing something that might produce a new church. In the end, we are the Church Planting Commission, and we are responsible to use the financial gifts we have received as best we can for church planting.

Sec. 7 -Pg. 4

Commissions

Church planters are the Indiana Joneses of the Church. They are adventurers in search of the treasure of lost souls. They are entrepreneurs, serving the vision and mission of Jesus and His Kingdom in an increasingly hostile world. Church planters are pioneers, living on the edge, often living with just enough. And church planters are ambassadors, representing the One who has sent them. They also represent each of us, the people of the EC Church.

And we know that you get this. How? Your support! You pray. You visit. You serve when we explain a need. You give. Thank you for making church planting a priority in your lives, your calendars and checkbooks. You make EC church planting possible.

CURRENT PLANTING MINISTRIESThese are the men, following Jesus and empowered by His Spirit, who seek to meet the lost

where they live. These modern day pioneers take the powerful and life-changing message of Redeeming Love to the un-living. Please pray for these men, their families and ministries by name.

Plantso Bethlehem, PA . . . Sonrise (Rick Sergi)o Ephrata, PA . . . House of Blessings (Abe Montanez)o Harrisburg area, PA . . . Restore Community (Brian Parker)o Lehigh Valley, PA . . . Horizon (Bud Daneker)o Millersville, PA . . . The Gathering (Juan Carlos Morales)o Philadelphia, PA . . . Communidad Biblica (Rolando Diaz)

Allentown, PA locationo Pottstown area, PA . . . Journey53 (Rick Christman)o York, PA . . . Iglesia Cristiana (Carlos Kelly)

Restarts / Revitalizationso Slatington, PA . . . Trinity (Brian Kern)o Tallmadge, OH . . . New Direction (Tim Ream)

Informal Partnerships / Missional Works / Potential Adoptionso Lancaster, PA . . . Iglesia De Dios Ven A El (Luis Ramirez) o Palmerton, PA . . . Gaming Grotto (Chris Bronico)o Reedsville, PA . . . LifeTree Café (Jeff Byerly)o Sinking Spring & Mohn’s Hill, PA . . . Two Lifetree Cafés (Jerry Artz, Mohn’s Hill &

Mike Snedeker, Sinking Spring) “Off the Avenue” and “Canal Street”

PLANTER CAREThe members of the CPC try to balance allowing our planters to tell us what they need with

intelligent guesses based on our contact with them. We have discovered that they are sometimes just too close to the issues to recognize that they need help or a break. Regular contact, as much as possible (Bishop, CMs and CPA) with our planters is a first line of action. Along with focus upon their ministry goals, our concern is self care. A healthy planter will better lead to a healthy ministry.

We’ve recently shifted away from an annual planter retreat (not a good match for planters’ busy schedules) to an “as needed” provision of funds for short getaways. Our feeling is that “tired today” cannot always wait until the next retreat. Some of these getaways have been designed to overlap established events – Exponential, Ecclesia, Fresh Expressions gatherings, and similar events.

VISION DAYThe CPC co-sponsored the November 2013 Fresh Expressions Vision Day in Sewickley, PA

(near Pittsburgh). A fair representation of EC leaders attended, as well as representatives of a couple of other tribes. The conversation was encouraging. Each attendee walked away carrying seeds of ideas that might be planted for ministry. We invite you to pray for the EC leaders and churches who are currently pondering what to do with what they now know. Ask God to open their minds and hearts to what He is already doing that they might join Him and realize newness in their ministries.

EDUCATIONAL ISSUESThe CPC has long believed that almost every ministry technique a church planter carries in

his toolbox could be valuable for a pastor and/or established congregation. To that end, we have been discussing the value of seeking to educate our pastors and leaders regarding church planting, as well

Sec. 7 -Pg. 5

Commissions

as the value of using church planting ideas and techniques in the context of the local church. This has been the catalyst for sponsoring several Fresh Expressions Vision Days.

We are currently discussing the possibility of smaller, more locally focused, informal conversations that we might make happen between Fresh Expressions and other planting leaders with some of our pastors and church leaders. Our hope is that these types of events, closer to our pastors and leaders, might improve attendance and exposure to new ideas for ministry. We’ll keep you posted.

The CPC recently posted an invitation for our pastors to attend the Fresh Expressions National Gathering in Alexandria, VA (March). Scholarships were provided and a few pastors and leaders took advantage of this opportunity. This two-day event provided exposure to many of the men and women who are leading the way toward church health, growth and multiplication.

We had a group attend Exponential 2014 – Chris Bronico and Nathan Fry (Palmerton Gaming Grotto); Juan Carlos and Lynette Morales (The Gathering); Mike Snedeker and Matt Hill (Community EC, Sinking Spring); and Les Cool (CPC; I dragged Carol along). Our goal is to capture the excitement, learn a few new ministry techniques and to share what we bring back with the greater EC community.

NEW MINISTRY VENUESFor the second time, we advertised available financial support for churches with ideas for

new planting ministries. The first offer has produced the exciting Gaming Grotto in Palmerton, PA. Chris Bronico has already introduced spiritual conversations into a gathering of game players. Fresh Expressions recently produced a promotional video for FE based on the ministry of the Gaming Grotto. In addition, Chris and Bishop Hill were interviewed at the Fresh Expressions National Gathering.

The recent proposals, though all very good congregational ministry ideas, were not quite what we were looking for. We offered each church helpful “next steps” they might take to find other means of support or advice regarding the possibility of redesign for a future proposal. We are optimistic that God will either lead us to or bring to us the next EC planting initiative.

It has been during the discussions around these ministry proposals that we encountered the complications associated with the reality that more and more of what the CPC is asked to do overlaps church health and church education. We are trying to sort this out.

We have also been forced to ponder the questions associated with churches “not in good standing” asking for financial assistance from the CPC. We are also trying to sort this out. This may also overlap churches asking for help from other EC entities. Pray with us as we continue to work through this new reality.PLANTING PARTNERS

One of our significant and dependable sources of income for church planting has been our Church Planting Partners program. Each planting partner pledges $100 for church planting each year, and their regular prayer support of our planters, their families and the ministries they represent. Thank you Church Planting Partners for your faithful support of our current church planting ministries. Each gift you send not only helps fund church planting, but also encourages those involved in making church planting happen.

This year, while we are at National Conference, we would like to invite more of you, our pastors and delegates, to join the Church Planting Partners team. A church planting partner pledges to give an annual $100 gift to church planting (you choose when) AND to pray regularly for our church planters and planting ministries. A special bulletin insert has been provided for you. We also invite you to take this insert back to your church and invite others to join you as you join with us – Church Planting Partners.

NEW PLANTERSWe need more planters. If you would join us in the search for more planters, we could greatly

increase the numbers of eyes and ears on the lookout for men and/or couples gifted and called to the work of church planting. A church planter may be disguised as a regular pastor type, a banker, a janitor or small group leader with exceptional gifts and graces including . . .

skills, experience and a history of empowering leaders ministry focus on need based evangelism experience developing loving relationships ministry focus on gift based ministry

Sec. 7 -Pg. 6

Commissions

a passionate spirituality a visionary capacity an entrepreneurial spirit displaying flexibility, adaptability, resiliency

We would be delighted to chat with you, and with your potential planter(s). Our goal would be to walk with these individuals as they verify their calling and suitability for church planting. Start your conversation today (Les Cool, Church Planting Associate, [email protected] or 717-951-8433). Together, we can accomplish more for the Kingdom.

THE ADVENTURE CONTINUESThe CPC finds that serving the people of the EC Church and the Kingdom of God through our

hands on approach with our church planters is both a privilege and a blessing. We not only get to serve our planters, we also get to share in the adventures they experience in their unique communities.

We may be your hands and feet with our church planters, but you do not have to settle for merely reading reports. We invite you to become an active part of the team. Please pray for church planting. Consider supporting church planting. Offer your gifts and graces, skills and abilities for use in one of our church plants. There are plenty of roles you might fill.

We especially encourage you to pray with us as we seek to love others, meet their felt needs and share the gospel. Pray that we would be successful in our labors of producing the fruit of sowing seeds, developing relationships, engaging in spiritual conversations and creating environments where we might observe changed lives. This is the work of church planting, personal and corporate obedience to the Great Commandment and Great Commission.

Rev. Leslie Cool

2013 STATISTICS MEMBERSHIP STATISTIS - 1000

FINANCIAL STATS

CHURCH PLANTS*

REG

ULA

R A

TTEN

DE

ES /

PAR

TIC

IPAN

TS

LAST

YE

AR

AVE

RAG

E W

OR

SHIP

ATT

EN

DAN

CE

AVE

RAG

E D

ISC

IPLE

SHIP

ATT

EN

DAN

CE

AVE

RAG

E K

IDS

DIS

CIP

LESH

IP A

TTEN

DAN

CE

MIS

SIO

NAL

CO

NN

EC

TIO

NS

SIG

NIF

ICAN

T R

ELAT

ION

AL C

ON

TAC

TS

PRO

FESS

ION

S O

F FA

ITH

RED

EDIC

ATIO

NS

BAP

TISM

S

DED

ICAT

ION

TO

FU

LL-T

IME

SE

RVI

CE

NU

MB

ER O

F AS

SIG

NE

D P

ASTO

R (S

)N

UM

BER

OF

OTH

ER

EM

PLO

YEE

S /

VOLU

NTE

ER

S

TOTA

L IN

CO

ME

TOTA

L M

ON

EY G

IVEN

TO

HEL

P O

THE

RS

Bethlehem, Sonrise, Rick Sergi

26 25 18 - - 4 10 2 - - - 1 4 39,000 31,000

Ephrata, House of Blessings, Abe Montanez

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sec. 7 -Pg. 7

Commissions

Harrisburg area, Restore Community, Brian Parker

15 - 15 11 4 650 55 - 2 1 - 1 12 11,300 3,150

Lehigh Valley, Horizon, Bud Daneker

128 180 128 - - - - 27 4 - - 1 - 187,645

14,000

Millersville, The Gathering, Juan Carlos Morales

58 35 78 - - - - - - 8 - 2 2 10,122 -

Philadelphia, Communidad Biblica, Rolando Diaz

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Allentown, Rolando Diaz - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Pottstown area, Journey53, Rick Christman

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

York, Iglesia Cristiana, Carlos Kelly

78 77 78 48 9 263 153 17 - 4 - 1 1 48,159 3,872

Slatington, Trinity, Brian Kern

27 34 25 - - - 4 8 - - - 1 - 23,840 1,400

Tallmadge,New Direction, Tim Ream

28 22 24 8 4 12 24 6 22 1 - 1 - 6,292 5,500

Lancaster, Iglesia De Dios Ven A El, Luis Ramirez

30 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Palmerton, PA, Gaming Grotto, Chris Bronico

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Reedsville, LifeTree Café,Jeff Byerly

41 31 - 22 - - - - - - - - - - 1,495

Sinking Spring &Mohns HillLife Tree Café Mike Snedeker &Jerry Artz Off the Avenue - - - - - 444 8 - - - - - 12 1,012 168 Canal Street - - - - - 476 4 - - - - - 16 275 142

CHURCH PLANTING

TOTALS431 443 366 89 17 1,84

9 258 60 28 14 - 8 47 397,322

60,727

*As of April 7, 2014 with 10 pastors and 11 sites reporting.

Sec. 7 -Pg. 8

Commissions

EVANGELISM AND DISCIPLESHIP COMMISSIONIncluding the Christian Education Committee, Evangelism Committee, Prayer Mobilization

Team and Youth Network

The Apostle Paul was a teacher, writer, missionary, church planter and tent-maker. His love for Jesus kept his mind engaged and his schedule full. Obviously, he was a busy man. Even so, the course of his daily work led him to continually focus on building relationships. Paul's ministry was fueled by the desire to connect with people -- then connect them to Jesus. To the church in Thessalonica, Paul wrote, "We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you, not only the Gospel of God, but our lives as well ..." (1 Thessalonians 2:8).

The Gospel and relationships are so intertwined that to have one without the other would be like playing baseball with just a bat, but no ball. It doesn't work. As the church, we must continually stretch ourselves to connect with people anywhere and everywhere. Otherwise, we might do a whole lot of swinging but completely miss the point, which is to connect – to make contact!

CONNECT is a great word for us as pastors, lay leaders, and our local churches to think about. Are we connecting with each other? More importantly, are we connecting with people who don't know Jesus?

The Evangelism and Discipleship Commission has a vision that our churches will effectively proclaim the Gospel and do so while connecting with people of varying cultures. Our goal is to cast vision and to provide resources that will sharpen your ministry and help you, like Paul, connect with people, then connect them with Jesus.

Here is a snapshot of ministry resources that are available:

Prayer Support - The Prayer Mobilization Team (PMT) prays regularly for God's will and mission to be done through our local churches. You can direct specific prayer requests to them for your ministry. They also offer prayer retreats / summits in various regions of the denomination. Two events were held in March -- one for the Delaware and Susquehanna Regions combined and another in the Great Lakes Region. Additional opportunities are also available. Please contact Carolyn Boussum for more details.

Men's Ministry - Our men's ministry is off and running! A retreat was held at Twin Pines in April. The theme was: "Journey of Discipleship." Bishop Hill, Gary Kuehner, and Mark Harris led the sessions. Watch for more opportunities as this ministry continues to develop and teach men to follow Christ, so that they can be Godly leaders at home, church and in the world. Wayne Houck is giving leadership to this effort.

Christian Education - This past year a group of pastors continued to research the 3DM model for discipleship. In 2014, the committee will be expanding their focus to identify a variety of discipleship methods and resources to pass along to local churches. If you would like more information please contact Rev. Steve Holubec.

Youth Network - Once again, the Youth Network sponsored a large Christian outreach event over Thanksgiving break called FAT – “Friday after Thanksgiving”. This event draws in several hundred youth for a night of fun, connection and ministry. Matt Hill has information about the Youth Network.

Fresh Expressions - In 2012, we sponsored a Fresh Expressions Vision Day in York, PA. Several pastors and local church leaders participated. In 2013, Dr. Chris Backert, Director of Fresh Expressions (US) was our guest speaker at National Conference. In addition, another Vision Day took place near Pittsburgh in the fall. This spring, pastors and church leaders were encouraged to attend the Fresh Expressions National Conference in Alexandria, VA on March 28-29. The denomination offered up to $400 in scholarships for pastors to attend.

Sec. 7 -Pg. 9

Commissions

Women's Ministry - For many years the women's ministry hosted an annual "A Day Apart" retreat during the spring in eastern PA. Following Sue Yarnall's excellent service this important ministry is in transition. The Weiglestown E.C. Church is looking to develop a new core leadership group with hopes of possibly sponsoring a weekend retreat this fall. The Great Lakes Region also offers a women's retreat each year.

Evangelism Committee – This past year the EDC gave Rev. Gary Kuehner the green light to develop a committee specifically focused on evangelism. The committee started meeting last fall. Their focus has been on "renewing a passion for evangelism". Gary is willing to speak in local churches about evangelism. In September, he also led a workshop on sharing your story, hosted by the Berks District.

Discipleship Training and Financial Assistance – Scholarships are available to help your local church pursue a discipleship strategy and receive further training. In the past, churches have made use of these funds to work with Navigator's, 3DM, etc. If you have a vision for discipleship ministry in your church please don't let the need for finances hold you back. Come talk to us!

Our goal is to equip pastors and local churches to spread the good news of Jesus Christ and to be effective in making disciples. We are very interested in adding creative and visionary individuals to our team. If you sense that God might be leading you, or there is someone in your church who would serve well on this Commission, please let us know. And, as always, thank you for partnership in the Gospel.

Ryan Taylor

EDC: CHRISTIAN EDUCATION In last year’s report I mentioned that Christian Ed (CE) would be narrowing our focus by

promoting discipleship, specifically by promoting 3DM’s (www.3dmovements.com ) materials. Over the course of this year, we discovered what I am sure many of you already know, anytime you try to promote a book, series or curriculum people automatically think “program.” That may or may not be bad; but programs come and go, and we may or may not see fruit from them. Discipleship is a lifelong commitment to becoming more like Christ and helping others do the same, it is not a program!

The conclusion CE drew was that several churches who are doing discipleship well were using various materials to help in the discipleship process. We also noted that the best way to promote discipleship was to do it well and let the fruit speak for itself. This was a bit of a tough pill to swallow as we wanted BIG CHANGE and wanted it right away. But like yeast being kneaded through dough, it will take time but when it starts to rise the results are astonishing.

So instead of being the mouth piece for one specific group, we’ve decided to become a facilitator for all effective discipleship material. As such, we would like to share with you brief snapshots and testimonials of three different discipleship approaches that are yielding Kingdom fruit:

Real Life Discipleship - Jim Putman; being used by Community E.C., Sinking Spring. Real-Life Discipleship explains what should happen in the life of every Christian and in every small group so that the church becomes an army of believers dedicated to seeing the world saved. With the overriding goal to train disciples who know how to make more disciples, this book offers proven tools and strategies from Real Life Ministries, one of America’s fastest-growing churches.

3DM - Mike Breen; being used by St. Matthew’s Emmaus, Trinity Royersford. 3DM is a movement training churches and Christian leaders to do discipleship and mission; combining over 30 years of learning from a very secular social context. Originating out of St. Thomas Church, Sheffield England, 3DM reinvented church, creating something that looked a lot like what we see in the first century that has impacted their streets, campuses, living rooms, and pubs; quietly starting a missional revolution. They didn’t just create converts—they created disciples that seemed to live like Jesus did; training regular, ordinary lay people to be leaders; who in turn trained others.

“Without hesitation, I can say that my experience and growth with the 3DM movement has been the best thing to happen to me, to my family and to my ministry. 3DM lives what they teach and they are advancing the kingdom. I highly recommend their

Sec. 7 -Pg. 10

Commissions

Learning Community experience to anyone who wants to make disciples.” - Al Giles, Lead Pastor, St. Matthews E.C., Emmaus PA.

“Exposure to the disciple-making model of  3DM has really changed my entire outlook as a follower of Jesus. Jesus was intentional about listening to His father, fellowship and walking through life with his disciples, and reaching out to the world. Through  3DM, I've realized I'm very capable of doing this as well. Having grown up in the E.C. Church, it has laid the groundwork for my passion for Christ. I accepted Christ at Twin Pines camp. I've been active in the church ever since. However, I haven't felt the overwhelming push to be proactive in making disciples outside my local church. 3DM has shown me that being a disciple and making disciples can be done not on the church's terms, but rather, on life's terms!” - Justin Stauffer, St. Matthew’s Emmaus

Be Still - Mike Campbell; being used by Faith E.C., Bair. The Be Still book has become the only Christian Ed resource for preteens to adults that we use in our small church of about 60 people. The purpose of Be Still is to provide a discipline for the pursuit of knowing Christ and ultimately making Him known to believers, skeptics, and seekers.

“The book is designed to help busy individuals develop a 10-20 minute daily routine of getting alone with God by allowing Him to speak to them through His Word, listening for the voice of His Spirit, and responding to Him in prayer. The teens and preteens are learning the process in our weekly meetings with them. This process helps us develop the spiritual disciplines of prayer, silence and solitude, meditation, daily devotion, Bible reading, journaling, fellowship in the Word, self-control, perseverance, and ultimately evangelism. The result is an ongoing spiritual transformation in the lives of individual Christians as well as our church as a whole. We have seen significant results over the past 5 years.” - Mike Campbell, Faith E.C., Bair.

2:7 series – Navigators; being used by Bethesda E. C., Reedsville. The Navigators strategy utilizes the 2:7 series of books for discipleship.

“The opportunities for men and women to share in triads provides for a deeper and more impacting spiritual progress for individuals to learn how to deepen their walks with the Lord. The materials are designed to help individuals begin their own personal quiet times, develop a significant prayer life, and strengthen their own personal understanding of the gift of salvation in their own lives. In this way, their faith in Christ is deepened, and they become more committed in their pursuit of walking with God.” - Jeff Byerly, Bethesda E.C., Reedsville

We would love to help your church pick out a discipleship material that will fit your congregation’s needs. If you have any questions about any of the material please feel free to contact the churches using it or anyone on the CE committee.

Committee members are Rev. Matt Hill, Rev. Lewie Bennett, Rev. Glenn Lambert and Rev. Stephen Holubec (chair).

Rev. Stephen L. Holubec

EDC: EVANGELISM COMMITTEEThe Evangelism Committee is a subgroup of the Evangelism and Discipleship Commission.

The Evangelism Committee meets monthly to pray for a renewed passion for evangelism in the EC Church and discuss how this renewed passion can be realized.

The Evangelism Committee believes that a renewed passion for evangelism in our churches must start with our pastors. In his book “Essential Church” Thom Rainer says this: “In many thriving churches the driving force behind obedience to the Great Commission is the passion the senior pastor maintains for the lost. This passion will flow from the top down. As the congregation sees his zeal, they catch the same fire.” Our pastors must become passionate evangelists, convinced that the gospel of Christ is a powerful message – the message God uses to save the lost and set people free – and proclaim it unashamedly (Romans 1:16).

Sec. 7 -Pg. 11

Commissions

The Evangelism Committee believes that our pastors need to be encouraged and challenged to become more passionate about evangelism. This encouragement and challenge can happen when denominational leaders meet with pastors and when pastors meet with each other one-on-one and in small group settings. This encouragement and challenge can also come through various types of evangelism seminars. This past year a seminar titled “A Story worth Telling: How God Uses Your Personal Testimony to Reach People for Christ” was offered with 26 pastors/lay people in attendance. The Evangelism Committee plans to offer more evangelism seminars in the future.“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation … “(Isaiah 52:7 NIV).

Gary Kuehner

EDC: PRAYER MOBILIZATION TEAMThe 2014 Susquehanna/Delaware Regions Prayer Summit took place on March 28-29, 2014 at

the Swatara Camp Retreat Center, while the Great Lakes Region met at the Delightful EC Church in Southington, OH as the pastors and prayer leaders from about 20 churches sought God, His will, and His power in group prayer through using a God-focused prayer format detailed in John Franklin’s book, And the Place Was Shaken (Broadman & Holman, 2005).

Prayer requests for the 2013 National Conference were given to the Prayer Mobilization Team [PMT] from Bishop Hill and were sent to all the churches to be distributed to the pastors and their congregations. The PMT intends to continue to support future major denominational events through various prayer networking initiatives.

Since prayer and discipleship are inseparable both have been brought together in this report. The PMT which is a team of pastors and lay leaders has become increasingly aware that our churches must begin the process of transforming our ministries by mobilizing God's people to pray together in God’s Word. While preaching, teaching, worship, and outreach makes use of our individual gifts to develop disciples, prayer is common to every believer and is essential to increasing intimacy with God and with one another. It is this divine vertical and horizontal intimacy that is the foundation of effective disciple making and healthy churches as the Lord heals, directs, and gives increase to the church that prays together.

God can do more to change a person, a family, or a church through prayer in the Word than any other method, but this requires a paradigm change for many individuals and churches. If this is to happen throughout the denomination pastors and prayer leaders in all of our churches must have a God-given vision and desire to birth a prayer movement which then brings the whole congregation together in corporate prayer.

Over the past year, several pastors and lay leaders on the PMT have begun implementing various initiatives in their own churches to increase this kind of prayer based upon several resources that we have been reading and studying. We have been gaining some success in moving more and more of our people toward getting comfortable with praying together in small groups and as a congregation. We have resources to help the people in our churches overcome the things that inhibit participation in group prayer.

The PMT hopes to provide more Prayer Summits in the future to help pastors and prayer leaders to develop a vision for their churches and to call upon the Lord to give all of their people the desire to pray together.

We are also hoping to provide Prayer Workshops for individual churches, pastors, and prayer leaders to help learn the foundations of dynamic corporate prayer and how to implement them using the resources that we have available.

We look forward to receiving inquiries from many of our churches during Conference and in the coming year.

Carolyn Boussum

EDC: YOUTH NETWORKThe youth network in the past has strived to be a place where youth pastors and leaders can

gather to share the ups and downs of ministry. In the past we have had some success with meeting and share both the successes and failures of ministry, all in the spirit of encouragement toward

Sec. 7 -Pg. 12

Commissions

growth. With this being said, the youth network did not meet this year due to changing responsibilities for many of the consistent members and attendees.

Although the youth network did not function as usual this conference year, the youth network still worked to provide quality events to bring youth groups into fellowship with one another. Yet again, the youth network had a tremendous turnout for the 2013 Friday after Thanksgiving Lock-In. This year our numbers were almost as high as last year, with 260 in attendance at Ozzy’s Family Fun Center. All in attendance had a great time participating in the wide range of activities offered at Ozzy’s.

Lastly, we are still looking for more youth leaders and pastors to gather together and share in ministry as we all strive to lead youth to Christ. If the youth leader of your church does not know about the youth network please let us know so that we can make contacts and help share the burden of this vital ministry.

Rev. Matthew A. Hill

GLOBAL MINISTRIES COMMISSION

INTRODUCTIONAt the writing of this report I am about three months into the new shared ministry position

between Dixon Bethel and the GMC. I am adjusting to a new rhythm of preaching, pastoral visits, ministry council meetings, international phone calls, correspondence and GMC staff meetings via Skype. I can say for certain that our congregation is excited to be intimately connected to the work of the global EC Church and I have received much support, prayer and encouragement from local pastors, members and international church leaders. This will be a learning year as we work to balance our responsibilities to everyone’s general benefit.

FACILITATING MISSION WORKERSMy recent trip to visit EC missionary Ken Sears at Zaporozhye Bible College in Ukraine

reminded me of how blessed the EC Church is to be able to “second” or loan our missionaries to over 20 different sending agencies in order to help build the Kingdom of God. Ken has invested almost 19 years as a professor, administrator, preacher, pastor, friend of countless believers in Ukraine who are reaching their nation and the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If we add Ken’s influence to the other EC missionary workers scattered around the globe, we begin to see the enormous impact we are having on this world for Jesus as we partner together in facilitating our mission workers!

This year the GMC will conduct the second three year comprehensive review of our mission workers. We have established a review committee that includes GMC members, missionaries and pastors and we have asked each mission worker to complete a comprehensive self-evaluation. These evaluations will be reviewed by the committee and appropriate responses will be decided upon and carried out.

Our mission workers continue to face the challenge of securing and maintaining enough support to remain in active ministry on their fields. The financial support from local congregations and individuals is decreasing while the cost of keeping missionaries on the field is increasing. More individual and local church donors are becoming more selective and discerning in who they will support. I have encouraged our local congregations to actively review their mission budgets annually to ensure that their mission giving is going to worthy endeavors.

One of the most vexing questions the GMC is grappling with has to do with whether or not we should be actively recruiting the next generation of missionaries. If we do, can we support them? It doesn’t seem as though the current method of supporting missionaries will work well in the next decade. Should we find new methods of support before recruiting or should we recruit and “hope” God helps them discover new funding strategies?

EMPOWERING NATIONAL CHURCHES

The Evangelical Congregational Church of Japan

Sec. 7 -Pg. 13

Commissions

Japan Partnering with Nepal - The EC Church of Japan (ECCJ) continues to grow and mature. While Rev. Nobuo and Keiko were visiting in Pennsylvania last October I challenged them to encourage ECCJ to begin to partner in some small way with another one of our international EC conferences. I had invited Nobuo to join me on a visit to the EC Church of Nepal in 2011 and some initial foundations of relationship between Japan and Nepal were established. Just before I left for my visit to Nepal in November of 2013, Rev. Abe contacted me and informed me that the EC Church of Japan wanted to provide enough funds to buy the 10 orphan boys that Janga and Mercy care for at “Mercy Home” a new set of clothes and shoes for Christmas. I have since learned that the EC Churches of Nepal and Japan have been in contact, sharing prayer concerns and mutually encouraging one another.

Progress toward National Conference Status - Rev. Abe and I also had in depth discussions while he was here in Pennsylvania about the status of the EC Church of Japan graduating from a mission conference to a National Conference. He informed me that they were well on their way and have since sent me rough drafts of their proposal which includes the translation of the Articles of Faith and Christian Practice sections of the Discipline into Japanese as well as the organization of their National Conference governing body, ministerial qualifications and responsibilities and financial structures. Our goal is to grant them National Conference status at our National Conference sessions in May 2014. Providing all is in order, they will bring a delegation from Japan to our National Conference in May and we will send a delegation to Japan in September to mark this historic event!

Ministry in Japan’s Disaster Areas - Clean up and restoration efforts following the tsunami and earthquake of 2011 continue to dominate the lives of the people in the affected areas. Many still live in shelters and feel isolated and forgotten. There are complaints that the government is not doing enough to alleviate the ongoing clean up and restoration projects. There has been an increase in the number of suicides and for some life will never be the same. The EC Church of Japan continues to minister and meet with a group of pastors in this disaster area. The bright spot in this dark story is that so many Christian relief volunteers have come from all over the world to help the Japanese people in these areas that now have a positive view of Christians and the Gospel with many hearing about Jesus Christ for the first time!

The Local Congregations - Japan has four congregations in the greater Tokyo area with an average total attendance of 100 for worship. Kyodo Grace has been allowing local choral groups to use the sanctuary for rehearsals, with the requirement that pastor, Rev. Sudo leads a chapel service for them. They also host some classical concerts throughout the year as a way to interact with the community. Rev. Sudo also leads a small group bible study in his home. Sagimahara Grace Chapel continues the daycare ministry for mothers and toddlers. They are trying to adapt to the changing Japanese culture that is producing fewer children than ever before. This spring they plan to start a “New Mothers” program and will continue their Sunday school ministry. Fuchinobe Community Church continues to rent a room in the clinic for public services. They are focused on young families, developing small group studies and offering marriage enrichment classes. Kobuchi Mission Church may or may not remain with the conference. This small congregation meets in Mr. Aritta’s home and has about 8-10 in attendance.

Current/Future Focus - Rev. Nobuo is working on ways to build better relations between the existing congregations so that they can work together toward their common goal of reaching Japan with the Gospel. He is implementing pulpit exchanges and using the successful ministry strategies in one congregation as a resource for the other congregations. He wants to keep planting churches and will use Yoriyoshi & Emiko as church planters when they return to Japan in the summer of 2014. He has experienced some success with the English Camps as evangelistic tools and wants to continue to invite teams from the USA to help run these camps. Last year 12 children and 1 adult were saved at an English Camp co-sponsored by Japan and GMC.

The Evangelical Congregational Church of India

Partnership in Training Church Leaders - Rev. Angam and I had decided about two years ago when he became the new General Director of the EC Church of India (ECCI), that we would no longer focus on specific projects for each of the six presbyteries/conferences, but

Sec. 7 -Pg. 14

Commissions

we would invest our time and resources into those events that would benefit the entire denomination. Since then ECCI and GMC have partnered together on two Church Leaders’ training seminars. The first was a regional missionary worker training seminar in 2012 and the second was the recent Church Leaders’ Seminar held November 29- December 1, 2013. For both of these training events the GMC contributed $2,500 to help cover the costs of transportation, food, lodging and materials. I was invited to attend both training events but could only make the most recent one. The event was a success with approximately 300 church leaders in attendance. I was the keynote speaker, presenting five messages on biblical principles of leadership from 1Timothy and Rev. Angam had also scheduled two other accomplished church/government leaders to present four seminars on various topics of leadership. Both Rev. Angam and I are pleased with this new direction of partnering together to train and equip church leaders. Dr. Ken Miller and Rev. David Swift will be returning to India April 22-29, 2014. Dr. Miller will be the speaker for the Annual ECCI Leaders’ Conference and Rev. Swift, Chair of the GMC’s India/Nepal Committee will be furthering our conversations regarding our ongoing partnership projects.

Partnership with Evangelical College of Theology - Our partnership with ECT also took a new turn in 2013 with the sending of about $15,000 from the VBS for the “ECT Security Fence” project along with the first GMC work team to North East India to help ECT build the fence! ECT prepared the footers and foundation for the section of the wall we were building before our team arrived and our team worked beside their team to lay the bricks and complete a large portion of the security fencing that surrounds the campus. (Lalrosiem estimates that it will take another $10,000 to complete the remainder of the fencing project). Along with building a fence we took 10 laptops and provided a basic computer class, we provided a child/evangelism class for ladies and our team also taught a few impromptu leadership classes and spoke in several churches. Dr. Ken Miller also went along to teach a fully accredited seminary class. It is my understanding that John Price (from our Plymouth Meeting EC congregation) who went along to teach the computer class is planning a return trip to teach further computer classes for ECT. While I was there in November for the Church Leaders’ Seminar I had the privilege of dedicating the section of the wall our GMC team built and I also had opportunity to meet with the faculty and staff of ECT to discuss our ongoing partnership.

The GMC is also partnering with ECT by helping Rev. Lalrosiem Songate, Principal Elect of ECT; acquire his PhD in Missions at Concordia Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

The Evangelical Congregational Church of Nepal

Decade Celebration - The EC Church of Nepal (ECCN) celebrated its 10th anniversary in conjunction with their Annual Conference session on December 6-8, 2013. The GMC delegation included Rev. Angam and Rev. Martinez, the directors of the EC Churches of India & Mexico. I also invited Pastor Ted Rathman, Rev. Carlos Kelly and Dr. David Dick to join me for this visit to Nepal. Rev. Janga used this opportunity to televise the celebration, including a clear gospel presentation throughout the region. During this celebration the EC Church of Mexico and India presented the EC Church of Nepal with love offerings. Rev. Janga estimates that approximately 500 people attended the decade celebration.

Annual Conference - During the Annual Conference sessions our team members had opportunities to preach and bring greetings. The international EC leaders ordained one (1) pastor, four (4) deacons and one (1) deaconess in the EC Church of Nepal. We also participated in serving the Lord’s Supper and the baptism of 18 new believers. Pastors and congregations from the USA contributed funds to purchase three (3) resource/study books for each pastor in the conference. Following the closing of Annual Conference we also held a one day training seminar for the pastors.

ECCN’s Current Status and Future Plans - Currently ECCN has 16 chartered congregations. Each of these has several “fellowships” or church plants that will grow to become official congregations. The membership of ECCN is at 2,500. Janga’s goal by 2025 is to have 100 churches and have reached 100,000 souls for Christ. In 2013 they saw 208 conversions and baptized 147 new believers. They also hosted several women’s prayer

Sec. 7 -Pg. 15

Commissions

seminars and a youth seminar with over 200 youth participating. They feel they are on track to plant at least 5 new churches in 2014.

Mercy Home (orphanage) - Janga and his wife Mercy house 10 orphan boys in their home. They are currently in their second rented location but will have to vacate this house in the summer of 2014. Janga is trying to build a permanent building that will serve as the headquarters for ECCN, Mercy Home and his personal living space. He purchased a piece of property and began developing it but the rainy season’s mudslides destroyed almost one half of the retaining wall they had built. He also needs to build a road to the site to continue with construction and of course needs the funds to build the actual building. The GMC is not in a position to help with much of these costs so I am not quite sure how he will accomplish this necessary building.

The Evangelical Congregational Church of Mexico

Progress Toward National Conference Status - In 2012 the GMC entered into a covenant with ECCM to support Rev. Elias Martinez by replacing his secular salary for a period of four years until July 2016 so that he could devote his attention to leading ECCM through the process of becoming a National Conference. ECCM has become self-supporting as far as the operational expense of their conference is concerned. The GMC’s limited financial support is now used for educational/training of pastors, evangelism, outreach and youth camp. They are still implementing a unified governing structure. In 2012 Elias introduced the equivalent of the EC Discipline to the local churches of Mexico.

Activities in Local Churches and Communities - The ECCM continues to reach their communities through VBS programs that impacted approximately 1,000 people last year, evangelistic campaigns in several locations that experienced 200-250 persons per night and other informal evangelistic strategies. Elias reports a total of 40 converts last year but suspects there were many more that went unreported.

Mission Activity - Once again this year the ECCM sent teams to least reached/marginalized communities in the southern part of Mexico. The teams take school supplies, shoes, clothing, gifts, toys and food as a way to show the love of Jesus. They use movies and other means to communicate the message of salvation. The first time they took bibles to give away they ran out because so many people were eager to have the Word of God. In one village the authorities would not let them use public buildings to show the movies so the people began opening their homes to them!

ECCM has also spent the last two years learning about and partnering with the EC Church of Liberia. In 2013 they designated the EC Church of Nepal as their focus for the next two years. Elias went with me to Nepal in December 2013.

Current and Future Projects - ECCM officially chartered a new congregation this year in Rio Bravo and are planning to plant more local congregations. In their churches and the Bible Institute they are training and educating their congregations about the need to be actively involved in missions and hope to be able to send missionaries in the near future. Bethel Church in Rio Bravo piloted a children’s ministry that had 80-100 in attendance every Saturday. Now they are training and equipping the other congregations to implement this ministry throughout the conference.

El Retiro Children’s HomeERJ continues to minister to needy children in a difficult environment. We have made much

progress over the last five (5) years at ERJ but it seems that the challenges continue to exceed our abilities to meet them. Below are excerpts from the April 2013 Board Meeting that will illustrate my point:

Back2Back (B2B) has been helping ERJ sponsor children through “Shelter Program” now changed to “Hope”

B2B also had been helping with other funds from a donor-these funds are depleted ERJ is receiving about $3,000 USD less per month from B2B since January 2013 B2B will fund salary of the Psychologist shared by B2B and ERJ

Sec. 7 -Pg. 16

Commissions

ERJ needs $7,000-$8,000 USD/month to operate GMC provides $7,000 USD/quarter of about 33% of need ERJ currently cares for 33 children Carlos has secured donations from locals:

o 10 gallons of milk per weeko Bakery itemso Some professional services (such as Attorney Gabriela who is here now)

ERJ continues to work on meeting gov’t regulations/certifications/licenseo Need lawyer, doctor, social worker, psychologist on retainero Many buildings need to comply with safety requirementso Need dedicated secure office –each child has a file to be kepto Be prepared for unannounced inspections from governmento Now have their own bank accounto Need approval to issue tax deductible receipts for donationso Each staff member must pass psychological evaluationo Each staff must meet requirements in newly developed manual

We need more and “better” ERJ Board memberso Those who can contribute wisdom, wealth or work to ERJo Juan proposed a goal that 50% of the monthly budget ($3,500) should come from

the Board members Decided to create an ERJ Board Member “profile” listing requirements, expectations and

qualifications of those who serve on the Board Chicken house project had a rough first year but a great second year

o Local vet has volunteered to help with chickenso Getting enough eggs to meet the needs of ERJo 80 chickens now with plans to expand and sell surplus eggs/chickens

Goat and Cow projects also doing well Isaiah donated a horse – used for “therapy” for children Randy presented GMC Support Covenant for 2013-2014 Randy presented new GMC policy that ties receiving funds with submitting quarterly

reports

We have made progress on many ancillary issues but with the new aggressive government regulations for children’s homes and the increased costs of operating this ministry, the critical need for the future sustainability of this ministry is a healthy Board of Directors that can provide vision, leadership and support for the ministry.

The Evangelical Congregational Church of LiberiaThe EC Church of Liberia (ECCOL) continues to minister in a variety of ways to introduce

men, women, boys and girls to faith in Jesus Christ and to disciple them to maturity. The GMC has designated the 2014 VBS project funds go to help support the Youth Camp program for ECCOL. The funds will go to help purchase a generator, video equipment, bibles and materials, bedding, etc. for the camping program.

Progress Toward National Conference Status - In response to a major church upheaval in 2009 and the subsequent conflict resolution process through 2009-2011, the GMC, with Bishop Libensperger’s approval, acted on the authority granted by the DISCIPLINE to suspend the normal election cycle of the Field Superintendent of Liberia and appoint the current Field Superintendent, Rev. Matthew Gueh and his leadership team to remain in office until 2015.

ENGAGING THE CHURCH IN THE GREAT COMMISSIONWe continue to utilize our publications, website, rallies, mission minded kids program,

mission leaders’ brunches, district meetings and presentations in local churches to encourage, equip and engage the local church in the work of the Great Commission. One unknown factor in this new shared ministry paradigm is the effect that my decreased availability to speak in local churches will have on the GMC. Even though the number of speaking requests for the Director had markedly decreased in the last two years, there is some concern that if I am not out speaking, local

Sec. 7 -Pg. 17

Commissions

congregations will not be as engaged practically and financially in the mission movement of the denomination. Judging the impact of my decreased availability to speak in churches will be difficult. I am convinced that the declining number and size of our congregations would result in less financial and practical participation in the GMC regardless of whether the DGM was “full time” or in a shared ministry position.

NOTE ON ENGAGING THE LOCAL CHURCHWhile having breakfast in Nepal with the leaders of the EC Churches of India, Nepal, Mexico

and the USA, the topic of “why we belong to a denomination” came up. It seems that all of our international conferences are dealing with a culture that is questioning the necessity of belonging to a conference or denomination. Local congregations and pastors are asking why they should belong to, cooperate with and pay for a formal organization like a national conference. I have also had similar conversations with denominational leaders in Brazil and Ukraine. This independence trend is very concerning to leaders who have witnessed the great impact and strength the Church of Jesus Christ has when we combine our resources.

I have challenged our international leaders, including our USA Bishop to come up with an answer to these questions in a simple framework form of 4 or 5 Biblical bullet points that would transcend culture, give unity to the entire global EC Church and would allow each international conference to “flesh out” the bullet points to fit their particular setting. They may look something like this submission I just received from EC missionary David Dick:

Why denominations?- Biblical (only divinely established institution)                                  - Accountability (mutuality and reciprocity)   - Credentials (conduct and competency)  - Discipline (orthodoxy and orthopraxy)    - Synergism (do more together than alone)   - Stewardship (shared and leveraged resources)- Health care (shared expenses)

I truly believe that one of the major challenges facing the global Church of Jesus Christ in the next decade will be our ability to build and sustain the needed connectivity and synergy that’s required to ensure our effectiveness in the Great Commission. It can be done but we must be willing to make the hard decisions and necessary changes required at more frequent intervals than ever before.

Rev. Randy Sizemore

Global Ministries CommissionBalance SheetTwelve Months Ended December 31, 2013 (unaudited)

Unaudited12/31/2013

Audited12/31/2012

AssetsCash and Investments 984,466 998,607Accounts Receivable 35,700 35,700Prepaid Expenses 4,158 5,305Property, Plant & Equipment, net 1,850 3,420

Total Assets 1,026,174 1,043,032

Liabilities and Net AssetsLiabilities

Accounts Payable and AccruedExpenses 28,039 27,583Annuities Payable 40,369 40,369

Total Liabilities 68,408 67,952

Sec. 7 -Pg. 18

Commissions

Net Assets

Unrestricted 299,372 427,264Temporarily Restricted 658,394 547,816

Total Liabilities & Net Assets 1,026,174 1,043,032

Actual2013

Budget2013

Favorable/(Unfavorabl

e)Budget

Audited Actual2012

General Fund Donations 233,733 152,000 81,733 443,376Investment Income 4,784 15,000 (10,216) 62,928Other Income 1,334 1,200 134 1,370

239,851 168,200 71,651 507,674

GMC Personnel Expenses 160,602 160,828 226 167,833Travel 35,963 21,800 (14,163) 35,694International Churches &Field Rebalancing

- - - 22,379

Office Expenses 87,449 33,689 (53,760) 49,217284,014 216,317 (67,697) 275,123

Revenues over/(under) expenses (44,163) (48,117) 3,954 232,551

Commissions & International ChurchesRegional Committees

Revenues 7,991 550 7,441 8,620Expenses 6,041 - (6,041) 6,822

1,950 550 1,400 1,798

GMC Rallies and EventsRevenues - - - 913Expenses - - - 897

- - - 16

ECC IndiaRevenues 41,221 - 41,221 53,086Expenses 49,031 0 49,031 47,628Fund Rebalancing 3,779 - (3,779) -

(4,031) - (11,589) 5,458

Lamboi ViapheiRevenues - - - -Expenses - - - (160)

160

NepalRevenues 11,867 - 11,867 11,423Expenses 25,325 - 25,325 26,100Fund Rebalancing 17,685 - (17,685) (13,512)

4,227 - (31,143) (1,165)

Sec. 7 -Pg. 19

Commissions

Costa RicaRevenues - - - 495Expenses - - - 2,999Fund Rebalancing - - - (755)

- - - (1,749)

LiberiaRevenues 15,678 - 15,678 19,917Expenses 33,550 - 33,550 30,037Fund Rebalancing 20,144 - (20,144) (7,486)

2,272 - (38,016) (2,634)

MexicoRevenues 35,249 - 35,249 35,172Expenses 49,800 - 49,800 37,900Fund Rebalancing 12,219 - (12,219) -

(2,332) - (26,770) (2,728)

JapanRevenues 13,778 - 13,778 15,461Expenses 11,909 - (11,909) 14,004

1,869 - 1,869 1,457

Revenues over/(under) Expenses

3,955 550 (104,249) 613

Active Missionaries 22,117 - 22,117 (12,836)

Other Funds

777 - 777 3,701

Total Revenues Over (Under) expenses

(17,314) (47,567) (77,401) 224,029

LEADERSHIP COMMISSION

Including the Chaplaincy Committee

“The Leadership Commission serves the local church by recruiting, assessing, and training pastoral leaders within the Evangelical Congregational Church. The commission shall also provide leadership resources and training for local church lay leaders” (EC DISCIPLINE).

The current members are: Bishop Bruce Hill, Chair, Rev. Harry Dow, Vice Chair, Ms. Christine Pense, Secretary, Rev. Ken Kalisz, Ms. Pat Strain, Dr. Bill Worley, Rev. Fred Moury, Mr. Wayne Houck, Rev. Bob Brown, and ex-officio members: Rev. Gary Brown, Dr. Gordy Lewis, Dr. Gary Kuehner.

Since last National Conference the Leadership Commission has been busy providing resources to our local church leaders, both pastoral and laity. Below are many of the initiatives we have developed.

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE DENOMINATION

Sec. 7 -Pg. 20

Commissions

Election of the Great Lakes Conference Minister - The new method for election, the “Google Hangout” simulcast between Lakeside and Illinois, worked successfully.

Church Leadership 101 - “The Healthy Pastoral Relations Committee” seminars will be held in spring 2014. The Bishop will record a DVD on leadership; local CMs will lead the sessions on the healthy PRC, pastoral job descriptions, and a healthy pastoral evaluation process at each region. We will offer standardized guidance about what is essential, healthy and relational. The schedule is: Delaware Region: May 10 and 17, Great Lakes Region: May 3 and 10, Susquehanna Region: April 26 and May 3.

Chaplains - Letter to Chaplains was sent out to remind them of the resolution not to officiate at gay marriages (credentialing and scriptural obedience issue for us). Collegiality between chaplains has solved the issue for now.

Coaches - Jodi Earhart and Fred Moury are working to clarify who is currently serving as coaches as well as those who have been trained as coaches.

Pastoral Assessment - Our Pastoral Assessment Center was held in January 2014 with eight (8) assessees. The spouses of the married candidates also attended. Seven (7) will be proceeding to CRC for specific credentialing. Of the candidates, two (2) are seeking approved candidate status; three (3) are for licentiate; one (1) is seeking a specialized local deacon license; one (1) will keep going in ministry and does not require credentialing. In addition Yoriyoshi & Emiko Abe, from the EC Church, Japan, went through the PAC.

Affinity Group(s) - Three Affinity Groups that are focused on leadership are currently meeting: Turn-around Churches; a Small Church group led by Jim Price; a governance group led by Rev. Gary Brown.

Evangelism Committee - A new committee has been formed focusing on evangelism. This committee is being chaired by Rev. Gary Kuehner.

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN PARTNERSHIP

ETS Task Force for 21st Century Clergy Education - This task force is evaluating what is needed by students, congregations and professionals in ministry in the 21st Century. We are among the “last standing” denominations who still require a large-size (92 credit) M.Div. degree (a “48-credit-size” degree may emerge.) The Seminary has to work within the context of competition – what degrees are being offered by other schools – and understand what students can and will invest in themselves as ministry workers.

Institute For Church Leadership - Restructuring to core courses and electives – the core has been narrowed to eight (8) for lay preachers and 12 for local pastors. A list will be appended. The sequence was essentially preserved but there is a now a three year cycle rather than a five year cycle (whether you are a lay preacher or a local preacher). We are happy to make it easier for students to complete their work and provide more flexibility for Evangelical to offer other classes.

Student Aid - Aid goes to students within our National Conference seeking all degrees, with an emphasis on funding M. Div. degrees. We believe that each conference, as it is formed, should be responsible for its own students. We will encourage Evangelical Seminary to partner with international EC conferences around shared technology, when and where possible. A bulletin insert for 2014 will feature three E.C. students in three different degree programs.

LEADERSHIP EDUCATION EVENTS – PAST AND UPCOMING

Sponsored by ETS:

Sec. 7 -Pg. 21

Commissions

Women in Ministry: Stories in Leadership – October 1, 2013 Faith In The Marketplace – October 24, 2013 (Lancaster) Faith In The Marketplace – November 12, 2013

Sponsored By Denomination:Church Planting Commission:

Fresh Expressions US Vision Day in Sewickley, PA – November 1, 2013 Fresh Expressions Conference (Arlington, VA): March 27-29 Exponential Conference (Orlando, FL): April 28-May 1

Church Health Commission: GLR Biblical Preaching: Seminar February 13

Prayer Mobilization Team: Regional Prayer Summits: March 28-29

Supervisory Committee: Church Leadership 101 (2015) “Church Treasurers”

Christine Pense

LC: CHAPLAINCY COMMITTEE

Our Military Chaplains1. CAPT Josh Metz, USA - Josh finished his assignment with the Polar Bears Infantry Battalion

at Ft. Drum New York. He baptized 5 people this past year. He is currently at Chaplain Captain’s Career Course at Ft. Jackson, SC. Josh was recently selected for Major (O-4), and hopes to pin it on in the Fall. After school, Josh will be assigned to Ft. Meade, MD. Josh hopes to become a manager of ministry and be a mentor to junior chaplains.

2. CAPT K. Noel Blancaflor, USAF - Noel is stationed at Sheppard AFB, TX. A highlight this year was the baptism of his oldest daughter. He is excited about his children’s interest in AWANA and spiritual things. He looks forward to building team dynamics with his chapel team and mentoring a younger chaplain.

3. LT(jg) Andy Miller USNR - Andy is the pastor of our Canton First E.C. Church and is serving in the U.S. Navy Reserves.

Our Veterans’ Administration Chaplains1. Rev. Dr. W. Joel Copeland - Joel has served in the V.A. for 17 years, presently serving as

Chief of Chaplain Services at Lebanon, PA VA Medical Center, administering the spiritual care of veterans and supervising three (3) full-time chaplains, two (2) fee-based chaplains and one (1) secretary. He also counsels employees for personal and work-related problems as co-coordinator of the Employee Assistance Program. A highlight for Joel was the remodeling of the chapel and installation of a new organ. He is pleased to report at least six (6) conversions this year. His goal is to provide meaningful spiritual care to the hospitalized veterans and to increase the influence of the chaplains within the medical center.

2. Juliana M. Lesher - Juliana has been with the VA 10 years now. She has been assigned to be Chief of Chaplains for the South Texas Veterans Health Care system since 2011. She was sent to clean up some serious problems, and had to remove six (6) chaplains from service. Thankfully she has now hired reliable staff and is enjoying her ministry. She oversees ministry to four facilities, and supervises 17 chaplains. She was involved in the renovation of the Audie Murphy VA Chapel. She was elected Secretary of the VA Chaplain Field Advisory Council. She is working on her Ph.D. in Organizational Management at Regent University and hopes to take her comprehensive final in January 2015.

In addition to these, there are many more pastors and laymen who serve full and part-time as chaplains to other institutions and groups, such as the PA State Police, local police forces, fire departments, prisons, nursing facilities, hospitals and hospice programs. I urge you to pray regularly

Sec. 7 -Pg. 22

Commissions

for our chaplains. They dedicate themselves to connecting with individuals to meet their needs and point them to Christ and His Kingdom. The Chaplaincy Committee would like to be notified by any who are serving Christ in any of these ways in your local communities so we can connect and encourage one another in ministry.

Pastor Bob Brown

Sec. 7 -Pg. 23