The Congregationalist June 2023 : simplebooklet.com

Table of CONTENTS Features 4 Mrs Peabody Purposeful Repurposing by Rev Dr Ashley Cook Cleere 20 Using Faith to Build Bridges ON THE COVER by Jared Feurer Child with glass of clear Bell Well water Joins the Circus 5 6 RETIREMENT MAY NOT BE YOUR HIGHEST PRIORITY RIGHT NOW 8 9 WE KNOW IT S OURS 10 When you re called to serve the concerns of others are often more important than your own Especially when it comes to thinking about your retirement MMBB looks out for your concerns We specialize in planning ahead for clergy and church staff We do all the work preparing for your future Our kind of financial expertise makes MMBB an indispensable partner for pastors and churches 110 years and counting THERE S NO BETTER TIME THAN NOW LEARN MORE MMBB org what we offer Supporting your calling is our calling by Rev Dr Ashley Cook Cleere 22 Engaging the Shifting Landscape of Religious Generosity 24 Bell Well by Kim Davis and Marianne King 26 The Stranger A TRUE STORY 29 A Listening Tour Our Unique Journey by Providence by Daniel Wiita Livingstonr The Congregational Library Archives Mrs Peabody Joins the Circus by Rev Justin Neier Letter from the Editor by Marianne King by Rev Dr Michael Gidden Lay Ministry Training Program Departments by Polly Bodjanac 17 30 31 12 FINAL REPORT Racial Justice Task Team 18 A Church a Kidnapping and Bill by Rev Justin Neier NECROLOGY PASTORATES AND PULPITS CALENDAR EDITORIAL STATEMENT All content in The Congregationalist appears by the authority of the editor We reserve freedom of expression to our authors and freedom of opinion to our readers Except for service information clearly sponsored by the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches NACCC or its component parts content does not necessarily reflect policies and opinions of the NACCC Neither The Congregationalist nor the NACCC has a creed or holds positions on social or theological issues but we recognize the authority of each local church to do so for itself if and as it wishes and we encourage thoughtful and respectful discussion of our agreements and differences

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GETTING TO KNOW YOU A Listening Tour From the desk of Our NACCC Executive Director A F I F T H C E N T U R Y P E R S P E CT I V E PURPOSEFUL REPURPOSING C oined in the late nineteenth century the term repurpose has gained popularity over the past fifty years People have long been converting an object intended for a specific use into something totally different In The Sound of Music a nun turned governess fashions children s play clothes out of old drapes Readers of my generation may remember cutting up brown paper grocery bags to cover their textbooks The social media site Pinterest is loaded with repurposing projects bottle caps filled with wax and wick become tealights Old CDs decoratively frame a mirror Rolling pin handles function as coat hooks Popsicle sticks act as fun finger puppets I know a parent educator adept at making toys for toddlers from plastic detergent bottles and lids Christians twist palm leaves into crosses at the end of Lent and then burn them for Ash Wednesday anointing the following year Spaces in church buildings house multiple functions A Sunday School classroom 4 may lend support to an addiction recovery group For much of my childhood I was part of a 4 H drama club that met in the basement of an Episcopal church Repurposing can awaken faith and transform human lives Faith communities sometimes commend their buildings and land to other uses Years ago I dined in rural Newfoundland at a tearoom and B B in a former church Zillow featured a home for sale in Maine that was once a church the balcony provided a cozy sleeping loft At the Church Brew Works in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania entrepreneurs altered oak planks that once were pews to construct a bar Bidding farewell to a church building bears a sense of loss Yet the gift of imagination enables new possibilities a legacy of hospitality Congregational churches embody the creativity and innovation characteristic of repurposing One NACCC congregation sold its building yet continues to worship there along with a Reform Jewish synagogue Artistic performances and catering in a community kitchen spark daily activity in that same space Other member congregations who moved away from their original church homes now worship in settings such as a repurposed storefront a Jewish By Reverend Dr Ashley Cleere Executive Director National Association of Congregational Christian Churches Temple and an Episcopal Church Repurposing among Congregationalists predates the genesis of the term Seventeenthcentury New Englanders introduced meetinghouses expanding the function of the church building to include civic matters This architectural trend may have been born of practicality Churches aka meetinghouses were frequently the largest structures in town and one of the first buildings erected By design church life and community life were inextricably intertwined Not coincidentally the term church describes both a house of God and a people of God A building may be home to a church but the church s purpose extends beyond the building At our annual meeting in June the delegates will have the opportunity to welcome a congregation that was formed without a meetinghouse Its existence as a virtual worshipping community may reflect a repurposing of the Internet Our mission in the world who we are and what we do defines our identity as Congregationalists Wherever we gather our calling is to be purposeful about our faith to trust in the words of that long ago hymn God is working this purpose out as year succeeds to year Ashley s travels continued into 2023 as she focused on the Northwest in late February early March arden Community Church was abuzz with preparations for the potluck that would follow worship I was introduced to children including Pastor Ed and Jami Backell s granddaughter who clearly love and are loved by their church The church was busily preparing for hosting the 2024 annual meeting which Pastor Ed described in his sermon as a national potluck At the moderator s suggestion I joined her and Ed in the narthex shaking hands with each congregation member before we shared the fantastic feast in the fellowship hall From Warden I made my way to Ingle Chapel in Milton Freewater just south of the Washington Oregon border in a region ideal for growing grapes wine country Over cookies and coffee I learned of the church s extensive ministry to the community working with other congregations and a local foundation associated with the local power supply company They are well known in town for their annual turkey dinner Recalling their founding in 1886 the members spoke of endurance that has sustained their church Noting that God called Moses at 80 they have hopes for the future Even taking into account cautions from my new friends in MiltonFreewater I decided to venture over the Tollgate Pass 5000 feet above sea level with its own weather systems The ride proved to be 40 miles of unforgettable snow covered beauty I surrendered to the road trusted my vehicle focused on my route and believed that the God who had created the wonder before me was my companion That evening the church treated me to a delicious chili potluck made with local bison Enterprise Community Congregational Church is excited to W As of July 1 2022 the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches comprised 312 congregations and 28 715 church members In July Ashley Cleere NACCC Executive Director kicked off a listening tour with the goal of visiting every NACCC church over the next three years welcome other Pacific Northwestern Congregationalists in May for the first in person Association meeting since the pandemic Like Warden they are gearing up for 2024 in Spokane Proud of myself for my ambitious trek on Monday Tuesday s February 28 route involved more momentous terrain through Rattlesnake Canyon My four hour trip to Cheney propelled me through snow and pavement peaks and canyons touches of black ice and curving vistas with guard rails appearing as fragile toothpicks amid the hilly expanses Although I d heard rich stories and wisdom from the residents of Enterprise I was unprepared for the indescribable beauty and variety as their prayers carried me north The wood frame structure called Cheney Congregational Church radiates the love of the members who built it During a tour the minister Rev Matt Goodale emphasized that the fellowship hour holds high importance in the congregation s life The sizeable inviting space oozes hospitality a bookend to the equally inviting sanctuary The congregation accommodated Covid precautions by worshiping outdoors in a park Compelling messages and kind people drew new attendees to worship when they returned indoors Members of the congregation generously shared hopes and concerns for their church They posed thoughtful questions about the NACCC as they joined our fold only recently Following an evening flight to Anchorage our Association Secretary Kate O Dell greeted me at the airport just after midnight This winter was one of the snowiest in living memory In Anchorage people take snow in stride but worry about flooding during break up in spring Fur Rendezvous a festival in the days leading up to the famed Iditarod sled dog race delivers fun all over the city Members of the First Congregational Church of Anchorage graciously carried me to events beginning with the ice sculpture competition At a melodrama about Alaska I laughed and got showered with popcorn which I also threw At a native arts market I purchased an Eskimo yoyo The woman from Quinhaguk who crafted the yoyo filled with beans demonstrated how to play with it Lingonberries currants and rhubarb from edible landscape on the church property showed up in recipes at the Alaskan themed potluck on Saturday night I also sampled moose meatballs and reindeer sausage The Sunday morning worship service was made extra special with a liturgy installing the Rev Johnathan Jones as the interim senior minister The bell choir heightened the joyful occasion As I flew home on a red eye I was impressed by how the local in local church holds power and authenticity in the Inland Northwest and Alaska The environments that surround Congregationalists inform who they are and how they dwell in God s created world FEBRUARY 26 Warden Community Church Spokane WA Ingle Chapel Milton Freewater OR FEBRUARY 27 Enterprise Community Congregational Church Enterprise OR FEBRUARY 28 Cheney Congregational Church Cheney WA MARCH 1 5 First Congregational Church of Anchorage AK 5

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Religious Generosity This is a BIG Deal ENGAGING THE SHIFTING LANDSCAPE OF D are to join us in Milwaukee The Growth Ministry Council of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches NACCC sponsors Rev Meredith McNabb Associate Director of Education for the Lake Institute on Faith Giving for a special plenary session at the 2023 Annual Meeting Conference She will speak on the topic of Engaging the Shifting Landscape of Religious Generosity Building on this lecture the NACCC is teaming up with the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy s Lake Institute on Faith and Giving to offer the Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising ECRF beginning September 2023 The ECRF is an eight week online course and practical application project through the Lake Institute Lake Institute on Faith Giving fosters a deeper understanding of the dynamic relationship between faith and giving through research education and public conversation Studying teaching and understanding religious motivations for giving allows for more effective fundraising and outreach across the nonprofit sector Lake Institute pairs groundbreaking research with on the ground knowledge of religious traditions helping church leaders translate an understanding of statistics and trends into practical tools and strategies The course provides the research tools and customized training to meet the growing needs of leaders in faithbased organizations The focus of the ECRF is on the cultural organizational and philanthropic practices unique to religious institutions These practices in turn enable donors motivated by spiritual and religious values to experience the joy of generous giving A Window of Generous Opportunity Member NACCC church leaders have an opportunity to discover more about the joys of generosity The Congregational Foundation Board of Governors is pleased to offer the opportunity to earn an ECRF by Lake Institute Individuals from NACCC member churches are invited to enroll in an exclusive session at a highly discounted rate of 350 00 per student Regular enrollment cost is 1 350 00 The course will take place on Wednesdays from September 13 2023 to November 1 2023 and include weekly plenary and peer group sessions Spaces are limited For complete details and registration please visit our website at www naccc org events ecrf Established in 1849 The Congregationalist has been a notable presence providing resources for local churches promoting just causes defining and shaping the Congregational Way More about the Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising The certification is an online course featuring faculty presentations interactive discussion selected readings and a final project that addresses Nurturing generous congregations and organizations Nurturing generous donors The practice of religious fundraising Integrating religious leadership and fundraising The Congregationalist has been published continuously since 1958 by the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches ENSURE THE TRADITION CONTINUES DONATE TO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CONGREGATIONAL CHRISTIAN CHURCHES Please cut and send to The Congregationalist NACCC PO Box 288 Oak Creek WI 53154 Yes Please use my our gift to support the Congregational Way through The Congregationalist Editor s Round Table 1 000 Henry Martyn Dexter Society 500 999 Edward Beecher Society 250 499 Elias Smith Connexion 100 249 249 Sustaining __________ Other A check is enclosed made payable to the NACCC Please Charge my credit card Mastercard Visa Amount ____________________ Card Number_______________________________ CVV Code ____________ Expiration Date _______ _______ Name _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Address _____________________________________________________________________________________________ City ___________________________________________________ State ___________ Zip ________________________ Phone ________________________________ E mail Address ________________________________________________ Church ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Thank You For Your Generosity All Gifts Are Tax Deductible To The Fullest Extent Allowed By Law 6 7

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BELL WELL Brings Water to Kim Davis Mission School of Hope S ometimes inspiration strikes like a bolt of lightning from a clear blue sky Kim Davis was one of the newer members of Grace Church when she heard the voice of God tell her to build a well Kim was attending the 2019 Annual Meeting Conference of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches NACCC in Cleveland It was during a session on NACCC missions that Kim had an epiphany her church could provide a well for one of the missions Why a well Church member Tom Bell owns Bell Well Drilling having inherited the business at 23 when his father died Though Tom has stepped back from day to day operations following a stroke he is still passionate about the business and serving others He has built wells for those in need for over 45 years To bring her vision into focus Kim contacted Julie Robie NACCC Missions Coordinator and asked if any of the NACCC supported missions needed a well for clean drinking water Julie referred her to Mission School of Hope in Molobo Mbang a subdivision of Cameroon Africa According to Beatrice Utube administrative assistant at the mission at one time a nearby logging company supplied clean water to the local community Other communities got Bella was the first baby bathed in the clean well water Beatrice Utube displays well s plaque by Kim Davis and Marianne King their water from dirty streams When the logging company left the local communities lost their water source The result was a growth in waterborne diseases The well says Beatrice was life saving and the answer to a prayer It was dug by hand Under the guidance of the Reverend Charles Sagay Executive Director the Mission School of Hope educates and preaches the gospel to the Baka Tribe The Baka people are hunter gatherers who live in the southeastern rain forests of Cameroon Traditionally the Baka were nomadic and would follow fishing and hunting sources where they were available As the rain forest is diminished by commercial activities so is the tribe s ability to sustain itself Kim reached out to Tom and Cheryl Bell who were immediately onboard bringing with them the resources of Bell Well Drilling The project was estimated to cost 23 330 Kim presented that number to Grace Church s Consistory Committee and before long the Benevolence Committee had committed 5 000 another 5 000 came from an anonymous donor and the rest was contributed by individuals around the city Tom Bell is a beloved figure in Columbiana and his reputation for giving back motivated many in the community to honor Tom with financial gifts to the project known affectionately as the Bell Well On February 16th Grace Church held a presentation to celebrate the more than 20 000 raised Pastor Sagay delayed by COVID was able to visit Grace Church in May 2021 to offer his thanks Tom s wife Cheryl noted It s obvious that God has had his hand in the whole thing How quickly the money has been raised and how generous the people have been is incredible and eye opening The experience has fostered a relationship between the members of Grace Church and the people at the mission The people of Grace Church certainly feel a close personal connection and partnership with the connection between a church and a mission it supports Mission School of Hope Pastor Charles and his administrative assistant Beatrice have kept us up to date with pictures and videos we have seen on Sunday mornings says the Reverend Dr Robert Joy senior minister at Grace Church since 2007 In this way we have seen the direct positive impact of the Bell Well on the community We have grown closer to folks who live on another continent and closer to each other here at Grace and closer to God It has been overwhelmingly a positive experience that has been a cause for significant spiritual growth among many of our members One year ago the June issue of The Congregationalist included an article about Kathy Reash a member of Grace Church who enlisted her bakery business in raising funds for a woman in Ukraine who dealing with the deprivations of war and trying to get her family to safety Obviously members of Grace Church are energized by opportunities to reach out in mission Jolane Day is a member of the Grace Reaches Out Committee GRO one of the main missionary arms of Grace Church which reaches out with monetary donations goods and supplies and sometimes manual labor Although our main support is local we try to support nationally and internationally as well says Jolane Local missions include food banks homeless shelters charitable organizations and sometimes personal financial needs Nationally and internationally most of our donations are monetary We rely on larger charities to distribute funds for us The NACCC serves as a reliable source for these distributions Jolane adds that the ability to accomplish the missions stems largely from the generosity of our congregation in the form of memorial funds private contributions and loose offerings which are dedicated to a specific mission To help supplement these donations six months out of the year Grace Church offers a Drive Thru Rigatoni Dinner Jolane explains Profits from the meals benefits our missions and offers a bit of donation relief to our congregation Our customers appreciate the fast and economical meal and many have become new friends Jolane says Grace Church continues to be a valuable resource in our community and helps to represent God s love Although our national and international donations are small in comparison to larger charities that one small gift may change one person s life circumstances or bring a bit of hope to someone somewhere The Congregational Church of Summerfield Florida is looking for an Interim Minister to begin service after the pending December 2023 retirement of our Senior Minister The person we seek will be asked to perform all ministry duties to include Preaching the gospel Ministering to the sick and homebound Administering the sacraments Supporting a program of Christian education Our location in sunny central Florida offers access to airports cruise ports and Orlando s many recreational opportunities Our congregation comes from a variety of nearby adult retirement communities such as The Villages Our members thrive in a friendly atmosphere of fellowship inspirational messages and beautiful music We re blessed to have relatively new facilities and a building program is underway to establish a new sanctuary An attractive compensation package will be offered for this position For more information www the congregational church org or www thevillages com Applications or questions should be directed to carlnystrom msn com or Carl Nystrom 3456 Rabbit Run Path The Villages FL 32163 Charles Sagay Tom Bell and Rev Dr Robert Joy 8 9

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The Stranger A TRUE STORY The Reverend Dr Michael Glidden is Minister at North Deering Congregational Meeting House in Portland Maine He has been pastoring since 1993 Rev Glidden earned his Master of Divinity Degree in 1995 from Bangor Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from GordonConwell Theological Seminary in 2002 He was ordained in 2000 Mike lives in South Portland with his wife Rhonda By Polly Bodjanac By Rev Michael Glidden It was a damp cold spring morning The bread was warm Standing in the pulpit I saw few A stranger walked in No one noticed The nap sack landed with a thud Now eyes were on the seat Cold iced coffee rested on a pilgrim hymnal And the sun s rays twisted through the glass panes As the stranger took a seat I broke bread Gave thanks Trembling I held the cup Stranger ate and drank And so did we Time twisted as we were all in the Starry Night sanctuary N ot a word Silence When the service ended we went to the vestry It was our monthly meeting Hot coffee was poured and the small talk began We linger on at the meeting house Stranger took a seat No cold coffee but hot Along with half a loaf of hot buttered sanctified and holy bread Three bites and it was gone His belly was full for at least a moment No business this Sunday We heard a story The sermon continued Homeless Stranded Texas Oklahoma New York to wherever Last stop Portland Maine A drifter since 12 A 6th grade education Wiser than King Solomon He carried no gold Route 66 was hardscrabble The image of Steinbeck s Grapes of Wrath was in the vestry Passion was in his eyes as he spoke of the dust flying off his feet And other drifters joined him He d done many things A rancher a milker hay bailer and a fence fixer His song opened our eyes and ears We couldn t sing along The words wouldn t come 10 The night before he slept in a crick near the church I never knew there was a crick I always heard of a creek or stream but stranger slept by the crick We Mainers would consider stranger from away His Texas accent gave him away A cloth was his tabernacle for the night Sitting upright the rain would trickle down his face as he tried to close his eyes and be somewhere else In the morn he found his way to the meeting house Asking for help What could we do A 5 a 20 Wallets and purses opened I didn t see any moths fly out No sound of change but the shuffling of paper We took him to the nearest motel in South Portland Two nights a warm bath a hot meal next door No sitting upright this evening but laying flat in a warm bed As Rhonda and I left him at the motel in South Portland he showed us his traveling companion a well worn KJV bible I expected it He spoke dearly of his upbringing in the Bible Belt Deep South He was a Baptist not the normal type but rather hard shell that helped him weather the long dusty and rocky roads I ve seen many Bibles This one has a story Tattered and beaten Pages falling Pockmarked cover Like the riveted life he lives We said our goodbye Not sure if our paths would cross again Stranger raised his arms in victory as we walked through the motel door We drove away Days have gone by We see them on the highway looking for help Some play music Others have a basket Some are bold Tents under the bridge and overpass We ve seen the angels They re with us They walk among us and sometimes come to visit us We know We heard a bottle of coffee land on a hymnal If I had my way I would rename our church the stable A place to go and find refuge Is your church a stable or just a plain old meeting house Do you have any stories to share about immigration or the homeless Love Grace W e can hardly believe it The new Lay Ministry Training Program has gathered two cohorts teams or graduating classes of students We are wrapping up Level 1 classes for Cohort B students and Level 2 classes for Cohort A students Level 2 classes are Lay Leadership focused and are designed for the individual who wants skills to more fully serve in ministry leadership of a local church The classes for Level 2 included Advanced Bible Advanced Theology and Spirituality The Congregational Way Essentials of Pastoral Care and Pastoral Ethics Polly Bodjanac Program Administrator Lay Ministry Training Program Managing Group Dynamics and Systems Church Management Worship and Sacraments Basics of Preaching Cohort A has eight strong students who have answered the call to go deeper in their faith so they can better serve God as He has called them Cohort A will begin their final year of Level 3 classes in September 2023 The final year will conclude in 2024 with participation in the Boston Seminar Level 1 and 2 Instructors are selected from within the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches NACCC bringing a breadth of knowledge and experience to their topic This allows students the opportunity to enjoy a variety of backgrounds and perspectives Classes continue to be offered virtually with most classes meeting one time per month with all students and the instructor in a Zoom setting Students are also paired with a Cohort Mentor who strives to meet with the students as a group on a regular basis Students complete their studies independently throughout the month We are currently gathering the next cohort of lay ministry students for Cohort C If God is calling you to more fully serve in your fellowship this program may be for you Check out the website https www naccc org education programs ccl lay ministry training program or contact one of our two administrators Polly Bodjanac pollybodjanac gmail com or Laura Wright lwright naccc org Top 10 Reasons to come to Milwaukee WI in June 10 Milwaukee in the summer IS the Promised Land Sunshine and 70 s gorgeous lakefront festivals beer gardens great restaurants NACCC Annual Meeting June 24 27 2023 Save the Date 11

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FINAL REPORT OF THE Racial Justice Task Team Annual Meeting of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches NACCC June 2023 Milwaukee Wisconsin USA R emarkable and important things happen when people of faith share a passion When their hearts and minds and spirits are moved a transcendent unison can emerge that makes a positive impact on the world The year was 2020 We had all heard the news one person after another killed by the police Black people people of color Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia Breonna Taylor in Kentucky and George Floyd in Minnesota There was heartbreak and horror and disbelief And we as people of faith were asking why Why does this happen How can human beings treat one another this way Why do we so often turn to He has told you O mortal what is good and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God Micah 6 8 NRSVUE violence especially against our brothers and sisters of color At the 2020 Annual Meeting and Conference of the NACCC the Cadman Congregational Church of Brooklyn New York took the initiative proposing a resolution which called for articles addressing the issue of racism in the next twelve issues of our magazine The Congregationalist The discussion was an interesting one with many supporting the resolution recognizing our need for such action Others felt that addressing racism in our magazine might go against our policy of not taking a stand on political issues In the end the resolution passed and came to be known as The Cadman Resolution Many who were passionate about the issue of racism were inspired by the passing of the resolution but felt that it was only the beginning of what we as the NACCC might offer to our member churches by way of education conversation starters and the naming of resources to learn more about racism Then moderator Rev Dr Cindy Bacon Hammer chose to solicit volunteers for a Racial Justice Task Team RJTT Over 20 interested individuals responded and the group held its first meeting via Zoom in July of the same year The first meeting was dedicated to listening to what brought everyone to the meeting our hopes and dreams our hurts and experiences and most importantly what we felt our faith taught us and demanded of us Throughout this two hour meeting a unifying goal began to emerge We all agreed that hurt people hurt people From that profound realization our eyes were opened to the desire to provide resources in a safe space for our churches to discuss this important topic that is often challenging to discuss Further we emphasized that addressing racism is about living into God s justice not what some would name political or social justice From that beginning the RJTT came up with article ideas for The Congregationalist recommended resources from all types of media ways to reach all age groups and general education ideas such as seminars webinars and Bible studies We established subgroups and began to meet monthly to flesh out all of the aforementioned ideas As concepts turned into products they were posted on naccc org Once the RJTT was convened we set about finding concrete ways to fulfill the letter of The Cadman Resolution as well as its spirit of pursuing learning and engagement related to racial justice and reconciliation As articles were sought out and published in The Congregationalist starting in September of 2020 we followed up on its initial brainstorm about other resources finding a range of collaborators that shared resource recommendations and produced compelling new materials The goal was to have options available that could be utilized by churches and individuals as they felt led and could connect with people with different experiences perspectives and learning styles The articles in The Congregationalist from the last three years collectively present a first valuable resource to come in response to The Cadman Resolution and from the RJTT s work Fourteen authors contributed articles representing voices from churches across the country from New England to the Deep South and from the Midwest to the Pacific Coast Pastors lay people leaders from our affiliated colleges and ministry partners shared personal stories theological insights encouragements about progress made prophetic conviction about persevering in certain efforts advice for cultivating dialogue options for individual and collective action and more They give a powerful record of humble hopeful and faithful wrestling done over the past few years within our Association Continued Top 10 Reasons to come to Milwaukee WI in June 9 National Geographic named Milwaukee one of the best places to visit in 2023 https nationalgeographicpartners com 2022 10 national geographic announces best of the world2023 list unveils 25 extraordinary places and communities to inspire your n ext trip NACCC Annual Meeting June 24 27 2023 Save the Date 12 Top 10 Reasons to come to Milwaukee WI in June 8 Summerfest The World s Largest Music Festival Summerfest hosts over 800 bands and 900 000 fans over 3 weekends on 11 different stages at Festival Park on the lakefront Opening weekend is June 22 24 Summerfest celebrates its 55th anniversary in 2023 www Summerfest com NACCC Annual Meeting June 24 27 2023 Save the Date 13

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FINAL REPORT OF THE Racial Justice Task Team Continued With this inspiration and encouragement coming in each quarter the RJTT maintained a complementary path of making other ways available that people could choose to utilize for reflection growth and encounter A resource page was created within the NACCC website and populated with options from all kinds of media The page curates books articles movies podcasts and more representing many perspectives and stories so a church or individual can delve deeply or identify a specific option that fits their context well There are revealing documentaries compelling journalism captivating historical narratives insightful theology and philosophy and more most of which is linked and available free or on popular streaming services In the fall of 2020 the First Congregational Church of Saugatuck MI and Meadowbrook Congregational Church in Novi MI came together via Zoom for a joint book study on Robin Diangelo s book White Fragility Why It s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism Following the murder of George Floyd both of our congregations were asking big questions about racism We were both needing to know more about what our small nearly all white congregations could do to push back at long embedded systems of racism and discrimination This collective book study with 30 some participants was just our first small step towards addressing racial injustice We started together naming that we are all a part of the problem But by the end of the study we were able to claim that we can also be a part of the solution Rev Sarah Terlouw First Congregational Church Saugatuck Michigan People also stepped up from within the NACCC to share their gifts and how God was leading them in learning about and participating in racial justice and reconciliation There are articles Bible study lesson plans a small group discussion guide for the mini series Roots and a guide for hosting a law enforcement discussion forum at your church thanks to the contributions of folks like Rev Dr Cindy Bacon Hammer Rev Dr Mary Biedron Miguel De Marzo Rev Rob Fredrickson and Cynthia Hardy The page also preserves videos of webinars with teaching and discussion including three hosted by Rev Dr Shawn Stapleton in March of 2021 and one hosted by First Congregational Church of Anaheim in July of 2020 Our NACCC colleagues also took into account the unique circumstances for young people engaging in this topic Rev Dr Lottie Jones Hood championed the BABES curriculum to help younger children make sense of this discussion There s a nice collection of campus ministry resources found and developed by Dr Amana Mbise Rev Mike Fales and Rev Andy and Krissy King Another virtual forum from NAPF and HOPE facilitated by Rev Dr Lezlie Austin Kennedy was also captured In mid 2022 we felt that we had made a positive difference in the lives of those who made use of the resources offered Further awareness of racial justice concerns had been elevated in recent years We were thankful but we knew that there was so much more that could be offered A next step was needed One concern that continued to emerge in our meeting discussions was that despite some forward motion the playing field remained uneven in the U S based in part on racial identities This was so important to us as a group that we met more frequently for a period of 2 3 months to identify what persistent systemic structural inequities remain in our country After much discussion the areas named were these Education Employment Health care Housing Law enforcement The criminal justice system Organized religion Technology communications and media Voting and the basic fabric of democracy Our hope as the RJTT was to host recorded presentations on each of these areas and release them one at a time for churches to use in their education programs Plans began names were gathered but there was not enough time to see this massive project to fruition Passion remained time did not All of that brings us to this point in time when we pass this important history and list of suggestions on to you In accordance with the terms of The Cadman Resolution June of 2023 marks the end of our efforts to not only address the letter of the Resolution but the deeper spirit of the call for action However while we believe we have taken significant steps to address the explicit call the deeper spirit of the Resolution implores us to suggest that significant opportunities remain opportunities for us to live up to who we have been as a tradition and who we ought to be as children of God going forward We heartily embrace our tradition of local church autonomy and in no way wish to impose any agenda on the NACCC or the churches that make up its membership However in that spirit Continued Top 10 Reasons to come to Milwaukee WI in June 7 World Class Art Museum Harley Davidson Museum The Milwaukee Art Museum s breathtaking Brise Soleil designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava overlooks beautiful Lake Michigan You can also experience the unrivaled collection of motorcycles and memorabilia at the Harley Davidson Museum during an optional group tour and dinner on June 26th NACCC Annual Meeting June 24 27 2023 Save the Date 14 Top 10 Reasons to come to Milwaukee WI in June Some of Our Favs Lakefront Brewery Sprecher Brewery City Lights Brewing Co MobCraft 6 World s Best Brewery Tours both Macro and Micro Milwaukee is the original Brew City beer is what Made Milwaukee Famous From legendary German brewers Blatz Pabst Schlitz and Miller to modern craft brew masters Milwaukee s beer heritage continues Take a tour and discover your new favorite brew NACCC Annual Meeting June 24 27 2023 Save the Date 15

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FINAL REPORT OF THE Racial Justice Task Team Continued we strongly encourage each of our member churches to prayerfully reflect on the following questions How do our worship services foster inclusion What aspects of our worship practices limit or discourage diverse perspectives In our Christian education activities do our curricular resources and learning environments e g artwork on walls quotations used printed materials etc promote a diversity of theological understandings from various cultures How does our church intentionally venture outside its comfort zone in the sharing of our volunteer time financial resources and meetinghouse How does our fellowship from coffee hour to community connections reflect the holistic nature of God s family What efforts are we making to tear down walls of division and build bridges of cooperation Whose faces and voices have we not often elevated to leadership roles in our congregation What advantages might we discover and what new gifts might we uncover with input from new members of the leadership team How does our church s public messaging advertising marketing and digital presence speak to all of God s people in our local area No matter how local churches respond we believe it is imperative that the NACCC commit itself to pursuing greater sensitivity ethical engagement social responsibility and resource development around the concern for racial justice Such efforts might include but not be limited to Ensuring that multiple cultural perspectives are included within the multi faceted NACCC leadership structure Board of Directors Board of Governors Growth Vitality and Missions Outreach Councils CFTS Board Nominating Committee Annual Meeting planning teams other committees and task teams Continuing to carry forward the spirit of The Cadman Resolution by soliciting and publishing articles in The Congregationalist focusing on racial justice Continuing to rely on the office staff to facilitate communications in all forms and formats that are culturally sensitive and inclusive Top 10 Reasons In addition we recognize an opportunity to reinvigorate the Washington Gladden Society WGS as a vehicle for continuing these important conversations about justice and diversity While we know that the WGS is not an official arm of the NACCC not named in the NACCC articles or by laws and not supported by any NACCC funds its deep roots in social justice issues make it an ideal generator of thought provoking articles videos seminars webinars etc As such it has the potential to be a fresh prophetic voice in the life of the NACCC We believe that the recommendations contained in this report are reasonable actionable steps that can continue the efforts of our Association to be more sensitive to the realities shared by a wider array of persons In so doing we believe the tent of the NACCC can expand to better reflect the beautiful diversity of God s people As we close we wish to thank every author of an article lesson plan discussion guide or other resource written in furtherance of the NACCC s collective conversation around racial justice issues We thank and commend every person who has read utilized or otherwise engaged with any of these written resources We also thank and commend everyone who participated in one or more of our webinars visited the RJTT s page on naccc org read a recommended book watched a recommended movie or viewed a recommended video To all who have stretched themselves over these last three years challenging themselves to wrestle with unfamiliar or uncomfortable issues we offer our appreciation and affirmation Originally called upon in mid 2020 simply to make sure there was an article in each issue of The Congregationalist for a three year period to fulfill the the basic tenets of The Cadman Resolution then Moderator Rev Dr Cindy Bacon Hammer pulled together a group of volunteers to make that happen This group took it a step further and decided to take a serious look at the NACCC and racial relations Over the years as life ebbed and flowed these volunteers came and went and in the case of Miguel De Marzo passed away but all of them contributed passionately of their time and talent We wish to honor their service and thank them Rev Lezlie Austin Kennedy Miguel De Marzo Rev Dr Patrick Hunt Rev Dr Lottie Jones Hood Rev Andy King Krissy King Rev Dr John Tamilio We also wish to thank Marianne King Editor of The Congregationalist for all of her collaborative and cooperative work with us And we of course also extend thanks to the NACCC s office staff including but not limited to Tracy Barnhardt Rev Dr Michael Chittum Rev Dr Ashley Cleere and Debra Fulton With fervent prayer we the members of the Racial Justice Task Team hope that this critical three year work will continue throughout the NACCC and its member churches and the communities that they serve helping us all to grow as people of justice compassion inclusivity and faith Respectfully submitted The active members of the Racial Justice Task Team at the time of this writing Rev Dr Cindy Bacon Hammer Rev Mike Fales Rev Rob Fredrickson Cynthia Hardy Rev Peter L Hart Claudia Kniefel Jodee Lord Dr Amana Mbise Rev Dr Shawn Stapleton Rev Robb Tarr to come to Milwaukee WI in June 5 Hands On Mission Project Support Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity by constructing wood slat doormats and decorating building studs to be used in the 30 new homes being built this year in the city NACCC Annual Meeting June 24 27 2023 Save the Date 16 Reverend Gregory Ellcey 1937 2023 The Rev Gregory Greg Alvord Ellcey of Marshalltown Iowa died January 15 2023 at the age of 85 Rev Ellcey was Minister Emeritus of the First Congregational Church of Marshalltown He attended Johnson Bible College and later Concordia Theological Seminary During his career he served the Christian Church in Denver Illinois Wataga Congregational Church in Wataga Illinois and retired in 2002 from the First Congregational Church in Marshalltown Iowa Ellcey combined his love of the church and nature by leading church camp for many summers Even in retirement he continued to serve churches in need in a part time capacity and never truly stopped working He is survived by wife Barb daughter Beth Ellcey Holt brother Allan Delores Ellcey his grandchildren and great grandchildren 17

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A CHURCH A KIDNAPPING AND BILL The Reverend Justin J Nierer is the lead pastor of Sandstone Congregational Church in Jackson Michigan He absolutely loves being a Congregationalist adores the NACCC and enjoys spending time with his wife Seneca and their son Wesley He can be reached any time via email at theoutreachguy hotmail com A church a kidnapping and a guy that loved cookies By Rev Justin Neier T he following story is true and to honor those mentioned the names have not been changed If Bill had been a child in the 21st century he most definitely would have been diagnosed with a severe learning disability Alas Bill was born in the early 1930 s and there was no such diagnosis at least not in the small town in which he grew up Bill s mother a longtime member of Sandstone Congregational church in Jackson Michigan was given a choice when he was a child Either put him in a state run facility or keep him at home and give him the type of care you would give to someone with a severe handicap She refused to do either she spent the rest of Bill s schooling working with him every day helping guiding tutoring It was because of her great love for her son that Bill graduated from high school and was able to join the US Army After serving in the military honorably Bill came home and became a truck driver for a local bakery a position he held for over 40 years before retiring Bill never married but ended up spending a great deal of time with a woman that he would always call his lady friend This is where my dear friends I come into the story 18 When I became the pastor of Sandstone Congregational Church Bill was in his late eighties his lady friend had passed away and he was living with her grandson and his family Bill was never able to live alone and after having conversations with others this seemed to Bill like the viable thing to do Bill would come to church every Sunday disheveled smelling of urine and looking like he hadn t had anything to eat in days During the beginnings of my pastorate the church had made available to Bill his own chair to sit in before service They did this to bring dignity to Bill in some small way because many times one our members without hesitation would take the chair and clean it because of an accident Bill might have had During the coffee hour Bill would never hesitate to have as many cookies brownies cupcakes etcetera as he could We never scolded him for taking seconds thirds fourths and we always allowed him to take something home More than once as he was sitting down eating one sweet I would go up and ask him if he wanted more His reply was always the same don t mind if I do One Sunday about a year into my time at Sandstone we noticed that Bill hadn t come to church One Sunday turned into two which turned into three One month turned into two months and then after about eight weeks we started to reach out We would have reached out earlier but the contact information we had on Bill was extremely out of date We finally tracked down a phone number and I gave it a try A young man answered and I asked for Bill He said Sure and could be heard calling for Bill to come to the phone Bill answered and I asked him how he had been and told him we missed him quite a lot and were a little worried His response was such I just haven t been feeling well but I starting to come around and hope to be back at church soon and just like that he hung up That s the report I gave to the church I have been in contact with Bill he said he wasn t feeling well but hopes to be back soon Unfortunately that next week there was no Bill nor the week after or the week after that Then it went from bad to worse When I tried the phone number again it had been disconnected The only address we had for Bill was a place we knew he hadn t lived at for many years We seemed to have hit a dead end we had no way of making sure Bill was safe happy or to be honest even alive Over six months passed since Bill s last time in church and everyone was getting really worried One day though Dan a retired police officer and member of Sandstone had an idea I m going to contact my friend the county sheriff and get to the bottom of this Through Dan s determination and law enforcement relationships we found that Bill was paying taxes on an apartment building he owned Did you catch that Bill the retired truck driver who had a learning disability was paying taxes on an apartment building he had ownership of Dan calls me one day and says let s head over to the apartment building My first response was how about you do that and tell me how it goes We have no idea what to expect But I felt a tugging on my heart that as Bill s pastor I needed to go Yet I did tell Dan I would simply follow his lead We get to the apartment building and to my utter amazement Dan starts knocking on doors and waiting for someone to answer Every door upstairs and downstairs There appeared to be about five apartments and it seemed no one was home We were just about to leave when a car pulled into the drive Dan asked all the right questions after years of knowing what to ask and we found out to our astonishment that Bill was landlord and that the checks were made out to him Yet when asked when or how Bill collected the rent they had never seen or talked to Bill rather it was always a young man named Nick Dan looked at me and said Pastor Justin I m going to take it from here Which I understood as all signs point to this not ending well Three days later I get a call from Dan It was late at night and the first thing he said was We found Bill and he is okay Dan and his wife tracked him down through tax records They found him living with the grandson of the lady friend along with his wife and two young daughters The grandson s name was Nick I talked to Bill on the phone and said we had been worried and that we wanted to make sure he knew we loved him and wanted to make sure he was safe because we hadn t seen or heard from him in quite a while Bill answered that he was safe he loved us too and he hoped to be back at church soon Do you hear a pattern forming Because of Bill s answers and his ever reliable gut feeling Dan decided to come back to the home but this time with a sheriff s deputy under the guise of a simple welfare check We found out that Bill wasn t just paying for the taxes and such on the apartment building but he was also paying the rent and utilities on this home where he was residing Dan and the deputy also figured out that Bill was allowed to live in one room of the house and meals were not a regular thing He only had a few sets of clothes and those were mostly stained He had lost even more weight and it looked like he hadn t bathed or shaved in a very long time That is when Dan and the officer decided that they were going to take Bill out of there They physically walked Bill out of the house and into Dan s car and Dan drove away Nick and his family didn t take the news well which is an understatement but the sheriff s deputy didn t have to say a word he just stood between them and Dan s vehicle and Nick slammed the door We found out later that Nick or his wife would go to the bank with Bill and Bill would sign checks cash them and immediately hand the cash over to one of them They did this multiple times a month with rent checks Teamster s pension Social Security etc Dan was able to get Bill into an incredible organization in Jackson Michigan called the John George Home where Bill was able to get the love support and services he so desperately needed He did so well there that at the time of his death he weighed over 250 pounds As I said earlier Bill loved his sweets Through the past few years Bill enjoyed his time at John George and his weekly visits to Sandstone we always made sure he had a ride Week by week the healthier he looked and the more focused he became We no longer had to worry about anything and he became quite the conversationalist always ending with something like I might get myself another cookie before the service begins Bill passed away because of complications from Covid it got into the men s home and they lost seven residents Bill being one of them After his passing we received two checks from Bill s pre planning which was a shock to all totaling over twelve thousand dollars In memory of him we named our coffee hour Bill s Cookie Corner Our church located in rural Sandstone Township Michigan was part of a rescue mission of a friend We might not all be able to say something like that but I know we are all part of Christ s church and He continues to give us ministry opportunities we cannot begin to imagine 19

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Using faith to build bridges between law enforcement and the community Jared Feuer is an experienced senior executive with a professional focus on the social sector building internal infrastructure finance and strategy Prior to MFI Jared was Chief Business Officer for Welcoming America In this position he oversaw the organization s strategy and planning business revenue and administration Previously he served in leadership roles at Amnesty International American Civil Liberties Union and New York Civil Liberties Union Jared holds a Bachelor of Arts from Brandeis University a Master of Arts from Georgetown University and an M B A from the Georgia Institute of Technology Georgia Tech with a specialization in business operations He also holds a Master of Technology certification from Georgia Tech He is Chief Operating Officer of MovingForward Inc and Executive Director of One Congregation One Precinct oneCOP and National Faith and Blue Weekend NFBW initiatives of MovementForward Inc By Jared Feurer J ust weeks before the world of law enforcement would be thrown deeper into crisis by the murder of George Floyd at the hands of an officer in April 2020 the U S Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services COPS Office convened a meeting of national law enforcement organizations in collaboration with MovementForward Inc MFI MFI is an Atlanta based national nonprofit founded by Reverend Markel Hutchins to carry the civil rights movement to a new time Rev Hutchins was mentored by many of the icons of the civil rights movement including Rev Jesse Jackson and Corretta Scott King in particular Rev Hutchins recognized two pillars at the heart of the civil rights movement 1 Reconciliation means that we make true societal progress when people come together across difference And 2 there has been no successful largescale movement for social change that did not actively engage the diversity scope and values of faith The purpose of the meeting with the COPS Office was to discuss the creation of an annual event comprising thousands of locally organized community police engagements across 20 the nation that facilitate understanding and build trust between officers and their communities To better root these activities in every type of community the connections and assets of faithbased organizations would be needed This was the moment that launched National Faith Blue Weekend Faith Blue Selecting the faith community as an avenue for engagement is essential the faith community with 65 million people across the nation attending weekly services and programs is by far the nation s largest body of locally based community stakeholders Moreover faith leaders are respected moral voices and offer significant influence to move hearts and minds All activities revolve around connections available to all including service projects community events dialogues picnics and peace and unity marches With a diversity of faith and law enforcement partners working on the developing initiative in 2020 the organizers placed tremendous energy and focus into ensuring Faith Blue could facilitate programming for diverse communities that would not just enable officers and residents to be in the same place but to also get to know each other and build trust When announcing the first Faith Blue Rev Hutchins said We ve done the marching we ve done the protesting and now it s time to do the heavy lifting of decreasing bias increasing respect and trust protecting the lives of young Black and brown and Hispanic and Asian and white men and women but respecting and honoring and protecting the lives of our law enforcement professionals as well Within just five months of organizing the 2020 Faith Blue had 1 000 engagements in 43 states which grew in 2021 to 2 000 events in all 50 states and to 3 000 in all 50 states in 2022 Each of these engagements are jointly organized by local law enforcement agencies and faith based organizations To create a turn key solution MFI and the working group created a number of resources including a toolkit with 22 full activity plans ten quick activities 100 other activity ideas sample scripts to reach out to partners FAQ s media advisories and more Furthermore the toolkit delineates the role of the community partner and law enforcement and provides direction on how to ensure all activities are interactive Beyond the toolkit many other outreach resources are available including customizable posters thank you cards postcards banners t shirts and flyers in multiple languages including Spanish French Arabic Somali Equally as important activities are registered on the Faith Blue website faithandblue org where members of the public can use an easy Google Map search function to find events nearby and across the nation The need for community engagement could not be more apparent The current discourse on law enforcement has come down to a false binary that you should either defend or defund law enforcement and that most people of color choose defund That is not the case many Black Americans in particular actually want more policing because it has been shown to reduce violent crime And this showed itself in an important vote in Minneapolis By the end of 2021 following the very significant tensions post Floyd the Minneapolis police force had dropped from around 900 to 588 as officers resigned and interested people declined to enlist During this period as officers were unable to patrol homicides doubled reaching a record in 2021 Even so the city put forward a referendum to replace the police department The proposal was no doubt well intentioned But it was subsequently rejected by the community and opposition was highest in minority areas Violent crime is a serious issue in the United States and the false binary has not helped The reality is that over the past twenty years over 100 000 Americans have died due to homicide which increased by 30 in 2020 the largest increase in more than a century and possibly ever Moreover in 2020 there were 1 313 000 reported violent crimes in the United States Violent crime is the leading cause of death for Black men up to the age of 44 with roughly one out of every three deaths of Black men in this age group due to homicide Repeated surveys of Faith Blue participants officers and residents overwhelmingly show that participants found the programming to be immensely valuable and effective with officers and residents alike remarking that the greatest impact was making them more likely to collaborate and understand the other s perspective The survey results did not surprise MFI and its partners because the impetus and design of Faith Blue is based on Intergroup Contact Theory ICT which was pioneered in the 1940s to support interracial contact among armed forces during World War II The ICT strategy employs four pillars that are necessary to reduce intergroup tension 1 Equal status between the groups neither can be in charge 2 Common goals both groups want the same outcome 3 Intergroup cooperation doing something together 4 The support of authorities law or customs endorsed by authority figures The ICT strategy has proven successful in many diverse situations including ethnic conflict and school desegregation where it has demonstrated results in reducing tensions and biases It s been extensively studied for decades and a 2016 meta analysis of 515 studies conclusively show ed that intergroup contact can promote reductions in intergroup prejudice Likewise its application in law enforcement has also been proven successful Research by the National Academy of Sciences Northwestern University and University of North Carolina are just some of the studies that have proven that ICT helps to improve morale of residents and officers enhance collaboration and reduce crime Proactive positive police presence supported by community engagement works A metaanalysis of 163 studies in Campbell Systematic Reviews found that building trust between community residents and law enforcement enhances sentiments of legitimacy reduces re offenses and increases resident satisfaction confidence and collaboration with the police all of which can ultimately help police in their quest to keep communities safer The fact is that when police and communities work collaboratively they have enormous potential to not only stem violent crime but also to address the most pressing underlying issues that drive inequities in our justice system especially in communities where trust in law enforcement has been understandably broken And as Faith Blue looks to its fourth year to be held October 6 9 2023 the opportunity for this initiative is more exciting than ever Law enforcement is looking to faith partners to collaborate on organizing the thousands of events across the nation that will enable congregants to share their thoughts concerns and questions with law enforcement All the resources are in place and extensive support from the MFI team is available each step of the way You can find more about Faith Blue and download planning resources at https www faithandblue org Any questions Just reach out to the Faith Blue team at info faithandblue org 21

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Our unique journey by providence I found our walks in Congregationalism are individually unique and all quite different We are all diverse under one roof giving God our best and helping those that we are surrounded by Some grew up in the church while others came to the huddled masses as adults Some of us had a slow and gradual spiritual change while others a profound revelation One such revelation for me was on March 4 2019 I had been semi absent regularly attending my Congregational church and I had not been putting my faith to the best of practices In fact you could say that I was astray I had spent years living on my own free will despitehaving been baptized at the age of 19 in January 2002 I knew right from wrong but my heart had other plans that involved depravity Unfortunately I could not have foreseen my hardened heart being exasperated further than it already was But they say That is in vain We will follow our own plans and will every one act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart Jeremiah 18 12 ESV Struggling with addiction and obduracy I ceased drinking alcohol on March 1 2019 My thirst for God had been satiated by an ongoing ravenous drunken desire With sincere honesty this was about my 100th attempt to abstain from drinking spirits I was sincere in quitting this time and I wanted to be done with my selfinflicting plight Nine months prior I had a little over two years sober before having another slip up This time I was making my sober decision in hopes 22 Daniel Wiita Livingston entered into Congregationalism in 2002 and continues to serve as a Deacon and Sunday School teacher at Mount Hope Congregational Church in Livonia Michigan He works full time serving his community as a Peer Recovery Coach helping those with alcohol and drug addictions Daniel graduated from Schoolcraft College with an associate degree in Fire Science He continues his education in the Lay Ministry Training Program with the aspirations of helping Congregational Churches and serving their surrounding communities by Daniel Wiita Livingston to escape my own wickedness Was this abstinence going to stick Was I really in this for keeps I was truly the man in Psalms 37 and I had no way of knowing though he falls he shall not be cast headlong for the Lord upholds his hand Psalms 37 24 ESV Seventy two hours had now passed since I had enacted my new sober decision Things seem to be going beautifully without a cloud on my horizon I thought to myself I felt as though I was chasing after the things of God again in my new sober living but to my own deceit I was still running in my own free will Although having three days sober I felt like I was back in the saddle and I had even gone to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting to show myself and others that I meant business It may have been bravado but everything was better than before While at this Alcoholics Anonymous meeting something strange started to happen I started to slur my words even though I was not intoxicated The vision in my left eye went blurry My body temperature felt as though it was elevating and it was becoming extremely difficult to read any words in front of me A friend leaned over to ask if I was okay Visibly I was not Confused and disoriented I assured my friend that I was okay My friend convinced me that it was time to go to the hospital I grabbed my car keys and made the ill decision to drive myself to the emergency room At the hospital I began to stagger and lost my ability to speak coherent sentences The nurse and doctors observed I was in great distress and placed me sedentary in a wheelchair With haste and impending doom falling over me they wheeled me back to an observation room yet so far I had not said a single prayer My blood pressure skyrocketed and I fought not to lose consciousness Seeing the nurses and doctors starting to lose their calm made me uneasy Their panic told me this was going to be the end I know we are supposed to be still and know that He is God I was not still and I still had not called on God While being transferred from the wheelchair to the gurney the nurses and doctors hooked me up to an intravenous line They pumped my veins full of life saving fluids while they rushed me into a room This would be the last attempt of any human power giving any intervention before my slip into death I was slipping from the grasps of the medical professionals They knew it and I could feel it After when the medical team leveled my numbers I was alone in the room staring at the fluorescent lights on the ceiling Though my education was now many years ago I knew they did everything they could do to keep me alive This was it I started to cry Powerlessness swept over me There was nothing more they could do and there was nothing more I could do It was simply a wait and see NOW I started to pray This was the hardest prayer of my life God I am sorry for what I have done I know I deserve this suffering but please get me out of this I will do whatever it takes Please let me live I know I am beyond forgiveness for all the things I have done but I am begging you to please pull me out of this I can t leave my family I don t want to die now There s so much more I have to do in life Most of us have been there when we shake our fist at the sky begging God to turn things around It is in times like these we understand our need for God in our lives I felt like David pleading to God out of desperation Answer me when I call O God of my righteousness You have given me relief when I was i n distress Be gracious to me and hear my prayer Psalms 4 1 ESV It was then a revelation came An unveiling A disclosure from above that I had never experienced Mysteriously profound I still cannot explain I heard two questions asked 1 Are you willing to believe that there is no other God before me 2 Are you willing to help out as many people as you can within your capacity until the day you die I frantically answered yes to both questions By giving my affirmation I sealed a promise that I now could not fail to honor Gradually I started to feel better Hope started to fill my spirit Even to this day I am afraid of ever going back on my answers and not honoring them Something or Someone saved my life and I cannot explain what it was but I know I was given a second chance People in life do not get do overs or second chances Undeservingly I did There is no doubt in my mind God granted me mercy This revelation I will always hold very close and dear to my once hardened heart Even though my story is intensely personal it is not about me but rather for the congregation I serve and for the people I am surrounded by It s vital that I live the remainder of my life as selflessly as possible For whoever would save his life will lose it but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it Luke 9 24 ESV The impact this had on me is something almost impossible to explain It is my belief a miracle is something you either see hear or feel and yet cannot put into words Am I willing to go out and help as many people as possible that are within my capacity Yes Am I willing to go out and make disciples Absolutely It is one of the major reasons why I joined the Lay Ministry Program with the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches It was by the grace of God I landed in this program and I will not take it for granted Yes I still have struggles in life Yes I still find myself asking God through faith to forgive me when I get something wrong There are many days when I feel as though I have gotten everything wrong but now I ask for forgiveness and he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness 1 John 19 I do not deserve anything in life and here we have an all encompassing God that gave his only begotten son to wash our sins away It is a forgiveness that I cannot explain but it sure does lift our spirits when we are the most troubled What a wonderful life What an amazing love Just so I tell you there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents Luke 15 10 ESV We are currently searching for the right person to move us forward and grow our church St Jacobi Congregational Church is located in the beautiful Kettle Moraine in a suburban community just north of Milwaukee Wisconsin We have a strong foundation of hard working and diverse members united by faith in the Gospel of Christ We are seeking a part time Senior Pastor to lead our close knit and welcoming church family Learn About Us Access our Church Information Form at naccc org For Additional Information Email our Search Committee Chairman Bob Laubenheimer at sjccsearch yahoo com 23

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The Congregational Library Archives Your First Stop for Congregational History Grad Workshop March 2023 T he Congregational Library Archives is your first stop for all things related to the Congregational story past present and future The Congregational Library s mission is to foster a deeper understanding of the spiritual November 22 CLA Open House intellectual cultural and civic dimensions of the Congregational story and its ongoing relevance to contemporary society by collecting preserving and sharing materials and by actively engaging with faith communities students scholars and the general public Here at 14 Beacon Street in Boston Massachusetts we remember the 400 year Congregational story engage with the rich tapestry of Congregationalism today from coast to coast and look ahead to how it will grow and transform in the future The Congregational Library fulfills its mission in multiple ways as we seek to serve national and international audiences We offer free access to our research library of 225 000 books pamphlets periodicals and manuscripts and our Digital Archive with more than 100 000 images many drawn from our New England s Hidden Histories Project Throughout the year we offer educational programs both virtual and in person and research fellowships for students scholars churches and anyone interested in Congregationalism s influence on the American story Our historic reading room is open by appointment Monday through Friday from 9 am to 12 noon and 1pm to 4 pm Library The library has grown immensely over the past 170 years Today it includes more than 100 000 items from the 16th century through the 21st on topics ranging from church history to poetry art and beyond Highlights of the collection include an extensive collection of sermons material related to social movements Congregationalists have been involved in such as abolition civil rights and temperance and rare works on English Nonconformity In an effort to capture the unique history of Congregational churches across the country the library 24 maintains a collection of local church history files on individual Congregational churches These files can contain anything from written histories to programs from milestone events cookbooks and much more We want our collection to be as comprehensive as possible and we would appreciate receiving copies of any publications e g written histories milestone programs or sermons pastor lists cookbooks etc that your church has produced to make them accessible to our researchers from around the world Does your church have an anniversary coming up Library staff are available to field questions about celebrating an anniversary researching your church s history or preserving your church s historical materials Our Librarian Sara Trotta would be very happy to talk with you more about using our online catalog requesting copies of materials we have and giving materials to the Congregational Library She can be reached at 617 523 0470 x210 or strotta 14beacon org Archives The archives have been growing just as quickly Today the archives include the papers of Congregationalist leaders and missionaries the manuscript sermons and theological writings of Congregationalist ministers and the records of Congregational churches societies and organizations The CLA is also in the process of building out our Church Stewardship Initiative which we hope will empower churches and their communities to thoughtfully preserve and steward their important records and memories for future generations The Church Stewardship Initiative is focused on producing a variety of resources for churches at any stage in their stewardship program In time these will likely include webinars handouts and brochures that cover records management programs and in person workshops that discuss tricky and confusing archival topics Check out the library s YouTube channel at youtube com CongregationalLibrary to watch several videos intended to help churches begin their own archival program Our archivists Zachary Bodnar and Billy McCarthy are always happy to hear from you and will gladly answer any questions you might have about your collections and the stewardship of your records They can be reached at 617523 0470 ext 225 and ext 228 or info 14beacon org New England s Hidden Histories Want to explore the early history of Congregational churches in North America from the comfort of your own home Check out the Congregational Library s signature digital project New England s Hidden Histories congregationallibrary org nehh main NEHH as we call it works to digitize transcribe create enhanced metadata and host historic church records from across New England This project has made many previously inaccessible materials available to students researchers genealogists and history enthusiasts NEHH has digitized early records pertaining to Black and Indigenous people in early New England Congregational churches such as the records of the Abyssinian Church of Portland Maine and the First Church of Natick Massachusetts You will also find relations of faith letters sermons diaries and records of baptisms marriages and deaths from communities across the region And every year exciting new histories that are changing our understanding of early New England are being written from this unparalleled collection of records Begun in 2005 New England s Hidden Histories has received major funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities NEH the Council on Library and Information Resources CLIR and others to partner with organizations such as the Massachusetts Historical Society the American Antiquarian Society and individual churches to digitize and provide access to early New England Congregational church records In that time over 100 000 pages of material have been digitized and uploaded to the project s digital archive In addition the project has produced thousands of pages of literal transcriptions of these early documents largely through the efforts of volunteers In an age when more and more students and adults can no longer read cursive handwriting we see offering transcriptions as a bedrock of accessibility Interested in learning more about New England s Hidden Histories and the possibility of contributing your own church s records to the project Please contact Tricia Peone NEHH Project Director at 617 523 0470 x222 or tpeone 14beacon org Programs The Congregational Library offers a robust series of virtual and in person programs throughout the year To showcase the latest scholarship and thinking on the history and future of Congregationalism we offer seminars with leading scholars book talks with new and established authors lunchtime lectures and hands on workshops Visit the library s website and social media or subscribe to our monthly email newsletter for more information about upcoming events Virtual programs are often recorded edited and posted on the library s YouTube page Members and donors receive first access to these recordings typically the week following the event Not yet a member Visit our website to sign up congregationallibrary org get involved become a member Be in Touch Finally we would love to reach out and let you know about all the exciting things happening at the Congregational Library Archives If you are not already on our email list which includes access to our monthly email newsletter you can sign up on our website at www congregationallibrary org enewsletter You are always welcome to tag the Congregational Library s accounts in your Facebook Twitter or Instagram posts so we can help share pieces of your congregation s story You can find us at Facebook facebook com CongregationalLibrary Twitter CongreLib Instagram CongregationalLibrary There is nothing the staff at the Congregational Library Archives loves more than welcoming folks into the library to use the collections The next time you plan to be in Boston please come see us The library is currently open by appointment only and you can reach out to ref 14beacon org to schedule your visit or send us your questions SEEKING PART TIME MINISTER Oakwood Heights Community Church located on Staten Island NY seeks a Part time Pastor to lead us in Christian service to our community and beyond Our small and faithful congregation is a beacon to the community offering Christianly service to people from all walks of life Since 1928 The Part Time Pastor will work with the Deacon and Trustee Boards be involved in local church councils and community outreach represent us in NACCC initiatives and work with leadership to grow the membership The position is salaried and includes housing For information www myohcc org To apply https www naccc org resources pastoral search openpulpits 25

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Mrs Peabody JOINS THE CIRCUS By Rev Justin Nierer F irst things first the title is misleading but I did that for a reason my dear friend I wanted to draw you in right away by making you look at the title and ask how in the world did that happen and thus proceed to read the following tale of our beloved and notorious church member I also did that because our story begins in a not so attractive place it begins in a hospital I was on my way out of the hospital after an early morning visitation Now this story takes place quite a while before Covid so I found myself with my clergy pass and the freedom to linger and to see if there were any other needs that I could assist with before I left That is when I saw her Darlene Browturn the daughter of our dear friend Mrs Peabody I knew Darlene from various church events but never a Sunday morning Darlene and her husband were always friendly warm people that never passed up a potluck or funeral dinner but the only time they went to church on a Sunday was Easter and her husband only stayed for the breakfast Darlene I said and walked over to her Oh hello Pastor he is in room 316 And with that I had to ask Who is in room 316 She looked at me confused for a moment My dad Oh I didn t know your dad was in the hospital Really she remarked didn t my mom call you Open heart surgery in a few hours Then she looked at me and it dawned on her it dawned on her like it dawns on anyone that knows her mother and all she could then say was Room 316 Pastor and walk away I have shared about Mr Vincent Peabody before but never at length There really was not ever much to say He was a retired electrician s union steward I never saw the man without a button up dress shirt on long sleeves in the winter short sleeves in the summer and this is including picnics sports events and when I passed his house one day and he was mowing the grass Vincent didn t talk much I wouldn t call him timid or shy though I just remember times such as a men s breakfast event or even a work day when he would come and help with the landscaping around the church He simply was what my grandmother used to call a quiet soul which always made me curious about how he met and married a woman that I would never define as quiet and yes there were definite moments in knowing her I questioned if there was actually a soul in there somewhere So there I stood in the middle of the hospital lobby and I decided what any good pastor would decide to do I walked right out No you know I didn t If you are a pastor reading this you know I considered it but you also know I took a deep breath said a prayer and made my way to Room 316 I got to Room 316 and walked right in I was expecting her to be there sitting by his bedside but she wasn t in the room He was there of course wide awake and watching some morning talk show He looked up smiled and said Well hello Pastor good morning you didn t have to come up and see me Everything will be fine Now that was probably the most he had ever spoken to me personally in the entire time I knew him I was actually here doing another visit and ran into Darlene I didn t know you were here Vince With that he looked at me and it dawned on him just as it dawned on his daughter I knew that look and I knew exactly what he was about to say She never told you I was in the hospital and now I doubt she told anyone outside of our kids He takes a deep breath There is a reason for that later she can complain that you never visited or cared Have a seat we need to talk You need to know she doesn t despise you personally She hates what you are This is going to sound strange but for a woman that will not miss a Sunday morning she has an absolute hatred for pastors and allow me to tell you why Her father was a pastor well sort of Her father worked for a furniture supply company during the week but on the weekends he was the head of the Victors of Christ Family Singers Every family member was in it except my wife because God bless her she simply cannot sing Can you imagine Pastor traveling around with your family each week having to sit there Sunday after Sunday listening to them sing and then listening to everyone tell them what an incredible job they did To make things worse it was common then for the pastor to invite the group somewhere for lunch Plus this wasn t just a few times a year They were quite good and traveled all over the country and don t even get me started on church camps and week long events It all stopped though when she was in her teens and her brother ran away Now dear reader I feel I need to remind you that Vince was completely prepped and ready to go for a very serious procedure When I look back on this moment I wonder if he shared so much with me because he wasn t completely sure if he was going to have another opportunity to do so Ran away I asked completely intrigued to be honest Yes he ran away and joined the circus Now those who know me know that when I was a teen my dream was to go to clown college I have always loved the circus and so when he said that I prayed no one would enter the room for a while Yes he ran away and joined the circus We have all heard stories fables legends really of people doing this but it sounded to me like this guy did it He actually ran away and joined the circus Come to find out that he not only joined the circus but stayed employed with them for many years He worked his way up from a basic laborer to one of the bosses think Charlton Heston in The Greatest Show on Earth Every once in a while he would send his family a postcard and as soon as they received it in the trash it went Or if their father was in a particular mood he d set it on fire This is when Vince looked straight at me and said they stopped singing and traveling and started to attend the church that you now have the honor of being the pastor of right now But Vince why does she despise all pastors If anything she should despise music groups and circuses With that Vincent Peabody smiled and laughed he laughed so hard his sides started to hurt Do you know where we went on vacation two years after being married We went to the circus And she hates pastors because of the prodigal son sermon We found her brother when we were on vacation We found him and spent time with him and she begged him to come home Personally there was a part of me as I imagine there is a part of you that would have loved to be him I had never met a man since that resonated freedom as much as he did He was friendly hospitable and I could tell he really cared about his sister and kept apologizing for not coming to our wedding Pastor Vince asked do you believe in God s perfect timing Of course I do maybe not as much as my reformed brothers and sisters but I do believe in the idea of things God ordained and not coincidence Well almost a year after our vacation the pastor was preaching a sermon on the prodigal son and yes the doors in the back of the church opened and in walks world traveled circus boss brother I had only ever seen my fatherin law cry once and it was that day There were tears hugs goodness There was so much crying going on I don t believe we sang the closing hymn or if there was a benediction Of course why would there be Afterwards it was straight out of the Gospel we had a huge dinner and laughed into the night From that day on we always had free tickets to the circus and my wife despised pastors Why Because even though it sounds strange to everyone else it was a pastor who always complimented their singing it was a pastor that always invited them out for lunch and it was a pastor that decided to preach on that parable that day She couldn t of course be angry at the Holy Spirit that wouldn t be right in her mind But she can be angry at the person that made sure her family knew what grace forgiveness and love looked like Continued 26 27

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Continued JOINS THE CIRCUS four to six hours or leaves to do something else I know some of you would have stayed I know some of you would have stayed to possibly find a way to continue to break down that wall she had built but I didn t stay And in conclusion I would like to tell you why I didn t stay because I wanted to give something to this lady that she really wanted and I wanted to give her that because I had just been told a story of a young girl a young lady a woman that was never encouraged to find her own gifts and how they could be used to the glory of God I heard this story and that day decided I would give her the gift of being able to complain Yes she would call everyone she could and tell them I didn t stay with her while Vincent was in surgery and how horrible a pastor I am because I didn t but alas there are worst things And instead of going to clown college I went to seminary And sometimes the love of Christ I preach on and believe in can take many different forms FROM THE Mrs Peabody It was at that moment there was an ahem from the doorway and without even looking I knew who it was It was our friend our nemesis walking into the room to see her husband before he was to be wheeled away She showed no surprise that I was there but calmly walked into the room and said hello Pastor They say the surgery should take about four to six hours depending on what they find Now my dear friends and fans of our favorite church protagonist this was Peabody code for Let s see if he stays Dear Readers Letter EDITOR I was very honored when almost eight years ago I was offered the position as editor of The Congregationalist Congregationalis and I have loved every moment of it At the time I decided that I wouldn t extend my tenure as editor past eight years It sounds arbitrary but I love and respect the publication too much to risk becoming complacent Now as I approach that mark I know it was the right choice It was pure serendipity that my deadline coincided with the completion of the Cadman Resolution June marks three years of quarterly magazines each of which included one or more articles regarding the issue of racial justice On page 12 is a report from the NACCC s Racial Justice Task Team which has wisely stewarded that effort In addition to shining the light on a critical concern I hope the fulfillment of the resolution has demonstrated that the magazine can serve as a platform for the meaningful and civil discussion of current issues impacting our churches and our communities As they say time flies when you re having a good time and my time with The Congregationalist has zipped by It has been wonderful as well as humbling My job as editor would have meant nothing without the provocative enlightening and entertaining articles from diverse writers the sage and carefully considered advice of the Editorial Board the continued support of the NACCC and suggestions criticisms and encouragement from readers No editor could ask for more unless you re talking about production of the magazine In that case I would like to mention Bill Findley of John Goes Studio whose beautiful magazine design efficiency and responsiveness made my life much easier It is hard to say goodbye but I love the magazine enough to know it s time for a fresh set of eyes a new editorial vision and vigor It is the NACCC s hope that we will have a new editor in place before the September issue so I can offer my assistance in his or her orientation to the job I encourage anyone who would like to apply for the position or at least explore the opportunity to contact Ashley Cleere Executive Director National Association of Congregational Christian Churches at acleere naccc org Many thanks and blessings to you all Marianne King Pastor Search Join the Conversation The National Association of Congregational Christian Churches recently launched a dedicated discussion forum exclusively for individuals of member churches This resource enables users to interact on current topics in congregational life Areas of interest have been established to heighten connectivity Rockland Congregational Church is seeking a personable community focused and energetic pastor to lead us into our next chapter We are a small congregation in a desirable Mid Coast Maine location with easy access to hiking sailing a vibrant art scene world class seafood and more While we are an older congregation we are high energy and enjoy social gatherings and community events to spread the love and joy of Christ The Member Forum is a place to share ideas ask questions gain knowledge make suggestions provide guidance or simply to connect www naccc org member forum 28 Applicants should be dedicated to visitations should be effective in planning and leading worship and should inspire an open and affirming church culture NACCC affiliation is desirable though not required While our financial situation dictates that this must be a part time position it is our hope and prayer that with the teamwork of the congregation and our new leader we can again grow the church to accommodate a full time pastor Learn More rocklandcongregationalchurch org Send CV to Rockland Congregational Church 180 Limerock Street Rockland ME 04841 29

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Pastorates PULPITS Recent Calls Pastor Lonnie Casper Senior Minister Desert Community Church Twentynine Palms CA Rev Maurice Dunn Senior Minister Gomer Congregational Church Gomer OH Rev Dr Daniel Schlorff Senior Minister Third Congregational Church Middletown CT Rev Sharon Britz Senior Minister First Congregational Church Spencer IA Rev John Chris Kurtz First Congregational Church Royal Oak MI Pastor Scott Chase Union Congregational Church Amesbury MA Installation Rev Julie Sheridan Smith First Congregational Church Wauwatosa WI In Search Senior Minister First Congregational Church Anchorage AK First Congregational Church Barkhamsted CT Tinley Park Community Church Tinley Park IL First Congregational Church Emporia KS First Congregational Church Marshfield MA First Church in Pembroke Pembroke MA Robbins Memorial Congregational Church Greenfield MA Dixfield Congregational Church Dixfield ME Congregational Church of East Sumner Sumner ME Elijah Kellogg Congregational Church Harpswell ME Arbor Grove Congregational Church Jackson MI North Congregational Church Farmington Hills MI First Congregational Church McCook NE Campton Congregational Church Campton NH First Congregational Church of East Bloomfield Bloomfield NY First Congregational Church Little Valley NY Cambria Congregational Church Lockport NY Oakwood Heights Community Church Staten Island NY Wading River Congregational Church Wading River NY Congregational Christian Fellowship Church Winchester VA Heritage Congregational Church Madison WI St Jacobi Congregational Church Richfield WI Associate Assistant Minister The Congregational Church of Summerfield FL Interim Minister WILDERNESS JOURNEYS offers a variety of backpacking camping and customized wilderness experiences Our trips are on the East Coast West Coast and anywhere people yearn to engage the wilderness For more information or to customize your own wilderness experience contact 2023 One subscription is provided free of charge to each individual requestor who is a member of a church in fellowship with the National Association One complimentary Newcomer Copy will be sent to any person one time only upon request by a church in fellowship with the National Association SAVE THE DATE A subscription to The Congregationalist is provided free of charge to each church in fellowship with the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches and one to each accredited theological seminary on the magazine s mailing list Monday Evenings at 8PM Central on Zoom NACCC Prayer Circle To join the prayer circle https www naccc org naccc prayer circle Single copies may be purchased from the National Association office for 3 75 plus 3 20 to cover shipping and handling June 24 27 2023 69th NACCC Annual Meeting Conference Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield Hotel Milwaukee WI events 2023 annual meeting conference June 28 2023 Quiet Day Fox River Congregational Church Brookfield WI Contact drcapacker gmail com Editor Marianne E King Graphic Design Goes Studio Contributing Editor Julie Robie Non NACCC Church Senior Minister 8473 S Howell Ave Oak Creek WI 53154 0288 naccc naccc org Plymouth Congregational Church Miami FL We seek and gratefully accept voluntary donations to help keep this magazine in print The Congregationalist ISSN 0010 5856 Postage paid at Madison WI 53714 9998 Published quarterly by the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 8473 S Howell Ave Oak Creek WI 53154 0288 Periodicals postage paid at Madison WI and additional mailings offices POSTMASTER Send address changes to The Congregationalist 8473 S Howell Ave Oak Creek WI 53201 0288 The Congregationalist Online Our Web site www naccc org thecongregationalist features the current issue plus back issues Each new issue is posted on the site when the printed issue is mailed so you typically can read the magazine before the printed copy reaches your mailbox Enjoy SUBSCRIBING CANCELING MOVING Email us at naccc naccc org Published quarterly by NACCC Non NACCC Church Associate Assistant Subscriptions Policy Arbor Grove Congregational Church Jackson MI First Congregational Church UCC Mountain Home ID Second Congregational Church Peabody MA Encounter the Divine in the wilderness CALENDAR Editorial Inquiries Marianne E King 800 262 1620 editor naccc org Editorial Advisory Team Rev Dawn Carlson Rev Dr Barry W Szymanski Rev Dr Michael Glidden Claudia Kniefel Advertising Inquiries Marianne E King 800 262 1620 editor naccc org Subscription Inquiries Tracy Bernhardt 800 262 1620 ext 1615 naccc naccc org The National Association of Congregational Christian Churches Mission Statement To nurture fellowship among Congregational Christian Churches and to support ministries of the local church in its community and to the world all in the name of Christ Articles and editorials in The Congregationalist are by the authority of the editor and do not necessarily reflect policies and opinions of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches The NACCC reserves freedom of expression to its authors as well as freedom of opinion to its readers Copy deadline for each issue is noted in the previous issue s Calendar section Letters to the Editor are welcome All letters may be edited for clarity and length We regret we cannot publish or respond to all letters The NACCC reserves the right to refuse any advertisement 2023 The National Association of Congregational Christian Churches All rights reserved To discontinue receiving the magazine contact Tracy Bernhardt at 800 262 1620 ext 1615 or email naccc naccc org Jonathan Malone pastormalone gmail com www wildernessjourneys org 30 31

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