Dani's Blog

The National Convocation Meeting

08/03/2010 10:31 PM

Dear Friends across the CCSW:

As I participated in the National Convocation meeting this last weekend on your behalf, one of the parts of the gathering that I attended was their business meeting.

Now, I usually don't choose to go to business meetings that I do not have to attend - but I was drawn to find out more about the work of this historic part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and how I could be a better partner in ministry with our African-American and Africana congregations.

Dr. Tim James, Executive Secretary for the National Convocation, shared with the group a report of their sharing in the greater life of the whole church. He pointed out that several congregations had not participated in the sharing of gifts with the whole church through Disciples Mission Fund. He also pointed out that several congregations had not participated in the Special Day offerings nor the Week of Compassion or Reconciliation offering. I appreciated how he brought this up, because it wasn't in a berating or mean way - it was in the spirit of community and being the church together. It was honest and open and helpful.

As I listened, I began to think about all of us in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Southwest. I came back to my office this week and pulled up a report of our giving. I discovered that almost 100 of our 435 congregations have given nothing to Disciples Mission Fund in 2009 or 2010 (to date) and that almost one-half of those (49) have not shared their mission dollars with ANY Disciples outreach offering.

So....I think, first, that folks just don't know the critical work done by Disciples Mission Fund and these Special day offerings. Did you know that Disciples Mission Fund is the common fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) that supports 72 ministries of wholeness all across the world? The mission funding system is overseen by the General Board of the Christian Church which allows the church to partner together for promotion, interpretation, and the receipting and distribution of gifts. In 1941, at the International Convention of the Christian Church, congregations agreed to give 10% of their local operating receipts to the whole church for this shared ministry approach.

The Special Offerings (Easter, Pentecost, Thanksgiving & Christmas) each benefit a particular ministry of the church. Easter offering specifically benefits the General ministries of the church. Eleven ministries share these gifts for ministries like Disciples Home Missions, Central Pastoral Office for Hispanic Ministries, National Convocation, Division of Overseas Ministries/Global Missions, Higher Education and Leadership Ministries, Disciples of Christ Historical Society, to name a few.

The Pentecost offering is for the expressed purpose of New Church. One-half of the offerings received stay in the CCSW for the purpose of starting and supporting new congregations. The other half is distributed through New Church Ministries for the benefit of those who have interest in being new church planters and supporting the work of our new church pastors across the whole church.

The Thanksgiving offering benefits Higher Education and Leadership Ministries. This offering provides a direct way to give to 14 colleges or universities, 3 seminaries and 4 seminary foundations/divinity houses. Jarvis Christian College, Texas Christian University and Brite Divinity School all benefit from this offering.

The Christmas offering benefits the Regional Church. It is returned back to the Region from where it was given....for example, if your church gave $100.00 in the Christmas offering, then $100.00 would be returned to the Christian Church in the Southwest to support ministry here.

There are two further offerings that you need to know about. The Week of Compassion offering (usually taken in February) benefits this disaster and development ministry around the world. If there is a hurricane, a tornado, a tsunami, an earthquake - Week of Compassion is there - on YOUR behalf - to provide presence and support in times of disaster and need. Some folks have asked, "Should I designate my money for Week of Compassion for a particular event?" Yes, you can do that. However, there is more flexibility for your money to help people across the whole world, if you give it to Week of Compassion without restriction so they can use it to meet the most critical need.

You can check and see how your church is doing by visiting the Disciples Mission Fund website at www.disciplesmissionfund.org. There are lots of tools there to use in learning more about how your gifts are used.

Finally, one thing that makes it more complicated is that in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Southwest, we also share our gifts directly in our Areas to support the partnership ministry shared there through leadership training, support for congregations in search and call, resources for times of conflict, pastoral support and care, continuing education for pastors and the process for licensing, camping programs and ministry in so many unseen ways through the presence of an Area minister who is a closeby colleague in ministry. How are you doing in being a partner in that ministry, as well?

In these times of economic strain, the church is the one place that I know is making the most of ministry with every dollar that is given! I hope you will spend some time reflecting on the places where your congregation has shared in the ministry of your Area and with the whole church through these many ways to share. Check the websites and your Area reports. How are you doing in partnering in the ministry to which God calls us?

Thanks, Dr. Timothy James, for making me think and reflect on my own sharing of gifts and that of our congregations with whom we partner in ministry!

Blessings,
Dani

Connecting Our Community

02/17/2010 10:20 PM

WOW! I've just spent thirty minutes online sharing conversation with folks with all across the Region in our Connected Community! I've talked about church membership and what it really means. I discussed evangelism ideas for 2010 and beyond. I've wondered when the Lectionary Discussion Group was going to kick off. I've shared information with the Regional Assembly Planning Group. I've even talked with folks about the New Day, New Direction documents that are making their debut soon around the Region. I also "lurked" on an idea some folks are talking about that involves Disciples Men and TCU....GO Frogs!

I hope you have discovered our Connected Community. If you are not using any social networking, it's fairly simple to find your way around. Log-in and click FORUMS...and there you are. Ready to join many conversations across the Region.

If you are on Facebook or other social networking sites, it's a bit simpler and without all the million dollar bells and whistles - but it works! And I am thrilled to see us crossing the boundaries of time and geography and history to engage one another in such a great tool! Won't you join us?

We Are Getting Ready To Be a Part of History

01/17/2009 02:25 PM

We are getting ready to be a part of history.   Most often, in my lifetime, we have only known that we were part of history AFTER an event had occurred.  Super Bowl wins, assassination of national leaders, Olympic medals,  tragedies, election night celebrations….all making history, but we only knew it after they had happened.

On Tuesday, January 20, 2009, we will see history in the making as Barack Obama becomes the first President of the United States to be a person of color.   If we could choose a time in our nation’s history to make this bold move, I’m not certain we would have chosen a time when the country is in deep economic crisis.  And, yet, it is in this societal black-hole in which a new vision may be the very thing that helps us get back on track and re-focus who we are as American people and who we are as members of a global society who shares this Earth which God has created.

I will be watching with prayerful heart.  Praying for our new President.  Praying for his family.  Praying for the leaders who will work closely with him to steer this “new day” for the country.   

And after the festivities of an Inaugural Day, President Obama (as he will be then) will begin his very first work day as President in worship in the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.     Our very own General Minister and President, Dr. Sharon Elizabeth Watkins, will be the preacher for this first-day worship celebration.   It is her message that will call to mind for our new President and Congressional leaders how God is at work in our world and how God is leading us into a new future together.

I hope you will be in prayer with me…today and tomorrow and as each of these historic events unfold.  Pray for Barack Obama and his family.  Pray for the leaders of our nation and for leaders around the world.   Pray for Sharon Watkins, as she has an opportunity not only to lead our church, but to bring God’s Word for the whole nation.

I’m praying for peace and for hope.    May it be so.