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Penn Northeast Conference UCC, 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA 18071
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The Data Hub is open and ready to receive your church’s 2018 membership and financial information. The Data Hub will close March 6. If you don’t feel comfortable entering information on the Data Hub, please complete the forms mailed to your church last week. In any event, don’t hesitate to call or email me and I will help you in the process. 610.826.3113 or
BarbaraJ@pnec.org
. Thank you, Barbara
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Thank you to the following churches who contributed to OCWM during the month of January 2019.
Church of the Good Shepherd, Alburtis Emmanuel, Nuremberg
Cedar (Cetronia), Allentown St. John's, Palmerton
Grace, Allentown Trinity Cong., Scranton
Salem (Moorestown), Bath Good Shepherd, Slatedale
Christ, Bethlehem St. John's, Slatington
St. Peter’s (Shumans), Bloomsburg St. Paul's, Swiftwater
Emmanuel, Bowmanstown Grace, Tannersville
St. John’s, Laurys Station St. Peter's, Tatamy
Zion, Lehighton St. John's, Wapwallopen
Union, Neffs St. Mark's (Pond Hill), Wapwallopen
Christ's Church at Lowhill, New Tripoli St. Lukes, Wilkes Barre
St. Peters (Lynnville), New Tripoli Hope, Wind Gap
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Friends,
Several events are planned for early 2019 and I want to make you aware of them:
The first is a
gathering for pastors
who wish to explore resources and support for reaching out to youth and young adults. This preliminary conversation is being hosted by our newly formed Youth and Young Adult Ministry Team. The date is
Tuesday, February 26, 2019 at noon at the conference office.
Please contact Barbara Jennings at
barbaraj@pnec.org
to register as we will be serving lunch. The group is limited to 30 participants.
The second is a conversation with
our retired pastors
about the changes in the Manual on Ministry, the new Exempt Standing requirements, and continuing education requirements. This is being hosted by the chairs of the working groups of the Committee on Ministry and will be held on
Tuesday, April 2 at 2 pm at the conference office.
Please contact Patty Rehrig at
pattyr@pnec.org
to register for this event. Light refreshments will be served. The group is limited to 40 participants.
Watch the continuing education calendar
for a variety of opportunities for authorized ministers and church leaders. This calendar is updated frequently.
I hope you will take the opportunity to share with us your hopes, dreams and visions for our conference. We are partners together in ministry and we hope to continue strengthening our partnerships.
Bonnie
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Celebrating Their Anniversary
We congratulate the PNEC Pastors who will celebrate a
Special Anniversary of Ordination in 2019
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Interim Ministry Network
Effective Transitional Ministry Training
A One-Day Session
May 24, 2019 from 9AM to 5PM
Penn Northeast Conference Office
Registration Deadline: May 6, 2019
Fee: $200 - cost partially underwritten by OCWM gifts to PNEC
Scholarships available from the Longsdorf Fund
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The Lehigh Conference Of Churches
"Valley Over The Edge"
On June 1, Lehigh Conference Of Churches is hosting the second annual "Valley Over The Edge" event in which 76 rappelers will be going over the edge at Two City Center in Allentown. Adventurous participants will rappel down an eleven-story building by raising $1,000 or more to secure theier spot on the ropes.
To discuss participation opportunities or request more information, email
valley-ote@lehighchurches.org or contact Becky LeaShomb at 610-433-7220 ext. 6106
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The Amigos de Guatemala
Don’t leave PNEC’s Amigos de Guatemala out of your congregation’s 2019 schedule! We have the opportunity of a lifetime: You helped build a medical clinic in the hills of Guatemala. We are excited about sharing with you our next steps in this partnership, so invite us to speak at your worship service or other event.
The Amigos de Guatemala
is celebrating the completion of the clinic in Monte Margarita. Please join us for a dinner celebration
April 6, 2019 - 5PM
at Jordan UCC, 1837 Church Rd., Allentown
catered by Don Juan Mex Grill and Cantina
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Professional Portfolio Information Review
LAST CHANCE BEFORE YOU RECEIVE A LETTER
...
ALL
PNEC Authorized Ministers please fill out your Professional Portfolio Information Review, which can be found on the PNEC website
www.pnec.org
under the Ministry tab.
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Gwilym T. Williams (GTW) Scholarship Fund
Dear friends in Christ,
We are hoping that you can share this scholarship opportunity with those in your congregation that meet the eligibility (see flyer to the left).
next deadline is March 1
In the fall, we were pleased to award a total of $24,072 for fields of study that call people to serve others as we strive to build a community that serves God!
If you have any questions regarding the GTW scholarship fund, don’t hesitate to contact me.
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Clergy Communities of Practice
Focus on the praxis of ministry, learn from colleagues, be fed spiritually and physically
There are some available spots for Rev. David Charles Smith's Community of Practice -
General Pastoral Ministry. If YOU are interested in signing up for this Community of Practice, the cost is $250. Please be in touch with Patty at the Conference Office or Rev. David Charles Smith at
therrev@aol.com
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS...
- February 24 - 11AM - INSTALLATION - Kris Geer - Designated Pastor - First, Milford, NJ
- March 3 - 3PM - ORDINATION - Bob Gutekunst - Forks UCC, 4500 Sullivan Trail, Stockertown
- PNEC Spring Conference Meeting will be May 4, 2019 at Church of the Good Shepherd, Alburtis; and the Fall Conference Meeting will be November 2, 2019 at St. John's (Howertown), 22 Atlas Rd., Northampton
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Resources developed for this year's Break the Silence Sunday
April 28th
Feel free to share as you see fit. We do anticipate a resolution coming to General Synod asking, in part, to name this topic (support for survivors of sexual abuse) in our UCC Liturgical Calendar.
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Disaster Ministries
In 2018, $2 million in UCC cash and volunteer support for disaster recovery
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PA VOID (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster)- A Progress Report
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Still Fleeing Maria: Puerto Ricans in Pennsylvania
UCC Disaster Ministries has granted $10,000 to two UCC conferences in Pennsylvania to continue their pioneering outreach to Puerto Ricans who have fled, and who continue to flee, Hurricane Maria's destruction and ongoing disruption of life on their U.S. island territory.
CLICK HERE for the full story.
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UCC DISASTER MINISTRIES RECORDED WEBINARS
CLICK HERE
for UCC Disaster Ministries recorded webinars, now available to view on demand. Future webinars will be added as they occur. Now available:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
EPIC recorded conference calls and webinars
- The Emergency Partners Information Connection (EPIC) brings together experts from the Centers for Disease Control and partner organizations to discuss emergency-related health and communications topics.
CLICK HERE
for an index.
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Stay Updated and Involved: Visit our disaster
website
.
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MINISTRY TRAINING UPDATES (Continuing Education)
ALL Authorized Ministers, please note:
We will be identifying these kinds of continuing education opportunities – The policy is effective January 1, 2019. If you have any questions, please contact the Penn Northeast Conference Office at 610-826-3113.
Thank You!
Click
HERE
for list of current and up-coming opportunities!
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FREE Training for Faith Leaders & Lay People
Northampton County Dept. of Drug and Alcohol programs along with collaboration from “Speak Up for Ben”, are hosting a free training for Faith Leaders and lay people of any faith.
WHO:
This seminar is FREE to faith based leaders/staff.
WHERE:
Northampton Community College
Fowler Center in S. Bethlehem (511 E. Third Street, Bethlehem)
WHEN:
The training will held
Wednesday May 8, 2019
.
Training will begin promptly at 9:00 AM and will conclude by 3:30PM. The County will supply a continental breakfast and lunch for attendees! Registration and breakfast will begin at 8:15 AM. To register, please contact Kathy Dilts at Northampton County Drug & Alcohol by calling 610-829-4720 or by email
KDILTS@northamptoncounty.org
.
Out of the Darkness and Into the Light:
Strategies & Tools For Facing the Drug Epidemic For Faith Leaders
This training will provide information and resources to Faith Based Leaders regarding the current Substance Use Epidemic and specifically address the Opioid Epidemic facing Pennsylvania today. The impact of this epidemic on communities of Faith is significant. This day long training will explore how to intervene effectively, how to locate resources, and discuss how to identify substance use concerns. Faith leaders in attendance will be able to identify the full impact of substances on the community and develop an understanding to effectively support those with these issues in the community.
The presenter, Greg Krausz, MA, CAADC, LPC, has extensive experience in counseling and training. A Licensed Professional Counselor and CAADC, Greg is the Director of Mid Atlantic Rehabilitation Services (MARS) in Bethlehem, PA, Co-owner of Monocacy Counseling Associates, Adjunct Faculty member at Moravian Theological Seminary, a Consultant/Trainer with the Council on Compulsive Gambling of PA, and is a DDAP approved trainer. He has been a counselor, and program director in the addiction and mental health counseling field for the past 23 years. He was awarded the 2016 Bishop Kortz award for excellence in the field of counseling from Moravian Theological Seminary.
To register, please contact Kathy Dilts at Northampton County Drug & Alcohol by calling 610-829-4720 OR by email
KDILTS@northamptoncounty.org
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Reboot Your Worship Lent 2019 experience
Here is the link so you can each sign up to participate:
Greetings, Rebooters! Thanks to those of you who attended the webinar live! If you couldn't join us live,
watch the recording I've posted on the Week 5 page
HERE
(or go directly to the recording at
this link
.
We talk about flow, energy and transitions and go into how to create your scripts for the Lent season. You CAN do this and you are going to be so relieved when you do!
Don't forget your
E-Valu-ation Question for this Sunday's worship:
What interrupts the flow and feel of worship? Besides noticing this in Sunday's worship, arrange to video it so you can spend some time watching and analyzing the video together as a team (especially pastors and musicians).
We have completed our 5 Reboot Basics!
This last week of the 40 days will focus on the "Politics of Change."
Now that we have begun to see where we need to make some changes to make worship more deeply meaningful, how can we understand change better and take incremental steps for getting there? Watch for the e-mail and link to these materials on Sunday.
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This is the LAST week of your 40-day Reboot Your Worship experience! I'm so thankful for all of you that have moved through this journey with me. I pray that you have been educated, inspired and renewed for your work of worship design and leadership!
This last week is our post-Basics wrap-up week. In this one, I encourage you to keep the plan-ahead model going (and give you some resources for that) AND I offer you some help to navigate what I call the
Politics of Change
! Now that we have identified things to continue to work on in our 5 Reboot Basics, we must make change in incremental steps. I hope to see many of you in the Live Q&A this week. I would LOVE to hear how this Reboot journey has gone for you and some of the ways you have grown in it!
PLEASE E-MAIL ME
and let me know!
Your “Reboot Your Worship” journey continues at
THIS LINK
!
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Children's Sermon for February 24
(
based on Luke 6:27-38
)
- by Rev. Dave Quinn
Items needed: a pair of mittens or gloves (better if they're children's size), plastic bag. Beforehand, put the pair in the plastic bag. After kids come up, take out one of the pair and lay on floor in front of children. Ask, When you have been out, have you ever seen something like this? One mitten/glove, laying there, by itself? What does it mean-someone has accidentally lost their mitten/glove. We don't just wear one. It takes two to make a pair(get other out of bag). Sometimes, following Jesus is like a pair of mittens/gloves. Sometimes, just like a good friend, Jesus tries to comfort us, tries to help us feel better, and stronger in our hearts. That's like one of these two mittens/gloves. But then there are other times, like in today's Bible reading, where Jesus challenges us, tells us, to do something that's difficult. That's like the other mitten/glove. In today's Bible reading, Jesus challenges us to pray for God to bless the people we don't like, to even ask God to bless the people who have hurt us. That's not easy for anybody. Nobody FEELS like asking God to bless a person who's hurt us. But Jesus tells us to do that, because that will help stretch our hearts ,bigger for God. So, being a follower of Jesus is like wearing BOTH mittens/ gloves---we try to follow Jesus, BOTH when it feels good, AND when it's hard.
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UPCOMING EVENTS...
--February 26, 7-8:30PM ET
-
Pastoral Relations
with Stephen Boyd - This webinar focuses on the purposes and benefits of a Pastoral Relations Committee, addressing concepts like fostering healthy communication, appropriate and inappropriate roles of a Pastoral Relations Committees, and practical aspects such as setting up and maintaining a healthy committee.
--March 7 - 2-3:30PM ET
-
Caring for the Whole Self: MIDs and Authorized Ministers
with Renee Jackson - This workshop will explore the Mark “Caring for All Creation” in the context of considering the mental, spiritual, physical, and emotional health of MIDs and authorized ministers.
--March 9, 2019 - Crossroads Lay Leadership program at Moravian Seminary is running our Unpacking the Scriptures: Preaching course with the Rev. Dr. Sue Pizor Yoder for eight weeks starting March 11. Learn about constructing a sermon, how to speak to different generations, and polish your public speaking skills. Sue is a gifted pastor, preacher and teacher. Also starting in early March on the 7th is Traveling Mercies with the Rev. Maggie Wellert. This is a congregational care course with Maggie and several other speakers who address issues of communication skills, addictions, teens, spirituality and caring for those at the end of life. Great course for church teams. For exact dates, details and registration go to
http://www.moravianseminary.edu/crossroads or contact Jill Peters at
petersj2@moravian.edu.
April 11-12, 2019 - Lehigh Conference of Churches - The Robert K. Campbell Memorial Lecture on Christian Unity - Author Diana Butler Bass will be speaking on the theme "Christian Unity in a Post-Christian Age". The event will begin at 6 PM on the 11th with an hour presentation followed by a book signing. On Friday breakfast will be served at 9AM followed by a 90-minute lecture. For more information and registration contact Dr. Larry Pickens at
lpickens@lehighchurches.org
--
25th Clergy Convocation
! -
Join us for the Silver Anniversary of Convocation - Rev. Dr. Sarah Lund -
"Breaking the Silence About Mental Illness, Family and Church" --
May 7-9, 2019 -
Double Tree by Hilton, 2400 Willow Street Pike, Lancaster...
Click Here
for flyer and registration information
TO REQUEST FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR CLERGY CONVOCATION
Click Here
for Application
.
--Uniting Church & Community Through Music & Art -
June 25-28, 2019 at First Cong. UCC, Madison, WI -- 12th Biennial National Conference of the United Church of Christ Musicians Association
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International Endangered Species Day
This year, International Endangered Species Day is May 17th. Creation Justice Ministries has developed a
bulletin insert and toolkit
to help your faith community celebrate.
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PHOEBE INSTITUTE ON AGING BENEFIT: “GENERATIONS COME TOGETHER”
WHAT:
The Phoebe Institute on Aging (PIA) hosts its annual PIA Benefit. The evening includes a celebration of intergenerational music featuring The Girls Next Door, Muhlenberg College’s all-female a cappella group, the Parkland Strolling Strings from Parkland High School and Phoebe’s own resident Piano Quartet. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres start at 6:00 pm, followed by dinner. Music will be presented throughout the evening with a collaborative performance including Phoebe residents and high school students at the end of the night.
WHY:
All proceeds from the Benefit support educational opportunities for healthcare workers and the greater community. Phoebe is able to provide educational conferences at low or no cost to attendees thanks to the generosity of the Benefit’s sponsors and attendees.
WHEN:
Thursday, March 21, 6:00pm-9:00pm
WHERE:
University Center at DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley
For more information about this event, please call (610) 794-5163 or email
dfrey@phoebe.org
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A New Deal for Climate Justice
UCC executives, environmental advocates and allies are speaking out and lobbying for the Green New Deal resolution.
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Open Wide Our Hearts
the enduring call to love...
a pastoral letter against racism
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Registration Open
22nd Global Youth Justice Training
Youth/Teen/Student/Peer Court Diversion Programs
Tuesday, June 18, 2019 to Thursday, June 20 2019
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
YOU ARE INVITED..
TO A SPECIAL ART EXHIBIT!
Hope in Hard Times: Prisoners' Art for Social Justice
March 1-April 7, 2019
ArtsQuest’s Banana Factory Arts Center
23 W. 3rd St., Bethlehem
Mondays – Fridays 8:00am-9:30pm
Saturdays & Sundays 8:30am-7:00pm
The Moravian Church’s Eastern District and the Moravian Seminary in Bethlehem invites you to consider how art might engage us in justice and advocacy questions for our time; how do we see the prisoner, and follow Jesus’s call to see him in the lives of the incarcerated?
In this effort, we have partnered with Art for Justice (
www.artforjustice.org
), a non-profit committed to using thought provoking art from certain prisoners in Pennsylvania to promote public dialogue and find ways to reform the criminal justice system. Our hopes are that this art exhibit will remind us of our shared humanity, incarcerated and free, while asking where our own struggles for reform and justice can be found .
We are proud to also partner with and bring this exhibit to ArtQuest’s Banana Factory for free viewing anytime the Banana Factory is open (
www.bananafactory.org
) March 1 - April 7. You are also invited to attend the following special events:
March 1 and April 5, 6 - 9 p.m., First Fridays at the Banana Factory. Special speakers, projects, and engagements.
March 19, 7 p.m., Lecture at Moravian College’s Prosser Auditorium
Speaker: Tyrone Werts, Soros Fellow, PA Lifer commuted by Gov. Rendell.
March 24, 2 - 4 p.m., Vigil for Hope in the Criminal Justice System at the Banana Factory. Our keynote speaker, Chester Hollman, Jr. tells the story of his son Chester Hollman III’s wrongful conviction and sentence of life without parole in PA.
More information? Or if you are interested in special curriculum for your small group, youth group or congregation as a way to engage further in the art, please contact the Rev. Janel Rice at
janelrice3616@gmail.com
, 610-435-6881.
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Navigating the River of Grief
Our Conference Minister, Bonnie Bates, has published a book which may be used as a resources for pastors and congregations.
In Navigating the River of Grief, (ISBN: 0788028855) Rev. Dr. Bonnie Bates shares the results of her important research into the grief process. Her concept of grief as a river is inspired by several biblical references to water, both its ability to threaten and give life. Bates uses case studies to present grief not as the neat linear progression of stages we'd like it to be; rather, it is a river that sweeps the bereaved along in unpredictable ways. Its choppy waters cause pain and its depths are menacing, but when we understand the flow of its current as a spiritual journey we can better help the bereaved navigate toward new life.
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Giving Tuesday
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Letter from Missionary
Jeffery Mensendiek
The Tsubomi Café
Greetings from Tokyo, the largest city in Japan. I have been living here for the past nine-months, gradually settling in to my new role as chaplain of J.F. Oberlin University. My family still lives in Kobe, so I try to get home twice a month by taking the bullet train. The trip is four hours door to door. The Japanese have a word for people like myself who live apart from the family. The word is “tanshin.” It is common for companies in Japan to periodically assign their employees to work in a new branch of the company. In such cases the family may decide to stay in the original location for the sake of the children’s education. As my wife and I have been discussing when to move the family to Tokyo, we have been made aware of just how prevalent the tanshin reality is in our surroundings. Economic success has come at great cost to individual families. To read the rest of Jeff's letter,
click here
.
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Take Action
Justice and Peace Network
February Newsletter
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Racial Justice Ministries
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Wise Owl Budgeting
by Dr. William Enright, Founding Karen Lake Buttrey Director Emeritus
It’s the beginning of the year and my mind travels back to the time when I was a pastor. Early January found me sitting down with Susan, our church business administrator, to finalize our budget. We had an array of data available to guide our decision making. We knew who had pledged for the new year and had a record of their giving history; whether or not they met, exceeded or failed to meet their yearly pledge. We had information on the giving patterns of those who did not pledge but regularly contributed. We charted our Sunday offerings by the week keeping a five year record as to weekly and monthly income. We did the same with expenses which meant that we knew what bills – denominational dues, utilities, insurance etc. – were due when.
See More
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Muhlenberg College – Institute for Jewish-Christian Understanding
Our annual Pre-Lent Workshop
(9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)
Reflections on Three Ties that Bind
The first meeting of our four-session
Mini-Course (7 p.m. to 9 p.m.)
Authentic to Self
and
to Religious Tradition
Time is short ... please register ASAP.
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UCC Church Building & Loan Fund
Jill White,
Regional Mission Interpreter
Need to energize and revitalize your church’s strategies for faithful generosity? Does your church find it hard to talk about money? UCC Church Building & Loan Fund would like to make you aware of the Ecumenical Stewardship Center’s (ESC)
“Generosity transformed! your mission*your ministry*your money Conference,
April 30 – May 3, 2019 in Indianapolis
. For complete conference information and to register, visit
ESC’s website
.
Does your church need help with visioning & strategic planning? Re-purposing existing church resources? A capital campaign? Fresh ideas for generosity programs? Loans for renovations, new construction or endowment support? If so, the UCC Church Building & Loan Fund can help! For more information on services offered to local churches, click
HERE
or contact Jill White, Regional Mission Interpreter,
whitej@ucc.org
.
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PATHWAYS Theological Education, Inc.
Announces a New Certificate Program in Foundational Theology
Click
here for more information and registration
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History & Polity Course Offered at Lancaster Theological Seminary
the course will run 7 weeks from Feb. 22 through April 5.
Those who complete this non-credit course will receive a
Certificate of Completion
that may be shared with their Committee on Ministry. They also will write a paper that can be used as part of the ordination paper requirement for authorization.
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