Penn Northeast Conference UCC, 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA 18071
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For a summary of the October 2, 2019 Conference Board meeting
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It’s covenant renewal time!
Each year, the Ministerial Compensation Team reviews the Ministerial Compensation Recommendations and issues an updated document for use in congregational planning. This year the projected salary increase is adjusted by 1.9% for inflation. (You can find a copy of the PNEC Ministerial Compensation Salary Recommendations at
www.pnec.org
under the Authorized Ministry tab.) But covenant renewal is more than just financial.
The national setting, and our conference, recommends an annual review of the Call Agreement between pastor and congregation. Additionally, we also need to review and update the Three or Four Way covenants. Call Agreements are signed by the pastor and a congregational representative. The conference does not sign this form. If the only changes to the agreement are salary numbers, an addendum can be prepared, signed and attached to the original document.
If an authorized minister is serving a local congregation, they complete a Three-Way Covenant with the church and the conference. These should be reviewed for changes in expectations, signed and submitted to the conference office for review and the conference minister’s signature. A signed copy is retained in the ministerial file and two copies should be provided, one for the minister and one for the congregation’s records.
If an authorized minister is serving in an agency, a hospital, nursing home, or other facility, the ministry need a Four-Way Covenant. This is signed by the minister, the minister’s employer, the minister’s home congregation and then submitted to the conference office for review and the conference minister’s signature. Again, a signed copy is retained in the ministerial file and copies are provided for the minister, home congregation, and employer.
The review of covenant and call agreements is best used as a part of a discussion about the relationships among and between the parties involved. It’s not just a formal document to sign, but should be a part of a relationships conversation. If you have questions about this, please speak a member of the Oversight Working Group of the Committee on Ministry or a member of the conference staff.
~~ Bonnie
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Global Ministries
Support for mission co-workers appointments is a priority for Global Ministries because the sending and receiving of mission co-workers plays a vital role in fostering deep global relationships - both through their work and presence with international partners, and through their witness in churches in the United States and Canada during their home assignments.
It is because of this that Global Ministries is so thankful for the special gifts that are made in support of mission co-workers. In 2018-2019 Global Ministries appointed new mission co-workers in places such as eSwatini, Italy, Jamaica, Lesotho, Morocco, and Puerto Rico, thanks, in part, to your special gifts.
Thank you for supporting these significant ministries of presence. Read more about them
here.
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UP-COMING EVENTS THAT YOU NEED TO REGISTER FOR...
don't wait, register now
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Cultivating Generous Congregations
How Do You Inspire Generosity?
The Penn Northeast Conference and the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference of the UCC are joining together with the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving to invite you and your ministry teams to participate in a seminar experience that could change the way you and your congregation approach giving and generosity.
January 24-25, 2020
(Friday 8AM to 4PM
Saturday 8:30AM-4PM)
Church of the Good Shepherd, 35 W. Philadelphia Ave., Boyertown
Cost: $350 per church team
(4-5 members made up of clergy, lay leaders, administration and/or stewardship committees)
The cost includes one booklet per team. If a team would like more than one book, there will be an additional cost of $50.
Deadline to register will be December 5, 2019.
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Pastoral Leadership in
Congregational Systems 201
November 13, 2019 &
March 4, 2020
9AM to 5 PM
Faith UCC, 5992 Route 378, Center Valley
Cost: $220
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MONEY and MINISTRY
presented by
PNEC & Financial Ministries UCC
November 9 -- 9AM to 3PM
PNEC Office, 431 Delaware Ave., Palmerton --
Cost: $10/person
Workshops Topics -
Trends in Giving: What Donors Want; Planned Giving: Utilizing an On-Line Tool to Get Started; Roundtable Discussion - Best Practice Sharing
to register, go to
or send names & check to PNEC
by Nov. 1
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Muhlenberg College - Institute for Jewish-Christian Understanding
2019 Wallenberg Tribute Lecture
October 27 - 3:30PM
Special Pre-Wallenberg Lecture
October 24 - 7:30PM
by Dr. Amy-Jill Levine
Special Post-Wallenberg Tribute Event
Passing the Word
October 28 from 10:30AM to 8PM
A Conference Observing the 25th Anniversary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America's Declaration to the Jewish Community...
Read more
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LAST CHANCE TO SIGN UP...
Ministry Blueprint Workshops
October 19 - Part One
November 23 - Part Two
How to generate and use the MissionInsite Reports
(MissionInsite is a demographic program that can help congregations and ministries know their neighborhood and mission field)
and connect them with community research in order to develop a ministry blueprint specific to your congregation and your context
Cost $45 includes both days
Presenter:
Dr. Jill Peters, Missional Leadership Developer, Moravian Theological Seminary
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Retirees Luncheon
for Retired clergy, their spouses /partners & surviving spouses)
Wednesday, November 6
11AM to 2PM (Lunch at noon)
Jordan UCC, 1837 Church Road,
Allentown
Special Guest: Rev. Wanda Craner
“Maintaining Your Spiritual Health”
Please RSVP by Monday, Oct. 28,
to let us know if you will be attending by:calling the Conference Office (610-826-3113) or emailing Barbara at
BarbaraJ@pnec.org
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Healing Service
November 1, 2019 @ 4:30pm
St. John’s UCC, Howertown
(after Tod Bolsinger Event)
As part of the process of moving forward and building relationships with our friends in Pennsylvania Southeast, we will hold a service of healing and letting go. Since our process of unification of our conferences did not move forward, we are still friends and partners in ministry. This service has been designed to be a space to lament, asking for healing, and forgiveness to move forward in relationship. This healing service is a welcoming space for everyone who is in need of healing, not only the folks who were involved in the visioning process. Everyone is welcome to this time of healing prayer.
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ITEM OF INTEREST...
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Mosque Open House - Saturday, October 26 from 11AM to 2PM - Muslim Association of Lehigh Valley, 1988 Schadt Ave., Whitehall, PA - modest dress is requested of all our guests, casual pants, jeand and long skirts are fine - for more info contact at
INFO@MALV.ORG
--The Lehigh Conference Of Churches Presents A Sing-Along-Messiah -- Advent and Christmas Selections -
Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at 7:30PM - Zion UCC, 620 W. Hamilton St., Allentown
Calling All Choirs! We are asking singers to form a gathered choir as we welcome the community to enjoy this inspired work. For a detailed flyer,
click here.
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Disaster Ministries
Hello from West Virginia VOAD. We have exciting news to share! WV VOAD has received a sub-recipient grant to repair and reconstruct 111 homes that were damaged in 2016 flooding. This work will continue over the next two to three years with funding for materials from a CDBG-DR (HUD) grant. Volunteers are working with WV VOAD site supervisors to complete projects. That’s where you come in!
Please consider placing us on your mission schedule in the coming months. As always, we will help you get set up with housing in the community where your team will be working. We are engaged in all phases of construction and will match your team up according to their skills. Please call at the number below with your questions. We hope to hear from you soon!
Thanks, Melisa Morse, WV VOAD Housing Construction Liaison; (304) 553-0927 Office (304) 785-9284 Cell (304)
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October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month. In the October Ready PA Monthly, learn how to protect yourself - Own IT. Secure IT. Protect IT. Read tips on how to be personally accountable and proactive in protecting yourself from common cyber threats. The Ready PA Action Sheet provides information on Cyber Safety for Kids.
With fall upon us, the risk for outdoor fires increases. Only you can prevent wildfires and the State Meteorologist tells you how.
Remember, both the Ready PA Monthly and the Action Sheet are available at
www.Ready.PA.gov
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Disaster Ministries
Here is a resource for our churches that are looking for help to become safer and more secure and/or get involved in their community.
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Clean-up Buckets needed by Church World Service ... UCC provides grants to help churches replenish CWS storm supplies
UCC Disaster Ministries is offering congregations matching grants of up to $250 as an incentive to assemble Church World Service kits —in particular, the CWS Emergency Cleanup Buckets which are in short supply. The Disaster Ministries team is hoping the financial aid offered to congregations will kick start a church-wide effort to restock these much-needed supplies before they are needed for another event. To learn more about these kits and how to apply for the grant go to
https://www.ucc.org/disaster_2018_matching_grants_for_cws_kits_home_page
Take your pictures and record your stories and send them to
kjones275@comcast.net, so we can inspire others with your story.
Click here for a list of PSEC and PNEC congregations that have offered to be drop-off locations for the kits you assemble.
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UCC Disaster Ministries Webinars
for full list of upcoming and past webinars that are available...
read more
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