AROUND THE CORNER
January 20, 2022
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Around the Corner will be published/distributed
every other week. Next Issue Feb. 3rd, 2022
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Visioning into the New Year
Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
The year of 2022 has begun! How many of us have made New Year’s resolutions? Resolutions are the promises we make to lose weight, exercise regularly, eat healthier, offer random acts of kindness, to laugh daily and to begin or return to church.
What if we changed our way of thinking and change our resolutions to practicing spiritual disciplines in order to grow in faith individually, as a family, as a church, as a district, and as a conference? The spiritual disciplines I follow are Wesley’s Five Means of Grace: Prayer, Searching the Scriptures, The Lord’s Supper, Fasting and Christian Conferencing.
During my times of prayer, I seek God’s leading for the Cornerstone District, the Upper New York Conference, and the United Methodist Church, by asking the questions, “what is God’s will and what is God’s vision, for 2022 as we continue to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world? And living the Gospel of Jesus Christ and being God's love with our neighbors in all places.” (The Upper New York Conference)
So, what is a vision?
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· “A vision is developed with the tension between what is and what could be. (We currently pay our Shared Ministries in full but not on time.)
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· There is a moral element and a sense of conviction. (Shared Ministries is our first benevolence and a desire to do good to others as a United Methodist Church.)
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· A vision is a preferred future and destination. (Paying our Shared Ministries in full and on time).
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· A vision always stands in contrast to the world as it is. (As a connectional church we can do more good together than we can do alone. We accomplish what no single church, district or annual conference ever could hope to do alone.)
· A vision sets our direction and it serves as a road map.” (We combine our prayers, presence, gifts and service to make a significant difference in the lives of God's people. Our Shared Ministries reach people locally, nationally and globally.)
(Each bullet: “Visioneering,” by Stanley and (UMC.Org)
I am grateful for all of the churches who were able to pay their 2020 shared ministries in full. I am grateful for all of the churches who are able to pay their shared ministries in full or are making significant strides in 2021 toward paying 100% of their share ministries in full.
The last two years have been a challenge in so many ways as we continue to live in and through the pandemic. I am reminded that all things are possible with God and from Ephesians 3:20-21 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
I prayerfully challenge us together, to make 2022 a year of paying our Shared Ministries in full, and on time and in doing so making a significant difference in the lives of God’s people, sharing the hope that is found only in Jesus Christ. Remembering that we can do more together than we ever could alone and truly being God's love with our neighbors in all places. Trusting that God can do more than we ask or imagine!
With joy, peace, and gentleness,
Pastor Suzanne
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Please send directly to UMCOR using Advance #901670
Please do NOT send to the District or Conference Office.
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Announcement: Extended - New York State Requiring Masks Indoors |
Governor Kathy Hochul announced masks will be required to be worn in all indoor public places unless businesses or venues implement a vaccine requirement. The decision was made based on the continued high numbers of COVID-19 infections. This measure is effective until at least Feb. 1, 2022, after which the State will re-evaluate based on current conditions. |
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Important Information to Share |
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Cornerstone District Website |
Please be aware that the only website that Cornerstone District is using is the one found on the Upper New York Conference Website.
Please Pass this information on to others!!!!
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There is NO Physical District Office |
Please make sure that you share this information as well. There is NO Physical District Office in Cornerstone. Please make sure that you mail anything that needs to go to the District Office to this MAILING address:
Cornerstone District Office
PO Box 687
Bath, NY 14810
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Please Keep These Pastors and Their Families
in Your Thoughts & Prayers
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Rev. Charles (Chuck) Smith’s mother (MaryEllen (Mary) Smith) died on Sunday, January 16th, 2022. Chuck is an elder serving East Randolph UMC.
AND
Pastor Becky Worth and her family in your prayers. Pastor Worth’s father, Don Coast, died suddenly in the early hours of Jan. 19. Pastor Worth is currently serving Cuba UMC and Friendship UMC.
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Pastors & Their Churches to in Prayer for Month of Jan. |
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Lord send your spirit in this place.
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Send us love, send us pow'r, send us grace.
-- Ken Medema--
January 9-East Randolph UMC. Rev. Chuck Smith, his wife Kim and their family.
January 16-Edwards Chapel & Watts Flats UMCs. Pastor Warren VanDewark, his wife Diane and their family.
January 23- Findley Lake UMC. Rev. Dave Cooke, his wife Heather and their children Ben, Grace & Nathan.
January 30-Fredonia:First UMC. Pastor Nettie Puleff and her family.
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Statistics for 2021- The Ezra site will be opened Saturday January 1, 2022 to enter the church statistical data. This year Ezra will still be on the same Ezra site as previous years. Nothing has changed other than the submission date. The new submission date is February 28, 2022.
The 2021 stat reports will be used for the 2023 Ministry Share calculations.
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Bishop Webb announces clergy appointments |
Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb and the Upper New York Conference announce 17 ad interim appointments and four retirements pending approval of clergy session. View the full list of changes here.
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New District Superintendents appointed |
Upper New York Area Resident Bishop, Mark J. Webb, is pleased to announce his intention to appoint the Rev. Dr. Sherri Rood to the Southern Tier Region and assigned as Superintendent of the Mountain View District and the Rev. Robert Kolvik-Campbell to the Southern Tier Region and assigned as Superintendent of the Binghamton and Oneonta Districts. The appointments are effective July 1, 2022.
Dr. Rood previously served as District Superintendent of the Cornerstone District for eight years and currently serves as pastor of Penfield United Methodist Church. Rev. Kolvik-Campbell currently serves as pastor at Christ United Methodist Church in Sherrill.
Dr. Rood replaces the Rev. Dr. Jeff McDowell and Rev. Kolvik-Campbell replaces the Rev. Nancy Adams who both have served eight years as District Superintendents.
Click here to read more about these changes and Bishop Webb's reflection on Rev. Adams and Dr. McDowell’s successful years as District Superintendents and his excitement in welcoming Dr. Rood and Rev. Kolvik-Campbell in their new roles starting July 2022.
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2021-2022 Charge Conference Forms Due Dates |
February 15th 2022
mail completed & signed copy to District Office
Report of Trustees
Report of Finance Committee
2021 Year End Financial Report - your church format
2022 Church Budget - your church format
February 28th 2022
March 15th 2022
2021 Local Annual Financial Audit
If you need help with any of the forms or login please contact the District Office for assistance.
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Safe Sanctuaries ZOOM Training,
Saturday, February 26
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The standard Safe Sanctuaries training will be held:
Saturday February 26th from 9AM to 12:30PM. This will be held via ZOOM.
REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE: SATURDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2022 AT NOON
If you are not registered by that time, you will not be able to attend this event.
At this time there are no other trainings scheduled, so we recommend getting registered as soon as possible.
The training will follow the revised ZOOM curriculum developed by the Upper New York Annual Conference Safe Sanctuaries Team, educating those involved in ministries who work with children and vulnerable adults on risks and prevention strategies related to abuse.
The training will be facilitated by Arlene Schmidt and Pastor Christine Mitchell, UNY Conference Safe Sanctuaries Co-Chairs.
The participant curriculum packet is available on the Eventbrite event page via download. We recommend printing or asking your church office to print this packet for you prior to signing into the training.
Please remember that all persons being trained MUST be on their own personal device (i.e. Computer, laptop, tablet, phone, etc.)
For more information on Safe Sanctuaries, and on background checks, click here.
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Upcoming Stewardship Academy |
Upper New York ordained deacon and Director of Christian Stewardship, the Rev. Susan Ranous, is offering a Stewardship Academy via Zoom over four sessions (April 23, May 21, June 18, July 16). Rev. Ranous will share all concepts of stewardship including self, time, talents, money, and more.
This is an opportunity to read and learn about stewardship and all that it entails. The Academy qualifies clergy for CEU.
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The 5 P’s of Sustainability for Small Churches
Rebekah Simon-Peter says small churches cannot succeed by emulating the megachurch model of programming for every stage of life. She believes that five P’s — people, prayer, provision, partnership, and presence — are key to the sustainability of smaller churches.
The demographic makeup of localities across the U.S. is rapidly diversifying. Some predominantly white congregations perceive this as a challenge or even a threat. But Lovett H. Weems Jr. suggests it can be an opportunity for them to make a positive difference as “hosts for Christ” welcoming newcomers to their communities.
Small church expert Dr. Lew Parks describes five indices of health and vitality for small to mid-sized congregations that contribute to “dynamic equilibrium.”
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Tending the Soul 2022-2024
A Two-year Training Program for Lay and Clergy
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What is it? Tending the Soul is a program designed to train individuals in Spiritual Direction and Congregational Formation.
The two-year training program offers learning and formational experiences in classroom and small group settings. The training includes home-based reading and reflection, experiential learning, and attention to the practice of spiritual disciplines. Participants will receive guidance in discerning their sense of giftedness and call to one-on-one spiritual direction and congregational direction and formation.
Where and When? All six training retreats will be held at Casowasco Camp and Retreat Center in Moravia, NY (campsandretreats.org). Attendance is required at all six retreats. Retreats will be held on: • November 14-17, 2022 • February 24-27, 2023 • April 17-20, 2023 • November 10-13, 2023 • February 19-22, 2024 • April 8-11, 2024
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BSA Survivor Trust Fund Settlement Agreement |
Pending court approval of a settlement agreement in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) bankruptcy case, United Methodists have agreed to contribute $30 million to a $3 billion Survivor Trust Fund that will receive contributions from the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), insurance companies, and charter organizations. In exchange for the contribution of United Methodists, the intent of the agreement is that all United Methodist entities will be released from any claims against them, and from existing state court litigation cases.
The efforts needed to keep the most vulnerable safe continue and the United Methodist Church will persist in its efforts to reduce the harm and increase the good. Working together, United Methodists can make a difference.
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At last year’s Annual Conference, members of the Child Victims Act (CVA) Committee - comprised of leaders from the Board of Trustees, the Council on Finance and Administration, the Board of Pensions and Health Benefits, and the Cabinet - reported to Conference members on the status of lawsuits filed against the Conference and several of its local churches under the Child Victims Act. In the eight months since that report, much has changed.
Click here to read a comprehensive Jan. 2022 report from the CVA Committee to understand where things stand in regard to the 63 lawsuits filed against the Upper New York Conference and local churches under the Child Victims Act.
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Dismantling Racism: Critical Race Theory
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The UMC is leading a sustained and coordinated effort to actively engage in the ministry of dismantling racism and promoting racial justice. The Upper New York (UNY) Conference Communications team has been regularly sharing worship, advocacy, and educational resources every week to help with this important campaign.
This week’s resource is an infographic from the General Commission on Religion and Race about Critical Race Theory (CRT).
This theory examines how laws in the United States have built and supported racial inequities. It is an ideological framework that names race as a social construct and asserts racialized inequities in society are fostered by historic and current systemic, institutional, and legal policies and practices.
Click here for a helpful infographic about Critical Race Theory.
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The Winter Mission Academy
with UM Volunteers in Mission
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Takes place online Jan. 31 to Feb. 5. Six sessions will be 12-2 p.m.
January 31 Engaging the Community for Social Transformation
February 1 Creating the Family Mission Experience
February 2 Volunteerism with Justice for our Neighbors
February 3 Raising Money (Without Embarrassment) for Your UMVIM Project
February 4 Equipping the Church for Preparedness and Resilience for Extreme Weather and Disaster
February 5 Mobile Photography and Mission
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New Clergy Tax Webinar Coming Soon! |
Join us February 7th at 11am Central
Your corner tax preparer may not understand the unique situation of clergy, and finding a preparer who does can save you substantially in money and aggravation.
Join us as the Rev. Don Joiner, a certified financial planner, helps us navigate the preparation of taxes and planning for a sound financial future.
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UNY Conference office COVID-19 protocol changes |
Given the spread of the omicron variant, significant increase of cases in Onondaga County and our need to keep everyone safe, we have updated our office protocols.
It is strongly encouraged that non-Conference staff in-person meetings be moved to Zoom, at least through the end of January, as infection rates are on the rise even amongst vaccinated individuals.
HUB activities through the end of January will be rescheduled for a future date.
If you have any questions or concerns, contact Susan Latessa, Director of Human Resources/Benefits at susanlatessa@unyumc.org
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Continue to Watch Out for Phishing Emails |
Please note that phishing-scheme emails are still frequently arriving in the Upper New York (UNY) Conference inboxes. Do not open any links in these emails.
These emails may look like they are coming from someone you know with a unyumc.org email, but carefully look at the email address—a lot of time it’s NOT the person you know—it’s a phishing email (the email extension will be “yahoo.com,” “gmail.com,” or some other email extension and not unyumc.org).
These emails will often have a subject line that say “urgent” and the email will often involve a request for financial help.
There was an email like this that many of you may have received over the holidays appearing as though it was from Bishop Webb; some even included his photo. This was a phishing scheme.
Delete these emails. Mark them as junk. And do not respond to them!
If you have any questions or concerns about this phishing scheme, contact Doug Thomas, UNY IT Manager, at dougthomas@unyumc.org
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NY Paid Family leave changes for 2022 |
New York State Paid Family Leave provides eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of job protected, paid time off to bond with a new child, care for a family member with a serious health condition, or to assist loved ones when a family member is deployed abroad on active military service. This time can be taken all at once, or in increments of full days.
Paid Family Leave may also be available in some situations when an employee or their minor, dependent child is under an order of quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19.
Click here for all the details you need to know about 2022 Paid Family Leave in UNY.
If you have additional questions on the New York State Paid Family Leave benefit, please contact Tracy Rickett, Human Resources Generalist, at (315) 898-2017 or tracyrickett@unyumc.org. You may also contact Guardian directly at 1-800-268-2525.
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Beginning Jan. 1, 2022, the Media Resource Center will be operating on a limited basis for Resource orders. More details and specifics will be included in the February newsletter
Media Resource Center
315-898-2027
7481 Henry Clay Blvd.
Liverpool, NY 13088
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Rev. Nancy Dibelius-Spiritual Disciplines |
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Upper New York Assistant Director of Vital Congregations for Spiritual Life, the Rev. Nancy Dibelius, has been providing videos of helpful spiritual practices to help deepen people’s relationship to God during this difficult time.
For 2021, Rev. Dibelius is zeroing in on spiritual disciplines. She explains that spiritual disciplines are a way to get away with Jesus, walk with Jesus, and learn from Jesus.
In her latest series, Rev. Dibelius discussed the spiritual discipline of celebration, click here to watch the first video in this series.
In her final video of 2021 and second video about celebration, Rev. Dibelius discusses how to create a celebration collage with images of objects that you are drawn to beyond the season’s tinsel and glitter. Click here to watch her latest video.
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Don't Wait, Get Your Federal Tax Exemption Letter! |
Did you know that, as a United Methodist ministry, it is easy to get a letter proving your tax-exempt status – without applying directly to the Internal Revenue Service? The General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA), and sister agency to (GBHEM), United Methodist Women, and others, have received a “group ruling” designation from the IRS.
Basically, an umbrella or central organization (GCFA) takes over some of the administrative functions that would normally fall to a backlogged IRS, so that subordinate organizations, like United Methodist camps, churches, and other ministries can apply to the central organization for inclusion in their group. What that means for you is that, rather than applying directly to the IRS, you can apply online easily and quickly through GCFA. GCFA, rather than the IRS, will check your documentation and issue a letter of inclusion – meaning that you are included in the overall United Methodist group ruling for tax exemption.
Don't wait. Recently the IRS issued notice that it may change the group ruling policy. While we don’t know when those changes may take place, it is quick and easy to get a letter of inclusion in the denominational group ruling currently, so act quickly, before any changes take place.
There are a couple of important things to note: The online form is very straightforward for local United Methodist churches and the local church can quickly get its letter at the below link. For ministries that are affiliated as United Methodist organizations, such as a church, child care program, or a summer camp, the organization must have its own EIN, board, and organizing documents. Also, this tax exemption verifies your federal status and does not affect any state tax ruling.
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Church Copyright License Options-Copyrights Can Be Confusing |
There are essential licenses that fit most churches' use of copyrighted materials. However, several supplemental licenses exist that grant permission for more specific services such as rehearsals, live streaming, podcasts, videos, and video clips. It is essential to note that if your church obtains permission to use copyrighted material for one activity or exclusive right, it doesn't mean you have permission with that same license for another exclusive right. For example, for musical works, it is essential to remember that you will need a license to both the musical composition (the music notes on the page) and the lyrics. Not all licenses provide permission for both.
We've assembled this free guide to Church Copyright License Options to help you understand the basics of different types of copyrights. CCLI? Church Rehearsal License? Learn them all.
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Mission Insite Free to Churches |
A reminder that Mission Insite is a web-based demographics provider for local church use. In planning ministry, it is important to know the context.
Mission Insite provides demographic data that is updated on a regular basis and the reports are user friendly to the novice or experienced demographer.
The reports are free to the local church because the Annual Conferences is under contract with Mission Insite, but in order to access the website you will need to register your local church.
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Educational Opportunities |
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Lay Servant Courses Offered Around the Conference |
Click here t o find out when, where and how you can sign up for a lay servant course that you need or are interested in taking. This link connects you to all the Districts in UNY Conference that are offering courses. Just click and start exploring your options!
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Course of Study Participants |
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR YOU
If you are registering for a COS class at GBHEM – you will need to list the name and email of your COS registrar. That information is as follows:
Betsy O’Flynn
We have had several lately list BOMregistrar@unyumc.org – this delays or causes you the student to miss the class entirely.
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F. Douglas Powe Jr. and Ann A. Michel of the Lewis Center staff name some of the changes church leaders should keep top of mind as we embark on 2022. They include still evolving patterns of worship and congregational life, worrying attendance trends, churches reevaluating their building needs, and underlying demographic changes that challenge assumptions many churches hold regarding their future.
Do you want amazing worship on a small church budget? Lewis Center Director F. Douglas Powe Jr. interviews Teresa Stewart, a blogger and creator of the website Paper Bag Cathedrals, on ways small congregations can enliven their worship.
Vital churches provide ways for people of all ages to grow in faith through learning. These 50 tips and strategies can help your congregation build a strong program of Christian education for adults.
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Participants receive a certificate for 1-hour CEU following the online classes.
Olu Brown • January 27
During Lent, worshipers around the world join together in a common theme of Christian faith, practicing self-reflection and remembrance of the sacrifice Jesus Christ made on Calvary. It is not only a time of individual reflection, but a time of communal reflection, reminding us that we are a global community of believers, and we have a responsibility to one anther and to our world.
Olu Brown, author of Hope: An Advent Journey, has written the new book for Lent 2022, Our Lenten Prayer, for individuals, small groups, and church-wide Lenten studies. During this webinar, Olu will discuss leading and preaching during Lent, and how we can help our congregations practice the spiritual discipline of trust.
Using the Lord's Prayer as a focus, Olu will discuss ways to challenge our congregants to be open and willing to ask God for help and direction.
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Rebekah Simon Peter • February 1, 2022
For most local congregations, there are lingering questions about the future. One question on most church’s minds is “How can we do more with less?”
Congregations are learning to deal with a lot of “lesses” in the new, hopefully soon-to-be, post-pandemic world:
• Less people in worship services
• Less money in the offering
• Less youth and young adults
• Less programming and more connection
These are just a few “lesses” congregations are dealing with. Rebekah Simon-Peter, author of upcoming book Growing the Post-Pandemic Church: Steps you can take right now to re-create your church, will touch on these topics and more as she shares what she has learned through recent research and focus groups.
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Walter Cross • February 3
As churches begin the celebration of Black History Month in February, Walter Cross, Jr., pastor in the Holston Conference of The United Methodist Church, will lead us on the topic, Preaching in the African American Experience.
A few of the points Rev. Cross will discuss include:
• Preaching in Context
• Being a Prophetic Voice of the Community
• Prophetically Calling for Truth
• History and Style of the Black Preacher
• Homiletic Approach
• Learning From Preachers Who Influenced Me
Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your knowledge and preaching skills.
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Cornerstone District Office
PO Box 687
Bath, NY 14810
716-665-2423
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