Hello ECO Community! Hope you enjoy this month's newsletter! Make sure not to miss the end! Click on the blue link at the very bottom of this email that says "View entire message"!
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Three Questions for the Post-COVID Church
By Dana Allin, ECO Synod Executive
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This last month we had an in-person Presbytery Leaders meeting in Greenville, SC. It was life-giving for me to interact and engage with so many leaders face to face! In many ways it felt like a family reunion. That experience is increasing my excitement to be able to have our live National Gathering in Dallas next year. It seems that perhaps the viral component of the pandemic is coming to an end. Let’s continue to pray to this end and praise God!
I do think there are questions that the church needs to be asking itself coming out of COVID that will impact its future ministry. I pose three of those questions now as we think about what ministry will look like going forward.
1) How can we enhance our disciple making efforts? I believe that COVID revealed the inadequacy of our disciple-making efforts. Early in the pandemic I heard dozens of pastors mourning the anemic discipleship that was present in their churches, the extent of which exhibited itself in blatant consumerist attitudes and immaturity in the way people treated one another who disagreed about race, politics, and even mask policies. We have too long assumed that sitting in church and attending bible study develops disciples. We need to recreate our disciple-making environments so that they continue to challenge people to live their faith in their unique contexts and provide spaces where we can truly sharpen one another toward maturity in Christ. My biggest plea is to ask you to consider if your environments are actually making disciples. If not, change them now!
2) Is online church a backup or an intentional strategy? I have to admit that I wrestle with how online church should be positioned in the future. I get concerned that online worship can further breed a consumer mentality. I can watch the church that I want to watch, when I want to watch it, where I want to watch it, and that this mentality might further breed weak discipleship. At the same time, I have seen great things occur through an online platform that wouldn’t have otherwise occurred with only in-person church. People have come to know the Lord through virtual Alpha who probably wouldn’t have attended an in-person Alpha gathering. I have seen families with special needs children to be more present before the Lord in an online format than with the distractions that come with physical church. I have learned about “churches” planted inside of video games that built levels of authenticity within the community that I rarely see in the physical church (While I still have an abundance of questions about planting a church in the metaverse, I am encouraged to see some great things God is doing!). So the question for us is, “Are we going to view our online presence as a backup for people who aren’t able to make it to a physical church? Or are we going to be intentionally digital as well?”
3) What are we uniquely called to be and do in this community? Just as every person is uniquely shaped by God and created for good works which He has prepared in advance, so the same is true for the local church. What we saw in the pandemic was that churches that had clarity about their calling were better able to make pivots that encompassed their mission. Their question wasn’t simply, “How do we put our worship services online?” But rather, “How do we fulfill our vision and embody our values even when gatherings look different?” While the pandemic is coming to a close this is a perfect time to ensure that there is clarity on the church's vision and direction. Crystal clear clarity will allow churches to make necessary adjustments in their ministries during this time when there is the freedom to have flexibility.
I continue to pray that this summer is a time of renewal for your own souls and that there is an excitement about rethinking and reforming ministries to best fulfill our call to be flourishing churches that make disciples of Jesus Christ.
In Christ,
Dana Allin
ECO Synod Executive
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We are so excited about what God has in store for YOU at the 2022 National Gathering! Plan now to join us in Dallas for encouragement, training, inspiration and fun!
Important dates to keep in mind:
- August 1 - Website and registration opens (sign up early!)
- Jan 31 - Pre-conferences
- Feb 1-2 - Main gathering days (including amazing keynote speakers, many breakout session options, a fun night together, and so much more!)
- Feb 3 - Synod business meeting
Keep an eye out for all of the details this summer!
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How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! Psalm 133:1 |
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(Synod Executive Council) |
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After being apart for so long, scattered across the country with only Zoom to connect us, we are so grateful that we were able to hold in-person gatherings of presbytery leaders, our Synod Executive Council, and Ordination Retreats in May! Thank you to First Presbyterian Church, Greenville, SC for graciously hosting our ECO family! We were so grateful to be together. |
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(Retreat #1 group candidates and assessors) |
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Think God may be calling you to become a Transitional Pastor?
Hear from Julia Leeth, Transitional Pastor at Grace Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas as she shares the story of her journey to her current call.
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If God is calling you to this unique ministry, the next training is just a few weeks away! We will also have a training immediately following our National Gathering in Dallas in February. Check out our website below! |
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Is your church facing an upcoming transition? Check out the resource "Pastoral Search and Transition" by clicking the button below. |
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NEW COHORTS, WEBINARS, AND RESOURCES! |
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Calling all Children's/Family/Youth Ministry Leaders! |
If you fall into one (or all!) of these categories, we'd love to have you join our private Facebook group! It's a great place to share ideas, ask questions, crowdsource, connect and prepare to hang out in person at the 2022 National Gathering….where we have some really BIG things planned just for YOU!! We'd love to have you join us. Just click the button below join on facebook or search for ECO Children, Youth & Family Ministry Leaders. See you there! |
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Upcoming Church
Transformation Cohort
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ECO’s Church Transformation process retrains pastors, refocuses leadership, and brings renewed vitality to our congregations. Church Transformation incorporates a Pastoral Learning Community, the creation and implementation of a Congregational Plan for Transformation, an on-site consultation option, and ongoing coaching. All components are vital for true transformation to occur.
We are excited to offer this opportunity on a broader scale to our churches in a virtual hybrid option. While the most successful way to run a Church Transformation Pastor Learning Community is in-person and with communal connections within a presbytery, it is improbable that each presbytery will move in a fully in-person direction. Therefore, we have created a hybrid experience for pastors, assistants and associates to join Pastor Learning Communities. It begins with a 3-day onsite kick off and includes two other in-person meetings with virtual meetings in between.
Click on the button below for all the details on this upcoming cohort.
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Connecting Missions Leaders Conference
Save the Date!
October 14-16, 2021 in Nashville, TN
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Join us in Nashville for the Connecting Mission Leaders, a conference for people who are passionate about mission! October 14-16, 2021. Register today!
CML is an ideal gathering for local church mission leaders (staff, mission committee members, etc.) who are passionate about god’s mission in the world and who want to be more effective mission leaders and mission catalysts in their local church contexts. View more information by visiting their website below.
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Interview with Simon Kingori |
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Ordination Retreats are well underway! We are so blessed to have such gifted candidates in ECO, like Simon, who shared part of his journey with us in the interview below. |
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Simon, how did you discern a call to ordained ministry?
The journey began in my first year in college while I was in Kenya. I joined the Christian Union organization and became involved in discipleship ministry. It was through working with the young and new believers that I sensed God calling me to pastoral ministry. In addition, I had conversations with my family, and my late mother was rather instrumental in the process as well as my pastor and friends. Over the years I trained and worked in various careers and ultimately ended up going to seminary to pursue theological education.
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What was the most impactful part for you of Retreat #1? How did it help you grow?
The most important impactful part of Retreat #1 was spending time with other pastors/assessors looking through calling, ministry experiences, and my true wiring. This led to identifying opportunities for growth. In my care there were several areas that were identified. The good thing is that I was pointed in the right direction in terms of resources and people to work with through the growth process. Definitely, I never felt as if I was on my own. It was encouraging to check off the Ordination Map requirements and to see the path become clear. Two great resources that were truly helpful are the EHS (Emotionally Healthy Spirituality) and the Crucial Conversations Course.
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What was the most impactful part for you of Retreat #2? How did it help you grow?
The most impactful part was working on the various projects with the other candidates while also spending time with everyone which created great community and meaningful relationships. I was thankful to see growth from the assessments, yet I also became aware that growth is a lifelong process. I have really enjoyed the Spiritual Formation Group from Retreat #1 as well the current group that I am now involved in. In many ways I have seen the ordination process as affirming my call. The Retreat Assessors are truly on your side as a candidate helping you through.
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What would you say to those who are discerning a call to ordained ministry, particularly in light of your experience going through the process?
For those discerning the process I would say pray and trust God, commit your ways to the Lord and he will establish your plans (Proverbs 16:3). Be encouraged that the process has a way of identifying things that may not have been taught in seminary, yet so practical in ministry. Talk to the Ordination Team at ECO. They are very resourceful and are always willing to help and guide you. Ask questions and ask again in order to make sure you are familiar and aware of expectations to help with a smooth journey through the process. Looking back, If I were to do it all over again, I would not change anything. Every aspect was important and unique in its own way.
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Congratulations, Simon, on completing the ordination process and being "certified, ready to receive a call!" Where will you be serving as a pastor?
With the process finished, I will continue working with All Nations Congregation Community at Highland Park Presbyterian In Dallas, TX. It is a great honor and privilege to pastor such a wonderful community.
Click the button below to learn more about ECO’s Ordination Process
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Pray for new ECO Church Planters from Brazil!
Osnir and Luma Menezes arrived in Dallas on June 3 to begin the process of planting an ECO church in Austin. Their goal is to reach the Brazilian community that has settled in that city. They will spend some time at New Life Brazilian Church in Dallas before heading over to Austin. Please pray for them and their church planting efforts.
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ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians | eco-pres.org
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