Greetings Christian Church in Georgia! I am honored to be serving as your new Moderator. I am thrilled to serve alongside a wonderful group of Disciples that make up our Executive Committee, and look forward to getting busy with the work of the Region.

I have been a member of Chestnut Ridge Christian Church for almost 40 years, and have been serving on the Regional Executive Committee since November 2022. I truly felt the Spirit of God when we gathered in Macon for Regional Assembly to share our stories. Georgia is full of Disciples who care deeply for this Region and are ready to help.  

Isaiah 6:8 says. “Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”  

I am excited to work with our new Board members and the members of our Regional Minister Search Committee. We have a wonderful staff here in the Region, as well as many volunteers. We are especially keeping all the camp staff and volunteers in our prayers through June into July, as they work diligently to provide a wonderful and meaningful summer camp experience for our children. There have been many in the Region who have said, "Here am I, send me!"

The Region has much work to do this year: 

• We will be making long-range plans and decisions in relation to Camp Christian. 
• We are working toward finding our new Regional Minister.
• We are working alongside our Interim Regional Minister, Rev. Joan Bell-Haynes. 
• We will be continuing our work with the Church Narrative Project to create a new narrative of being Church.

But most of all, we are here to support the ministries and the congregations in the state of Georgia. 

We have much to be thankful for here in the Region of Georgia! God is good and is with us in all we do.  

Blessings,

Paula Robin

The Christian Church (DOC) in Georgia provides Healthy Boundaries workshops to ordained and commissioned Disciples ministers and those preparing for the ministry in Georgia.

Healthy Boundaries 101: Fundamentals, is an introductory workshop in healthy boundaries with an emphasis on power and vulnerability and including discussions on transference, friendships, dating, and self-care. This is the foundational Healthy Boundaries workshop which is a prerequisite to either Healthy Boundaries 201 or Healthy Boundaries 301. Last day to register for August 23-24 sessions is August 18.

This is one of two Healthy Boundaries workshops, both of which are virtual, which will be offered in 2024. The other is Healthy Boundaries 301: Money, Sex, and Power on Nov. 1-2, 2024. 

Let's Talk! A Workshop presented by the Anti-Racism Pro-Reconciliation Ministry of the Christian Church (DOC) in the Virginia Region

Join us Saturday, September 14, from 9 am-5 pm at Brookhaven Christian Church in Atlanta, GA!

• Please note this workshop is *in-person,* hosted at Brookhaven Christian Church in Atlanta, GA and will not be provided virtually
• Attendance is open to anyone in the Georgia Region (clergy, laity, regional staff or Camp and Conference volunteers) and will fulfill the requirements for ARPR training for Clergy Standing.
• Cost to attend: $25
• Deadline to Register: August 1

The Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation Ministry of the Region of Virginia is tasked with addressing racial issues and working towards healing. We believe that racism and injustice have no place in our Church or in the Kingdom of God. Our work is a labor of love.

The ARPR workshops are designed to provide a safe space for conversations with issues concerning racism. Our focus is on dismantling systematic racism and working toward reconciliation. Based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Word of God, our workshop allows participants a greater understanding with the hope of “Seeing the Face of God In Each Other."

Disciples Women Fall Retreat

Disciples Women are invited to gather September 27-29 for their Fall retreat at the beautiful Epworth by the Sea! With the theme, “Crazy Love: Sharing Stories of Jesus,” they will share stories of Jesus' love, and have plenty of time for the beach, fellowship, relaxation, and line dancing! You may download and share the flyer by clicking here.

News & Reminders

• Regional Clergy Connection: There are many opportunities for the Georgia Disciples clergy to gather for conversation, support, and learning in the Region. On the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month, at 12 pm, clergy are invited to stop by for an hour of conversation and idea-sharing with Interim Regional Minister, Rev. Joan Bell-Haynes. For more information and a Zoom link to any of these virtual meetings, contact the Regional Office.
• Obra Hispana Assembly: Register now for the 22nd Biennial Assembly of Obra Hispana (Central Pastoral Office of Hispanic Ministries) to be held June 20-22, 2024 in Kansas City, MO. Learn more and register here.
• National Convocation: The 28th Biennial Session of the National Convocation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will gather in Greensboro, NC, July 11-14, 2024, for an amazing time of worship, learning, and FUN! Click here to learn more and register.
• General Assembly: The 2025 General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will gather in-person July 12 - 15, in Memphis, TN. The General Assembly theme is “BEYOND” based on Ephesians 3:20-21. For more information, click here.
• NAPAD Convocation: The 23rd North American Pacific/Asian Disciples (NAPAD) Convocation will be held on July 17-20, 2024, in Salt Lake City, UT. Learn more and register here.
• Job Postings:
• Disciples Home Missions is accepting applications for the settled Coordinator for Ministry with Youth & Young Adults. Learn more here.
• The Christian Church Foundation is hiring a Vice President for Development for the Southeast Zone. Learn more here.
• Global Ministries has two positions open - Program Associate for Resource Development and Global Relations Minister, Latin America and the Caribbean. Learn more here.
• Disciples Church Extension Fund is seeking a Director of Financial Services and a Financial Services Representative. Learn more here.

Learning Opportunities

• Leadership Academy: New Church Ministry is excited to announce that Leadership Academy will be held at Meizon Church in Gainesville, FL from October 22-25! Join us in-person or later online, whether you’re the core team of an established congregation or thinking about forming one. Undergraduate and seminary students, ecumenical partners, and lay leaders are welcome to participate. More details here.

Prayers & Celebrations

Prayers 

• Summer Camp begins on Monday morning, June 10. Camp Christian has been providing a meaningful camp experience for our youth for over 60 years. Camp staff and many volunteers have been working to prepare for our youth. Please be in prayer over the next several weeks for all who gather to share the love of Christ at this sacred ground.
• Continued prayers for those suffering from war, hunger, and untold hardships in Israel, Palestine, and Ukraine. 

Celebrations

• The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) embraces three racial/ethnic general ministries that provide resources to congregations within the United States and Canada. Prayers for the biennial meetings of Central Pastoral Office of Hispanic Ministries, National Convocation, and North American Pacific/Asian Disciples (NAPAD) which are taking place this summer. Learn more about these ministries here.