2008 / No. 3 Congregationalist.org

p 6

Modern Pilgrims Gathered at Annual Meeting p 14

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2008 / No. 3 Vol. 168 No. 3

Getting the NA Out of the Box

6 Getting the National Association Out of the Box

Steve Peay

12 Getting Regional Associations Out of the Box

Lloyd Hall

Departments

25 Pastorates and Pulpits

26 Missionary Society News and Needs

Columns

4 From My Heart to YoursTom Richard

5 Transitional ThoughtsSamuel Schaal

25 College NotesAshley Cook Cleere

The Congregationalist | ISBN 0010-5856 | Postage paid at Mansfield, Ohio 44901-9998.

Published quarterly by the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches, 8473 S. Howell Ave., Oak Creek, WI 53154-0288. Periodicals postage paid at Oak Creek, WI, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Congregationalist8473 S. Howell Ave., Oak Creek, WI 53154-0288. © 2008 The National Association of Congregational Christian Churches. All rights reserved.

The National Association of Congregational Christian Churches Bringing together Congregational Christian Churches for mutual care and outreach to our world in the name of Jesus Christ.

2008 Annual Meeting News

14 Modern Pilgrims Gathered in Plymouth

18 Summary of Business Sessions

20 Branching Out Campaign Bears Fruit

20 Dr. Mauro is New Dean

21 In God’s Eternal Memory

22 The Bible Lectures

24 NAPF/HOPE News

From My Heart to Yours

Leadership Versus Consensus

There is a debate going on among ministers and

church leaders, not only in our own association of churches, but throughout mainline Christianity. It is over the balance of strong leadership versus building consensus, as if both are incompatible.

While for denominations this debate may seem less

contentious, because of the judicatory structure of their organizations, it is still a source of growing conflict.

A rising number of clergy and church leaders believe that needed changes will not (and perhaps even cannot) occur for the good of a local church without stronger direction from the minister and more centralized governance by church leaders. Studies abound that suggest they may be correct. But change invites needed but unwelcome conflict. My unscientific observation after visiting hundreds of churches in the last seven years is that when conflict over leadership is not dealt with in a transparent way, it has disastrous consequences. Sides are chosen, tempers flare, words are spoken which are neither appropriate for a Christian community nor helpful in resolving the conflict.

In Congregational Christian churches there are some important things to remember.  Forgive me if these sound simple — they are not. But they are respectful of who we are and what we claim to believe:

First, remember that transparency is not an option. Congregational members need to be informed, even when they disagree with a decision or direction.

Second, there is really only one goal of any change in churches — to better serve as witnesses to Christ.

Third, there are no insiders and outsiders. Separating tares and wheat, remember, is God’s work, not ours. The way to handle conflict is not to cull the membership list.

Fourth, I would submit that visionary ministers and an empowered laity go hand in hand if churches are to grow.

Finally, remember that if we fail in love we fail in all things. Ultimately, a congregation is where we try to speak, think, and act into God’s heart.

the Rev. dR. thomaS m. RiChaRd

Executive SecretaryNational Association of Congregational Christian Churches

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flare, words are spoken which flare, words are spoken which are neither appropriate for a are neither appropriate for a Christian community nor helpful Christian community nor helpful in resolving the conflict.in resolving the conflict.

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Transitional Thoughts

Are We Really Continuists?Memo to Editor’s Roundtable:

Thank you! One of the unexpected joys I had at Annual Meeting was how so many of you stepped forward and pressed $100 checks in my hand. The checks were not for me, but were made out to our magazine, as this group of faithful readers put their treasure where their heart is by keeping our operation vibrant. Thanks to all who contributed at the meeting or elsewhere. If you’re not in the Roundtable, check out the back cover where you’ll find out how to join.

Though Annual Meeting news dominates this issue, our cover story looks at the idea that maybe we’re really not the Continuing Congrega-tionalists. Maybe we have invented a new kind of Congregationalism that is not consonant with the historical faith. Steve Peay says we’re structured as a holding action while we hoped to win the lawsuits intended to halt the merger that created the UCC. (If you’re new around here, we didn’t win.) Lloyd Hall says in the structure of the then-new NA, there was no longer a real relationship between the regional associations and the national association, thus weakening what had historically been an important source of fellowship and support of the local church.

Both agree that we actually invented a new Congregationalism at mid-century, marked by independency and weakening if not destroying the structures of relationship between churches which nurtured and protected the practice of our Way.

We saw correctly the error of “Congregationalism B” that declared the General Council itself “church” and so made merger possible (see page 7). But we ourselves erred by thinking that any association beyond the local church that held a discipline over the wider fellowship was somehow authoritarian and to be avoided.

Something happened to us in the merger conflict. We who wanted to preserve our Way ended up reacting to our fear of authority and forgetting that true freedom is not in independency, but is rooted in covenant with each other and with God. While the local church is the locus of this fellowship and freedom, it is not its sum total. So today we are left with a ghost of real fellowship beyond the local church (which often struggles in a vast lonely sea of independency) and the traditional Congregational Way is fading from practice.

But it’s not too late to reframe and refocus, which is why we offer these two important stories.

the Rev. Samuel SChaal

Transition Editor

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Transition EditorRev. Samuel Schaal

First Congregational Church, Wauwatosa, Wis.

PublisherRev. Lisa Dembkowski

Plymouth Congregational Church, Wichita, Kan.

Contributing EditorsLinda Miller, Missionary Society News

NACCC Office, Oak Creek

Graphic DesignJay Chow

Milwaukee, Wis. jaychow.design@earthlink.net

ProofreaderDebbie Johnston

Livingston, Mont. bigskytext@bresnan.net

Editorial Advisory CommitteeEdith Bartley (Executive Committee)

Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims, Brooklyn, N.Y.Rev. Beth Bingham (Editor Appointee)

Pilgrim Congregational Church, Pomona, Calif.Rev. Jack Brown (Editor Appointee)

Olivet (Mich.) Congregational ChurchRev. Dawn Carlson (Communication Services

Committee)First Congregational Church, Terre Haute, Ind.

Alan Seltzer (Communication Services Committee)Church­in­the­Gardens, Forest Hills, N.Y.

Subscription InquiriesThe CongregationalistP.O. Box 288Oak Creek, WI 53154-0288congregationalist@congregationalist.org

Editorial InquiriesRev. Samuel Schaal1511 Church StreetWauwatosa, WI 53213(414) 258-7375schaals@FirstChurchTosa.org

Letters to the Editor are welcome. We appreciate letters up to 150 words. All letters may be edited for clarity and length. We regret we cannot publish or respond to all letters.

Advertising InquiriesFor rates and information, contact:Rev. Lisa Dembkowski202 N. Clifton AvenueWichita, KS 67208(414) 764-1620, ext. 221-800-262-1620, ext. 22ldembkowski@plymouth-church.net

The NACCC reserves the right to refuse any advertisement.

Magazine of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches

11

Getting the

National AssociationOut of the Box

We’re structured as a holding action within the

old General Council, hoping the lawsuits would stop

the merger. They didn’t. The merger happened,

almost 50 years ago. Is this why we can’t

more successfully do the work of a national association

of churches?

by Steve Peay

6

7

How can we say that our National Association is in a box? We all know the story of how the struggle for

continuing Congregationalism began, but let’s recall it for just a moment. Because what we’ll discover is that we built the box and have not been able to get beyond it.

When it became clear that the merger movement that would create the United Church of Christ (UCC) was going forward, those dedicated to the continuation of Congregational polity assembled first at the Hotel Fort Shelby in Detroit, Mich. (1955) and then at the First Congregational Church of Wauwatosa, Wis. (1956) and founded the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches.

While it was clearly the intention of these dedicated people to preserve the classical way of the Congregational Churches, that is not what emerged. It was not the Congregationalism of the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches, as reflected in the 1954 Polity and Unity Report (so-called “Congregationalism A”). Nor was it what the proponents of merger called their mixed polity, “Congregationalism B.” No, the result of their effort was instead a third way: Congregationalism C, if you will.

The structure of the NACCC was devised to operate within the existing structure of the General Council. (See Arvel M. Steece’s A Thoroughfare for Freedom and Alan B. Peabody’s 1964 dissertation at Syracuse University, A Study of the Controversy in Congregationalism Over Merger with the Evangelical and Reformed Church.)

The NA was designed as an association of churches to promote the Way as it then existed. Those present at the Wauwatosa, Wis., meeting were warned by the Rev. Malcolm Burton that setting up parallel ecclesiastical machinery would jeopardize future lawsuits. The Rev. Harry Johnson, the first NACCC Executive Secretary, supported Burton by pointing out that by such action the “Continuists” would lose "our legal status as Congregationalists" and would forfeit "all possibility of our own legal defense." He would also refer to the NA as a “holding action” until the lawsuits to prevent the merger could be won. (See my paper, “Beyond Congregationalism ‘C’” at www.naccc.org/Cong_Way_Series/Derry%20Symposium/Derry_Sym_Page_6.htm)

The lawsuits, however, didn’t succeed. When the merger proceeded and the UCC was formed, there was no adjustment to provide for those polity structures left behind in the old General Council into the NACCC. Rather, the Cheyenne Annual Meeting in 1961 simply declared the NA the successor to the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches and began to function with a structure that was never meant to serve more than a “holding action.”

In essence, for almost 50 years we’ve continued a polity form that is not classical Congregationalism and never meant to what it has been called upon to do (even with several modifications).

The Merger AlphabetCongregationalism ADouglas Horton, Executive Secretary and Minister to the former General Council of Congregational and Christian Churches, and a principal architect of the UCC merger, coined the term Congregationalism A in 1950. This describes the traditional and historic Congregational polity, based upon the autonomy of the local churches and the associational relationship of those churches at the regional (association), state (conference), and national (General Council) levels.

Congregationalism BIn visioning the polity of the new United Church of Christ, Horton articulated what he called Congregationalism B, that extends the concept of church to not only the local church, but also to organizations like local associations, conferences and the General Council itself. So, the General Council itself was declared church and could merge with other traditions.

Congregationalism CSteve Peay says we are currently practicing Congregationalism C. While the founders of the NACCC intended to preserve the classical way of the Congregational churches, the result was yet a third way (he calls it “C”) that extended the freedom of the local church to the point of damaging the structures necessary for true fellowship between churches working for the greater good of those churches. Both Peay and Lloyd Hall note one major shift from A to C: there was no longer an official relationship between the local association and the national association.

getting tHe na out of tHe Box

8

Where the UCC’s Congre-gationalism B extended fellowship to the point that it destroyed the distinctive Congregational understanding of local church autonomy, the NA’s Congregationalism C has extended the freedom of the local church to the point of damaging the necessary fellowship implicit in the Congregational tradition.

This position, no doubt a reaction to the “presbyterianizing” tendencies of the UCC, assumed both faith and fellowship, but doesn't articulate them or provide venues for their nurture or accomplishment — all because the dominant operative understanding has become the freedom of the local church. The first paragraph of the Preamble to the Articles of Association makes this emphasis plain:

Whereas Churches of the congregational order have historically held to certain truths, chief among which are the freedom of the Christian man maintained at all costs and all hazards; the right of the local Church to self-government in all matters temporal and spiritual, because Christ's word that where two or three are gathered together in His name He is in their midst; the fellowship of Churches in the spirit of love without compulsion or restraint and free from the bondage of creed and ecclesiastical control…

This extreme emphasis upon freedom lends itself more to an independent theology of church, rather than that of classical Congregationalism. The late Rev. Harry Stubbs articulated this tendency in a paper given at Toledo, Ohio, in 1969:

…if we are amnesic about who we are, it is not due to the fact that we confuse ourselves with Presbyterians. It is, rather, due to the fact that we do not sufficiently distinguish between Congregationalism and Independency. The truth of the matter is that in our declarations, policy statement and practices we could hardly

more thoroughly succeed in confusing the two. I asseverate that we presently have nothing in the Articles of Association of the National Association that defines Congregational Churches over against Independent churches… we assume a definition rather than enunciate one. ("On Recovering the Genius of Classical Church Order" in The Proceedings of the Wisconsin Congregational Theological Society, Vol. I, August 1999, p. 43-4.)

He would be pleased to see that the definition of a Congregational Christian Church was later added to the articles, but the operative phrase "in fellowship with sister Congregational Christian

Churches" (Article III, 1.a) is nowhere explained. In short, now we talk about fellowship but do not provide all the available means, or the incentive, for the fellowship to take place.

The two areas where Congregationalism C's shortcomings become most glaring are in the areas of state/regional associations and the question of ministerial standing. Both are directly related. Local fellowships and Associations are listed in the NACCC Yearbook "for informational purposes," but there is no organizational tie to the NACCC. Such a structure leaves out an important means for local fellowship. It further makes the whole question of ministerial standing problematic, since it returns the locus of standing to local churches, which is a deviation from classical Congregational understanding. Stubbs summed up the difficulties of Congregationalism C when he wrote:

I think we have constructed a marvelous chassis in the National Association. However, the National Association is not an ecclesiastical body. It is not in the business of legitimating or authenticating either Congregational Churches or Congregational ministers. All it can do for Congregational ministers is to record their standing that has been achieved by some prior process or indicate the lack of same. The only instrument for the legitimation of church

We simply cannot say that we live, as Christian communities, independent of one another. Nor can we say the ministry of any church is of no concern to the fellowship of churches.

getting tHe na out of tHe Box

9

or minister is an ecclesiastical body, and the only authentic ecclesiastical body possible in Congregational ecclesiology is the ecclesiastical council of either local association or vicinage. The truth of this and the necessity for it are two things we must learn before it is too late for the churches of the National Association. (p. 52)

Not quite 20 years later the Long-Range Planning Committee of the NACCC recognized the difficulty and made a proposal to restructure and even retake the name General Council of Congregational Churches. The Rev. Dr. Lloyd M. Hall, Jr., its chair, wrote this in a letter to the member churches in December 1988:

In 1985-1986 it had become apparent that the work of our National Association had gone as far as it could with the practices and policies of its formative years. Membership growth of the association and the member churches had reached a plateau and was verging on decline. The needs of the churches in a rapidly changing society were placing new demands on the wider fellowship. The financial strength of our fellowship demanded immediate and careful attention. Clearly we needed to take a hard look at where we were and where we should be going as we approached the 21st century.

What he was talking about was the reality that the 102 churches at Fort Shelby had grown to 225 in 1962, then 470 in 1984, but in 1988 had declined to just 432 member churches. The February/March 1989 issue of The Congregationalist with articles about the need for improved regional fellowship, more and better-trained clergy and the constant call for funds, could have come out of the 2008 meeting in Plymouth.

The proposal to restructure was defeated in 1989. It fell victim to what church systems consultant Gil Rendle sees with governance structures — that their job “is to make tomorrow look like yesterday.” Unfortunately, we continue to fall victim to it.

The harsh reality is that 53 years after the founding and 20 years after an attempt at restructuring, we’re still stuck in

the same place. Now there are 426 churches, 161 of which do not contribute to the maintenance of the association.

The task before “continuing Congregationalists” is not the restoration of Congregationalism A. One can't recreate that experience any more than one can reproduce the church of the New Testament. We can't and we shouldn't because the church, like its doctrine, is a living, growing organism. The task at hand is to move beyond these models of church life in order to offer a viable, responsive, authentic form of the church now that we’re eight years into the new millennium. As Stubbs said,

On this continent, through almost 350 years the Congregational churches have carried on their individual and collective lives within an evolving Church Order living in the context of an evolving civil order. The nature of this Church Order has not been identical from one decade or one century to the next — nor, for that matter, from one place to another. (Stubbs, p. 43)

The emphasis, however, must be on the authenticity of the

formulation. The church, again, like doctrine, should not grow into something that it is not, but into the ever-increasing fullness and expression of what it is: Christ's Body.

Here the relational principle of covenant church life comes fully into play. The essence of Congregational ecclesiology and polity is the notion of the completeness and autonomy of the local church and those churches in fellowship. Each particular church embodies the wholeness of the church and of the fellowship, since the body of Christ is never dismembered.

So the completeness of the local church and the communion of the churches are interdependent. The ministerial office relates directly to both since it affects the Body itself. We simply cannot say that we live, as Christian communities, independent of one another. Nor can we say that the ministry of any particular church is of no concern to the larger fellowship of churches.

This issue was debated very forcefully before the National Council of the Congregational Churches at Boston in 1865. The Rev. Dr. Leonard Bacon stated that not only

The reality is that rather than continuing Congregationalism, we’ve made a new form of independent churches instead.

10

was the autonomy and completeness of the local churches one of the distinguishing marks of the Congregational Way, but also the fellowship of the churches. He argued that the communion of churches extended to the calling of ministers:

…According to our principle, the church elects its pastor and ordains him and it is the business of all the churches who he is and what he is; and the church that ordains him is responsible to all the churches to give an account whom it is that they elect to that office, and of his ordination — what he is, what theology he holds, what faith, what principles of order — what qualifications he has by nature, by education, and by the grace of God for the performance of that duty; and if a church falling back on its reserved rights, its extreme powers, says: "We will have nothing to do with other churches, we will elect whom we please to be our minister, and we will turn him away when we please," we say, "Very well, only you don't ride in our troop, that's all.” (Leonard Bacon, "Report of the Committee on Church Polity" in Debates and Proceedings of the National Council of Congregational Churches Held at Boston, Mass., June 14­24, 1865, American Congregational Association, 1866, p. 452.)

In other words, we’re all in this together and on every level.

Thus, the operative term here is the communion of the churches, which makes them mutually accountable. What we need is what could be called Congregationalism D, a re-founding of the NACCC, that would express the relational nature of the church. Just as local churches are brought into being by individuals entering into covenant relationship under the guidance of the Spirit, an association is a covenant community of covenant communities. The relationship, however, must be cyclic rather than hierarchical, since each local church fully incarnates the reality of the church universal.

The cyclic relationship of the churches reaches first to the churches of the vicinity or region for fellowship. Here the churches would serve each other for the purpose of authenticating themselves and the clergy called to serve them. The regional association would also provide a venue for the “self-care” needed by churches, as well as by their ministers. The second cycle of relationship would be to the churches in their regional associations across the country in a national association. This cycle of fellowship would allow for the accomplishment of tasks or services achievable only by cooperation in a larger body. Within this proposal,

distinct from the current approach, the regional associations are included in the organizational structure.

The cyclic understanding is based upon Henry Martyn Dexter's notion of Congregational polity as an ellipse with two foci: the independence of the local church and the mutual friendship and helpful co-working of all local churches. True Congregational church life must cycle between the two foci, drawing the covenanted believers that constitute it into ever-closer relationship. This cyclical understanding does not see the regional or national associations as expressions of church. Rather, they are simply venues for the sharing of fellowship and mutual service. These associational organizations exist only to enable the articulation of the completeness and autonomy of the gathered, covenanted community of faith.

“Has the NA failed?” That question was used to oppose the 1988 restructuring proposal. The better question would be: “Has it succeeded?” The reality is that rather than continuing Congregationalism, we’ve made a new form of independent churches instead. The reality is that we’ve been trying to serve God and each other with structures never meant to do what we have them do. The reality is that almost half of our member churches see no value in being in fellowship with us and are, essentially, really independent churches. That is not what was meant to happen.

The story of continuing Congregationalism may have started in Detroit, Wauwatosa and Cheyenne, but it can’t stop there. We don’t live in 1620. Neither do we live in 1955 or 1961, or 1988. It’s now past time to take a long, hard look at our founding, at our structure and then look to our future. We are more, and deserve more, than a “holding action.” We have not failed, but neither have we succeeded, and it’s time to find the Way out of the box we made for ourselves.

the Rev. SteveN a. peay, ph.d., is Senior Minister of the First Congregational Church of Wauwatosa, Wis. Engaged in promoting scholarship on Congregationalism in the U.S. and internationally, he is a founding member of the Institute for Congregational Studies and serves as its president. He also began the biennial Congregational

Symposium and serves on the faculty of the Boston Seminar in Congregational History and Polity, sponsored by the Congregational Foundation for Theological Studies.

MaKing cHurcH worK: getting tHe na out of tHe Box

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DDr.r. MMargaargarret Bendet Bendrrothoth Executive Director of the American Congregational Association, overseer of the Congregational Library in Boston and an historian of American religion

MMr.r. FFrank Decrank Deckkererkkerkk Author of an upcoming book on the influential membership of Plymouth Church during the tenure of Henry Ward BeecherWard BeecherW

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RReevv..vv.vv D D.. D.. r.r.William FillebWilliam Fillebrroownwn Minister of the Chiltonville Congregational Church, Plymouth, Massachusetts, and former moderator of the NACCC

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RReevv..vv.vv D D.. D.. r.r. St Str.r. Str.r. eevven en PPeeaayyaayaa Senior Minister of the First Congregational Church, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, Wteacher in the Institute for Congregational Studies and leader in the Theological Commission of the International Congregational Fellowship and the American Congregational Association

RReevv..vv.vv .. .. AAnthonthonny y RRobinsonobinson Church consultant and author of eight books including the national best seller TransfoTransfoT rming rming rCongrCongrCong egational Culturegational Cultur rerer

RReevv..vv.vv D D.. D.. r.r. Ka Kar.r. Kar.r. rren Fisher en Fisher YYounounYYounYY ggerer Managing Director/Richards Civil War Era CenteWar Era CenteW r, Managing Editor, Managing Editor r, r, r Civil War War WHistoryryr , and Assistant Professor of History, Pennsylvania y, Pennsylvania yState University

National Association of Congregational Christian Churches

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12

getting tHe na out of tHe Box

getting regional associations

out of tHe Box

Associational life for Congregational Christ ian churches is too often on life support. Viewed from an

historical perspective that is much like saying, “You’re in pretty good shape but your heart is giving out.”

Independency was largely forced upon our churches in the New World by circumstance of geography. Even the trip down congested Massachusetts Route 3 is enough to remind us how far it is from Plymouth to Boston. Yet, very soon the churches, while clinging to the principle and practice of autonomy, joined together in fellowship.

This was a practical thing, too. How was a new Congregational church to be formed? Who would recognize a Church of Christ as “Congregational”? Who would be qualified to be recognized by the neighbors as a minister of a Congregational church? To whom would a church turn for assistance in time of need?

For a long time there remained a blend of organized fellowship bodies (associations) and ad hoc ecclesiastical councils of the vicinage. Skipping over some fascinating history of schisms on theological grounds, we observe that essentially between 1629 (the Salem establishment) and 1871 (formation of the National Council) the fellowship life of the churches exclusively resided in the associations and conferences. There was no national gathering of ecclesiastical bodies and, even after 1871, though the national body drew its voting delegates from the associations and conferences, it merely acted as the recording agent of those who were reported to it by the associations as Congregational churches or ministers.

In both the National Council of the Congregational Churches (1871-1931) and the General Council of Congregational and Christian Churches (1931-c.1957), the associations and conferences retained their own autonomy. They were the authors of their own organization, the stewards of their own resources, and voluntary participants in the national life because that participation enhanced their effectiveness in ministry.

The Oscar Maurer Manual of the Congregational Chris­tian Churches was the descriptive manual known by the founders of the National Association. Let’s take a fundamental example of the 1950s polity. Maurer writes: “A church that is not a member of an association may be a church of Jesus Christ and it may be Congregational Christian in its form of organization; but unless it belongs to such a body as an association, it does not belong to the denomination and is not recognized in law as of the denomination.”

Likewise, some form of ministerial membership in the association had come to be common. Associations determined the methods and means whereby they would grant membership to ministers, beyond the local pastor’s capacity to be a representative from the pastor’s church. Paraphrasing Maurer: A minister that is not a member of an association may be a minister of Jesus Christ and the minister may be serving a Congregational Christian church; but unless the minister belongs to such a body as an association, the minister does not belong to the denomination and is not recognized in law as of the denomination.

oouut of tt of tHHee Box Boxee Boxee

by Lloyd Hall

13

The culture which had grown around American Congregationalism was such that an active and purposeful association was critical. This was the culture in which the founders had been reared and which provided the foundational understanding of the way that Congregationalism was done.

It is often argued, validly I think, that with the birth of the Christian Church, Judaism did not remain on track with a side branch departing but, rather, that there is a fork in the development in which Rabbinical Judaism and Christianity proceed on parallel tracks (certainly after 70 C.E.), both carrying elements of the preceding religion but neither being what it was. So, in the mid-1950s American Congregationalism experienced just such a development. The United Church of Christ (UCC) with the modifying pressure of Evangelical and Reformed presbyterianism is not what the preceding Congregationalism was — nor does it intend to be. But the neo-Congregationalism that emerged with the National Association is not precisely what it was, either. A dear and respected colleague was shocked when I said that the way we are doing Congregationalism is “a Congregationalism that never was.”

If an active associational life was the expectation of the founders, how did it happen that our present fellowship life is so different? Most of our associations are not organized to fulfill any purpose beyond spiritual and educational enrichment and to provide gatherings for the clergy and devoted laity. Not that those are unimportant. They are very important. But who is answering the basic questions of recognition? Who is staffing the front line in support, counsel and care? Who is watching after the “good name” of Congregational Churches in your area/region?

For many years it was the hope, and for many the expectation, that we would see associations formed and organized as we had known them previously. That rarely happened. Where it did, the churches were in relatively close proximity to one another and of a sufficient number to enable the organization. As in the past, the associations (also the Conference in Michigan, the Council in Maine, and the by-other-name “Fellowships”) were autonomous, with no structural relationship to the national body.

One exacerbating factor that delayed the formation of associations of churches and/or ministers was the need to find a home for a fairly large number of individuals who were faithful to the historic Congregational way but found themselves as members of churches that had voted to become part of the UCC. Many early fellowships provided for membership by church, minister or individual, thus seriously weakening their ability to speak to or with the churches. The years have largely solved that problem

and the local (regional) bodies are now primarily composed of churches, or churches and ministers. These associations could resume their historic responsibilities.

With churches widely separated from one another in some parts of the country, the opportunities for meaningful fellowship were limited. The optimism of the founders that “the advance in transportation and communication is such that churches a continent apart are now as near together as the contiguous churches of yesteryear” proved to be a dream as yet unfulfilled.

The churches looked to the NACCC to fill the role abdicated by the associations. But the documents, practice, and structure of the national body prevent it. When it was pointed out that the requirements to apply for membership demanded that a church “be in fellowship with sister Congregational Christian Churches” (a technical condition understood by the founders to be membership in a local association), the NACCC sought to find a workable solution. Too many associations were organized to avoid the responsibility of recognition and, in fact, looked to membership in the NACCC as the “credential” for association membership – a complete 180-degree turn from the expectation and the intent of the language. Seeking a compromise, the Executive Committee agreed to regard “fellowship” as having been accomplished if a member church agreed to “sponsor” the applicant – though to date no guidelines, expectations or certification for sponsorship have been established.

In summary, we have left a fundamental element of our polity — the only one that speaks specifically and constructively to fellowship — to flounder. Until we expect our churches to live up to that responsibility, and until the NACCC dares to expect that expression of fellowship from the associations, the situation will remain dangerously weakening.

the Rev. dR. lloyd m. hall, JR. is Senior Minister of Plymouth Congregational Church in Lansing, Mich., and historian of the National Association. A former chair of the Executive Committee and NACCC Moderator, he has served local fellowships as Executive Secretary of the Maine Council, and

as Moderator of the Washington County (Maine) Association, New England Regional Fellowship, Howell Davies Association (Ill.), Midwest Association (Ill.­Ind.), Wisconsin Congregational Ministers Association, and the Wisconsin Congregational Association.

Modern Pilgrims Gathered in Plymouth

We sojourned from around the world to the place of our American genesis. Amid the history, we took stock of the present and envisioned our future.

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“O God of the galaxies and the millennia.

Lord of space and time, in whose presence the generations of humankind rise and pass away…” intoned the Rev. Arvel M. Steece as he offered the constituting prayer at the opening session of the 54th Annual Meeting of the Nat-ional Association of Congrega-tional Christian Churches in Plymouth, Mass. There, modern pilgrims from around our nation and world gathered at the place the original Pilgrims forged the Congregational Way on the North American continent 388 years previously.

The meeting began Saturday, June 21, in Plymouth’s Memorial Hall. The Rev. William Fillebrown, moderator of this year’s gathering, opened the business session by saying that the host committee had “prayed, planned and worked for many months” to make the gathering a success. The host committee had met 26 times, faced hundreds of details, and f inally, Bill said, “Here we are. Here you are. And we are grateful.”

We were there, indeed. And over the next four days participants were treated to a plethora of meetings, worship services, programs, activities, and fellowship events. The theme of the meeting was grounded in both our history and our future: Thy Will Be Done; The Pilgrimage Continues.

According to the credentials report, 464 attendees gathered from 177 member churches. They came from 32 states as well as Argentina, Cameroon, Kenya, India and Mexico. The top five states represented were Michigan (59 attendees), Massachusetts (58), Wisconsin (48), California (45) and Maine (35). Not counted in those statistics were an estimated 600 or so members of our local churches in and around Plymouth who came for Sunday worship, some staying for the afternoon activities.

Pre-Meeting Activity

For some, the meeting started earlier. The Leadership Team, being the various boards and committees of

the association, met for one or two days before the general meeting to gather.

For those not on the Leadership Team who wanted to ground themselves spiritually, the Rev. Dr. Steven Peay lead a mini-retreat on Saturday morning with short presentations, activities and meditation, all done in silence.

The meeting officially opened with the first business meeting on Saturday afternoon. Business continued in sessions on Monday and Tuesday. (See a summary of the business meetings on page 18.)

Though Congregationalists gather at the Annual Meeting to conduct the business of our National Association, business certainly wasn’t the only thing on the agenda in Plymouth.

Congregational and Bible Lectures

As in most Annual Meetings, there are certain traditions we look forward to, notably the Congregational

Lecture, a position of high honor for one who has been deeply involved in walking the Congregational Way. The speaker this year was the Rev. Phil Jackson, Senior Minister of First Congregational Church, Yarmouth Port, Mass., as he addressed pressing concerns in our wider fellowship. Look for a selection from his speech in the next issue of The Congregationalist.

The other major speaker was the Rev. D av id C. Fisher, Ph.D., of Plymouth Church of the P i l g r i m s i n Brooklyn, N.Y., who of fered this year’s Bible Lectures. He also preached the sermon at the Sunday morning service. Dr. Fisher offers a brief summary of his talks on page 22.

Other Annual Meeting traditions were all the various breakfasts, lunches, and meetings of various interest groups within the NA. Of note to readers of this magazine was the Editor’s Roundtable lunch. The Editor’s Roundtable is a group of those who give $100 or more each year to help finance The Congregationalist. They gathered in a sold-out luncheon to dialogue with Transition Editor Samuel Schaal.

Sam opened the gathering by extending his deep thanks for the continued support of the magazine from those in the room during this time of transition. The largest task in front of us, he said, was increasing circulation. The magazine is sent to barely 9,000 readers among an estimated total

Rev. Steece opens meeting

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Rev. Jackson, Congregational Lecturer and Rev. Fisher, Bible Lecturer

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Rev. Fillebrown, 2008 Moderator

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2008 annual Meeting news

adult population of 64,000 in our churches. With such a small circulation, he said, “our magazine is not really our magazine — it is not a primary means of communication within the diversity of our churches.” He and Publisher Lisa Dembkowski, working with the Executive Committee and Tom Richard, are beginning to cast a vision of increasing the circulation and the viability of the magazine.

Lisa’s duties are to manage the business of the magazine, including advertising. She noted that ads have increased. “We have a new rate card that reflects industry standards and practice. However, because of postal regulations related to our mailing status that limit how many ads we can have, we will never be able to support the magazine solely with advertising revenue, but it certainly helps.”

Lisa mentioned how in seminary she ran across a complete collection of The Congregationalist in the Franklin Trask Library at Andover Newton Theological School. “To stand in the stacks at the library amid hundreds of volumes of The Congregationalist is to stand amid history, our history. It would be a shame if that historical record were to end with us. And so I am inspired to do what I can to help keep the magazine going.”

Worship was Central

Throughout the Annual Meeting, worship and prayer were central to the experience. Each day started and

ended with a small worship event and a chapel was open 24 hours a day. In addition, a 28-person prayer team had been actively praying for the success of this Annual Meeting both before and during the event. So attendees of the Annual Meeting, like members of the early church, were given ample opportunity in “constantly devoting themselves to prayer” (Acts 1:14).

We gathered on Sunday morning for the “big” worship service with communion that featured Bible lecturer David Fisher as the preacher. Many of the area NA churches closed their meetinghouses for the day and worshiped with the larger NA body in Memorial Hall that perhaps doubled what would have been the attendance. Some local guests stayed through the afternoon to attend the Rediscovery sessions on a wide array of subjects, from youth ministry to global mission, and from the Cambridge Platform to ministerial identity and purpose, among other topics.

Though the focus of the Annual Meeting was the his-toric context of Ply mouth, it was, as usual, an international m e e t i n g . Many of our missionaries were there and greeted meeting goers in various receptions and events, including Harding Stricker from Asociacion Civil Cristiana Congregational in Argentina, Jim Powell from Happy Life Children’s Home, Tom and Sharon Gossett from Indian Trails, Charles Sagay from the Mission School of Hope in Cameroon, Ella Smith from the Morgan Scott Project, the Pendletons representing Pan American Institute in Mexico, Geoffrey Lipale, from Pilgrim’s Presence in Kenya, Lee Unger and William McClendon from Piney Woods Country School, Loring Carpenter from Seafarer’s Friend, and Amy Firek and Donn Ed from Hosanna Industries.

Special Experiences

The setting in historic Plymouth offered opportunities for special presentations, worship services and

experiences. On Saturday evening the host committee offered a program that began with songs from the Glory Land Parson Band with the Revs. Bill Comeau, David Hammet, David Milam, Bill Fillebrown and Pastor Don Bliss (who also had a storytelling segment).

Richard Pickering from Plimoth Plantation engaged the audience, going into his portrayal as a 17th century Pilgrim. The highlight of the evening was the presentation of excerpts from “Song on the Wind,” reflecting the story of the early English settlers and the indigenous natives of our continent and the moving presentation of the “Praying Indians.”

On Sunday evening, many gathered at First Parish Church for a Healing and Reconciliation Service which focused on the need for healing of fractured relationships between descendants of our country’s N a t i v e A m e r i c a n s and European sett lers. First Parish, our nation’s original Pilgrim church, traces its origins

Editor’s Roundtable

Sunday worship filled Memorial Hall

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New settlers and natives

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to 1606 when dissenters from t he C hu rc h of England banded together in Scrooby, England, before the historic 1620 voyage to this continent. In 1800 the church declared itself Unitarian theologically and later separated from the Congregational fellowship, as did many other historic Puritan churches, and is today a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations.

First Parish graciously allowed the NA use of their meetinghouse for this service. In his sermon, the Rev. Dr. Arthur Rouner, Jr., lamented that we have not “dared to live” as we should and expressed regret for “the wounds that we on our side inflicted.” It was also a time of hope, a movement toward reconciliation, as expressed in one of the Biblical lessons that evening, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV).

Stations of the Rock

On Monday afternoon, a historical experience was offered in the “Stations of the Rock,” where walkers

with a “passport” booklet in hand strolled around to significant historical sites. Gathering first at the Mayflower II, an exact replica of the original Mayflower, participants then strolled over to Plymouth Rock, notable historical monuments, houses and meetinghouses, before completing the journey at Burial Hill, the oldest cemetery in Plymouth.

While the “stations” was a new way to experience his-tory, that eve ning we participated in an old and traditional rite: t he Pi l g r im P r o g r e s s . Participants gathered, many dressed in period Puritan costumes, representative of the 52 Pilgrims who survived the harsh winter of 1620-1621.

We progressed down North Street, past Plymouth Rock, up Leyden Street, to Burial Hill, the site of the first fort and meetinghouse. Those standing along the sidelines joined in the Progress, reminiscent of gathering and going to worship in Plimouth during the 1600s. Once they arrived at the summit, overlooking the harbor in Plymouth, we worshiped in the historic Congregational tradition — women on one side and the men on the other, lining out the Psalms.

Later that night we honored the Rev. Dr. Donald Olsen for his service to the NA with a reception. He had earlier left his position as Associate Executive, Dean of the Congregational Foundation for Theological Studies (CFTS), Secretary for Ministerial Development and Information Services, to take the pulpit of Plymouth Congregational Church in Wichita, Kan.

On Tuesday, the final afternoon of the meeting, participants were bused to Plimoth Plantation, a living history museum which portrays the European and native cultures that came together in 1620. There, an authentic 17th century village is maintained, complete with actors who stay in character as they engage visitors.

F o l l o w i n g the afternoon of walking around Plimoth, p a r t i c i p a n t s attended the CFTS worship service which h o n o r e d g r a d u a t e s Michael Fales, Seth Jones, Amanda Ladegard and Jonathan Roach. It was a fitting way to ease into the end of our meeting — with an eye to our future through our seminary graduates who will continue ministry on the Congregational Way. Supper followed with a traditional Thanksgiving dinner and entertainment by Back Eddy Bluegrass Band.

Then it was back to our hotels for a night’s rest before embarking for home the next day, to await next year’s Annual Meeting in the Milwaukee area June 27-30 where we will boldly “do a new thing.”

For more information on the 2009 meeting, go to www.NANewThing.com. The 2009 Host Committee is already at work to welcome you!

Healing and reconciliation service

The Pilgrim Progress

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Top: Fales, JonesBottom: Ladegard, Roach

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Transition Editor Samuel Schaal was assisted in this report by outgoing Executive Committee Secretary Sue Carter, a legion of folks who answered last minute questions, the Revs. Kathy Rust and Dawn Carlson who were where

the editor was not and so could report on various activities, and especially photographers Larry Sommers and Rev. Barry Szymanski who roamed the meeting with camera in hand, knowing pictures are often more worthy than words.

saTurday June 21

Executive Secretary Rev. Dr. Tom Richard and Associate Executive Secretary Rev. John Carson greeted the assembly. Diana David, Branching Out Campaign Administrator and Director of Development gave the Branching Out campaign report. (See page 20.)

The Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Mauro was introduced as the new Dean of the Center for Congregational Leadership. (See page 20.)

Bicycling in down the aisle ringing the handlebar bell, the Rev. Craig Walker completed his Pilgrim Ride of 1,200 miles from Milwaukee to Plymouth. Pam Smith, Chair of the Congregational Foundation, announced that the ride garnered $10,000 in pledges that will benefit the Joe Polhemus Endowment Fund to support The CongregaTionalisT magazine.

Edith Bartley, Chair of the Membership and Procedures Committee, presented a motion to accept five new churches into the NACCC fellowship which were accepted unanimously:

Lemon Grove Community Church, Lemon Grove, Calif.Stafford Springs Congregational Church, Stafford Springs, Conn.The Congregational Church of the Villages, Lady Lake, Fla.Freedom Congregational Church, Freedom, MaineChristian Union Church, West Groton, Mass.

Monday June 23

Vision Reports were given by chairs of various leadership groups. The Rev. Dr. Lloyd Hall, historian, discussed the Executive Committee’s earlier resolution from their meeting before the annual meeting, supporting the Center Congregational Church of Atlanta, Georgia, in fighting a lawsuit with the church’s local conference of the United Church of Christ which is seeking control of the church’s property after the church left the UCC fellowship.

There was discussion about the selling of the NA Oak Creek property. There are concerns about whether we need such a large building, as we are using about one-third of the space, and also about the environmental sustainability of the property, given the building’s dying and dysfunctional systems and deferred maintenance. It could cost as much as $500,000 to bring the building up to current environmental codes. The Executive Committee is merely investigating the positives and negatives of selling and has not decided to sell.

The 2008-2009 budget was presented with a proposed deficit of $47,000. The fiscal year for the Association is April 1 to March 31. The budget was approved at the business meeting the next day.

The Rev. Beth Bingham gave the report of the nominating committee with the following officers who were elected on Tuesday:

Moderator: The Rev. Dr. Lottie Jones Hood, First Congregational Church, Detroit, Mich.Moderator-elect: Sherry Glab, Pilgrim Congregational Church, Pomona, Calif.Secretary: Diane Williams, Heritage Congregational Church, Madison, Wis.Treasurer: Jeffery Dillon, Faith Community Church, Franklin, Wis.

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Summary of Business Sessions

Gathering at the Radisson Hotel

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Historian: The Rev. Lloyd M. Hall Jr., Plymouth Congregational Church, Lansing, Mich.Credentials Committee: Ed Millar, Huntington Park Congregational Church, Rosemead, Calif.Executive Committee: Randy Asendorf, Congregational Church of Sun City, Sun City, Ariz.; the Rev. Joan Margaret Laska, New Faith Congregational Church, Los Angeles; the Rev. William Rafuse, Rapid River Congregational Church, Rapid River, Mich.

Claudia Kniefel, chair of the Nominations and Appointment Subcommittee of the Executive Committee presented the names of Leadership Team committees, commissions and divisions to be voted on Tuesday. Nominations were also announced for the Nominating Committee.

Last year’s proposal to amend the Articles and Bylaws to delete the limited tenure of executives was to have been brought to the floor this year for a vote, but that needed to be delayed one more year since the notice to churches was not sent out in time. This vote will take place next year.

Don Strugis of the Executive Committee presented a “fee for service” proposal, where churches that did not contribute the Fair Share amount ($10 per member per year) would be charged for some services of the National Association. It came to a vote on Tuesday, when it was defeated.

Tuesday June 24

Various churches and individuals were honored for excellence. Alan Seltzer of Communication Services Committee presented awards to First Congregational Church of Mukwonago, Wis., for best Sunday bulletin; to First Congregational Church of St. John’s, Mich., for best newsletter and to First Congregational Church of Zephyrhills, Fla., for best website.

Liz Philbrook of Church Services Commission presented the Christian Education Achievement Award to Donna Sanford of Thomaston, Conn., and the Donna Alexander Award to Elizabeth Walter of Piedmont, Ga.

The Rev. Wendy Van Tassell, chair of the Executive Committee, presented the 2008 Executive Committee Citation to the Rev. Mildred Gardner of Whittier, Calif.

From the Division for Ministry, the Harry Butman Award was presented to the Rev. William Rafuse and the Rev. Bobbie Chapman. The Jeanette Butman Award was presented to the Rev. Wendy Van Tassell.

Various votes were taken on items presented at Monday’s session, as noted.

The 2009 moderator, the Rev. Dr. Lottie Jones Hood, announced the theme of the 2009 Annual Meeting in Milwaukee: Behold! I am doing a new thing… do you not perceive it? (Isaiah 43:19).

The Rev. Dr. Tom Richard installed the members of the newly elected Leadership Team. The assembly then honored the Rev. William Fillebrown for services as the 2008 moderator and the Rev. Wendy Van Tassell for services as chair of the Executive Committee. Chuck Kantner, chair of the Host Committee, accepted a certificate honoring the Massachusetts Association of Congregational Christian Churches for hosting this meeting.

Gavels were passed to Dr. Jones Hood as the 2009 Moderator and to the Rev. Neil Hunt as the 2008-2009 chair of the Executive Committee.

This is only a summary and not the official minutes of the meeting.

Rev. Dr. Lottie Jones Hood, 2009 Moderator

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Sturgis presents fiscal proposal

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Praise band between sessions

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Rev. Van Tassell awarded

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Branching Out Campaign Bears Fruit

At the Annual Meeting, we were updated on the Branching Out capital campaign with a video

presentation that highlighted:

• RSI consultant Bernie Johnson described how the campaign is raising funds through four approaches: the national offering, receptions for individual investors, local church capital campaigns, and campaigns led by leadership churches. With pledges now totaling almost $2.5 million, the campaign is midway to reaching its $5 million goal and has now raised more money than any campaign in the NA’s history.

• We have already made progress on two initiatives. Dr. Donald Tuski, President of Olivet College in Michigan, described the creation of the Center for Congregational Leadership (campaign initiative No. 1). The Center, located at Olivet and operated by the NA, will be home to the Congregational Foundation for Theological Studies (CFTS). He introduced the Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Mauro, the new Dean of the Center and CFTS, selected by a search committee.

• Executive Secretary Dr. Thomas Richard announced that the Fund for Congregational Growth and Renewal (campaign initiative No. 2) will receive a major gift of approximately $300,000 from the Hyde Park Congrega-tional Church Fund. Although the Hyde Park church in California closed several years ago, its congregation practiced resurrection theology by using the proceeds from the sale of their property to support various Congrega-

tional ministries. By designating their remaining funds to the Branching Out campaign to help build and renew Congregational churches, they will ensure that the Hyde Park name will be remembered.

• Under the leadership of Dr. Helen Gierke, the national offering has had 38 participating member churches. As long as the campaign is in progress, churches may continue to participate.

• While the campaign continues, RSI, our stewardship counsel, is offering member churches discounts of 30-50 percent on their Revealed stewardship enhancement program. Revealed is a 30-day, five-lesson curriculum that helps church members of all ages understand the principles of using their time, talent and treasure for the Lord’s purposes.

We need your help identifying prospective investors to the campaign. And if your church would like to participate in the national offering, or if you need more information on RSI’s Revealed program, contact me at 800-262-1620, ext. 25, or email ddavid@naccc.org.

diaNa david

Campaign Administrator

Dr. Mauro is New Dean

The buzz this year throughout NA land has been, Who will be the new dean? Now we know — the

Rev. Dr. Elizabeth D. Mauro was announced as the Dean of the newly established Center for Congregational Leadership at Olivet College, completing our executive team with Revs. Richard and Carson. Unlike the other executives, she will make her office at the campus in Olivet, Mich.

(l to r) Video showcased campaign success; Bernie Johnson, RSI; Diana David, Campaign Administrator

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There she will assist the Congregational Foundation for Theological Studies (CFTS) in training seminarians for pastorates in Congregational churches and in administering the Lay Ministry Training Program. Additionally, she will develop training and educational opportunities for churches and lay leaders to help strengthen our witness in America’s rapidly changing culture.

Betsey received her Bachelor’s degree in Geology from the University of New Hampshire, her Master of Divinity degree from Earlham School of Religion, and her Doctor of Ministry degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. Ordained in the First Congregational Church of Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1987, Betsey served churches in Connecticut and Maine. She is a graduate of CFTS where she was recognized for her commitment to Congregationalism with the John Claxton Award for Congregational excellence. She has volunteered widely for the NACCC and was moderator for the 2001 Annual Meeting in East Lansing, Mich.

Betsey is married to Paul Smith, a custom fine-furniture designer and builder. Their daughter is Sari Mauro, a student at Elizabethtown College.

Dr. Mauro, New Dean

In God’s Eternal Memory

Historian Lloyd Hall gave the necrology report of those who died in the following year after serving among us with distinction. Our churches are blessed for God’s gifts working through them.

Nancy CookeThomas Edison Congregational ChurchFt. Myers, Fla.July 14, 2007

The Rev. William Robert MurrayFirst Congregational ChurchCeredo, W.V.Oct. 19, 2007

The Rev. Dr. Ernest E. GeistFirst Congregational ChurchMichigan City, Ind.Nov. 1, 2007

Laoma SanfordFirst Congregational ChurchClarkston, Mich.Nov. 18, 2007

James M. KendallNorth Congregational ChurchFarmington Hills, Mich.Dec. 7, 2007

Jean Phillip Karr, M.D.Arbor Grove Congregational ChurchJackson, Mich.Dec. 10, 2007

The Rev. Neil H. SwansonFirst Congregational ChurchWauwatosa, Wis.Jan. 10, 2008

Janet Bley TomanCongregational ChurchBound Brook, N.J.Jan. 18, 2008

Virginia AdamsFirst Congregational ChurchMarshalltown, IowaFeb. 20, 2008

Lauri Beth OdorFirst Congregational ChurchSpencer, IowaMarch 7, 2008

Marian Elisabeth RickelFirst Congregational ChurchWayne, Mich.April 16, 2008

Raymond A JohnsonCongregational ChurchRockland, MaineApril 23, 2008

Garith KuesterPilgrim Congregational ChurchGreen Bay, Wis.May 4, 2008

Rev. Dr. George W. Brown, Jr.Live Oak, Fla. May 11, 2008

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I: Is The Lord Among Us or Not?Our association and our churches stand at a unique

crossroads in history. We are entering a new era with a variety of names: Postmodern, Post Christ ian, Post Denominational. Those names attempt to describe a massive cultural shift already underway.

The consequences of this cultural shift are evident. The clergy dropout rate is staggering: lay leaders are burning out, 90 percent of American churches are in decline or barely surviving and American Christianity is fragmented.

So we are in a crisis. But such crises are always opportunities and God has a habit of dropping into history in moments of crisis. Shortly after the Exodus, God’s people found themselves in a terrible wilderness — tired, hungry and thirsty, their frustration finally boiled over into rebellion. They blamed Moses for the mess and Moses blamed the people.

The real issue beneath their fear was theological, Exodus 17:7 reports that the people wondered, “Is the Lord among us or not?” That’s a good question. It’s a question the authors of the Bible often ask. It’s a perennial human question. It’s our question.

And it’s always a church question. All church leaders ask that question and lay leaders ask it, too. New members often ask me that question. Some answer “no” and leave the church or the ministry. And yet we continue to gather Sunday after Sunday in the promise so dear to our Congregational ancestors, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am in your midst.”

We organize our churches around that promise. If Christ is present, everything necessary to be the church is present. And if Christ is present, any congregation has potential beyond mere survival. Christ’s promise is much more than church polity. If true, we have a spiritual dynamic that transforms congregations. The gathered people of God are the intersection of time and eternity.

Christ’s promised presence is the need in our time. A new generation longs to experience God’s presence and love. Our churches need to claim the profound reality that lies at the center of our ancient tradition: The Lord is among us.

II: The Kingdom of GodOur Annual Meeting theme, “Thy will be done…” comes

from the Lord’s Prayer, part of the Sermon on the Mount. It’s an elaboration of the previous phrase, “Thy Kingdom come.” That places our conversation at the center of the ministry and teaching of Jesus, a good place to be.

It also places us at the center of the great Congregational distinctive: congregations organized around the presence of Christ. Every local congregation possesses the capacity to experience God and know God. The Lord is among us. Our meetinghouses are sacred space. Christ is present.

The early church was convinced they were in touch with something beyond themselves. They named it “the Spirit of Christ,” “the Spirit of God,” or the “power of Christ.” They dared claim that we are the residence of God.

That biblical witness is the source of the Puritan dream for the church. This bold ecclesiology goes beyond the theological boundaries that divide us.

The Bible Lecturesby Rev. David C. Fisher

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Christ’s promise is a unifying experience that transcends theological boundaries.

Jesus’ life and ministry promised this dynamic experience. His teaching centered in the Kingdom of God. His hearers knew what that meant:

• God is the creator and sovereign of the world despite appearances.

• The world is not the way it’s supposed to be.

• From the beginning, God set out to repair the world.

• God’s people are God’s partners in healing God’s world.

• Someday God’s Kingdom will prevail.

N.T. Wright puts it well, “The Kingdom of God is what things would be like if God was running the show.” That Kingdom calls out for a church. And not any church will do.

III: The Character of the Christian Church: A Functional Ecclesiology

It is not enough to have a correct theology of the church. We must embody God’s character revealed in Jesus Christ. The Sermon on the Mount begins with beatitudes that describe Christian character. It is radical behavior created by faith that creates an alternative community.

This new community lives out of the grace of God and the compassion of Jesus. Grace suggests that our churches be gracious churches, where God loves and accepts us unconditionally, where forgiveness has no boundaries, where God cannot love us more than God loves us now. That is the astonishing grace of God. This suggests our response to that grace: What if we treated each other like God treats us? Jesus’ compassion, as reflected in the Gospel, then requires congregations with hearts as large as the heart of God.

An ancient confession of faith in Exodus 34:6-7 puts it well: “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for the thousandth generation…” Jesus Christ came to show us God’s compassion in the flesh. He lived it and taught it.

The parable of the Prodigal Son turns on the compassion of the father. The father, a portrait of God, never gave up on his son. He waited for him, watched for him and when he saw him, Jesus said, “he had compassion and ran to him.”

The parable of The Good Samaritan also turns on compassion. A man was robbed, beaten and left for dead. Several of the man’s fellow citizens ignored him and passed by quickly. But his enemy, a Samaritan, had compassion on him.

The best strategy for congregations in times like these is to become congregations that are grace-full and compassionate. What if our neighbors said, “Let’s go to the Congregational Church. I hear God is among them!” Or, perhaps more likely they’d say, “I hear that down at the Congregational church they act like Christians!”

What if?

Rev. david C. FiSheR, ph.d., is Minister of Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims in Brooklyn, N.Y.

�e First Congregational Church of Saugatuck, Michigan is seeking a Senior Pastor to serve our congregation of diverse residents along the shores of Lake Michigan. A�ectionately known as the “Church on the Hill” in the picturesque resort community of Saugatuck, this historic congregation was founded in 1834. If you share our vision of celebrating God in vibrant, participatory worship through prayer, music and proclamation of His Word, please send your resume to P.O. Box 633, Saugatuck, MI 49453 or email cong633@verizon.net.

Sail Onto Our Shores…

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2008 annual Meeting news

The younger folks among us — the National Association Pilgrim Fellowship (NAPF) for those who completed grades eight through 12, and the Heritage of Pilgrim Endeavor (HOPE) for high school graduates through age 27 — met at Stonehill College in Easton, Mass.

We are the family of God!by Jenny Rouble

Warning! If you missed out on the NAPF 2008 meeting this year then you are going to want to make

sure that you don’t next year for the following reasons.

Our theme was “I Am Third.” We put God first, others second, and ourselves third, for a mission experience that was not only memorable but pleasing to God. We went into Brockton, Mass., for two and a half days of mission work in homeless shelters, delivering furniture to those in low-income housing, helping in daycare centers and much more.

We had an amazing speaker from our own NA family, Jeff Lindsey. He helped us understand what being third really is through his stories and his insight. For that and all the fun he shared with us we would like to thank him.

As I look back on our first NAPF to be all missions, I can’t help but want to sing our theme song “We Are the Family of God.” Our youth across the nation made us very proud and we extended our family beyond our NA family, to the entire community of Brockton. I would like to thank all of the counselors for giving of their time and energy, and the youth for their endless energy for God!

The Christian Prescriptionby Kristin Lewis

What would you bring to the picnic? I would bring apples. That was the start to the HOPE 2008

meeting as we sat around, laughing and playing a game of stating your name and what you would bring to the picnic.

HOPE was a time for fun. But it also was a time for faith, friends, learning and laughing. It was even a time for tears. But most importantly it was a time for growing in your faith.

The conference provided opportunities and ways to grow in faith that many people don’t have on a day-to-day life. The program allowed us to sit and listen to the message — the message of detoxifying our lives and getting back on track with the help of the Christian Prescription. With the help of Mark Tanner’s words, we then went to discuss and reflect our thoughts in small groups.

Another great way to learn and grow is through mission work. This year we spent a whole day doing work for others in the name of the Lord. Our group split up into two. One group went to a local Congregational church to help with painting and work that needed to be done. The other group went to a house that belonged to an elderly lady named Dotty. At her house, we spent the day trimming her vegetation, and scraping all the old paint off of her house so we could repaint it.

Put together mission work, the programs, and add worship and fellowship, and you get HOPE. And perhaps what you come away with is even more amazing than the conference itself. You come away with a stronger sense of God, a deeper faith, and new friends who you know you can trust.

(l to r) Mary Brooks, Brendon Barbo and Katy Newton were some of the HOPEful participants.

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Pastorates & PulPits

College Notesby Ashley Cook Cleere

“Do we wear academic regalia?” asked Rick, a theater professor.

“No, it is very casual. People have been carrying boxes all day, so they are in shorts and T-shirts.”

We were talking about a ceremony held in the chapel every year on “Freshmen Move-In Day.” Rick’s question alludes to the paradox that shapes the afternoon. The sweaty laboriousness of unpacking masks the rite of passage that is underway as 18-year-olds climb to a new plateau of self-sufficiency. This worship service adds a touch of formality to the occasion with the aim of acknowledging the significant impact the transition has on both the students and their families. What follows is a prayer from that service, offered here on behalf of students in NACCC congregations who begin college this fall, and their families.

“God, whose love accompanies us wherever we go, and reverberates in the affection, admiration and support of family and friends, remind us that love is not confined to certain segments of life’s journey, but is endless and ongoing.

“This afternoon marks a moment when parents and children, sisters and brothers, may no longer be sleeping under the same roof, when schedules once bound by share automobiles are released from interdependence,

when favorite foods of certain sons and daughters are no longer scribbled on grocery lists. Dinner will now take place with teammates after an athletic practice, or with fellow actors and singers before a theatre or choral rehearsal. Shoes that just yesterday littered the living room floor will tonight tread the tiled corridors of residence halls.

“In the newness that is imminent, comfort those who will soon return to the places where they awoke this morning; for them, a many-months-long flurry of activity abruptly shifts into the past tense, as those they care for begin the long distance run called college.

“Encourage these new college students to pace themselves according to their talents and interests, to be good stewards of their time and energy, and to help those of us who welcome them to discern how we may best be supportive.

“Encircle us all with grace. Supply us with courage to challenge and be challenged by one another. Amen.”

the Rev. dR. aShley Cook CleeRe is Chaplain and Director of Church Relations at Piedmont College in Demorest, Ga.

Senior MinistersUnited Congregational Church

Norwich, Conn.

First Congregational ChurchPleasant Valley, Conn. 

United Church of Marco IslandMarco Island, Fla.

St Luke’s Christian Comm. ChurchMorton Grove, Ill.

First Congregational ChurchMichigan City, Ind.

Maple Hill Comm. Cong. ChurchMaple Hill, Kan.

Saunders Memorial Cong. ChurchLittle Deer Isle, Maine

Rockland Congregational ChurchRockland, Maine

Roslindale Cong. Church25 Cummins Highway Roslindale, Mass.

First Congregational ChurchSouth Egremont, Mass.

Pilgrim Congregational ChurchBloomfield Hills, Mich. (Will consider part­time)

First Congregational ChurchSaugatuck, Mich.

First Congregational ChurchWayne, Mich. 

First Congregational ChurchAshland, Neb.

Gilmanton Community ChurchGilmanton Iron Works, N.H.

Second Congregational ChurchAshtabula, Ohio 

Trinity Church of PomeroyPomeroy, Ohio 

First Congregational ChurchBeloit, Wis.

First Congregational Church

Rochester, Wis. 

Interim MinistersFirst Congregational Church

Salida, Calif.

Plymouth Congregational ChurchKenosha, Wis.

Associate MinistersLakewood Village Community Church

Long Beach, Calif.

First Congregational ChurchLos Angeles, Calif.

First Congregational Church(Minister to Youth & Families)

Hanson, Mass.

Part-Time MinistersGoshen Congregational Church

Lebanon, Conn.

Sebago Lake Cong. ChurchStandish, Maine

Candor Congregational ChurchCandor, N.Y.

Other PositionsFirst Congregational Church(Director of Christian Education)

Kingston, N.H.

Churches Outside the NACCCChurch of the Lighted Window

La Canada Flintridge, Calif.Wyben Union Church

Westfield, Mass.Margate Community Church(Minister of Children, Youth & Families)

Margate, N.J.Shandon Congregational Church

Shandon, Ohio

As of Sept.19. For more information on these positions call the NACCC office, 1­800­262­1620 or go to www.naccc.org/DFM/PastoratesAndPulpits.htm

26

Linda Miller, Editor

Cyclone Hits MyanmarCyclone Nargis, a category-four

storm, swept across southern Myanmar on May 2 and 3 leaving 134,000 people dead or missing and some 2.4 million people destitute. The storm washed away or severely damaged the stocks and fields of most of the Iriwaddy Delta’s rural households, leaving many families little to sustain them in the coming months.

Soon after, we received this message from Rev. Sa Do, of the Congregational Churches of Myanmar: “Many destitute people are coming to churches, they need food clothes, shelter. We started to share our rice with the needy people.”

Home destroyed by cyclone

“I am very worried on my mission fields as my places included most terrible places which the storm destroyed.”

“One of our preschools and church roofs have been destroyed by the storm. Now we are focusing on reconstruction issues, not only food relief. We urgently request you continue to pray for these destitute people, and many orphans.”

Preschool damaged by storm

News from the PhilippinesNannie and Awit Castillo of the National Association of Congrega­tional Churches (NACC) in the Philippines send along these two news items:

Gideon’s 300 ProjectUrgent — we need your help!

The NACC Congregational mission in the Philippines is shrinking. With the economic and financial crisis the world is experiencing today, our congregational mission is greatly affected.

Four of our local pastors have had to resign because of the meager monthly subsidy we were able to give them. We had to close our kindergarten school at the resettlement because we do not have enough funds to pay the monthly salary of our teacher. And for almost two years now we have had to give up our NACC office and temporarily transfer it to our house because we do not have enough money to pay the monthly rentals and utilities.

We have been seeking the Lord’s mind for several months now. He led us to the Book of Judges 6:7. When God’s people and Gideon asked God to deliver them from starvation because their fields and animals were ruined and ravaged by their enemies, God told Gideon (7:7) to select 300 men and through them God would rescue them from their economic debacle. Thus, we call this our Gideon’s 300 Project.

The Lord impresses upon our hearts that He can rescue us from our monthly financial predicament thru the help of at least 300 individuals, churches and groups within our congregational constituents.

Missionary society News aNd Needs

Sharing rice with other church families

27

You see, our average monthly budget is $5,500. This covers: pastors/workers subsidy, office rentals, utilities (electricity, water, telephone), government taxes, pastors’ families’ medical emergencies, monthly visits to our churches in the villages, gasoline, etc.

We will be grateful for whatever help and assistance you could extend to us in our crucial hour of need. Please help us as the Lord touches your hearts.

“Share with God’s people who are in need for this is the will of God.” (Romans 12:2, 13 NIV)

Sincerely in Christ,NaNNie, awit, aNd

SymphoNy JohN CaStillo

Our SympathiesNannie and Awit grieve the loss of their daughter, Harmony, who passed away May 29. Harmony and her husband, Joseph Reeder, lived in Jackson, Tenn. Joseph brought her remains back to the Philippines to be buried.

We are deeply in anguish but, “We have set the LORD always before us. Because He is at our right hand, we will not be shaken” (Psalm 16:8). “As for God, His way is perfect…” (Psalm 18:10).

The Lord gave our precious daughter and He has taken her away. Blessed be the name of the Lord! She was in the Lord. She lived for the Lord. She is eternally with the Lord.

In His strength and grip,NaNNie and awit

(also for SymphoNy, NiNa and meego)

One Great Hour of Sharing

There is much need in our world these days and thanks to One Great Hour of Sharing, we can help those who are suffering.

Midwest Flooding We sent $2,500 to Elkader, Iowa,

to help in the aftermath of flooding.

City of Elkader, Iowa

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

On behalf of the members of the First Congregational Church and the citizens of Elkader, Iowa, that were affected by the recent flooding of our community, I wish to extend our most sincere appreciation and thanks for your unselfish, gracious, and most generous financial contribution to assist in their recovery efforts.

In Christ’s ServiceRev. JeRRy e. ChaSe, paStoR

Typhoon Hits Philippines

Typhoon Fangshen hit the Philip-pines June 22.

Typhoon Fangshen, the Philippines

Hello everyone. Please include the Christian Mission in Far East (CMFE) in your prayer. We are experiencing flash floods due to a super typhoon. Four of our churches in Iloilo are ten feet under water. People are on top of their roofs waiting for a rescue. Many of our churches in Mindanao are experiencing the same disaster. Super typhoon Frank is threatening to hit the Luzon area including Manila today.

We appreciate your prayer and any financial assistance you can extend. Thank you.

Jaime JuliaN, Christian Mission in the Far East

We sent $2,000 of OGHS funds to CMFE for typhoon relief.

Donations to OGHS and all our missions may be forwarded to:

The Missionary Society, NACCC PO Box 288 Oak Creek, WI 53154

For a complete listing of NACCC mission projects, please go to our website at www.naccc.org and click on “Missions” or call Linda at 1-800-262-1620, ext. 13, or e-mail lmiller@naccc.org.

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