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Faithful and Welcoming Churches
Update June 4, 2007
In this monthly update, you will find information about –
- Chat Room and Prayer
Time
- General Synod
- Regional Workshops
- Vote of Corinth Reformed Church, Hickory, NC
on UCC Affiliation
- Four New FWChurches
Chat Room and Prayer Time
If you are in sympathy
with the principles of Faithful and Welcoming
Churches, and would like
to join an online conversation about the UCC, please check out our Yahoo! chat
room: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FWChurches/
You will need to apply and be approved for membership in this group.
\n This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
/a\>. \nThanks to one of our board members, there is no cost to you for participating\nin the prayer conference call.\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\" face\u003d\"Times New Roman\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12.0pt\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\n\u003cp\>\u003cu\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\" face\u003d\"Times New Roman\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12.0pt\"\>General Synod\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/u\>\u003c/p\>\n\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-indent:37.4pt\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\" face\u003d\"Times New Roman\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12.0pt\"\>FWC will be represented\nat General Synod XXVI in Hartford,\n Connecticut in several ways\n–\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin-left:55.4pt;text-indent:-.25in\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\" face\u003d\"Symbol\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol\"\>\u003cspan\>·\u003cfont size\u003d\"1\" face\u003d\"Times New Roman\"\>\u003cspan\> \n\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/span\>\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>FWC President Bob Thompson will\nlead three workshop sessions (different times, same content) with the help of\nother board members. The purpose of these workshops is to introduce FWC to\nGeneral Synod attenders.\u003c/p\>\n\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin-left:55.4pt;text-indent:-.25in\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\" face\u003d\"Symbol\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol\"\>\u003cspan\>·\u003cfont size\u003d\"1\" face\u003d\"Times New Roman\"\>\u003cspan\> \n\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/span\>\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>If the vote of the General Synod\nfollows the recommendation of the Executive Council, Revs. Bob Thompson and\nDuffy Roberts will represent FWC as “voice without vote” delegates\nduring business sessions of the synod.\u003c/p\>\n\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin-left:55.4pt;text-indent:-.25in\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\" face\u003d\"Symbol\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol\"\>\u003cspan\>·\u003cfont size\u003d\"1\" face\u003d\"Times New Roman\"\>\u003cspan\> \n\u003c/span\>",1]
);
//-->Each Tuesday morning at
6:30am (Central Time) or 7:30 am (Eastern Time), an FWC group comes together
to pray via a conference call. If you are interested in joining in or have a
prayer request that you would like included, please contact Nancy Cahalan at
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.
Thanks to one of our board members, there is no cost to you for participating
in the prayer conference call.
General Synod
FWC will be represented
at General Synod XXVI in Hartford,
Connecticut in several ways
–
·
FWC President Bob Thompson will
lead three workshop sessions (different times, same content) with the help of
other board members. The purpose of these workshops is to introduce FWC to
General Synod attenders.
·
If the vote of the General Synod
follows the recommendation of the Executive Council, Revs. Bob Thompson and
Duffy Roberts will represent FWC as “voice without vote” delegates
during business sessions of the synod.
·
\n This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\>
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u003c/a\>. I plan to\nsend out brief daily e-mail updates from General Synod to those who request\nthem.\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\n\u003cp\>\u003cu\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\" face\u003d\"Times New Roman\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12.0pt\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"text-decoration:none\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/u\>\u003c/p\>\n\n\u003cp\>\u003cu\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\" face\u003d\"Times New Roman\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12.0pt\"\>Regional Workshops\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/u\>\u003c/p\>\n\n\u003cp style\u003d\"text-indent:.5in\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\" face\u003d\"Times New Roman\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12.0pt\"\>We have now completed all of our “Healthy Church” workshops. Thanks for\nyour encouragement and your presence. Our chat room posted reports of various\nworkshops. Here’s one – to give you a flavor:\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin-left:37.4pt;text-indent:37.4pt\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\" face\u003d\"Times New Roman\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12.0pt\"\>On May 19, Rev. Scott Johnson of St. John's\nUCC in Kenton, Ohio hosted a Faithful & Welcoming workshop.\n22 people attended, some driving as far as 2 hours.\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin-left:37.4pt;text-indent:37.4pt\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\" face\u003d\"Times New Roman\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12.0pt\"\>",1]
);
//-->Several board members and friends
of FWC will staff an information table among the displays. We will be
distributing free FWC highlighters with our logo and web site.
·
We will, of course, present a
resolution to General Synod that asks the synod to reaffirm our historic faith
as a way of retaining our churches.
If you would like to pray
for General Synod and the FWC presence, please send your e-name and e-mail address
to Charissa Loftin at
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. I plan to
send out brief daily e-mail updates from General Synod to those who request
them.
Regional Workshops
We have now completed all of our “Healthy Church” workshops. Thanks for
your encouragement and your presence. Our chat room posted reports of various
workshops. Here’s one – to give you a flavor:
On May 19, Rev. Scott Johnson of St. John's
UCC in Kenton, Ohio hosted a Faithful & Welcoming workshop.
22 people attended, some driving as far as 2 hours.
Ted Weis gave the keynote
address: A healthy local UCC church is engaged in BASIC practices, shaped by
core BELIEFS, which create distinctive BORDERS, that BLESSES all who enter in.
Kimberly Butler of
Pathways Christian Counseling spoke on the physical, spiritual, and emotional
aspects of covenant making, applying these principles to people's sexual
choices that either bless or curse.
Elton Moore from New
Pathways Inc. talked about the psychological and developmental reasons that
people choose homosexuality. One of his clients gave an incredible testimony of
how God has helped him cope and find victory.
One attendee, a UCC
minister, stood up near the end to express her disdain for the day, claiming
that homosexuals are born that way. There was no opportunity for further
dialogue because she immediately walked out after having her say.
The rest who attended
either were part of a FWC church or came to get an up close look at who FWC is
and consider their own involvement.
Corinth
Votes to Remain UCC
Corinth Reformed Church in Hickory, NC,
where I am privileged to pastor, has been going through a decision-making
process for more than three years. On Sunday, June 3, the congregation voted
on whether to withdraw from the UCC. The motion to withdraw failed to pass the
necessary 2/3, so Corinth
will remain in the United Church of Christ. The vote was very closely divided,
but I believe the congregation set a good foundation in advance for ongoing
unity and mission regardless of the outcome. Continue to pray for Corinth and for all
churches wrestling with their futures.
New FWChurches
·
Little River Congregational in
Little River, KS (Conference: Kansas-Oklahoma)
·
First Congregational UCC in Sterling, IL (Conference:
Illinois)
·
Congregational United Church of Christ
in Bradenton, FL
(Conference: Florida)
·
Hagerstown
Congregational Christian Church in Hagerstown,
IN (Conference: Indiana-Kentucky)
(Note from Bob Thompson: I had the privilege of
visiting Congregational UCC in \n This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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u003c/a\>\n\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial\"\>President, Faithful and Welcoming Churches\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial\"\>\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.faithfulandwelcoming.org/\" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\>www.faithfulandwelcoming.org\u003c/a\>\n\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial\"\>Pastor, Corinth Reformed\nChurch, Hickory, NC\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial\"\>\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.corinthtoday.org/\" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\>www.corinthtoday.org\u003c/a\>\n\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\" face\u003d\"Times New Roman\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12.0pt\"\>\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\n\u003cp\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\" face\u003d\"Times New Roman\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12.0pt\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\n\u003c/div\>\n\n\u003c/div\>\n\n\n",0]
);
//-->Bradenton, FL, with my family while we were on vacation in the St. Petersburg area. It
is one of our new FWC listings, a marvelous congregation with a strong
evangelical witness. It was great to connect with Pastor Paul Scheele.
Don’t forget to check out our list of churches before you travel and see
if there is an FWC church in the area.)
Bob
Bob Thompson,
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President, Faithful and Welcoming Churches
www.faithfulandwelcoming.org
Pastor, Corinth Reformed
Church, Hickory, NC
www.corinthtoday.org
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