Faithful and Welcoming Churches

Update November 3, 2007

In this monthly update, you will find information about –

• New ECOT web site and forum
• FWC at Your Church
• District FWC Gathers
• Financial Support for 2008
• National Gathering 2008
• New FWChurches

New ECOT Web Site and Forum

A new web site sharing concerns and values of ECOT (evangelical, conservative, orthodox, traditional) members of the UCC has recently come on line.  Check out www.ReformationUCC.org.  According to the Welcome page, “ReformationUCC.org exists to remember, celebrate, and build upon the foundation of the Reformation Roots of the United Church of Christ!”  The web page offers timely, interesting, and thought-provoking articles on the theological foundations of the UCC, and also provides readers an opportunity to interact through a forum.

FWC at Your Church

If you would like an FWC board member or representative to speak at a worship service, Council, board, or Consistory meeting, please contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .  I look forward to speaking personally at one of our newest FWChurches in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania later this month when I travel with my family at Thanksgiving.  Recently a church in New York asked for a representative, and we were unable to provide one for that particular date.  So we created a video introduction of FWC that is easy to reproduce and send where it is needed.  Let us know if this 20-minute video, or a personal contact where possible, would be helpful for your church or others nearby.

District FWC Gathers

At least five churches here in the Catawba District of the Western North Carolina Association (Southern Conference) have voted to become FWChurches.  One of those congregations, St. Matthews UCC in Maiden, NC, has invited representatives from the other area churches to join together for information and fellowship Sunday, November 4, at 6:30 P.M.  Consider such a gathering in your own area.  Knowing we are not alone helps keep us going!

Financial Support for FWC in 2008

FWC has received financial support from 25 or more churches in the past year.  We are part of the mission budget in some congregations.  Others take offerings.  Still others receive gifts from their members and pass them on to us.  If your church plans to participate financially with FWC in 2008, it would be helpful to know this prior to our FWC board meeting in January.  Your gifts and promises of gifts help extend our ministry.  Consider asking your congregation to provide financial support to FWC in 2008.

National Gathering 2008

Please place July 10-12, 2008 on your calendar.  FWC’s second national gathering will take place in the Cleveland, Ohio area.  John Thomas, UCC President, has committed to join us at that gathering.  We would love to have YOU as well!

New FWChurches

·        St. John’s UCC, Toms Brook, VA (Conference: Central Atlantic)

·        St. John’s Center UCC, East Earl, PA (Conference: Penn Central)

 Bob

Bob Thompson

President, Faithful and Welcoming Churches

www.faithfulandwelcoming.org

Pastor, Corinth Reformed Church, Hickory, NC