| LabOratory Church provides a safe space for health, healing, and hope Posted: 20 May 2020 12:02 PM PDT COVID-19 resources available
The Office of the General Minister and President has compiled a collection of resources and statements from Church leadership in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are updating this page with more resources as available.
The National Council of Churches (USA) is hosting a memorial service on Sunday, May 24, featuring a sermon by Bishop Michael Curry and meditations by other faith leaders, including Rev. Terri Hord Owens. You can add the name of your loved ones lost this spring to a list hosted on their website. | | Same time. Same format. New location.
General Minister and President Rev. Terri Hord Owens has updated her Facebook presence so she can accept more followers. Her Facebook live prayers will continue at noon EDT but will be accessed at her new page "Rev. Terri Hord Owens" ( facebook.com/terrihordowens). | | LabOratory Church provides a safe space for health, healing, and hope | | by New Church Ministry
Rev. Amie Vanderford has experienced trauma. She knows what it’s like to distrust others; how damaging isolation can be to recovery. That’s why she and her husband, Thaddeus Shelton, launched The LabOratory Church. This new church offers safe space for those with mental illness to worship, cultivate strong connections, and seek healing. New Church Ministry spoke with Pastor Amie about The LabOratory Church, one of the 1,034 congregations (and counting!) that have formed or become affiliated with the Disciples since the 2020 Vision was adopted in 2001.
What’s your church focused on?
We want to reach people who have experienced trauma. According to psychologist Judith Herman, there are three stages of healing. The first is about naming the trauma. You work through it in the second stage, like in the therapist’s office. The third stage is relational healing, being in relationship with each other. That was the stage where I had stalled. I felt like if I was fully myself, people would reject me. We want to be the place where people find healing in relationship.
Does mental illness affect your neighborhood? Or are you addressing the local context of a wider problem?
You start with yourself and then the people around you. We name individualism as the problem. The sins that break our relationships are based out of our culture saying that individualism and competition is the only way to survive. Our cultural norms say: "You can't trust anyone, they’re gonna’ steal your stuff.” It's a scarcity mentality. We’re trying to do an abundance mentality. We're teaching people to ask themselves, “Are our decisions supporting everyone? Or are they self-serving?” | | South Carolina calls new regional minister
Rev. Dr. Dara Cobb Lewis, the daughter of Disciple church planters, grew up and received her spiritual formation in South Carolina. When she returns June 1, she will be regional minister.
“I am honored to be called to serve the Church in South Carolina,” Lewis said. “It feels like a homecoming. It is where I first received my call to ministry as a youth and now I can bring my experience back to the region that nurtured me.”
Lewis has deep roots in Disciples ministry, from being a CYF regional president to earning her masters of divinity from Lexington Theological Seminary in 2003. Currently a member of Christmount and Global Ministries boards, she is also a Bethany Fellow Leader and served as a mission co-worker in Botswana.
Since 2011, she has been a pastoral counselor in North Carolina but she has congregational experience as lead and associate pastor in North Carolina, Missouri and Maryland and a student minister in Kentucky.
Rev. Dr. Cobb Lewis is married to Michael Lewis. Together they have five children. | | | | Invitation to join in prayer
Wise and Loving God , You have supported us and shown your good work throughout the Southwest region, particularly in this time of pandemic. You have made Yourself known creation. You revealed yourself through Jesus Christ. You have called people into being and gave us aspirations of justice and compassion. Yet, despite our best intentions and all that you have revealed, our sight is partial and our knowledge is limited. We have entered a time of vast confusion. We must make serious decisions with limited certainty. Give us understanding, Lord. Place markers before us and show us the way to go. Amen. | | | | Celebrating 1,000 new churches ... and counting!
In 2001, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) embraced a bold vision: to start 1,000 new churches in 1,000 different ways by the year 2020.
Today, we have welcomed 1,034+ new places of worship into the Church.
The Table around which we gather has grown in language, diversity, and life experience. Courageous leaders have answered the call to grow the denomination through the new church movement. They have reached the underserved, welcomed new neighbors, and created communities of faith. And we, as Disciples, have committed to supporting them.
Support the 2020 Pentecost Offering. Each year, half of this offering stays in your Region to support and sustain new churches. The second half helps leaders across the United States and Canada through New Church Ministry programs. | | | | General Minister and President offers census reminder
In the midst of all we're doing to respond to COVID-19, General Minister and President Rev. Teresa Hord Owens reminds us that 2020 is a Census year in the United States. Click on the logo to the right to see her video message. Future planning by governments, nonprofits and others for emergencies is directly affected by the numbers from this census. Fill out the quick form at 2020census.gov to make a difference for your community for the next 10 years! | | | | Leader applications sought
The Disciples LGBTQ+ Alliance – AllianceQ is seeking leaders to serve as a part of this transforming, expanding ministry.
Qualified candidates will understand the history of and vision for our ministry. A demonstrated commitment to justice for vulnerable groups will enhance how we can live into our mission to build a just, inclusive church. AllianceQ is taking another road; we are examining our identity and practices so that we can imagine deeper and wider ministry. With a new Executive Director + Minister and a General Minister and President who is invested in this work, AllianceQ has the potential to build upon a great foundation. See this joint reflection of faith from Melissa Guthrie Loy and Terri Hord Owens.
To former council members, regional O&A team members, volunteers, members and friends, and in honor of the 1987 Coordinating Committee and all those who dreamed of and paved the way for this work, THANK YOU. Will you make referrals for leadership in this season? Complete this form. If you are personally interested in leadership with the Alliance, complete the form about yourself. If you would like to refer someone for leadership, complete the sections to the best of your ability. | | | | Join the National Benevolent Association for SoulCare Moments every Wednesday in May!
The NBA’s Mental Health & Wellness Initiative team invites you to join us for a moment to pause and process. Throughout the month of May, NBA will host a series of SoulCare moments to practice self-care and prayer. Each week will have a special theme and will happen live via Zoom and our Facebook page. We welcome you to enjoy these moments to simply breathe, be present, and pray with us. Please register and join us! | | | | Bring the world to your church!
As we continue to worship with care, there are many ways to bring the world to you congregation!
- to preach in a Sunday service
- to share in gatherings during the week
- to lead a Sunday school classes
Looking for engaging Sunday school ideas? Consider planning four Sundays of live presentations, pre-recorded presentations, or a mixture of both. Have an exciting month of learning about God’s work in the world!
Mission co-workers who have served in places like Kenya, the Dominican Republic, East Timor, and Greece are available. For questions or to invite someone to share their story, please contact Cathy Nichols. | | Additional resources and opportunities
| | | | More opportunities to put ministry into action
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