Great River Region Newsletter August 1, 2014 Rev. Barbara E. Jones, Regional Minister

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1 Great River Region Newsletter August 1, 2014 Rev. Barbara E. Jones, Regional Minister PO Box , Little Rock, AR, 72219, Phone: (501) Website: JOYS Congratulations to: - Rev. Kevin Robbins and Stephanie Handke who were married June Regional Minister Barbara Jones who passed her comps toward her Ph.D. - Rev. Linda White who is now "Acting Minister" of Park Hill Christian Church - Parkview Christian Church, Little Rock, Stan McDougal and Marilou Coins, on their groundbreaking service August 3 on their new property on Kanis Road. Yellow Pine Christian Church (YPCC) in Sibley, LA, just completed its first Vacation Bible School in 50 years! Pastor Theresa Booth provided the leadership as coordinator and music director. Carma Perot led the volunteer recruiting effort and picked this year's jungle theme and decorated the YPCC family life facility to the delight of the children attending the event. VBS ran from Sunday July 20-Wednesday July 23-6pm to 8pm. Opening night saw a crowd of 45 which grew to 60 participants for the closing finale on Wednesday. Plans are now underway for our annual Homecoming October 12 with Regional Minister Barb Jones delivering the message and installing new Pastors Ben and Theresa Booth. CONCERNS Condolences to the family of Rev. Mark Williams, former minister at First Christian Church Camden, AR. Services were held on July ALETA in 2 p.m. Rev. Shannon Speidel - Little Rock Air Force Base Chapel, Step-Father Wayman Momsen in Guthrie, Oklahoma, will be beginning hospice care after a year long battle with lung cancer. Rev. Holly Patton - First Christian Maumelle, AR requests prayers for herself, her brother, John, as he continues to battle pancreatic cancer, and her mother, Ginny. Rev. Marilou Coins - Parkview Christian Church and Truckers Chapel, recovering from recent rotator cuff surgery. Rev. Tom Haley - Antioch Christian in Tull, AR having treatments for prostate cancer. Rev. Kevin Robbins - Treatments for prostate cancer. Kevin s life is full of changes including his marriage to Stephanie Handke on June 28, blending their families, and his resignation from First Christian, Little Rock.

2 Rev. Linda White - Park Hill Christian Church, recent eye surgery for grandson, Taylor Kent. Rev. Colby Smith and family - Family circumstances necessitated an unforeseen and unanticipated resignation from Park Hill Christian Church and a move back to Muncie, Indiana. Rev. Lynn Taylor Completed his interim ministry with FCC Pine Bluff and is entering Search and Call within the Great River Region. DISCIPLES WOMEN Disciples Women Retreats Arkansas August 8th-10th (4H Center, Ferndale) Keynoter Rev. Donna Rountree, First Christian Church Conway Mississippi September 20th - 21st (Eagle Ridge Conference Center, Raymond) Louisiana October 10th - 12th (Wesley Center, Woodworth) Save the Date Mark your Calendar Now! Clergy Retreat September 22-24, 2014 Subiaco Abby, Subiaco AR Formed in Christ Through Word and Spirit Keynote Speakers: Revs. John and Judy Turner

3 First Christian Church Rogers, AR. Pastor Shawn Wallace. The renovation of our Disciples' Hall Chapel took another step toward completion as volunteers moved the wonderful new sound booth in last week! It was designed and handcrafted by our own Gene McCullough, who also made our beautiful new communion table, with help from the talented Warren Wilkey. Many strides have been made recently, as the chancel was carpeted and the chancel steps were trimmed out with wood. Meanwhile, Gene, who is never one to rest for long, is back at work creating a custom coffee bar for the space, which is sure to rival the beauty and functionality of his other work. We are so blessed as a congregation by the talents, time, and faithful giving of our membership! This allows us to maintain and revitalize our facilities, which serve hundreds of people in the community each week. In these halls friendships are formed, the hungry are fed, disciples grow, children are poured into, and above all, God is glorified! First Christian Church Harrison, AR. Dr. David Artman, Senior Pastor Congratulations!!! 2014 Softball Champions 915 S. Maple Office: (870) fccharrison@windstream.net Website: First Christian Church Newport, AR. HOMECOMING. On August 24, we will celebrate the 125 th year as a church! Think of the many families whose roots in Christianity go back generations because this church was established in This is a special time of celebration. If you have roots in this church, please come and worship and celebrate with us. It is the work of the Lord that His faithful have continued to worship on the corner of Walnut and Third Streets for all these many years. We want to praise Him and to share memories and so your presence is not only sincerely requested but also vital in order to make this homecoming the event we anticipate and desire. We will begin with fellowship and refreshments at 10:00 a.m., worship at 10:30 a.m. and a fellowship meal will be provided following worship. 211 Third St

4 Regional Assembly 2014 November 7-9 Park Hill Christian Church North Little Rock, Arkansas (Registration forms & Brochure are available on website: under Regional Assembly tab) PRE-ASSEMBLY EVENT FOR CLERGY On Friday, November 7, from 9 am 3 pm based on Dr. Boring s latest book, An Introduction to the New Testament: History, Literature, Theology. Registration required. Guest Speakers: Eugene Boring, Brite Divinity School Zedric Clayton, Real Faith Christian Church Dick Hamm, The Columbia Partnership Sharon Watkins, General Minister and President Congregations in Pastoral Search and Call: FCC Slidell, LA FCC Greater New Orleans, LA FCC Blytheville, AR Pulaski Heights CC, Little Rock, AR FCC Little Rock, AR FCC Pine Bluff, AR From Regional Minister Barbara Jones: barb@grrdisciples.org: I am back from the Rockies and camping with Ryder (4), Evie (2), Kim and Dave. We had a fantastic week that went too fast as vacations do. One of the delights was to see an exhibit of Dale Chihuly s blown glasswork at the Denver Botanical Gardens. Another was to attend the Rockygrass Festival in Lyons, CO where we camped in a beautiful setting by the St. Vrain river. Bluegrass bands played from 10am until 10pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of last week. I have some precious pictures on Facebook of the week away. I just this morning had my first weekly visit with my dissertation mentor. Over a year ago the Regional Board approved my using our congregations in my study of Good governance and ethical practice in self-governing congregations, but that will not happen because I am the regional minister which poses a conflict of interest. The plan at this point is to find 4 congregations in Arkansas that are selfgoverning and to use them for my qualitative study. Why Arkansas? Because governance includes issues of incorporation and that is tied to state laws. Our hope is that I can set up a study that can be replicated and build a national database. My theory is that nonprofit best

5 practices are important for congregations, but were not created with the religious community at the table. The religious community is the largest section of the nonprofit charitable sector. I want to find out which of 33 principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice are most helpful for congregational governance and which could be helpful if they were included in bylaws but are not at this time. Can you believe no one has studied this? My own special little niche. ;-) As I have worked with congregations in AR, MS, LA since 1995, the most troublesome issues have boiled down to breaches of ethical practice. Those are the ones that have ended up with treasurers in jail, or under the table deals being made in confidence so that someone would go away rather than calling the police and as that has come out over time, breaches of trust have solidified splits in the congregation. Issues of governance allow a congregation to function properly, or not. More often than not, congregations have found themselves ready to transact legal business (sell property for example) and realized that their bylaws are so out of date that they have to rewrite them prior to transacting business. (Often the congregation doesn t have as many people attending worship as are required to serve on the board!) All of these practical issues are things which have come out of our life together. As I have taken a course at a time, it has been amazing how it has dovetailed with something I have needed to assist in my own work as Regional Minister. My studies are secular in nature, but I have written all but two final papers about something within or about the Great River Region. I am working in the School for Public Service Leadership: Nonprofit Management and Leadership at Capella University. It is a research based 120 quarter hour (30 courses) PhD accredited by North Central Accreditation. I ve been working on it since the fall of And you thought I never had any fun! ;-) It s been a life-long dream of mine. Pinnacle Outreach Ministry. Pinnacle Outreach Ministry is very pleased to sponsor a visit from one of the world's finest New Testament interpreters and scholars, Dr. M. Eugene Boring, I. Wylie Briscoe Professor Emeritus of New Testament at Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University. Dr. Boring will lead a one day (Friday, November 7, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.) pre Regional Assembly learning event based on his newest book, An Introduction to the New Testament. In addition to ministers, we are also inviting elders and lay leaders of our congregations who have regular or periodic responsibility with preaching/teaching/worship leadership. This event will include lunch and is free of charge. Dr. Boring will also be leading two different workshops on Saturday afternoon of the Assembly, open to everyone. Pinnacle Outreach Ministry is an extension of Pinnacle Structures, Inc. of Cabot, Arkansas, and the Great River Region. Our mission is "Helping Equip the Faithful for the Work of Christ" and our main focus is outreach in nature with congregations and secular organizations that are reaching out to meet the needs of people. As Director of Pinnacle Outreach Ministry, I'm also honored to be serving as Regional Elder Coordinator as well as one of our 13 regional elders. I look forward to seeing you at the Great River Regional Assembly, November 7-9 at Park Hill Christian Church in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Rev. Miles Cook, Sherwood, Arkansas. REGIONAL ELDERS In our three state Great River Region, it became obvious that one minister on staff, Barbara Jones our Executive Regional Minister, could not regularly visit with all of our

6 ministers. Thus, the 2012 Regional Assembly in Baton Rouge initiated a new model of regional elders. We now have 13 regional elders in place, with each one shepherding a group of ministers within a geographical area of where each lives: Rev. Donald Dick: McComb, Mississippi; Rev. Lewis Godby: Mountain Home, Arkansas; Rev. Sherry Horton: Tupelo, Mississippi; Rev. Randy Jay: Ft. Smith, Arkansas; Rev. Frank Johnson: Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Rev. Lucian Lee: Camden, Arkansas; Rev. Russell Myers: Jackson, Mississippi; Rev. Bob Palmer: Jonesboro, Arkansas; Rev. Patricia Parker: Itta Bena, Mississippi; Rev. Ann Pickett-Parker: Moss Point, Mississippi; Rev. Graham Riggs: Shreveport, Louisiana; Rev. Judy Turner: Eureka Springs, Arkansas; Rev. Miles Cook: Sherwood, Arkansas In recent months we have better organized our efforts including stated responsibilities and participate together in monthly conference calls. Our purpose is "to serve the Great River Region as pastoral leaders, supporting the Executive Regional Minister and offering support and friendship to all ministers and their families in the region." We are honored to be serving our region in this way, and we thank you for your prayerful support. In Christ's service, Miles Cook, Regional Elders Coordinator From Melanie Willis, Youth Coordinator: youth@grrdisciples.org: CAMP! The Awesome 2014 Camp Season has ended and it was a great adventure. Everything was wonderful and everyone had a fun time. Many thanks to the Interns, Directors, Counselors and everyone who worked to make this camping season a big success! GRR Young Adult retreat: (YAR) September at Camp Couchdale. $ Due in Regional office by September 5 th. Our theme this time is "Take Two: Second Chances" - Forgiving others, but most importantly, yourself! Registration forms are available on the website: on the Youth Page. Fall Fandango. October th. $125. Due in Regional office by September 26 th. First Christian Church, Tupelo, MS, Mission Weekend Cancelled. The response to the tornado in Tupelo has been swift and overwhelming. The work available at this time is limited to clearing large debris and rebuilding of the kind that is best left to the professionals. We have decided to cancel the Labor day mission trip. Thank you all for your support and Rev Sherry Horton and FCC Tupelo thanks you as well! We will continue to update the region on their progress. You can also like First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Tupelo, MS on Facebook for more updates and pictures! Their modular unit is in place up on the hill and they are moving right along! Please continue to hold them in your prayers. Thank you! National Benevolent Association: XPLOR Residency: NBA XPLOR is a faith-based, 10-month, congregationally-hosted residency program designed for 21 to 30 year olds looking to explore lives of care and service giving them the opportunity to unleash their own potential, while positively impacting their community. We encourage you to check it out!

7 It is time for another round of the Foundations for Ministry Series. This 3-4 month course, which is used by several Regions to train Commissioned Ministers, covers 24 ministry topics in 32 hours of instruction which is done online in live sessions. (It is also offered in Spanish through online recordings). It is meant to give practical tools to help church leaders and staff be effective in serving Christ. Some of the topics include: pastoral care, worship, conflict, connecting people to God, stewardship, Bible, church history and many more. Find out more at: or by ing me at Cost for the entire series is $395 but if we have at least 5 in the class it drops to $350. I would love to have you as part of this session so drop me a note! Rev. Stephen Wallace, (405) , Wallace SC&W, 1701 NW 193 Circle, Edmond, Oklahoma Great River Region. National Disciples of Christ. Lexington Theological Seminary. Missouri School of Religion courses. Global Ministries. Week of Compassion. Week of Compassion is the relief, refugee and development mission fund of the Christian Church (DOC) in the United States and Canada. We seek to equip and empower disciples to alleviate the suffering of others through disaster response, humanitarian aid, sustainable development and the promotion of mission opportunities. Disciples Home Missions. Christian Education/Faith Formation Donors; Refugee and Immigration Ministries DHM is Disciples Hands-on Missions! Current Issue (Click here) Disciples Mission Fund is the common fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Disciples Mission Fund supports 72 ministries of wholeness as close as your local congregation and reaching around the globe. As a Global Mission church, we understand that equipping congregations for mission includes learning from, learning with and offering support to our partners beyond the borders of the United States and Canada.