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CCC NewsNotes A Just Peace & Open and Affirming Church
Historical Reflection Draws Exuberant Crowd Reflecting on 60 years of CCC history, about 60 people filled 18 pages of newsprint with events, people, myths, and achievements following a potluck supper on Sunday, September 10. Led by Roy Oswald, the church consultant retained by CCC, members were invited to recall as much as they could, working backwards through the ministries of Jim Todhunter, Bob Marston and John McClelland. Scribes Terry Strand and Gail Withun barely kept up as members shouted out names of staff, choir tours, camps, retreats, social actions, communal joys and sorrows, milestones in the lives of our staff, property changes, and monumental decisions. Members then broke into small groups to determine 5 meaning statements from all of the data gathered. When all the groups reported, six characteristics emerged. CCC has ~
The historical reflection evening was the first of three all-congregational events in the strategic planning process CCC undertakes this fall in the transition toward Jim’s retirement and a new senior pastor. Jackie Walters, Editor Transition Planning Begins ~ from the Moderator Our transition has begun. The Strategic Planning Task Force and the Transition Committee are in place and beginning work as we prepare to say goodbye to Jim, hire an interim minister and plan for a successor. We had a wonderful potluck supper and laughter-filled historical reflections event Sunday evening. The mood was exuberant as we listed key events of the last 60+ years and developed meaning statements from this history (see “Historical Reflections” article). The Strategic Planning Task Force will use these statements to help develop goal options for congregational approval. You'll hear more about the process as we move forward. The next all-church event on the calendar is Saturday, October 21, when we'll identify the norms of our church. Norms are conscious or unconscious beliefs that we'd like to make clear so we can decide which we want to keep and which we want to change. Newer church members and friends often identify norms more easily than long-time members. So, please know that childcare is available, transportation can be arranged and save the date! The Strategic Planning Task Force will lead us through the strategic planning process over the next 4 months. The members have a great deal of talent and energy, are committed to including everyone in the process, and will keep us informed. The members are: Tom Ault, Co-Chair, Gwen Garrison, Co-Chair/Linda Hodson (sharing a position), Jackie Walters, Sara Watson, Paul Holmes/Sally Holmes (sharing a position), Neville Platt/Bud Dennie (sharing a position), and Ndimyake Mwakalyelye. The Transition Committee will serve from now through the new Senior Minister’s first year. They will be watching over the process and providing support for the congregation and the staff. The members have a deep understanding of the workings of the church and have some seasoned wisdom that they bring to their tasks. They are: Bob Brown and Sue Dollins, Co-Chairs, Mable Elliott, Bill Prindle, and Shirley Coll. Spirituality Offerings – Fall 2006
Mark your calendar for Dec. 10th for the Chrismon workshop. Chrismons are Christmas ornaments that are monograms of Christ. Some are made with beads and wire, and some from styrofoam and glitter. There will be ornaments of different ability for the whole family to enjoy. If you are willing to help, contact Glenda Neal at gbneal1958@earthlink.net or (301)622-3948. Glenda will teach you all you need to know to teach others! Thanks to everyone who helped make the Sunday evening, September 10, potluck supper and historical reflections a success. We couldn't have done it without the hard work of Marian Dirda, Marilyn Meyer, Stevan Fisher, Joanne Dennie, Bud Dennie, Lois Todhunter, Joanne Barnett and Chris Dirda. And thanks to Gail Withuhn and Terry Strand for being our scribes during the historical reflections portion of the evening. Faithful and Welcoming Churches Hold National Meeting The April 18 issue of News Notes contained a discussion of a speech given by the Rev. John H. Thomas, President of the UCC, in which he expressed concerns about the Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD) and its related organizations, including the Biblical Witness Fellowship (BWF) within the UCC. The BWF, formed within the Southern Conference, has been highly critical of national UCC policies, in particular General Synod’s support for same-gender marriage equality. In early August, BWF’s former leader, the Rev. Bob Thompson, presided over the first national meeting in Bechtelsville, PA of Faithful and Welcoming Churches (FWC), incorporated in January. During the PA event, representatives of about 60 congregations discussed the same-gender marriage issue, and also the perceived need for greater awareness of the opinions of evangelical, conservative, orthodox or traditional (ECOT) churches within the UCC. The meeting was attended by 10 UCC staff members and by observers from open and affirming churches. See the current issue of United Church News for a statement by Rev. Thompson about FWC, and a response by the Rev. Nancy Taylor, Senior Minister, Old South Church, Boston.
"An Inconvenient Truth", former Vice-President Al Gore's compelling film on the very real and imminent global warming crisis, will be shown in CCC's sanctuary on Friday, October 6 at 7 P.M. One or more environmental experts will answer questions from the audience after the screening. This presentation is sponsored by CCC's Stewards of the Earth and is made possible by the generosity of Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light, of which CCC is a member. CCC is one of 130 local and 4000 national faith groups that are showing the video as part of a Spotlight on Global Warming. The public is invited; and refreshments will follow the presentation. Free admission. Pastoral Transitions = “Dangerous Opportunities" “A congregation in the midst of a pastoral transition is in a period of ‘dangerous opportunity,’” asserted Roy Oswald. Speaking to a group of CCC members of the Executive Council, Board of Trustees, Transition Committee and Strategic Planning Task Force at an all-day orientation to the transition planning process on September 9, Roy continued, “Members’ changes in relationship to the church and pastor are inevitable. The choice for the church’s lay leaders is to manage the transition poorly or to manage it well.”Roy led a series of exercises designed to help identify characteristics of CCC membership and how those might affect transition planning and outcomes. The group also began to identify goal options. CCC should plan to accomplish things during the interim period so that we are perceived as a congregation on the move, not passively waiting for a new pastor. A pastoral transition process contains three steps for a church to manage: 1. Closure – with, by and for the outgoing pastor. There should be multiple opportunities for CCC to celebrate, recall and honor Jim’s ministry, for Jim to complete any unfinished business that he or CCC identifies, and for Jim to take his leave of parishioners. An intentional process managed well, closure is the first building block for a successful . . . 2. Interim – 12-24-month tenure of a skilled pastor selected by CCC after a search process. This pastor should be experienced with multi-staff churches and should have goals established by CCC’s strategic planning process for accomplishment during the interim period. 3. Start-up – first 1-2 years of a new minister’s tenure. The Transition and Search Committees work together to introduce the new minister and his/her family to the parish. If the two previous steps have been managed well and if CCC has identified a strategic plan and specific goals for its near and long-term future, the new pastor will have been called because of his/her perceived ability to help CCC achieve its goals. The start-up period is intended to lay a solid foundation for a long-term pastorate. Through exercises and discussion, the group began to identify tools to use in the transition process to help the congregation manage the process well. The group also learned that a pastorate in closure is not a lame-duck pastorate. Jim remains fully engaged in the life of CCC. However, leadership for CCC’s future shifts to laypersons. Ultimately, the congregation will decide what goal options it will adopt and what kind of pastoral leadership it will be seeking for CCC’s future. Jackie Walters, Member, Strategic Planning Task Force.
Fri., 15 , 7 p.m. - CCC Digital Photography Group If you want to make better digital photos, join this group at our house (819 East Franklin Ave., Silver Spring). For more information -- or to be added to the mailing list -- send an E-mail to Carl at brandtcd@aol.com, or phone 301-589-8694. Carl and Elsa Brandt Fri. 15 – Parents’ Night Out – 6:30 – 10 p.m. –Sign up on Church Life bulletin board outside first floor kitchenette. Contact Glenda Neal (301-622-3948 or gbneal1958@earthlink.net) Sun. 17 – Sisters for Sisters in the Conference Room at noon. Please bring your sandwich. Hostesses: Ruth Haigh and June Leonard. For all single women. Wed., 20 – 11:30 a.m. – Senior Adults – Brown Bag Lunch & Movie Sat. 23 – 8:30 a.m .—4 p.m. – Called To Care Training Sun. 24 – Bethesda Chamber Singers – 3:30 p.m. – Free concert of sacred, a cappella music, including Shaker songs, spirituals and pieces by Tallis, Morley, Bach, Billings & others. Proceeds of a free-will offering will be donated to CCC. Bethesda Chamber Singers is a 12-member a capella group, including CCC member Marcy Gustafson. The concert will conclude before 5 p.m. worship, so plan to attend both!
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