FOR LEADERS WHEN
VISITING INQUIRING
OR
MEMBER NACCC
CHURCHES
JUNE 2004 ED.
THANK YOU
Thank you for your
willingness to be an advocate for
the National Association (as well as your
own State or Regional Association).
We know that despite all of the wonderful technology
which helps to keep us connected, there is no substitute
for the personal approach.
MULTIPLYING OUR
PRESENCE
In October of 2002 the Executive
Committee approved the creation of a team of former NA leaders whose purpose
would be to assist the NA staff in visiting Churches which were celebrating
anniversaries, ordinations, installations, or other special Church events and
to attend special ecumenical or inter-faith events nationally when called
upon. Several of these “
TAKING THE NEXT
STEP
In October of 2003, the Executive
Committee created five goals which would help the leadership team of the
Association focus on specific needs and plans to meet those needs.
One of those goals, “More adequately address the
needs of our member congregations,” resulted in this objective:
“Develop
a handbook for leadership referral when visiting
Regional
meetings, member churches, or inquiring Churches.”
This is that handbook. It is a way to help you prepare for a visit
to (a) a Church which is interested in the Association or (b) is already a
member, but may or may not be active. As the 2005 Moderator, Hannah Hall,
stated in the sub-group that dealt with this goal, “We need to help our official visitors know what to say, what to do, what
to bring, and what to leave.”
STRENGTHENING
OUR FUTURE
The future of the National Association
of Congregational Christian Churches will depend upon several things, not the
least of which is: Do member congregations know who we are? Do they know what
we are doing? And do they know the blessings of being part of a voluntary association?
YOU HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO HELP US ANSWER THOSE
God bless you for your willingness to
serve in this special and specific way!
Dr. Thomas M. Richard
Executive Secretary
WHAT TO SAY
General
The National
Association is newly committed to connecting member Churches to each other and
encouraging better connections between Churches with State and Regional
Associations, for the sake of fellowship, providing meaningful resources, and
enjoying the many blessings which come from being together. After greeting
those you’re visiting and sharing something about the services of the NA
(Appendix A), consider asking one or all of the following questions: What are
the ministries which are exciting your Church? Do you have special celebrations
planned anytime soon?
What concerns or
problems is your Church having that sister churches might be able to help
resolve, or for which they might be a sensitive, listening ear.
Did you know?
§
Currently,
we have 432 Churches in the Association from 39 states
§
Presently,
there are 6 officers from three states
§
Our
national office has a small staff of three executives and seven other staff in the NA office
§
Much
of our work is done by four divisions, a commission, several
standing committees, and several “task-oriented”
committees
§
We are
proud to have over 90 talented elected leaders from 26 states
hndbk2
WHAT TO BRING
Your personal
visit to NA member or interested Churches is invaluable. You are the greatest resource you can bring
to a Church. We would also appreciate the extra effort to bring materials that
you feel might be helpful things to Churches and their leaders. For instance:
§
Brochure
“It’s All About Belonging”
§
A
recent copy of the NA NEWS
§
A
recent copy of the Missionary one-page newsletter
§
A
recent copy of The Congregationalist magazine.
§
Step-down
folder of NA structure and narrative of key services
§
Current
publication listing
If you know of
specific needs or requests which have come to you from the Church you are about
to visit, be sure to provide enough time for the NA office to get those
resources or materials to you. They are more likely to get in the hands of
those who requested or need them.
WHAT TO BRING BACK
When our Executive
Staff visit Churches, they often pick up things like:
-a Church newsletter (especially if it
one they do not receive now).
-an annual report
-flyers on special programs
-adult or children’s educational
materials
-mission information
And other materials which are
available for visitors
Our goal is to get
more information about the Church so that we might communicate more effectively
with them, and have a wider variety of Church leaders names with which to share
specific (and ministry-directed) electronic and regular mailings.
HOW TO PREPARE
“Always be ready to make your defense to
anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you.” (I
Peter 3:15)
“Love the Lord your God with all your
heart, soul and mind, and your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew
“Love one another as I have loved
you.”(John 15: 12)
There are many
reasons for the hospitality and fellowship which we want to encourage among our
Churches. The above passages are only a
few of the motivational reasons for doing so. We know this: if we who are
leaders in the NACCC and/or state and regional associations are not convinced
of the positive by-products of hospitality and fellowship, we cannot expect
much of an enthusiastic response from those we visit.
Handbk4
WHAT TO LEAVE
You’ve made this
visit, it’s coming to an end, what should you leave
behind?
1.
A
commitment to complete a circle of communication:
(a) By emailing/contacting the NA and the
State/Regional Association in which this church is or would be located, giving
the date of your visit.
(b) By giving the Church’s State association
helpful information about the Church, if they do not already have it.
2.
Information/resources
you have brought with you from the National
Association.
3. Several “How to Connect
with Your Associations” (Appendix C) with
specific people in the Church, and, if possible, not just the minister/pastor
4.
Your
name and home Church, telephone number and address
5.
A
promise to remain in touch with them
Hndbk5
APPENDIX C
CONNECTING/CONTACTING YOUR
ASSOCIATIONS
By Mail:
National Association of
Congregational
WI 53154
By Telephone:
1-800-262-1620 or
1-414-764-1620
By Fax:
414-764-0319
By Email:
General naccc@naccc.org
Church Services
Youth Ministries
Annual Meetings/ New
Ministry/Ministry
Education/Pastoral Search
Missions/Church
Development/State Associations
Executive Secretary
Our Web Site:
………………………………………………………………………
Information About Your State
Association:
Association Name:
Moderator:
Address:
Email:
Telephone:
Web Site:
Handbk6
APPENDIX
B
SERVICES
OF THE NACCC
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH DEVELOPMENT
* Provides Church revitalization workshops and
resources
* Works with regional fellowships and local
churches to plant new congregations.
* Assists churches in acquiring their first
building with donations from the 21ST Century Pilgrim Club
* Through a building and loan team offers
loans to our local churches for building, remodeling,
DIVISION FOR MINISTRY
*
* Assists ministers to find churches.
* Creates programs for the welfare and
career development of ministers.
* Raises and administers funds to help
ministers in crisis
* Provides opportunities for training in
Congregational History and Polity.
* Sponsors an annual Ministers’
Convocation.
CONGREGATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR THEOLOGICAL
STUDIES
*
Seeks out qualified candidates for the ministry.
*
Financially supports qualified candidates for the ministry.
* Maintains a mentor program for candidates
for the ministry.
* Provides required curricula in
Congregational history and polity
* Offers yearly seminars on issues related
to the ministry.
*
Fosters improved communication within our association and its Churches
MISSIONARY SOCIETY
* Selects and recommends domestic and
foreign missions.
* Monitors mission projects.
* Promotes and oversees short term
volunteers who assist our missionaries.
* Provides articles and information about
missions in all major NA publications
* Itinerates visiting missionaries to our
Churches
CHURCH SERVICES COMMISSION
* Helps local churches in teacher training.
* Helps local churches in curriculum
selection.
* Offers a Confirmation Class curriculum.
* Coordinates large resource room for
Annual Meeting
* Encourages spiritual growth through
publications, retreats, and seminars.
* Publishes seasonal (Advent and Lenten)
and periodic devotionals.
* Assists in planning retreats.
* Assists in planning adult education such
as Bible study, book study groups, topical resources, etc.
* Facilitates sharing youth resources and
program among our Churches.
* Offers leadership training for local
church youth fellowship groups.
* Coordinates national high school (NAPF)
conferences.
* Coordinates national college-age (HOPE)
conferences.
* Promotes and sponsors youth mission work
projects.
* Provides resources for family ministries
FINANCIAL SERVICES
* Offers financial counseling to Churches.
* Shares information on successful
stewardship programs.
* Provides long term care plan for NACCC
employees and members.
* Staffs estate seminars for local Churches
and State Assoc.
* Suggests creative approaches to raising
endowment funds
* Gives guidance for financing construction
* Through an investment advisory team
manages our endowed funds.
* Provides churches with endowment
management when requested.
COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES COMMISSION
* Promotes the Congregational Way among
fellow churches.
* Publishes the Congregationalist magazine (important
articles for Congregational Christians)
* Publishes monthly leadership newsletters
(NANEWS)
* Publishes heritage materials
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
* Provides retirement long term disability,
and life insurance plans for all employees of Na Churches
* Provides MMBB Premier Health/Dental Plans
for all employees of NA Churches working 19(+) hrs wk
* Provides nationally-sponsored 403b
program allowing for tax-free housing allowance at retirement
THE ANNUAL MEETING
* Offers the opportunity to renew our
common heritage at different locations around the country
08/03
APPENDIX A
SPECIAL OCCASION GREETINGS
(These are suggestions for some of
the information you might share and occasion to which you might be invited. For
some of you, these will be unnecessary, but for others who may be more timid
about public speaking, we hope they help you present yourself and the NACCC in
a positive light)
At Ordinations
(with the Right
Hand of Fellowship)
On
behalf of the Churches of our National Association, I bring you greetings.
My
name is ___________and I serve as _________________in the Association.
While
we hold it to be the right and responsibility of the local Church to
ordain
its clergy, we also realize that there are blessings that come from seeking advice and consent from sister
churches, as well as occasions such as this
for
expressing our voluntary fellowship with
each other and in Christ.
_____________,
(name of Ordained) through this Right Hand of fellowship I
Want
to convey our congratulations to this church and to you, its pastor and teacher. We ask that God will guide you and
the congregation toward a wonderful life
in ministry to Christ.
(The
Boston Platform of 1865, adapted)
At Anniversaries
Thank
you for inviting the National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches
to ___________’s ______anniversary. I am honored to bring you
greetings
from your sister Churches in the Association. My name is
________,
and I serve as ________________in the Association..
This
is a day when, I’m sure, you thank God for all the memories which
come
to mind of great people, Christ-like characters, and the cloud of witnesses
from
years gone by. For ____ years people have found solace, refreshment, peace, restoration, and challenges to service and
strength to render it.
Your
Association prays for you. May your enlarging past be an encouragement to the present and a prophecy of the
future. May God continue to use you in such a way
that __________Church may reach other such occasions celebrating who you are and whose you are.
(Fosdick’s A Book of Public Prayers, adapted)
A Church Visit
It’s an
honor to be worshipping with you this morning. And I thank your Minister
__________, for inviting me to say a few words. I greet you in the name of
Christ and on behalf of your sister Churches in the National Association of Congregational
Christian Churches. My name is ___________ and I serve as _______________in the
Association.
Ours is a
free-Church movement whose hour has come to be a light brigade in the
wilderness of large denominational bureaucracies, to offer Churches an Association which
respects autonomy, and encourages responsibility to each other, for the benefit
of all. Ours is a diverse fellowship which does not offer national
pronouncements on social theology, but encourages our Churches to engage in
honest and open dialogue so that their members may be empowered to live
responsible, just, and loving lives. Ours is an Association of 432
Churches in the Association from 39 states. Presently, there are 6 officers
from three states
Our
national office has a small staff of three executives and seven other staff in
the NA office. Much of our work is done by four divisions, a commission,
several standing committees, and several “task-oriented” committees. We are
proud to have over 100 talented elected and appointed leaders from 26 states on
our leadership team.
Thank
you for your prayers, your participation, and your contributions to our
work.
I
have brought some information about our Association and will be available during the coffee hour to answer any
questions you might have.
Dedication of a Wing and Building
Thank
you for the opportunity to bring greetings to you from your sister Churches of the National Association of
Congregational Christian Churches.
-a
new building is a sign of life, a sign that you are alive, that you are
growing,
that
you are insightful and visionary.
-a
new building is a vessel in which the people of God at ______________
Church
equip themselves for their ministry out “in the field.”
-a
new building can be beautiful, utilitarian, spacious, but ultimately, it is a
means
to
an end, and that end is changed lives of those you train and inspire,
and
with whom you share and fellowship within these walls.
May
your new building be rendered insufficient for breadth of your work in 10 years or less; or to put it another way, may
it be adequate for the immediate needs of
your congregation, but inadequate for the size of your faith.
March 04