Regional Synod News – September 2021

     NEWS

Dear Friends: Do you ever dread doing something you know you should do?  Do you ever find yourself thinking of all the negative things that could happen when you do those things you don’t want to do?  I’ve noticed this tendency in myself and others for quite awhile, but what I have always admired is the people who envision all the good that can come out of doing hard things.  There are some who see these as opportunities to pray, as opportunities to learn, as opportunities to stretch themselves.  I think most of us admire people like that – even sometimes calling them “saints” or “pillars of the church”.  Maybe some people are just wired differently and have an easier time with doing hard things, but maybe each of us can learn by doing.  Maybe each of us could notice when that feeling of dread pops up and use it as an opportunity to pray?  Maybe if we did that for a while, we might find ourselves more apt to see some good in the difficult things God places in our paths.
— Chad

General Synod 2021 will meet October 14–19 at the Westin La Paloma in Tucson, Arizona.  For prayer resources regarding General Synod, please click HERE.  To view the General Synod Workbook, click HERE.  If you are going to General Synod as a delegate this year, be on the lookout for a special lunch all the delegates from our region will be having.  Information will be available when you arrive.

The RSMA’s 2022 Compensation Guidelines are available HERE.  These guidelines are created by a team and then sent to all our classes for approval.

The RSMA and Churches Learning Change is partnering together to have 3 webinars this summer and fall to help churches engage difficult conversations in a healthier way. We believe these tools can help churches navigate not only denominational questions but also all aspects to church life where they may be disagreement.    The last one will be on Keeping Integrity in Hard Conversations and held on November 4 at noon Central.  Click HERE to bookmark the link for that conversation

Everybody Belongs, Serving Together – This comprehensive online guide to church accessibility and inclusive ministry will help your church embrace people with disabilities, not only as recipients of God’s love, but as partners in ministry. This guide features a plethora of new insights, resources, and tips for becoming an inclusive church.  Check it out by clicking HERE.

Discipleship Learning Community – The Reformed Church in America Discipleship team and Guiding Coalition invites you to join us as we partner with 3DM (3dmovements.com) in a 2-year Learning Community where teams from participating churches will journey together to build a disciple-making mindset and culture. Through four 1.5-day training immersions and weekly coaching, you’ll experience proven vehicles for discipleship and mission, evaluate your current realities of what is, and look to where God is calling your church into what could be and what will be. Register by October 1 HERE.

New Discipleship Tool – click HERE to read a blog post from the RCA’s Lead Coordinator for Discipleship and take the personal discipleship self-assessment.  This self-assessment may help kickstart your growth as a disciple of Jesus.

Free Christian Counseling for Pastors and Church Employees – The RCA’s Board of Benefits Services Employee Assistance Program provides free, confidential Christian counseling either at at an outpatient clinic in your area or via an online telehealth session.  Up to 3 sessions per issue are provided at no cost to any employee of an RCA church.  Some common issues addressed are depression, anxiety, work-related problems, marital issues, family issues, substance abuse, and others.  The 24 hour hotline number is (833) 244-2490.  For more information click HERE.

NEWS FROM CAMP MANITOQUA
To get the most up to date information about Camp Manitoqua, please check out their updates HERE.

How Mentoring Can Change Today’s Narrative of Young People and the Church –  Many congregations feel the absence of young people in their pews.  They aren’t just statistics, they are real people that are missed and loved.  Mentoring may be a help to your congregation as you seek to connect and for intentional relationship with those young people you are missing.

Seven Leadership Tactics To Accelerate Your Leadership Ability – This article from Forbes identifies characteristics that may encourage you to continue in areas you are already excelling in leadership and may show some areas where growth is needed.

3 Creative Approaches to Church Giving Online to Learn from Amazon – Amazon is undoubtedly the most popular shopping hub on the internet.  They are obviously doing something right!  This article helps us understand what Amazon focuses on and how it could pertain to not only online church giving but also the way our church sends emails and other communications.  It’s a help for all things online.

How to Win Over Your Most Difficult Church Members – What’s the difference between a “difficult person” in our church and an “antagonist”?  How can we work with (instead of against) difficult congregation members?  What are some strategies for better communication with specific kinds of difficult members?  Sam Rainer gives some good ideas in this article.