PACIFIC SOUTHWEST REGION OPENS SEARCH FOR NEW LEADERSHIP

The Board and Search Committee invite nominations and expressions of interest for the position of Regional Minister(s) of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Pacific Southwest Region (PSWR). We seek the leader(s) who understand(s) the diverse and changing context of the church and society, and who can offer a clear vision for ministry that draws all to Christ’s Table. The position begins on or about September 1, 2019.

Regional Profile

The warm and vibrant church family within the PSWR celebrates diversity as its greatest strength and its greatest challenge. The area served by PSWR congregations includes 12 counties across portions of California, Nevada and Hawaii. Currently, we operate with a leadership model that has Co-Regional Ministers. In addition we have Associate Regional Ministers for youth/young adults and various ethnic ministries. In the past, the PSWR had one person serving as Regional Minister with some deployed staff.  We are open to God’s call for leadership of the PSWR, with no pre-conceived idea of the future ministry model. The full Regional Profile can be viewed here.

Nominations and Application Process

The Regional Minister Search Committee will receive nominations at PSWRsearch@gmail.com .

To assure full consideration, those interested in applying for the position must submit a letter of interest by November 9, 2018. In the letter, applicants should provide their personal characteristics, qualifications and/or experiences that meet the Preferred Skills and Preferred Experiences sections of the Position Description, which can be viewed here. In addition, applicants must include contact information where they wish to receive communications from the Search Committee. Letters should be sent to PSWR Search Administrator, 5225 Canyon Crest Drive., Ste. 71-711, Riverside, CA 92507 and electronically to PSWRsearch@gmail.com .

All applicants are required to provide updated profile information and letters of reference through the Search & Call process: https://www.discipleshomemissions.org/clergy/search-call/  The application period closes and all materials must be received by December 7, 2018.

This position is a six-year term with the possibility of a second six-year term for a maximum of twelve (12) years of total service.

The Story Behind the PSWR Immigration Immersion Project

Each year the Regional Youth and Young Adult’s ministry provide an immersion experience for young leaders to practice and engage the tools of faith they’ve gained from their training. This year we felt compelled to extend this opportunity to young adults from around the General Church – United States and Canada. In the past we have sent young people to unfamiliar areas of the world for most of us. When considering what unique opportunities we could host for folks from around our larger Church, it only seemed natural since we share a border with another country that we tackle issues of immigration and deportation.

With the support of a grant from the Oreon E. Scott Foundation, our region hosted a 10-day immersion experience for eight young adults, four youth, and a number of adults from around the PSWR. Five days of training were provided by immigration resource ministry Matthew 25, Obra Hispana National Pastor, Lori Tapia, our Associate Regional Minister, B. J. Barlow, and conversation that engaged perspectives on racism and cultural sensitivities. The other five days took participants across the US-Mexico border to visit border patrol agents, deported veterans, and our sister church Iglesia de Las Todas Naciones in Tijuana.

The results of this project are continuing to be revealed to us. Our hope is that with the gathering of resources, personal stories, and close encounters with our immigration system, these young leaders will work to provide support and services to immigrants throughout the General Church and beyond.

To hear the impact the program had on one participant, visit: https://youtu.be/4ciShEqHPg8 or watch the video below.

REGIONAL MINISTER SEARCH: RECAP OF THE SEARCH TO DATE

For the last four months, Regional Minister Search Committee members have been meeting with groups throughout the PSWR to listen and gather input about the Region and our future Regional Minister:

• 225 people in groups/committees of the Region were included in 23 meetings 
• 375 people attended 11 Region-wide congregational listening sessions from Hawaii to Las Vegas and Bakersfield to San Diego; 60% of attendees were from our Hispanic Convención churches 
• 60 responses have been received via the online survey. YOU CAN STILL PARTICIPATE! (http://www.disciplespswr.org/minister-search)
• Flyers were handed out about The Search at the National Hispanic Assembly, National African American and NAPAD Convocations to spread the word about our search on a national level
• Each church was mailed a hard copy letter encouraging people to take the on-line survey or attend a listening session
• The July and August E-Shout newsletters and Regional Facebook page included publicity about the online survey and participation in The Search process

The position description and Regional profile are being crafted based on the feedback received. They will be reviewed by a regional minister from another region, our denomination’s General Minister and President, Terri Hord Owens, and the PSWR Regional Board before the job opening is posted at the end of September 2018. If you know someone who should be considered for the position of the next PSWR Regional Minister, please give them the website above. 

September 24th Launch of the Certificate for Spiritual Entrepreneurship

We know you have heard bits and pieces from us and the PSWR about this new emerging discipline of Spiritual Entrepreneurship.  It is an exciting time to be on this side of the innovation curve and we are honored to be one of a few incubators in the country to be doing this work.  The PSWR is doing some amazing and innovative work and we are proud partners!  We just finished our April launch of our Certificate in Spiritual Entrepreneurship and we would like you, and maybe perhaps even your team, to think about being involved in the next launch coming September 24th.   

Within our Christian communities and congregations you can't help but be a part of conversations that are asking questions of what it means to move our faith into the future in ways that are transformational and meaningful.  At Hatchery LA we are an incubator for Spiritual Entrepreneurship and are asking what it looks like to innovate our theologies and methodologies in ways that are sustainable and viable for movement into the 21st Century.
 
With that being said we have teamed up with some friends to talk a little bit more about what this looks like.  We would like to invite you to a series of conversations in which we explore theological questions, dilemmas of practitioners and hear from some of our own Certified Spiritual Entrepreneurs.  Through this series of conversations we will be looking at some of the implications of moving faith into the future in ways that make sense theologically, spiritually and organizationally. 
 
This is completely free.  We just need you to sign up and you will have access to all three conversations when they are released starting September 6th.
 
Our conversation partners include Peter Rollins, Sue Phillips and Certified Spiritual Entrepreneurs.  Peter Rollins is a writer, philosopher, storyteller and public speaker who has gained an international reputation for overturning traditional notions of religion and forming “churches” that preach the Good News that we can’t be satisfied, that life is difficult, and that we don’t know the secret.  Sue Phillips is the Director of Strategy at the On Being Impact Lab, the founder of FAITHIFY, the first denominationally-affiliated crowdfunding site, and is the co-author with colleagues Angie Thurston and Casper ter Kuile of Faithful and Care of Souls which explore emerging models of spiritual innovation.   Finally, three Certified Spiritual Entrepreneurs from Hatchery LA’s Certificate in Spiritual Entrepreneurship program, Chaz Snider, Natasha Holmes and Alex Tan will be sharing about how the discipline of Spiritual Entrepreneurship helped move them forward in their ministry and in their own call and passions.    

Click here to learn more and sign up for free.  Looking forward to sharing these conversations with you!  And, more than that, exploring the intersections of Future and Faith!
 
See you soon!
Spencer Burke, Maria French and Barry Taylor
The Hatchery LA Team

MILE Marker #105

by Revs. Don Dewey and Susan Gonzales Dewey

James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Our predecessor Don Shelton used to write a column called Dawn Breakers, and it was about things he learned along the way that “dawned” on him. This last weekend, our congregation in Las Vegas held a memorial service for Rev. Steve Willis, their pastor, who died in a tragic accident on July 30th, 2018.  It was an emotional weekend for his wife, his family and his congregation and I want to share some of the things that “dawned” on us over the last month. 

The Pension Fund is our friend. If you work for the church in any way you are eligible to join the pension fund they not only provide a pension for church pastors and employees, but they stand ready to help out in time of tragedy and difficulty. 

Keep your paperwork up to date. If anything changes in your life setting make sure your pension fund papers and insurance and other legal documents are up to date. We all tend to feel immortal and do not want to think about our death but it will come, and almost always before we are ready, and sometimes it comes way to early. 

You might never know how many people you have touched and how deeply. Yes the sanctuary in Las Vegas was full even all the extra chairs, with family, congregation members, chaplain colleagues, and at least one young man who felt the Steve had been such an important part of his life growing up that he came from San Diego to just be with other people who loved Steve. On your worst day, remember that when you love people it impacts their lives in ways far beyond your understanding. 

Grief takes many forms and it takes as long as it takes for people to move to the new place in their lives. Some respond with anger and some just have to keep busy and some just fall apart and some just carry sorrow along with them. 

It is important to just stand with those who grieve. It might be at the service, yes it matters who shows up. It might be in the many days after and just be prepared to listen. Even when we know the one we love is in the arms of our loving God, our loss that they are not here to love us is still so painful and takes time to heal. 

Wilderness isn’t always a bad place to be. After a loved one is gone it often feels like we are in wilderness, alone and lost, but wilderness can also be a place to hear and see new things, and a place to listen for Gods voice and Gods calling. 

It is important to take time to laugh and to love while we are here. This is the only day we have.  And if God gives us a new day, give thinks.  

Together on the journey,
Don and Susan
Your Regional Ministers