Reflections on the 2014 Obra Hispana Assembly

The 2014 Hispanic Biennial Fellowship Assembly was July 16-19 in San Diego, CA. 

*The following article was produced by the General Church's Disciples News Service. To subscribe to their informative emails, click here.

Hispanic assembly time to celebrate faith

From the opening worship Wednesday to the banquet Saturday evening the assembly of Obra Hispana was a celebration of faith in Jesus - "Let's Celebrate What We Believe - Christ, Alpha and Omega". Animated preaching by National Pastor Huberto Pimentel, Dr. Samuel and Rev. Dr. Noemi Pagan was accompanied by lessons from the book of Revelation.

More than 120 volunteers from Casa de Oración in San Diego welcomed assembly-goers to the church, supplied valet parking, cooked and served gourmet meals, and provided energizing music for worship.

Samuel Pagan explained in a series of lectures that the texts, when viewed in their context, are not intended to cause anxiety, but rather bring hope, not judgment but salvation. He made his points with a gentle humor and candor.

They make room at the Hispanic Assembly to witness at the border. About 25 Disciples - both lay and clergy, local and general ministry staff - took time on Saturday to travel to the border with Mexico where they prayed on behalf of Central American children arriving at the border.Pastor Huberto Pimentel, prayed and commissioned them.   

Pimentel shared not only a sermon but also his personal reflections on the context of the ministry of the Central Pastoral Office for Hispanic Ministries. His message reminded the congregation of our mission to bring grace and truth to the broken by reflecting God's love in the world as Jesus did. In his report, Pimentel issued a call to the Hispanic churches to renew their relationships with both the Disciples and the Central Pastoral Office for Hispanic Ministries. He was forthright in laying out the financial situation and called for a youth development fund. Sadness at the departure or closing of 28 Hispanic congregations was shared. But he also lifted up in joy the growing vibrant churches, which included Casa de Oración, Coral Gables, Arise and others. Pimentel has announced his retirement in April 2016 prior to the next Hispanic Assembly.

And as with most meetings of this kind, there was business to be done and reports to be heard. Many general ministries as well as General Minister and President Sharon Watkins gave an accounting of their work and current initiatives. Reports from the Hispanic Conventions highlights were shared. Richie Sánchez, chairperson of the search committee for the next national pastor presented the names of the members and a projected timeline.

At Saturday's banquet, the assembly came together to celebrate and honor the following individuals with "Somos Uno" awards for their contributions to Hispanic ministries:

• Rev. Elizabeth Carrasquillo, advocate for Obra Hispana since inception
• Antonio "Tony" Rodriguez, second vice moderator for the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
• Pastor Isay Alvarez and the Primera Iglesia Cristiana de Vista, San Diego
• Rev. Mary Harris of Christian Theological Seminary

The Executive Hispanic Board of Directors was also installed on Saturday as part of the business section including: Rev. Joel Saucedo, Moderator; Pastor, Sammy Ramirez, Moderator Elect, Pastor Lori Tapia, Second Vice Moderator, Rev. Lorna Hernandez, secretary; Millie Semprit, sub secretary; Guillermina Percales, women's ministries vocal; Rev. David Cortez, vocal.

Visit the Obra Hispana webpage.

History + Polity at DSF - English + Korean Offerings

DSF (Disciples Seminary Foundation) will be offering Disciples History and Polity courses in both English and Korean in August.

The course being taught in English is August 13-16, Wednesday-Friday from 6:30-9:30PM and Saturday from 9AM-3PM at the DSF offices in Claremont. 

The course being taught in Korean is August 15-16 and August 18-19, Friday, Monday and Tuesday from 5PM-10PM, and Saturday 9AM-6PM at the DSF offices in Claremont.

This class will survey the history of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), from its foundings two centuries ago to the contemporary manifestations of the church. Emphasis will be placed on the context of American Christianity, the interaction of the church with the wider culture, and the establishment of the church within the western United States.

Although the class will provide a critical examination of the history, we will focus on the usefulness of Disciples history for understanding the denomination’s present and its resources for the future. The course will explore the present functioning of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in its congregational, regional, and general manifestations. We will also analyze the theological roots and developments of the Disciples tradition, and discuss directions of mission and ministry within the contemporary Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). 

This class will be offered in English and Korean. All candidates in the Disciples of Christ ordination process are required to complete a Disciples History + Polity course. At the end of the course, you will receive a certificate of completion. Be sure to file this certificate with Michel Johnson in the PSWR Office.

To register, visit dsf.edu/donate and "donate" the full tuition amount and then email info@dsf.edu to inform them of your donation/registration and direct your registration for the English Polity course or the Korean polity course.

Tuition cost and other information is provided below.

Stepping Deeper & More “Soul-Fully” Into Stewardship!

This article will provide all pastors and lay leaders with an update on Soul-Full and an invitation to participate in one or more of the Region’s dynamic stewardship education events scheduled for 2014.

Please find below a full list of stewardship events, ranging in topic from Creating a Culture of Generosity and Stewardship Planning 52 Weeks a Year, to Ministry, Mission & Money. Specialized topics focusing on Legacy Giving and Grant Writing will also be offered. In addition, the Region is excited to offer for all those interested in going green, our first ever, Creation Care Conference. 

We are thrilled to announce that leadership for these events will include: Bruce Barkhauer, the Director for the Disciples Center for Faith and Giving; Marilyn  Fiddmont, of the Christian Church Foundation; and, Nora Jacob, our very own, recent DSF, M-DIV graduate and grant-writing guru!

Clergy, you will be excited to know that CEU’s will be offered for each event.  

So, for all of you who have been asking for new and creative ways to bolster your stewardship understandings and programs, here are the perfect opportunities.  Pastors, this is also your chance to invite existing and potential lay leadership into a deeper understanding of what it means to be good Disciples stewards. 

Don’t wait, registration is only a call or click away, and seating is limited for some events.  You can register online at www.disciplespswr.org/ or by calling the Regional office at 626-296-0385. 

Now for the Soul-Full update, please read the following three paragraphs introducing how two congregations and one ministry group have begun getting involved.  

Story #1 comes from Pam Moore, Regional Board Moderator and pastor of the San Bernardino FCC. Pam connected her congregation to Soul-Full by sending me the following email:

Hi Dan, I visited our local UCC church on the day of their BIG yard sale.  I had them set aside all leftover shoes for me.  I now am the proud recipient of 8 boxes of shoes--not to mention the three bags that came out of Asa's room when he moved.  How do we get bags and materials for labeling these?  Pam

Story #2 is from Saundra Bryant of All Peoples Christian Center, who emailed me, “All Peoples would like to participate in the shoe campaign.  One of our board members would like to set up a receptacle at his office.  We can start with 20 bags.”

Story #3 comes from John Wolfersberger, former PSWR Regional Minister, who is now a member of the Redlands United Methodist Church. John called me last week to find out how to get his congregation involved with Soul-Full. This call led to Redlands UMC becoming our 1st ecumenical Soul-Full partner.  Their church will be sharing in Soul-Full as a way to fundraise for environmental upgrades on their congregation’s facility.

In closing, I want to share my favorite Soul-Full promotioal phrase to-date.  It comes from a member of the Redlands UMC who is challenging their people to participate by sharing the phrase, "Let someone else walk a mile in your shoes!"  

P.S. Ask your pastor about how your congregation is planning to participate in

Soul-Full Sunday, on, June 22, 2014!

   With Deep Gratitude for Gently Worn Shoes,

DanO (Oliver) - Your PSWR Minister of Stewardship and Giving

(Celebrating a Culture of Gratitude and Generosity in our Region and beyond!)

Disciples History + Polity Courses Offered at DSF - Fall 2014

This Fall, there are two History + Polity of the Christian Church courses being offered at Disciples Seminary Foundation in Claremont.

TAUGHT IN ENGLISH:

History and Polity of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
taught in English by Rev. Dr. Jon L. Berquist

Location:
DSF Offices
300 W. Foothill Blvd.
Claremont, CA 91711

Days & Times:
Aug 13-16, 2014
Wednesday - Friday, 6:30pm - 9:30pm
Saturday, 9am - 3pm

TAUGHT IN KOREAN:

History and Polity of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
taught in Korean by Rev. Dr. Timothy S. Lee, Rev. Young Jun Yang,  and in English (trans. into Korean by Rev. Young Lan Kim) by Rev. Dr. Jon L. Berquist, Rev. Susan Gonzales Dewey, Rev. Don Dewey

Location:
DSF Offices
300 W. Foothill Blvd.
Claremont, CA 91711

Days & Times:
Aug 15-16 & 18-19, 2014
Friday, Monday, & Tuesday, 5pm - 10pm (dinner break) 
Saturday, 9am - 6pm

Tuition:
Certification = $300
Continuing Education (1.5 CEUs) = $150

Registration:
Mail a check to cover tuition costs to Disciples Seminary Foundation and put "History & Polity, English/Korean" in the memo line. Or go online to dsf.edu/donate, "donate" the tuition amount, and email us at info@dsf.edu or call us at 909.624.0712 to let us know that the donation is payment for History & Polity, English or Korean.

Clergy CEU Opportunity - Moral Injury + Soul Repair

Moral Injury, Veterans of War, and Community Responsibility for Soul Repair

Instructor: Rev. Dr. Rita Nakashima Brock
Dates and Times:  There are two registration options:
a) 1 week course: July 14-18
b) 2 week course, including conference: July 14-23, 1:30-5:30 + conference July 24-26
Conference Only: See the Events page on this website for information about the Moral Injury CONFERENCE planned in conjunction with this course.  Registration for the conference only is available on the Events page.  1.5 CEUs may be awarded for conference participation.
Credits:   There are three options:
a)  1 week course:1.5 academic credits / 2.0 CEUs (20 contact hours)
b)  2 week course:  3.0 academic credits / 5.0 CEUs (50 contact hours)
Course Number: PSED-4010 (for credit) or PSED-0001 (for 2.0 CEUs)or PSED-0002 (for 4.0 CEUs)

Description: Recent works by Veterans Affairs clinicians have suggested that moral injury, which remains largely unaddressed, may be a greater factor than PTSD in alarmingly high veteran suicide rates (at least 3 times the general population). In examining the distinctions and relationship between the two and their relation to conditions of extremity in a number of professions, we will study aspects of moral formation in general and in military training, theological understandings of soul and conscience, affective neuroscience on empathy and ritual, the power of ritual in soul repair, and civilian moral responsibility for the aftermath of war. The goal of the first week of the seminar will be to study these ideas as they assist in helping communities in the work of soul repair after war, violence, and other conditions of extremity that challenge moral conscience. During the second week, participants will continue researching areas of interest with a focus on effective pedagogies for educating religious leaders and their communities, designing rituals for soul repair, and creating a two day conference to implement this work, not only in content, but also in conference design. The last two days of the course will be the conference itself.

Required texts: (Purchase here)

For any other questions Here is the link to the course. PSR would need to answer your questions.

 (http://www.psr.edu/summer)