~ Interesting year in Covenant church planting -- 12 new congregations joined -- probably the lowest number of new churches in years. Three of the congregations are former UCC churches. None of the churches which joined are really big. We have over the past few years had some very large congregations joining the Covenant. Eleven churches disbanded or withdrew.
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~ Don Johnson, sitting through reports at the Covenant annual meeting, notes, "The two impressions I received are that there is no one, strong driving vision, but a celebration of diverse and lcoal initiatives and organizational health. The other sense I receive as a middle-aged European-American is that we are not really needed. It is the chapter of ethnic and gender diversity dominates most agendas for leadership and placement."
Both have been true for some time. They are not necessarily bad things -- perhaps a swinging of the pendulum -- a corrective that will eventually find more correction as it swings back center. It's okay. There are plenty of opportunities to serve for those willing to think globally.
Don is a good source for unofficial perspective on the meeting.
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~ The Liebenzell USA clan has gathered at Schooley's Mountain, New Jersey. Melissa is blogging -- so is Dave.
~ The Church of the Nazarene seems to be in the process of redefining their central doctrine of entire sanctification out of existence. No great loss, I say, with an unsanctified grin.
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