Northwest Passage

May 2015

A newsletter of the Northwest Regional Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

PO Box 23819, Federal Way, WA 98093 Phone: (253) 893-7202

www.disciplesnw.org
SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION NOW AVAILABLE
REFLECTIONS ON THE JOURNEY
Building True Community - Part 2
Sandy Messick, Regional Minister

Last month my column focused on ways we are building

true community around the region through area
gatherings and other events. A helpful colleague
reminded me that there are numerous ways we are
building true community through the regular work and
ministry of the region. One example would be our InCare Committees operating under the direction of the
Commission on Ministry. In-Care committees are formed
to support ministerial candidates as they move through
the process of seeking ordination. Each In-Care team
includes a representative of the Commission on
Ministry, the minister and two elders from the
sponsoring congregation, an elder from another
congregation to represent the wider church, the regional
minister and of course the ordination candidate.
Sometimes, at the request of the candidate, others are
added to the team such as representatives from the
ecumenical or seminary community. These teams gather
regularly with the candidates in support,
encouragement and oversight as together they discern
Gods call for the individuals ministry. We currently
have 7 in-care teams operating with several more
candidates on the horizon. You can read about, and
offer your prayers for, our in-care candidates here:
http://www.disciplesnw.org/article/praying-our-carecandidates (Praying for each other is yet another way
we build true community!)
Our Ministry Teams are also examples of community as
they seek to provide opportunities for leadership
development and spiritual growth across the region.
These teams would include the New Church Team,
Regional Youth Commission, Youth Ministries Team,
Global Ministries Team, Turner Lectures Committee,
Transformation Resources Group, Commission on
Ministry, as well as the Mission Council and Regional
Board. When Im asked What is the Northwest
Region? my response is always, Not what, but who.
And all of us together are the Northwest Region,
building true community together.
Glad to be in ministry with you,
Sandy

Visit http://www.disciplesnw.org/ministry/nwrccsummer-camps to download your copy today! Campers

who attended last summer or who attended Winter
Retreat should receive a copy by mail, they can also be
requested at church offices.
Camp Roganunda- Naches, Washington
Junior Camp (Grades 4-6): August 3-8, 2015
Chi Rho Camp (Grades 7-9): August 3-8, 2015
CYF Camp (Grades 10-12 & Grads): August 3-8, 2015
Camp Gwinwood, Lacey, Washington
Kids Camp (Grades 2-3): July 6-9, 2015
Junior Camp (Grades 4-6): July 6-11, 2015
Due to a shortage of volunteers Gwinwood Chi-Rho and
CYF Camps will be combined with Roganunda Chi-Rho
and CYF this year. A letter about this decision was sent
to all NWCC congregations on May 13 and a letter to the
Gwinwood Campers is to be included with registration
forms .

YOURE INVITED

Sunday, June 7th

Worship and Appreciation Reception
honoring
REV. DR. MICHAEL KINNAMON, Ph.D
with
Welcome Table Christian Church
3201 Hunter Blvd. S, Seattle
Worship 1:30 PM
Reception 3:00 PM
Hosted by Welcome Table and
Disciples Outreach Team, School of Theology and
Ministry
On June 7th we will gather to
worship and celebrate the ministry of
Michael Kinnamon to our region over
the past three years.
Cards of appreciation are welcome
and in lieu of gifts, Michael requests
you donate to his chosen house of
worship, Welcome
Table Christian Church.

Northwest Passage
BUILDING TRUE COMMUNITY - BILL ROBEY,
NWRCC NEW CHURCH MINISTRY COORDINATOR
If you build it, they will come. That seemed to be a
truism and the mantra of most mainline denominations
(including the Disciples of Christ) during the first three
quarters of the 20th century. Then a disturbing trend
began during the last quarter of the century:
denominations kept on building churchesbut they
stopped coming. By the turn of the century a whole
generation (commonly known as Generation X) was, by
and large, no longer active in most mainline
congregations. The sociological, political, and economic
reasons for this trend are manifold, but suffice it to say
that most mainline churches were no longer viewed as
relevant by that missing generation.
Now many of the children of the Gen Xers, commonly
known as Generation Y or Millennials are reaching
young adulthood without having had the experience of
being raised in a family that participated in a traditional,
mainline faith community.
So does this mean that those Millennials are less inclined
to seek the Christian values of peace, social justice, nonviolence and inclusive community because they were
not raised in a Christian community of faith? The
contrary seems to be true. It seems that while many
mainline congregations have become insular
communities, these non-religious folks have been
actively pursuing the way of Jesus through social service
agencies and other non-governmental organizations and
activities that are not a part of the organized church. In
other words, while many traditional churches seem to
have lapsed into a self-absorbed stupor, God has
remained very active in the communities that exists
outside the walls of the church and Gods good work is
being done by many who would not call themselves
religious.
All that being said, the question before me is this: How
have I, as the Regional New Church Coordinator,
contributed to the development of true community in
the Northwest Region? To respond, I must first say that,
to me, true community means to be in communion not
just with those who regularly sit in the pews of our
Disciples congregations, but also with the abovementioned folks who are not part of traditional faith
community, especially those living on the margins of
society and those who seek to serve them.
My hope is that as we establish new Disciples
congregations in our Region, those faith communities
will seek to join in partnership with those who already
are doing Gods work in the communities where those

Northwest Regional Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

new congregations exist. By so doing, the DNA of our

new church plants will be infused with a sense of true
community. And, by doing so, those new church starts
will model what true community looks like for the
benefit of our existing congregations that struggle to
move out in ministry beyond the walls of their church
buildings.
Such certainly was the case with Open Gathering, a new
faith community planted three years ago. Guided by
pastor-planter J.C. Mitchell, Open Gathering focuses on
ministering to and with those living with circumstances
that make their inclusion in traditional worship settings
more difficult. Open Gathering is no longer a new church
plant, but rather a dedicated ministry of Bellevue
Christian Church as it seeks to foster true community in
the Bellevue area.
Such is the case with Everett Christian Church, a new
Disciples congregation being planted by pastors Rebecca
and Luke Sumner in north Everett. They have a vision of
a faith community that attempts to live out the Jesus
story on the streets of north Everett, bridging the gap
between rich and poor, offering physical and spiritual
space for those without homes, and asking what does
love look like in their daily livesand building true
community along the way.
Such will be the case in Walla Walla, when a new
Disciples faith community is planted there thanks to the
generosity and foresight of Central Christian Church in
Walla Walla.
So, yes, due to the dedication of Karen Nye (New Church
Team Leader), the Regional New Church Team, the
Empowerment Teams that provide support for our new
church planters, and those self-same new church pastorplanters, the new church ministry of the Northwest
Regional Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is
certainly fostering a sense of true community within the
Region. And I am glad to be a part of this ministry.
Thanks be to God!

CONGREGATIONAL FINANCE WORKSHOP

June 20, Memorial Christian Church, Ephrata
20+ people from 11 churches gathered on May 2 at FCC,
Kent for a workshop on Congregational Finances led by
Jennifer Prekeges, Dick Talley and Sandy Messick.
Participants reported that they found the information
helpful and worth giving up a Saturday to attend.
We will be offering a repeat workshop on June 20 form
10-3 at Memorial Christian in Ephrata. Cost is $12 and
includes lunch. Childcare is also available. Register here:
http://www.disciplesnw.org/article/congregationalfinances-workshop-moderators-and-treasurers

Northwest Passage
OUR REGIONAL FAMILY IN MINISTRY WITH OUR
NEIGHBORS
Our website now includes a calendar dedicated to listing
the ways our congregations are feeding and sheltering
our neighbors. It includes both a monthly calendar and a
pin map of locations. Click on events or on the pin map
to find out more information. Check it out: http://
www.disciplesnw.org/calendar/feeding_sheltering

DID YOU KNOW?

Online Giving is Available! You can give directly to the

region via the website. You can also set up a recurring
gift and change it at any time. https://
docgeneralassembly.webconnex.com/nwregion
Thank you for your generosity!

Dont see your ministry listed or need to add future

service dates? Email Sandy Messick
(smessick@disciplesnw.org) or Amber Saladino
(asaladino@disciplesnw.org).

Here is a sampling of whats going on around our regional Community of Communities. To add your congregations
story to this list, please email the Regional Office. Please limit your news item to 2-3 sentences (generally).
FCC, Bremerton - Reports their ministry to their neighbors includes providing meals for the Benedict House Shelter
during the first week of May. They also offer a Longest Night Vigil in December to remember those who have died while
homeless, as well as assisting in providing meals for youth through Coffee Oasis in Bremerton.
Othello Christian - Offers their Full Plate Cafe, a meal for anyone who is hungry, each Monday evening from 4:306:30pm.
FCC, Clarkston - Offers a community supper each Thursday at 5pm as well as participating in the Family Promise
program that houses homeless families in church buildings. This program is operating in several counties throughout
the state and a number of our congregations are participating as either host or support churches including: FCC, Mount
Vernon, Moscow, United, North Hill and Country Homes, Spokane.
FCC, Bellingham - Offers their Someone Cares monthly dinner on the Second Sunday of each month. In addition, they
have opened a clothing bank named Josephs Closet.
Christian Church of Waitsburg - has announced the retirement of their pastor, Mike Ferrians after 20+ years of
service to the congregation. They are currently in conversation about beginning the search for an interim pastor.

Northwest Regional Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)