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In this issue: 2020 Moravian Seminary Graduates Caring for our pastors Sunnyside Freedom School A mission update ...and more!
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Moravian Crystal Company is pleased to present a collection of elegant renderings, highly detailed and produced in 3D laser engraved imaging into optical grade crystal. These unique gifts, designed in Winston-Salem, N.C., celebrate Moravian history, heritage and traditions. For more information or to order, visit www.moraviancrystal.com Moravian Crystal Company, Inc. 2150 Country Club Rd, Suite 248 • Winston-Salem, N.C. 27104 • (336) 306-5688
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The Moravian
On the cover: Leaves mark the passage of time in full color. Photo by Mike Riess
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11 A Moravian Education Our Lamb has conquered. Let us follow Him. In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, love God Creates. God Redeems. God Sustains. We Respond in Faith, Love and Hope.
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Recognizing the 2020 graduates of Moravian Theological Seminary
Moravians in Mission 8
Mission Update: Moravian Disaster Response/ COVID Aid
In Our Communities 11 Overcoming challenges at Sunnyside Freedom School 2020
Moravian Foundations 14 Loans offer Larger Life to Northern Province congregations
From Our Leadership 16 Responding to challenges with courage, creativity and faith
Moravian Music 18 Planning the 26th Moravian Music Festival
In Our Congregations
Visit our website at https://www.moravian.org. 20 Pastoral care—the other way around Letters to the editor, address 22 Quarantine sparks creative celebrations corrections, and other ...and more correspondence may be e-mailed to the editorial staff at 4 Ponderings: “...but a kind word cheers it up...” moravianmagazine@mcnp.org.
24 Official Provincial Elders’ News
26 Statistics of the Moravian Church, Northern & Southern Provinces Issue 5 • 2020
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PONDERINGS
“…but a good word cheers it up…”
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ike many, I look to the Moravian Daily Texts for daily inspiration. As part of the Daily Texts editorial team over the past decade, I have often been amazed at how the verses selected in Germany years earlier speak to the needs of today. And with the anxious times in which we live in 2020, I find myself finding greater meaning and comfort in the “daily message from God that’s new every morning.” The constant barrage of news from all corners of life makes finding peace of mind and optimism for the future quite difficult. I know many are feeling helpless to change what they see as the ills in our world. Anxiety and nervousness are the order of the day. But on Thursday, September 3, 2020, the word of God through Moravian Daily Texts delivered a spot-on message that helped strengthen my feeling that everything is going to be alright. The Old Testament verse for that day comes from Proverbs 12:25: “Anxiety weighs down the human heart, but a good word cheers it up.” Anxiety was, in fact, weighing on my heart (and I’m certain the hearts of many others) that day. The verse offered an answer to that anxiety: seek and share a good word with those around me and avoid negative or destructive conversation. But that day’s Texts didn’t stop there. It offered another answer for strengthening each other during these difficult times. From Ephesians, the New Testament verse read, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.” As I mulled that passage, I imagined where our world would be if more people from all walks of life lived this out – being kind, tenderhearted and forgiving in all aspects of their lives. It was a world I would really like to live in, a world that our actions can hopefully one day bring to pass. The Daily Texts on that Thursday – and many days before and since – offers solid guidance for living our lives, now more than ever. I hope you find that daily inspiration no matter how you receive the Daily Texts, whether from a printed book or the many digital venues where it is available. In this issue of The Moravian, you’ll read about this year’s Moravian Theological Seminary graduates, efforts to bring aid to Central America, community outreach in Winston-Salem, fun in Wisconsin, and ideas for helping your pastor. This issue also includes the statistics of the Moravian Church for 2019, which we print every year as a service to the Church. And our next issue of The Moravian will be focused on celebrating Christmas during these challenging times. By the time you read this, we may face even more challenges on local, national and global levels. Keep September 3 in mind: Be kind, forgive and find ways to lighten the anxiety with a—or the—good word. Peace,
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(ISSN 1041-0961 USPS 362600) November 2020, Vol. 51, No. 5 Publications Agreement No. 40036408 Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: OnTrac International, 41 Northern Stacks Drive, Suite 200 Fridley, MN 55421 email: file@ontrac.com Official Journal, The Moravian Church in North America, Northern and Southern Provinces Published eight times per year: Jan/ Feb, April, May, June/July, August, Sept./ Oct., November and December, by the Interprovincial Board of Communication, 1021 Center St., Bethlehem, PA 18018. Subscription rates: $15.00 per year, U.S.A. & Canada; $18.00 per year, all other countries. Individual copies available for $3.00 each. The Moravian is sent to the families of the Moravian Church as a privilege of membership. Periodicals postage paid at Bethlehem, PA. Circulation: 16,000 Postmaster please send address changes to The Moravian, 1021 Center St., Bethlehem, PA 18018. Continuing The North American Moravian, The Moravian and The Wachovia Moravian. Michael Riess, Editor Susan Kiefner, Communications Assistant Jill Bruckart, Customer Relations/Business Assistant Interprovincial Board of Communication Ginny Tobiassen, chair Terri Bischoff, Peggy Carter, Margaret Couch, Paul Knouse, Kat Lehman, Amy Linville, Dan Miller, Valerie Bean Wagner. Design by Michael Riess, IBOC. Address all correspondence regarding articles, subscriptions, or advertising to The Moravian, 1021 Center St., Bethlehem, PA 18018 FAX: 610.866.9223 Phone: 610.867.0594 800.732.0591 e-mail: moravianmagazine@mcnp.org www.moravian.org Contents © 2020, Interprovincial Board of Communications, Moravian Church in America. All rights reserved
The Moravian
A MORAVIAN EDUCATION
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Recognizing of the 2020 Graduates of Moravian Theological Seminary
ife as we knew it stopped very abruptly in March 2020. But what did not get derailed was the determination and forward motion of the seniors and faculty at Moravian Seminary. In response to the pandemic, all of our classes went online; counseling and church internships met virtually; masters’ theses were defended on Zoom; and 25 seniors rose to the occasion and completed degrees and certificates. This annual article typically recounts our commencement ceremony with its inspiring speeches, honorary awards and the uplifting emotion of the day. Instead, the conclusion of Moravian Seminary’s 213th year was punctuated with congratulatory videos, Facebook posts honoring each graduate, and the mailing of diplomas and graduate awards. Our seniors requested that we postpone their commencement ceremony until we could
Issue 5 • 2020
gather as a community in person. We remain hopeful and continue to plan to honor our 2020 graduates in person in May 2021, in tandem with our 2021 graduates. Though disappointing to have not held a commencement ceremony, we are pleased to highlight the Moravians who completed their degrees and certificates during the unforgettable year of 2020, and share the positions they have accepted and their unfolding plans. Linda Wisser, from the Emmaus Moravian congregation and former pastoral assistant there, earned the Master of Divinity degree and was installed as pastor of East Hills Moravian Church in Bethlehem in September. Linda was the recipient of the Moses Homiletics Prize which is granted to the member of the graduating class who has excelled in preaching and practical pulpit work. (Continued on next page)
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Since this year’s graduates weren’t able to assemble for a commencement photo, Seminary staff assembled this composite to commemorate the class of 2020.
Seminary
(Continued from previous page)
Earning her second degree from the Seminary, Desna Henry Goulbourne completed a Master of Arts in Chaplaincy and will continue to serve as pastor of the United Moravian Church in New York City. Desna received the Bender Memorial Prize in recognition of her gifts and skills for serving in ministry in the Moravian Church. Paul Silwamba received a Master of Arts in Theological Studies and has returned to his home in Zambia. He hopes to use the work from his master’s thesis to make a positive impact on his community. His thesis, “The Bible Fighting Hunger in African Households,” laid out a theological rationale for how the Moravian Church in Zambia could help Africans work 6
together over the long-term to mitigate hunger problems instead of turning to short-term solutions that foster continued dependence on external agencies and Western aid. Berjanelle Budier was one of eleven graduates in the Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling program. A Moravian who is originally from Bluefields, Nicaragua, she accepted a position prior to graduation as clinician at CONCERN Behavioral Health Services in Bethlehem, Pa. Every other year, a cohort of students in the Spiritual Direction Intensive program complete the certificate program. Three of the five individuals who completed the program are Moravians with deep roots in the Moravian Church and the Seminary and look to incorporate spiritual direction into their ministries. Linda Unser, who earned the Master of The Moravian
Arts in Theological Studies in 2017, provides spiritual direction and a monthly column in the newsletter of her home congregation, Emmaus Moravian Church. A retired pastor with degrees in Theological Studies and an MDiv, the Rev. Maggie Wellert uses this learning when offering support to others. The Rev. Jennika Borger, who earned the Master of Divinity in 2001, infuses much of this experience into her work as Chaplain at Moravian College and Moravian Theological Seminary. Two students who will complete their Master of Divinity degrees in 2021 were recipients of awards. Charlie McDonald, pastoral intern at Emmaus Moravian Church, received the Hamilton Biblical Language Prize for outstanding work in Hebrew. Scott Rainey, who is the music director, organist, and pastoral intern at Bethania Moravian Church, received the Frueauff Memorial Prize for his outstanding research and class work in Moravian history. Congratulations to our 2020 graduates and award recipients, the nine Moravians mentioned here, as well as the 18 other graduates who make up our school’s rich tapestry of
faith traditions and humanity. Our graduates truly rose to the occasion as their last semester turned upside down. Acknowledgement also needs to be given to our faculty who had to switch their lesson plans and course delivery from in-person to online within a window of 10 days. We continue to offer all of our courses online, which increases accessibility and safety, yet decreases the in-person connection that had been the hallmark of Moravian Seminary. Our faculty continue to seek the most creative and effective ways to marry the interpersonal and academic aspects of theological education in our virtual spaces. Our goal remains, especially now in a world fractured by a global pandemic, divisive politics, and social unrest, that we have provided the foundation for our graduates to offer a fearless, grace-filled, God-centered presence to individuals in their care. n Jane Weber is director of administration at Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
2020 Moravian Seminary Graduates Moravian Theological Seminary attracts students from many places and many denominations. Here are this year’s graduates. Master of Divinity Linda Wisser (Moravian), Coopersburg, Pa. • Jane Matsinger (UCC), Coopersburg, Pa. • Kristina Geer (UCC), Nashwauk, Minn. Master of Arts in Chaplaincy, Desna Henry Goulbourne (Moravian), New York City, N.Y. • Colleen Smith (Lutheran), Northampton, Pa. Master of Arts in Theological Studies Victoria Aitchison (Episcopalian), Bethlehem, Pa. • Lisa Johnson (Presbyterian), Allentown, Pa. • Jessica Morris (Nondenominational), Shillington, Pa. • Paul Silwamba (Moravian), Mpulunga, Zambia Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling Jerome Bell (Lutheran), Portland, Ore. • Berjanelle Budier (Moravian), Bluefields, Nicaragua • Charles Gardner, DVM (Methodist), Orefield, Pa. • Angela Kelly, Brooklyn, N.Y. • Ilia Morales (Lutheran), Breinigsville, Pa. • Diomarys Nunez , Bethlehem, Pa. • Jackie Ré (Methodist), Blairstown, N.J. • Alexandrea Scirrotto, Bethlehem, Pa. • Christina Siewert (Methodist), Downington, Pa. • Colleen Ann Torrey (Catholic), Clinton, N.J. • Angela York Crane (Quaker), Philadelphia, Pa. Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Direction, Jennika Borger (Moravian), Palmerton, Pa. • Miriam Martin (Catholic), Hellertown, Pa. • Karen Sensenig (Mennonite), Ephrata, Pa. • Linda Roth Unser (Moravian), Emmaus, Pa. • Margaret Wellert (Moravian), Bethlehem, Pa. • Jessica Morris (Nondenominational), Shillington, Pa. , Issue 5 • 2020 7
MORAVIANS IN MISSION
This issue’s highlight:
Moravian Disaster Response/COVID Aid
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s the calendar turned from 2019 to 2020, none of us could have imagined how a virus would have gripped every corner of God’s earthly kingdom. At first, we thought this might cause us a month or two of inconvenience – it has become far more than that. When it became apparent the virus would impact us for some time, the Board of World Mission decided to offer $200 grants to congregations and agencies in the Northern and Southern Provinces. These grants were to help pay for adjustments in putting their worship services and meetings online using streaming services or Zoom. To date, The BWM has assisted 63 Moravian congregations and agencies, amounting to over $14,000. Some congregations have also used the money for things like feeding programs in their communities. COVID-19 is now impacting our Moravian brothers and sisters in Latin America as case 8
MISSION
UPDATE counts continue to rise in a part of the world that does not have the healthcare infrastructure we take for granted in North America. To date, we have sent COVID-19 aid to Honduras (Unity Province), Honduras (Mission Province), Peru and Cuba. A grant of $55,000 was used to purchase medical and protective equipment, hygiene kits and food for the La Mosquitia region in Honduras for use at the Ahuas Clinic and 50 other medical stations. Among the items purchased and shipped were oxygen concentrators, respiratory nebulizers, non-touch thermometers, pulse oximeters, oxygen flowmeters and N-95 masks. We thank the Rt. Rev. Sam and Lorena Gray for overseeing the process of items being purchased, shipped and properly distributed. Sister Lorena was able to help with the packing in Winston-Salem, N.C., and being at the distribution point in Belen, Honduras. We also The Moravian
thank Dr. John Arrowood and Dr. Benno Marx for their expertise in helping us to know just what needed to be purchased. On October 13, 2020, a dedication service was held in Belen before the materials were distributed to their final destination. The pandemic will continue to require us to be attentive to needs and respond with aid for some time to come. We continue to solicit donations to the MDR fund to ensure that we can meet the needs of those who are impacted by calamity. It has been a very busy hurricane season, but we are thankful that none, so far, have been catastrophic. We thank all those who have so generously supported the Disaster Response Fund. Lives are being saved. The new Antioch Leadership Cohort The purpose of the Board of World Mission of the Moravian Church, North America is to “Build relationships through Mission Outreach and Mission Engagement while being faithful to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.” Relationships are built through trust and partnership.
The BWM also emphasizes the importance of education, training and developing relationships as individuals and teams prepare for service and then serve with ministry partners who have extended an invitation to the BWM to support efforts in many locales of the Moravian landscape. These tenets of the BWM will be put into action through the Antioch Leadership Cohort. The Cohort has been developed to intentionally engage with individuals seeking greater awareness and a more comprehensive and informed way of serving as an expression and responsibility of their faith. Participants will be encouraged to work with their pastor or a congregational leader to play an active role in the yearlong process. The process includes online education and meetings, the reading and discussion of written resources and concepts, as well as the development and implementation of an action plan that is based upon the values of the Moravian Church and will contribute to the greater good of humanity. More information about the Cohort will be available soon. (Continued on next page)
Left: Lorena Gray helps organize a shipment of medical supplies in Winston-Salem, N.C. RIght: Boxes are carried over land to locations in Honduras. On previous page: supplies are loaded onto a boat to reach their final destination.
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Mission Update
(Continued from previous page)
If you are interested in participating or have questions about the program, please contact Jill Kolodziej at jill@moravianmission.org. Report from the Colegio Moravo in Bluefields, Nicaragua For almost 100 years, the Moravian school known as the Colegio Moravo has been educating young men and women from up and down Nicaragua’s east coast. It has a wonderful history and many distinguished alumni who are now making a positive impact in the world. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the school to change many of its teaching techniques, but they are making the most of the situation. What follows is a portion of the report that Allan Budier Bryan, principal of the school, sent to the Board World Mission: “We reopened the doors of our school on August 24 with students in tenth and eleventh grades. On September 21, we divided the classes (50%) from 7th to 9th grades. The first group comes on Monday and Tuesday and the second group on Wednesday and Thursday. Thank God, as of this moment we have had satisfactory results: we are taking all necessary precautions, and we have had the support
from our teachers, parents and students. Our kids were out of classes for five months. During this period of time, they were receiving classes through hand-outs, WhatsApp, and a few through classroom platform. As of this moment, we have 492 students; 90 percent are currently receiving classes in their respective classrooms. The Colegio Moravo depends solely on school fees in order to meet our responsibilities with the personnel and comply with our responsibilities with other institutions (light, water, phone bills and maintenance). The Government pays seven teachers while the school pays 24 (including administrative and support personnel). The monthly school fees are C$650.00 (six hundred and fifty Córdobas), which is equivalent to $18.90 USD. We are grateful to everyone who has contributed by offering scholarships to students. This has made a significant difference in the life of many kids and their families.” n The Rt. Rev. Chris Giesler is director of mission engagement for the Board of World Mission.
The Colegio Moravo in Bluefields, Nicaragua, has seen impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic but are making the best of the situation..
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The Moravian
IN OUR COMMUNITIES
Overcoming challenges at Sunnyside Freedom School 2020
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or the last several years, Trinity Moravian Church has been the site for Sunnyside Freedom School. This six-week summer school program is sponsored by the Children’s Defense Fund and organized and run locally by Anthony’s Plot, an emerging ministry in Winston-Salem, N.C. Like most other things in 2020, Freedom School was very different this year! With creativity and dedication, the team behind this remarkable program overcame significant challenges to keep this remarkable program alive and well this summer. The CDF Freedom Schools program enhances children’s motivation to read and makes them feel good about learning. At the same time, the program connects families to the right resources in their communities. Freedom School students engage in a researchbased, multicultural Integrated Reading Curriculum that supports them and their families This exciting and vibrant program is a mix of school summer camp and Vacation Bible Issue 5 • 2020
School. There is lots of singing, energetic music in the style the kids like, hands-on learning activities and lots of reading and spelling. Because most of the children in Freedom School are people of color, there is a strong effort to find age-appropriate books that feature black and brown children that look like them – something that often doesn’t happen in traditional school curriculum. Community leaders ranging from the mayor to the local pastor (me) come each morning to kick off the day reading a story to the children, then answering their questions and learning how to do a little dance with them! The basic program focuses on reading skills but has expanded over the last three years to include STEAM: science, technology, engineering, arts and math. Last year a genuine rocket scientist taught the children how to build and launch their own rocket, while this year a graphic artist taught a class the principles of artistic design. (Continued on next page)
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Freedom School
(Continued from previous page)
But Freedom School also involves lots of “being together” for the staff and kids—something that was suddenly off the table with the COVID-19 pandemic. The unexpected challenge this year was how to retool Freedom School to keep the children and staff safe and respect the restrictions imposed by the State of North Carolina in “Phase 2,” requiring masks, social distancing, no meetings inside of more than ten. For a time, it seemed like Freedom School 2020 might not happen. Pastor Russ May, the co-founder of Anthony’s Plot and sort of the “principal” of Freedom School, had to scramble to figure out a new model that would provide the same benefits to the children, yet keep everybody safe. Fortunately, the Children’s Defense Fund leaders provided a lot of resources and advice, and together they were able to create a safe Freedom School for COVID-tide. Similar to the local schools, the plan was to piece together a mix of distance learning and limited in-person learning. Donors provided
funds for iPads for each child; if the children successfully completed the program, they were allowed to keep the iPad. But in a population that is struggling financially, the other daunting issue was facing the “digital divide” – few poor families have broadband internet! Hotspots were purchased to provide internet access for those who did not have it in their home. The teaching plan was revamped to work over distance learning – not as effective or exciting, but every effort was made to bring the same energy to the online sessions as existed in the in-person sessions. Each class would come into the building once a week to meet in person with the mentor-teacher. The rest of the week, they would meet virtually. Classrooms were decorated with themes to make the spaces interesting and to place a bit of “learning” on each wall. The in-person meetings were carefully structured so that each child wore a mask, social distancing was observed, and careful precautions were taken to sanitize surfaces between meetings. As most of us have found over the last months, observing these precautions can be very time-consuming,
Freedom School classrooms were decorated with themes to make spaces interesting and to place a bit of “learning” on each wall.
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The Moravian
and often get in the way of the way we would normally do things. The mentor-teachers were all very faithful and careful in sanitizing surfaces and keeping kids at social distance, something that requires constant reminders, especially with younger children! Challenges were constant. As any teacher these days can tell you, one of the main themes that emerged were the constant technical issues. Zoom wouldn’t connect to the audio, someone’s camera wouldn’t work, the internet was sometimes overburdened and dropouts were common. Trinity Moravian Church is wired for high-speed internet access in the office and fellowship hall, where “connected” meetings and seminars are often held, but the signal did not reach reliably to the third and fourth floors, where many classrooms were located. A decision was made to use some of the AT&T hotspots in that area, which worked pretty well until the hotspots reached a data cap and went into “throttling” mode, where the speed is reduced drastically. The slow speed could not accommodate the multiple video streams needed for Zoom. Russ May and Pastor Jackman scrambled to run a temporary cable to the third floor and install a new internet router for those classrooms. Then halfway through the program, the big challenge dropped out of the blue. One of the college interns tested positive for COVID-19. There were plans in place for this eventuality, but it was one everyone hoped to avoid. The planned emergency procedures were put into effect. All classes went fully virtual, with children isolated at home. Contact tracing checked who had been near to the intern during the previous week. The end result was that the mentor-teacher recovered, and none of the other staff or students contracted the virus. The big closing program for Freedom School, when certificates and awards are
Issue 5 • 2020
passed out, is a well-attended event usually held in the Reich Fellowship Hall at Trinity. Since that was out of the question, the closing was moved into the parking lot to be held outdoors. To add to an already difficult year, this exciting closing event was washed out at the last minute by one of the worst thunderstorms we’ve had in a long time – roads and yards were flooded, trees were downed and no one with sense was outside. The certificates and awards had to be hand-delivered to each home. It was exciting that with only one exception, all of the students completed the program successfully and were allowed to keep their iPads! This has been a challenging year for churches and ministries in every way. But Freedom School 2020 is a testimony that the challenges can be overcome—and in that, the values of Comenius and education are living values today! n The Rev. John Jackman is pastor of Trinity Moravian Church in Winston-Salem, NC
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MORAVIAN FOUNDATIONS
Loans offer Larger Life to Northern Province congregations
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his year, the Larger Life Foundation of the Northern Province (LLF) celebrates its 100th anniversary of providing financial support to core agencies and individual congregations in the U.S. and Canada. Previous articles in The Moravian during 2020 describe the 100 year history of the Foundation, and illustrate Larger Life’s support for Moravian core agencies. Initially, the Foundation’s assistance was in the form of specific amounts paid yearly to core agencies such as The Board of World Mission and The Moravian Open Door. In 2011, the Foundation began making outright grants to a number of Northern Province congregations and ministries, as determined by the board of trustees of the Foundation. For many years, Larger Life has made loans available to individual congregations. From 1987, the earliest year for which there are accessible records, to the present, Larger
Life has made 29 loans to 22 churches in the Northern Province, totaling nearly $800,000. Larger Life Loans The loan program is designed to assist Northern Province congregations with “big ticket” capital projects, such as renovations, new building and expansion, and acquisition of land and/or buildings. It is not designed to support operating expenditures or shortterm, smaller-cost projects. “The Larger Life Foundation assisted Millwoods Community Church in providing funds for the purchase of a parsonage when a new pastor who was answering the church’s call required a parsonage,” said David Jones, board vice-chair for Millwoods, located in Edmonton, Alberta. “The previously-owned parsonage had been sold in order to raise funds for sanctuary renovations. Hence time was of the essence, and the Foundation came through with the needed support. “We repaid the Foundation’s loan well in advance of the 20-year term. We were very
The Larger Life Foundation has made 29 loans to 22 to churches in the Northern Province, totalling
NEARLY $800,000 since 1987.
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The Moravian
grateful that the LLF funds were available it is so beneficial to have this opportunity in the Moravian family.” It should be noted that Millwoods repaid the $75,000 loan in full within three years, 17 years ahead of schedule! As of June 30, 2020 there were ten loans outstanding, representing borrowings by Northern Province Moravian congregations in five states, the District of Columbia and Alberta, Canada. The borrowed funds in these loads were used for projects like modifications of the church building for handicapped accessibility, purchase of a parsonage and emergency asbestos removal as part of a larger renovation project. The range of loans among this group of borrowing congregations was from $6,900 to $141,788, for a term of between five and 20 years. LLF Loan considerations The maximum amount which can be borrowed is 75 percent of the total project cost, and in no event can the loan exceed $200,000. The maximum repayment period is 20 years. The annual interest rate for any loan is a variable rate established every April 1st, tied to the 10-year T-bill interest rate. Although the rate is variable, it can never be higher than the rate existing at the time the loan was made, plus 6 percent; the 2020 2021 rate is a very low 7.5 percent (1.5 percent T-bill rate plus 6 percent LLF). As an example, if a loan were approved this year, say for a 20-year term, the interest rate for the entire 20 years could never be higher than 7.5 percent per year, even if the actual T-bill interest rate increased beyond 7.5 percent over the course of the 20 years. As a first step, after the congregation’s
Issue 5 • 2020
own internal approval process has been completed, the congregation must obtain District and Northern Provincial approval before filing the application with Larger Life. Every application is reviewed by the Larger Life board of trustees, but the board “meets” with some frequency by telephone, hence the turnaround time on an application is usually brief. Sometimes, the board’s decision isn’t a simple “yes” or “no,” but rather the board may decide to grant a portion of the request. The loan policy of the Foundation, as established by the board of trustees, as well as the application form to be used in seeking a loan, can be found on the Foundation’s recently renovated website at largerlifefoundation.org. Simply go to the “Loans to Ministries” page, and you will find this information. For additional information on applying for a loan, contact Tammy Curcio, Treasurer, 1020 Center Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018. You can also contact Tammy by phone at 610-867-7566, Ext. 17, or via e-mail at llf@mcnp.org. It is a good idea for any congregation contemplating seeking a loan, particularly for the first time, and before taking any formal steps toward seeking approval, to communicate first on an informal basis with Tammy in order to make the process as smooth as possible. n Jim McMahan is a trustee of The Larger Life Foundation and member of Calvary Moravian Church, Allentown, Pennsylvania
15
FROM OUR LEADERSHIP
Responding to challenges with courage, creativity and faith
M
y journal entry from January 1, 2020 read, “Thank you, God, for a new year – and all of the opportunities it offers. Opportunities about which I know nothing. Challenges that lie before me. I’m glad I don’t know the challenges or the risks, but I know there will be many. How I respond to them is the act of faith….” I could not possibly have imagined how prophetic those words would become as the world was plunged into the COVID-19 pandemic. There have been challenges and risks in abundance; there have also been opportunities beyond numbering. How we, as the church, have responded has become the act of faith and the witness of God’s guidance and grace. How did the church respond? During the week of March 9, as news of COVID spread, I spoke with the province’s IT Manager and said, “Whatever else you have been working on, stop now and begin doing whatever it takes to prepare our staff to work from home.” That Friday, March 13, the staff at 1021 Center St. did a “practice” work-from-home so that we would be ready in case we had to close the office. We have not yet returned 100% to the building as of October 1. That same week, Justin Rabbach and Dan Miller, founders of Moravian Church Without Walls, asked if I would preach on March 15, via Zoom, as the world started shutting down and staying at home. That first worship service was a bit rough around the edges; its very imperfection was a gift to pastors and leaders who were emboldened to take a risk and give Zoom worship a try.
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Since that week, I have watched every corner of the church respond to challenges with courage, creativity and faith. The provincial staff, using their personal computers, learned how to work from home and continue to serve the wider church. The Interprovincial Board of Communication began making resources available online, as they researched every possible liturgy and hymn that was not copyright protected. The Board of World Mission made $200 grants available to any congregation who applied; many used the funds to purchase Zoom accounts or buy extra paper and stamps to communicate more thoroughly with parishioners. The Moravian Music Foundation curated
The Moravian
resources that they could make available for online sharing – videos of music performances and hymns they could generate digitally. Over the course of one weekend, the Moravian Ministries Foundation in America made their online giving portal available to every congregation in the US so that parishioners could continue to support their congregations while staying at home – without charging a user-fee. The Northern Province Archives began collecting communications and material that would record for future historians how the church responded to the 2020 pandemic. The Provincial Elders’ Conference met weekly to pray for our pastors and churches and to review health and government guidelines to offer recommendations and resources to congregations. We made the what-seemed-impossible at-the-time decision to urge congregations to cease in-person worship. In just four days, bishops and PEC prayerfully discerned that allowing for virtual Holy Communion, something that would have been unimaginable before COVID, would build up the Body of Christ. People more knowledgeable about Zoom, Facebook Live, and YouTube helped others figure out new communication platforms. We offered three opportunities a week for clergy to gather on Zoom, for spiritual conversation offered by Moravian clergy spiritual directors, along with Bible Study or updates and fellowship time. In each case, clergy gathered together with colleagues who were geographically distant but became spiritually closer. Pastors and congregational leaders prayerfully made difficult decisions to close their buildings while keeping the ministry of their churches open—and even expanding opportunities for worship, outreach and direct help for neighbors. Pastors and musicians offered daily meditations from home – not afraid to try new things and not afraid to be less-than-perfect. As weeks turned into months, attendance increased through online worship. Pastors Issue 5 • 2020
preached from pulpits to empty pews but full communities of faith. Sunday worship offered by Moravian Church Without Walls traveled throughout both provinces, exposing all of us to preachers and worship spaces that were beyond geographical reach to most of us. Slowly, plans evolved for gatherings in person – in parking lots with FM transmitters, on church lawns, with masked soloists, drop-off boxes for offerings, and bring-your-own lawn chairs. Trustees purchased hand sanitizer, removed Bibles and Hymnals from pews and created distanced seating for safe-sanctuary worship. Pastors are already working together to plan for Advent and Christmas. Meetings are being held, workshops are being offered, opportunities are available to folks who would not have been able to travel to an event held in person. The church continues to proclaim the Gospel in new and incredibly creative ways. The challenges brought opportunities that few of us would have experienced without the crisis of COVID. The words from my journal entry are being lived out by all of us – offering our gifts for the sake of the world. If we change the pronouns in my journal entry from singular to plural, it becomes both a prayer and a witness: “Thank you, God, for a new year – and all of the opportunities it offers. Opportunities about which we know nothing. Challenges that lie before us. We’re glad we don’t know the challenges or the risks, but we know there will be many. How we respond to them is the act of faith….” The church will continue to face challenges and risks. The church will continue to discover opportunities in the midst of those challenges. The church will continue to respond with faith – to bless God’s world. Thanks be to God. n The Rev. Dr. Betsy Miller is president of the Provincial Elders’ Conference, Moravian Church Northern Province.
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MORAVIAN MUSIC
Christian Hearts in Love United
Planning the 26th Moravian Music Festival Every four years, the Moravian Music Foundation brings together musicians, composers, vocalists and music enthusiasts for a week of learning, concerts and, of course, singing and playing. But with the uncertainty of the COVID pandemic, the Music Foundation is taking a different tack for its 2021 Festival. Erik Salzwedel, business manager for the MMF, shares this: Next summer, we will gather to share and learn about Moravian music, without the limits of time and place. The Festival Planning Committee and Moravian Music Foundation staff are working to re-imagine a Festival in July, 2021 with a wealth of online content and connectivity, both live-streamed and pre-recorded, including concerts, rehearsals, workshops, lectures, lessons, master classes, social events, round tables, collaborations and much more, with special content and activities for youth and children! Since we will not have the usual opportunities for in-person concerts and recitals the 2021 Festival will be more focused on learning and sharing. In July of 2021, we will join our voices and instruments in music and worship, r e m o t e l y, along with 18
Moravian and non-Moravian sisters and brothers of all ages, musicians and music-lovers from across the continent and around the world, as we share our love of the Savior, joy of music, along with enhanced learning and the hard work of preparation, in a wide variety of online and live experiences. Then in July of 2022, the Festival Committee is optimistically making plans to then convene a shorter in-person Festival in Bethlehem, Pa., for live performances of some of the music learned the previous summer. More details to come. Watch www.moravianmusicfestival.org for Festival updates and registration information. More about the Festival The purpose of a Moravian Music Festival is to provide opportunities—both in-person and online—to learn about and enjoy the Moravian musical heritage while obtaining the guidance needed to better interpret this music; and to foster the development of music and worship leadership skills through seminars, workshops, and participation in choral and instrumental groups with the goal of enriching the life of local congregations. The Festival is a ministry of the Moravian Church, meeting the spiritual and The Moravian
fellowship needs of its members; and is a forum for the discussion of current research on Moravian music. It is a vehicle for sharing the rich musical heritage and culture of Moravian communities with the music world at large. Normally, we would convene in Bethlehem in 2021, however, due to the pandemic, singing and playing instruments and congregating in closed quarters has been determined to carry certain risks. Instead, you will be able to enjoy an enhanced Festival online, with digital content, remote connectivity and a variety of recorded and livestreamed music. Digital music experiences will allow for more equitable access to more activities than ever before! With the 26th Festival not in one fixed location, the opportunities to participate will be less expensive; requiring no travel, meal or housing arrangements. An online format will no longer be limited to those in one location, but be available to the worldwide community. Most of the activities and events will be scheduled during the week of July 18 – 24, 2021. But, there will be links and opportunities, rehearsals, classes, programs, etc. scheduled prior to Festival week. As well, most of the
content will be available to view well after the Festival week. Festival Seminars and Workshops are designed to broaden the knowledge and appreciation of Moravian music. A variety of topics provide historical background as well as useful “how to” techniques to improve one’s musical abilities. A local arrangements committee, ably chaired by Hank Naisby, is working diligently to make sure that every aspect of your Festival experience is exceptional! Music leaders, John Sinclair (chorus) and Allen Frank (band) are involved in all the planning and are contributing their guidance to ensure a musically enriching experience for participants and audiences. We encourage each congregation to consider providing continuing education support for pastors and church musicians to attend Festivals. Further information and registration forms will be available by the end of 2020, and be sure to check our website frequently for updates. Registration information is forthcoming. Participants in choral and band programs, other ensembles, workshops, and the children and youth programs will be asked to register. Concerts and services will be free and accessible by the general public. n
What you can do now Record your musical group and submit videos to Erik Salzwedel (erik@moravianmusic.org). Volunteers are needed to assist the Festival Committee, especially in the social media and technical realm. Issue 5 • 2020
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IN OUR CONGREGATIONS
Pastoral care – the other way around …or, how to care for your pastor during these different days
This article is the result of conversations during a recent “Office Hours” online gathering sponsored by the Southern Province Board of Cooperative Ministries. The Rev. David Guthrie, the Rt. Rev. Carol Foltz, and the Rev. Dr. Nola Knouse were the “panelists,” joined by several other participants added very helpful comments. These days—these months—are unlike anything in our previous experience. As none of us has experienced a pandemic before, our pastors have never had to do ministry under such unusual circumstances. They’ve spent years learning how to communicate from the pulpit; now that pulpit has been, and remains for many, via livestream, YouTube, or video conferencing. They’ve received energy from the congregation during worship services; now they cannot see the faces and body language of
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the worshipers. They’ve developed a depth of experience in face-to-face interaction, at the bedside, in the hospital, at the church door; those interactions are now severely limited or absent. They’re used to working 50 to 60 hours a week, in ministry that is demanding in the best of circumstances. The fatigue factor is very real, in learning new things and adapting to unfamiliar technology. “Zoom gloom” and “Zoom fatigue” are very real. Now the pastor may have to spend an additional 10 to 20 hours a week to record a service, edit the recording and post it to YouTube. The pastor may miss the good things that are happening in members’ lives, things they would normally hear in casual conversation. Some pastors are under pressure from a vocal minority in the congregation to open up immediately. Some congregants have brought
The Moravian
politics into the situation, adding to the stresses. The pastor feels a very real responsibility to protect the most vulnerable of the congregation. Other church members are reluctant to open up and may feel estranged from the congregation as it does move toward in-person gatherings. The pastor’s strong desire to connect with people in our highly relational Moravian world, adds stress. And we must remember that the pastor has a family, too. The pastor may be trying to work from home, at the same time that his/her spouse is trying to work from home, at the same time his/her child is going to school from home, at the same time that his/her parent needs transportation to the doctor’s office. All of these day-today activities are very different. In addition to all these stressors, the restrictions brought about in response to COVID mean that many pastors can no longer easily do the things they used to do to relieve stress. So, just like for the members, the stresses of COVID mount up for the pastor. As congregation members, what can we do to support our pastors? Many of these suggestions can be seen as “light care”—not requiring a great deal of effort—but the impact can be very significant. • Pray for the pastor. And tell him/her you’re doing it. • If you’re in a meeting, plan ahead to have someone in the room pray aloud for the pastor. • Write a personal note of appreciation for the things they are doing. • Call the pastor, tell him/her you are bringing a meal, and they just need to confirm what date (and any dietary restrictions). Then do it.
Issue 5 • 2020
• Encourage congregants to talk with the pastor about concerns, not about the pastor. • Tell the pastor the good things that are happening—don’t just reach out with the problems! • Share in the care. Don’t expect the pastor to handle all the congregational care! • Don’t put pressure on the pastor to open things up too quickly. They are trying to balance the need to open up with the health and wellbeing of everyone and the desire not to have to preside at a funeral.
There are things each of us can do to help care for our pastors. • Make sure your pastor takes her/his day off and all allotted vacation. Give them some extra time off to allow them to deal with these additional stressors. • Encourage the pastor to take advantage of the care resources available to them through the province in which they serve. These include speaking with a bishop, taking advantage of continuing education grants, and receiving pastoral counseling, spiritual direction or coaching. • Be kind. In every way you can imagine, be kind. It’s not solely the congregation’s job to take care of the pastor. The pastor needs to be honest with the congregation about her/his limits, and the “ups and downs” of their ministry. However, there are things each of us can do to help. And finally—the most important thing we can do: Pray for your pastor. And tell her/him you’re doing it. n
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IN OUR CONGREGATIONS
Quarantine sparks creative celebrations
W
e had a particularly interesting circumstance this year as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine. We have been live-streaming our Sunday services on Facebook for quite some time, as well as services in church, so the knowledge of how to do that was an advantage as far as “what do we do now” once the doors were shut. Since mid-March our church has been closed to in-person worship because of the virus, so we stormed ahead online, armed with our skills with MEVO (a video streaming technology) and a brand new Music Director in the person of Colin Welford (who conducted at the English National Ballet and Royal Opera House, directed the music for “Lion King” on Broadway for six years as well as all its international shows, “Hamilton” in Chicago, etc. No small talent and a world-class organist).
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Colin records his more difficult organ pieces for separate (and notated, often funny) videos online. Pastor Dawn does weekly podcasts on Facebook, and her husband (Mr. Bob as the kids call him) reads Thomas the Tank Engine stories online weekly. So far, so good…. but Pastor Dawn Volpe’s anniversary of her 35th year of ordination and her 65th birthday lay ahead in July. What to do? She was very stoic about it—“We’ll celebrate when we can all get together again”—but the Joint Board didn’t want to let it go at that. With the help of the Joint Board, Colin and office staff, a very covert operation was set afoot. We even set up a separate email account from “Pastor Iverson” (our Ephraim founder) so that all communications could take place beyond the nose of our pastor. There were meetings off-site, communications with old mentors and friends, family and members/friends of the congregation and musical guests to keep everyone apprised of our progress. Because of the limitations of the number of people one can have in an indoor space when there’s a pandemic taking place, it took hours to figure out the logistics of moving people in and out of the church at the proper time (with 17 masked participants, which included seven musicians and their sometimeslarge instruments). The Moravian
Congregants at Ephraim Moravian Church didn’t let COVID-19 stop their celebration of Pastor Dawn Volpe’s ordination anniversary and birthday. Costumed (and masked) members played music, Bishop Paul Graf brought greetings, members paraded for Dawn’s birthday and a special appearance from “J.J. Groenfeldt,” one of Ephraim’s first pastors
Her anniversary celebration came off with nary a hitch. Pastor Dawn was ushered into the church with only some instructions of where she had to move and when as the dance began. Bishop Paul Graf was a surprise guest to greet her, a whole musical number of “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria” with lyrics rewritten by Colin had to be pre-recorded on video and shown during the service. There were presentations and a visit from J.J. Groenfeldt (one of our first pastors, portrayed by Rob Moore). Because the Volpes’ son Rob had played a “Star Wars” theme at the end of Dawn’s very first service in Ephraim 10 years ago, Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine, in full costume, showed up to play Star Wars’ “Death March” as the postlude. Fellowship with cake and birthday streamers was held outside, well-spaced for all. Both the service of celebration (July 26) and the “Maria video” are on Ephraim Moravian’s Facebook page. Celebration over? No. Pastor Dawn’s birthday was two days later, and she was unaware that a drive-by celebration was going to happen, with live music, balloons, posters and more than 70 cars to wish her well, complete with drone documentation. The kids made the posters the week before so that they could be involved, and they also sang a combined “Happy Birthday” video that was presented to Dawn. It’s been a difficult time without seeing our members and friends each week; we have been having outdoor Bible studies and a series of Vespers services outside, but we don’t know how long this will continue with the virus numbers still climbing here in Door County. We are striving, however, to continue to prove that COVID can’t stop love! n Diane Kirkland is secretary/treasurer of Ephraim Moravian Church in Ephraim, Wis. Issue 5 • 2020
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OFFICIAL PROVINCIAL ELDERS’ NEWS Prayer Day for the Bible Societies, November 22, 2020 On Sunday, November 22, we will join with churches of many other denominations in emphasizing the importance of the Bible. Our church is part of the American and Canadian Bible Societies, which do much to publish and distribute the Word of God. World AIDS Day, December 1, 2020 The Synods of 2006 resolved to recognize World AIDS Day on December 1 and proclaim it as a day of commemoration and prayer by our Moravian churches. Congregations are encouraged to schedule an AIDS Awareness Day and to find a way to support an AIDS ministry focusing on areas of education, prevention and ministering to caregivers, orphans and those living with HIV. Prayer Watch The Moravian Church has experienced spiritual renewal and strength through a covenant of prayer. In 1727, the church in Herrnhut, Germany, covenanted for an “Hourly Intercession” which continued for one hundred years with a great blessing to the entire Moravian Church. The Unity Prayer Watch established in 1957 (the quincentenary of the Unitas Fratrum) has continued to bless us. The 1988 Unity Synod affirmed the importance of this experience for the worldwide Moravian Church. Under the schedule adopted by the 2016 Unity Synod, December 1-21 is assigned to the Northern Province and January1- 18 to the Southern Province. Each Provincial Board will supply assignment of specific dates to individual congregations, with suggestions for prayer topics. 24
NORTHERN PROVINCE Moravian Women’s Sunday, November 1, 2020 The first Sunday in November has been designated to especially recognize the work of the Moravian Women in local congregations throughout the Northern Province. Some congregations may choose a different Sunday for this observance if there are conflicts in scheduling. Prayer Day for Moravian College and Moravian Theological Seminary November 22, 2020 On Sunday, November 22, congregations of the Northern Province are asked to remember in prayer all who share in the important work of Moravian College and Moravian Theological Seminary. Let us pray for the administration, the faculty, and the students. Elizabeth D. Miller Provincial Elders’ Conference SOUTHERN PROVINCE Richard Starbuck Richard Starbuck, passed into the more immediate presence of the Savior early on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020 after a brief hospitalization. Richard began in 1986 as Assistant Archivist, and became the Archivist of the Southern Province for two and one-half years prior to retirement in 2017. He was involved in several significant publications, including With Cour-
The Moravian
age for the Future The History of the Moravian Church, Southern Province (prepared for the 250th anniversary), and especially his continued work on the multi-volume series, Records of the Moravians Among the Cherokees. A graveside service was held Thursday, October 8, 2020, in Salem’s God’s Acre, WinstonSalem, NC at 2:00 p.m. Please be in prayer for Richards’ wife, Susan, their daughter, Victoria, and the family. Earlette Peek Earlette Peek, wife of the Rev. Robert (Bob) Peek, passed into the more immediate presence of the Lord, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020 at Baptist Hospital, Winston-Salem, after a period of declining health. Earlette joined in ministry with Bob as he served as pastor of the Morning Star, Immanuel, New Eden, and the merged Immanuel-New Eden congregations. A memorial service was held Saturday, Oct. 10, at 2:00 p.m. at Fairview Moravian Church, Winston-Salem, N.C. with burial following in God’s Acre, Salem. David Guthrie, President Provincial Elders’ Conference
Obituary: The Rev. Robert F. Engelbrecht Brother Robert F. Engelbrecht died October 5, 2020, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, at age 91. Born December 2, 1928 at Watertown, Wisconsin, he was the son of Herbert and Esther (Meschke) Engelbrecht. Brother Engelbrecht attended public schools in Watertown; graduated from Moravian College in 1953; received a Master of Divinity from Moravian Theological Seminary in 1956; graduated from Winona State University, Winona, Minnesota, in 1958; and completed graduate work at Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1962. He was ordained a Deacon in the Moravian ministry July 29, 1956 and consecrated a Presbyter September 10, 1961. He was united in marriage to Joan Clewell on June 3, 1956, at Nazareth Moravian Church, Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Together they served pastorates in Minnesota (Hebron) and Pennsylvania (Philadelphia Third, Edgeboro, Emmaus). He entered into retirement March 17, 1993. Brother Engelbrecht is survived by his wife, Joan; daughters, Jan and Bobbi; son, Jay; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Memorial services will be private at the convenience of the family. Memorial gifts are welcomed for any Moravian entity or St. Luke’s Hospice, Bethlehem, Pa.
Ad Policy for The Moravian — The Moravian accepts paid advertising that is consistent with the magazine’s objectives and editorial convictions as they are stated in the purpose and mission of the Interprovincial Board of Communication. Advertisements for activities, services and products of specific interest to members of the Moravian Church have priority. The Moravian does not accept purely editorial advertisements that advocate specific ideas or issues. Articles, columns and letters to the editor are the appropriate vehicles for the presentation of ideas and issues. The Interprovincial Board of Communication is responsible for the content and design of the magazine, including advertisements. Ad rates and specifications are available www.moravian.org.
Issue 5 • 2020
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Statisticts of the Moravian Church, Northern & Southern Provinces
The Northern Province • December 31, 2019 AVG=Average Worship Attendance *=No updated data for 2019
CF=Confirmed Communicants T=Total
Eastern District Congregation
CF
T
AVG
Pastor
DIST. OF COLUMBIA Washington, Faith
168
221
90
Bevon White
MARYLAND New Carrollton, Trinity Thurmont, Graceham Upper Marlboro, St. Paul’s
114 240 119
163 291 158
44 79 45
Vacant Sue Koenig William T. Andrews
NEW JERSEY Cinnaminson, Palmyra Egg Harbor City Riverside, First Union, Battle Hill*
105 258 186 39
143 332 224 58
33 55 49 25
Vacant Bruce Weaknecht Rebecca Sisley Vacant
NEW YORK Bronx, Tremont Terrace* Brooklyn, Fellowship Brooklyn, John Hus New York City, First New York City, United Queens, Grace Staten Island, Castleton Hill Staten Island, Great Kills Staten Island, New Dorp Staten Island, Vanderbilt Ave.
101 77 277 98 354 202 180 115 225 85
124 129 329 126 387 356 238 155 277 116
55 38 178 41 152 120 32 31 72 52
Vacant Wellesley Ferguson Michael E. Johnson Charles C. Harewood Desna Henry Goulbourne Earl Goulbourne Lance Fox Tracy A. Pryor Duane E. Ullrich Wellesley Ferguson
OHIO Dover, First Dublin, Redeemer Gnadenhutten, Heckewelder New Phila., Fry’s Valley New Phila., Schoenbrunn Tuscarawas, Sharon Uhrichsville, First
367 42 259 74 79 295 75
422 46 292 91 91 358 93
143 15 41 36 53 80 23
John B. Wallace Vacant David Geyer David Geyer Benjamin Lippert Lloyd Gooden David Geyer
ONTARIO Toronto, New Dawn
116
150
98
F. Rowan Simmons
PENNSYLVANIA Allentown, Calvary Bethlehem, Advent
170 293
198 349
58 85
Janel R. Rice Melissa Johnson
Statistics of the Moravian Church in America reprinted from the 2021 Directory & Statistics of the Moravian Church. Church membership statistics are those reported effective Dec. 31, 2019. Pastor listings represent those serving in 2019; some church pastorates changed during 2020, but updates are not comprehensive.
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The Moravian
Bethlehem, Central
836
983
329
Bethlehem, College Hill Bethlehem, East Hills Bethlehem, Edgeboro Bethlehem, West Side Coopersburg, MorningStar Easton, First Easton, Palmer Emmaus Hellertown, Mountainview Lancaster Lebanon Lititz
250 326 344 124 118 125 537 434 102 47 102 812
279 372 435 139 147 158 694 508 116 50 142 944
81 106 83 30 32 33 128 118 19 28 35 231
Nazareth Nazareth, Schoeneck
390 395
488 445
94 130
89 77 112 89 9,920
101 93 126 107 12,128
31 40 46 38 3,436
Congregation
CF
T
AVG
CALIFORNIA Banning, Morongo
90
127
42
Gregg Schafer
ILLINOIS West Salem
221
243
83
Reid Lauderman
INDIANA Hope
379
506
122
MICHIGAN Daggett Unionville Westland, Grace*
38 198 36
40 232 46
21 54 22
123 128 67 25 116 82 350
149 159 85 25 146 97 436
57 51 35 17 39 47 101
Newfoundland Philadelphia, Redeemer York, Covenant York, First TOTALS
C. Hopeton Clennon, M. Lynnette Delbridge Christine Johnson Linda Wisser Daniel M. Miller Tammie Rinker Jay Petrella Vacant Darrell F. Johnson Brian R. Dixon Jodie Harney Mandy Mastros Vacant Dean R. Jurgen Mark V. Breland Derek A. French Garritt Fleming Sanette Fleming Mark Newman Nasel Ephraim John Fritts Sayward E. Lippincott
Western District
MINNESOTA Altura, Our Savior’s Chaska* Maple Grove, Christ’s Community Northfield, Main Street St. Charles, Berea Victoria, Lake Auburn* Waconia Issue 5 • 2020
Pastor
Andrew Kilps James T. Hicks Timothy J. Naisby Vacant Gregory Behrend Vacant Jonathan C. Lee Vacant Franklin Jones Richard Newswanger Amy Gohdes-Luhman
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NORTH DAKOTA Davenport, Canaan* Durbin, Goshen Fargo, Shepherd of the Prairie Leonard, Bethel WISCONSIN Appleton, Freedom Cambridge, London DeForest, Christian Faith Ephraim Green Bay, West Side Lake Mills* Madison, Glenwood Madison, Lakeview Pittsville, Veedum Sister Bay Sturgeon Bay Watertown, Ebenezer Watertown Wisconsin Rapids TOTALS
121 116 71 83
147 154 88 109
43 25 35 20
Martin Avery Joel Russell Eric D. Renner Joel Russell
132 86 124 139 216 542 72 85 42 118 569 168 202 244 4,983
153 100 148 155 311 618 81 95 56 124 640 205 245 284 6,004
38 27 38 93 68 128 25 25 20 52 109 45 70 93 1,645
CF
T
AVG
Pastor
146 138 80 85 104 39 32 624
222 166 99 94 112 53 35 781
105 50 33 53 56 22 18 337
Stephen A. Gohdes Matthew J. Gillard Rebecca Craver Aaron Linville James Lavoy Ian D. Edwards Vacant
James Heroux Barbara Berg Jason Andersen Dawn E. Volpe Marian Boyle Rohloff David W. Sobek Staci Marrese-Wheeler Staci Marrese-Wheeler Wanda Veldman Kerry D. Krauss Matthew R. Knapp Katie Van Der Linden Kurt Liebenow Beth Rohn-Habhegger
Canadian District Congregation ALBERTA Calgary, Christ Calgary, Good Shepherd Edmonton Edmonton, Millwoods Edmonton, Rio Terrace* Sherwood Park, Good News* Leduc County, Heimtal TOTALS
Northern Province Recapitulation Eastern District Western District Canadian District Total Province 2019 Total Province 2018 Increase/Decrease *Not Available for 2019 28
CF 9,920 4,983 624 15,527 15,840
T 12,128 6,004 781 18,913 19,611
AVG 3,436 1,645 337 5,418 5,667
-313
-698
-249 The Moravian
The Southern Province • December 31, 2019 Congregation
CF
T
AVG
Pastor
FLORIDA Longwood, Rolling Hills* Miami, King of Kings* Miami, New Hope* Miami, Prince of Peace West Palm Beach,Palm Beach*
100 56 75 378 40
115 97 83 540 45
61 55 54 187 50
Evette Campbell Gregorio Moody, Acolyte Gregorio Moody, Acolyte Dion Christopher vacant
GEORGIA Stone Mountain, First Church*
75
91
60
Elroy Christopher, Interim
215 228
215 269
66 86
Zachary Dease Judy Knopf, Interim
206 78 500 85 275 179 481 421 203 43 99 213 103 137 402 114 231 153 93
255 84 551 94 330 215 562 456 211 54 115 228 131 139 445 127 290 168 97
70 30 179 44 75 68 152 157 90 33 41 127 55 58 145 30 92 70 32
Vacant Rusty Rushing Chris Thore John Rainey, Interim Vacant Russ Williams Christy Clore, Interim Doug Rights Barry Foster Arkon Stewart, Interim Leslie Cox Neil Routh Betty Helms Carol Foltz Craig S. Troutman Fran Saylor Vacant Chuck Harmon Jeff Jones
228 156 98 347
273 174 98 453
111 59 31 143
219 257
258 269
74 93
Timothy G. Sapp Vacant Don Griffin, Interim Lane A. Sapp Chaz Snider Richard Spaugh, Interim Vacant
NORTH CAROLINA Advance, Macedonia Bethania Charlotte, Little Church on the Lane* Charlotte, Peace Clemmons Eden, Leaksville Greensboro, First Church Huntersville, New Beginnings Kernersville King Lewisville, Unity Lexington, Enterprise Mayodan Mount Airy, Grace Newton, New Hope Oak Ridge, Moravia Raleigh Rural Hall, Mizpah Rural Hall Walnut Cove, Fulp Wilmington, Covenant Winston-Salem, Advent Ardmore Bethabara Calvary Christ Fairview
Issue 5 • 2020
29
Friedberg
897
1,115
332
Friedland
400
480
144
Fries Memorial Home
121 1,155
135 1,428
50 234
Hope Hopewell Immanuel New Eden Konnoak Hills Messiah New Philadelphia Oak Grove Olivet Pine Chapel Providence* St. Philips Trinity Union Cross
108 97 57 209 116 1,037 121 480 91 18 38 198 271
139 133 60 251 150 1,264 158 553 103 18 45 219 318
56 51 28 90 64 297 87 109 52 14 20 79 157
56 43 63
66 51 73
45 39 42
VIRGINIA Ararat, Willow Hill Cana, Crooked Oak Mt. Bethel
James C. Newsome, Dan Nelson John G. Rights, Adam Goodrich Worth Green, Interim Virginia Tobiassen Andrew Heil David Merritt, Interim Walter Bishop Cheryl Cottingham John D. Rights Gerald Harris, Interim Sam Gray David Berrier, Acolyte Matthew W. Allen James Demby Judith Justice, Interim Vacant John P. Jackman Bob Peterson, Interim Kenny King, Acolyte Gary Easter, Acolyte Charles W. Fishel
Southern Province Recapitulation Total Dec. 31, 2019 Dec. 31, 2018 Increase/Decrease
CF
T
AVG
12,064 12,209 -145
14,291 14,406 -115
4,668 4,915 -247
Statistical Summary of the Church Sunday Schools Northern & Southern Provinces • December 31, 2019 Eastern District Western District Canadian District
Pupils 1,561 753 72
Staff 340 151 16
Totals 1,901 904 88
Totals: Northern Province: Southern Province: Grand Total
2,386 3,046 5,432
507 544 1,051
2,893 3,590 6,483
30
The Moravian
Moravian College and Moravian Theological Seminary is seeking a
VP/Dean of Moravian Theological Seminary
After serving the institution with distinction since 2001 as VP/Dean of the Moravian Theological Seminary, the Rev. Dr. Frank Crouch ‘80 has moved onto a well-deserved sabbatical followed by retirement. Frank ably led the Seminary through accreditations, strategic planning, and programming, all while acknowledging the changing theological landscape and propelling the Seminary into the future. The Seminary is now launching a global search for the next VP/Dean to lead the institution. POSITION DESCRIPTION: The Moravian Theological Seminary, a graduate professional school of theology and part of Moravian College, achieves its specific goals by combining biblical, historical, theological, and ethical inquiry with spiritual formation and theological studies and offers degrees in chaplaincy, clinical counseling, and ministry, and certificates in formative spirituality and spiritual direction. The VP/Dean leads faculty and staff to prepare students to serve in diverse socioeconomic, intercultural, and interfaith populations and within a multicultural context. While a regional ecumenical and interfaith institution, the Seminary is one of only two fully accredited Moravian Seminaries globally and serves as a resource for the Moravian Church in North America and worldwide Moravian Unity. The VP/Dean is the chief academic leader of the Seminary and is responsible to the Provost, the President, and the Seminary’s Board of Trustees. The VP/Dean oversees all educational programs in the Seminary and maintains the integrity of its academic policies. The successful candidate has a thorough understanding of theological seminaries and their role in leading and shaping faith and culture; a collaborative leadership style that nourishes the professional development of the faculty and staff; a dedication to a diverse student population and their successes; and deep convictions and hope rooted in and committed to the heritage, life, and mission of the Moravian church. The successful candidate shows agility in the face of the changing landscapes of theological edu-
cation and culture, respect for and dedication to celebrating diversity and promoting equity and the inclusion of cross-cultural distinctions. The successful candidate is also willing to take reasonable risks to achieve/develop strategic goals and position the Seminary for a healthy and robust future; builds consensus through understanding and appreciation of diverse perspectives, and advocates for students, faculty, and staff; serves as a model and champion for academic excellence and life-long learning by demonstrating a passion for teaching, learning, research, and professional activities; and is gifted in cultivating a sense of community and fellowship. QUALIFICATIONS: Required • Active membership in the Moravian Church • Terminal doctoral degree (e.g. PhD, ThD, DMin, EdD) with demonstrated expertise in Theological or Religious Studies • Demonstrated record of effective teaching • Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience • Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion • Ecumenical and Interfaith orientation Preferred • Ordained in the Moravian Church • Faculty experience at the graduate level TO APPLY: For full consideration, please submit your completed application by November 15, 2020. Review of the applications will begin November 15, 2020 and continue until the position is filled. For more information and to apply, qualified candidates should go the Moravian Collge HR web page at https://www.moravian.edu/hr/employment/jobopportunities, enter “Seminary” as the keyword and select “VP/Dean of the Moravian Theological Seminary.” The complete job description along with details on applying are available on the posting.
Deep respect for others is fundamental to the Moravian College community. Moravian College does not discriminate against any person based on actual or perceived race, color, sex, religion, ancestry, genetic information, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, marital status, age, veteran status, disability, use of guide or support animals and/or mechanical aids, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. In compliance with the requirements of Title IX, Moravian College does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational program and activity, including employment.
Issue 5 • 2020
The Moravian
Postmaster please send address changes to: The Moravian, 1021 Center St., Bethlehem, PA 18018
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