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Moravian Seminary Commencement A Border Experience Learning to Age Well ...and more!
The world’s oldest daily devotional that’s new every morning! The 2018 edition of The Moravian Daily Texts continues a 288-year-long tradition of offering an inspirational connection to the Holy Scriptures every day. Each entry in this beloved daily devotional includes “watchwords”—Old and New Testament verses to accompany readers throughout the day—combined with beautiful hymn texts and heartfelt prayers selected and written by Moravians across North America. The Moravian Daily Texts 2018 begins shipping in Nov. 2017, but you can preorder yours online now at store.moravian.org. Order by Aug. 13, 2017 and receive a 15% discount!
Learn more at store.moravian.org
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The Moravian
On the cover: Flags from around the world welcome visitors to Herrnhut, Germany. Photo by Mike Riess
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11 A Moravian Education Christ and him crucified remain our confession of faith In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, love
5 Seminary commencement begins new chapter in spiritual lives 20 Living Branches: A new resource for teaching Moravian heritage
Provincial Elders’ Conferences 9
Members focus on spiritual direction at meeting of Northern and Southern PECs
Ministry to Older Adults 11 Conference shares ways to Age Well 22 Salemtowne celebrates opening of Babcock Health Center
Moravians in Mission 14 A walk through Holy Week on the USA-Mexico border
Moravian Giving 18 Larger Life Foundation makes more Moravian camping possible
In Our Communities 24 Children’s Festival and Lovefeast coming August 20 Visit our website at http://www.moravian.org. Letters to the editor, address corrections, and other correspondence may be e-mailed to the editorial staff at moravianmagazine@mcnp. org.
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And More 4 Ponderings: Daily Texts: Looking Forward, Looking Back 19 Board of World Mission seeks new executive director 25 Ministry continues spreading friendship and care with lambs 26 Confessing Our Unity in Christ: Studying the historical and theological background to The Ground of the Unity 30 Official Provincial Elders’ News 3
PONDERINGS Daily Texts: Looking Forward, Looking Back
(ISSN 1041-0961 USPS 362600) June/July 2017, Vol. 48, No. 5
As spring comes to an end and summer approaches, January 1 is on our minds here at the Interprovincial Board of Communication, as this is the time when our staff completes the compilation and editing of the Moravian Daily Texts for the coming year. Each year, I read through an entire year’s Daily Texts over the course of several days to check and edit the hymn selections and prayers provided by our writers. Sue Kiefner has done an excellent job pulling all of these together and getting them ready for production. The 2018 Moravian Daily Texts will be the eighth one I’ve helped bring to fruition. While reviewing this upcoming edition I was once again struck by how well the hymns supported the daily verses. Reading 365 heartfelt, spirit-filled prayers over the course of a couple of days again proved to be a moving, fulfilling experience. And I shouldn’t be surprised. Back in 2011, in this very column, I predicted that this annual task would become a favorite work tradition of mine. I wrote, “…Over the course of two days, I read 784 verses from the Old and New Testaments, 732 hymn stanzas and 366 prayers. It was a bit overwhelming to take in all of those words in such a short period of time, yet it was an experience I know I’ll be looking forward to every year from now on…” Another fun part of bringing the Daily Texts to life is the selection of the cover image. Each year, I present IBOC board members with a dozen different options. For 2018, they selected a chalice image I took several years ago. In the hands of designer Sandy Fay, that image became what I think may be my favorite cover image yet. Following our reviews and double/triple/quadruple checks, the text for 2018 will soon be on its way to Sandy to be turned into the book we know and love. We’re set up to begin taking pre-orders, and we’ll be using the next several months preparing to distribute more than 16,000 copies when they arrive in late October/early November. And when readers receive their 2018 Daily Texts, my hope is that the verses, hymns and prayers provide the daily inspiration that reading a whole year’s worth at one time has brought to me. Peace,
Publications Agreement No. 40036408 Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: OnTrac International, 121 5th Avenue NW, New Brighton, MN 55112 email: file@ontrac.com
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Mike Riess, Editor • The Moravian Magazine
Official Journal, The Moravian Church in North America, Northern and Southern Provinces Published monthly, except bimonthly Jan./Feb and June/July issues, 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: 17,000 Postmaster please send address changes to The Moravian, PO Box 1245, Bethlehem, PA 18016-1245. 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, Lance Fox, Paul Knouse, Kat Lehman, Amy Linville, Dan Miller, Jill Westbrook Design by Michael Riess, IBOC. Address all correspondence regarding articles, subscriptions, or advertising to The Moravian, PO Box 1245, Bethlehem, PA 18016-1245 FAX: 610.866.9223 Phone: 610.867.0594 800.732.0591 e-mail: moravianmagazine@mcnp.org www.moravian.org Contents © 2017, Interprovincial Board of Communications, Moravian Church in America. All rights reserved
The Moravian
A MORAVIAN EDUCATION
Seminary commencement begins new chapter in spiritual lives
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he 210th academic year of Moravian Theological Seminary (MTS) came to a close when 26 graduates received degrees and certificates at its Commencement Service on Saturday, May 13, 2017. For the second time in its long history, the service was held at College Hill Moravian Church. Every seat in the sanctuary was filled, which provided both intimacy and energy—one could not help but be moved by the singing, music, antiphonal liturgy and the accomplishments of the graduates. Among the 26 graduates were 11 Moravians, many of whom have already embarked on new ministries this summer. Since 1998 the seniors of MTS have selected a fellow graduate to give the Senior Address at commencement. Mandy Mastros,
a child of the Lititz congregation, was elected for that honor this year. Her talk summed up the life-changing experience of Seminary—the teaching, learning and new relationships— and offered wisdom and encouragement to the graduates. Through a partnership of two graduate programs, Mandy completed a dual degree, earning the Master of Divinity at Moravian and the Master of Social Work at Marywood University in Scranton, Pa. Recognized for her skills at working with people and her top academics, Mandy received awards at both schools. At Moravian she was awarded the Faculty Academic Prize for maintaining high academic standing and superior creative scholarship. Prior to her graduation (Continued on next page)
The 2018 graduating class of Moravian Theological Seminary
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Commencement
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Mandy Mastros provides the senior address at Seminary commencement
at Marywood, Mandy was inducted into the Phi Alpha Honor Society for Social Work. As she awaits a call, Mandy will be supply preaching and working with the community social services program she helped to organize in Nazareth, Pa. Other Moravians receiving the Master of Divinity include Greg Behrend from the Wisconsin Rapids congregation, who was awarded the Rev. Elder Bender Award in Moravian Ministry for exemplifying ideals and skills suited to Moravian ministry. Greg has accepted a call to serve as pastor of Our Savior’s Moravian Church in Altura, Minn., and was installed there on July 2. From the Lake Mills congregation, Ben Lippert accepted a call prior to graduation and will be installed as the pastor of the Schoenbrunn congregation in New Philadelphia, Ohio, on July 16. Frank Shipman, from the Central congregation in Bethlehem, received his MDiv and is looking to serve in specialized ministry. Mandy Mastros
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Greg Behrend
From the Olivet congregation in WinstonSalem, Adam Goodrich received the Moses Homiletics Prize for outstanding preaching and practical pulpit work. Adam awaits call in the Southern Province. Certificates in Moravian Studies Six students from North Carolina preparing for leadership in Moravian congregations in the Southern Province received the Certificate in Moravian Studies. Each of these students earned their Master of Divinity degrees at schools in North Carolina and, through distance education, Ben Lippert
The Moravian
Barbara Styers (left) with Greg Behrend, Adam Goodrich and Ben Lippert prior to graduation.
completed required courses in ministry and Moravian topics at Moravian Seminary. Receiving her certificate at the commencement service was Barbara Styers from the Raleigh congregation. In absentia were: Leslie Cox of the Fulp congregation in Walnut Cove; Victoria Lasley of the Bethania congregation; Angelica Regalado, a member of the Friedland Church in Winston-Salem; Rusty Rushing who serves as student pastor and provincial acolyte of the Peace congregation in Charlotte; and Chaz Snider who was recently Frank Shipman
Adam Goodrich
called as pastor of the Ardmore congregation in Winston-Salem. Underscoring the worldwide reach of the distance education program at the Seminary, Dena Fortuzi, a Moravian from Albania, was awarded the Frueauff Memorial Prize for outstanding class work and research in Moravian history. Dena will continue to take courses through distance education and serve as a lay leader of the emerging Moravian ministry in Albania. Other denominations True to our ecumenical nature, students from other denominations who received the Master of Divinity were: Sharmune Burgess, a United Methodist ordination candidate serving two congregations in Moundsville, W.V.; Helen Kurczynski from Vauxhall, N.J., by way of Cambridge, England, serving as a Buddhist Chaplain at University Hospital in Newark, N.J.; and Mike Lonergan, re(Continued on next page)
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cently ordained pastor of the United Church of Christ in Pocono Pines, Pa. Eight students local to the Lehigh Valley (Pennsylvania) received the Master of Arts in Theological Studies: Elizabeth Buss (Zionsville) with a concentration in Formative Spirituality, Fred Butler (Lehigh Valley), Ayse Celik (Bethlehem), Barbara Lee (Bethlehem), Kathy Nevins (Hanover Township), Laura Novick (Emmaus) with a Graduate Certificate in Biblical Studies, Charles Olmeda (Bethlehem), and Donna Tweed (Jim Thorpe) with a concentration in Formative Spirituality. Graduating with the Masters of Arts in Clinical Counseling were: Dena Augustine (Northampton, Pa.), Melody Moore (Ringgold, Ga.), Kim Niyogi (Suffern, N.Y.), and Sahar Tabshi (Whitehall, Pa.). A farewell address In one of his final presentations, the Rev. Dr. Steve Simmons, Assistant Professor of Theology, gave the commencement address. Steve retires this summer after 17 years of service to the Seminary as a faculty member and Director
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Retiring professor Steve Simmons gives the Commencement Address
of Continuing Education. Steve brought a veritable “who’s who” of theological and ministry circles to campus to give lectures through our Continuing Ed program. Please join us in wishing Steve well and in congratulating the MTS Class of 2017! We look forward to their unfolding ministries. n Thanks to the Moravian Theological Seminary staff for this article and photos.
The Moravian
PROVINCIAL ELDERS’ CONFERENCES
Members focus on spiritual direction at meeting of Northern and Southern PECs
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ho are you, what gifts do you bring to your team, and what do you need from the team to be effective in your work?” Those were the three questions that opened the Group Spiritual Direction Retreat of the Provincial Elders’ Conferences (PEC), South and North. Members from each PEC came together at the St. Francis Springs Retreat Center, north of Greensboro, North Carolina, a beautiful setting that fostered peaceful contemplation and attentive listening to God’s leading.
The Rev. Dr. Jane Williams, professor at Moravian Theological Seminary and Spiritual Director, led the retreat that was specifically designed not to be a business meeting, but rather a time for spiritual direction. The group used Ignatian spiritual exercises to ponder what brought them closer to God (consolation) and what kept them distant from God (desolation) as it related to their work as PEC members. Daniel Crews, from the Southern Province, found it “refreshing in our meeting not to be trying to figure how to get our (Continued on next page)
Members of the Provincial Elders’ Conferences from the Northern and Southern Provinces came together for a retreat this spring. Attendees included Joyce Vance (SP), Dave Bennett (NP), Peggy Carter (SP), Greg Weir (NP), Ron Bell (SP), Hans Becklin (ELCA observer), Jane Williams (MTS), David Guthrie (NP), Jill Westbrook (NP), Bruce Nelson (NP), Daniel Crews (SP), Chris Thore (SP) and Ray Burke (SP). Photo by Betsy Miller (NP)
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Retreat
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agenda done, but rather through prayer to be seeking to learn what the Lord’s agenda is for us.” Bruce Nelson, from the Northern Province felt it was “very good that we chose to pray for our brothers and sisters from the ‘other’ province going forward. I felt like I was gathered among saints.” Perhaps Peggy Carter from the Southern Province summed it up best: “In the quiet of St. Francis Springs Prayer Center, voices of faith, love and hope replaced the din of life that too often drowns out the voice of God. “Discouragement and concern about church challenges were overridden by the collective hope of Moravians North and South that God is indeed omnipresent in the world he created, and he loves and walks with every
“[It was] refreshing in our meeting not to be trying to figure how to get our agenda done, but rather through prayer to be seeking to learn what the Lord’s agenda is for us.” — C. Daniel Crews
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“[It was] very good that we chose to pray for our brothers and sisters from the ‘other’ province going forward. I felt like I was gathered among saints.” — Bruce Nelson generation he creates through the evolution of thousands of years. “In our departure, we carried a renewed and joyous hope as well as reaffirmed trust that God is the God of all time and space and our brief glimpses are but one slice of the eternity of the Trinity.” All participants covenanted to pray for another member of the PECs each week. Although both PECs meet once a year to receive reports from our Interprovincial Agencies and discuss matters of mutual interest, this gathering helped strengthen bonds of friendship and partnership as we celebrated the good news that we have much in common, and many gifts to share with another – all with the goal of building up the witness of Christ through the Moravian Church in America. n
The Moravian
MINISTRY TO OLDER ADULTS
Joy Cole, the Rt. Rev. Lane Sapp and David Holston present at the 2017 Aging Well Conference in Winston-Salem.
Conference shares ways to Age Well
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n Saturday, April 22, 2017, 80 Moravians and guests from 23 different congregations met at Friedberg Moravian Church in Winston-Salem, N.C. for the first Aging Well Conference. Replacing the “Older Adult Spring Retreat” previously held at Laurel Ridge, the Aging Well Team developed this event as a different approach in an effort to reach a larger audience of older adults in the Southern Province. Established in 2014 by the Board of Cooperative Ministries, the Aging Well Team realized its purpose was to “help congregations recognize the need for and then find meaningful ways of providing programming and resources for their members who are older adults as they age and deal with a variety of challenges.” The new logo for this team is the sunflower. “The sunflower is rich in history, admired for charm and whole-
some beauty, unique in its ability to provide energy and nourishment and reminds us that we can be like a sunflower at any age, under any circumstance, bringing joy to others.” This symbolism reflects the meaning and purpose of the Aging Well Team. At the Older Adult Fall Rally in October 2016, participants from around the Southern Province completed questionnaires about their needs and interests; the subjects addressed at this Aging Well Conference were based on that feedback. Six speakers volunteered their time and knowledge to lead a session for the participants, who had the difficult decision of picking just two of the six sessions to attend. Serving Calvary Moravian Church since 1996, the Rt. Rev. Lane Sapp presented a session on “Common Sense Tips for Caring.” He explored methods of care through visitation, emphasizing (Continued on next page)
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Aging Well
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the gift of listening. Ben Limehouse, a Winston-Salem elder law attorney, discussed “End of Life Challenges, Issues and Solutions,” including durable powers of attorney, health care powers of attorney and living wills. The Rev. Lori Carter, a registered nurse and ordained pastor, led a session on “Pray as You Can, Not as You Can’t,” sharing some new and various ways of expressing oneself to God. Dr. Christina Hugenschmidt, an assistant professor of the Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine at Wake Forest School of Medicine, presented an overview that defined dementia, emphasizing the risk factors and prevention (exercise, exercise, exercise!). Maria Moerk, a licensed physical therapist, also stressed the health benefits of exercise: preventing Alzheimer’s and diabetes, increasing bone density and improving heart health. Participants were taught how to begin, continue and progress with a program suited for their indi-
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vidual needs in her session, “Exercise at Home.” Andrew Cox, the Communications Coordinator of the Board of Cooperative Ministries, in his session on “Engaging Technology Without Fear,” discussed the problems of navigating the technical world. He also addressed questions from participants who were having technology problems. One great idea from this session was the realization that many older adults need ongoing technical advice; he is taking up this challenge in the hopes of having a regular session addressing these needs. After a delicious lunch served by the Women’s Fellowship, we participated in an upbeat and enjoyable afternoon with a Singstunde lead by the Rt. Rev. Sam Gray, Director of Intercultural Ministries and New Work, Board of World Mission, Moravian Church, North America. The music was interspersed with short descriptions of ministries of churches in the Province, including Kathy The Moravian
Sparks from Macedonia Moravian presenting Tuesdays at Two (a community outreach program); Grace Shutt and Kay Windsor from New Philadelphia Moravian discussing Healing Through Faith (a grief support group); Pam Prevatte from New Hope Moravian sharing Caregivers’ Support Group; and Joy Cole from Unity Moravian,presenting Single Sisters. The information shared allowed us to see that congregations are identifying the needs of their church families and are addressing them in creative and helpful ways. At the end of the day, it was apparent that the participants and the presenters had shared in a great inspirational and educational ex-
perience. We learned much and enjoyed the fellowship with one another, and are looking forward to the next Aging Well Conference! n Pam Prevatte, New Hope Moravian and Joy Cole, Unity Moravian, worked on the Aging Well team. Photos by Andrew David Cox.
Photos from this year’s Aging Well Conference—opposite page, above left: The Rev. Lori Carter leading “Pray As You Can, Not As You Can’t”; below left: Dr. Christina Hugenschmidt discusses brain health. This page, top: Aging Well conference participants enjoy a Singstunde; above: Andrew David Cox shares information on using technology; left: Maria Moerk teaches how to begin and continue an exercise program; right: colorful sunflowers, the logo of the Aging Well team, welcome participants at Friedberg Church.
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MORAVIANS IN MISSION
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A walk through Holy Week on the USA-Mexico border Greg Behrend, recent Seminary graduate, shares his team’s experiences on a border immersion program. Photos by Greg and Justin Rabbach. 14
oly Week readings are a powerful tradition within the Moravian Church. They offer an opportunity to walk through scripture together at the end of our Lenten journey, following Christ from Palm Sunday to Good Friday. They remind us of the lessons Christ taught in the final days of his ministry. This year, during Holy Week, a small group of Moravians found themselves in southern Arizona learning more about the realities of the USA-Mexico border. The trip, jointly initiated by the Board of World Mission and Moravian Theological Seminary, began on Palm Sunday and ended on Good Friday. Our group met with individuals to study immigration policies, the impact they have and the stories of those affected. Those stories heard during the day, matched with the Holy Week readings at night, together led to a Holy Week journey of prayer and discernment that will not soon be forgotten. Our team included members from Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New York and North Carolina. We came together, as faithful followers of Christ, to learn more about the different ways in which we can be the hands and feet of Christ amidst the realities of immigration in the United States. Part of our journey included actually walking in the Arizona desert where many immigrants have traveled over the years. We stood at the border in several locations and saw the variety of structures that mark where one land ends and another begins. We sat in a courtroom and watched the prosecution and sentencing of a number of immigrants who had been charged with criminal offenses for crossing the border without the proper documentation. We learned from leaders and community members living at the forefront of these issues The Moravian
about the social, economic and security issues driving immigration in the borderlands. The question that I kept asking myself during our journey along the border was “where is God at work here?” There were many answers to this question; some were clear to see, others still remain clouded in my mind. As many people know, the issues surrounding immigration in the United States are very complex. As someone who wants to serve in some way it is difficult to decide where to begin, or who to reach out to first. As a Moravian, I feel like we always need to be working towards a solution that focuses on “we” rather than an “us and them.” Everyone involved with immigration policy—immigrants, activists, border patrol agents, people of the justice system, and everyday citizens of this country—all have the ability to work towards a better solution when it comes to how we approach immigration in the United States. The largest takeaway from being on the ground, on the border, was that the solutions and viewpoints were not as black and white as the story we often see on television or online. We met activists who did not want an open, free flowing, border, but they also did not want there to be people dying of dehydration as they crossed through the desert. We met a sheriff of a border town who does not want drugs and guns to enter the U.S. across the border, but also recognized the amount of time, money and effort his officers spent enforcing some policies that have made things worse, not better for those who live along the border. We heard about immigrants who fled from violence in their home country, and others who crossed the border to try and reunite families. The important thing for our group was to remind ourselves that we couldn’t fix everything in one day, even though that seemed to be our heart’s desire. Instead, we focused on (Continued on next page) June/July 2017
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Border
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small, tangible steps that could make a difference in the lives of individuals currently being impacted by our current immigration policies. One ministry we engaged in supplied essential provisions, such as food and water, for those migrating through the desert. The goal of this ministry is not to encourage individuals to migrate to the United States, but rather to provide sustenance of both body and spirit for those who have deemed it better to take the risk of immigrating, without proper documentation, into the United States. While many individuals (ourselves included) have joined in the efforts to provide water for people in the desert based on their perspective of how to serve people, there are many other individuals who take those supplies of water and dump out the contents so that the water is no longer available for consumption. Perhaps this is the epitome of the divide surrounding immigration in the United States. However, it is within these moments we must stretch our arms out towards one another rather than letting that divide further separate us, “for we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.” The problem, our group came to understand, is whether these essential provisions are provided or destroyed, they are not going to 16
change the issues that lie within the complexity of immigration to the United States. Nor is a concrete wall stretching nearly 2,000 miles long, or heightened border patrol along the border, going to solve the real issues that lead to thousands of people wanting to come to the United States for a variety of reasons like family dynamics, economic circumstances, violence in a current living situation, or more viable employment opportunities. It is because of this realization that members of our team are focused on caring for those who are currently being affected by immigration policies set forth by the United States and are continuing to find ways of how we as Moravians can work towards resolving the issues that are compelling individuals to migrate to the United States. As our world continues to wrestle with issues of immigration, our group encourages Moravians everywhere to think a little deeper about how each of us can work together towards a better tomorrow. We also encourage individuals or groups to become further educated about the realities of the borderlands, and how we as a church might better serve the needs that are present there. The best way to do this is to go to the borderlands and see these realities firsthand. The Board of World Mission welcomes anyone interested in learning more about the issues of immigration or who want to journey to the borderlands to contact them at http://moravianmission.org/contact-us/ Gregory M. Behrend My experience of our group trip to Tucson, Arizona has been both eye- and heart-opening. I have been working with many Hispanic immigrants in Winston-Salem for some years now, but, being able to walk their path along the border’s edge in the Arizona desert, I experienced a deeper level of what they go through to reach their “American Dream,” which has a different meaning for me now. The Moravian
Most immigrants come to the U.S. for a better life either for themselves and/or their families, but hearing Hispanics’ stories on the limitations of returning to their countries has been a strong educational process. Today, after having that experience, I would like to encourage my Christian family to be open and listen to immigrants’ stories; to be willing to present Christian love in the midst of fear that represents being in a new place/country; and to learn more about possible ways to help the immigrants in our own communities. “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” (Matt. 9:37) There is still much we can do as a church, as the body of Christ, to present faith that God is in the midst of trouble, hope that a better future is coming, and love to understand that we are all one in Christ. Angelica Regalado Sitting next to a barbed wire fence in the Arizona desert, I had time to think, and lots of questions came to mind. I was surprised at how this could be the U.S./ Mexico border: a four foot barbed wire fence that looked more like a farm pasture in Wisconsin than something designating an international border. But, as we had walked up a creek bed to reach this A message left in the desert of Arizona.
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point, I thought about how dangerous and trying the journey would be in order to cross here, dozens of miles from the nearest town. I was struck by a simple message written on the inside of a torn-open granola bar box. It was a message of thanks written by immigrants who came across food and water left in the desert by a volunteer group hoping to reduce the number of deaths by starvation and dehydration in the desert. Our group made this journey during Holy Week, each night returning to the readings for that day, reminding us time and again that Christ commands us to Love our Neighbor as ourselves. There certainly were no easy answers to any questions we had about the reality at the border. Regardless of political position, I felt a strong conviction that above all, there was no need to have people suffer violence—and in some cases death—in the desert. As Christians, we remember the journey of God’s people in the desert. As Moravians, we celebrate the global impact that grew from a weary band of refugees—immigrants—welcomed onto the estate of a nobleman in Germany. My prayer is that these lessons can resonate with us, and compel us to action as a community of faith. n Justin Rabbach
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MORAVIAN GIVING
Larger Life Foundation makes more Moravian camping possible
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oravian summer camps play an integral role in helping young people further their relationships with Christ and find out what God is calling them to do. The Larger Life Foundation provides much needed funds to four camp programs in the Northern Province to help offset expenses, allowing these programs to provide lasting experiences for the youth who attend. The Larger Life Foundation is a permanent endowment fund with its income providing “larger life” to ministries of the Moravian Church Northern Province since 1920. The Foundation relies solely on gifts from generous contributors to do its important work. The Mid-States Moravian camping program has a unique situation, where they do not have a Moravian owned camp facility, but in-
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stead, rent camp space and buy or rent what is necessary to operate the camp. This program also runs entirely on volunteers. There are up to 140 campers who attend the Mid-State camping program each year from Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio, ranging from second grade to age 21. Without the funds from the Larger Life Foundation, this program would cease to exist, and many of these children would miss out on a very influential part of their lives. “The Larger Life Foundation supports so many important programs in the Moravian Church that it truly makes a lasting impact on many people’s lives,” said camp director Amy Keller.
The Moravian
“Because of their support, the Mid-State camping program is able to not only provide an environment for our youth to learn of God’s love and grace, but it creates life-long Godly friends who help the children through life’s journey.” Another camp that benefits greatly from the Larger Life Foundation is the Van-Es Camp and Conference Centre, Edmonton, Canada. With the current economic climate, many families are in need of subsidization in order to send their children to camp. The funds from the Larger Life Foundation represents 22 percent of the camp budget, helping keep camp fees low, which in turn allows approximately 120 campers to attend Van-Es each summer. Camp Van-Es is open to children in grades one through twelve and the camping experience includes teaching about Christian community and building relationships. Their
teaching also includes stories from the Bible,, Christian values, stewardship and the love of Christ Jesus. The Larger Life Foundation also supports Camp Hope and Mt. Morris Camp in the Northern Province. These larger camps use the funds they receive toward their overall operating expenses. Camp Hope’s operating budget exceeds $300,000 and Mt. Morris’ exceeds $400,000. Funds from Larger Life allow them to keep costs down for the campers and give them an opportunity to provide great experiences for the youth. For information on how you can give to support these and other programs, visit www.largerlifefoundation.org or contact Tammy Curcio, Treasurer, PO Box 1245, Bethlehem, PA 18016, or call 800-732-0591 or 610-8677566 ext. 17. n
Board of World Mission seeks new executive director
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he Board of World Mission of the Moravian Church in North America has begun the search process for the position of Executive Director. Current BWM Executive Director, the Rev. Judy Ganz, announced her intention to retire at the end of this year. The position of Executive Director facilitates the defining, evolving, and articulating of a vision for mission for BWM and the North American Moravian Church, and promotes mission engagement among the congregations and agencies of the Moravian Church, our global and ecumenical partners, and the worldwide Unity. The Executive Director is responsible for the staffing, develJune/July 2017
opment and implementation of all programs and policies, and oversees budget planning. Above all, this position seeks to promote the Good News of the Savior by helping the church discern its call to engage in missions. It is the intention of the search committee to begin reviewing applications and interviewing candidates in August and to have the next Executive Director on staff by the end of 2017. If you would like more information as you discern if God is calling you in this direction or would like to begin the formal application process, please send an email to search@moravianmission. org to get the conversation started! n 19
A MORAVIAN EDUCATION
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Living Branches: A new resource for teaching Moravian heritage
he Moravian Church in America has a brand new resource for teaching our Moravian heritage! This new curriculum, called Living Branches: Moravians Growing in Faith, Love & Hope, is a flexible, 13-week Sunday School program focused on sharing the story of our Moravian heritage from Jan Hus to the present day. It includes lower elementary, upper elementary, youth and adult components. Each program in the Living Branches curriculum covers historical topics and figures like Jan Hus, Gregory the Patriarch, John Amos Comenius, Count Zinzendorf, Moravian missionaries and more. Curriculum planners coordinated the sessions’ topics so that a particular time period or historical figure could be studied by all ages. For example, if the Moravian Church is celebrating Comenius, Sessions 4 and 5 throughout all age ranges can be pulled out and explored. The lower elementary, upper elementary and youth programs all lead with scripture passages, songs and stories that highlight each lesson. The programs also include fun, creative activities that engage students in Moravian history, along with
resources and tools to provide Sunday school leaders with the instructions, materials and background necessary to successfully teach each program. The adult program, “Faith-Singing Through Moravian History,” covers similar time periods, but does so through a study of Moravian hymns. Each lesson looks at different hymns and how they reflect our heritage. Thought-provoking discussion questions help adult students dig deeper into each subject and reflect on what Moravian hymns mean to them. Living Branches addresses the need for updated Sunday school material that helps young and old alike understand how those who came before us have shaped our church today. The effort grew from a resolution from the 2012 Eastern District Synod to explore the development of a Moravian-focused Sunday School curriculum for all ages. A similar need was identified in the Southern Province, so teams from both provinces came together to develop a resource for use across the Moravian Church in America. The curriculum was jointly developed by the Eastern District and the Southern Province Board of Cooperative Ministries, overseen by Marie Couts, Eastern District direcMoravians Growing tor of in Faith, Love & Hope C h r i s -
Living Branches
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The Moravian
Living Branches Moravians Growing in Faith, Love & Hope
tian Education; Beth Hayes, director of congregational ministries and resources, Southern Province Board of Cooperative Ministries (BCM); Ruth Cole Burcaw, BCM’s executive director; and Mike Riess, executive director of the Interprovincial Board of Communication. In developing the Living Branches curriculum, writers and editors worked to ensure the historical lessons of the Moravian Church were tied to the church today. Making our history relevant, and using it to educate how our Moravian Church exists today, permeates each lesson. Writers for Living Branches include : Tricia Everett for the lower and upper elementary programs; The Rev. Carol Foltz for the youth program; and The Rev. Dennis Rohn for the adult program, with contributions from many Moravians. Margaret Norris of WinstonSalem, N.C., served as project manager. Material was reviewed by experts and editors including: The Rev. Dr. Craig Atwood from the Moravian Theological Seminary and Center for Moravian Studies; The Rev. Dr. Nola Knouse from the Moravian Music Foundation; the Rev. Dr. C. Daniel Crews, former Southern Province Archivist; the Rev. Otto Dreydoppel; the Rt. Rev. Kay Ward; and many more. A free resource In an effort to ensure all Moravian congregations have access to Living Branches, the curriculum is available as a free of charge download for all Moravian congregations in the Northern and Southern Provinces. To request the digital download, please contact Marie Couts (mcouts@sbcglobal.net) (Eastern District) or Beth Hayes (bhayes@mcsp.org) (Southern Province Board of Cooperative Ministries). Printed versions will be available at cost; contact Marie or Beth for more information. The lower elementary (grades K-3), upper elementary (grades 2-5) and adult programs June/July 2017
Lower Elementary Grades K-3
The Moravian Church in America Preliminary
Northern & Southern Provinces
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Living Branches Moravians Growing in Faith, Love & Hope
Upper Elementary Grades 3-5
The Moravian Church in America Northern & Southern Provinces
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Preliminary
Living Branches Moravians Growing in Faith, Love & Hope
Middle/High School Grades 6-12
The Moravian Church in America Northern & Southern Provinces
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Living Branches Moravians Growing in Faith, Love & Hope
Faith-Singing Through Moravian History A 13-Week Study for Adults
The Moravian Church in America
Northern & Southern Provinces
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Preliminary
of the Living Branches series are available now; the youth program for middle and high school students will be available this summer. High school classes may also wish to use the adult curriculum on hymns. Samples of the curriculum are available at http://www.moravian.org/?p=9855. n
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MINISTRY TO OLDER ADULTS
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Salemtowne celebrates opening of Babcock Health Care Center
alemtowne, the nonprofit continuing care retirement community renowned for providing the highest standards and options for seniors, celebrated the soon-tobe-open new Babcock Health Care Center with a ribbon cutting on June 8. The $42 million Babcock Health Care Center consists of approximately 127,000 square feet of space, sits on almost eight acres, and is nearly the length of three football fields. The Babcock Health Care Center contains a 40-room transitional rehabilitation center, three long-term care households featuring 60 private residences with full baths, and will offer an assisted living memory household. Each of the households at the Babcock Health Care Center is designed around a central courtyard, a sunroom, a large living room and a dining area. The Babcock Health Care Center also offers on-site physician services from Wake Forest Baptist Health.
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“Salemtowne has a long history as a community that embraces a deep Moravian heritage and where we work very hard to help our residents enjoy life to its fullest,” Salemtowne President and CEO Mark Steele said. “Our new Babcock Health Care Center continues our heritage through a contemporary version of traditional Moravian architecture and design. In addition, the building includes elements of Winston-Salem’s rich history, including inspiration from Old Salem.” “One of the innovative features of the Babcock Health Care Center is the household approach to living. Residents’ rooms are in groups of 20 and are clustered together in a ‘neighborhood.’ Residents enjoy shared amenities such as a sun room, spa, living room, kitchen and dining room,” he said. “Meals are prepared to order when the resident wants to eat, and there are even staples in the pantry and fridge available 24/7. This approach gives The Moravian
our residents the freedom and flexibility they desire even though they may not have the independence to live on their own.” “We believe that compassionate care goes beyond the design of a beautiful space. That’s why we have a person-centered approach,” Steele added. “The Babcock Health Care Center leaves behind the traditional medical model popular in the past where residents fit within a regimented schedule of activities and, in its place, adopts a system wherein each resident controls their own lives.” Steele said that the opening of the Babcock Health Care Center will allow Salemtowne’s existing skilled nursing building to be renovated and converted to one- and two-bedroom assisted living residences. In addition, Salemtowne will construct 56 new residences for independent living, scheduled to open in late 2018, in two buildings to be called The Woodlands. “Our Woodlands villas are a new concept that allows residents maximum space and con-
venience while maintaining a small environmental footprint with underground parking,” Steele added. “The Woodlands also will be within easy walking distance of our main dining room, fitness center and numerous other campus facilities.” Salemtowne created a new, dedicated entrance for the Babcock Health Care Center, which is located at 5101 Indiana Avenue in Winston-Salem. The Babcock Health Care Center was designed by CJMW Architecture and was built by Frank L. Blum Construction. n Salemtowne is one of seven major senior living communities associated with the Moravian Church in America. Others include Moravian Village, Morningstar Senior Living and Moravian Manor in Pennsylvania; Marquardt Village in Wisconsin; Auburn Home in Minnesota; and Sperling-Zimmerman Memorial Home in Ohio.
Above left: Opening Salemtowne’s new Babcock Health Center this spring. Below: highlights of the new center. Photos courtesy of Salemtowne.
June/July 2017
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IN OUR COMMUNITIES
Children’s Festival and Lovefeast coming August 20 What do you remember about Bible stories when you were growing up? I was fortunate that sharing significant Bible stories was part of our family tradition. I remember, as a young child, going to my grandmother’s house in South Carolina. It was a busy farming community and everyone had lots to do, but my grandmother never thought twice about stopping whatever she was doing and taking me to her big round table that held the family Bible. There she would put me in her lap and read to me. This is how much of my faith formation was passed on to me. Families today seem to be so busy and scheduled out that this act of passing on the faith stories has been lost. That is why I feel it is so important that we make a conscious effort to relate to the young people in today’s world, whether as a parent, grandparent, Sun-
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day School teacher, youth leader, or simply as a member of a congregation. These stories never grow old and carry so much meaning in one’s faith formation. In the Southern Province, we provide an excellent opportunity to form these relationships and help our young people grow in their Moravian faith tradition with the annual Children’s Festival and Lovefeast. Each year for the past three we’ve held the event on the Sunday closest to August 17 to commemorate the 1727 Moravian children’s spiritual renewal in Herrnhut, and each year it has grown in attendance. This year it will be held on Sunday, August 20, 2017, at Friedberg Moravian Church, the fourth settlement of Moravians in North Carolina. A slightly different format will be used this year. There will be a big opening at 2 p.m.,
The Moravian
illustrating how the people of the Friedberg community chose a rock house to gather for worship. Activities are planned all afternoon so that families and church groups can follow and learn the history of this community. These will include construction of a putz, a nature walk and petting zoo, painting a commemorative Moravian seal on canvas to give to the Archives, painting story rocks, a mission story and music place featuring stories from Honduras, and a chance to meet the Hanes family, whose “Moravian cookie” making tradition has been passed on for generations. The day will end with a Lovefeast at 5 p.m., where the of-
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fering will be used for a mission project in Honduras. Families and church groups are encouraged to make it a family event for all ages, from preschool through high school and adults. These festivals have been a wonderful way for families to learn Moravian history together. What a fun way to carry on the tradition of passing on faith stories; I’m grateful the Moravian Churches have this unique opportunity. Plan to join us. n Beth Hayes is director of congregational ministries with the Board of Cooperative Ministries, Southern Province.
Ministry continues spreading friendship and care with lambs
ew Philadelphia Moravian Church is approaching the fifth anniversary of its Lamb Ministry. Begun in the summer of 2012, more than 700 lambs have left the New Philly pasture to travel throughout the community and beyond.
Wesley Carter found the lambs irresistible on Lamb Sunday. The Lamb Ministry has made it possible for even young children to express concern for another.
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The lambs are a small token of friendship and care, reminding receivers that Jesus is the Good Shepherd and that members of the New Philadelphia congregation are thinking of them. While most of the lambs find their way into hospital rooms and the homes of men, women and children experiencing difficult situations here in the greater WinstonSalem area, others have traveled far away, to Haiti and Cuba, for example. March 29 was the most recent “Lamb Sunday,” when 200 lambs took over the sanctuary, ready to leave New Philadelphia and get to work. One of the lambs had an especially important task, expressed this way in a note from its care receiver: “Thank you so much for the precious lamb. He went into surgery with me, and I felt comfort from having him.” n Clyde Manning is pastoral assistant at New Philadelphia Moravian Church in WinstonSalem, N.C.
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MORAVIAN DOCTRINE
Confessing Our Unity in Christ: Studying the historical and theological background to The Ground of the Unity
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s part of our ongoing series to share information about key Moravian theology and doctrine, we will be excerpting the Rev. Dr. C. Daniel Crews’ study, Confessing Our Unity in Christ: Historical and Theological Background to The Ground of the Unity. Originally written in 2000 and updated twice, this study looks at the theological and historical underpinnings of The Ground of the Unity, one of the Moravian Church’s core doctrinal statements. Confessing Our Unity was originally published by the Southern Province Archives. We thank Rev. Crews and Richard Starbuck, Southern Province archivist, for permission to excerpt this work. In this issue, we continue with “Later Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Developments.” Later Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Developments Following the death of Zinzendorf in 1760, the General Synods of 1764 and 1769 were too busy fashioning a system of government for the church and meeting the huge financial debt which had accrued to do much in the way of doctrinal formu lations. Likewise, the General Synod of 1775 dealt with constitutional matters, unfortunately increasing the centralization of church government in the Unity Elders Conference in Germany at just the wrong time for expansion in America, where the winds of independence were gaining popular support.
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However, this General Synod of 1775 also dealt with matters of doctrine and formulated statements in its official Results (Verlaß) which provided the basic substance for Moravian doctrinal statements for the better part of the next 200 years. The 1775 Synod devoted many pages to an exposition of doctrine, but said that our “chief axiom” is (to quote the English translation of the General Synod three-quarters of a cen tury later): “That whoe’er believeth in Christ’s redemption/May find free grace, and a complete exemption/From serving sin.”1 How Zinzendorfian, how Moravian to express our “chief axiom” of faith in a hymn verse. Following that “chief axiom,” the 1775 Synod then goes on to say that, without departing from any other articles of Christian doctrine, it wishes to hold essentially, or particularly (Grundsätzlich), to the following four points:2 a. The doctrine of the atoning sacrifice and satisfaction of Jesus for us. He was delivered for our sins. To this also pertains the truth that we receive all sanctification from the The Moravian
At left: detail from the 1778 hymnbook by Christian Gregor.
merit of Jesus and must receive all power for living and godly conduct from the Savior. b. The doctrine of the universal depravity of humanity; that body and soul are wounded unto death, and there is no health in us; that no powers remain in the fallen person through which one can resist the depravity of body and soul or help or better oneself. c. The doctrine of the divinity of Jesus; that God, the Creator of all things, was manifest in the flesh and has reconciled the world to Himself; that all things were created through Him and to Him; and that He is before all things, and everything consists in Him. d. The doctrine of the Holy Spirit and His operations of grace. These basic concepts gave direction to the Synod’s additional formulations in the chapter on doctrine in the Results, and future Synods repeated, refined, and expanded them in a variety of ways. It is obvious that the Renewed, like the old, Unity does not assert the “immutability of dogmatic expression,” though the central core of faith remains the same. Two other publications of these years also deserve mention (as the Bishops Hamilton note). While they were not actions of General Synod, they were official expressions of Moravian the ology to the wider world. The first of these was Bishop August Gottlieb Spangenberg’s Idea Fidei Fratrum: An Exposition of Christian Doctrine, written at the request of the Unity Elders Conference in 1777 and published in 1779. It is described as intended to place before ministers and members of the Moravian Church a scheme of Christian doctrine expressed in biblical language and to present to friends of the Unity a vindication of its orthodox and catholic character. The twenty-four sections set forth the essentials of Protestant theology with the love of God in Christ as their central theme.3 The second publication was the hymnbook of 1778 prepared by Christian Gregor. Simply by June/July 2017
its being in use for about 100 years, this hymnal continued the Moravian Church’s practice of giving expression to its theology in its hymns more than in formal dogmatic productions. The General Synod of 1782 professed continued adherence to the Augsburg Confession, as Saxon law stipulated, and noted that the Confession was “in conformity to the Holy Scripture.”4 This was a time of increased pressure from the rationalism of the so-called Enlightenment, and it is in response to this that in repeating the four main doctrinal points from 1775 there is added to the section on the divinity of Christ a passage stressing that Jesus was more than simply an eminent messenger from God as many people thought in those days.5 It is in this light that the Bishops Hamilton say, “The Brethren determined to adhere more faithfully in their teaching to the language of Scripture.”6 In the Results of this General Synod of 1782, before the “chief axiom” and “four points,” in the manner of the old Unity there now stands as the first chapter of the Results a statement that “The Holy Scripture is the ground [Grund] of our doctrine, and the only rule [Richtschnur] of our faith and life.”7 This was repeated in the Results of the General Synods of 1789 and 1801.8 The addition to the section on Christ’s divinity made in 1782 is not repeated in 1801. Times were different, and the point had been made. However, members of the church were urged to acquaint themselves with the Scriptures so as to guard themselves against the “erroneous teach ing which is prevalent in our time.”9 The Synod of 1818 in its sections on doctrine largely repeats the words of 1801 (with a few modifications), but it does rearrange the “four points” of earlier years, perhaps to put them in what the delegates considered a more “logical” or systematic progression. They now stand as a. universal depravity b. the divinity and incarnation of Christ
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Confessing Unity
(Continued from previous page) c. the atoning sacrifice of Jesus d. the Holy Spirit and the operation of grace. To these is now added a fifth point: e. the doctrine of the fruits of faith: that this must evidence itself by willing obedience to the commandments of God because of our love and gratitude to Him.10 This addition would doubtless have been gratifying to Lukás of Prague, Jan Augusta, and other adherents of the old Unity. Little was done over the next three Synods of 1825, 1836, and 1848 to alter these five points, though they were now expressed in paragraph form. The 1825 Synod did say that the Moravian Church does not want to expand on the “truths” of God revealed for salvation and that “we feel bound as Brethren to all who agree with us in the experience of the heart.”11 The 1836 General Synod refined the statement on Scripture so that it now reads: The Holy Scripture of the Old and New Testament is and remains the only rule of our faith and life [practice]. We revere it as God’s word, which He spoke to humanity in former times through the prophets, and in these last days through the Son and His apostles, to instruct people in the way of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. We are convinced that all truths which are necessary for a person who desires to be saved to know and believe are fully contained therein.12 The 1848 General Synod reiterated that statement. This brings us to the contributions of the General Synod held in 1857, the 400th anniversary of the Unitas Fratrum. In regard to doctrine, the 1857 Synod repeats the statement on Scripture as “the only rule of our faith and practice.” Synod then follows this with a section entitled Mysteries of Scripture.13 This states that while we keep in view the “mark” [target] set before
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the church by the apostle Paul (Eph. 4:13, 14) of coming into perfection in Christ, no longer “tossed to and fro” by “every wind of doctrine,” nevertheless we “never forget, that every human system of divine truth must remain imperfect, as the same apostle says, (I Cor., xiii. 9,) ‘we know in part.’” This caution on human doctrinal systems is a clear echo of the ancient Unity’s refusing to assert “immutability of dogmatic expression.” This caution also speaks clearly to us today, that we must always bear in mind that all of our human doctrinal systems “must remain imperfect” and ever must be tested to “apprehend both the word and the spirit”14 of the Scripture. Following its caution on the “Mysteries of the Scripture,” the 1857 Synod places the section entitled Summary of Doctrine. As did the 1775 Synod, the 1857 Synod prefaces its points of doctrine with the hymn verse expressing the church’s “chief doctrine”: “That whoe’er believeth in Christ’s redemption,/May find free grace, and a complete exemption/From serving sin.”15 Then after an absence from the Results of three General Synods, the list of “five points” from the 1818 Synod reappears, except this time there are six of them, the doctrines of: a. the total depravity of human nature b. the love of God the Father [this is the added point, and it hearkens back to the “essentials” of the old Unity] c. the real Godhead and real humanity of Jesus Christ d. the atonement and satisfaction of Jesus Christ for us e. the Holy Ghost and his gracious operations f. the fruits of faith. The Synod Results then go on to speak of the “Centre of Doctrine,” which says in part: “The word of the cross, i.e. the testimony of his voluntary offering of himself to suffer and to die, and of the treasures of grace purchased thereby, is the beginning, middle, and end of our ministry, The Moravian
The seating plan from the 1857 Synod in Herrnhut. Courtesy of Moravian Archives
and to proclaim the Lord’s death we regard as the main calling of the Brethren’s Church.”16 They then speak of “The Way of Salvation,” where it is said that “both Scripture and experience” show that different people are led by God to salvation in Christ in different ways, but that growth in grace is necessary.17 Then follows a section on “The Christian Life,”18 which reinforces the call to moral living. All of this was seen as relating directly to the doctrine of the church. The 1869 General Synod left the doctrinal statements of the 1857 Synod virtually unchanged, and the 1879 Synod reiterates them, except that now two more have been added: g. the fellowship of believers with one another h. the Second Coming of the Lord in glory, and of the Resurrection of the dead, unto life or unto judgment. Also, since the 1879 General Synod stated that these doctrines were clearly attested to in Scripture, a series of Scripture references was now added to the end of each to indicate clearly the Scriptures on which it is based. The 1879 Synod added a sentence to the section on leading doctrines: “Our view of the leading doctrines is set forth more especially in the confession of faith which has been annually declared by the whole Church on Easter morning for more than a hundred years.”19 Endnotes
1 1775: I. A, 2. (Translation is from the 1857 General Synod; see note 31 below.) 2 1775: I.A, 2, a-d. Note that J. Taylor Hamilton in his History (1900), p. 220f., and Kenneth Hamilton in his revision of that work (1967), p. 170, list five points and arrange them in the order adopted by later Synods. It is noted, however, in the 1967 work, p. 180, that the point concerning the fruits of a godly life as the result of the work of the Holy Spirit was added by the General Synod of 1818. (Except in this footnote, all citations of the History are from the 1967 edition.) 3 Hamilton, History, p. 172. 4 1782: I, A, 7. 5 1782: I, C, 9, c. 6 History, p. 172. 7 1782: I, A, 1. 8 The report on the 1789 Synod in the Southern Archives is appar ently not a complete one, but Bishop Hamilton’s History, p. 173f., 177, does not mention any changes in 1789 and says that the Synod of 1801 followed 1789 and “made no material changes in the statement on Moravian doctrine.” The reference in 1801 is I, A: 1, 10-11.
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First listed as only four “points” by the 1775 Synod, then five in 1818 and six in 1857, these eight “truths” of the 1879 Synod — unofficially labeled eight “essentials” in the 1950s by John Groenfeldt20 — these eight basic truths stood through the next five General Synods until 1957. This does not mean that all doctrinal issues were settled once and for all, however; and developments just before and just after 1900 sound very similar to concerns today. We therefore need to examine them in some detail. In our next issue: The Crisis of 1909. n 9 1801: I, A, 3. 10 1818: II, 7. (A chapter on “Unitäts-Statuten” here precedes the doctrinal chapter.) 11 1825: I, 4. 12 1836: II, 4. Note that the words “ground of our doctrine” do not appear here. Note also the new addition of the last sentence, in which it says that everything needed for salvation is revealed in Scripture. 13 1857: II, 5. 14 See the Bishops Hamilton’s comment on the 1740 Marienborn Synod, notes 15 and 16 above. 15 1857: II, 6. 16 1857: II, 7. 17 1857: II, 8. See above, p. 8, after note 16. 18 1857: II, 9. 19 1879: II, 7. 20 John S. Groenfeldt, Becoming a Member of the Moravian Church: A Maunal for Church Members, (Bethlehem, Pa., and WinstonSalem, N.C.: Interprovincial Board of Christian Education, Moravian Church in America, 1954), pp. 21-22.
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OFFICIAL PROVINCIAL ELDERS’ NEWS
NORTHERN PROVINCE Ordination Brother Gregory M. Behrend, a May 2017 graduate of Moravian Theological Seminary, was ordained a deacon of the Moravian Church on June 24, 2017. Bishop Kay Ward officiated at the service, which was held at Wisconsin Rapids Moravian Church, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. Altura, Minnesota Brother Gregory M. Behrend has accepted the call to serve as pastor for Our Savior’s Moravian Church, Altura, Minnesota. Brother Behrend will be installed July 2, 2017. Reading, Pennsylvania Brother Ronald Rice, who has been serving as appointed pastor for Reading Moravian Church, Reading, Pennsylvania, concluded his ministry with the congregation June 25, 2017. Staten Island, New York Brother Lance Fox, who has been serving as appointed pastor for Schoeneck Moravian Church, Nazareth, Pennsylvania, has accepted the call to serve as pastor for Castleton Hill Moravian Church, Staten Island, New York. Br. Fox will be installed into his new work November 5, 2017. Reading, Pennsylvania Due to declining membership and in accordance with ⁋1019 of The Book of Order, Reading Moravian Church dissolved as a Moravian congregation effective June 30, 2017 and
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formed a Covenant Agreement to come under the care of the Lititz congregation as the Reading Moravian Center of Lititz Moravian Church. This action allows for the preservation and enhancement of an important ministry which feeds the bodies, souls and spirits of the local Reading community, including an active food pantry and community meal. Elizabeth D. Miller Provincial Elders’ Conference SOUTHERN PROVINCE Home Moravian Church The Rev. Andrew Heil, pastor of Hope Moravian Church since 2013, has accepted a call to become Associate Pastor of Home Moravian Church. He will conclude ministry at Hope July 9 and be installed at Home Church July 16. Please remember Andrew and his wife, Sarah, in prayer, as well as the Hope and Home congregation during this transition. David Guthrie Provincial Elders’ Conference
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