Our Journey. 40 Days of Reflection on the Journey that is the Christian Life. A Devotion and Prayer Booklet produced by the
International Council of Community Churches is available here.
Rev. Dr. Leah Schade led our Annual Conference Bible Study: Navigating the Red-Blue Divide. Her materials are available post conference. To view or download, click on the following:
How Can We Promote Racial Equity in 2022?
At the 2022 ICCC Annual Conference, Dr. Linda Abington presented a workshop on Racial Equity in 2022. If you would like to view and download the resources used for the workshop, click here.
2022 ICCC Mission Grants
The International Council of Community Churches is offering Mission Grants to their local churches to assist their ministry and mission in their local communities. For more information, click here. For an application, click here.
A new resource is available to introduce laity and clergy to the International Council of Community Churches and the Community Churches Movement. The booklet “Living in Community” is a study guide designed to be used by local churches to educate their members on their relationship to the ICCC. Click here to download.
Church Ministry Funding Guide
Free eBook: Church Ministry Funding Guide: How to Thrive During COVID-19 in 2020 and Beyond is available for download. With a proven framework approach, you will be able to navigate between uncertainty and confidence in a way that will instantly elevate your capacity to meet your most pressing ministry demands today and do more ministry moving forward. Click here to download.
COVID-19 Resource Page
Along with our sisters and brothers all around the world, we’re now coming to terms with the “new normal” brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. It is our hope and goal to equip churches and worshipers with useful information and resources during these trying times. Rev. Rock R. Fremont Jr., ICCC Clergy in Special Standing and Ecumenical & Interfaith Relations Committee member put together this resource page to possibly help guide you through this time. Click here to download.
Fund Raising 101
The purpose of this resource packet is to provide you with some basic fundraising information and resources, and some ideas that you might consider using to raise funds for your ministry. Click here to download.
Local congregations have a variety of ways of assessing their pastors’ performance. A few actually vote on re-appointing the pastor each year, thus providing a very final and annual “pass-fail” judgment on their servant-leader. Some congregations elect or appoint a pastoral relations or personnel committee with instructions to meet with the pastor on a regular basis, reviewing the pastor’s activities and making suggestions in a variety of areas. To learn more, click here to download the document “A Pastor’s Annual Performance Review.”
A one-page flyer designed for use by your church or center. Side 2 of the flyer is complete with a description of the Council. Side 1 is yours to design. Include photos of your ministries of outreach and caring and a description of your church or center’s compassion for those whom Jesus called “the least of these.” Use the flyer as a worship bulletin insert, a tip-in promotional piece in your community’s newspaper, on your website, or in a community-wide or congregational mailing. Click here for flyer.
To download the application process for any ICCC Program Fund or Award Program, click here.
To download a survey to be completed by your church or center, click here. To inquire about learning from other congregations who have successfully negotiated the same kinds of ministry programs your church or center in now considering, call the Council Office 815-464-5690.
An indispensable aid to churches who are searching for pastoral leadership, this guide for pastoral search committees can be downloaded here. You can also contact the Council Office to obtain a hard copy by mail.
An aid for congregations to assist in developing a vision for their ministry. You can contact the Council Office to obtain a hard copy by mail, or you can click here to download.
A manual for church planters and other visionaries. Click here to download. To obtain a hard copy by mail, contact the Council Office.
An ICCC resource for ordination candidates, their mentors, and their churches and centers. Click here to view/download.
Chosen Theme: Do Good; Seek Justice. (Isaiah 1:17) Several resources are available on the website www.geii.org. For more information contact the Week of Prayer, Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute, Franciscan Friars of the atonement via the website. An order form for materials can be found at https://www.atonementfriars.org/wpcu_order_form.html
A variety of Bible-related resources for individuals and congregations is available at the American Bible Society’s website www.americanbible.org. The site includes downloadable worship bulletin inserts to readings from the Revised Common Lectionary.
Video clips and downloadable documents related to hunger in the U.S. and worldwide are available at Bread for the World’s website www.bread.org.
Information about micro-finance and individual economic empowerment is available at Opportunity International’s website www.opportunity.org.
Bulletin Inserts
Log on to www.ncccusa.org for a series of free downloadable bulletin inserts. Inserts currently being offered feature an interfaith responsible reading on poverty, information on the African American hymn, “Life Every Voice and Sing,” a litany on education and schools, and other topics useful throughout the year.
The following resources have been recommended to us by ordained and/or lay leaders of member churches or centers as useful for a wide audience. The ICCC does not endorse or recommend any resource from an individual or for-profit organization.
Old Catholic Tradition
Serge A. Theriault, Christian Catholic Rite of Community Churches – A Canadian ICCC member, has written a few books available through Amazon.com. Titles include: Msgr. Rene Vilatte: Community Organizer of Religion (1854-1929), Msgr. Dominique M. Varlet: Originator of the Old Catholic Episcopal Succession 1678-1742, and The Old Catholic Church and Other Writings. Bishops R. Vilatte and C. Durand are Theriault’s predecessors, and Bishop Varlet is at the origin of the Orders in many of the churches of the Old Catholic tradition in ICCC. Visit www.amazon.com to order.
Rev. Elreta Dodds, Associate Minister of Faith Christian Community Church, an ICCC member, is the author and publisher of several books that defend the Faith and books that deal with relationship issues. Visit www.elretadodds.com to find out more.
This bulletin, published for more than 30 years, is a tool for people visiting shut-ins in nursing homes, hospitals and at home. It includes four pages of prayers, biblical and literary selections, amusing stories and uplifting passages. Contact Mary Downey, 3371 Nadine Crest, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5A 3L4
Excellent sermon preparation resources are available online at www.desperatepreacher.com. The site includes a discussion board, seasonal humor, and of course exegetical resources. Also try www.textweek.com for a full range of exegetical and liturgical resources.