Dear ICCC clergy members.

On behalf of our ICCC Board of Directors and Board of Trustees, we hope you are staying well and safe.

I hope you are hanging in there in dealing with your parish or chaplain ministries. These are challenging times for clergy as we seek to re-imagine new and different ways of serving our various congregations, whether it be in a parish, prison, military, hospital, or working with first responders during this pandemic crisis.

I pray that you are doing activities to take care of your health and spirit. We need to practice self-care because we are of no use to our congregations and communities and our loved ones if we are physically, emotionally, and spiritually drained! I hope you are a member of a clergy peer group or some network of friends and colleagues to stay connected and nourished. 

As the world is turning upside down, so is the life of the Church turning upside down! There are lots of articles stating how this crisis might transform the Church. I just read two pieces that I thought you might find of interest. You may not agree with these writers, but this crisis has pushed us into thinking and acting differently.  Here are the links – 

https://level.medium.com/lecrae-on-why-the-virtual-church-experience-is-no-less-devout-8795c44e732e 

https://convergenceus.org/2020/04/02/ten-ways-the-church-will-be-changed-by-covid-19/

I want to propose some small ways on how we can support one another through this crisis and beyond!

Finally, I heard today that under the new stimulus bill passed by Congress, that religious organizations/congregations with less than 50 staff might apply for a forgivable loan to pay for the staff you have kept on your payroll during this crisis. It is called the Paycheck Protection Program. I don’t know the legal requirements. You should check with other clergies in your region to learn more about this program. It begins tomorrow, Friday, April 3, 2020.

Please feel free to email me at icccpt@sbcglobal.net or call me at 502-387-8515 if you have any comments or questions about my message.  Take care.  Stay well and safe.

Leadership and Development Opportunity for YOU!

The ICCC will be offering several high-quality leadership development opportunities for clergy and laity. Many of these programs will be facilitated by Pinnacle Leadership Associates, a coaching and church consulting group that seeks to partner with others to discover and pursue God’s mission in the world.  Get to know some of the Pinnacle team through your participation in one or more of the following programs:

WEBINARS on Social & Theological Issues

Each month, a member of the Pinnacle Team will lead a one-hour webinar on a social or theological issue like: race, hunger, stewardship and fundraising, women in ministry, reaching millennials, church planting, managing a multi-staff church, attractional to missional church models, preaching in a politically diverse church, emotionally-intelligent pastoral leadership.

Second Wednesdays at 1pm Eastern beginning February 12, 2020.
Information for the webinar and a link will be sent via email the Monday before.

TRAINING in Congregational Development

Pinnacle Leadership Associates president, Mark Tidsworth, will lead monthly one-hour training sessions via webinar entitled, “Faith Change Agent: The New Paradigm For Transformational Pastoral Leadership.” Participation is open, though each session builds on the previous session; participants are encouraged to sign on for the year.

Third Wednesdays at 1pm Eastern beginning February 19, 2020.
A reminder for this training webinar and a link will be sent via email the Monday before.

COACHING for Small Groups of Clergy

These closed groups of 6-8 participants will meet monthly over the course of one year with two of Pinnacle’s clergy coaches: the group offers reflective listening and provides insights and resources to assist movement to assist each participant in reaching his or her goals. Time to address hot button issues is offered as well. Each session lasts two hours.
Please register with DeAnn at the Council Office icccdc@sbcglobal.net. 
Lead by Rev. Mark Tidsworth, Rev. Dot Killian, Rev. Dr. Ircel Harrison and Rev. Dr. Terrell Carter.

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RETREATS for Clergy in Each Region

ICCC LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR 2020

https://vimeo.com/400705726

Attention ICCC Clergy!!
You are invited to participate in an individual coaching session with Pinnacle coaches during March or April. The purpose of these sessions is to assist your movement toward achieving your ministry goals.
Please refer to the times at the left. RESERVE TODAY! 

To get an idea of the Clergy Coaching Sessions offered, please take a moment to check out this video:
https://vimeo.com/393945008/1a42f63b1e

 
      Direct Thrivent Choice Dollars^®.

We are pleased to announce that the ICCC has recently been accepted into the Thrivent Choice program. 
One way eligible Thrivent Financial members can show their thanks is by directing Choice Dollars to the ICCC. If you’re a Thrivent member who has designated Choice Dollars

^®, please take this opportunity to recommend where Thrivent distributes some of its charitable grant funds by directing them to the ICCC.  Thrivent Choice grant funding will be used for Ecumenical & Interfaith Relations, and for our three missions: Agape, Creating Community, and Feeding the Hungry. 

To learn more about Thrivent Choice, visit Thrivent.com/thriventchoice.  Or call Thrivent at 800-847-4836 and say “Thrivent Choice” when prompted.