Good News from New Covenant

Most PresbyNews these days is negative: loss of membership, withdrawals of churches, and the conflict in the denomination over theological, social and property issues dominate the coverage of the PCUSA.

Today I'm happy to report some really good news from Presbytery of New Covenant. Yes, friends, in our little corner of the world in southeast Texas, we are doing our best to "brighten up the corner where we are". Maybe our news will inspire and encourage others.

But first, a little background. Last fall the PNC discovered the Million Dollar Problem. Since that time members of the financial committees and the General Council and staff have worked very hard to develop a strategy for repaying General Assembly's special offering funds, maintain the New Church Developments already underway, and find a way to balance the next presbytery budget.

At today's General Council meeting:

• A balanced budget for 2007-2008 was presented and will be recommended for adoption at the August presbytery meeting that maintains current staff and NCD support to the tune of 20% of the total budget. This is a miracle that we didn't think would happen just a couple of short weeks ago.
  
• We made our first repayment to GA for the special offerings;
  
• The financial folks reported that since January, giving to presbytery from the churches has been more consistent and at a higher level than at any time in the past;
• Churches and individuals have increased their pledges for giving to the presbytery;
• Grants totaling $120K from the Vision Initiatives fund were approved to fund innovative programs for redevelopment of two churches; launch of a new suburban church development; and to establish a program to train pastors in missional ministry. Among other things.
  

The two redevelopment grant proposals are particularly intriguing to me.

One is from a church located in an neighborhood that is becoming more Hispanic. Development of an outreach program to women in the area who are involved in domestic abuse and their children has grown since a support group began meeting at the church and the pastor, a Hispanic woman who is herself a domestic abuse survivor, became involved in counseling the women. A Spanish language Sunday evening service is now being offered and the grant would expand tutoring and child care staff. I love this project because it evolved spontaneously (no doubt with some help from the Holy Spirit) from an outside group meeting at the church as relationships between the women, the pastor and some church members developed. Some of the women are now inquiring about church membership.

The other proposal that I am eager to see put into action is from a church located in an area where there are a lot of engineering and technical people residing. This church has been through tough times, but now is poised for redevelopment. It has developed a well-thought out process for equipping its members to evangelize and develop outreach programs specifically to the unchurched and make disciples for Christ targeting this scientific community in which most of them live.

PNC still has a lot of work to do, but we're blessed to find our relationships with each other strengthening because a lot of people have spent a lot of time and attention to that, and ~knock wood~ none of our churches are discussing withdrawal from the denomination.

So just for today, let's rejoice in how far we've come since last fall--with God's help!