Missouri Mid-South Conference United Church of Christ (Serving Missouri, Arkansas, and Memphis, Tennessee)
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The Parish Paper

Ideas and Insights for Active Congregations

Co-editors: Herb Miller, Lyle Schaller, Cynthia Woolever

The mission statement of the Missouri Mid-South Conference calls us as covenant partners to “Strengthening local congregational life for the building up of the whole body of Christ and doing the good works of ministry.” There are a variety of ways that are fulfilling this call in our conference such as Our Church Vitality Initiative, our growing ministry grants, and the work of our Associate Conference Ministers with Pastors, congregations and local pastoral search committees. All of these ministries are made possible through your gifts to Our Churches Wider Mission. To that list I am pleased to announce a new program to strengthen and support the work of local congregations – the Parish Paper. Beginning this month every pastor in our conference will receive a copy of the parish post, a two page newsletter edited by Herb Miller, Lyle Schaller, and Cynthia Woolever. Each issue will discuss current issues, share ideas, or offer insights on an area of parish ministry. The June issue will discuss “Teaching Moments” Strengthen Governing Board Meetings.

I hope you will find this new resource helpful to you in our setting of ministry.

Peace
Jeffrey A. Whitman
Conference Minister
Missouri Mid-South Conference UCC

Our organization's purchase of photocopy rights for The Parish Paper INCLUDES

     1. Permission to provide copies to our staff and the congregations within our constituency in any of the following ways: E-mail, U.S. Mail, newspaper, meetings, training events, and our Website.

     2.  Permission for each congregation within our constituency to (a) photocopy or electronically distribute for local use as many copies as it needs, (b) post them on its Website, and (c) quote sentences and paragraphs.

Your Congregation does NOT have permission (a) to delete the copyright notice on page 2; (b) to re-write, paraphrase, or change the wording of sentences and paragraphs; or (c) to give ANY THIRD PARTY - other than your staff and constituents - permission to photocopy or reprint (in any quantity, no matter how small, whether for free distribution or for sale).

If your congregation uses a U.S. Post Office Nonprofit Mailing Permit to distribute photocopies with its newsletter or other mailings, most local Post Offices require that every item carry your congregation's name and address.  Above The Parish Paper masthead, type your congregation's name, address, and "Photocopied by Permission."

 
     
 

Current Issues:

May 2008 - How Effective Is Our Financial Communication?

June 2008 - "Teaching Moments" Strengthen Governing Board Meetings!

July 2008 - Giving to Congregations: Have Patterns Changed?

August 2008 - How does Church Size Impact Decision-Making?

September 2008 - The Change Agent's Checklist

October 2008 - Requirements for Membership: Which Ones Matter?
 

 
 

Noteworthy Past Issues:

January 2008 - What Core Values Drive Our Church?

November 2007 - Turnaround Strategies for Small Churches: Which Ones to Use?

April 2007 - What Does a Photograph of Our "Corporate Culture" Reveal?

January 2007 - E-mail: Uses and Misuses in Congregations

June 2006 - Financial Stewardship: Myths & Principles

September 2005 - Are We Connecting with the Opportunity Group?
 

 
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