Congregational Connections

Creating Greater Opportunities for Congregational Connections

Report from the Metro Association Executive Administrator

November 3, 2018

Creating Greater Opportunities for Congregational Connections

Several years ago, a ministry-altering change took place in the New York Conference under the Interim Conference Minister when the positions of Regional Conference Ministers, for each Association, were eliminated. The Regional Conference Minister was a presence in the Metro office, and he also provided many of the opportunities to connect with the churches in the Association. The Regional Conference Minister made regular visits to all of the Association churches to preach, coordinated search and call, worked with churches in conflict and provided guidance when needed. He also worked with the churches to provide opportunities for ministry and participation in the life of the Association.

As the Association is working to fill this important void, we have been exploring opportunities to enhance our connection with our churches in between the Association’s Semi-Annual Meetings and throughout the year. There will be more opportunities for workshops and district events.

There are several initiatives that have commenced and others that will be added as we explore the needs of our churches and the future of our Association:

Each of the Metro board members has been assigned 2-3 churches. They are connecting with them to obtain some basic information: names and contact information for delegates, moderators and other ministry lay leaders; web sites and key email addresses for communications;
Board member has begun to make visits to their assigned churches to meet with pastors and lay leaders in order to discuss some basics about the church and also determine any specific needs and resources needed by the congregation;
When possible arrange to attend a worship service;
Encourage members of assigned churches to become more involved with the Association by working on committees and attending Association meetings;
Circulating periodic surveys to determine workshop needs;
Sharing resources for ministry;
Providing relevant workshop opportunities throughout the year in partnership with the Parish Resource Center of Valley Stream;
Creation of a Task Force (to be approved by the board) composed of lay Association members who would like to help and assist the board members in this new and ongoing initiative.

How congregations can help in this initiative:

Share the names and contact information for the pastor, delegates, moderator and lay leaders. We cannot keep in touch without the correct information;
Provide information about upcoming news and events, in your church, to be shared with the Association and placed on our new web site; Send information to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Respond to requests from the Association office;
Respond to requests from the Nominating Committee when they are seeking members to be elected to committees in the Spring of each year;

Attend Association meetings and workshops and share Association news with your churches;
Makes plans to send representatives to the New York Conference Annual Meetings State and Regional Youth Events and General Synod when they occur
Partner with a church in your District: The Districts are: Nassau County, Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, The Bronx and Westchester Counties.
Encourage your pastors and other ministers in your church to attend District Meetings with the District Deans when they are scheduled;
Let the Association contact person know of any specific challenge or need that your church may have that requires immediate attention

As the Association office and the Metro Board work to strengthen the connection with our churches, we welcome your ideas. If you have not heard from your board contact, please email them or contact the metro office. Also, if your church has not yet been assigned an association contact, please contact the metro office.

Current Board Member Assignments:

Rev. Carolyn C. Blair – St. Marks Congregational Church, Lemuel Haynes Congregational Church, Congregational Church of North New York. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Rev. Dr. Lisa Robinson – Ridgeview Congregational Church; Rivers of Living Water

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ms. Peg Mainusch – Community Church of Rockville Centre, First Congregational Church of Rockaway Beach. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Rev. Emily Brown – Briarcliff Congregational Church, United Church of Spring Valley