Think Globally, Make Peace Locally: Building Skills for Interfaith Dialogue in a Rapidly Changing World

Hello, friends in the Regional Synod of Albany,

Many Albany Synod congregations support the Al Amana Centre in Oman. For many years, the Al Amana Centre, and Oman itself, have been carefully working at peacemaking in the midst of the conflict in the Middle East, demonstrating hospitality and serving as facilitators of difficult conversations. 

Two Al Amana staff--Justin Meyers, Executive Director, and Joshua Bode, Director of Operations and Ecumenical Affairs--will be in our region on July 13, leading a workshop open to all. 3-5 PM, Delmar Reformed Church. More details below in the flier. They'll be teaching some of the skills taught and employed at the Centre. Come do some learning and also check in with Justin and Josh about how their work is evolving, given the recent troubling developments in the Gulf and Levant. 

No RSVPs are necessary but I still appreciate hearing from you that you're coming--email me at nortonlevering@gmail.com to give me a heads up.

--Abby Norton-Levering, Synod Ministries Coordinator

PS Invite your friends! Even and especially if they're of another faith tradition!

Now Available! Handbook for Collaborative Ministry!

The CMLC on retreat at Camp Fowler: Greg Town, Paige Convis, Becky Town, Sherri Meyer-Veen (RSA staff), and Jennifer Legg. Not pictured: Chuck Wiessner, who participated in the retreat by zoom.

Over the past year, Albany Synod's Collaborative Ministry Learning Community (CMLC) has been meeting, studying, researching, interviewing, and writing about all they've learned as they have explored many of the paths that Collaborative ministry can take. You can read the benefits of their work by exploring the Handbook for Collaborative Ministry they produced. Any church that is considering how to work together with another church or agency in ministry would benefit from studying this terrific handbook.

Here are some excerpts from the introduction to the Handbook:

The CMLC emerged from the recommendations of the Adaptive Change Task Force of the Regional Synod of Albany, recognizing the need for new approaches to ministry in an ever-changing landscape. We are committed to exploring innovative models of shared ministry—reimagining what has been done before and discovering what has yet to be tried.

We see ourselves as pioneers and practitioners in collaboration, embracing both the successes and setbacks that come with experimentation. Our role is not just to implement what is already known, but to test, adapt, and refine models of ministry that respond to the needs of today’s church. We believe that collaboration is not merely a practical necessity for churches and ministers, but a theological and missional calling - a way of being the body of Christ together.

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Through this handbook and the ongoing learning of many who are involved in collaborations of various kinds, we aim to equip and encourage congregations, pastors, and church leaders as they step into collaborative ministry. We believe that when churches work together—sharing leadership, resources, and mission - they become stronger, more resilient, and better able to serve their communities.

Whether you are just beginning to explore shared ministry or are looking to strengthen an existing partnership, our goal is to walk alongside you, offering insights, encouragement, and practical tools to navigate the journey ahead.

Are you feeling intrigued? What are you waiting for, go check out the Handbook! Bring it to your consistory, read it together, and then let us know how your discernment process progresses! The CMLC will be continuing to work together for the foreseeable future, and they'd love to hear from you how you make use of the Handbook.

To offer an edit, add a story of your own, offer the addition of a resource you’ve found useful, or just give your feedback, please email Greg Town at gnbtown@gmail.com This handbook will be continually edited and added to, in order to build on and deepen our shared learning in the collaborative work to which we’re all called to enter.  Peace!

"Word, Silence, and the Climate Emergency" Book Discussion Group

We hope you will join us as we explore together Timothy Gorringe's work, Word, Silence and the Climate Emergency: God, Ekklesia, and Christian Doctrine. This book will challenge all of us as we all work in our own context to care for God's world. Albany Synod and Camp Fowler are co-sponsors of this project.

A word from the Rev. Daniel Carlson, one of the co-conveners of this book study: 

Timothy Gorringe is an Anglican priest, theologian, and member of the Iona community. His recently published book, God, Ekklesia, and Christian Doctrine, is an incisive and timely tome that unfolds the meaning of gospel in light of and for witness within our present context. This is a challenging book best considered in community.

For eight weeks this fall we will explore his thesis that the climate crisis is a confessional issue. This venture will culminate with a retreat at Fowler in November, allowing for extended conversations about the final section of the book, which focuses on the Spirit’s presence and provocation for the preservation of God’s beloved and beleaguered world. 

Daniel Carlson, John Paarlberg and Kent Busman will co-convene these discussions. (Here’s a link to John Paarlberg’s compilation of one especially relevant aspect of the final chapter.) 

The Albany Synod Ministries Board has generously provided a grant to partially cover the cost of up to ten participants’ purchase of the book or e-book. You can request reimbursement as part of the registration process here. (While we would encourage participants to purchase the text from other sellers than Amazon, a significant sample of the book can be read on Amazon’s site.) 

For clarity on participants, availability, and grant distribution details, please register by June 1 at this link.