Dear Northminster,

Last Saturday, our Elders and Deacons met for leadership training. As a part of our yearly training, we studied the Book of Order, part 2 of the PCUSA Constitution. Each year we take a look at a different part of our constitution. The idea is that over the years, our leaders gain a fuller understanding of the principles that guide our denomination. At the request of a few leaders last year, this year we looked at the Book of Discipline, the fourth section of the Book of Order. Since not many people willing read the Book of Discipline for fun, I thought I'd share some of its core principles. 

1) The Book of Discipline is not a replacement for secular law. 
One issue that has arisen in recent decades is how churches and denominations have handled allegations of abuse or malpractice within the congregation or church structure. Often, leaders have argued that their system has handled the situation and it's punishment and therefore, the secular State does not need to get involved. We have seen this as a tactic to shelter abusers and preserve public image. 

The PCUSA condemns this practice. If something illegal has taken place, pastors, Elders, Deacons, Staff, and Volunteers working with children are mandated reporters. Our system of discipline runs alongside the secular system. 

2) The cornerstones to our discipline process are the ideas of reconciliation, justice, truth, repentance, and rehabilitation. 
The judicial system in the United States largely focuses on punitive punishment. When a wrong has been committed, there is a fine to be paid, service to be completed, or time to be served behind bars. The assumption is that if a crime has a big enough punishment, it will deter people from committing it. Moreover, it  is believed that there is an exacting price to be paid for every wrongdoing. 

The PCUSA's system is not about punishment but repairing what has been broken. It asks:
- How do we restore relationships? 
- What would be healing for a community torn in two? 
- If someone is struggling, how do we help them? 
- If someone needs to be removed from a community, what would they have to do or change to be restored to that community again? 
- How do we balance justice and forgiveness? 
While I agree that the system of discipline in the PCUSA and the United States should remain separate and distinct systems whose aims and goals are distinct, I also believe that our society would be in a better place today if our national conversation implemented more principals of the PCUSA's Book of Discipline.  

When considering actions of our government, I often ask myself, "Is this repairing what has been broken, is this punishing perceived wrong-doers, or is this causing still more harm?" 

Like many of you, I am horrified by the news these days. In particular, I am horrified by unarmed civilians being killed by persons employed by our national government. Rhetoric and political commentary has been flying around the internet and news as people take stands on this latest political hot-button issue. And as I see this, I return to the principals that undergird our polity's way of resolving conflicts: does this bring about reconciliation and restoration?
- Does rounding up undocumented civilians who have only committed civil infractions promote the reconciliation of the world?
- Does shooting and killing unarmed civilians promote the reconciliation of the world?
- Does mocking her or her family promote the reconciliation of the world?

Most people I know, whether we agree politically or not, agree that our nation needs healing and reconciliation. The difficulty of the reconciliation process is that it requires accountability but also to give up a desire to punish (in a punitive sense) the other side. 

Jesus came to reconcile the world... and as he was being nailed to the cross of his execution, he said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34). 
 
Blessings,
Pastor Chris

Dear Northminster,

​Happy New Year! I hope you all have had a lovely holiday season and that this new year has gotten off to a good start. That said, I also know that this year has a lot in store for us at Northminster (as well as for me personally). So let us take a brief look at what is happening in the short and long term in 2026 at Northminster. 

This Week: 

• January 8 - First Session Meeting of the year. 
• January 10  - Leadership Training for Elders, Deacons, and Committee Members
  • This Saturday, the leaders of the congregation are gathering for our annual Leaders Training. We will meet in the Lounge at 10 a.m. Breakfast and lunch will be provided
  • The morning session is specifically for Elders and Deacons where they will be doing group building activities, reviewing the Book of Order, and setting goals for the year. 
  • The afternoon session is open to everyone in the congregation who would like to be involved with our 2026 brainstorming and planning session where we will begin to tackle how to implement our new Mission Focus. 
• January 11 at 11 a.m. - Installation of our 2026 Elders and Deacon
• January 11 after worship - Sharing Dinners Planning Meeting.
  • Because of the leadership training on January 10th, the January Sharing Dinners event has been postponed until January 16th or 17th. 

Next Week:

• January 12 at 7 p.m. - Stitch n Bitch
• January 15 at 7 p.m. - First Deacons Meeting of the year
• January 16 or 17 - Sharing Dinners. 

Week of Jan 19:

• January 19 - Martin Luther King Jr Day
• January 20 at 12:30 p.m. - Men's Lunch 
• January 22 at 7 p.m. on Zoom - first All Committee Meeting of the year

Week of Jan 26:

• January 26 - Women's Lunch

Later this year:

• February 18 - Ash Wednesday
• February 22 after worship - Annual Meeting 
• Mid-March through June/July - Pastor Chris on Maternity Leave. 
  • While I would love to provide a more definite timeline, babies do not understand calendars or planning. At this point in time, it is best for us to be prepared for my leave to begin anywhere from March 8th on the early end to March 22nd on the later end. 
• March 29 - Palm Sunday
• April 5 - Easter Sunday. 

As you can see, there is a lot happening at the beginning of 2026. On top of these planned events, the Operations Committee and Personnel Team are hard at work in the search for a new office assistant. We have received over 70 applications for the job. The team is spending the rest of this week reviewing applications and we hope to begin interviews next week. In the meantime, I will be covering some of the office duties (including assembling this email). So I ask for your grace if you spot errors or mistakes in the Notes in the weeks to come. 

Happy New Year everyone! There is work to be done and Jesus is asking us to step out in faith. Let us trust that the Spirit will guide us throughout our work this year! 


Blessings,
Pastor Chris