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Jason Condon Appointed to serve as new Associate Superintendent of East Coast Conference

Following a year long search process, Rev. Jason R. Condon has been appointed to serve as Associate Superintendent for The East Coast Conference, where he will direct church planting and manage congregational vitality ministries. Jason will begin his work with the Conference in August.

Jason is currently concluding his service as co-planting pastor of Artisan Covenant Church, Rochester, New York where he has served since 2005. He also serves on the ECC Church Planting Training Team as Technical Director. Prior to planting Artisan Church Jason was Pastor of Capax Dei, a “church within a church” that was adopted into the ECC in the birth of Artisan. He has also served as Associate Pastor for Young Adults and Media Ministries at CrossBridge Community Church (2000-2003), Lead Pastor/Planter of New Vision Community Church (1996-2000), and on staff at two Nazarene congregations in the 1990’s. Jason was born and raised in Presque Isle, Maine.

Jason earned a M.Div. from Northeastern Seminary (Rochester, NY) in 2003 and a B. A. in Religion & Youth Ministry at Eastern Nazarene College in 1992. Earlier he pursued engineering studies at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He is being ordained to Word and Sacrament in the Evangelical Covenant Church this week in St. Paul, MN.

Jason is married to Lisa (Casler), originally from Brockton, MA. They have two children, a son Jaron (1998) and a daughter, Bryn (2000).

2010 Annual Meeting highlights!

"On the MOVE" - Courageous Leadership & Compassionate Service Award

At the 120th Annual Meeting of the East Coast Conference this weekend, God was very present, and His people were blessed!

Here are some highlights:

The Ministerial Association met at Pilgrim Pines Conference Center on Thursday and Friday for continuing education, business, and approving the ordination recommendations for 16 ministers within the Conference. The Continuing Education day was led by Dr. David Kersten, Executive Minister of the Ordered Ministry for the ECC, focused on Pastoral Self Care and Pastoral Soul Care, reflecting on the practices of Jesus and Job. New officers were elected and a budget for 2010-2011 was approved. Two worship services for the Association gave occasion to celebrate a Service of Baptismal Renewal, along with the testimonies of 8 ordination candidates. Another service celebrated the Lord’s Supper and testimonies by another 8 ordination candidates.

The theme of the Conference Annual meeting was: Under Full Sail: Navigate. Adapt. Thrive!

Workshops were held on Friday afternoon and were well attended. Dr. Alan Forsman offered a seminar on how to mentor and develop ministry leaders. Dr. Dave Kersten offered a seminar on best practices for churches engaged in pastoral relations processes. Rev. Rob Satterberg led a workshop focused on helping cultivate our missional partnership with the Covenant Church in Koyuk, Alaska.

A celebration worship service was held at Strand Chapel, Pilgrim Pines on Friday evening with about 140 attending. A worship team composed of musicians and worship ministers from across the conference led the congregation in celebrating God’s presence and promises from Psalm 107 and Mark 6:45-56. Rev. Howard Burgoyne, Conference Superintendent, preached on the Gospel text and theme of the conference. The service concluded with a celebration of the Lord’s Supper.

On Saturday morning, the Conference meeting convened at Monadnock Covenant Church, Keene, NH.
114 delegates came from 48 conference churches as well as both mission agencies, Covenant Trust Company, Covenant Village of Cromwell, North Park University and the Evangelical Covenant Church (denomination).

Devotions were led by a team from Monadnock and Bethany (NH) Covenant Churches, and Pastor Garth McGrath offered testimony on how God has been at work in Monadnock in the 16 years of developing this congregation.

Carolyn Larson, moderator and chair of the Conference led the business session through a full agenda that included:

The reception of two churches into membership in the Conference:
Highrock Covenant Church, Brookline, MA
The Valleys Evangelical Covenant Church, Halifax, PA

The report of the Superintendent was received (and is available for reading in our “downloads” section).

10 Testimonies were shared, reflecting on God’s work in the Conference related to church planting, Conference ministries, congregational vitality, and leadership development.

The Annual Meeting celebrated and prayed for the 16 ordination candidates being presented to the ECC annual meetings in June.

The 2009 Financial Reports were presented and received.

A motion of grief and gratitude was passed regarding the pending closure of the Concord Covenant Church, Concord, NH.

The 2010 Revised and 2011 Proposed budgets were presented and approved.

A “Step One Vision” Budget was presented as a challenge to the churches of the Conference – encouraging growth towards an average investment by churches in the mission of the Conference reflecting 4% of church income by 2012, and 5% by 2013.

Representing he Conference Board, Rev. Rob Satterberg presented the motion to renominate Superintendent Burgoyne for a second four year term. After the balloting, the tellers reported a unanimous “yes” vote.

The Human Resources Board report and ballot was presented by Rev. Karen Palmatier, and a unanimous ballot was cast by acclamation to elected the entire slate of candidates presented by the Board.

Two churches and three individuals were given special recognition for being “…on the MOVE” this year.
Bethany Covenant Church, Bedford, NH and Highrock Covenant Church, Arlington, MA were each recognized for their involvement and investment in church planting partnerships with the Conference, by supporting the planting of Highrock Covenant Church, Brookline, MA; Worship Frontier Covenant Church, Lexington, MA; and The developing project for the Sudanese Evangelical Covenant Church, Manchester, NH.

Rev. Nancy Ebner and Rev. Linda Williams were each recognized for their investment in congregational vitality at Orchard Covenant Church, Indian Orchard, MA and Covenant Congregational Church, Waltham, MA – for courageous leadership and compassionate service.

A special “out of the Conference” award was granted to Dr. David Kersten, Executive Minister of the Ordered Ministry of the ECC, for his work in advancing the holistic resources and vision for sustaining pastoral excellence across the ECC, and it’s impact on the East Coast Conference.

Board members were installed by the Word and prayer.

Hosts for the meeting were recognized and thanked with a gift and a round of applause.

Plans for the 121st Conference Annual Meeting will be made for the last weekend in April 2011 at Cape Cod Covenant Church, Brewster, Massachusetts.

A luncheon was enjoyed by the delegates before before scattering to return to homes and places of ministry.

Reports and resources for the meeting are still available for download here on the conference website.

Covenant Health Ministry – Resources and Opportunities

Wellness Grant Opportunity. Post Foods is offering a $25,000 grant for community wellness projects. Deadline for applying is May 17, 2010 http://www.postnatural.com/GoodHealthGrant.aspx

Upcoming Faith & Health Classes. North Park Theological Seminary is teaching an interdisciplinary class on Spiritual Issues in Chronic Illness and Disability June 7-11, 2010. Online classes for next year are; Religion, Spirituality & Health in the fall and Biblical Perspectives on Health in the spring. For more information contact Mary Chase-Ziolek, Professor of Health Ministries and Nursing at 773-244-6201 or mchase-ziolek@northpark.edu

Upcoming Conference. The Christian Community Health Fellowship is hosting their annual conference May 27-29, 2010 in Memphis. The theme is “The Future of Healthcare.”

Healthcare and Reconciliation. As part of the Summer Reconciliation Institute May 31- June 5, 2010 at Duke Divinity School in North Carolina there will be a track on “Medicine, Healing, Suffering and the Christian Community,” For more information go to http://www.divinity.duke.edu/learningforlife/programs/summerinstitute

Denominational Conversation on Health Ministries. In the early summer we will be having a conversation among departments in the Evangelical Covenant Church to discuss how to best support congregations interested in ministries of health. If you have any thoughts on the subject, please let me know.

Mary Chase-Ziolek, PhD, RN
Professor of Health Ministries and Nursing
North Park University
3225 W. Foster Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
773-244-6201
mchase-ziolek@northpark.edu