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).

"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.

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

Ministerial Association Continuing Education Day
9:00 AM Registration & Coffee (Strand Chapel)
10:00 AM Morning Worship Service
12:00 Noon Lunch (Mayflower Lodge)
1:15 PM Continuing Education #1 – Dr. David Kersten
2:45 PM Break
3:15 PM Continuing Education #2 – Dr. David Kersten
5:30 PM Dinner (Mayflower Lodge)
7:00 PM Evening Worship Service of Holy Communion

Friday, April 30, 2010
Pilgrim Pines Conference Center
220 West Shore Road, Swanzey, NH

2010 Ministerial Association Annual Meeting
8:00 AM Breakfast (Mayflower Lodge)
9:00 AM Devotions & Annual Business Meeting
12:15 PM Lunch (Mayflower Lodge)
1:15 PM Business session (if needed)

120th Annual Meeting & Celebration of the East Coast Conference

Pilgrim Pines Conference Center
220 West Shore Road, Swanzey, NH
3 – 5 PM Conference Workshops (Chapel, Undercroft, Meeting House)
5:30 PM Dinner (Mayflower Lodge)
7:00 PM Conference Worship Celebration (Strand Chapel)

Saturday, May 1, 2010
Monadnock Covenant Church
90 Base Hill Road, Keene, NH
8:00 AM Registration & Morning Coffee
9:00 AM Opening Worship & Devotions
9:30 AM Call to Order – 120th Annual Meeting of East Coast Conference
Business Session
Luncheon to follow (approximately 1:00 PM)

Registration and accomodations information are available for download from our website.

East Coast Conference 2020 Vision

The Conference has established a prayerful and strategic mission plan focused on four signature priorities of conference wide ministry. Believing we are a movement of God, the mission of the Conference is to:

Multiply congregations – by planting new missional churches;
Orchestrate ministries – by connecting district churches for shared ministry & mission;
Vitalize Congregations – by coaching pastors and church leaders to embrace renewal;
Empower leaders – by building a culture of trustworthy Christian leadership;

Our vision for mission by the year 2020 includes the following benchmarks:
100+ vital congregations growing deeper in Christ and further in mission;
(currently we are comprised of 76 churches and church plants)
Dozens of new churches planted and growing in every conference state and the District of Columbia;
5,000 new followers of Jesus being discipled and serving Christ in our churches;
Our churches doubling the number of people they now serve outside their congregation;
A new generation of believers raised up who embody the love, grace and justice of Jesus;
Growing ethnic and cultural diversity and inclusion within and among our churches;
Churches and districts partnering in local ministries and global mission;
Christian camping and spiritual retreat ministries expanded regionally;

EPIC – Empowering People, Inspiring Change - focuses on developing the skills and resources to navigate, adapt and thrive in the midst of change management.

The workshops will be held from 9:00 to 3:30 PM on Saturday.

October 31 – Salem Covenant Church, Worcester, MA

November 7 – Trinity Covenant Church, Livingston, NJ

There is no cost to attend, but reservations are necessary so we can secure sufficient food and materials in advance.

Lunch will be provided compliments of the East Coast Conference; Materials are provided compliments of the Department of Church Growth & Evangelism of the ECC.

To register a group from your church, email or call Beverly Freeman in the Conference Office – ecceast[at]gmail.com or ecceast[at]sbcglobal.net, or by phone 860.635.2691, ext. 101

It’s summer now, but getting this on the calendar for your leaders would be timely now as well.

For more information on EPIC and other VERITAS resources, go to the ECC website, www.covchurch.org and navigate to John Wenrich’s blog.

Peter Sung, Associate Superintendent of the East Coast Conference, has announced his resignation effective July 31, 2009 in order to accept an appointment to serve as the Director of Church Planting in the Department of Church Growth & Evangelism for the Evangelical Covenant Church, beginning August 1.

In his letter of resignation to the Superintendent and the Conference Board, Sung writes “For about a month now I’ve been living with this decision and it continues to feel right, and others continue to affirm this new call. My mixed emotions remain. I have been in the east coast my whole life; the Conference has been wonderful to my family and me; I believe in what God is doing in the Conference; I believe Howard is the man for the season. I am certain that the Conference and I will always have a special relationship, and I am willing to fill in the gap from August 1 until the Conference hires a replacement, if you so desire. I will be watching and participating in all that God is going to do in and through the Conference and her churches. I am privileged to have seen what I have seen over the past year.”

“Peter has established a strong foundation and established incredible momentum within the past 15 months in church planting,” reports Superintendent Howard Burgoyne. “While I am mourning our loss here, I am delighted to see Peter extend his influence, vision, and abilities to the larger work of the Covenant in North America. He will continue to work closely with us in our church planting initiatives, not only coaching our pastors but also assisting the next Associate Superintendent in continuing our implementation of Vision 2020. As we navigate and adapt to what God is doing, we know we will continue to thrive in the mission of Christ here in the East Coast Conference.”

Rev. Sung has served in the East Coast Conference as Associate Superintendent since May 1, 2008. Prior service included being a church planter and founding pastor of Highrock Covenant Church, Somerville (now Arlington) Massachusetts, and Queenswest Covenant Church, Long Island City, New York. In agreement with David T. Olson, Executive Minister of Church Growth & Evangelism for the Covenant, Peter will devote about 30% of his time to the Conference over the next few months during the transition going forward to secure a new Associate Superintendent for the Conference.

The Sung’s will make plans to relocate over the next year to Chicago, Illinois, but first on the agenda is the anticipated birth of their fourth daughter in late August, joining mother Susie and sisters Madelyn, Emelyn, and Sophia.

The East Coast Conference is sailing toward a bold 2020 vision

YORK, PA (May 6, 2009) – At the 119^th Annual Meeting the East Coast Conference (ww.eastcoastconf.org) celebrated growing momentum towards a bold 2020 Vision that was cast at last years’ annual meeting.  A year ago the Conference endorsed an eight point vision to expand the Conference through church planting, churches cooperatively planting ministries, church revitalization, and leadership development that integrates both character formation and competency development.

The meetings were co-hosted by St. Paul’s Wolf’s Evangelical Covenant Church and Paradise-Holtzschwamm Covenant Church which are five miles from each other in York, PA. They have the distinction of being the two oldest churches in the ECC – Wolf’s Church, established in 1763, and Paradise-Holtzschwamm in 1765. They are two of five eastern Pennsylvania churches that have affiliated with the Conference and the Covenant in the last few years. Two more churches currently exploring affiliation were guests at the meetings.

 “Momentum is the key word for us this year. We’ve pulled out of the harbor and set our course for adventure. We’ve established our bearings and set our course. God is moving boldly across the Conference! As the wind of the Spirit is blowing we are building momentum in mission. Our challenge now is to navigate, adapt, and thrive as a movement of mission friends,” stated Superintendent Howard Burgoyne in his opening remarks to the delegates.  

The bold response of churches across the conference since then has been signified by increased church giving to the conference that rose 44% since 2007. An upwardly revised budget for 2009 was approved ($1,008,050), raising the budget 16% above the previously approved budget for 2009 (up 11% from ‘08 actual) and approving another 5% increase for 2010 ($1,103,429). It was noted that giving from churches new to the Conference in the last 10 years represented giving of over $130,000 to the Conference in 2008 – representing 22% of church giving.

Both budgets support the planting of 3-4 new churches each year, including the aggressive use of legacy funds funds held by the Conference from churches that have closed. Peter Sung, Associate Superintendent and Director of Church Planting stated, “By God’s grace we’ll plant more churches in the next three years than we’ve planted in the last 30 years.” One part of the Conference vision is to plant over 40 new churches by 2020. Sung announced that he has 24 potential church planters that he is cultivating and evaluating for potential future projects – and the list continues to grow.

Church revitalization continues to grow as one of the top four missional priorities for the Conference. 45 of the 75 churches in the Conference have begun engaging in dialogue about their own renewal of mission and outreach within the last 18 months. To date 7 churches have engaged the services of one of several “Veritas Facilitators” in a growing network of Conference recommended consultants and coaches available to churches. Several pastors have enrolled in the “Ministry Advantage” pastors coaching network as well and have reported that this is proving to be both stretching and helpful to them.

The Ministerial Association met for two days at the Paradise-Holtzschwamm Covenant Church for continuing education, worship, and their annual business meeting. Dr. Boaz Johnson, Chair of the Biblical and Theological Studies Department at North Park University taught on “Justice in the Hebrew Scriptures”. Gary Cook, Director of Church Relations for Bread for the World (www.bread.org) , taught on the Biblical basis of Advocacy for the Poor. Seven candidates for ordination were approved, and presented at the Annual Meeting.  Special guests included Noel and Kyle Bechetti, working with Truth Seekers, a mission and ministry to the lower castes of India.

The Conference meetings began with workshops for about 100 delegates from 42 churches. A picnic dinner was served at Wolf’s Picnic Grove, followed by a worship service led by a cross conference worship team, and included a baptismal renewal and service of Holy Communion. A combined choir from the two host churches sang selections from their just completed spring cantata. Peter Ahn, pastor at Metro Community Church, Fort Lee, NJ shared a testimony of developing a community development ministry in South Africa (www.ZimeleCommunity.org). Dr. John Wenrich, Director of Congregational Vitality for the ECC preached from Mark 4, using the story of the disciples caught on the lake in a storm to address the conference theme, challenging the Conference to grow in both the character and competencies needed to advance the renewal of the Church in the 21^st century. An offering of over $1,200 was received for the Conference’s mission partnership with Covenanters in Koyuk, Alaska.

In the business meeting on Saturday, the delegates also approved a motion celebrating the 130 year ministry of Bethesda Covenant Church in New York City. The church closed in April after a five year process of exploring revitalization.
“Moved, that the 119^th Annual Meeting of the East Coast Conference remember with gratitude to God the pioneer ministry of Bethesda Covenant Church of New York, New York, the first of the “Missions Friends” churches in the Eastern Missionary Association, acknowledging now the fulfillment of her calling and the conclusion of her work, and commending to God the eternal fruit and to the world the precious seed of her spiritual labors for Christ over the years 1879-2009.”

Garth McGrath, pastor of Monadnock Covenant Church, Keene, NH shared a witness of God’s movement in his heart and those of his congregation that led to a generous gift of support for another church in the Conference that is just stepping into their first mortgage. An appeal for $500 led to a free will offering of over $2,000. Moved by his peoples’ generosity, McGrath decided to challenge other churches in the Conference to also consider what they could do to help – resulting in numerous churches reaching out to encourage this growing work.

The delegates brought forward as an offering their churches prayer cards for Bringing My World to Christ. New board members were elected for the Conference Boards, Pilgrim Pines Board, and New England Seafarers Board. Ruth Hill, Executive Minister of Women Ministries represented the ECC, bringing greetings and a report to the delegates.  

Superintendent Burgoyne asked the delegates to return to their churches and discuss the potential to raise the Conference budget even further over the next few years.  He presented a “3-2-5 Challenge” – over the next three years grow to 5% giving from every church to fully underwrite the 2002 Vision initiative. Current church giving to the Conference reflects a 2.5% level of support to the Conference.  Burgoyne challenged the delegates, saying: “To understand my burden, you need to grasp that God has already placed in my heart and mind a vision that calls for your full support. God already knows the amount of money that is under our stewardship –even in this difficult economy. The miracle we need is not that the money would magically appear – it’s already in our pockets and in your churches – the miracle is that we would actually step up together by faith to fully fund the needs of the Covenant and the Conference. Collectively you are asking your people to entrust $18,000,000 to your ministries in 2009. I am asking you to advance in your giving over the next 3 years to invest a full 5% in the mission of the East Coast Conference – knowing that as you do we will plow that precious seed back into you and in ministries on your behalf that will change the world – all across the East Coast Conference.”

Carolyn Larson, Chair of the Conference Board, welcomed motions of gratitude for the warm hospitality of our host churches who were presented with hand blown glass sailboats, reflecting the Conference logo, and signifying that together we are “…on the move” with God. Gratitude was also expressed for board members concluding service to the Conference – Stephen Reedy, Treasurer; Tom McCullough, Church Life/Missions Commission; Sarah Daigle, Hartford District Trustee; James Kim, At-Large Trustee; Bruce Johnson, Board of Human Resources; Dick Anderson, Board of Human Resources. New officers were installed with Scripture and prayer to the various Conference and Agency boards.

The 120^th Annual Meeting of the East Coast Conference will be held on the first weekend of May, 2010 co-hosted by Monadnock Covenant Church, Keene, New Hampshire and Pilgrim Pines Conference Center, Swanzey, New Hampshire.