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Five of these churches do not have a pastor, five are served by
ruling elders commissioned to pastoral service, and there are three
teaching elders serving the other three churches.
The Presbytery of Cincinnati has been very generous and encouraging
for many years by granting funds to help support the budget of the
Council. The member churches that are able, each participate by
paying a per-capita amount to support the budget also. The largest
part of the budget is designated to pay the Coordinator, who works
to set up programs, worship, mission, and communication, and serve
the churches as a ruling elder commissioned to provide pastoral
service to the Council. This structured organization of churches has
strengthened bonds among each other as well as to the Presbytery and
allowed the smaller churches some of the benefits of those who are
larger.
We have been encouraged by the resounding support by the member
churches, who when asked if the EAC was still needed, said “Yes!”
down to the last person. One challenge we face is that two of our
member churches have expressed a desire to leave the PC(USA)
denomination to join with the EPC (Evangelical Presbyterian Church).
Although things are not finalized by the Presbytery, each of those
churches has expressed a desire to stay in touch with the Eastern
Area Council. Our bonds are strong, friendships lasting, and our
commonalities are where we meet and share in mission, worship, and
fellowship.
In 2011 we held many regular meetings, for the Steering Committee,
the whole EAC, and for a Bible Study based on a book published by
the General Assembly called Stepping Out in Faith – Small
Churches Responding to God’s Call by Diana Stephen. Remarkably,
many churches geographically close to each other got together to
study. Leadership was shared among the pastors. The results were
that there are now more folks who are ready to lead this study in
their own groups among the congregations.
Without the help of the Presbytery, we could not accomplish what we
do. This past year, 2011 we celebrated a combined “choir fest,”
catered dinner, carry in picnic, excellent elder and church officer
training, combined worship for Ash Wednesday, a program presented
for Martin Luther King Day, CROP Walk (which is our largest combined
mission effort), support of several local food banks and a homeless
shelter, a retreat, a mission fair, as well as provide pulpit
supply, and other leadership for churches without pastors.
Goals for 2012 include:
Meaningful field trips
Inspire and encourage each other
Be more vibrant
Build bridges
Effective discipleship
The Steering Committee has been discussing ways to help the churches
who are getting close to the end of their journey. As we celebrate
their many generations of faithful service we seek to find ways to
lift them up while they go through the painful process of letting go
of old ways and old dreams. We expect that within the next several
years there will be a few churches choosing to either merge or
close.
Working together in Christ,
Barbara Jean Havens
Coordinator
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