Author Archives: Mike Riess
Resolutions from the 2018 Northern Province Synod
The 2018 Synod of the Moravian Church Northern Province approved a broad range of resolutions in its role as the highest governing body of the province. These resolutions were deliberated and approved June 21-25, 2018 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Each committee’s reports and resolutions are collected here as downloadable PDF files. Church and Society Congregational […]
Delegates gathered, grew and now go from 2018 Northern Province Synod
Under the theme “Gather…Grow…Go!,” more than 220 delegates representing congregations and agencies from across the Northern Province came together in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to do the governance work of the church June 21-25. At the 2018 Synod of the Moravian Church Northern Province, delegates on 13 committees discussed, debated, wrote and revised more than 60 pieces of legislation to […]
Northern Province elects new leadership for coming four years
At its 2018 Synod, the Moravian Church Northern Province elected the Provincial Elders’ Conference (PEC) to lead the church in the coming four years. The PEC is the Province’s highest governing board, providing administrative leadership to congregations and program agencies. It is made up of four lay members, plus the presidents of each of the province’s […]
Northern Province, United Methodist Church enter full communion
Moravian Church/United Methodist Church Full Communion • 2018 Northern Province Synod from IBOC • Mike Riess on Vimeo. The 2018 Synod of the Moravian Church Northern Province approved a relationship of full communion with the United Methodist Church (UMC) on Friday, June 22. The vote occurred at the Northern Province’s 2018 Synod in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. […]
News from the 2018 Northern Province Synod
The Northern Province of the Moravian Church in America convenes its 2018 Synod June 21-25 at Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. We will be posting news and information about the 2018 Synod throughout the weekend.
Faith Leader Statement on Family Separation
Moravian Church in America leaders the Rev. David Guthrie, Provincial Elders’ Conference president, Southern Province and the Rev. Dr. Betsy Miller,Provincial Elders’ Conference president, Northern Province, joined leaders from many major denominations in signing the following faith leader statement on family separation. Recently, the Administration announced that it will begin separating families and criminally […]
Moravian Magazine, May 2018
Northern Province to transfer ownership of Bethlehem’s Moravian Book Shop to Moravian College
On April 27, the Moravian Church Northern Province announced that they will transfer day-to-day operations management and ownership of the Moravian Book Shop in Bethlehem, Pa. to Moravian College, effective mid-June, 2018. This mutually-beneficial agreement between the Church, the College, and the Book Shop will allow the church to remove itself from this retail business operation […]
Southern Province approves full communion with United Methodist Church
Above: The Rev. David Guthrie presents a Moravian Star to UMC Bishop Michael Watson as UMC Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar looks on, following the approval of the Full Communion agreement between the Moravian Church Southern Province and the United Methodist Church. Photo by Mike Riess/IBOC The 2018 Synod of the Moravian Church Southern Province approved a relationship […]
2018 Southern Province Synod elects Carol Foltz and Tom Shelton as bishops
The 2018 Synod of the Moravian Church Southern Province elected two bishops of the Moravian Unity during its sessions on Saturday, April 21. The Rev. Carol Foltz, currently pastor of Moravia Moravian Church in Oak Ridge, N.C., was elected during the morning session. Sister Foltz is the first woman elected bishop by the Southern […]
Southern Province Synod elects 2018-2022 Provincial Elders’ Conference
Delegates to the 2018 Synod of the Moravian Church, Southern Province, elected the new Provincial Elders’ Conference during sessions on Friday and Saturday, April 20 and 21. The Provincial Elders’ Conference for the Southern Province consists of three clergy and three lay people in addition to the PEC president. The PEC is elected by Synod […]
The Rev. David Guthrie re-elected president, Southern Province PEC
The 2018 Synod of the Moravian Church Southern Province re-elected the Rev. David Guthrie to a third term as president of the Provincial Elders’ Conference during sessions on Friday, April 20. Rev. Guthrie will serve through the Synod of 2022. David was first elected PEC president at the Synod of 2010. He previously served as executive […]
State of the Church: Moravian Church Southern Province
At the 2018 Synod of the Moravian Church in America, Southern Province, the Rev. David Guthrie delivered the Provincial Elders’ Conference’s “State of the Church” presentation. In his discussion, Rev. Guthrie shared highlights, celebrations and challenges for the Southern Province during the last intersynodal period (2014-2018). 2018 State of the Moravian Church Southern Province from IBOC […]
Moravian Magazine, April 2018
News from the 2018 Southern Province Synod
The Moravian Church Southern Province will convene its 2018 Synod April 19-22 at Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, N.C. Check back for news and information throughout the weekend. Articles:
Moravian Magazine, March 2018
Moravian Magazine, Jan-Feb 2018
Moravian Unity statement on derogatory statements, Jan. 15, 2018
MORAVIAN CHURCH – UNITAS FRATRUM Office of the Unity Board Administrator Christiansfeld, January 15th, 2018 To: The Worldwide Moravian Unity Ref.: Statement on derogatory statements made by President Trump We greet you in the name of Jesus the Christ, our Chief Elder. The Moravian Church has followed with dismay, the derogatory statements made by […]
Moravian Magazine, Issue 9 2017
Cherokee Nation officials tour Southern Province Archives
On a wonderful, warm, Wednesday October afternoon at Moravian Archives in Winston-Salem, N.C., a reading room full of invited guests assembled to welcome an official visit by two leaders from the Cherokee Nation in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Cherokee Nation Secretary of State Chuck Hoskin, Jr., and the Honorable Jack D. Baker, a former at-large councilman for […]
Obituary: The Rt. Rev. Edwin Sawyer
Brother Edwin A. Sawyer died in Lititz, Pennsylvania, October 5, 2017. He was 103 years old. Born July 20, 1914 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, he was the son of Otto and Sarah (Ziegler) Sawyer. Brother Sawyer attended Moravian Preparatory School in Bethlehem, and graduated from Lehigh University in 1935 with a Bachelor of Science in Business […]
Intercessions for Times of Crisis
For many, it feels like we’re living in a time of constant stress and human tragedy. With natural disasters, racial unrest, political upheaval, economic uncertainty, mass shootings and terror attacks, we may find it difficult to find solace and peace. In these times, the prayers offered in the 1995 Moravian Book of Worship can help […]
Moravian Magazine, Issue 8 2017
District Developments, October 2017
The Newsletter of The Eastern District Moravian Church October 2017 David E. Bennett, President Ministry Teams Renewed With Purpose In an earlier article, I wrote about the restructure of district commissions toward a more effective model for supporting our district congregations and achieving the mission mandates of the 2016 Eastern District Synod. Indeed, “To […]
Moravian Magazine, Issue 7 2017
Update from Board of World Mission/Moravian Disaster Response: Hurricane/Earthquake Updates
Please share this information broadly and with individuals in congregations The information below is an update on the current response of MDR as we monitor the beginning stages of recovery in Texas from Harvey, the anticipation of further damage from Hurricane Irma, and listen to the potential impact of Hurricanes Jose and Katia close behind. […]
Moravian Magazine, August 2017
WD News & Notes, September 2017
Bruce’s Babblings By the time you read this, most if not all of the people you know who are going to school for fall will have started classes. Some colleges and private schools have begun classes already. In some areas of our district classes began in August. In the community I live in, the private […]
District Developments, September 2017
The Newsletter of The Eastern District Moravian Church • September 2017 David E. Bennett, President Taking Church To The Beach! I’m told, “sandy feet left the beach early!” One can imagine how serving a congregation close to the shore can be a challenge come warm summer days. Naturally, we all want to make the […]