Millersburg Ministerial Association helps churches find common goals

Tom Jones’ bright blue eyes lit up as he talked about the positive things that the Millersburg Ministerial Association has done for the Holmes County community. Jones, pastor of Millersburg United Methodist Church, has been president of the association for the past three years. Jones described the ministerial association as a fellowship of clergy and churches trying to model before the community the kind of unity in Christ they talk about on Sunday mornings. While the organization features Millersburg in the title, Jones made it clear that the association reaches beyond the county seat. Membership also includes churches from Killbuck, Nashville, Mt. Hope, and Holmesville and is beginning to see participation by churches from the east end of the county as well. The churches, which come from a variety of backgrounds and denominations, have a common goal in spite of any differences. “We’ve chosen to celebrate the 95 percent that we agree upon instead of fighting about the five percent where we disagree.”There are about 12 to 16 churches involved in the group. Jones said it’s an intriguing mix with representatives from the Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Grace Brethren, Mennonite and Christian Missionary Alliance churches, just to name a few.“We’ve got a wide swath of different traditions and denominations,” said Jones. “And we’re always open to more.”The Millersburg Ministerial Association, which operates primarily on a financial gift left to the group by an estate, has been instrumental in providing for the emergency needs of Holmes County residents through a compassion fund, organizing community events, such as Lenten and Thanksgiving services and hosting a community pool party held in August of each year. “We asked ourselves, what can we provide for the community to come together? The pool party was one answer. We’re open to others as well.”The activity has been a big success, doubling in attendance each of the three years it has taken place. The evening begins with a short service, a few songs, and a brief message, followed by swimming and free pizza donated by the association as well as area churches. Pastors and church representatives meet on the third Thursday of each month at different locations to discuss their common goals. This month, the group will meet at Pomerene Hospital to learn about a chaplain program that the facility is instituting. During their last meeting, the group finalized some of their plans for this year’s Lenten services. “They are going to be a little different this year. The vast majority of services will not be in churches and will be held on Sunday afternoons. We’ll look at different characters of the cross--the thieves, the centurion, the mother of Jesus, or Simon of Cyrene, who was forced by the Romans to carry Jesus’ cross part of the way to the crucifixion. Traditionally all offerings for these services have gone to the compassion fund, but this year we’re trying to tie the offering into the theme of that week. The first offering will go to hospice. The offering for the two thieves service will go to the Holmes County Jail Bible study ministry. This is just one way the association can serve the community.”One project that Jones felt strongly about was their involvement with the victims of the Glenwood Apartment fires during the late summer of 2010. The association helped their own and area churches provide meals, gift cards to local businesses and house the families who needed lodging, after the temporary housing provided for them by the Holmes County Chapter of the American Red Cross was exhausted.“One family needed housing for three weeks following the fire. The ministerial association provided that,” shared Jones. “One family commented that it was nice to know that someone was on their side.”A current project for the association is to replace a 25-foot cross that stands in Millersburg’s cemetery and was erected by an individual years ago. The association learned that the cross was in disrepair and decided to step in and assist with the replacement of the landmark. “The ministerial association is going to cover the cost of having a cross made to be put up there. The goal is to finish it and have it carried from the Lutheran church and erected at the cemetery as part of the Lutheran church’s traditional midday Good Friday service,” said Jones. For churches not involved in the ministerial association, Jones encourages church leaders to learn more about the organization and consider participation. “We realize that because of different traditions, not everything is going to be applicable. Every church may not choose to participate in the all of the programs and that’s fine. It’s not meant to be an obligation.”Churches that want to be involved can contact Tom Jones at 330-674-2641 or check the association’s website at http://www.millersburgministerialassociation.org, which includes contacts for all of the churches involved as well as information regarding when and where the next meeting will be held.“Just come, join the fellowship,” encouraged Jones, “and see how involved your church wants to be.”