Massachusetts Council of Churches

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Parents could explain to their children that even at the time of the Holy Apostles the traditions in the Christian churches in the different parts of the world were not uniform and that Christmas was probably not observed at all in the very early Church. Parents could add that by the end of the third century Christmas in Rome was held on December 25, which coincided with a major pagan feast, while in the Eastern churches it was observed on January 6. The Armenian Church has maintained that ancient tradition to this day, whereas the Greek-speaking Christian world switched to the Latin tradition at the end of the fourth century. Children should know that both traditions are old and must be respected, and that as good Christians they must focus on the spirit of the Nativity of the Savior and not the differences in traditions.

The Rev. Laura Everett

Massachusetts

Council of Churches

Elects New Executive Director

On Thursday afternoon, September 22, after several months of searching, praying and deliberating the Executive Director Search Committee presented its nominee, the Rev. Laura Everett, to become the next Executive Director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches.

The Board of Directors received the nomination and after a period of prayer discernment and discussion affirmed the Search Committee and elected Laura to become the next Executive Director. This will become effective November1 upon the retirement of the Rev. Jack Johnson. Please keep Jack, Laura, and the Council in your prayers during this time of transition.

Laura Everett currently serves as the Associate Director of the Council. She is a graduate of Brown University and the Harvard Divinity School and an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ. She recently completed the Foundations of Christian Leadership Program at Duke University Divinity School. Laura is an avid bicyclist and an active member of Hope Central Church UCC/DOC. She may be contacted at laura@masscouncilofchurches.org.

The following is the Nomination Statement from the Search Committee:

With thanksgiving to God, the Search Committee nominates the Rev. Laura Everett to serve as the next executive director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches (MCC).

Mentored in the ministries of the MCC, Laura knows us well, has built strong relationships in this community and with our ecumenical and interfaith partners, and has many gifts to lead the MCC in the opportunities and challenges of the years ahead.

Laura is a person of deep Christian faith and commitment. She is theologically articulate. She is relational in her work with others. For several years, Laura has been immersed in the ministries and relationships of the ecumenical community in Massachusetts and elsewhere, and is well experienced and skillful in advocacy and justice ministries.

Laura is thoughtful about the changes that we are experiencing throughout the culture and the church and she has important perspectives and considerable energy for the life and work of the MCC in approaching the effects of these changes.

The Search Committee celebrates the high quality of the persons who applied for this position [and the challenges that this circumstance presented to the Search Committee] as signs of the continued strength of the Christian conciliar movement, the high regard with which the MCC is held across the church, and the increasing interest in emerging new forms for our ecumenical ministries.

In this moment when we embark on a new era of leadership, we invite members of the MCC Board of Directors, member denominations, and all our ecumenical partners to be recommitted to the vision of visible unity in Christ and renewed in offering our best gifts with Laura and our staff in this work to which God calls us all.

Joel Anderle

Ted Asta

Gayle Harris

James McPhee

David Michael

Demetrios Tonias

Executive Director Search Committee

September 2011