It is with great joy that I share the news…

Dear Congregation,

Grace and peace to you! I pray you are doing well in this heat.

It is with great joy that I share the news with you that Bianca Montenegro, our Program Director and woman of many hats at CCC, is embarking on the journey toward Ordained Ministry. She was recently accepted by the Florida Conference UCC’s Committee on Ministry as a Member In Discernment. As a MID she will be assigned a Mentor and will meet annually with the committee until she is graduated from seminary with a Master of Divinity degree. At that time, when she has filled all their requirements, the committee will examine her and recommend her ordination.

On a parallel track required for Ordained Ministry, the good news is that Bianca was just accepted as a student at Eden Theological Seminary where she will pursue as M.Div. degree. Eden is a United Church of Christ Seminary in Webster Groves, MO. Most of Bianca’s courses will be online, so she will be able to continue with us as usual at CCC. She begins her classes this coming week.

More good news is that our Church Council voted at last night’s meeting to support Bianca’s seminary education financially by paying for her tuition throughout her approximately four years at Eden. Council embraces the philosophy that we, as Bianca’s church family, are on this journey together with her. We have clearly seen evidence in her work at CCC that God has given her gifts to be used in ministry. Bianca will have as her Discernment Committee, as required by the Conference’s Committee on Ministry, Lorrie LeGrand and Joan Campagna. They will be there to support her along the way, as will I, of course. It is a very special thing for a church to have a MID as one of its congregation and to realize that God is working here and now.

We will have cake after worship on Sunday to congratulate Bianca. Plan to share your good wishes with her and let her know you’ll be praying for her in this new exciting and challenging time of her life.

In Christ’s love.

Pastor Candy