It was an honor to join 30+ pastors from throughout the Eastern Regional Association for the Pastor’s Summit held at the Alton Bay Christian Conference Center in Alton Bay, N.H., from June 2–4, 2026. The Restoration Network hosted and planned this event as an opportunity for fellowship, honest dialogue, worship and prayer. It was a fruitful time to engage with fellow pastors to worship, but also to take time to ask real questions, share real answers and charitably discuss different important topics within our denomination and churches.
Tuesday evening, Wednesday evening and Thursday morning we sang together under the leadership of Pastor Sam Cobb of Hope Church in Lenox, Mass. On Tuesday, Pastor Josh Brown of Calvary Bible Church in Meredith, N.H., opened up God’s life-giving Word and expositionally challenged and exhorted us from Hebrews 3:7–19. He encouraged us from God’s Word to guard our hearts from sin as we lead our people. He reminded us as pastors to engage honestly with the sin that so easily entices. It was a wonderful reminder to continually look to the Lord not only as we lead our churches, but also as we walk with them as fellow believers.
On Wednesday evening, Pastor Jacob Hansen of Beals Advent Christian Church in Beals, Maine, immersed our minds and hearts in the text of Hebrews 10:19–25. He shared with us the life-giving truth of Jesus’ opening the way to full, unhindered communion with God.
Afterward, we broke into smaller groups to pray for one another and the upcoming Advent Christian General Conference Triennial Convention. Then, on Thursday morning, Pastor Andy Rice, president of the Berkshire Institute of Christian Studies in Lenox, Mass., drew our morning gaze to the text of Hebrews 12:1–2. We were drawn to see and be strengthened by the supremacy of Christ in securing and supplying the enduring grace we need to run the race of faith.
In between our times of worship, we also engaged in fruitful forum discussions. Pastor Tom Loghry of Rockland Community Church in North Scituate, R.I., led a discussion on the church’s humanitarian crisis. He shared with us some initial thoughts, reflections and questions about current culture and technology. Following his presentation, we reflected and engaged in conversation around the challenges to true Christian fellowship and relationship that our culture and technology have presented to the church.
Pastor Sam Cobb led a forum discussion about their Koinonia Groups ministry. He shared the structure and purpose of these groups and how they have positively impacted the life and fellowship of the church. We were encouraged by the impact the breaking of bread, worship, teaching and using of gifts in smaller gatherings of the church has strengthened the Sunday morning gathering and overall health and vitality of the church. We were able to ask questions and gain a greater understanding of how a ministry like this works and also reflect on how others have benefited from doing similar things in their church.
Pastor Derek Irvine of Vernon Advent Christian Church in Vernon, Vt., led a forum on case studies and open counsel for pastors. During this time, pastors were able to openly share difficult situations and invite feedback, encouragement and counsel. The pastors in the room were met with grace and exhortation as we all carry the weight of ministry.
Pastor Nathaniel Bickford of Whitefield Christian Church in Whitefield, N.H., led a forum on the proposed by-laws changes that will be voted on at the Advent Christian Triennial Convention. The changes and potential impacts were clearly explained. There was plenty of time to ask honest questions and seek clarification. These questions were met with gracious, clear and charitable answers and explanation. This was a wonderful time to gain greater understanding about the motivation and purpose behind the proposed changes.
I led the final forum. I was asked to present the new Advent Christian General Conference Minimum Ordination Standards. I shared the content of the minimum standards as well as the recommended process that is offered by the Advent Christian General Conference. Again, this was a wonderful time of discussion surrounding conference ordination, the necessity and challenges of ordination and standards and the heart and purpose behind working toward a uniform standard for all conference ministerial committees.
The time at the Pastor’s Summit was a great example of “how good and how pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity” (Psalm 133:1). This doesn’t mean there was no disagreement, even sharp disagreement, but we were able to navigate it with grace, kindness and charity in our midst. I pray and hope that the desire for pastors to gather and discuss their ministry and the ministry of the denomination in grace and charity would grow and spread as we seek to understand, encourage and even sometimes admonish one another in grace, truth and charity.
