NEW CHURCH FAMILY, INC.
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA

Our mission is to help people draw closer to the Lord God Jesus Christ, sharing His power and His peace. The New Church is a new Christianity that provides a clear path to happiness and addresses your questions about God, love, and life after death with answers that make sense. The New Church (organizationally incorporated and legally known as the General Church of the New Jerusalem) is a small denomination with congregations in many countries around the world. New Church beliefs are founded in the Word of God in the Old and New Testaments, and provide new insight into its meaning. So much of the Bible has meaning beyond the literal sense (the parables are good examples). Emanuel Swedenborg, an eighteenth century theologian and scientist, provided a framework for understanding the Bible's internal meaning, as well as writing many additional volumes which shed light on why we're here and how to develop a functional relationship with God. Swedenborg taught that all people who live good lives, regardless of their religion, are welcomed into heaven. Above all, authentic religion is kindness towards the neighbor and a willingness to be lead by God. Doctrine is immediately practical and deeply spiritual: it is a religion to be lived, not just believed. The New Church helps you to explore the Bible in ways that can have immediate application to your life. The New Church is a new Christianity that provides a clear path to happiness and addresses your questions about God, love, and life after death with answers that make sense. The teachings are immediately practical and deeply spiritual: it is a religion to be lived, not just believed. The General Church of the New Jerusalem, usually referred to simply as the "General Church" or the "New Church", is the legal name for our church denomination. The General Church exists to provide for the worship of the Lord Jesus Christ, the spreading of the truths of the New Church throughout the world, the promotion of a useful life of service to others, and the treatment of others with care and wisdom. Its headquarters are located in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania, USA which is home to the Bryn Athyn Cathedral. In previous selection processes, after the clergy have considered and debated the nominees, they have chosen a single nominee. Then his name has gone to the General Church of the New Jerusalem Board members for their consideration and their affirmation or (although this has not yet happened previously) their request for reconsideration. In our last process the board received Brian Keith’s name, his CV or resume, a blended overview of reasons given by the priests who nominated him, his vision for the church and his responses to a number of questions proposed by the board members. The board then asked for time to reflect on it until the next day before responding. Looking at the kinds and abundance of books, articles, and papers that Erik has written and published, we see evidence that Erik's love is to reach out to people where they are and gently guide them to the Lord in His Word. We see a desire to help them find the heavenly delight that the Lord can only give in proportion to a life well-lived: lived according to principles drawn regularly from Him in His Word. His active mind and his ability to listen, consider and respond articulately invite the respect of people with a variety of viewpoints. Even if he disagrees, they can know they have been heard. Peter can provide steady leadership, supporting much of what has been the General Church for decades now, but also has a willingness to consider what might be done differently in the future. This may help support a healthy unity within the General Church. Mac has a mind that looks toward clarity and values integrity. He seems to avoid taking public, strident positions on politically charged issues. He thinks from doctrine about the issues. He has his own convictions, yet he seems to dodge unhelpful polarization. This quality gives Mac an advantage as a leader during a somewhat polarized time in the church's history. Mac has an appetite for bold action and a tolerance for risk, experimentation and for creative thinking. His efforts to plant a church serve as testimony to his humble willingness to think outside the box to make new connections which are founded on timeless principles. He brought the New Church to new people in a new way, and in doing so also re-engaged some traditional youth to aid in the work of that church. Brad’s travels within Canada in his role of EVP, and also his numerous travels to Cuba (to help the nascent church there), show a breadth of experience, and also a high energy-level and strong work ethic. In all this, Brad has conviction and courage to stand firm for what the Doctrine actually says and the willingness to apply it, especially when it's unpopular or resisted by the laity and even the clergy. He seems unlikely to get into saying just what people want to hear, and saying different things to different people. The church over the next decade will face a lot of social and possibly legal pressure to change in ways that are not supported by the Word. Brad will have the fortitude to stand firm on those essentials that keep the General Church in touch with the New Church. At the same time he will have the wisdom to know when to yield for the sake of healthy and acceptable variety. Derrick is an effective leader and caring pastor. During his tenure at Westville Church he skillfully worked to provide clarity and direction during a challenging transitional time. He developed systems and programs that the congregation is still benefiting from today. He has a big heart for his people and was a rock for a number of people through tragic events in their lives. He has strongly-held principles tempered by a surprising, humble willingness to admit when he’s wrong or when someone else’s idea seems better than his own. One of Derrick’s goals in preaching is to lead people back to a place of worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ. In his preaching he regularly emphasizes the importance of a real relationship with Jesus Christ and the need for real repentance—changing our thinking and our behavior, which is only possible with the Lord’s help.