Christian Education & Age Level Ministries

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:48:00 +0000

Sharing Expertise to Help Local Youth and Young Adult Ministries
By Tom Gillem*

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 28, 2010/GBOD/ — Youth and young adult ministries at United Methodist churches across the United States will gain more immediate access to support and resources with a new effort aimed at helping local churches share their best expertise.

Church leaders with successful programs and ministry skills will be sought out in each jurisdiction to serve as resources for others who need their support, says Rev. Michael Ratliff, associate general secretary of the Young People’s Ministries, a division of The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church.

“We want to find people who are already established in the jurisdictions of the church, who already have a track record in relation to young people's ministries, and have the abilities to work with established organizational structures to help us relate to people at every level of the church,” Ratliff says.

A part-time YPM staff member is being hired in all five jurisdictions to help make the local resources more accessible.

“We, as a general agency of the church, are trying to make a difference in what is happening in local congregations, but there are a lot of levels of the church between us and a local congregation,” Ratliff says, adding that the YPM wants to provide more direct assistance to local ministries by marshalling existing local resources.

Carl Thomas Stroud Gladstone, working in Detroit with the North-Central Jurisdiction, is the first part-time YPM staff member working on a jurisdictional level. Others will be added in jurisdictions each quarter with all five in place by January 2011, Ratliff says. Beyond the United States, similar division staff members are currently serving in each Central Conference region.

Ratliff says he wants the YPM staff members serving in jurisdictions to identify people in their jurisdictions who are excellent in particular areas of ministry and enlist them to be available to other people in ministry who need their expertise.

“It may be that we identify local church leaders working in young people’s ministries through this process who can become a resource on the general church level, too,” Ratliff says. “So it really is a binary process, not a one-way process. … We're trying to open up that conduit for ministry in both directions. And ultimately, the goal, of course, would be to help young people—both youth and young adults—to discover faith in Jesus Christ and to grow in that faith as Christian disciples and become Christian leaders in the United Methodist Church to make a difference in our world.”

Gladstone, who was ordained as a deacon in 2004, previously served as full-time director of the Youth Leaders Initiative, a collection of programs to nurture young people as Christian leaders in the Metro Detroit area. The YLI is supported by the Detroit East and West Districts, and he will continue working part time in that position.

“We want to be doing things on the general church level that increase everyone's immediate access to learning how to do ministry in even more effective and radical and influential and inspirational ways,” Gladstone says. “So whatever tools we develop need to really hit that mark.”

Gladstone says he feels the structure of the United Methodist Church is important because of the church’s reach in the world and the local resources it offers. But he says, “I really don't think that we can exist as a church up in the stratosphere of the institutional formation.

“The church always has to be focused on the ground, really making things happen, changing somebody's life and giving them the tools to immediately re-connect back on their block, in their city in a new way,” Gladstone says.

“My task is to look at the North-Central Jurisdiction and figure out ways that I, as a division staff person, can help connect the various ministries, celebrate them, communicate about them, build up relationships between people within the jurisdiction and in general be a catalyst for all things we are doing and make them even more successful.”

Gladstone says he wants to create a peer-to-peer system for sharing all the ministry wisdom that abounds in his jurisdiction.

“In the area of youth and young adult ministries around the North-Central Jurisdiction, I'm starting to develop a list of people who have some expertise in particular areas—youth missions, young adult drama groups, campus ministry, all of those kinds of things,” Gladstone says.

Others will be able to connect with those resource people online.

“So, someone coming to an eventual website might type in their geographic area and see who is around them that has what kind of expertise. Or they might come to the website, type in ‘I really need to know something about small group ministry and youth programs and I'll drive wherever I need to drive to talk to somebody about that,’ ” he says.

GBOD’s mission is to support annual conference and local church leaders for their task of equipping world-changing disciples. An agency of The United Methodist Church, GBOD is located at 1908 Grand Ave. in Nashville, Tenn. Visit www.gbod.org for more information or call the Communications Office at (877) 899-2780, Ext. 1726.

*Tom Gillem is a Brentwood, Tenn.-based freelance writer for the United Methodist Board of Discipleship

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 10:19:00 +0000

Wesley Theological Seminary courses for local church adult education

About Wesley Ministry Network

Wesley Ministry Network is an outreach of Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. Our mission is to produce substantive adult education courses that make the best of Christian scholarship accessible to people in local churches. Courses are designed to be facilitated by local church members and include DVD-based lessons by scholars from around the world. Wesley Ministry Network courses have been used by tens of thousands of people from across the United States and in approximately fifteen other countries on five continents. Bishop Richard B. Wilke, founder of the Disciple Bible study, calls Wesley Ministry Network, “the perfect follow-up to Disciple Bible Study. The content is superb and the combination of print, video and Internet communication is dynamic.”

Courses

Religion and Science: Pathways to Truth
Dr. Francis S. Collins, the new director of the National Institutes of Health, hosts this ground-breaking series in which a dozen leading scientists, theologians, and philosophers consider how religion and science might coexist and even complement one another in the 21st century.

Devotion to Jesus: The Divinity of Christ in Earliest Christianity
This course takes on revisionist accounts of how and when the first Christians came to believe in Jesus as the divine son of God. Dr. Larry Hurtado, Edinburgh University professor and one of the world’s leading authorities on early Christianity, challenges misrepresentations of Christian origins, such as the notion that belief in Jesus’ divinity arose decades after his death, or the idea that Christianity is an invention of the apostle Paul.

Simply Christian
Based on the best-selling book by Bishop N. T. Wright, this course addresses questions of the reasonableness of the Christian faith in the modern world. Wright begins by exploring what seem to be universal longings – for justice and relationship, spirituality and beauty – and from these goes on to simply, yet powerfully explain the core of Christian faith.

Serious Answers to Hard Questions
Ten leading Christian and Jewish theologians each address a single tough issue, such as the existence of evil or the relationship between religion and science. These ten issues are obstacles to faith for many both in and outside of the church. This course encourages the energetic discussion and sustained reflection that is key to a life of informed discipleship.

Women Speak of God
This course introduces us to some less familiar voices in church history: voices which attest to God’s living presence through time as these six women struggled with issues of identity, character, and calling, which still resound with us today.

A Life Worthy of the Gospel
This is a challenging and inspiring introduction to Christian ethics, which explores the formation of Christian character through the writings of the Bible, Augustine, Martin Luther, and John Wesley.

Journey Through the Psalms
Take an in-depth look at the book of Psalms – the prayer-book of the synagogue and the church. Through study of the word and insights gained through the arts, we are invited to approach God with the same honesty and intensity as the ancient Psalmists.

In God’s Time
A faithful and sane alternative to sensationalist perspectives, this course opens up the entire Bible and reveals its teaching of God’s ultimate victory, a hope that is to be taken seriously and yet sensibly.

For more information on these courses, including sample videos, and to order course materials, visit http://www.wesleyministrynetwork.com/.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:17:00 +0000

United Methodists lead nation in number of God and Country Awards

ST. LOUIS, Mo.––Over 7,000 young people have received one of four awards offered by Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (PRAY) during 2008. That total leads all denominations in usage of the St. Louis-based program that provides God and Me, God and Family, God and Church and God and Life for young people of various ages.

PRAY's mission statement is to “foster the Christian growth of children, youth, and families through churches and youth serving agencies.”

The God and Country Award Program uses Bible lessons paired with service projects to help young people grow in their Christian faith and to express that faith by serving others. Some pastors combine the awards program with the confirmation classes.

After completing the study and the service projects, the young people are presented with cross-and-flame medals.

The United Methodist portion of this program is coordinated by the Nashville-based General Commission on United Methodist Men.

A total of 28 denominations participated in the PRAY program. Independent denominations were the second highest group to use the study/action program, followed by Baptists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, Episcopal, and Evangelical Lutherans.

For information about PRAY, contact Larry Coppock or Marc Stowe, staff executives with the General Commission on United Methodist Men (866-297-4312) (mstowe@gcumm.org).

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 11:06:00 +0000

National Camp and Retreat Leaders Conference headed to Lake Junaluska, January 31-February 4, 2011

Lake Junaluska, N.C. - The National United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministry Committee, an affiliate organization of the General Board of Discipleship, has selected Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center as the location for their 2011 National Conference. Every two years the National Camp and Retreat Committee (NCRC) coordinates a national training event for leaders of Christian camp and retreat ministries.

Jimmy L. Carr, Executive Director of Lake Junaluska, said members of the United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministry will enjoy Lake Junaluska’s hospitality.

“It will be a privilege and honor to welcome the National Camp and Retreat Center Committee at Lake Junaluska in 2011. This group has a unique ministry within The United Methodist Church as their members serve over one million children, youth and adults annually through ministries provided by more than 225 camp and retreat centers in the US. In addition, there are a growing number of Methodist related camp and retreat ministries in other countries across the globe. They understand the challenges of providing hospitality and training for disciples of Christ. For them to select Lake Junaluska as a meeting site affirms their belief that we can serve all of their needs and enhance their ministry.” Carr said.

“We are very excited about being at Lake Junaluska and experiencing the Christian hospitality of this site so rich in tradition and so poignant in living out vital core values of the faith today,” Mike Huber, Chair of the National Camp and Retreat Committee and Executive director of Casowasco and Aldersgate in the North Central New York Conference of The United Methodist Church, said. “We are touched by the broad embrace of all God’s people that Lake Junaluska serves,” he said.

The 2011 National Camp and Retreat Leaders Conference will take place January 31-February 4. For more information about the United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministries, please visit www.gbod.org/camping

To learn more about Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center please visit www.lakejunaluska.com

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 10:47:00 +0000

Christian Education Workshops offered at the United Methodist Publishing House March 4, 5, and 6

Pastor and Leaders in Christian Education ministries (both staff and volunteer) are invited to participate in the following workshops led by staff of the United Methodist Publishing House and the General Board of Discipleship on March 4, 5, and 6. There is no charge for the workshops. Participants may choose from the following workshops, all of which are being offered at the United Methodist Publishing House, 201 Eighth Avenue South, Nashville, TN.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Disciple Bible Study Leader Training of Trainers -- By attending this workshop you can become equipped to lead Disciple in your church or if you are already a leader, learn to develop other Disciple Bible Study leaders in your church, district and conference, so that more churches than ever will feel empowered and equipped to offer this life-changing and church-enriching study to their members.

THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. (Choose one of these three workshops)

A. Rock-a-Bye: Ministry with God’s Youngest Children -- A workshop you will use again and again to help leaders realize the potential their babies and toddlers have for beginning their faith journey. Get a preview of the new Toddlers and Two’s resource and the brand-new resource for teachers and workers with infants.

B. Reaching Out, Welcoming In -- Discover resources that help church members move “beyond the walls,” including the Go Fish! Series, Witness, and other studies

C. What Youth Need When and Where -- Identifying the needs of youth in various learning stages and settings and discovering the resources to meet those needs.

THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. (Choose one of these three workshops)

D. Planning for Christian Education in the Local Church -- How do we fulfill our mandate to “make disciples” in the context of Christian education ministry? An experiential overview of the process of planning a comprehensive ministry of Christian education for all ages, with helpful resources for guiding the planning and ministry in the local church.

E. Growing Together in Discipleship -- How to introduce Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations to churches helping them implement the study and fully realize the benefits for their faith community.

F. Equipping New Sunday School Teachers – A workshop to help you equip volunteers for their new ministry of teaching. Practical help for teachers of all ages.

FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. (Choose one of these three workshops)

G. Six Weeks With Tweens -- Crucial new short-term studies for 4th, 5th, and 6th graders - Choosing to Be A Christian, A United Methodist Is--, New Life in Jesus Christ, Getting Well, plus a new study on human sexuality and another on the parables.

H. Cokesbury Resources and the African American Church -- Vacation Bible School with On the Move and other resources that are specifically designed for and/or work well in African American congregations.

I. Financial Crisis or Crisis of Faith? -- This very timely workshop will equip you to assist churches in guiding their members of all ages to a faithful examination of Christian response to the current financial uncertainty.

For more information or to register, please contact the Cokesbury Christian Music and Education Services office (Curric-U-Phone), 1-800-251-8591. These workshops are offered as a part of an event described on the web site: http://www.sundayschool.cokesbury.com/content.aspx?dyn=1448

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:15:00 +0000

Gospel Recording Artist CeCe Winans Endorses Abingdon Press’s Vacation Bible School On the Move

Nashville, February 3—Recording artist CeCe Winans has endorsed Abingdon Press’s 2009 Vacation Bible School offering, On the Move: God’s Grace from Place to Place. “On the Move teaches heritage from the past, while making the present a fun learning experience," Winans says about this heritage-based, intergenerational, multicultural VBS program that combines Bible lessons and the past to build up the community as persons reconciled to one another and Jesus Christ.

CeCe Winans is a singer, songwriter, CEO, philanthropist, actress, talk show host, speaker, and author who has received ten Grammy awards, twenty-one Grammy award nominations, twenty Dove awards and numerous Stellar awards. Her Always Sisters/Forever Brothers conferences focus on young people. “My ministry is global and my longevity in the gospel music industry coupled with my love for the youth of this country has manifested itself through my work," she says. “If the older generation doesn’t reach our younger generation and reach them quickly, we will lose them.”

On the Move brings generations together through song, dance, crafts, and story. Participants learn how to progress in life while never forgetting the past. Five Bible stories are featured, each accompanied by the recounting of an historic heritage journey:

• Moving with God Towards Justice (Judges 4:4-10)
Bible: Deborah and Barak lead the Israelites out of oppression.
Heritage: In Maryland, African diplomats experience discrimination; Gloria Richardson protests.
• Moving with God Towards Greatness (Genesis 39:1-2; 41:14-21)
Bible: Joseph enters slavery, goes to jail, but becomes prime minister of Egypt.
Heritage: Literacy schools begin in Charleston, South Carolina, where many Africans entered slavery.
• Moving with Jesus Towards Blessing (Luke 9:12-17; Matthew 14:21)
Bible: Jesus blesses the food, and 5000 in groups of fifty are fed.
Heritage: In Mississippi, all civil rights groups cooperate and deal with hunger and poverty.
• Moving with God Towards Truth (1 Kings 10:1-10, 13)
Bible: The Queen of Sheba seeks new knowledge and truth.
Heritage: At the Highlander Folk School in Tennessee, civil rights workers gain new skills.
• Moving with Jesus Towards Reconciliation (Acts 15:36-41; 2 Timothy 4:9-11)
Bible: In traveling, Paul argues about John Mark. They later reconcile.
Heritage: Starting in Virginia (1947), the Journey of Reconciliation tests new laws.

About Abingdon Press
Abingdon Press publishes resources for church leaders, scholars and students engaged in leading congregations and theological education and inspirational books and study materials that reach broad ecumenical audiences.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:53:00 +0000

Confirmation Retreats Focus on 5 Key Areas

LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. — Youth make an exciting commitment to their local churches once they complete their confirmation classes. They promise “to faithfully participate in its ministries by their prayers, their presence, their gifts, their service, and their witness.” How can youth keep their promise in these 5 key areas after Confirmation classes are over? During the 2009 Confirmation Retreat Weekends at Lake Junaluska, our goal is to help youth beyond the end of their Confirmation classes. Confirmation 2009 at Lake Junaluska is focused in one theme: “I Promise.”

Diverse United Methodist speakers who have a passion for youth ministries will lead our 2009 weekends. Cutting edge praise and worship is an essential part of the weekend. Each weekend offers a different speaker and band. Our dynamic workshops offer your youth a broader view of what it is to be part of The United Methodist Church. The best museums of Methodist history in the world are located at Lake Junaluska. The World Methodist Museum and the Heritage Center Museum have largest exhibit in the world chronicling Wesleyan history. Youth tour the museums and learn about their Methodist roots in an interactive way. For a complete list of workshops, visit our website.

Pastor Teresa Gray of Concord, N.C. and her Epworth United Methodist Church group were part of Confirmation for the first time.“We loved MEGA Weekend and plan to bring a group back next year,” Gray said.Parents of youth sometimes come as chaperones. They help youth leaders direct the groups’ trip activities throughout the weekend.“My son and I had a great time and I’ll happily participate in any retreat there in the future,” Rob Briton of Atlanta, Ga. Said.“I loved spending the weekend up at Lake Junaluska learning and teaching about God. It was awesome and I might come back in the summer with my middle school youth group,” youth leader Matt Furlough said.

2009 Dates:
February 20-22
February 27-March 1
March 6-8
March 13-15
March 20-22
March 27-29
April 17-19
November 6-8

To watch a video of our last Confirmation Retreat Weekend at Lake Junaluska, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hu9fLQkQqc

For more information on 2009 events, visit: www.lakejunaluska.com/confirmation.aspx

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:12:00 +0000

Christian Educators Fellowship and Preaching from the Center hold joint celebration

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico. November 21, 2008/GBOD/--The year is 1968. The U.S. is in Viet Nam. We elect Richard Nixon president. The Beatles release “Hey Jude.” TV sets are tuned to “Gomer Pyle” and the United Methodist General Conference recognizes the Christian Education Fellowship as the first official organization within The United Methodist Church.

Over 600 Christian educators and pastors attending “Blessed to Be a Blessing” learned this bit of Americana in the centerpiece video shown during the Christian Educators Fellowship’s 40th anniversary celebration in Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 24-27.

Held in conjunction with the 60th anniversary of Preaching from the Center, the festive event featured Native dancers Baila, Baila, Pueblo storytellers, praise choirs and local liturgical dancers, who Friday, October 24, led the gathering in prayer dances to commemorate decades of service to the church.

The joint event was a unique opportunity for church leaders in pastoral ministry and Christian education to come together for training, continuing education, inspiration and fellowship.

Director of Invitational Preaching, the Rev. Dr. Safiyah Fosua said the design team often meditated on the Lakota saying that “in any decision we make, we must understand how it impacts the next seven generations” in terms of impact on families, the economy, the environment and faith.

The Rev. Ronald Allen, who preached the service of baptismal covenant renewal on Saturday, October 25, told the gathering, “the world is such a chaos today. New empires replaced Rome crushing so many in so many different ways. You, the baptized, must stand up to these empires.”

“The water of baptism gives you the confidence that as God created out of the chaos once, a long time ago, so God can create out of the chaos yet again. And you can be apart of this re-creative process,” said Allen, an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and professor of preaching and New Testament at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis.

Participants who registered for either Preaching from the Center or the Christian educators conference attended sessions in the other event. Bible study, worship, meals and evening events exploring environmental, multicultural, multigenerational and technology themes, in relation to Christian faith formation and interfaith dialoging, took place together.

As part of the joint event, GBOD worship staff designed afternoon learning opportunities for pastors and preachers, and participated in developing the overall design for the conferences.

In addition to over 100 workshops and tours, the GBOD-sponsored Preaching from the Center sessions included: clergy self-care, faith and film, faith formation, New Testament preaching, and a full day pre-conference event led by Allen.

Other Preaching from the Center plenary leaders and speakers included: the Rev. Taylor Burton-Edwards, GBOD director of Worship Resources with the General Board of Discipleship; the Rev. Safiyah Fosua, D. Min., GBOD director of Invitational Preaching Ministries; the Rev. Stephanie Moore Hand, Christian education consultant for the Western North Carolina Conference and minister of Christian education at Mouzon United Methodist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina; Dean B. McIntyre, GBOD director of music resources; Bill McKibben, author and scholar in residence at Middlebury College in Vermont; Marjorie Hewitt Suchocki, Ph.D., professor Emerita, Claremont School of Theology; the Rev. Marjorie Thompson, an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church, USA, and director of Pathways for Congregational Spirituality at The Upper Room based in Nashville, Tenn.; Osvaldo Vena, Th. D., associate professor of New Testament at Garrett Theological Seminary; and the Rev. Bob Winstead, senior pastor of Haygood Memorial United Methodist Church in Atlanta and president of the CEF Board of Directors.

GBOD’s mission is to support annual conference and local church leaders for their task of equipping world-changing disciples. An agency of The United Methodist Church, GBOD is located at 1908 Grand Ave. in Nashville, Tenn. Visit www.gbod.org for more information or call the Media Relations Office toll free at (877) 899-2780, Ext. 7017.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:53:00 +0000

Over 600 attend Christian Education Fellowship and Preaching from the Center joint anniversary celebration

Bob Winstead, current president of the CEF Board, and Debby Burns Fox, incoming president, make remarks at “Blessed to Be a Blessing,” a joint gathering of Christian educators and pastors meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 24-27, 2008.

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico, November 2, 2008/GBOD/ -- Over 600 Christian educators and pastors attended the United Methodist Christian Educators Fellowship and Preaching from the Center conferences, held jointly for the first time ever to celebrate the organizations’ 40th and 60th anniversaries, respectively.

Organized around the theme “Blessed to Be a Blessing,” the joint celebration was held October 24-27, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Albuquerque Convention Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The Christian Educators Fellowship (CEF) began officially in 1968 under the leadership of the Rev. R. Hipps, the founding father of CEF. Hipps said that he discovered early on, in his visits with educators, that they felt “alienated from any of the real ministry of the church, and didn’t feel accepted as part of a real professional staff.”

“If there were to be budget cuts, they got the first cuts. That’s what gave me the idea that somehow we’ve got to get some better recognition of these folks,” Hipps said in a video presentation commemorating the 40th anniversary of the organization.

“Blessed to Be a Blessing” was an opportunity for Christian educators and clergy staff to come together and experience a conference looking at issues related to both Christian education and worship,” said the Rev. David Melton, chairperson of the design team, which included representatives from CEF and Preaching from the Center.

During the conference, participants could select from over a hundred workshops, Bible studies, educational tours, pre-conference sessions, plenaries and worship services.

“It was a great opportunity for folks to take workshops across disciplines. There were folk from Preaching from the Center who took Christian education classes and members of the Christian Education Fellowship who took classes from Preaching from the Center, so it was a great opportunity to be in dialogue with one another and to share experiences together with staff.”

Forty years of nurturing, supporting and advocating

“At the General Conference in Dallas in 1968, where Methodist churches [and the United Brethren] became The United Methodist Church, the Christian Educators Fellowship was recognized as the first official United Methodist organization,’ said the Rev. Robert Winstead, President of the CEF Board of Directors.

The purpose of the Christian Educators Fellowship is advocacy, support and education of the professional Christian educator in The United Methodist Church. A GBOD affiliate, the organization has expanded its work to include Pan-Methodists and other Methodist bodies.

“We have also worked to be influential in supporting those persons who may not be professionals, because we now find that so many who work in education in the church are part-time or unpaid staff members, but they are still doing the same work. So the organization has broadened its perspective,” says Winstead.

“We have (also) encouraged other denominations to be active in CEF and some of the local chapters in the annual (regional) conferences have persons from different denominations involved, because the commonalities among professional Christian educators are similar from Christian denominations to other Christian denominations.”

Next 40 years to focus on technology and young people

A CEF member since 1994 when he attended his first national conference in Orlando, Winstead says the next 40 years will be about the use of technology in education and young people.

“CEF is an organization that helps sharpen skills. It’s a training organization. Professionals need to continue to learn and re-tool. We need to advocate for one another on the annual conference level and also on the general church level that Christian Education is a gift to the life of the church.”

Because there are so many agendas before the church, one of CEF’s goals is to lift up the Christian educator’s role, as other groups do for evangelism and mission.

“Our goal is to lift up Christian education and spiritual formation — the things that affect people’s lives in the area of education. Christian education is spiritual formation, whether you are talking about children, youth, or adults. And Christian educators understand that among themselves. But we’re not convinced that the whole church always understands that. So we need to share that ‘yes,’ faith is a lifelong journey and is always a growing process — not only for the people we serve but for ourselves as well,” said Winstead.

Time of transition

This is a time of transition for this organization, according to the incoming president of the CEF Board, the Rev. Deborah “Debby” Burns Fox, pastor of Christian education and discipleship for First United Methodist Church in Gainesville, Georgia. “As the church is in a time of transition, so are those of us who work in the church,” she said in a recent interview.

“Many of the old ways of being Christian educators have new ways being lived out in the church. Our titles have changed. It’s not as obvious sometimes by what you call us what we actually do in the church, and certainly during dire economic times it is difficult to maintain staff,” said Fox, who also thinks that another piece for the future of CEF is to continue to maintain the collegiality, fellowship, nurturing and support that have been so intrinsic to its being.

“Part of the premise of its founding is to have the opportunity for people who were in like ministries to share their challenges and joys and successes and failures. And I think that is still an important part of why we exist. You can be kind of alone out there,” Fox said.

“We hear that from clergy, we hear that from staff folk and occasionally from volunteers —‘what’s happening here can’t be happening any where else.’ There is some comfort in knowing it does happen. It’s not just you. You are not alone.’ ”

Youth movement is needed

“It’s important that we continue to make significant strides toward a youth movement in this organization,” says Fox.

“When we celebrated our 40th birthday, with the idea that there would be 40 more years to come, we had to ask, ‘who will be moving into this organization in leadership roles, as participants, and what will they look like? How do we do that? How do we reach generations who are perhaps not going to have the same kind of educational seminary track and yet will be fulfilling those duties in local congregations? How do you involve them in a professional organization for their own support, nurture and education so what happens here really does move into local church ministry?’ ”

Fox says it’s important for CEF to continue to be a place of nurture and support — “regardless of whether you have professional credentials or clergy status, or you are the Sunday school superintendent, or a Sunday school teacher with a heart for children — there’s a place for you in this organization.”

She also said that it’s important for participants to find ways to take what happens here and use that to offer leadership in new and vital ways, both to their congregations and to the organization. “We depend on volunteers,” she said.

Among the worship, plenary and Preaching from the Center speakers were: the Rev. Ronald Allen, an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and professor of preaching and New Testament at Christian Theological Seminary in Indiana; the Rev. Taylor Burton-Edwards, GBOD director of Worship Resources with the General Board of Discipleship; the Rev. Safiyah Fosua, D. Min., GBOD director of Invitational Preaching Ministries; the Rev. Stephanie Moore Hand, Christian education consultant for the Western North Carolina Conference and minister of Christian education at Mouzon United Methodist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina; Dean B. McIntyre, GBOD director of music resources; Bill McKibben, author and scholar in residence at Middlebury College in Vermont; Marjorie Hewitt Suchocki, Ph.D., professor Emerita, Claremont School of Theology; the Rev. Marjorie Thompson, an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church, USA, and director of Pathways for Congregational Spirituality at The Upper Room based in Nashville, Tenn.; Osvaldo Vena, Th. D., associate professor of New Testament at Garrett Theological Seminary; and the Rev. Bob Winstead, senior pastor of Haygood Memorial United Methodist Church in Atlanta and president of the CEF Board of Directors.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:40:00 +0000

Young Peoples Ministries to host leadership events

NASHVILLE, Tenn., August 29, 2008/GBOD/--The General Board of Discipleship’s Young People’s Ministries Division will offer two additional leadership development training events this year for adults who work in ministry with young people.

The first event will be held November 15-16, 2008 at the Methodist Theological School in Delaware, Ohio, while the second workshop is slated for Federal United Methodist Church in Auburn, Washington, on December 6, 2008. Saturday sessions will run 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Called “The ‘SOURCE” (www.gbod.org/thesource) is designed to enhance spiritual growth and explore new resources for ministries with youth and young adults.

“The 'SOURCE is an opportunity to gather with other adult workers in ministry with young people to network, gain inspiration, share resources and worship,” says Bill Lizor, director of Young Adult and Single Adult Ministries and one of the workshop leaders.

The Ohio gathering includes an optional half-day “Living Waters” retreat, Sunday from 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon, to allow participants to dig deeper and reflect more broadly on their personal spiritual journey.

The ‘SOURCE is a resource for ministry, a source of training, which connects participants with “The Source” who is God in Christ.

Young People’s Ministries previously hosted five leadership development sessions, one in each jurisdiction. The Ohio and Washington events have been added by request.

According to Julie O’Neal, a manager with Young Peoples Ministries, “The ‘SOURCE 2008 provides a context to learn about leadership and how to examine our own styles of leadership in our settings with youth and young adults.”

“In small and large group experiences, participants will interact with GBOD staff in Young People's Ministries and colleagues in settings near them. Whether you work with youth, young adults or both,” says O’Neal, “The ‘SOURCE is not to be missed!”

GBOD staffers will facilitate the sessions, which include: worship, a plenary on “Leadership: The Big Picture,” snapshot sessions and closing worship.

The Saturday session costs $25 and includes lunch; the half-day retreat on Sunday is $10 (lunch not included). To register and find hotel options, visit www.gbod.org/thesource or contact Micki McCorkle, mmccorkle@gbod.org, 615-340-1797; or Sarah Smith, ssmith@gbod.org, 615-340-1780.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:01:00 +0000

A UM News Commentary by Bishop Robert Schnase: Strong youth ministry aids 'the call'

Bishop Robert Schnase

Driving down the interstate the other day, I pulled into a roadside rest stop. As I stepped from my car, a long bus pulled up with a sign that ran nearly the length of the vehicle. It identified the group as a United Methodist church from North Carolina. A herd of youth poured out and headed for the restrooms as exhausted, sunburned sponsors joked and bantered with the young people. They were returning from a mission trip and still had many miles ahead of them.

I'm always deeply gratified to see the commitment, hard work and love that so many adult sponsors pour into the lives of young people to teach them the faith and model how to serve, pray, give and treat one another in the name of Jesus Christ. Sponsors and youth pastors like those I saw on the road that day helped form me and shape me. Without them, I might not now be a Christian, and certainly would never have discerned God's call to the ministry.

A direct connection lies between strong local congregational youth ministries and the call to ministry. Obviously, there are tons of other benefits that result from strong youth ministries-lives changed, faith taught, young people supported through hard times, ethical shaping, community bonding in Christ, etc. Still, if your church wants to impact the number and quality of future pastoral leadership, begin by having an effective youth ministry, even if it's small.

Recently, our Board of Ordained Ministry and Cabinet studied the ministry supply patterns for the Missouri Annual (regional) Conference. We analyzed who is coming into ministry, by what channels and means, into what status and order, at what age and for how long, of what gender and ethnicity, and how they leave (transfer, withdraw, retire or die). We learned much about the "streams" that flow into the river of pastors-elders, deacons, local pastors, associate members and lay ministers-who serve our conference. It was fascinating. There were some hopeful signs, like the increasing number of younger pastors entering ministry, and some cause for concern, like the huge number of pastors eligible to retire in the next few years.

As we talked about the streams that feed ministry and the channels by which people discern the call, what do you suppose is the greatest source and setting for people exploring the call at an early age? Camping? Campus ministries? Parental influence? Conference youth weekends? Mission experiences? While all are important, we identified two major predictors of young people entering the ministry. The greatest predictor is participation during the high school years in a high-quality youth ministry in a local congregation. The second is having a pastor/mentor during the high school years who encourages, supports and interprets the call for the young person. Being part of an active, positive youth ministry likely involves mission experiences, camping, conference youth programs and may lead to campus ministries. But the most significant common element is the local congregation's youth ministry.

Want to assure that your church has positive, high-quality, committed, effective clergy leadership during the years to come? The first and best thing your church can do is have a great youth program-a ministry that teaches young people how to worship and pray, grow in faith and feel comfortable with Scripture, serve others and make a positive difference in the lives of people, and give generously. A positive youth ministry and an encouraging pastoral mentor make all the difference.

As I got back in the car at the roadside rest stop, I wondered about all those youth. Some will return from this summer mission trip and move on to their next adventure with little gained or nothing learned. Some are being formed by the spirit of God through this experience into people of faith who will lead our churches as laypeople, community leaders, service professionals and people of integrity and prayer. For a few, this summer may mark a turning point in their lives, a moment graced by the spirit of God for special change and growth. And for a very few, this summer may be the season when God tugs on their hearts toward the high calling of full-time Christian ministry.

How is your youth ministry doing? How are you doing at preparing the soil for the seeds of the spirit to raise up a new generation of Christian leaders?

*Schnase is resident bishop of the Missouri Area of The United Methodist Church. His blog can be found at www.FivePractices.org. This commentary was adapted from an article in "Leading ideas," the online newsletter of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership, available free at www.churchleadership.com.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:46:00 +0000

All God's People: Faith Formation Through the Life Span, October 13-15, 2008, General Board of Discipleship, Nashville, Tennessee

Dear Colleague in Ministry,

You are invited to attend a first-time event: ALL GOD’S PEOPLE: FAITH FORMATION THROUGH THE LIFE SPAN, October 13-15, 2008 at the General Board of Discipleship (GBOD) in Nashville, Tennessee.

Event participants, together with leaders from the Family, Life Span & Latino Ministries Team, will explore how faith is formed in people from birth through older adulthood and how we can be more effective in nurturing faith for people at all ages.

The format of this event will be different from other GBOD events you may have attended. This is not an event that features keynote speakers or a variety of workshops on specific age-level or ministry topics. The participants and the leaders will become a learning community, examining faith formation from a holistic perspective through the windows of:

• Growth and Development;
• Generations;
• Transitions and Cycles of Life;
• Culture;
• Settings;
• Traditions and Heritage.

These various lenses all play a unique role in understanding how faith is formed and nurtured throughout the life span. Together we will explore what leaders can do to strengthen faith for people of all ages.

Please consider attending ALL GOD’S PEOPLE as an important part of your continuing education for 2008. Enclosed with this letter is a registration packet. Feel free to pass this information along to others who you think would benefit from the event. Registration is limited to 120 participants, so we encourage you to register as soon as possible to ensure a place.

Sincerely,
Members of the Family, Life Span, & Latino Ministries Team

For further information click the web-address listed below:
http://www.gbod.org/allgodspeople/

When you reach this website there will be further links for schedule, leadership, details, accommodations, and registration (Including the possibility of on-line registration).

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 20:31:00 +0000

Judith E. Smith elected editor of church school publications

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 29, 2008/GBOD/ -- Karen Greenwaldt, general secretary of the General Board of Discipleship (GBOD), and Neil M. Alexander, president and publisher of the United Methodist Publishing House (UMPH), announced the election of Judith E. Smith as editor of Church School Publications. The editor is elected by GBOD and confirmed by the Board of UMPH, where the office of the editor is located.

“Judy Smith is exceptionally gifted and will bring to this new post a marvelous depth and vast knowledge of Christian formation and the work of publishing” said Greenwaldt.

“The world of curriculum development for small group study and for Christian education experiences is rapidly changing. Judy brings a great commitment to test new models for delivery of study resources for deepening Christian faith linked with excellent application of educational processes. The Church is blessed to have Judy Smith leading the Church through this vital work of curriculum development,” Greenwaldt said.

Smith is an ordained elder in the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference and has had an over thirty-year career in Christian education, publishing, and executive administration with the general church. She served at GBOD as founding editor of Pockets, a children’s magazine; executive director of Publishing with the Upper Room; interim executive of Discipleship Resources; associate general secretary for Interpretation at the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry; and executive director of Publishing and later associate to the president at UMPH. She has served as interim editor of Church School Publications since July 2007.

As editor, Smith is responsible for general editorial policy, administering the work of the Curriculum Resources Committee and the editorial staff of Church School Publications, developing a coordinated publishing plan supported by UMPH, and assuring that the editorial content is consistent with the educational philosophy formulated by GBOD.

“Judy Smith has been giving God-centered, forward-leaning leadership to the UMC's publishing ministries for decades,” said Alexander. “She blends her obvious love for seeking, inviting, forming and sending out disciples of Jesus Christ with an uncommon and irrepressible passion for holy learning. People across the UMC will benefit from her wisdom and practical insights born of a faithful imagination of ‘what can be’ and deep compassion for teachers and learners everywhere.”

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 18:35:00 +0000

Children s Israel-Palestine Study Is A Road to Peacemaking

by YVETTE MOORE*

New York City, May 29--Children will get a taste of Palestinian and Israeli cultures along with a new respect for the human dignity of both peoples in United Methodist Women Schools of Christian Mission convening around the country this summer.

This year marks the second and final year of the Israel-Palestine geographic study offered in Schools of Christian Mission attended by more than 25,000 women, men, youth and children each year. I Believe in Jesus is the focus of the 2008 spiritual growth study, and Giving Our Hearts Away: Native American Survival is the 2008-2009 mission issue study theme.

Mary Davies, a retired United Methodist missionary to Palestine and Cyprus, wrote From Palestine to Seattle: Becoming Neighbors and Friends, the storybook-style text for the children s geographic mission study.

My point in my little book is that Palestinian children are human just like American children, just like Jewish children, Ms. Davies said. It s trying to get away from the propaganda that says all Arabs are terrorists.

The story revolves around Seattle siblings, Allison and Matt, who, upon their clergyman father s return from a trip to the region, become e-mail-pals with a Palestinian boy, Tarek, and an Israeli girl, Miriam. E-mails about favorite foods, TV, school, and playing soccer and basketball when there is no trouble fly between the youth. The U.S. children are puzzled by their new friends e-mail references to passes needed to travel to another city and fear of a bomb going off in the neighborhood. Their father explains there s conflict between the peoples in the region and that Tarek, Miriam and their families are part of a group of Palestinians and Israelis working non-violently for peace. The U.S. children travel to Palestine to meet their new friends and participate in a children s march for peace.

A teacher s guide that accompanies the children s storybook text is filled with Bible studies, songs, dances, recipes, examples of Muslim, Arab Christian and Jewish holidays, and other activities that enable students to walk alongside families who call the Holy Land home and to participate in building bridges by praying and working for peace, wrote guide author Faye Wilson, Ed.D.

From there, study leaders imaginations take over.

Our thought was to immerse the children into the cultures, said Barbara King, lead teacher of the 24 4-11-year-old participants in the 2007 South Indiana Conference School of Christian Mission s children study.

A big pop-up tent one with a ceiling and no sides took up quite a bit of classroom space, but it s message was clear: this study is about the people of Abraham, Ms. King said. The children learned Bible stories, heard the story text, cooked, ate and did activities in their classroom-tent, and took a field trip to a local synagogue. Ms. King and the other teachers also painted sheets of wall insulation brownish-beige and used them as Jerusalem s famous Wailing Wall one day and as the wall separating Palestinians and Israelis the next.

We poked holes in the insulation so the children could put their prayers in it when it was the Wailing Wall, Ms. King said. When it was the dividing wall, the children each got a pass to see who could go through the wall and who had to stay on the other side. We tried to compare that experience to things that happen at school, getting blamed for something you didn t do. We tried to show both sides and keep it to feelings: How would you feel if you were treated this way?

West Ohio Conference children s study with 10 5-13 year olds featured worship, story time, crafts, Israeli folk dancing and water play in the facility s swimming pool, said study leader Barb Brooks. Older children helped the younger ones with the craft projects. The group also saw a documentary-style video about Palestinian and Israeli children getting together to talk about their lives, likes, dislikes, schools and to play.

We talked about comparisons between Muslims, Jewish and Christian religions and ways they are the same, Ms. Brooks said. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you can be found in all three religions.

The 23 first through sixth graders in Red Bird Missionary Conference s children study played games and made crafts, but also spent a lot of time talking about the conflict in Palestine/Israel, said study leader Lucinda Schneider. The group saw excerpts of a video about a Palestinian refugee family who visits land that belonged to their grandfather. The young people talked about the refugees who had no other place to live. They talked about second and third generation Israelis who also had no other place to live. And, they talked about the many Palestinians and Israelis working non-violently for peace in that land, Ms. Schneider said.

I think if there were easy solutions, it would have been reconciled long ago, Ms. Schneider said. The whole story was based on making friends with both peoples and understanding both situations. At the children's level, what you want them to come away with is that the situation of the Palestinians is unbearable, and it s increasingly fearful for the Israelis.

Study planners hope that knowledge will help make the difficult work of peacemaking in that region an imperative for all.

This wonderful mission study is part of our United Methodist Women outreach to help our church family understand some of the ways God-loving and God-fearing people are trying to make peace in Palestine/Israel, Ms. Wilson said. One approach of the storybook and leader s guide is: Let s expand the information about Palestine and Israel with information that is not readily available in the media. Let s show people who believe there should be greater efforts for peace in the region.

I pray United Methodist Women members will continue to want to know more than what they see on the front page of a newspaper or hear in a television report, Ms. Wilson said. I pray that United Methodist children will be able to examine life experiences from various angles. Might does not equal right that s biblical.

The Women s Division is the national policymaking arm of United Methodist Women, a nearly 800,000-member organization whose purpose is to foster spiritual growth, develop leaders and advocate for justice. United Methodist Women members raise nearly $20 million each year for programs and projects that improve the lives of women, children and youth in the United States and in more than 100 countries around the world. The Women s Division is part of the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries.

*Yvette Moore is an executive secretary for communications with the Women's Division of the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 23 May 2008 17:57:00 +0000

Cedar Crest Campers, are your toothbrushes and pillows packed?

The Cedar Crest Camping season is just over a week away! Lori Holliman is the 2008 Cedar Crest Camp Director. Rachel Neer is the Elementary Camp Director, and Avery Edwards is the Youth Camp Director. All three along with the rest of the staff are busy making sure that each camper will have both a safe and a fun camp week. Everyone is looking forward to great Cedar Crest camping traditions such as campfire meals, creek stomping, critter crawls, talent shows, fun and campers who are eager to learn more about God. If you are registered for camp, last minute camp details should be arriving in your mailbox any day now if they haven't already done so. Well, there is no time to waste, so campers get those toothbrushes and pillows packed along with your other camp supplies like your smiles and your Bible. Hurry now and get ready for the best camp week ever! We'll see you there!

More about our Cedar Crest Camp Director, the Elementary Camp Director, and the Youth Camp Director

Lori Holliman, 2008 Cedar Crest Camp Director. Lori is a Commissioned Deacon of the Western North Carolina Annual Conference with a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary. She has a Bachelor of Science degree, Biology, from Middle Tennessee State University. She is presently Minister with Children and Youth, East End United Methodist Church, Lawrenceburg, Tennessee.

Rachel Neer, Elementary Camp Director. Rachel’s home church is Gainsboro First UMC. She attends the University of Evansville with a major in Theological studies. Spent the last semester studying in England. Has attended elementary and youth camp at Cedar Crest for 9 summers and was an elementary camp counselor last summer. She states: “Camp is important for children to grow socially and spiritually. They make new friends and their counselors plant seeds that will grow and flourish over time.”

Avery Edwards. Director of Youth Camp. Home church is Hermitage UMC, but attended Algood UMC and was active in the Tennessee Tech Uuniversity Wesley Foundation. Graduated from Tech in May 2008 with a major in German and secondary education. She attended elementary and youth camp, and was a youth camp counselor at Cedar Crest 2004 and 2005. She stated “My spirituality is such an important part of my life, and camp provided part of the foundation from which I continue to grow. I love being a positive influence in the lives of young people, and I love camp."

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:57:00 +0000

Curriculum invites children to build 'rock solid' faith

"Rock Solid: Building a Heart of Faith" is a new children's Sunday school curriculum offered this fall. A UMNS logo courtesy of the United Methodist Publishing House.

By Kathy L. Gilbert*

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)--Hank the Hammer and friends will help children build a "rock solid heart of faith" with a new Sunday school curriculum being offered this fall by the United Methodist Publishing House.

"Rock Solid: Building a Heart of Faith" will invite children ages 3-13 to lay a solid biblical foundation and construct a personal relationship with God.

The cornerstone of "Rock Solid" is Matthew 7:24, the story of the wise man who built his house on rock. It includes multisensory activities, crafts, stories and games, supplemented by an interactive Web site at IAmRockSolid.com.

"Faith cannot be taught; it must be caught," said Marj Pon, managing editor of church school publications, in a presentation to the Publishing House board of directors during its spring meeting March 18-19 in Nashville.

"We want to create a faith experience each week."

The new curriculum replaces Exploring Faith, which has been offered for the past eight years. Rock Solid incorporates language based on a faith-building model instead of a school model and uses, for instance, words like session instead of lesson, leader instead of teacher and group instead of class.

The curriculum will be ready to ship to churches in June. It includes a leader guide, kids books, a resource packet and musical CD. A fun pack with craft ideas is available for younger age levels, a puzzle book for older children and a drama book for "tweens."

Rock Solid is less expensive than Exploring Faith. The leader's guide costs $2 less per book, and the kids book $1 less.

Reporting on other Publishing House products, Linda Tozer and Marilyn Thornton, editors of Vacation Bible School resources, said the 2008 VBS Beach Party had exceeded $1 million in sales during February. Walk It Out, a multicultural VBS offering, reached more than $70,000 in sales by the end of February and is running ahead of budget and sales of last year's program.

"This was a first-time-ever achievement for the corresponding sales period and suggests we have a major hit on our hands," said Neil Alexander, president and publisher, of the Beach Party product.

*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:11:00 +0000

Hilliard to work with United Methodist youth

NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 6, 2008 /GBOD/ --Henry ‘Hank’ Hilliard has been named manager of Youth Ministry Development for Young People’s Ministries in Nashville, which is a ministry of the United Methodist General Board of Discipleship.

“Hank brings (to GBOD) a wealth of experience planning, organizing and promoting ministry programming, including mission trips, spiritual formation retreats, outreach events and creative arts ministry teams,” said Karen Greenwaldt, top executive for GBOD.

Hilliard was formerly director of both Youth and College Ministry and Young Adult Ministries at Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Memphis, where he was responsible for leading and directing youth ministries for over 12 years. He started a college and young adult ministry at the church in 2003.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to serve the youth of The United Methodist Church in a greater capacity,” said Hilliard.

Hank’s vision for youth ministry includes developing and enhancing the knowledge of youth and leaders of youth through relevant, creative and readily available resources for youth ministries, and in providing training and networking opportunities.

In his new capacity, he looks forward to equipping youth to become disciples of Jesus Christ within The United Methodist Church through leadership development, through Web-based learning resources and by responding to all levels of inquiries related to enhancing and developing youth ministries.

“I’m looking forward to connecting youth and leaders of youth to others who are able to provide needed support, encouragement and ideas,” he said.

Hilliard has also started new ministries such as creative arts ministry teams and a youth leadership team, in addition to serving as a referee for the East Shelby County Recreation Department, refereeing youth soccer and basketball games.

Hilliard holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, Alabama

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:50:00 +0000

Adult Ministry Institute: Leading Adults in Faith Formation and Discipleship

The Tennessee Annual Conference in conjunction with the Center for Church Leadership at Martin Methodist College is offering a 3 weekend training experience for pastors, Christian Educators, and lay persons who provide leadership for adult ministries. This in-depth institute offers persons

+An opportunity to experience a learning community where learning is mutual and seeks to meet the changing needs of the participants, their congregations, and the communities that they serve.
+A theological understanding of adult formation and discipleship that is Biblically based, grounded in Wesleyan theology, and a focus on transformation.
+An opportunity to further develop practical skills in planning formational and discipleship ministries with adults.
+An opportunity to experience cutting-edge ideas in adult ministry and a significant emphasis on reflection.
+A supportive relationship with adult ministry leaders.

The institute is designed for lay or clergy in local congregations who are called to ministry with adults in volunteer, part-time or full-time positions. The weekend class sessions include:

April 18-20, 2008
Formation through the Ages
.Margaret Ann Crain, Associate Professor of Christian Education and Jack Seymour, Professor of Religious Education at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary will lead the sessions using Yearning for God: Reflections of Faithful Lives to explore ways to live with life’s questions – Who is the holy? Who Am I? and Who is the other? – and to provide an overview of teaching Jesus that forms one’s faith and discipleship. Participants will develop skills in leading critical thinking and theological reflections; developing ministry across the adult age spectrum and life’s transitions; and deepening your own spiritual practices and leading others in faithful spiritual practices.

September 18-21, 2008
Cultural Learning Shifts
.Arlene Hewitt, Christian Educator and Consultant in Adult Ministries, will provide a theological and practical overview of transformational learning. She will offer practical insights into using cutting-edge shifts in teaching and learning with adults that include the use of technology, creating learning communities, and transfer of teaching. She will also moderate a panel discussion to explore ways adult’s faith and discipleship are formed through ministries of radical hospitality and social justice.
.Carol Krau, Director of Christian Formation for the General Board of Discipleship, will present an overview and the impact of brain research, multiple intelligences and gender learning on teaching and learning with adults.

January 9-11, 2009
Leaders in the 21st Century

The weekend explores leadership that guides and develops discipleship ministries for the transformation of the world. The faculty include
.Duane Ewers, Pastor and Christian Education Professor at Martin Methodist College, will provide an overview of adaptive leadership and ways to develop a 21st imagination for leading ministry.
.Donna Gaither, Executive Director for New Solutions at the General Board of Discipleship, will guide the group in understanding their own leadership styles and ways to create a system of discipleship in their own local church.
.Carol Krau, Director of Christian Education for the General Board of Discipleship; will provide practical skills in leading transformation and change within your congregation.

Each weekend begins on Friday afternoon through Sunday noon at Scarritt-Bennett Center, Nashville and the cost includes books, training resources and materials, room, and all meals except Saturday lunch. You may choose to register for the entire institute for $1,000 or register for a specific weekend session for $350.

For more information and to register, please contact Susan Groseclose, sgroseclose@tnumc.org or Mary T. Newman, mtnewman@tnumc.org at 304 S. Perimeter Park Drive, Nashville, TN 37211 or 615-329-1177/1-800-403-5795.

Registration deadline is March 15, 2008.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 14:03:00 +0000

Cokesbury offers these children and youth curriculum for small membership churches -

Children

The One Room Sunday School is written for the unique needs of a small children's Sunday School using material from the graded Exploring Faith. Each quarter packet comes complete with leader guide, classroom packet and music CD.

Live B.I.G. One Big Room DVD Kit contains 12 DVDs, one per month from September through August, plus one Fall Leader’s Guide that is reproducible and one Fall Kids’ Book (order additional books for each child in your class). Available for One Big Room for small number of children of varying ages in one classroom. Leader's guides are available for each quarter.

BibleZone Live offers 3 age levels - preschool, early elementary, and older elementary plus there is a Spanish version. Each kit includes geographic themed lessons (In the Garden, By the Waters, In God's House, etc...) with leader's guide and classroom zillies.

PowerXpress is rotational learning in which one Bible story is taught for a period of 4-8 weeks using different learning centers. Check out this website for ways to use PowerXpress is a small membership church - http://www.powerxpress.com/content.aspx?dyn=26#a1399.

Super Simple Bible Lessons is written for 2 different age levels and offers learning activities for 60 Bible stories.

Youth

BL44 - Bible Lessons for Youth is written for 7-12th grade youth groups and it covers the entire Bible in six years. It is based on the International Lessons Series (as is Adult Bible Studies) and it uses a Bible-to-life approach. The curriculum includes separate student and teacher books.

Claim the Life is a DVD-based curriclum that offers a six-year, comprehensive spiritual formation plan for youth Sunday school. The annual themes are Journey, Word, and Faith for younger youth; Promise, Story, and Call for older youth. Each year is divided into two 16-week semesters.

Single Digit Youth Groups is for churches with fewer than 10 teens and offers a relevant youth ministry that powerfully affects student's lives. The books of the Single-Digit series enumerate additional benefits that can be found only in a compact group. Single-digit youth resources are designed to engage every teen in the room, at every level of maturity, without alienating all the rest.

Ready to Go Series for Youth Groups are ready-made event packages that come complete with everything you need to easily prepare and smoothly execute fun and instructive youth activities. Ready-to-Go resources are equipped with event themes that target contemporary issues teens face in the real world. These relevant messages are delivered with impact through coordinated devotional plans, discussion frameworks, and capitvating activities. All the event accessories you need are included, down to publicity fliers and parental forms.

For more information and to order resources, go to http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/curriculum.aspx.

Susan Groseclose
Director of Nurture Ministries
TN Conference Connectional Ministries
304 South Perimeter Park, Suite 1
Nashville, TN 37211
sgroseclose@tnumc.org
615-329-1177 or 1-800-403-5795 (W)
615-417-1753 (cell)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:51:00 +0000

Rock Solid: Building a Heart of Faith, new children's curriculum for the Fall of 2008

Rock Solid: Building a Heart of Faith is the new children's curriculum that is been produced by the United Methodist Publishing House. If you have a standing curriculum order with Cokesbury for Exploring Faith - you will be recieving this new curriculum for the Summer 2008. Otherwise, the curriculum will be available for purchase in Fall 2008.

What's new about this curriculum?

.The sesssions focus on coming to know God and Jesus rather than knowing about God and Jesus.
.They're talking a new language - moving away from school-based model to a faith-building model.
.Creating a new faith experience each week.
.Curriculum is different at each level - the sessions are themetatic with age-appropriate biblical studies. Basically younger boys and girls will study one Bible story and older boys and girls will study a different Bible story, more appropriate to their intellectual and faith development.
.Adaptable so that the church can tailor the curriculum to their needs and age-groupings, including those with one room Sunday School.
.Older Elementary and Tween curriculum is using an annual, commercial CD (the kid's music). All the other age-levels will have an annual musical CD that has been created and produced by professional songwriters.
.Free website activities for children and support and faith-development ideas for teachers and parents.
.Economical - $5.59 per child/per quarter and cheaper than Exploring Faith!

If you would like to set-up a standing curriculum order from Cokesbury, go to https://www.cokesbury.com/forms/AutomaticShipments.aspx.

For more information about Rock Solid, check out the website at http://IAmRockSolid.com. Also, plan to attend the upcoming Christian Educators Fellowship (CEF) meeting at the United Methodist Publishing House on Thursday, February 21st from 10:00A-2:00P with a showcase and training for all the new children, youth and adult curriculum resources. Please make a lunch reservation with Tina Rose, trose1116@comcast.net.

Blessings, Susan

Susan Groseclose
Director of Nurture Ministries
TN Conference Connectional Ministries
304 South Perimeter Park, Suite 1
Nashville, TN 37211
sgroseclose@tnumc.org
615-329-1177 or 1-800-403-5795 (W)
615-417-1753 (cell)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:44:00 +0000

Teens seek new youth director in You Tube ad

A postcard invites candidates to "see us on You Tube" in the search for a new youth leader at St. Andrew By-The-Sea United Methodist Church in Hilton Head Island, S.C. Church youth starred in their own video ad, which was posted on the video-sharing Web site. A UMNS photo illustration courtesy of Jennifer Lee.

A UMNS Report
By Andrew Schleicher*

Finding the right youth director can be like catching the best wave, but only if you know how to surf. The youth group at St. Andrew By-The-Sea United Methodist Church in Hilton Head Island, S.C., hopes its next director will surf the Internet to find them.

Last fall, the youth created and starred in a minute-long video advertisement touting their "great location," "really cool building" and "awesome pastor" and inviting potential candidates to "come surf with us at St. Andrew on Hilton Head Island."

They posted the ad--complete with scenes of kids playing beach volleyball, foosball and basketball--on a popular video-sharing Web site and handed out postcards at a youth conference in Atlanta inviting interested youth directors to "see us on You Tube."

More than 1,300 people have viewed the ad since its November posting, and approximately 200 candidates submitted their resumes for the job. While the church used other traditional advertising methods as well, nearly every applicant mentioned the video.

The Rev. Neil Yongue, pastor of St. Andrew, came up with the idea for the You Tube ad as a way "that people could get an immediate taste of who we were."

"We wanted to do a good thorough search using all of the devices available," said Yongue, who presented the idea to church leaders. "I think [they] found it to be an exciting and novel idea."

Church member Glenn Brodie, who runs a radio and television production company, produced the video. He said writing the script was a group process but that the main idea came from the youth. "They wanted it to be at the beach to make it look fun," he said.

The filming took place over two days--one day at the church and another at Coligny Beach. Almost 20 youth members participated, including 15-year-old Cameron Stratton.

"I thought it was good idea to help get in touch with people through a more modern way," said Cameron.

Marissa Nichols, 15, served as the narrator, surrounded by other youths wearing shorts and T-shirts and even bathing suits against the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean. "Here, you can live where most people come to vacation," a smiling Marissa says in the video montage.

Marissa was excited to be featured on You Tube and, after a local newspaper ran a story about the youth group project, her friends checked out the posting and thought it was cool. "I'm excited about getting a new youth director," she said, noting that she wants someone with "high energy, not necessarily young … someone we feel comfortable around (and with) a little bit of experience."

The church hopes to wrap up its search by the end of spring and is now conducting telephone interviews. The applicants include people of several denominational backgrounds. "We are trying to be very careful and prayerful," Yongue said.

*Schleicher is a freelance writer based in Nashville, Tenn.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 11:55:00 +0000

Registration Open for Christian Educators Fellowship/Preaching from the Center 2008 Conference

Oct. 24-27, 2008 - Albuquerque, NM

NASHVILLE, TN - 12/11/07 - Registration has opened for "Blessed to Be a Blessing: Christian Education for the 7th Generation with Preaching from the Center," a conference of Christian Educators Fellowship (CEF) and Preaching from the Center (PFC).
The conference will take place October 24-27, 2008, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Albuqerque Convention Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico.For the first time, these two normally separate national events will be held jointly. Participants will be able to cross-register for workshops from either conference, and many events (e.g. worship, Bible study) will be shared. Entire ministry teams are encouraged to attend together, as the conference is designed for both clergy and laity, professionals and volunteers, preachers and those involved in any kind of educational ministry.

Some of the featured speakers and workshop leaders include:
Marjorie Thompson: Author/Christian spirituality leader (Pre-Conference Retreat and PFC speaker)
Osvaldo Vena: New Testament Professor/Author (Bible Studies)
Marjorie Suchocki: Theologian/Author (Faith & Film Plenary)
Bill McKibben: World-renowned environmentalist/author (Plenary)
Ronald Allen: Preaching Professor/Author (PFTC Pre-Conference Leader and Speaker)
Dean McIntyre: Music Resources Leader (Preaching from the Center leader)
Taylor Burton-Edwards: Worship Resources Leader (Preaching from the Center leader)
Safiyah Fosua: GBOD Staff/Author (Preaching from the Center leader)
Stephanie Hand: Christian Educator/education consultant (Preacher)

Christian Educators Fellowship, a networking group for persons involved in Christian education, age-level ministries, resource centers, and other educational ministries, will celebrate its 40th anniversary during the event. Preaching from the Center is a conference sponsored by the General Board of Discipleship.Full conference details are available at http://www.cef2008.org

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 13:14:00 +0000

Young adults seek ways to put faith into action, leader says

Bill Lizor, director of the board's Young Adult and Single Adult Ministries, presents "Effective Models of Young Adult Ministry."

By Linda Green*

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - Young adults today want to be involved in mission and service, and they represent "a passionate movement" in the church, a United Methodist executive says.

Young adults are living out their faith every day by being active participants in their own life stories, said Bill Lizor, director of Young Adult and Single Adult Ministries at the United Methodist Board of Discipleship.

"This isn't a generation of people wanting to sit in the pews and consume worship," he said. "Today's young adults want to be out in the fields, active in mission and service, taking the faith they were handed down as children and adding their own hands and feet."

Although "faith" as a concept, may look different manifested this way, it is "a passionate movement and reclaiming of Christian tradition that is setting young people on fire to be the today's church."

The Board of Discipleship brought nearly 80 United Methodist young adult leaders from across the United States together in November for a weekend of networking and sharing about their ministries. The Nov. 15-17 gathering was the second Young Adult Leaders Summit.

With the growth in popularity of Young Adult Ministries in The United Methodist Church, numerous annual (regional) conferences are developing ministries to young adults, which the denomination defines as people between 18 and 30. Leadership summits provide a place for annual conference teams to engage in training and dialogue around such topics as theology, practice, ministry models, discipleship and leadership.

'Take action'
The Rev. Vance Ross, a discipleship staff executive, challenged the young leaders to take the initiative and to make a difference today. "Now is the time for young adults to take action."

Several ministries from across the denomination were invited to share about what they are doing for young adult ministry. The ministries included:

Emerge Detroit, a citywide network of churches and ministries engaged in young adult ministry.

North Georgia Annual Conference, which is developing a model for young adult leader training, as well as marketing, podcasts and Web sites designed to include young adults in the annual conference process.

The Bishop's Initiative of the Rocky Mountain Annual Conference, which placed four young adults in an intentional community and service setting for a year. The program is being re-evaluated and seeking further funding so it can continue.

The Division on Ministries with Young People, which introduced the new Young Adult Network, a Web-based portal for young adults at http://www.gbod.org/youngpeople/youngadult/youngadult.htm.

The United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women, which shared what it is doing in the area of developing young adult women.

Developing a model
To get an overview of current research, the group viewed the video, "Generation Next: Speak Up, Be Heard," a research project developed by PBS and Films for the Humanities and Sciences.
According to the PBS Web site, "the aim of the Generation Next initiative is to unravel this generation of young people who are hooked to technology, generally supportive of gay rights and racial differences, partial to postponing adulthood and swamped in debt." The film provided the young adult leaders with information about recent research.

Elaine de Leon said she was glad the video talked about "the economic debt because that's a reality that is 'under-talked' about."

De Leon, of the Greater New Jersey Annual (regional) Conference and seminary student at Wesley Seminary in Washington, said she senses "that people believe that young adults leave the church to pursue careers - because that's so much more important to them - and to climb the corporate ladder. Some of the reality is that you have to have the job to pay off your college loans," she said.

Following a session on "Effective Models of Young Adult Ministry," participants engaged in conversation around developing a theology for young adult ministry and a group process to identify resourcing needs.

Young adult ministry development, as an emphasis of the church, has emerged within the last 10 years. There has not been a lot of research into what a biblical model for young ministry would look like, and the summit conversations are beginning the process of developing a foundation, Lizor said.

*Green is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn. Jeanette Pinkston, director of media relations for the United Methodist Board of Discipleship, contributed to this story.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 14:50:00 +0000

Upcoming Children's Ministry Dates -- Mark Your Calendar Now

Children's Ministry Network - Thursday, November 8, 2007; 11:30A-1:00P at TN Conference Center

Bring a "brown-bag" lunch and join other children's leaders throughout the conference for an informal time of sharing ideas, asking questions, and networking.

Confirmation Day with Bishop - Saturday, February 2, 2008; 9:00A-12:00 Noon, location TBA

You will be hearing more about this day for confirmation students, pastors, leaders, parents, and mentors to experience the connection, learn about the United Methodist Church, and meet your District Superintendent and Bishop Wills. We have some exciting new plans for the day!

Vacation Bible School Preview and Training - Friday, February 8, 2008; 9:00A-12 Noon at Belle Meade UMC

The Surf's Up ---- Come to the Beach Party! You will jive with beach music, surf through the scriptures, learn about the Beach Be-attitudes, join in with Sandy as we learn "The Swim" , visit the Surf 'n Sand Lab, meet all the VBS editors, and experience all the fun 'n learning at the beach!
Plus, Cokesbury will offer a special 20% discount on all United Methodist Vacation Bible School curriculum resources purchased or ordered that day! No registration required.

Introduction to Faith-Based Preschools - Saturday, February 9, 2008; 8:30A-12:30P at TN Conference Center

This UMAP (United Methodist Association of Preschools) training will introduce directors and teachers to the basic principles of a faith-based preschool. The training does include the required state license video, "First Steps". Training with video is $20 for UMAP members and $30 for non-UMAP members, without video - $10 UMAP member and $15 non-UMAP member. Contact Susan Groseclose, sgroseclose@tnumc.org or Mary T. Newman, mtnewman@tnumc.org to register.

Children's Ministry Forum "08 - Tuesday, February 26-Thursday, February 28, 2008 at First UMC Richardson, TX (Dallas)

Mark your calendar to join other children's ministry leaders across the country - "Now I See! Engaging Children - Preparing Disciples". Detailed information and registration will be available soon at www.gbod.org/children.

Confirmation Retreat - Friday, February 29-Sunday, March 2, 2008 at Cedar Crest Camp and Spiritual Retreat Center

Don Washburn will once again be leading this weekend jam-packed with singing, worship, games and learning! Contact James Ralston, umcamp@bellsouth.net for registration information.

UMAP Seminar with Jim Williams - Saturday, March 8, 2008; 9:00A-3:00P at TN Conference Center

Jim Williams, noted speaker, trainer and leader of Pro-Parenting video series will be leading weekday directors, teachers and parents in a seminar exploring enhancing children, particularly preschoolers, self-esteem. Contact Susan Groseclose, sgroseclose@tnumc.org for more information.

Childcare Ministry Workshop-"Walk with Them and Teach Them" - Saturday, April 5, 2008; 8:00A-4:00P at Hendersonville First UMC

This yearly worskhop offers state approved training for licensed secular and church-related childcare directors and teachers. For the first time this year - CEU credits will be available for directors and teachers with Early Childhood degrees or CDA. Registration booklets available January 2008

Susan Groseclose
Director of Nurture Ministries
TN Conference Connectional Ministries
304 South Perimeter Park, Suite 1
Nashville, TN 37211
sgroseclose@tnumc.org
615-329-1177 or 1-800-403-5795 (W)
615-417-1753 (cell)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 12:25:00 +0000

TN UMAP (United Methodist Association of Preschools) Training Institute

Listed below are the upcoming Training Institute courses that are being offered. All the courses have been approved by the State of Tennessee Department of Human Services. A minimum of 8 participants is required per class.

CPR and First Aid: Teaches skills, procedures and hands-on practice to administer CPR and basic first aid skills required in response to emergency situations.(Directors and Teachers; max. 7 hours); Instructor: Mike Meeks

Participants may choose either or both sessions. CPR will be offered each day from 8:30A-12:30P and First Aid will be offered each day from 1:00P-4:00P. There is a maximum per class of 20 participants. Costs for a full day: $20 for UMAP members and $30 for non-UMAP members plus bring “brown bag” lunch. If you only need CPR or First Aid the cost is $10 for UMAP members and $15 for non-UMAP members.
.Saturday, September 29, 2007 at Nolensville First UMC, 7316 Nolensville Road, Nolensville
.Saturday, October 6, 2007 at Donelson Heights UMC, 84 Fairway Drive, Nashville

Child Abuse Detection and Reporting: Recognize signs and symptoms of child maltreatment; discuss the types of child abuse and neglect; present statistics on the prevalence of child abuse and neglect; mandated reporting procedures; amber alert; and safe sanctuary guidelines. (Directors and Teachers; 2 hours); Instructor: Lynne Parades; Costs: $10 for UMAP members and $15 for non-UMAP members
.Wednesday, October 17, 2007 from 1:00-3:00P at Nolensville First UMC, 7316 Nolensville Road, Nolensville
.Thursday, October 18, 2007 from 3:00-5:00P at Donelson Heights UMC, 84 Fairway Drive, Nashville

DHS Rules and Regulations: A study of faith-based childcare programs versus for profit childcare programs; daycare licensing standards in Tennessee including the requirements for state licensure and qualifying for the Stars program. (Directors and Teachers; 2 hours); Instructor: Bonny Logan; Costs: $10 for UMAP members and $15 for non-UMAP members
.Wednesday, November 28, 2007 from 1:00-3:00P at Nolensville First UMC, 7316 Nolensville Road, Nolensville
.Thursday, November 29, 2007 from 3:00-5:00P at Donelson Heights UMC, 84 Fairway Drive, Nashville

Introduction to Faith-based Childcare: Orientation from a faith-based perspective to the field of childcare including working as a professional and advocate for children/families; roles and responsibilities of an early childhood education leader; family dynamics and interactions; and overview of ethics, values, right to privacy and laws related to childcare. Includes “First Steps” video. For persons who have already participated in this video, you may choose to take only the last 2 hours of the workshop. (Directors and Teachers; max. 4 hours); Instructor: Bonny Logan, Lynne Parades and Starr Strickland; Full-day costs: $20 for UMAP members and $30 for non-UMAP members. Half-day costs: $10 for UMAP members and $15 for non-UMAP members.
.Saturday, February 9, 2008 from 8:30A-12:30P at TN Conference Center, 304 South Perimeter Park Drive, Nashville

To obtain a registration for contact:

Susan Groseclose
Director of Nurture Ministries
TN Conference Connectional Ministries
304 South Perimeter Park, Suite 1
Nashville, TN 37211
sgroseclose@tnumc.org
615-329-1177 or 1-800-403-5795 (W)