July 28, 2021

GR Lay Servant Ministry Class:  Lay Servant Ministries Basic Course

Summary of class
God calls you to a life of servanthood as a disciple of Jesus Christ. …Lay Servant Ministries is the first step for many laypersons toward their faith journey as they strive for a closer relationship with the Lord," the authors write in the introduction.
The Lay Servant Ministries Basic Course is a foundational course designed to equip new church leaders and renew current leaders in The United Methodist Church. It explores

•    personal spiritual gifts

•    servant leadership

•    each leader's role in developing future leaders

•    the importance of consistent spiritual practices

•    the core ministries of Leading, Caring, and Communicating

•    and much more.

The Basic Course can be used for both adults and youth.
 
Description and details
This class will be offered virtually via Zoom in 3 sessions over three weeks.  Please ensure you can attend each of the three sessions: Monday August 9 from 6:00 – 9:00 pm; Monday August 16  from 6:00 – 9:00 pm; and Monday August 23 from 6:00 – 9:00 pm   Along with reading your book prior to the class, please be prepared for coursework to be assigned. 

Charge Conference Forms Available for Download

All of the charge conference forms, including the Pastoral Support Forms, are now available for download on the Forms page of the district website.

We are still working on the schedule. More information on that and the paperwork deadline will be sent out as soon as it's ready.

Reminder - All Forms must be completed, signed and sent to the district office by your deadline. We will not accept any forms that do not have the necessary signatures.

MUMF's "Financial Conversations Cohort"

Sorting out church finances and creating a culture of generosity can feel overwhelming! Especially in the early years of pastoral ministry.  That’s why the Missouri United Methodist Foundation (MUMF) is offering a new opportunity, called The Financial Conversations Cohort, for pastors who desire to build their confidence and knowledge in the areas of finance management and generosity. It includes:

• Six cohort conversations where pastors can learn, discuss and explore some of the basics to church finance and generosity practices.

• Be in conversation with other colleagues across the conference.

• Meet by Zoom at 1pm on the 2^nd  and 4^th Monday of each month starting August 23^rd.

• Facilitated by Rev. Laura Murphy, Director of Development for MUMF. For more information or to register, contact Laura at [email protected] or 913-908-6379.

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Developing Digital Faith Communities Workshop

Over the past 18-months, many churches have developed an online worship service and digital presence. But livestreaming worship alone isn’t enough to make disciples online.
Join Rev. Cathy Townley, your digital worship coach, for a two-part workshop on taking the next step to develop your online faith community. Cathy will teach you to:

• Connect with your worship viewers and build relationships with them

• Develop ways to help them grow as disciples of Jesus

• Provide Bible studies and member care

• Plan online serving opportunities that impact your community

• Develop participant giving to help support the work of your ministries

This learning opportunity is designed for churches seeking to go beyond just online services by making disciples in digital spaces.

Training sessions will be held from 4-6 p.m. on two Tuesdays, August 24 and 31. Registering signs you up for both sessions. Registration is $10.

Leading in Unchartered Territory with Tod Bolsinger - Sept. 9

Space is limited for this IN-PERSON event.

For the better part of a generation, the church has faced a rapidly changing world, one that has pushed the church out of the center of the culture to the margins. Then COVID-19 happened, and the disruption to church as we knew it accelerated. Join us on September 9 for a workshop on learning to lead all over again in a totally disrupted environment. Tod Bolsinger, author of Canoeing the Mountains and Tempered Resilience, will serve as our guide into the uncharted territory.

New Places For New People Grants - Application Deadline Sept. 15

Congregational Excellence is accepting grant applications from now until September 15 from churches that are establishing new places for new people. The first step is to fill out a worksheet and submit it to your District Superintendent.