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August 4, 2021
[link removed] District Website →
#toc2 GR Lay Servant Ministry Class: Lay Servant Ministries Basic Course
#toc3 Charge Conference Forms Available For Download
#toc4 We Gather Together: How Small Groups Bring Connection to the Post-Pandemic Church - Aug. 10 & 12
#toc5 Developing Digital Faith Communities Workshop
#toc6 Leading in Unchartered Territory with Tod Bolsinger - Sept. 9
#toc7 MO State PAUMCS Conference - Sept 10-11
#toc8 New Places For New People Grants - Application Deadline Sept. 15
#toc9 NW Lay Servant Class: Pastoral Care Giving-Online
#toc10 Part-Time Ministerial Leaders Education Program
#toc11 Manchester's "Walk Justly" Conference - Oct. 22-24

GR Lay Servant Ministry Class: Lay Servant Ministries Basic Course
Registration Closes August 7
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.
[link removed] Learn More →

Charge Conference Forms Available For Download
All of the charge conference forms, including the Pastoral Support Forms, are now available for download on the [link removed] Forms page of the district website.

We are currently working on finalizing the schedule. More information on dates and deadlines will be sent out in the coming days.

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.
[link removed] Forms →

We Gather Together: How Small Groups Bring Connection to the Post-Pandemic Church - Aug. 10 & 12
After this past year, connecting with our faith communities is more important than ever. But – also because of this last year – our gathering together may look different than ever before.
As leaders prepare and plan for people returning to church, there are many questions, such as:
Who will return and who will stay home? How do we stay connected with everyone?

What digital communities do we want to keep and nurture? What resources will that require?

How do we grow relationships with the new people who found us online this past year?

What resources will both our congregants and our leaders need?

After this past year, what do people expect from churches?

Join us in this new webinar series as pastors, small-group leaders, and digital experts discuss how church leaders can help their congregations and communities continue to grow spiritually, whether online or in person.
[link removed] Learn More →

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.
[link removed] Learn More →

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.
[link removed] Register →

MO State PAUMCS Conference - Sept 10-11
Are you a United Methodist church administrator/secretary/volunteer or pastor? You are invited to the upcoming fall Conference of the Missouri Chapter of Professional Administrators of the United Methodist Connectional Structure (PAUMCS) September 10-11, 2021. We gather once a year to provide training and information, networking, worship, and fellowship.

The 2021 Fall Conference will start Friday, September 10 at 12:30 PM and end on Saturday, September 11 by 5:00 PM. The conference sessions will explore:
Basics of United Methodist Terminology and Structure

Techniques for working with different personalities and difficult people

Tools for balancing the demands of ministry, work and life with a steady hand

Opportunities to network and collaborate with other admins

The tentative location will be in Columbia, MO but in-person versus virtual is to be determined. The schedule, location and registration will be announced in mid-August.
[link removed] Learn More →

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.
[link removed] Learn More →

NW Lay Servant Class: Pastoral Care Giving-Online
Summary of Class:
This course offers insights into the life span and the dynamics of contemporary life to help church leaders reach out with God’s love and care to others.

Description:
This class will be hosted by the Northwest District office and offered virtually via Zoom. Please ensure you can attend each class, held Wednesdays in the month of September (1, 8, 15, 22) from 6:30 – 8:30 PM.

Participants will need the book “Lay Pastoral Care Giving” by Tim Farabaugh. It is available through [link removed] Cokesbury, and [link removed] Amazon. Participants are responsible for purchasing the book before class. Along with reading your book prior to the class, please be prepared for coursework to be assigned.

There are no prerequisites required to take this course. It counts as an advanced lay servant ministry class upon completion. Attendance at each class is required to receive completion status.

We can host up to 20 participants, and registration will close by end of day Monday, August 23, 2021.

Plan to have your book, a notebook, a pen and your bible with you at each class. You will receive the class Zoom link one week prior to the start of class.
[link removed] Register →

Part-Time Ministerial Leaders Education Program
Part-Time Ministerial Leaders, or PML, is an educational multi-tool that is designed to be both a program (like a degree) and individual courses (freestanding course opportunities). Its dual purpose fulfills four educational needs in our Conference.
Who is PML for?
Any lay person who wants to learn more about the Methodist tradition

PML is the designated educational program for those pursuing Certified Lay Minister

It’s the Missouri Course of Study program available to local pastors who have recently completed licensing school

PML serves as an extension school for regular Course of Study. It’s available to part-time local pastors needing to fulfill a regular COS course.

How do I get started?
For those seeking to be Certified Lay Ministers and local pastors who have recently completed licensing school, PML begins with the PML Introduction, a digital course offered on Canvas.
[link removed] Learn More →

Manchester's "Walk Justly" Conference - Oct. 22-24
Registration is now open!
Building on our rich Wesleyan heritage of social holiness, [link removed] Manchester UMC will host Methodists from across the connection in a two-day conference dedicated to the topic of “Just Missions.” The Walk Justly Conference is a NEW annual gathering of Methodist pastors, ministry leaders, and congregants who are dedicated to creating change in their local communities.
Conference Experience includes:
Conference and District led networking lunches

Workshops for pastors and laity

Daily Worship

Interactive Worship Arts and Prayer Opportunities

Keynote Panel on conditions of poverty that highlight similarities and differences between urban, suburban, and rural Poverty

Workshops include (but are not limited to):
Ministry Highlights (Rural, Urban, Suburban),

Introduction to Race and Poverty,

Preaching to a Diverse Context,

Faith and Social Engagement,

Starting a Social Justice Ministry,

Upgrading Your Little Food Pantry

[link removed] Learn More →

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Gateway Regional District of the Missouri Annual Conference | 301 Sovereign Court, Suite 100 Ballwin, Missouri, 63011-4435 | (636) 891-8004 ext. 21 | www.gatewayregional.moumethodist.org