2020 South District Tools for Ministry
 

2020 South District Tools for Ministry

Saturday, March 7, 2020

Eastern University/Palmer Seminary Campus

1300 Eagle Road, St. David, PA 19807

8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

 

Schedule:

8:30 a.m.                  Registration & Breakfast (Snacks available throughout the morning)

8:50 a.m.                  Welcome:

                                         District Superintendent Dawn Taylor-Storm

                                         District Lay Leaders Jennifer Lafferty & Bill Thompson

                                         Dr. David Bronkema, Dean, Palmer Theological Seminary

9:15: a.m.                   Travel to Session A Workshops

9:30 - 10:50 a.m.        Session A Workshops

10:50 - 11:10 a.m.      Break/Travel to Session B Workshops

11:10 - 12:30 p.m.      Session B Workshops

 

 

Session “A” Workshops

9:30 – 10:50 a.m.


 

#2 A. Sustainable Leadership                                                            

Dr. Keima Sheriff,  Ed-D Higher Education: Master of Social Service; BA Psychology and Political Science, Asst. Dean of Student Support Programs at Montgomery County Community College

Interactive discussion around understanding your personal leadership style and ways to develop a regenerative and restorative leadership practice.

 

#3 A. Reaching Children of All Abilities Through Sunday School and Other Programming

Stephanie Campitelli, Teacher and Connections Educational Consultant; Teaching Certifications in Special Education K-12, Math, Language Arts, Spanish (fluent), and ESL

This workshop will provide educational background with references to current public educational research-based practices and the concept of inclusion. Attendees' philosophy of education will be examined and its importance discussed. Biblical basis and rationale for the practice of inclusion will be given. Several educational strategies and interventions will be provided, with a range of less to more intensive examples offered. There will be time for a "workshop" and question and answer session during which attendees can receive specific feedback from small groups and the presenter on types of strategies and implementation that may be effective for specific situations within congregations.    

 

#4 A.  The Gospel of John: Knowledge and Vital Piety

Rhonda Burnette-Bletsch, Ph.D Duke University.; Prof. of Biblical Studies, Eastern University

Historical, academic approaches to the Bible provide a lot of information but often little material that is usable for spiritual formation and ministry. Likewise, spiritual approaches to reading Scripture can be overly subjective, not grounded in the original meaning of the text. This workshop will combine Lectio Divina with biblical scholarship to increase our appreciation of John’s Gospel.

 

#5 A.  Wealth & Want in Scripture: nderstanding how God’s Proactive Love Makes Possible Our Own

Rev. Dr. Deborah Watson, Affiliate Professor of N.T. and N.T. Greek, Chaplain, Palmer Theological Seminary of Eastern University

Scripture is peppered with references to wealth (i.e. money), want (poverty). Each one is followed by a description of God’s perspective on these things, and prescriptions to God’s people about how to live (think/plan/act) in light of what they (we) know of God. In this workshop, we will do the following: - consider the scriptural foundations for understanding what we have, and what we do (or don’t do) with it; gain a greater understanding of ourselves as givers and recipients; deepen our awareness of the Lord’s provision for his Body: the Church

 

#6 A.  Work of Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committee                     

Rev. Dr. Bronwyn Yocum, Retired Elder, Former District Superintendent

This workshop will cover the Disciplinary requirements of the Pastor Parish/Staff Parish Relations Committee and the workings of the committee during the year.  Highlights will include practical suggestions for the committee’s work, a timeline for the year, review of the process of pastoral evaluation including creating a covenant and Disciplinary expectations.  A good introduction for new members or review for chairpersons and long-time members.

 

#7 A.  ALICE – Introduction to ALICE Armed Intruder Training

Rev. Mark Beideman, Certified ALICE Trainer

The #1 Active Shooter Civilian Response Training for all Organizations.       

ALICE Training Institute has created a House of Worship training program to:

     •Maximize Survival of congregants, staff, volunteers and leadership

     •Provide Accountability by documenting completed training and preparation

     •Reduce Liability by implementing and training in alignment with state and federal standards of care for violent intruder events.

A variety of factors may have an impact on your religious institution’s safety. As the leadership, you must ask, “How would our institution react, survive and cope, if we came under attack from a violent intruder?”

 

#8 A.  Ready to Explore Change? The Jeremiah 29 Team Can Help

Rev. Mark Terry, Chair, South District Jeremiah 29 Team

Does your church feel stuck, or in decline?  Have you had trouble coming to a common vision for your church?  The Jeremiah 29 team is here to help.  At the workshop we will present our process for working with churches that helps them focus their energies on the ministry work that they believe God is calling them to.  We will also discuss how to assess whether your church is ready to change, and if not, what you can do to start cultivating the soil for change down the road.

 

#9 A.  Orientation to Ministry                                                                 

Rev. Monica Guepet, Co-Chair South District Committee on Ministry

Rev. Evelyn Kent Clark, Co-Chair South District Committee on Ministry

Might God be calling you?  This workshop is for anyone who is exploring ordained, licensed, or other forms of ministry in the United Methodist Church and fulfills a Book of Discipline requirement.  Join us for insights, information, and assistance as you discern where God is calling you. 

 

#10 A.  Effective & Efficient Church Meetings

John Lafferty, CSM, CLM

Everyone seems to complain that here we go again “another church meeting”. This workshop will show you all the basics of what a church meeting should look like. Meeting Basics will be covered. also, new forms of electronic meetings like teleconferencing, video type, etc. will be covered. If you are tired of attending the same old meeting style, this might just be the workshop to help your church committee recharged your team meetings into the new year.

 

#11 A.   Identifying Resources for Ministry – Part I

Lenora Thompson, President, The Thompson Group Consulting Services

This is a highly interactive workshop.  Participants will learn what to do and what not to do regarding proposal writing. In addition, participants will be able to identify resources within the United Methodist Church and the secular society. Please also register for Session B #10 for Part II.

 

 

Session “B” Workshops

11:10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

 

#1 B.  Intentional Discipleship

Rev. Amy Banka, Lead Pastor, Hopewell UMC

Amy Bartlett, Children’s Ministry Assistant, Hopewell UMC

Discipleship … there’s no quick fix. No “package” program. No ten-point list. It’s an intentional effort to share the good news of Jesus Christ in ways that inspire folks to commit their hearts and lives to Jesus Christ and to live with purpose and vision. One plus one plus one.

 

#2 B.  Adaptive Re Use of Church Property

Robert V Peters. B.Th., M.A, M.P.S. M.DIV works as Consultant

Join the conversation about how to intentionally and faithfully make disciples who make disciples. How can we re use our old unsustainable buildings and attached lands to build a new model of church where funds are freed up for mission and church renewal? Many older churches can no longer continue spending 80-90% of their funds to maintain older energy inefficient buildings and keep up the repairs required etc.…Hundreds of churches in the USA are being sold off or converted into new uses to allow for new wineskins to emerge and to support the renewal of the mission of Jesus! This session will explore in an interactive fashion what your options are in dealing with the reality of trying to maintain unsustainable properties with the goal of freeing up funds for ministries that meet local community needs and help grow your congregations again!

 

#3 B.  Financial Protocols for Local Churches/Narrative Budgets & Ways to Increase Generosity

Rev. Joanne Miles, Deacon of Social Justice Ministries – St Luke UMC, Bryn Mawr: AVP Finance Operation, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

Join this workshop where we will review good financial protocols, talk about how to build a budget and write a budget narrative, review tools and resources available to local church Finance Teams, explore building models to project for future financial sustainability, talk about why people give (mission) and ways to increase generosity and way to use technology in giving. 

 

 

#5 B.  Implicit Bias: What We Don’t Think We Think

Rev. Jacqueline Hines, MDIV Cross racial/cross cultural appointment in Chester County; member EPAUMC Cross-Racial/Cross-Cultural Training & Resource Team; co-Chair EPAUMC Domestic Violence Committee.

Rev. Susan Worrell, MS, CADC, LPC - member of EPAUMC’s Cross-Racial/Cross-Cultural Training & Resource Team; co-Chair Conference Commission on Religion and Race

As followers of Jesus, we are created and called by the God who consistently questions beliefs, values, and motives. By taking an intentional look at implicit bias and the ways it works in our brains and in our actions, we commit to rooting out the biases that are corrupted by sterotype or prejudice and separate us from the Beloved Community.

 

#7 B.  An Overview of General Conference Legislation & Process

Kristine Adams, Workshop Facilitator

Presenters: Kristine Adams, Johnson Dodla, Krystl Johnson, Ann Jacob, Lydia Munoz and Eddie Cameron, members of the Eastern PA Delegation Team

This workshop will cover some of the issues that will be brought up at General Conference especially resolutions regarding full inclusion of LGBTQ community. Key resolutions that are expected to be presented at GC will be reviewed. There will also be explanation of the different levels within The United Methodist Church.

 

#8 B.  New Evangelism Models: Lesson Learned from Methodist Missions with Native Americans  

The Rev. Dr. Suzanne Duchesne, PhD, EPA Com. Native American Ministries, Communications Chair NE Juris. Native American Ministries Com.; Adjunct Sem. Faculty/Preaching & Worship; Research: church renewal &  history Methodist Missions & Deaconesses with Indigenous People

The Rev. Gary Jacabella, MDiv, MA Holistic Spirituality, Trained Spiritual Director

This study will trace the history and models of Methodist missions with Indigenous Peoples up until the 21st century. Participants will learn about modern relational evangelism models that emerged from the United Methodist Church’s engagement with Native Peoples.  The relational model is relevant to ministry with other cultures today. This course will also provide knowledge that can help us move on in our journey toward healing and wholeness with our Native American brothers and sisters on the reservations, in urban areas, and in the communities around us. The workshop will also equip Native American Representatives in local churches to plan a Native American Ministries Sunday service or a program at some time during the year to focus on Native American gifts and contributions to the church and community.     

 

#9 B. Effective Communication Strategies in This Digital Age

Rev. John Bletsch, Pastor, St. Matthew’s UMC of Valley Forge; Chairperson EPA Conference Communications

This session will focus on ideas and guidelines for churches who want to use social media to communicate with their existing members and reach new people with the message of the Gospel. The session will also explore ideas on how to create a sense of community using social media.

 

#10 B.  Identifying Resources for Ministry – Part II

Lenora Thompson, President, The Thompson Group Consulting Services

This is a highly interactive workshop.  Participants will learn what to do and what not to do regarding proposal writing. In addition, participants will be able to identify resources within the United Methodist Church and the secular society.

 

#11 B. Sexual Misconduct in the Church

Rev. Allen Keller, Eastern Pa Conference I-Care Team Member

When the Worst Happens, What Do We Do?  It does happen. We hear the news stories. Maybe it has happened to you or someone you know. Come learn what to do and how, we in the EPAUMC, are prepared to respond.