What was Spring Gathering About?
On Saturday April 17 all delegates and ministers of the Free Methodist Church in Canada Conference met for a national virtual Spring Gathering. We will be sending out the link this week to you, of the recording. The goal was communication, and we all felt that the information being shared deserved better than just a written report – it needed face time. By “face time” I do not mean the Apple platform; rather, I mean the opportunity for leaders and delegates to see the faces of the very many other leaders in Canada who are involved in the 3 task forces, as well as the faces of the Board of Administration which received these reports and prayerfully discerned steps forward. These are your brothers and sisters who care deeply for us. Therefore, I begin with a thank you for every task force member and contributor to these reports! Thank you, Dale, Jan, Keitha and Darrin for your leadership. As Jared eloquently reminded us, “this is what we do” as Free Methodist as people of love, people of Catholic spirit, as believers in community, people who value as Jesus does, the marginalized and vulnerable, and as a holy people.
You may be wondering why there was not opportunity to ask questions and have discussion. That’s step two, the April 17 event was step one! At the event, the contact information for each task force was presented:
- The FMCiC & LGBT+ Community Task Force (fmcic.ca/task-forces/lgbtq2s/)
Many of you have already had a voice in the development of the reports, through surveys and interviews. At the event on Saturday we heard the plan by the “FMCiC & the LGBT+ Community Task Force” is to offer more discussion, and learning forums. The spirit with which we will approach these conversations was outlined in a previous Cliff’s Notes: fmcic.ca/cliffsnotes-february-16-2021
- Action steps for you: It’s very important that you re-read the Cliff’s Notes exhortation, and PRAY for this task force.
- Engaging Women in Leadership Task Force (fmcic.ca/task-forces/women-in-leadership/): The BOA, MEGAP, Nominating Committee are national standing committees that have already begun to embrace the spirit of the report and recommendations of the “Engaging Women in Leadership Task Force”. We have committed to continue to not allow this report to become an archived position paper or report that is not compelling us to live fully into our FMCiC ethos.
Action steps: read the full report and PRAY.
- Racial Justice & Ethnic Equity Task Force (or “RJEE”) ( https://fmcic.ca/task-forces/racial-justice-and-ethnic-equity/ ): The RJEE has only met a few times, they presented a preliminary report. They have already begun their research, and data collection. This is a Godly, high-quality team and I personally look forward to their findings and recommendation.
Action steps: read their update and PRAY for this task force.
I look forward to us being together June 5 & 6 for General Conference. Soon members of General Conference will be receiving important information about the many workshops that we will have access to pre and post General Conference (key word: “Whova”).
WHAT’S NEW THIS WEEK
Though I Walk, a Novel by Dale Harris: https://fmcic.ca/
What’s Got You Thinking Episode 4 Adrian Collins: https://vimeo.com/
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN
Tuesdays: Cliff’s Notes
2nd Tuesday of each month: What’s Got You Thinking?
3rd Wednesday of each month: Get the Scoop with Lisa and Alison
4th Thursday of each month: Church Health Thursday
Message from Bishop Cliff: https://vimeo.com/
Coffee with Jared: https://vimeo.com/
Mystery Beverage with Marc: https://vimeo.com/
ANNOUNCEMENTS
None this week.
ORDINATION SERVICES
Wilder Boutin – date and time TBA – Centre Biblique Louange a L’Eternel, Montreal, QC
Leonard Bruce – date, time and location TBA
Jessica Isaak – date and time TBA – Hampton FMC, Saskatoon, SK
Blake Found – date and time TBA – Uxbridge FMC, Uxbridge, ON
Erika Mills – July 25, 2021, time TBA – Blue Mountain Community Church, Thornbury, ON
Benjamin Platz – Date and Time TBA – Next Church, Kingston, ON
Douglas Smith – August 1, 2021 at 1:00 pm, Fellowship of Joy, St. Williams, ON
COMMISSIONING SERVICES
Alyson Lauber – Date and time TBA – Lakeview FMC, Saskatoon, SK
Nathaniel Prakash – Date and time TBA – Surrey FMC, Surrey, BC
FOUNDATIONAL COURSES https://fmcic.ca/foundational-courses/
Register online through the link above (Tuition payment is not required when registering for a course. Payment is due 10 days before the course begins.)
Lay Ministers tracking for credentialed ministry and those transferring ordination credentials into the FMCIC need to take the following two courses for full credit – and if possible, the Heart course first and then Wesleyan Theology.
Heart of Canadian Free Methodism:
Nov 5-7, 2021 – location TBA*
Wesleyan Theology:
Nov 5-7, 2021 – location TBA*
Also available:
- May 7 to June 25 – hybrid online/livestream course – “John Wesley’s Theology” [THEO 0629H] at Tyndale University with instructor Rev. Dr. James Pedlar: https://www.tyndale.ca/seminary/summer/courses/theo-0629h
- through FMC-USA as a 7-week intensive online course with several start dates: http://fmcusa.org/leadership/courses/
Ministerial Candidates tracking for Commissioned or Ordained Minister are required to take the following two courses for full credit. Those who are already commissioned or ordained are required to either audit these two courses for 1 Continuing Education Unit (CEU) each or take the two courses and complete the assignments for 3 CEUs each.
Culture and the Missional Church:
Date and location TBA*
Personal and Church Stewardship:
5-week online course – Start Date TBA
(* These course locations are selected based on where the majority of the participants reside – so please register early! )
SCHOLARSHIPS
2021 APPLICATIONS https://fmcic.ca/scholarships/
LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP PLAN (LSP):
October 15 is the deadline to apply for LSP for any courses taken during the summer/or fall semesters of 2021. The 2021 application forms and instructions are now available to download from the link above. Please use the application forms marked “rev 2021.”
SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIPS:
October 15 is the deadline to apply for the annual Special Scholarships for courses taken during the 2021 calendar year – apply online anytime from the link above. Special Scholarships are awarded in late November/early December each year.
CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS (CEUs) https://fmcic.ca/introduction-to-continuing-education/
Ordained and Commissioned Ministers (except retirees) are to annually report Continuing Education Units (CEUs) acquired during each year. Check the link above for information on CEUs, the report form and a list of examples of many different types of life-long learning that can be applied as CEUs.
Note: For those who attend the fall Minister’s Conferences or the spring Regional Gatherings, add 6 hours of CEU credit for each event when you send in your annual CEU report.
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CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
Interviewing
Cedar Street Community Church, Simcoe, ON
Dunnville FMC, Dunnville, ON [Interim Pastor-Neale Robb]
New Hope FMC, Bracebridge, ON
Church Profiles available
Contact Davika Dotson in the Leadership Development Office to request a church profile – [email protected] or 416-240-7845 (deadline to apply in brackets)
None available at this time
Preparing Profiles
(If you are interested in seeing the profile for any of these churches, please contact Davika in the Leadership Development Office [see above] and the profile will be emailed to you as soon as it becomes available.)
Campbellford FMC, Campbellford, ON (Rev. Jurgen Rausch-Transition Pastor)
Cornerstone FMC, Prince Albert, SK
Harrowsmith FMC, Harrowsmith, ON
First FM Church, New Westminster, BC
Frankford Community Church, Frankford, ON
Lakeland Community Church, Spiritwood, SK
New Horizons Community Church, Sarnia, ON (Rev. Mary Lee DeWitt-Transition Pastor)
Pineview FMC, Cloyne, ON
Richmond Hill Chinese & English FM Churches, Richmond Hill, ON (Rev. Louis Leung – Interim Pastor)
Trinity Christian Centre, Dresden, ON (Rev. Alan Adams – Interim Pastor)
Warkworth FMC, Warkworth, ON
Whitby FMC, Whitby, ON (Rev. Vic Stonehouse-Transition Pastor)
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Youth and Young Adult Ministries Associate Pastor – Barrie FM Church
Camp Director – Harbour Ridge Camp
