CliffsNotes – February 13, 2018

Hopefully as you read this I will already be in Sri Lanka, not needing a toque! The primary purpose of this visit to Sri Lanka is Shalom. A court case was launched December 2016 by a few pastors against the FM Sri Lanka, our bank in Sri Lanka and a couple of our FMCiC leaders. These disgruntled Sri Lankan pastors agreed to meet, and as a result of some good Zoom meetings, PTL they have withdrawn the court case. These pastors and the Sri Lankan Board of Administration will meet with a lawyer and myself this week. Paula Moriarity (International Child Care Ministries Director), Marty Misener (Pastor of Queensway FM in Niagara Falls) will spend the next few days meeting with every Sri Lankan Free Methodist pastor who chooses to. The purpose is to ask about unity, challenges, and morale. We will collect this data and share it with the Sri Lankan BOA. We are also planning a Worship & Communion service this Friday for all our pastors in Sri Lanka. Please pray for open hearts and unity.

Also, if you have not already done so, please complete and submit your Annual Report for 2017. The deadline is February 20, 2018

Right before I left last week I was sent the note you are about to read. It is a significant piece of legislation that you should be aware of…

Dear Denominational Leader,

The EFC is deeply concerned about the assisted suicide and euthanasia policies and practices being implemented across the country. Earlier this month an Ontario court ruled that physicians and medical practitioners do not have freedom of conscience or religion to refuse to participate in assisting people to end their lives. We believe the freedom of conscience and religion needs to be defended and upheld.

In this effort The EFC is partnering with the Coalition for HealthCARE and Conscience in the 2018 Ontario Call for Conscience Campaign to take place February 1 through March 25, 2018. The EFC is a founding member of the Coalition.

I am writing today to urge you to participate with us in this conscience campaign.

Today in Ontario:

  • Physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other caregivers are compelled to participate in euthanasia against their moral convictions, by providing an effective referral for their patients.
  • Euthanasia advocacy groups are threatening court action against faith-based hospitals, nursing homes and hospices unless they allow euthanasia on their premises.
  • Only a third of the population has access to adequate palliative care, which leaves many without real choice on end of life issues.

Please take the time to review a short, three-minute video that introduces you to physicians and nurses who are being forced to choose between their conscience and their careers.
How you can help:

  1. Pray.
    Ask your church members to pray for this campaign. We need the Lord to intervene so that doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health care workers will be able to continue caring for patients, without being compelled to act against their deeply held beliefs. Pray for our province and our country to uphold freedom of conscience and religion.
  2. Write.
    Encourage your congregation to write to your MPP and to the candidates for the 2018 Ontario election. You can write to your MPP now using the web site http://www.canadiansforconscience.ca/Ontario. While the EFC has already expressed our concerns to the government, it is helpful and compelling when Christians at the grass roots level demonstrate their deep concern about this issue, as well.
  3. Engage your community.
    The Coalition has developed free resources to equip your community to participate, including announcements, bulletin inserts and more. The resources are available here. If you have any questions, please contact Kelly Cameron, the Campaign Support Worker for the 2018 Ontario Call for Conscience Campaign at [email protected], (647) 228-5411.

In coming weeks, Kelly will be reaching out to churches to answer any questions and see how she may be able to support your efforts.

It is our privilege and calling to seek the good of our land as faithful Christians and good citizens. Please prayerfully consider engaging in this deeply concerning issue. And thank you in advance for your participation, in whatever way you may be able.

Sincerely,

Bruce J. Clemenger
President


ANNUAL REPORT 2017
Please submit your Annual Report and Network Leader Evaluation on or before February 20, 2018.
English:http://www.formsite.com/reports/form141/index.html?1406294972546
French:http://www.formsite.com/reports/form144/index.html?1420832672433


2018 Regional Gathering

LOCATIONS & DATES

  • SOUTH/SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO & WEST GTA @ The Reformation Evangelical Lutheran Church, 456 Krug St, Kitchener, ON [Kitchener] March 3, 2018
  • QUEBEC @ Rosemont FMC, 3553 rue Jean-Talon Est, Montreal [Montreal] March 17, 2018
  • EASTERN & CENTRAL ONTARIO-EAST @ Wesley Acres, 1391 Wesley Acres Road Bloomfield, ON [Bloomfield]– March 24, 2018
  • NORTHERN ONTARIO @ St. Joseph Island FMC, 1589 Hilton Road, Hilton Beach ON [St. Joseph’s Island]  April 7, 2018
  • CENTRAL ONTARIO – NORTH & EAST GTA @Wesley Chapel, 2385 Warden Ave, Scarborough, ON [Toronto] – April 14, 2018
  • NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO @ Dryden FMC, 261 Van Horne Avenue, Dryden, ON [Dryden] April 28, 2018
  • BRITISH COLUMBIA @ New Heights Community [Mission] May 12, 2018
  • ALBERTA @Westpark Church of the Nazarene, 3920 57th Ave. Red Deer, AB [Red Deer]  May 26, 2018
  • SASKATCHEWAN @ Arlington Beach Camp [Cymric] June 2, 2018
  • MANITOBA @ Victoria Inn Hotel & Convention Centre, 3550 Victoria Ave, Brandon, MB [Brandon]  – June 23, 2018

Please see the website for more details – https://fmcic.ca/regional-gatherings-2018/


MEDIA CONNECTIONS

Church Health Thursdays – 10 Disciple Making Trends to Watch in 2018 :https://fmcic.ca/10-disciple-making-trends-to-watch-in-2018/ New
News & Stories Blog – A Church with Mission in mind – Interview with Greg Elford :https://fmcic.ca/a-church-with-mission-in-mind-interview-with-greg-elford/
the conneXion
– a Free Methodist theology blog: 3 Minute Theology 2.5: Knowing the Bible Inside Out: https://fmcic.ca/3-minute-theology-2-5-knowing-the-bible-inside-out/
New Leaf Podcast: Anna Spray -Table Church: https://www.newleafnetwork.ca/podcast/ep-51-anna-spray-table-church/ New
Faith and Finances Website: http://faithandfinances.ca
Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/FMCIC


Do you know someone who would like to receive CliffsNotes? They can now sign up through the website at:https://fmcic.ca/cliffsnotes-signup/


ANNOUNCEMENTS

The following  have been appointed as Network Leaders:

Rev. Kevin Kay replaces Rev. Seth Freeman (now a regional coach) – MB-SK Small Church Network
Pastor Marty Misener replaces Pastor Liisa Farrugia – SW ON Larger Church Network
Rev. Sabrina D’Rozario-Jordan replaces Rev. Darrin Lindsay – Toronto Intercultural Church Network (ICN) West
Rev. Grant Wolfe replaces Rev. Jared Siebert – Maturing Church Network (MCN) ON East
Pastor Pierre Zidor replaces Rev. Edrice Clermy (now a church planting coach) – Quebec Network
Pastor Louis Innocent replaces Rev. Philippe Reichenbach (now a regional coach) – Quebec Network

The following have been appointed as Network Mentors:
Pastor Liisa Farrugia replaces Rev. Grant Wolfe as the Mentor of the three south-western Ontario networks
Rev. Darrin Lindsay replaces Rev. Jared Siebert as the Mentor for the two ICNs, the MCN and the Church Startup Network (CSN)  in Ontario

Ordination and Commissioning Services Schedule
None


SCHOLARSHIPS

The next deadline is THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2018 to apply for the Leadership Scholarship Plan (LSP) for courses taken the winter semester of 2018.  :https://fmcic.ca/scholarships/

FOUNDATIONAL COURSES

Heart of Canadian Free Methodism:
June 1-3, 2018 at Hampton FM Church, Saskatoon, SK

Wesleyan Theology:
June 1-3, 2018 in Ontario (location TBA*)
(also available online through FMC-USA: http://fmcusa.org/leadership/courses/)

Personal and Church Stewardship
6-week online course – start date TBA
8-week online course (FRENCH) – begins April 9, 2018

Culture and the Missional Church:
Next course date and location TBA*

(*these locations will be selected based on where the majority of the participants reside – so please register early!)

Registration is online for all courses at this link: https://fmcic.ca/foundational-courses/. Those tracking for credentialed ministry should take the Heart course first and then Wesleyan Theology if possible.


CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
Interviewing
Sault Ste Marie FMC, Sault Ste Marie, ON


Church Profiles available
Contact Susan DePlanché  in the  Leadership Development Office to request a church profile – [email protected] or 289-228-1225.

Melfort FMC, Melfort, SK (deadline February 20)

Preparing Profiles

(If you are interested in seeing the profile for any of these churches, please contact Susan in the Leadership Development Office [[email protected] or 289-228-1225] and the profile will be emailed to you as soon as it becomes available.)

Athens FMC, Athens, ON (Angel Valentin-Transition Pastor)
Asbury FMC, Perth, ON (Hanford Branscombe-Interim Pastor)
Caistor Centre FMC, Caistor Centre, ON
Centennial Chapel FMC, Kamloops, BC (Vern Frudd-retiring May 31, 2018)
Dunnville FMC, Dunnville, ON (Tom Gurnick – Interim Pastor)
Grapeview FMC, St. Catharines, ON (Dan Sheffield – Transition Pastor)
Madoc Free Methodist/ Wesleyan Church
Marmora FMC, Marmora, ON (Adam Kline- Interim Pastor)
Odessa FMC, Odessa, ON
Richmond Hill FMC (English & Chinese), Richmond Hill, ON
Tabernacle de la Grace, Montreal QC
Thunder Bay FMC, Thunder Bay, ON (Andre Korstanje retiring July 2018)
Warkworth FMC, Warkworth, ON
West Springs FMC, Calgary, AB
Weyburn FMC, Weyburn, SK


Functioning with approved local arrangements
Avonlea FMC, Avonlea SK
Campbell’s Bay FMC, Campbell’s Bay, QC (Orville White)
Church On The Hill, Orillia ON (Charles Tanner)
Cordova Mines FM Fellowship, Cordova Mines, ON
Dryden FMC, Dryden, ON
Eglise Chrétienne Méthodiste Libre de Le Gardeur, QC (Duplan Auguste Lython)
Enterprise FMC, Enterprise, ON
Harrowsmith FMC, Harrowsmith, ON (Robert Boutilier)
Killarney FMC, Killarney, MB (Raymond Riglin)
Markham FMC, ON (K.K. Leung)
Roblin FMC, Roblin, MB (Heath Butler)
Surrey FMC, Surrey BC (Nathaniel Prakash)
theStory, Sarnia, ON (Joshua Walters)
Timmins FMC, Timmins, ON (Lewis Byer)
Wesley Chapel Japanese FM Church, Toronto, ON (Misa Mochinaga)
Yarker FMC, Yarker, ON (Ken Babcock)


PASTORS IN TRANSITION
Glen Coates
David Greene
Kim Henderson
Jason Johnson
Fred Merritt
Jay Mowchenko
Derek Spink
Chad Vankoughnett
Grant Wolfe
Mary-Elsie Wolfe
Wesley Wood


EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Associate Pastor of Next Generations  – Trulls Road FM Church
Director of Youth Ministry  – Trulls Road FM Church
Youth Pastor – Malvern Methodist Church
Associate Pastor – Barrie FM Church