Missions, Missionaries, Mission-ful, Missional:
Intercultural Engagement Team – A New Chapter in FMCiC
I am excited to tell you about some developments in the Intercultural Engagement Team. I am hoping that by now you have read the “FMCiC 3 Year Ministry Plan” which explains in detail the mandate and goals of this team. At the Regional Gatherings we will discuss it further so please plan to join us if you are a pastor, leader and or anyone interested in FMCiC. In this edition of Cliff’s Notes I will:
- introduce you to our new IET leader,
- tell you about one of our pastors who is up to something inspiring, and
- mention where I was this past Sunday.
1. Meet Rev. Adam Kline, pastor at our Marmora FM (part-time) and our new IET Leader.
Cliff: So, who is Adam Kline?
Adam: Well, I am a beloved child of God who is a husband, father, and pastor. I was born and raised in Ottawa and have spent the last thirty-five and a half years discovering what it means to be a faithful follower of Jesus. Along the way I have fostered passions and interests in music and storytelling, more specifically cinematic storytelling; and I am so grateful that I now get to share these interests with my kids: Ali (12), Evelyn (10), and Liam (9), and that my wife (Cait) appreciates and even at times, puts up, with these passions that occasionally turn into obsessions. Both my wife and I did our undergraduate degrees at Houghton College, in Western New York, and I completed my Master of Divinity at Wesley Seminary at IWU five years ago. We live just north of Belleville, Ontario and I currently pastor the Marmora Free Methodist Church part-time. For the entirety of my life and pastoral career, my Christian tribe has been the Wesleyan Church of Canada, but for the last ten years I have had one foot in the Wesleyan denomination and one foot here in the Free Methodist movement, and now I am ready and excited to plant both feet firmly on this side of the fence.
Cliff: So Adam, why did you want to become our Intercultural Engagement Team Leader?
Adam: Well, I am a student of culture, and like every Christian, I am commissioned to be a missionary here at home and wherever I go around the world; but part of accepting our call as missionaries is understanding that we are the foreigners, not others. When we walk with Jesus, we walk with the incarnate Word, he who for the sake of love, took on flesh and language and culture and custom, in order to reveal the story of salvation. And now he has sent us, with the anointing of the Holy Spirit, to do the same over and over again, with every generation, throughout every age and from within every culture or custom. And so when I read about the opportunity to be the IETL, and I prayerfully considered the role and responsibilities, I got excited! I got excited by the idea of encouraging and equipping local churches across Canada to discover the language and actions necessary to communicate the power of Christ’s love to their neighbours. Whether their neighbours be immigrants or refugees from another nation, or First Nations, our aboriginal and indigenous brothers and sisters. Whether their mission be to our francophone neighbours, the nones and dones across this country, or partnering with relief and development efforts overseas. Whatever unique expression each and every local church discovers, stepping into this role is an exciting opportunity to listen and to learn. To resource and equip FMCiC pastors and congregations to fulfill the great commission and become the discerning and engaged missionaries we are all called to be.
Cliff: That’s great Adam! So how can our pastors and churches get connected with what you’re doing?
Adam: Well I’m just four days into the job, so there’s lots more to come, and there’s lots for me to learn, but two things come to mind. First, I will be attending a couple of upcoming events: Many Voices – One Heart (a free conference about relationship with our First Nations) hosted by Westdale Park Free Methodist, February 22-23. As well as the (Re)Imagine Mission Conference in Toronto on February 26 hosted by TearFund Canada (other dates in Hamilton, Edmonton and Calgary). At either of these events I would love to connect with people and hear what their congregations are interested or already involved in. Secondly, at Regional Gatherings over the next several months, the work of the IET will be introduced a little more and I will be looking to collect stories of what FMCiC congregations are already doing when it comes to intercultural engagement.
- Thank you Pastor Dyan for this…
This story inspires me… Our pastor in Prince Albert is learning Cree. I asked Pastor Dyan why she has taken this on – I mean, she is also a wife, a mom, and she is bi-vocational – she doesn’t have a lot of extra time! Here is her answer: Initially I started studying Plains Cree (“Y-dialect”) in response to the demographic realities of Prince Albert, where I pastor. Over 40% of Prince Albert identify as Aboriginal (2017), where the majority identify as First Nations. Although other languages are represented, Plains Cree is the most common. At this point, our church does not have any regular Cree speaking members or attendees (yet). After starting these cultural and language classes, and after beginning to educate myself in some of the relevant issues in our nation, I realize that I have some personal reasons for taking this class as well. I am convinced that only through educating myself and learning to respect the language and culture of our Aboriginal population, can I begin to break my own racist tendencies (that I didn’t even realize I had), and begin to take responsibility for my role in the brokenness that exists in our country, and in Prince Albert. I am just at the beginning of this journey. I think that her response is profound. This is the stuff of growing in Christ, being missionful, pastoral, tuned into her community, honest and brave – it is the stuff of leadership. It is certainly a part of what it means to accept responsibility for her community. Thank you Dyan.
- Finally, this past weekend Karlene and I worshiped with Crosswalk Community Church, our FM church in Burlington, a very welcoming and warm congregation. Their story is a very good one, much like the one that I told you about last week, The Corner Church. Ten years ago two congregations merged: a congregational one and an FM forming Crosswalk Community. The least confusing thing that we can do for our non-Christian friends is to love one another, merge, partner, collaborate, ally, unite, become one body…
ANNUAL REPORTS
Attention: Pastors and Delegates!
It’s that time of year—the Annual Report for 2018 for your church is due on February 20, 2019. You will find the Annual Report on the home page of our website at fmcic.ca.
Annual Report in English: https://fs1.formsite.com/reports/form141/index.html?1406294972546
Annual Report in French: https://fs1.formsite.com/reports/form144/index.html?1420832672433
This year we have included a guide (pdf) to help you understand and complete the Annual Report. We trust that we will be helpful to you in completing the form. Attached you will find a template (in pdf) to help you gather information from your treasurer (and others) and to note your Network Leader Evaluation numbers before you start to file the report online.
We do appreciate your filing online if possible, but you can fax or mail your report to the Ministry Centre as well – [email protected] / 905-848-2603
Please note:
Network Leader Evaluation – each person who attends Network meetings should file.
The Lead Pastor’s evaluation of the Network Leader will be included with the Annual Report; all others can file through this link: Network Leader Evaluation
Please keep in mind that we ask for the same statistics every year for the Annual Report, so a system should be in place to gather this information. Every church and church plant must file a report.
FMCIC Annual Report Guide
Annual Report 2018
Annual Report 2018 – FR
2019 REGIONAL GATHERINGS 2019 Regional Gathering Locations and Dates – PDF
Regional Gatherings are all about connecting! Our intention is to see Free Methodist leader and lay people meeting together as a movement for both an “informative” and “formative” gathering. We hope to see you there! https://fmcic.ca/regional-gathering-2019/
MEDIA CONNECTIONS
Church Health Thursdays – A Healthy Word for the new Year: https://fmcic.ca/a-healthy-word-for-the-year/
News & Stories Blog – Many Voices, One Heart: https://fmcic.ca/many-voices-one-heart/
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 Network: Dave Overholt – Keeping Young Adults: https://www.newleafnetwork.ca/podcast/ep-62-dave-overholt-keeping-young-adults/
Faith and Finances Website: http://faithandfinances.ca
(Re)Imagine Mission is Tearfund Canada’s one-day conference on Integral Mission. Hosted in 4 cities on 4 different days, (Re)Imagine Mission gives pastors and ministry leaders from all across Canada the opportunity to reimagine the face of traditional missions -especially as it relates to our call to serve the poor. As many churches and pastors are already engaged in conversations about the future of local and international missions, (Re)Imagine Mission provides you with an opportunity to hear from knowledgeable speakers and participate in breakout sessions to share your ideas with others. Here is the link to the event: https://tearfund.ca/reimagine-mission/
ANNOUNCEMENTS
None
Ordination and Commissioning Services Schedule
Louis Innocent – ordination service on March 17, 2019 at 2 pm, Eglise Methodiste Libre La Foi Des Elus, Repentigny, QC
INTERNSHIPS
The deadline to apply for a 2019 FMCiC-sponsored internship is FEBRUARY 28, 2019. Here is the link for more information and the online application form: https://fmcic.ca/intern-prog/
FOUNDATIONAL COURSES https://fmcic.ca/foundational-courses/
Register online through the link above.
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:
*NEW* May 31-June 2, 2019 – Ontario-location TBA
* November 1-3, 2019 – western Canada-location TBA*
Wesleyan Theology:
*NEW* May 31-June 2, 2019 – western Canada-location TBA
* November 1-3, 2019 – Ontario-location TBA*
(also available online through FMC-USA: 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 (FRENCH) – start date – TBA
6-week online course (ENGLISH) – start date – TBA
(*locations are selected based on where the majority of the participants reside – so please register early!)
2019 SCHOLARSHIPS https://fmcic.ca/scholarships/
October 15 is the deadline to apply for the Leadership Scholarship Plan (LSP) for any courses taken during either the summer and/or the fall semesters of 2019. The 2019 application forms and instructions are now available to download from the link above.
October 15 is the deadline to apply for the annual Special Scholarships for courses taken during 2019 – apply online from the link above
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 attended the fall Minister’s Conferences, add 6 hours of CEU credit when you send in your annual CEU report.
CHURCHES IN TRANSITION Interviewing
Caistor Centre FMC, Caistor Centre, ON
Madoc Wesleyan/FMC, Madoc, ON
Church Profiles available Contact Susan DePlanché in the Leadership Development Office to request a church profile – [email protected] or 289-228-1225 (deadline to apply in brackets)
None
Preparing Profiles
(If you are interested in reviewing 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)
Hampton FMC, Saskatoon, SK
New Horizons Community Church – Sarnia, ON (Kim Henderson-Interim Pastor)
Richmond Hill Chinese & English FM Churches, Richmond Hill, ON (Abbs So and Shadow Lau-Interim Co-Pastors)
Smiths Falls FMC, Smiths Falls, ON
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Youth Pastor – Malvern Methodist Church
