just spent two days with the FMCIC Study Commission on Doctrine (SCOD). These are the people in our denomination who casually use words like “nihil obstat” about a particular book, or “irenic” about discussion (I had to look these up too!). They think deeply and listen attentively to each other. They sometimes disagreed but you would hardly call the discussion a “disagreement”. We prayed together. When it came time to write recommendations for the Manual or for a particular theological position, we chose our words carefully and prayerfully so that no one would be unnecessarily offended. We always were very concerned with those who are not yet believers – aware that some would be reading these statements, so we wondered how they would be hearing them. We dealt with celibacy and singleness, LGBTQ issues, transgender washrooms, hell, women in ministry, polyamory, etc. We are submitting recommendations to the Board of Administration and if they are received then they will be coming to you. I am grateful for these Godly and thoughtful men and women on SCOD.
ACTION STEP: Take some time today and become aware of all the helpful resources (position papers, liturgies, reading lists, etc.) that are available to you at https://fmcic.ca/topics-worth-thinking-about/ in the “Study Commission on Doctrine” section.
n Sunday Karlene and I enjoyed very much the opportunity to worship at Polson Park FM in Kingston, Ontario for their 56th Anniversary (which meant that there was food at the end to celebrate!). It was a worshipful experience, thank you Polson Park! Attached is a painting that was displayed on the platform. During service a few weeks back the artist painted off to the side. It was a picture of two people sharing a coffee on a cold day on a street – an artful challenge to simply find ways to be with others, in order to tell them our Jesus-story.
just finished meeting with representatives from ShareWord / the Gideons. These men are very excited and motivated about helping the church with EVANGELISM (the Gideons are not just about Bibles in hotels). In fact they offer training to churches about how to share our faith, they offer tools (Bibles, magazines, study guides) they even will help organize trips to “do the work of an evangelist”. To our churches interested in helping in Sri Lanka and India, they are eager to equip us, train, offer resource people and even set up mission trips! They have an ongoing relationship with indigenous peoples and they want to partner with us. Pastors and leaders I believe they are an excellent resource www.shareworldglobal.com
ne of the most important elements of my role as Bishop is to help our local churches step more fully into our calling to be “witnesses”. Evangelism should never be relegated to a committee in your church, but should be how every person and ministry lives! We need to be a culture of evangelism…
ACTION STEP: Leaders, what does a culture of evangelism look like? How do start? What will you do about it this week?
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SAVE THE DATE – 2018 REGIONAL GATHERINGS
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PHOTO GALLERY
SCOD Meeting
Polson Park FM Church
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
MEDIA CONNECTIONS
Church Health Thursdays -8 Good Questions to Evaluate Your Church: https://fmcic.ca/8-good-questions-to-evaluate-your-church/New
News & Stories Blog – Getting ‘Un-invisible’: Cornerstone FM in Prince Albert, SK: https://fmcic.ca/getting-un-invisible-cornerstone-fm-in-prince-albert-sk/New
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: Learning Party Talks – Greg Paul: https://www.newleafnetwork.ca/podcast/ep-49-learning-party-talks-greg-paul/
Faith and Finances Website: http://faithandfinances.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FMCIC
LifePlan Study Team Files
Do you know someone who would like to receive CliffsNotes? They can now sign up through the website at:https://fmcic.ca/cliffsnotes-signup/
SCHOLARSHIPS
The next deadline is February 15, 2018 to apply for the Leadership Scholarship Plan (LSP) for the winter semesters of 2018. More information is available at this link:https://fmcic.ca/scholarships/
FOUNDATIONAL COURSES
Heart of Canadian Free Methodism:
Nov 3-5, 2017 at Trulls Road FMC, Courtice, ON
Wesleyan Theology:
Nov 3-5, 2017 at Lakeview FM Church, Saskatoon, SK
(also available online through FMC-USA: http://fmcusa.org/leadership/courses/)
Personal and Church Stewardship
6-week online course – January 29, 2018
Culture and the Missional Church:
Next course date and location TBA
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.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Rev. Michael Morris has been approved to transfer his ordination credentials into the FMCiC and is now a full member of conference. He is the Lead Pastor at Malvern Methodist Church, Scarborough, ON
- Rev. Elizabeth Stewart has been approved to transfer her ordination credentials into the FMCiC and is now a full member of conference. She has also been appointed as Associate Pastor at North Grenville Community Church, Kemptville, ON
- Pastor Laurie Lemke has been approved for Commissioned Minister. Her appointment has also been changed from Associate to Lead Pastor at Vennachar Free Methodist Church, Vennachar, ON.
Ordination and Commissioning
- Laurie Lemke – Vennachar Free Methodist Church, Vennachar, Ontario – commissioning service date and time – TBA
CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
Interviewing
Dryden FMC, Dryden, ON
Harrowsmith FMC, Harrowsmith, ON
Rustle FMC, Kingston, ON
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.
None
Preparing Profiles
(If you are interested in seeing the profile for any of these churches, please contact Susan at 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
Caistor Centre FMC, Caistor Centre, ON (Mary Lee DeWitt-Transition Pastor)
Centennial Chapel FMC, Kamloops, BC (Vern Frudd-retiring May 31, 2018)
Cornerstone FMC, Prince Albert, SK – (Dyan Mouland – Transition Pastor)
Dunnville FMC, Dunnville, ON
Grapeview FMC, St. Catharines, ON (Dan Sheffield – Transition Pastor)
Madoc Free Methodist/ Wesleyan Church
Marmora FMC, Marmora, ON
Melfort FMC, Melfort, SK
Odessa FMC, Odessa, ON
Tabernacle de la Grace, Montreal QC
Thunder Bay FMC, Thunder Bay, ON (Andre Korstanje retiring July 2018)
Warkworth FMC, Warkworth, ON
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
Cordova Mines FM Fellowship, Cordova Mines, ON
Eglise Chrétienne Méthodiste Libre de Le Gardeur, QC (Duplan Auguste Lython)
Enterprise FMC, Enterprise, ON
Killarney FMC, Killarney, MB (Raymond Riglin)
Markham FMC, ON (K.K. Leung)
Pineview FMC, Cloyne, ON
Richmond Hill Chinese & English Churches, Richmond Hill, ON (K.K. Leung)
Roblin FMC, Roblin, MB (Heath Butler)
Surrey FMC, Surrey BC (Nathaniel Prakash)
theStory, Sarnia, ON
Timmins FMC, Timmins, ON (Lewis Byer)
Wesley Chapel Japanese FM Church, Toronto, ON (Misa Mochinaga)
Wyevale FMC, Wyevale, ON
Yarker FMC, Yarker, ON (Ken Babcock)
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PASTORS IN TRANSITION
Glen Coates
Roxanne Goodyear
Kim Henderson
Fred Merritt
Derek Spink
Grant Wolfe
Mary-Elsie Wolfe
Wesley Wood
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Associate Pastor – Barrie FM Church
Associate Pastor – Trulls Road FM Church
Part-Time Office Administrator – Wesley Chapel FM Church
