BOA & THANK YOU FMCiC FOR GIVING GLOBALLY
On Friday and Saturday your Board of Administration met. We listened carefully to each other, prayed, made important decisions and laughed together. I am confident that each member feels valued. I believe that this BOA is an example of a very healthy team. Last week I met with our Study Commission on Doctrine – what an excellent group of Godly leaders from across Canada. I couldn’t wait to let you all know that the new SCOD had met and we are in very good hands my friends! I look forward to introducing them to you. A week earlier I met with our Racial Justice & Ethnic Equity task force – again such a Godly, quality team. I was quite inspired by all that they have already begun to do. You will meet them on April 17 at our National FMCIC Gathering: “Love Led Us Here: A Pilgrimage.” Finally, last night I met for our first end of month check in with our Rule of Lifers. Pastor Misa, the lead pastor of Wesley Chapel Japanese Church, also a spiritual director, led the conversation. I felt joy and hope as she encouraged us, and as I met with so many FM’ers eager to pray for our movement. I hope that you are hearing, that the FMCIC is blessed, and we have much to look forward to in this new season!
I am very grateful for the work of the Intercultural Engagement Team (formally Global Missions). I asked Adam Kline about this name change: “The phrase “intercultural engagement” is all-encompassing and stretches the width and breadth of God’s mission near and far. Like the first disciples, we are called and commissioned as missionaries, right where we are, and the Holy Spirit is ready and willing to equip us, just as He did on the Day of Pentecost, when a multiplicity of languages and cultures were heard, and stood alongside one another in worship, and were sent forth in Jesus’ name. If you want to catch a glimpse of this all-encompassing intercultural work, please check out the website: fmcic.ca/missions”
They have focused our attention locally, nationally and beyond:
- FMCiC’s relationship with Indigenous People in Canada;
- FMCiC’s opportunity with New Canadians;
- A new task force to consider racism in Canada (“Racial Justice & Ethnic Equity”). Adam (leader of IET) and I met with this task force last week. We are in excellent hands!
- FMCiC’s increased capacity internationally as we further develop our relationship with our sister organizations: International Child Care Ministries and Tearfund Canada. Thank you Churches for leaning into these. Tearfund reported a 40% increase in FM donations since IET has begun to develop a closer working relationship with them!
- FMCiC’s ongoing relationships with Ghana, Sri Lanka and a project in India.
Today I’d like to send out a celebration note. The FMCiC churches that have been committed to working with our Ghana Church, took up a collection to help the Ghana FMC through the financial crisis they are experiencing because of COVID. A significant amount came in and has already been sent to our very grateful African brothers and sisters ($14, 500).
We also sent out a note to those FM Churches committed to Sri Lanka (which we call the Sri Lankan Team). Besides the terrible financial troubles from COVID, our Sri Lankan Church also was hit by a storm that flooded the SLFMC Ministry Centre. Again, you stepped up and over $12, 000 is being sent for COVID relief to our churches and Ministry Centre repair. THANK YOU FMCiC for your global Kingdom generosity in a difficult season here at home. Thank you for your continued giving to the Intercultural Engagement Team Giving Stream. This team is responsible to help mobilize FMCiC into intercultural missional engagement, and help your local church with discerning your intercultural missional engagement. Please join the IET Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/IETfmcic and feel free to connect with Rev. Adam Kline: [email protected]
Title: “Dinner’s Ready! Come to the Table!
On Good Friday, April 2, 2021 at 11am, we are happy to welcome many other churches in the Free Methodist Church in Canada (FMCIC) who are joining us as we celebrate the significance of the cross. Bishop Cliff Fletcher is speaking and we will be celebrating communion together, so please have some crackers or juice handy if you’re connecting with us online.
This service will be streamed on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/ArlingtonWoodsChurch
WHAT’S NEW THIS WEEK
Muriel Darling Walls celebrates her 100th Birthday!: https://fmcic.ca/muriel-darling-walls-celebrates-her-100th-birthday/
Marc McAlister’s blog “Making Disciples – No Exceptions”: https://fmcic.ca/making-disciples-no-exceptions/
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN
Tuesdays: Cliff’s Notes
Thursdays: Church Health Thursday article share
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
Wednesday, January 6: Message from Jared Siebert
Wednesday, February 2: Message from Marc McAlister message
Wednesday, March 2: Message from Bishop Cliff
ADDITIONAL MEDIA CONNECTIONS
News & Stories
New Leaf Learning Centre
FM Video Blog
Intercultural Engagement Team
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Jessica Isaak – Co-Lead Pastor at Hampton FMC, Saskatoon, SK – approved for Ordained Minister
Nathaniel Prakash – Lead Pastor at Surrey FMC, Surrey, BC – approved for Commissioned Minister
Alyson Lauber – Associate Pastor at Lakeview FMC, Saskatoon, SK – approved for Commissioned Minister
ORDINATION SERVICES
Wilder Boutin – date and time TBA – Centre Biblique Louange a L’Eternel, Montreal, QC
Leonard Bruce – date and location TBA
Jessica Isaak – date and time TBA – Hampton FMC, Saskatoon, SK
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 – May 2, 2021 at 2:00 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.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
Interviewing
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)
Cedar Street Community Church, Simcoe, ON
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
