CliffsNotes – October 16, 2018

Everyone needs to spend time with the Study Commission on Doctrine (“SCOD”) – I love my time with them. These very thoughtful (smart) Free Methodists from across Canada met this past Friday and Saturday. You have commissioned these individuals to help us as a movement to deal with current doctrinal, moral, ethical, political issues in relation to our beliefs. For instance, “what about cannabis? Any Biblical principles that we need to consider?” SCOD recommendations are being considered by the Board of Administration (BOA) and after BOA and SCOD have discussed-revised-edited-and-prayed about the recommendations, the report is released to you to review and in some cases vote.

One of the important discussions we had was about ATONEMENT. Instead of me recapping this for you, I am going to refer you an excellent resource that too few of us know about. One of our pastors, Dale Harris is a scholar, an artist and computer savvy. When you combine these four ingredients (pastor, scholar, artist and computer-y) then you get “3 Minute Theology”. A series of very practical, and helpful video clips that could be used in church services, youth or young adult night, at a restaurant with your phone with someone you are discipling, in a Bible study, or in your own devotions. The link below is for his atonement series, but if you type in “3 minute theology” on You Tube, you’ll see the whole series.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmO1sDtd5024JJ7rBY7nWMg

On Sunday Karlene and I were with Grace FM in Mississauga. I spoke with people from Romania, India, Ireland, Holland, Singapore, the Philippines… it was a taste of heaven: “every tribe and every nation”. What I especially appreciated was how Pastor Elizabeth took opportunities during the service to teach and explain different sections. For instance, when she introduced the offering time, she said something to the effect, that the offering time is not a “collection”. She explained that “collection” is different than offering, in that offering is to be an outflow of our love and worship. I very much like her approach. I believe that we should not assume that everyone in the room knows “Christianese”. We should hope that every week someone is in the room who was not last week, or ever, and our guests should understand us! Why do we worship? Why do we pass a plate? Why do we use liturgy? Why is there a sermon? What is the “Gospel”?

Years ago I realized that I should preach to those who I would like in the room, even though they may not yet be in the room: non-churched, and those eager to learn. In this way, I was raising the expectation in the church family about Biblical relevancy, and equipping them with language that they could use later (i.e. here’s how believers process grief because this is what the Bible says, or how we talk about sex, or how Biblical marriage works). Thank you Grace FM.


 

MEDIA CONNECTIONS

Church Health Thursdays – Are Small Groups Effective: https://fmcic.ca/are-our-small-groups-effective/
News & Stories Blog – Arlington Woods Tornado Clean Up: https://fmcic.ca/16407/
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: Jeff and Jan Steckley – Contemplative practice, second half of life & the art of starting: https://www.newleafnetwork.ca/podcast/ep-53-jeff-and-jan-steckley-contemplative-practice-second-half-of-life-the-art-of-starting/
Faith and Finances Website: http://faithandfinances.ca


ANNOUNCEMENTS

None

Ordination and Commissioning Services Schedule

Dave Moriarity, Almonte, Ontario – ordination service on October 28, 2018 at 4:00 pm, Cornerstone Community Church, Almonte, ON
Pierre Zidor, Montreal, Quebec – ordination service on November 25, 2018 at 2:00 pm,  Eglise Methodiste Libre de Rosemont, Montreal, QC


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:
November 2-4 at Trulls Road FMC, Courtice, ON
June 7-9, 2019 – location TBA*

Wesleyan Theology:
June 7-9, 2019 – 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 – October 20

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/

February 15 is the deadline to apply for the Leadership Scholarship Plan (LSP) for any courses taken during Winter semester of 2019.  See instructions and the 2019 application forms 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.


CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
Interviewing

Caistor Centre FMC, Caistor Centre, ON
Dryden FMC, Dryden, ON
Melfort FMC, Melfort, SK
West Springs FMC, Calgary, AB


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)

Madoc Wesleyan/FMC, Madoc, ON (Oct 16/18)

 

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)
New Horizons Community Church – Sarnia, ON (Kim Henderson-Interim Pastor)
Richmond Hill Chinese & English Churches, Richmond Hill, ON (Abbs So and Shadow Lau-Interim Co-Pastors)
Weyburn FMC, Weyburn, SK

 


EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Youth Pastor – Malvern Methodist Church
Associate Pastor – Verona FM Church