CliffsNotes – October 5, 2021

Living into our FREES

It was so good to worship with Wesley Chapel FM in Scarborough, such a warm and \”corn-field\” welcome (they gave away bags of corn on the cob to everyone!). In the afternoon, that same day, I presided over the Reverend Blake Found’s ordination at Pine Orchard camp. An excellent FMCiC day!

I really like visionaries. I especially like visionaries who are also Jesus-followers. They ooze with sanctified imaginations, they inspire others, they are not afraid of the small things (like “where will the money come from!”), and are driven by their love for Jesus.

I think that Danielle Strickland is a visionary. I met with her last week, and I look forward to introducing you to her in the future, if you haven’t already met her. Today I want you to hear about two initiatives that she has started: “In My Backyard” and “BRAVE”.

First let me tell you about “BRAVE”. The mission of Brave is to be a catalyst in the prevention of exploitation and trafficking of girls, using 3 primary methods “Brave Events, Brave Circles (which are small group mentoring sessions), and the Brave Leadership Academy.” One of FMCiC’s FREES is about freedom from slavery (of every kind); another FREE is related to empowering women. Brave addresses these two. See Braveglobal.ca to learn more. Let me know if you have an interest to pursue any of these further, and I will connect you to other FMCiC churches that are also interested.

Another Free Methodist FREE is related to contending with poverty and oppression. “In My Backyard” lives into this FREE. IMBY is a project designed to confront the affordable housing crisis in many of our cities. In fact, the IMBY ministry has found that municipal governments are open and even eager to work with this project. Churches, or individuals have an opportunity to make use of extra backyard space, or even church property space, to build “tiny homes” for those who could not otherwise afford housing. The tiny house tenant pays rent, and a portion of the rent will be kept in a savings account so that the renter will be saving for their future. See imbyhomes.org for a fuller understanding of this opportunity. The church family could literally be building a community of people that they could serve! You will find free training videos (for everyone) and small group bible curriculum with discussion guides for churches, on the IMBY website.  

BY THE WAY, there is a grant writing course beginning this week through the FMCiC Generosity and Stewardship Department. Church leaders, I appreciate how tired you are feeling, but I am suggesting that having someone from your church take this course, may contribute to some further dream sessions – prayerful dreaming (building a ministry plan) is an energizing exercise. Money always follows vision, I mean that God provides for what He calls you to do. Having said that, there is a lot of funding ‘out there’ ready to be used for meaningful ministry, and this course will help you know how to find it and apply. Click here to find out more.

(Note: This course will qualify for FMCIC Leadership Development CEUs – 6 hours toward one CEU if  Ordained Ministers and Commissioned Ministers take all 4 sessions of the course. If you are unable to attend the live session(s), they will be recorded and made available for 60 days to anyone that has registered prior to the start of the course.)


WHAT HAPPENS WHEN

Tuesdays: Cliff’s Notes
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
Message from Bishop Cliff: https://vimeo.com/518725147
Coffee with Jared: https://vimeo.com/533730644
Mystery Beverage with Marc: https://vimeo.com/504427854


ANNOUNCEMENTS
None this week

ORDINATION SERVICES
October 24 at 3:00 pm – Jessica Isaak – Hampton FMC, Saskatoon, SK
(to attend in person please RSVP at [email protected], or to view via Zoom,
Meeting ID: 823 2606 5913
Passcode: 620543
 https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82326065913?pwd=QUFzSFBiOCtJRnp6Q3kxaXQ1bW1BZz09)

November 7 at 2:30 pm – Leonard Bruce – Peterborough FMC, Peterborough, ON
November 21 at 3:00 pm – Wilder Boutin – Église Vie d’Espoir, 35, av. Marien, Montréal-Est, QC

Date and time TBA:
Erika Mills – location TBA
Benjamin Platz – Next Church, Kingston, ON

FOUNDATIONAL COURSES  http://www.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:
2022 date and location TBA*

Wesleyan Theology:
7-week course on Tuesday evenings 7:30-9:30 pm EDT via Zoom starting Tuesday, October 5, 2021
Also available:

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:
2022 Date and location TBA*

Personal and Church Stewardship: 
5-week online course – 2022 Start Date TBA
(* These course locations are selected based on where the majority of the participants reside – so please register early!)

SCHOLARSHIPS

2021 APPLICATIONS   http://www.fmcic.ca/scholarships/
LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP PLAN (LSP):
The Leadership Scholarship Plan (LSP) provides financial assistance to candidates who are studying to meet the educational requirements for credentialed ministry, or for members of conference pursuing continuing education.
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:
The Special Scholarships provide financial assistance to those who are members of a Free Methodist church pursuing post-secondary education to grow in their Christian faith, to those who are pursuing credentialed ministry, and to members of conference pursuing continuing education.

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://www.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.

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CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
Interviewing
None

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)

Harrowsmith, ON – Harrowsmith FMC [full-time] (Nov 2)
Prince Albert, SK – Cornerstone FMC [part-time] (Oct 5)
Simcoe, ON – Cedar Street Community Church [part-time] (Oct 5)

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, ON – Campbellford FMC, (Rev. Jurgen Rausch-Transition Pastor)
Cloyne, ON – Pineview FMC
Frankford, ON – Frankford Community Church
Hamilton, ON – Rymal Road Community Church
Hilton Beach, ON – St. Joseph Island FMC (Rev. David Griggs-Interim Pastor)
New Westminster, BC – First FMC
Oshawa, ON – The Corner Church (Free Methodist / Church of the Nazarene)
Richmond Hill, ON – Richmond Hill Chinese & English FM Churches (Rev. Louis Leung – Interim Pastor)
Sarnia, ON – New Horizons Community Church (Rev. Mary Lee DeWitt-Transition Pastor)
Saskatoon, SK – Lakeview FMC
Thornbury, ON – Blue Mountain Community Church
Warkworth, ON – Warkworth FMC


EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES