CliffsNotes – October 8, 2019

What happened at our Ministers’ Conferences?

We invited a First Nations leader to speak into FMCIC pastors. Jonathan Maracle loves Jesus. Jonathan is a singer and storyteller (check his Facebook page or listen to his music on Spotify, etc). He spoke passionately about God’s love for First Nations people and the Church’s opportunity to be a part of the healing. He was careful not to use language that accused or blamed or was angry, but he certainly told the truth. Truth can hurt, and many of us left feeling hurt that we “didn’t know these things” or “hadn’t helped before” or “were complicit in horrendous crimes in Canadian history” (i.e. residential schools, 60’s Scoop, Enfranchisement, etc). One person, who represents what many people said after the event, summed up well her experience:

  • How is it possible that there are communities in Canada that do not have clean water?? “And how is it that I didn’t know about that? Clean water?!?”
  • “I am glad that my church is sending support to missionaries in Africa, I truly am, but I am convicted that we need to make sure that we have done everything that we can, to make things right at home!”
  • “What do I do next? Where do I start, how can my church be a change agent?”

Rev. Adam Kline, Intercultural Engagement Team Leader (formally Global Missions), has some starting places for us, and his team will be talking this through. He’d be a good first call for your missions’ team.

All local churches must accept responsibility for their own local community AND for Canada. We need to pay attention to home before we have the Scriptural or moral high-ground to mission beyond Canada. I commit to paying attention to God’s leading with regards FMCIC’s relationship with First Nations…

On Friday I met with our excellent Study Commission on Doctrine. Among other agenda items we heard check-ins from our two task forces: Engaging Women in Ministry, and FMCIC’s relationship with LGBTQ. I am so grateful for Godly scholars who are eager to marry truth and compassion and challenge us forward. You will receive their reports at General Conference.

On Sunday Karlene and I participated in Arlington Woods (an Ottawa church) celebration service of the start of a large renovation project. I look forward to telling you more about some of their initiatives and learnings. On Sunday afternoon we drove through the beautiful Fall decorated Ottawa Valley to celebrate Vennachar FM’s 125th anniversary. This healthy country church was packed out. They are thriving in a ghost town – seriously Vennachar is officially a ghost town! They have a significant children’s mid-week ministry in a nearby town, they are starting a music open mic night, and an archery club for adults and another one for local teens! Thank you Pastor Laurie and Vennachar and congratulations.


MEDIA CONNECTIONS

Church Health Thursdays – Things Rarely Drift Towards Good Healthy Things: https://fmcic.ca/things-rarely-drift-towards-good-healthy-things/
News & Stories Blog – Building Bridges into the Community with Robotics: https://fmcic.ca/building-bridges-into-the-community-with-robotics/
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: Ep 70 – the Neighbourhood Series – Erinn Oxford: https://www.newleafnetwork.ca/podcast/ep-70-the-neighbourhood-series-erinn-oxford/


PHOTO GALLERY
Eastern Ministers Conference
Rev. David Griggs


ANNOUNCEMENTS

None this week

Ordination and Commissioning Services 

None scheduled


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 1-3, 2019 – Northview Community Church, Regina, SK

Wesleyan Theology:
October 25-27, 2019 – Holt Free Methodist Church, Mount Albert, Ontario
(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:

Next course 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 attend the fall Minister’s Conferences, add 6 hours of CEU credit when you send in your annual CEU report. 

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CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
Interviewing
Hampton FMC, Saskatoon, SK

 

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)

Athens FMC, Athens, ON – deadline to apply – October 21

 

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.)

Cedar Street Community Church, Simcoe, ON
Campbellford Free Methodist Church, Campbellford, ON
Crossroads FMC, Salmon Arm, BC (Vern Frudd – Interim Pastor)
Lakeland Community Church, Spiritwood, SK
Pineview FMC, Cloyne, ON
Queensway FMC, Niagara Falls, ON
Richmond Hill Chinese & English FM Churches, Richmond Hill, ON
Smiths Falls FMC, Smiths Falls, ON (Rev. Aaron Birtch – Transition Pastor)
The Journey (a FM church plant), Ridgeway, ON


EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Youth Pastor – Malvern Methodist