Christ is Risen!
I love that 3 of our churches, who are in relatively close proximity to each other, organized a Good Friday service together. I loved being involved! Thank you Holt, Newmarket and Uxbridge for making this effort. It was a sacred time. To our churches who are in relatively close proximity with each other, please consider ways that you can connect for special events like Good Friday, BBQ’s, and PRAYER. I would love to help and be involved.
I pray that Easter weekend experiences continue to be used this week, by the Spirit to inspire the people of God and draw others to Him.
Click here for a video announcement from the Bishop
The Personnel Team has now run two rounds of posting and interviews for the posted “Senior Director of Church Health and Planting” role. We received applications and interviewed high quality people, however, prayerfully, and carefully the Personnel Team has agreed that we need to post again. This was a difficult decision, but we feel that it is the right thing.
We discussed as a Team changing the job description, lowering our minimum requirements, creating 2 jobs, and other creative ideas. None of these suggestions, however, satisfied the current needs of the FMCiC as outlined in the Restructuring Plan, and these changes might have set a candidate up for failure. We have decided to repost (again) but we did learn some things in the process.
Church Planting continues to be essential to the FMCiC. The FMCiC Church Planting data seems to indicate that most of our church plants are growing out of relationships with our pastors and churches. We are excited to welcome new plants and visionaries who are not yet Free Methodist, and we are thrilled that healthy churches are naturally planting churches and identifying planters.
Healthy churches often identify potential new pastors, missionaries and church planters. Healthy churches also often contribute to the creation of church plants, or are the place for new church plant connections (which is already happening in the FMCiC). The new Senior Director is responsible to help our churches become healthy or healthier.
Therefore, we (the BOA upon recommendation from the PT) changed the job title to SENIOR DIRECTOR OF CHURCH HEALTH. We did this to more accurately reflect the ministry philosophy and focus of the position (“healthy churches plant churches as well as identify potential planters and new pastors”).
Furthermore, as a part of the Restructuring Plan (with an eye on our future and planting), we have also dedicated a National Leadership Team position to leadership development: supporting our pastors, planters, missionaries and chaplains, recruiting, developing them, resourcing them and creating a leadership development culture within FMCiC. Planters will be identified in this new culture.
The Church Planting Department will continue to report directly to the Senior Director of Church Health. The Senior Director will meet regularly with the Church Planting Department in order to support, cast vision, strategize, budget and coordinate efforts.
The Church Planting Department currently has three coaches, and two administrators. I meet with the administrators weekly and the whole department monthly – a very good team! Church plants will continue to receive the support and necessary resources that they currently receive.
I am asking you again to tap on the shoulder anyone you think might be a good fit (see posting here). Pray for the Personnel Team as they do the work of discernment. Pray for the new Senior Director of Church Health.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
None this week
ORDINATION SERVICES
None scheduled
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:
June 2-4, 2023 – Uxbridge FMC, Uxbridge, ON
Wesleyan Theology:
November 3-5, 2023 – location TBA*
Also available:
- Tyndale University – https://www.tyndale.ca/seminary/wesley-studies
- Free Methodist Church-USA NEW! Anytime on Pathwright (multiple instructor choices)
- Self-paced, up to 8 months to complete
- 16-week intensive version, select Instructor Vaughan (session start dates: May 1, June 26, Aug. 21, Oct. 16)
- Central Christian College online, 6 weeks, asynchronous – deadline to apply: Sept 18 (start dates Oct 2 and Nov 12)
- Northeastern Seminary at Roberts Wesleyan University
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 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!)
2023 SCHOLARSHIPS:http://www.fmcic.ca/scholarships/
LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP PLAN (LSP) [APPLY TWICE PER YEAR]:
[PLEASE NOTE: The FMCiC preference for LSP is for students to attend one of the approved schools on this list. However, if you decide to apply to a non-approved school, you must first send a request to the Credentialing Coordinator to determine whether the committee will approve funding for you to study at a non-approved school. Along with your request, please include a written explanation as to why you are choosing to study at a non-approved institution. It is strongly recommended that you do this before paying tuition, and well in advance of the LSP deadline. The Credentialing Coordinator, along with the LSP committee, will consider each request individually and according to LSP policy.]
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 next deadline to apply for LSP for any courses taken during the spring, summer and/or fall semesters of 2023. The 2023 application forms and instructions are now available to download from the link above. Please use the application forms marked “rev 2023.”
SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIPS [APPLY ONCE PER YEAR]:
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 2023 calendar year – apply online anytime from the link above. Special Scholarships are awarded in late November/early December each year.
CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS (CEU’S) https://www.fmcic.ca/introduction-to-continuing-education/
Ordained and Commissioned Ministers (except retirees) are to annually report hours acquired during each year for Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Check the link above for information on CEUs, and a list of examples of many different types of life-long learning that can be applied as CEUs.
You can now send a report online anytime you have hours to submit for CEUs. Here is the link: https://fmcic.wufoo.com/forms/continuing-education-unit-ceu-report-form/
Note: For those who attend the fall Minister’s Conferences or the spring Regional Gatherings, attendance is now taken at these events so 6 hours of CEU credit for each event will automatically be recorded.
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CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
Interviewing
Bracebridge, ON – New Hope FM Church
Kingston, ON – Polson Park FM Church
Madoc, ON – Madoc Free Methodist/Wesleyan Church
Salmon Arm, BC – Lakeside Community Church
Sarnia, ON – New Horizons Community Church
Sault Ste Marie, ON – Hillside FM Church
Thornbury, ON – Blue Mountain Community Church
Church Profiles Available
Contact Davika Dotson in the Leadership Development Office to request a church profile – [email protected] (deadline to apply in brackets)
Brampton, ON – Bramalea FM Church (part-time) [April 18]
Hilton Beach, ON – St. Joseph Island FM Church (full-time) [May 23]
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.
Brantford, ON – The Open Door Church (Rev. Greg Pulham – retiring Apr 30)
Campbellford, ON – Campbellford FM Church (Rev. Leonard Bruce – Interim Pastor)
Cloyne, ON – Pineview FM Church
Dunnville, ON – Dunnville FM Church (Rev. Neale Robb – Interim Pastor)
Frankford, ON – Frankford Community Church
Godfrey, ON – Cole Lake FM Church
Kingston, ON – Kingscourt FM Church
Marmora, ON – Marmora FM Church (Pastor Keith Deyo – Interim Pastor)
Mississauga, ON – Grace Methodist Church
Orillia, ON – Church on the Hill (Pastor Velma Shewfelt – Interim Pastor)
Richmond Hill, ON – Richmond Hill Chinese & English FM Churches (Rev. Louis Leung – Interim Pastor)
Seeley’s Bay, ON – Pine Grove Community Church
Tillsonburg, ON – Open Arms Church
Wallaceburg, ON – Charlemont FM Church
Warkworth, ON – Warkworth FM Church
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
