VISION IS A CLEAR MENTAL PICTURE OF A PREFERABLE FUTURE
WEEK 8
Ghana, Prayer, Remembering
GHANA! I look forward to telling you more about our trip to Ghana. Inspiring! My heart is full. Besides the wonderful friendships, the Free Methodist Church in Ghana is deeply appreciative of the FMCiC. They have roofs on their building, motorcycles for transport, money to subsidize church plants, new land, weaving machines for a business, pigs for a community pig farm and resurrected plans for a women’s college, all directly related to your financial support. THANK YOU! For today, FMCiC, simply and profoundly, thank you for supporting Ghana. Next February, some of you need to come with me…
PRAYER! What started out as a call to prayer, 30-minutes daily on a national zoom, has grown into 6-7 weeks of daily 30-minutes 6 days per week. Please jump in 1-2 times weekly or as much as you can. You don’t have to unmute, being present in prayer is also prayer! This is the link to click on from 12:00-12:30 ET, 11:00-11:30 CT, 10:00-10:30 MT, 9:00-9:30 PT.
REMEMBERING! In January 2020 I had begun to share a report from the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada about the decline in church attendance since 1946! We declined from 67% of Canadians in church in 1946 to 11% in 2019, pre-covid. I explained that, “When you extrapolate you will see that within the next few years we will be close to 0%.” This was going to be our discussion pre-covid. Then covid hit…
COVID.
The language that I did introduce at this juncture in our history was PEACE. PEACE-MAKERS, and PEOPLE OF PEACE. We continued to speak of PRAYER, SANCTIFIED IMAGINATIONS, TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, but this new season required that we remember the Gospel mandate to be PEOPLE OF PEACE. “Peace” does not reflect the experience of COVID for most families and churches. It was our time to shine as a church and continues to be our opportunity as Jesus-people to become PEOPLE OF PEACE.
COVID increased the timeframe of the era shift we were already moving towards – it seems that society shifted and we are in a new era. We are asking some of the same questions about ministry (i.e. what will Sunday mornings look like going forward, what about evangelism, young people, etc.), but we are asking with much more urgency. We can’t keep doing the same things and expect new results. And, honestly, we can’t just preach a better sermon, or find a better worship leader and hope that this will change everything.
The FMCiC BOA, has responded with a RESTRUCTURING PLAN:
- Marc’s two portfolios have grown into two fulltime roles. Marc has chosen to become the new Director of Leadership Development. We have few leaders in training or in the “bullpen” preparing for ministry. We have many retiring and leaving ministry. We also have many pastors wanting more support in this new era. A new era does require a new tool belt;
- The other new role is Director of Church Health & Planting (this posting closes today, and we assume that you have tapped on the shoulder the person you think would do well in this role – thank you for prayerfully taking responsibility in this way). The new role includes Church Health and Planting which are a natural fit. One leads to the other. We continue to recognize that there are alternative paths for planters to find their way into FMCiC (besides through a local church family), for instance, most of Quebec churches are a direct result of our dear brother, Pastor Nathan who apparently has an apostolic gift. We also commit to dividing this role into two jobs when this present configuration no longer becomes sustainable. Or we will explore other configurations as needed in order to be responsive to the new era.
ANNUAL REPORTS
Today is the due date for church annual reports. If you have not already done so, please complete and submit your annual report as soon as possible. The links to the annual report online form and guide, as well as further information on the website can be found below.
ANNUAL REPORT ONLINE FORM (English):
https://fs1.formsite.com/reports/form141/index.html
ANNUAL REPORT GUIDE
https://fmcic.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/FMCIC-Annual-Report-Guide-2022-1.pdf
FMCIC Web Links
https://fmcic.ca/annual-report/
Tuesdays: Cliff’s Notes
2nd Tuesday of each month: What’s Got You Thinking?
(New editions of ‘What’s Got You Thinking?’ will resume a little later in the year)
Check out all the latest photos from around the FMCiC here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fmc-gallery/
ANNOUNCEMENTS
None this week
ORDINATION SERVICES
None scheduled
2023 FMCIC INTERNSHIP PROGRAM https://fmcic.ca/intern-prog/
The FMCiC Internship Program exists to build healthy leaders for The Free Methodist Church in Canada and beyond. We invite any local church interested in participating in the FMCiC internship program to review the detailed information on the website (see link above) and apply online. The deadline to apply for a 2023 FMCiC-sponsored internship is FEBRUARY 28, 2023.
Tyndale University’s Annual Wesley Studies Symposium is taking place on April 25, and once again the Lorne Park Foundation is sponsoring Free Methodist attendance.
This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the Bastian Chair of Wesley Studies at Tyndale. We are celebrating with keynotes from the two previous Chairs: Victor Shepherd and Howard Snyder. We’ll be exploring the theme, “Heritage and Hope: Wesleyan Wisdom for the Future of Ministry.”
This will be a hybrid event, so you can join via livestream if you aren’t able to make the trip to Toronto.
The Lorne Park Foundation is covering in-person registration for up to 25 Free Methodists. Both ministers and lay people are eligible. Click here to apply for a ticket through Lorne Park (don’t register through the Tyndale website if you are taking this option). The deadline to apply is MARCH 31: https://fmcic.wufoo.com/forms/wesley-studies-symposium-april-25-2023/
If you are going to attend online, registration is $25 +HST and you can do so here: https://www.tyndale.ca/seminary/wesley-studies/annual-symposium
This symposium is worth 6 hours of required Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for Ordained and Commissioned Ministers, whether you attend in-person or online.
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: Feb. 27, May 1, June 26, Aug. 21, Oct. 16)
- Central Christian College Feb/23 online, 6 weeks, asynchronous
- 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.
For those who took courses and/or did in-depth research and learning about how to make the changes required during the pandemic (ie how to live-stream services), add the number of those hours to your annual CEU report.
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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
Sarnia, ON – New Horizons Community Church
Sault Ste Marie, ON – Hillside FM Church
Warkworth, ON – Warkworth FM 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) [March 28]
Salmon Arm BC – Lakeside Community Church (full or part-time – negotiable) [March 21]
Thornbury, ON – Blue Mountain Community Church (full-time) [March 28]
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)
Orillia, ON – Church on the Hill
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
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Senior Director of Church Health and Planting – FMCIC National Office
