VISION IS A CLEAR MENTAL PICTURE OF A PREFERABLE FUTURE
Week 1: Our Gospel Story
When I was interviewed by the Bishop Leadership Task Force six and a half years ago, I brought with me a document that described initiatives, issues, questions and dreams that I wanted to bring to the Board of Administration. I walked them through each item, assuring them that this was not a manifesto, but that it was what I hoped the BOA would be open to talk with me about. In our denomination, we do not believe that the pastor-leader unilaterally brings the vision, but that she works with her church family to discern the vision. Certainly, the leader is to be vision-ful, but one who is like Jesus, who skillfully, even artfully, helps people prayerfully, discern God’s leading, and then helps them follow through as a church family.
Over the next few weeks we will remember our recent journey together. The FMCiC has a rich and compelling story, a Gospel story of the lost discovering Jesus, of the vulnerable and hurting finding justice, and millions experiencing freedom in Christ! We are unapologetically Bible people, and because of Jesus’ love, we are learning to become people of peace. Your local church is an important part of the story.
It’s important to remember our FMCiC story, I invite you to read the FMCiC history at the front of The Manual. Dr. Victor Shepperd once said that a “person without a memory cannot be trusted”. It is equally true that an organization without a memory cannot be trusted. Remembering our story is important, in order to understand the vision that God [continues to] gives us.
Vision is a clear mental picture of a preferable future, given to us by God and it’s often based on the gifts and resources that He has given us and our circumstances.
What’s the FMCiC vision? FMCiC believes that we are called to “see a healthy church within reach of every Canadian and beyond”. This implicates your local church doesn’t it?! You must contribute to a healthy church, and wonder prayerfully how to see other communities experience healthy churches…
The National Prayer Team will lead a half-hour, noon-hour, prayer meeting each day of the week (other than Sunday) from 12 noon EST until 12:30 pm EST.
For week 1 this will take place Jan 2 – 6 and for week 2, Jan 9 – 14.
The zoom link to the prayer meeting is:
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN
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)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
None this week
ORDINATION SERVICES
None scheduled
FOUNDATIONAL COURSES https://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:
June 2-4, 2023 – location TBA*
Also available:
- Tyndale University – “John Wesley’s Theology: Renewing the Heart, Renewing the Church” https://www.tyndale.ca/syllabi/winter/2023/theo-0629
- Offered January 13 – April 10, 2023 in hybrid format: Two Fridays of “live” class (in-person or online) on January 27 and March 17, plus online lectures and discussions.
- Available for seminary or undergraduate credit
- For more info contact James Pedlar (jpedlar@tyndale.ca)
- FMC-USA NEW! Anytime on Pathwright (multiple instructor choices)
- Self-paced, up to 8 months to complete
- 8-week intensive version, select Instructor Vaughan (session start dates: Jan. 2, 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:https://fmcic.ca/scholarships/
LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP PLAN (LSP) [APPLY TWICE PER YEAR]:
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.
February 15 is the next deadline to apply for LSP for any courses taken during the winter semester of 2023. The 2023 application forms and instructions will soon be 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://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
Hilton Beach, ON – St. Joseph Island FMC
Thornbury, ON – Blue Mountain Community Church
Warkworth, ON – Warkworth FMC
Church Profiles Available
Contact Davika Dotson in the Leadership Development Office to request a church profile – davika.dotson@fmcic.ca (deadline to apply in brackets)
Kingston, ON – Polson Park FMC (full time) [January 31]
Madoc, ON – Madoc Free Methodist/Wesleyan Church (full time) [January 31]
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.
Bracebridge, ON – New Hope FMC (Gary Denniss – Interim Pastor)
Brampton, ON – Bramalea FMC
Brantford, ON – The Open Door Church
Campbellford, ON – Campbellford FMC (Rev. Leonard Bruce – Interim Pastor, effective Jan 1/23)
Cloyne, ON – Pineview FMC
Dunnville, ON – Dunnville FMC (Rev. Neale Robb – Interim Pastor)
Frankford, ON – Frankford Community Church
Kingston, ON – Kingscourt Free Methodist Church
Marmora, ON – Marmora FMC
Richmond Hill, ON – Richmond Hill Chinese & English FM Churches (Rev. Louis Leung – Interim Pastor)
Salmon Arm BC – Lakeside Community Church
Sarnia, ON – New Horizons Community Church
Sault Ste Marie, ON – Sault Ste Marie FMC
Seeley’s Bay, ON – Pine Grove
Tillsonburg, ON – Open Arms Church
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Senior Director of Church Health and Planting – FMCiC National Office
Part-time Children’s Pastor, Part-time Worship Leader – New Hope Methodist Church
Café Manager – Arlington Woods FMC
