A Miracle & Regional Gatherings
I worshiped with our “Through the Roof” church family in Flinton Ontario, this weekend. I received a very warm welcome, and met lovely people who love Jesus (and we ate delicious soup). They meet in an old grocery store. This small but growing church family, held a healing service. Pastor Joe and I prayed for people. One woman, who had a stroke, wanted prayer for her right arm which had no motion. At the end of the service she came to me with a big smile, showing how she could open and close her hand! Wow and praise the Lord!
Remember that every day for 30 minutes, you are welcome to pray with FM’ers across the country (noon EDT). Click here for the link.
The LGBTQ2S+ task force has been clear that they have no agenda to promote a shift from our traditional moorings. The BOA and I have been quite clear that the task force is not in place to challenge Free Methodist doctrines regarding sexuality and marriage. So, you might ask, why is the task force asking the questions they are asking?
Questions promote thought, discussion and can be learning exercises. Good questions, Jesus asked over 300, help us explore boundaries, clarify our beliefs and help us to concretize our ministry strategies. The task force is asking questions, which actually come from FMCiC members, questions which will remind us of our boundaries, clarify our beliefs and should help us concretize our ministry strategies.
At Regional Gathering (which you are all encouraged to attend – click here for event dates and registration information) please come prepared to speak lovingly and openly about your views. Perhaps you do not feel like these are “good” questions which the task force is asking – I assure you that they are open to hearing that from you. You have only to say so when you are with them. The task force members are you! They are pastors and members who love FMCiC and want us to be Jesus-centered, Bible-lead, disciples.
By the time General Conference rolls around (April 2024), any recommendations that the task force will make will simply reflect what they have heard from us! No surprises. I am confident, for instance, based on the feedback that you have already provided, that there will be a recommendation to General Conference regarding our theology of celibacy / singleness – as one new person to our movement noted, “your Manual does not say much about celibacy or singleness”!
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
Pastor David Houston – released from appointment as Assistant Pastor at Chapel Ridge FMC, Stittsville, ON and withdrawn as a Ministerial Candidate, effective March 26
ORDINATION SERVICES
None scheduled
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 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:
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:https://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://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 – davika.dotson@fmcic.ca (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 (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
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
