Cliffs Notes: May 2, 2023

Last week were at Regional Gatherings 4 and 5! On Wednesday we were together at Wesley Chapel in Scarborough. On Saturday we were in Montreal. Once again both meetings felt like family reunions as we were finally able to be together following the pandemic. We worshiped, prayed, opened God’s Word, heard updates about FMCiC and engaged in Christian conversation. We were also well fed! Thank you Pastors Sabrina and Edrice for hosting these events.

Pastor Jennifer, the Lead Pastor in Barrie FM, has been ministering through early morning “devo’s” since the start of the pandemic. It was a wonderful gift to her church family during covid, and has continued to be a meaningful ministry that has reached well beyond Barrie! This week Pastor Jenn interviewed my wife Karlene. Karlene is the Worship and Arts Director at Arlington Woods FM Church. As I watched, it occurred to me that this is something that you all would benefit from – hearing that you are “slow art”.

We Are Slow Art (Tuesday, May 2, 2023) – YouTube

I also would like to give a call out to all of our artists: Would love to gather you together in a national virtual meeting to discuss how art and creativity should become more integrated into FMCiC worship, evangelism and discipleship. Watch for details…

Finally if you would like to hear more about the artist who Karlene refers to, Makoto Fujimura is headlining the Kuyper Conference at Redeemer University in Ancaster, ON, on May 10. The keynote is free! Here’s the link: https://secure.touchnet.net/C20321_ustores/web/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTID=71&SINGLESTORE=true.

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:
*NEW*  Ontario course starts Tuesday, May 9 with three online evening sessions on Zoom (May 9, 16 and 23 at 7 pm), plus two days in-person June 3-4 at Uxbridge FMC, Uxbridge, ON     Registration deadline is Monday, May 8

July 14-16 – West Springs FMC, Calgary, AB

Wesleyan Theology:
November 3-5, 2023 – location TBA*

Also available:

    • Self-paced, up to 8 months to complete
                              OR
    • 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.

Send a report online anytime you have hours to submit for CEUs:   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
Brampton, ON – Bramalea 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

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)

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
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)
Salmon Arm, BC – Lakeside Community Church
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

Senior Director of Church Health – FMCIC National Office

Youth Ministry Director – Trulls Road FMC

Café Manager – Arlington Woods FMC
 
Associate Pastor of Worship Ministry – Northview Community Church