Hello FMCiC Family! It’s been an eventful few months. Allow me to give you some FMCiC highlights.
Our new Senior Director of Church Health has been meeting with pastors and delegates (he has sent out his calendar to pastors, looking forward to each of them setting a time with him). He has been telling me about those visits, and I am so pleased to hear about the warm reception, prevailing hope and shared prayer. If you would like Jervis to come meet your church family and speak on a Sunday he is open for business!
Our Intercultural Engagement Missions Leader, Adam Kline has had to shift from 80% hours to 14 hours. Did you know that Adam is the only member of the Ministry Center team who has to raise his salary through Giving Streams? We all hoped that we could help him shift from part time hours to full time hours this year, but the funds have not been forthcoming. See video for a fuller explanation and appeal to pray about you and your church family’s commitment to our FMCiC shared mission (click here for video announcement).
I made the announcement that I will not leave my name stand for Bishop re-election in the next General Conference. Thank you for your kind words and prayers. Thank you for your prayers for the new Bishop Leadership Task Force (you will meet them soon) as they begin to receive your suggestions, pray, interview, discuss, check references, pray and then bring their recommendations to us at General Conference.
Western Ministers’ Conference is next week. Pray that this would soul-feeding time.
This weekend Karlene and I celebrated Pinegrove FM’s 125 anniversary! Friday night was a wonderful time of remembering God’s faithfulness. This rural church family has seen many, many people come to know Jesus and grow in Jesus over the years. Thank you, Father for Pinegrove.
Sunday morning was another wonderful celebration as the Barrie Church family celebrated 20 years in their current facility. A young man gave a powerful testimony of God’s transforming grace in his life. There was a baptism, and of course lots of good food! The word “family” came up over and over in their prayers, testimony, and words. Canada needs church to understand the fullness of what it means to be “family”. Thank you Pastor Jennifer and Barrie FM!
On Sunday afternoon Karlene and I popped into another BBQ (more food, but without buns or pasta salad or sugar, because Karlene has me on a diet which I do not resent) this time with the Peterborough FM church family. Proud to report that my team won the trivia game (I mean, no team came close). So good to see everyone, but also to enjoy meeting Bishop Hector and his wife Irene from Mexico. Peterborough has developed a meaningful and longstanding relationship with Mexico. I believe that they have been there 15 times. Pastor Hector spoke so warmly and with much gratitude for the relationship and faithfulness of this church family. Thank you Peterborough.
l’Eglise Refuge in Ottawa
Members of l’Eglise Refuge got together for some outdoor fun and fellowship over the Labour Day weekend.
Noon Hour Prayer on Zoom
The team will be hosting the first “both official languages” launch of corporate Prayer for Revival at Noon Eastern on Friday, Sept 8th. This will continue to be scheduled for the second Friday of each month.
Tuesdays: Cliff’s Notes
2nd Tuesday of each month: What’s Got You Thinking?
Check out all the latest photos from around the FMCiC here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fmc-gallery/
Do you know someone who would like to receive CliffsNotes? They can now sign up through the website at: https://www.fmcic.ca/cliffsnotes-signup/
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Rev. Raymond Hartman – status changed from appointed as “Released for Service Beyond the Denomination- Supply Pastor-Metcalfe Holiness Church, Greely, ON” to “Retired”, effective September 17
ORDINATION SERVICES
September 17 at 2:30 pm CST – Pastor Michael Kluthe, Lakeland Community Church, Spiritwood, SK
October 15 at 4:00 pm ET – Pastor Sabrina Hinds, Kingsview FMC, Etobicoke, ON
April 14, 2024 at 2:00 pm ET – Pastor Yves Anthonuel, Eglise Evangelique des Mille-Iles, Laval, QC
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* – 6-week course via Zoom – 7:30-9:30 pm (ET) starting Wednesday, October 4
Wesleyan Theology:
November 3-5, 2023 – Holt Free Methodist Church, Mount Albert, ON
Also available:
- Tyndale University – https://www.tyndale.ca/seminary/wesley-studies/courses
- 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 (next session start date: Oct. 16)
- Central Christian College online, 6 weeks, asynchronous – deadlines to apply: Sept 18 (course runs Oct 2 to Nov 12) and Jan 1 (course runs Jan 9 to Feb 19)
- 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
Brampton, ON – Bramalea FM Church
Madoc, ON – Madoc Free Methodist/Wesleyan Church
Mississauga, ON – Grace Methodist Church
Salmon Arm, BC – Lakeside Community Church
Church Profiles Available
To review the church profiles that are available, please go to our website at this link: church profiles or contact Davika Dotson in the Leadership Development Office – [email protected] [deadline to apply in brackets]
Bracebridge, ON – New Hope FM Church (part-time) [Sept 12]
Preparing Profiles
Once these church profiles become available, they will be listed above as “Church Profiles available” and also on our website at this link: church profiles
Brantford, ON – The Open Door Church
Campbellford, ON – Campbellford FM Church (Rev. Leonard Bruce – Interim Pastor)
Cloyne, ON – Pineview FM Church
Dryden, ON – Dryden FM Church
Dunnville, ON – Dunnville FM Church
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)
Nepean, ON – Arlington Woods FM Church (Rev. Mike Hogeboom retiring May 31/24)
Orillia, ON – Church on the Hill (Pastor Velma Shewfelt – Interim Pastor)
Richmond Hill, ON – Richmond Hill FM Church (Rev. Louis Leung – Interim Pastor)
Seeley’s Bay, ON – Pine Grove Community Church
Sombra, ON – Zion FM Church
Tillsonburg, ON – Open Arms Church
Wallaceburg, ON – Charlemont FM Church Charlemont FM Church
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Part-time Worship Leader – New Hope Methodist Church
