Cliffs Notes: September 13, 2022

“So, did you have a good summer?” I have been asked this, many times lately, and I am happy to report that my answer is “yes”!
 
I loved the opportunity to be at most of our FM camps: Wesley Acres, Pine Orchard, Severn Bridge, Maple Grove and Arlington Beach. This past weekend I was with our North-West Ontario pastors and others in Kakabeka Falls for a family day at camp. I loved reconnecting with you and meeting new friends. Post-camp, I find myself hoping for three things:

  1. That our Quebec Church would have the opportunity to meet for a family camp next summer;
  2. That our Kakabeka Falls Camp would be able to restart a family camp for our North Western Ontario FMCiC family and,
  3. That family camp might become an opportunity for all of our members to connect.
 
We used to have Aldersgate Bible College, and to this day I meet alumni with shared memories and commitment to FMCiC (in fact I was with a funny group of Aldersgaters during our national MEGAP!). Aldersgate really was a contributor to “us being us” as a movement, as was the annual conference!
 
We used to have an Annual Conference, but obviously we can’t afford that, which is why we now have a General Conference every third year (2024). What then is the next best thing? Regional Gatherings in the Spring, Ministers’ Retreat in the Fall, FMCiC Family Camps in the summer, and the last Wednesday of every month national prayer time.
 
I hope for these three aforementioned things (numbers 1-3) because they really do contribute to us being an “us”. The FMCiC values connectionalism, we have a rich history to celebrate, and we have a vision from God to fulfill together, so time together is essential.
 
As we gear up for the Fall, let me encourage you in the following ways:
 
A.      Canada has never needed more (or perhaps, has always needed) a united Church. Let’s pursue “one-ness”, or unity, as if our lives depended on it (because it does). Let’s start at home, with our own Church family. Let’s figure out what it means for the FMCiC to be One, united, moving in one direction with the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12 & 13, Ephesians 4, John 17 help us greatly in our pursuit of one-ness);
 
B.      Membership really does play a role in unity. It is a way to rally under one banner, keep each other accountable, reflect one voice to our community. Since, FMCiC is quite engaged with the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, being a member of your local Church is also a connection to the broader Canadian Church. Membership, however an imperfect tool, still makes us stronger. Pastors, disciple people into membership!
 
C.      PRAY. Pray for FMCiC weekly. Pray with your Church family – let’s jump into the ocean of intercessory prayer to learn more what it is about. Join us on the last Wednesday of each month for a national prayer time. PRAY.

WOMEN’S FALL FEST – WESLEY ACRES
This event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 24th from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.  For further details and for registration information, please visit the Wesley Acres website here.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN

Tuesdays: Cliff’s Notes
2nd Tuesday of each month: What’s Got You Thinking?
4th Thursday of each month: Church Health Thursday
 
(new episodes of What’s Got You Thinking and Church Health Thursday will be released within the next couple of weeks)
 
Check out all the latest photos from around the FMCiC here: 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Pastor Tyler McAlister (Ministerial Candidate) – appointed as Assistant Pastor at Caistor Centre FMC, Caistor Centre, ON, effective September 11

ORDINATION SERVICES
October 16 (time TBA) – Nathaniel Prakash – Surrey FMC, Surrey, BC

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:
November 4-6, 2022, – location TBA*

Wesleyan Theology:
November 4-6, 2022, – location TBA*

Also available:

  • Tyndale University – “John Wesley’s Theology: Renewing the Heart, Renewing the Church”
    • https://www.tyndale.ca/seminary/course/theo-0629
    • Offered Winter 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 ([email protected])

  • FMC-USA http://fmcusa.org/leadership/courses/
    • as a 7-week intensive online course: Wesleyan Theology [#74W] Dr. Robert Vaughan – start dates: Sep 13, Nov 1
    • as a correspondence course (8 months to complete):  Wesleyan Theology (#74C), Dr. Allen Wachter
 
 

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 and Church 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!)

2022 SCHOLARSHIPS  http://www.fmcic.ca/scholarships/


LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP PLAN (LSP):
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 deadline to apply for LSP for any courses taken during the summer and/or fall semesters of 2022.  The 2022 application forms and instructions are now available to download from the link above.  Please use the application forms marked “rev 2022.”


SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIPS:
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 2022 calendar year – apply online anytime from the link above.  Special Scholarships are awarded in late November/early December each year.

CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS (CEUs)   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

Hamilton, ON – Rymal Road Community Church
Hilton Beach, ON – St. Joseph Island FMC
New Westminster, BC – First FMC
Salmon Arm BC – Lakeside Community Church
Warkworth, ON – Warkworth FMC

Church Profiles available
Contact Davika Dotson in the  Leadership Development Office to request a church profile – [email protected] (deadline to apply in brackets)

Sarnia, ON – New Horizons Community Church  (full time) [Sept 13]
Thornbury, ON – Blue Mountain Community Church  (full time) [Sept 13]


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
Brampton, ON – Bramalea FMC

Campbellford, ON – Campbellford FMC
Cloyne, ON – Pineview FMC
Dunnville, ON – Dunnville FMC (Rev. Neale Robb – Interim Pastor)
Frankford, ON – Frankford Community Church
Kingston, ON – Polson Park FMC
Madoc, ON – Madoc Free Methodist/Wesleyan Church

Richmond Hill, ON – Richmond Hill Chinese & English FM Churches (Rev. Louis Leung – Interim Pastor)
Sault Ste Marie, ON – Sault Ste Marie FMC
Tillsonburg, ON – Open Arms Community Church

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Unique Associate Pastor Opportunity – Trulls Road FMC

Associate Pastor of Worship Ministry – Northview Community Church