CliffsNotes – April 10, 2018

Regional Gathering number 4 was on snow covered St. Joseph Island! Many thanks to each of you who made the trek, even though weather was somewhat of an issue (well it would’ve been for the likes of this snow-sensitive southern Ontarian), and you had considerable drives.

What a good time together!

On Sunday morning Karlene and I worshiped with the “Soo” FM (Sault Ste. Marie). Their service began with a group of children, called “KMN” (Kid’s Making Noise) drumming and singing us into worship! Excellent invitation! There was high energy and authenticity in the room! I look forward to what God has in store for the Soo through the Soo FM!

The leadership team and I spoke briefly about board covenant. I have attached the current Board of Administration’s Covenant (this is the BOA’s covenant – don’t just print it off and have people sign it!).

A covenant is a joint / community exercise, which means that the pastor is not to bring a list of items for the board to sign off on; rather, the team creates the list together. This list then becomes a working document, wherein it is regularly reviewed and amended as needed, AND it is part of the basis or metric of evaluation for the board. The covenant is the description of the desired new culture of your church leadership. Remember that it needs to clear and measureable. I mean, if you say something like “we will be respectful”, you need to say how! What does “respectful” mean: with words, time?

This all made me wonder if your leadership team has one. Let me give you some homework as a team of leaders:

1. If you have a leadership covenant:
a) Review it together
b) Is it relevant, current, or meaningful in your church life? Why or why not?
c) How often do you review it?
d) Does the whole congregation know about?
e) Would you like some help in rebuilding one?

2. If you don’t:
a) What are the (huge) benefits of a covenant?
b) When will you build one?
c) Plan first of all a “time / season” of prayer as leaders;
d) Commit to a significant time together for this exercise – it is more than a 10 min discussion;
e) Brainstorm items, then discuss (vote for) which items are essential covenant items;
f) Sign it and review regularly (have new members sign after each review);
g) Don’t hesitate to contact your Regional Coach, or an NLT member for help!

 

FMCIC Board of Administration Covenant 2017

We the BOA COVENANT the following (these are not in order):

  • We will take time and “wait” for each other to understand and “land”;
  • We commit to attend all BOA meetings, understanding that there may be exceptional circumstances;
  • We commit to prayerfully do all our “homework”, and pre-reading in between meetings;
  • We will create a BOA culture of mutual respect. We value friendly, healthy relationships;
  • We will always acknowledge, listen, invite the leading, and direction of the Holy Spirit;
  • We value confidentiality wherein names, churches or circumstances will not be discussed outside of BOA meetings with non-BOA members except for what we all agree is not confidential;
  • We will speak as one voice – when a BOA decision is made we will speak of it as our own individual decision;
  • We value honest conversation with one another;
  • We will commit to personal spiritual disciplines and a deepening journey with God. We will pray for each other in between meetings;
  • We will come to meetings with our hearts prayerfully prepared, and having the full prayer support of family (we will ask our families / spouse if all is well with us, before we come to meetings).

 

The Central Ontario/North & East GTA Regional Gathering at Wesley Chapel FM Church is taking place Saturday April 14, 2018. To register click here for the form: https://fmcic.ca/wp-content/uploads/Wesley-Chapel-Registration-Form-2018.doc


2018 Regional Gathering

LOCATIONS & DATES

  • CENTRAL ONTARIO – NORTH & EAST GTA @Wesley Chapel, 2385 Warden Ave, Scarborough, ON [Toronto] – April 14, 2018
  • NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO @ Dryden FMC, 261 Van Horne Avenue, Dryden, ON [Dryden] April 28, 2018
  • BRITISH COLUMBIA @ New Heights Community [Mission] May 12, 2018
  • ALBERTA @Westpark Church of the Nazarene, 3920 57th Ave. Red Deer, AB [Red Deer]  May 26, 2018
  • SASKATCHEWAN @ Arlington Beach Camp [Cymric] June 2, 2018
  • MANITOBA @ Victoria Inn Hotel & Convention Centre, 3550 Victoria Ave, Brandon, MB [Brandon]  – June 23, 2018

Please see the website for more details – https://fmcic.ca/regional-gatherings-2018/


MEDIA CONNECTIONS

Church Health Thursdays – 5 Ways Your Church’s Impact Can Become Bigger Than Its Footprint : https://fmcic.ca/5-ways-your-churchs-impact-can-become-bigger-than-its-footprint/New
News & Stories Blog – Easter Day Devotional  : https://fmcic.ca/easter-day-devotional/ New
the conneXion
– a Free Methodist theology blog: 3 Minute Theology 2.5: Knowing the Bible Inside Out: https://fmcic.ca/3-minute-theology-2-5-knowing-the-bible-inside-out/
New Leaf Podcast: Kevin Makins – Holy Shift: https://www.newleafnetwork.ca/podcast/ep-52-kevin-makins-holy-shift/ New
Faith and Finances Website: http://faithandfinances.ca
Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/FMCIC

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PHOTO GALLERY
St. Joe Island Regional Gathering


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ANNOUNCEMENTS

None

Ordination and Commissioning Services Schedule
None


FOUNDATIONAL COURSES

Heart of Canadian Free Methodism:
June 1-3, 2018 at Hampton FM Church, Saskatoon, SK

Wesleyan Theology:
June 1-3, 2018 at Holt FM Church, Mount Albert ON
(also available online through FMC-USA: http://fmcusa.org/leadership/courses/)

Personal and Church Stewardship
6-week online course – start date TBA
8-week online course (FRENCH) – begins April 9, 2018

Culture and the Missional Church:
Next course date and location TBA*

(*these locations will be selected based on where the majority of the participants reside – so please register early!)

Registration is online for all courses at this link: https://fmcic.ca/foundational-courses/. Those tracking for credentialed ministry should take the Heart course first and then Wesleyan Theology if possible.

SCHOLARSHIPS

The next deadline is October 15, 2018 to apply for the Leadership Scholarship Plan (LSP) for courses taken during both the spring/summer and fall semesters of 2018. 

October 15 is also the deadline to apply for the annual Special Scholarships. 

Here is the link for both types of scholarships:  https://fmcic.ca/scholarships/


CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
Interviewing
Madoc Wesleyan/Free Methodist Church, Madoc, ON
Thunder Bay Free Methodist Church, Thunder Bay, ON
Warkworth FMC, Warkworth, ON


Church Profiles available
Contact Susan DePlanché  in the  Leadership Development Office to request a church profile – susan.deplanche@fmcic.ca or 289-228-1225.

Caistor Centre FMC, Caistor Centre, ON (deadline April 3)
Dryden FMC, Dryden, ON (deadline April 10)
Centennial Chapel FMC, Kamloops, BC (May 1)
Marmora FMC, Marmora, ON (deadline April 3)
Melfort FMC, Melfort, SK (May 8)
Odessa FMC, Odessa, ON (May 8)

Preparing Profiles

(If you are interested in seeing the profile for any of these churches, please contact Susan in the Leadership Development Office [susan.deplanche@fmcic.ca or 289-228-1225] and the profile will be emailed to you as soon as it becomes available.)

Athens FMC, Athens, ON (Angel Valentin-Transition Pastor)
Asbury FMC, Perth, ON (Hanford Branscombe-Interim Pastor)
Dunnville FMC, Dunnville, ON (Tom Gurnick – Interim Pastor)
Grapeview FMC, St. Catharines, ON (Dan Sheffield – Transition Pastor)
Richmond Hill FMC (English & Chinese), Richmond Hill, ON
Tabernacle de la Grace, Montreal QC
West Springs FMC, Calgary, AB
Weyburn FMC, Weyburn, SK


Functioning with approved local arrangements
Avonlea FMC, Avonlea SK
Campbell’s Bay FMC, Campbell’s Bay, QC (Orville White)
Church On The Hill, Orillia ON (Charles Tanner)
Cordova Mines FM Fellowship, Cordova Mines, ON
Eglise Chrétienne Méthodiste Libre de Le Gardeur, QC (Duplan Auguste Lython)
Enterprise FMC, Enterprise, ON
Harrowsmith FMC, Harrowsmith, ON (Robert Boutilier)
Killarney FMC, Killarney, MB (Raymond Riglin)
Markham FMC, ON (K.K. Leung)
Roblin FMC, Roblin, MB (Heath Butler)
Surrey FMC, Surrey BC (Nathaniel Prakash)
theStory, Sarnia, ON (Joshua Walters)
Timmins FMC, Timmins, ON (Lewis Byer)
Wesley Chapel Japanese FM Church, Toronto, ON (Misa Mochinaga)
Yarker FMC, Yarker, ON (Ken Babcock)


PASTORS IN TRANSITION
Glen Coates
David Greene
Kim Henderson
Jason Johnson
Fred Merritt
Jay Mowchenko
Derek Spink
Chad Vankoughnett
Grant Wolfe
Mary-Elsie Wolfe
Wesley Wood


EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Associate Pastor of Next Generations  – Trulls Road FM Church
Director of Youth Ministry  – Trulls Road FM Church
Youth Pastor – Malvern Methodist Church
Associate Pastor – Barrie FM Church
Cadet Chaplain –  Vernon, BC
Summer Intern – Wawota FM Church
Worship Coordinator – Arlington Wood Free Methodist Church