CliffsNotes – January 18, 2022

A New Logo & A Spiritual Direction Opportunity: Two Interviews

 

A New Logo:

The FMCiC has a new logo! It focuses on our distinctive approach to discernment, our Wesleyan Quadrilateral — sort of! The thinker who coined this term (Outler), later wrote that he wished now that he had not! He explained that the use of the word “quadrilateral” implies that all four elements in the process are equal, as a quadrilateral has four equal sides, when in fact, one element is not equal in weightiness to the others. The four elements are reason, experience, tradition and Scripture; however, for Wesley (and therefore, Free Methodists), Scripture stands alone (prima scriptura). Scripture is foundational to understanding life. Tradition, and then experience and reason are the [unequal] partners of Scripture, in helping us navigate life, and listen to God. Our new logo highlights Scripture, and even adds a 5th element, as Howard Snyder recommends: creation. You will find that our new logo is a teaching tool, as well as reflective of our ongoing commitment to stay in step with the Holy Spirit.

Our wonderfully gifted Communications Director has been working on this project for us for sometime now. This has included many meetings, focus groups, creating a roll-out plan, and more. I asked Lisa about the new logo:

Me: What is the purpose of a logo?

Lisa:  A logo visually communicates the unique identity of a brand or organization. It is a symbol of what you stand for and what you aspire to be. For example, Nike’s swoosh is an easily identifiable logo that looks like a checkmark but symbolizes the sound of speed. When developing the FMCiC’s new logo wanted a logo that was unique and identifiable but also had deeper meaning behind it.

Me: Lisa why was it time to change the logo?

 Lisa: Over the years, despite some of the positive symbolism attached to the current logo, the Communications Team has received a lot of feedback and comments that the logo was outdated and needed to be modernized.  In 2017, the National Leadership Team along with the Board of Administration adopted a “Build-Design” model to see the vision of our movement realised. I believed this was the perfect time for us to prayerfully re-imagine how a new logo could help in that pursuit.

 Me: What did the process look like?

 Lisa: The very first thing we did was pray. Changing the logo is not a project we wanted to undertake without asking the Lord to be with us. It also took a bit of time to find a designer that we trusted to guide us through the process.  Over several months, the National Leadership and Communications Team worked with designer James Kingsley.  We completed questionnaires, had round table discussions and went through an invaluable process that eventually led us to identify a logo that is forward-thinking but also grounds us in values that are important to our Free Methodist ideology.

 Me: What was this experience like for you?

 Lisa: James was very thorough and detailed. He was patient and thoughtful as he walked us through the selection process. Originally, we were presented with four very different logos. Only one from our six-person team actually loved the logo we landed on from the outset.  The rest of the group were not initially drawn to it, but the more time we spent considering the meaning, refining the design and discovering new symbolism, the more meaningful it became. I would say the experience was very rewarding, not only did we get a great new logo, but it reminded me of the rich uniqueness of the Free Methodist story.

 Can I encourage you to take the time to read through the Logo Philosophy and discover what has inspired the National Leadership Team, the Staff and the Board of Administration to adopt this new logo with much enthusiasm?

Click here to watch the new logo video

 

A Spiritual Direction Opportunity

Pastor Ken Dryden of Lakeside Community Church in Salmon Arm, BC, has prayerfully decided to pursue becoming a Spiritual Director. In my opinion this is a very wise investment of his professional development time (every pastor is required to fulfill a certain number of professional development units annually). In Pastor Ken’s case, I also believe that spiritual direction ‘fits’ him. I asked Pastor Ken these two questions:

 Me: What is the schooling and why are you doing it? 

Ken: I am currently in my second year of the Advanced Certificate in Spiritual Direction at Northeastern Seminary in Rochester NY. I have long been intrigued by the ministry of spiritual direction but for most of my pastoral career, the opportunities to engage in a relationship with a spiritual director have been few and far between. Through classes at Northeastern and my recent experiences in receiving spiritual direction, I have been convinced of the value and need for this ministry, especially among Christian leaders. I feel that part of my calling in this season of my life is to be equipped to offer spiritual direction to those who are seeking that ministry and by God\’s grace to be a companion along the Way for others.

 Me: How has it impacted you and your ministry? 

 Ken: It is such a gift from God to have someone walk alongside you as a companion in this journey, especially in seasons of transition and change. Someone who can help discern the presence and working of God in my life. The last few years of uncertainty and change have shown me how important this ministry is. It has given me a calm center in the numerous times I have felt out of my depth and ill-equipped to lead. It has helped me care for my soul and in turn care for others.

As a part of his training, Pastor Ken is required to offer spiritual direction (for free, and under supervision) to a few motivated people. If you are interested in a spiritual direction experience, with a trusted, wise, and gifted director, then please contact Pastor Ken directly @ [email protected]


WHAT HAPPENS WHEN

Tuesdays: Cliff’s Notes
2nd Tuesday of each month: What’s Got You Thinking?
3rd Wednesday of each month: Get the Scoop with Lisa and Alison
4th Thursday of each month: Church Health Thursday
Message from Bishop Cliff: https://vimeo.com/518725147
Coffee with Jared: https://vimeo.com/533730644
Mystery Beverage with Marc: https://vimeo.com/504427854


ANNOUNCEMENTS
None this week

ORDINATION SERVICES
March 20 at 2:00 pm – Alyson Lauber – Lakeview FMC, Saskatoon, SK

Date and time TBA:
Erika Mills – location TBA
Benjamin Platz – Next Church, Kingston, ON

2022 FMCiC INTERNSHIP PROGRAM   https://www.fmcic.ca/intern-prog/

The FMCiC Internship Program exists to build healthy leaders for The Free Methodist Church in Canada and beyond.  We invite any local church interested in participating in the FMCiC internship program to review the detailed information on the website (see link above) and apply online.

The deadline to apply for a 2022 FMCiC-sponsored internship is FEBRUARY 28, 2022.

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:
June 3-5, 2022 – location TBA*
November 4-6, 2022, – location TBA*

Wesleyan Theology:
June 3-5, 2022 – location TBA*
November 4-6, 2022, – location TBA*

Also available:

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:
2022 Date and location TBA*

Personal and Church Stewardship: 
5-week online course – 2022 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.

February 15 is the deadline to apply for LSP for any courses taken during the winter semester 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 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) acquired during each year.  Check the link above for information on CEUs, the report form and a list of examples of many different types of life-long learning that can be applied as CEUs.

Note:  For those who attend the fall Minister’s Conferences or the spring Regional Gatherings, add 6 hours of CEU credit for each event when you send in your annual CEU report.

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CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
Interviewing
Prince Albert, SK – Cornerstone FMC
Thornbury, ON – Blue Mountain Community Church
Warkworth, ON – Warkworth FMC

Church Profiles available
Contact Davika Dotson in the  Leadership Development Office to request a church profile – [email protected] or 416-240-7845   (deadline to apply in brackets)

Harrowsmith, ON – Harrowsmith FMC [full-time] (Feb 15)
Hilton Beach, ON – St. Joseph Island FMC [full-time] (Feb 15)
Saskatoon, SK – Lakeview FMC  [full-time] (Feb 22)

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.

Campbellford, ON – Campbellford FMC, (Rev. Jurgen Rausch-Transition Pastor)
Cloyne, ON – Pineview FMC
Frankford, ON – Frankford Community Church
Hamilton, ON – Rymal Road Community Church
New Westminster, BC – First FMC
Oshawa, ON – The Corner Church (Free Methodist /Church of the Nazarene) (Rev. Vic Stonehouse-Interim Pastor)
Richmond Hill, ON – Richmond Hill Chinese & English FM Churches (Rev. Louis Leung – Interim Pastor)
Sarnia, ON – New Horizons Community Church (Rev. Mary Lee DeWitt-Transition Pastor)


EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Associate Pastor – The Open Door