Another Task force & A Summer Question
“A new task force? Don’t we have enough to do already?” The Free Methodist Church in Canada already has task forces exploring our relationship to the LGBT+ community, engaging women in leadership, a mandate to create one to consider our ministry to families / children / youth (I have begun to speak with potential members), and now a task force to consider racism (this team is currently coming together well – I look forward to introducing this task force to you).
“Though best known as principal founder of the Free Methodist Church, Benjamin Titus Roberts was also a reform voice in such causes as abolitionism, farmers’ rights, and women in ministry” (Howard Snyder’s Populist Saints, xii).
Roberts simply lived into who he was as a Methodist. “A reform voice”, the rights of others, women in ministry, abolition, sound familiar? We have created task forces to examine who we are currently, and then prayerfully consider what it should mean for us to live into our FM roots in this new season. We are not adding to our mandate by adding a new task force, rather, we are remembering our mandate as Free Methodists. We will acknowledge how or when we have not been true to our FM-ethos (which is our unique take on Christ-likeness). We will also pursue initiatives that mobilize us into Jesus-action.
Now for a Methodist question: “How is your soul?” In essence it is the question we are asking as Free Methodists with our task forces, but it is not only a corporate question, it must also be a personal one. First, in order for you to answer this important question, you will need to have a definition for “soul”. It’s summer so I’ll leave that for you to develop (John Ortberg’s Soul Keeping is a readable and interesting examination of “soul”). Next you need to find the type of friends who care about your soul, and with whom you will be courageous enough to respond honestly. Lastly, your answer needs to turn into prayer and resolve: prayer with your soul-care friends, and resolve to make (or keep) your soul healthy with the help of your soul-caring friends. It’s summer, my friend how is your soul?
MEDIA CONNECTIONS
Church Health Thursdays – Agree to Disagree: https://fmcic.ca/agree-to-disagree/
News & Stories Blog – Speaking Words of Comfort – https://fmcic.ca/speaking-words-of-comfort/
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 Network: The 2019 New Leaf Advent Reader – : https://www.newleafnetwindork.ca/podcast/
FM VIDEOS: https://fmcic.ca/category/fm-video-blog/
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Rev. Dr. Jay Mowchenko – appointment changed from “In Transition” to “Released for Service Beyond the Denomination- Assistant Professor, Briercrest Seminary, Caronport, SK”, effective August 1.
Rev. Randy Williams – appointment changed from “In Transition” to “Located-Smiths Falls FMC, Smiths Falls, ON, effective July 10.
Pastor Tyler McAlister – released as Assistant Pastor at Whitby FMC, Whitby, ON, effective August 31 and appointed as Assistant Pastor at Grapeview FMC, St. Catharines, ON, effective September 1.
ORDINATION AND COMMISSIONING SERVICES
Leonard Bruce – Warkworth, ON – ordination service date TBA
Dani Harris – The Corner Church, Oshawa, ON – ordination service date TBA
Douglas Smith – Fellowship of Joy, St. Williams, ON – ordination service date TBA
FOUNDATIONAL COURSES https://fmcic.ca/foundational-courses/
Register online through the link above
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 6-8, 2020 – location TBA*
Wesleyan Theology:
November 6-8, 2020 – Ontario location TBA*
(also available online through FMC-USA: http://fmcusa.org/leadership/courses/)
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:
Course starts October 13 (deadline to register – October 5)
Part One: Oct 13-Nov 5 – advance online engagement
PLUS
Part Two: Nov 6-7 – two-day in-person class – Trulls Road FMC, Courtice, ON
Personal and Church Stewardship: (NOTE: TUITION WAIVED FOR THIS ONLINE COURSE)
5-week online course (ENGLISH) – Fall 2020-date TBA – Please register to be put on the waiting list. If we receive enough registrations, we will run this course online again this fall.
(* These course locations are selected based on where the majority of the participants reside – so please register early! Note: Tuition payment is not required when registering for a course. Payment is due 10 days before the course begins.)
2020 SCHOLARSHIPS https://fmcic.ca/scholarships/
October 15 is the deadline to apply for the Leadership Scholarship Plan (LSP) for any courses taken during the summer and/or fall semesters of 2020. The 2020 application forms and instructions are now available to download from the link above.
October 15 is the deadline to apply for the annual Special Scholarships for courses taken during 2020 – apply online from the link above.
CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS (CEUs) https://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
Lakeland Community Church, Spiritwood, SK
Church Profiles available
Contact Davika Dotson in the Leadership Development Office to request a church profile – davika.dotson@fmcic.ca or 416-240-7845 (deadline to apply in brackets)
None available at this time
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 FMC, Campbellford, ON
Cedar Street Community Church, Simcoe, ON
Cornerstone FMC, Prince Albert, SK
Dunnville FMC, Dunnville, ON
First FM Church, New Westminster, BC (Rev. Vern Frudd – Transition Pastor)
New Hope FMC, Bracebridge, ON
Pineview FMC, Cloyne, ON
Richmond Hill Chinese & English FM Churches, Richmond Hill, ON (Rev. Louis Leung – Interim Pastor)
Trinity Christian Centre, Dresden, ON
Whitby FMC, Whitby, ON (Rev. Vic Stonehouse-Transition Pastor)
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Youth and Worship Pastor – Weyburn FM Church
Associate Pastor: Youth, Young Adults & Social Media – Barrie Free Methodist Church
Ministry Intern – Maple Grove Christian Retreat
