December 18, 2018

PARTNERING & MERRY CHRISTMAS

I’ve been outlining weekly initiatives included in the FMCiC’s 3 Year Ministry Plan. Let’s take a holiday from the 3 Year Plan and allow me to tell you a little about two energizing meetings I’ve recently been in… and then wish you Merry Christmas!

One week ago Karlene and I met with the three US Bishops and their wives. What a valuable time. We spoke of the potential of shared ministry, and resources. We discussed a more permeable border with regards transferring pastors. We committed to working together on a couple of Study Commission on Doctrine projects. Already other planning dates and meetings are being booked. I look forward to this new chapter in the US-Canadian FM relationship.

This past Friday Karlene and I met with denominational leaders and their spouses from four of the largest Canadian denominations. Again it was an excellent time of connecting and committing to finding ways to work together. There are no shortages of opportunities. We are asking similar questions about Canada, about evangelism, church health, leadership development, and more.

Why this push Cliff, to partner with Wesleyans, Nazarenes, and now larger denominations, and FMUSA? Are you concerned at all about us losing our FMCiC identity?

No I’m not concerned about losing our identity, in fact I believe that we are fully living in it when we partner! FMCiC is only a small part of this wonderful, dynamic and massive living organism called Church. Frankly we are supposed to find ways to partner and coordinate our callings and gifts. It is the stuff of John Wesley’s “Catholic Spirit”, and bigger yet, the unity that Jesus prayed for us in John 17. God will bless His Church united in Canada when we pray together, evangelize, disciple, and imagine together.

The least confusing thing that we can do for Canadian “none” and “dones” is to move towards each other as local churches, and nationally as denominations and ministries. I believe that FMCiC has a part in this.

Merry Christmas! I pray this final weekend of Advent would be a time of rich remembering His love for us and celebrating His gift of family and friends.

BTW don’t forgot the three job postings: a team leader for our Intercultural Engagement Team (Missions), a receptionist, and a translator…


VIDEO

Let’s Talk About Giving Streams


MEDIA CONNECTIONS

Church Health Thursdays – Marc’s Annual Advent Blog: https://fmcic.ca/marcs-annual-advent-blog/
News & Stories Blog – Weyburn FMC & Operation Christmas Child: https://fmcic.ca/16533/
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: Jeff and Jan Steckley – Contemplative practice, second half of life & the art of starting: https://www.newleafnetwork.ca/podcast/ep-53-jeff-and-jan-steckley-contemplative-practice-second-half-of-life-the-art-of-starting/
Faith and Finances Website: http://faithandfinances.ca


ANNOUNCEMENTS
None

Ordination and Commissioning Services Schedule

Louis Innocent – ordination service on March 17, 2019 at 2 pm, Eglise Methodiste Libre La Foi Des Elus, Repentigny, QC


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:
June 7-9, 2019 – location TBA*
November 1-3, 2019 – location TBA*

Wesleyan Theology:
June 7-9, 2019 – location TBA*
November 1-3, 2019 – 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:
Date and location TBA

Personal and Church Stewardship:
5-week online course (FRENCH) – start date – TBA
6-week online course (ENGLISH) – start date – TBA
(*locations are selected based on where the majority of the participants reside – so please register early!)

2019 SCHOLARSHIPS   https://fmcic.ca/scholarships/

February 15 is the deadline to apply for the Leadership Scholarship Plan (LSP) for any courses taken during Winter semester of 2019.  See instructions and the 2019 application forms to download from the link above.

October 15 is the deadline to apply for the annual Special Scholarships for courses taken during 2019 – 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 attended the fall Minister’s Conferences, add 6 hours of CEU credit when you send in your annual CEU report. 


CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
Interviewing

Caistor Centre FMC, Caistor Centre, ON
Madoc Wesleyan/FMC, Madoc, ON
Melfort FMC, Melfort, SK
Weyburn FMC, Weyburn, SK


Church Profiles available
Contact Susan DePlanché  in the  Leadership Development Office to request a church profile – [email protected] or 289-228-1225 (deadline to apply in brackets)

None

 

Preparing Profiles

(If you are interested in reviewing the profile for any of these churches, please contact Susan in the Leadership Development Office [[email protected] 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)
Hampton FMC, Saskatoon, SK
New Horizons Community Church – Sarnia, ON (Kim Henderson-Interim Pastor)
Richmond Hill Chinese & English FM Churches, Richmond Hill, ON (Abbs So and Shadow Lau-Interim Co-Pastors)
Smiths Falls FMC, Smiths Falls, ON


EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Intercultural Engagement Team Leader Free Methodist Ministry Centre
Part-Time French Translator – Free Methodist Ministry Centre
Part-Time Receptionist – Free Methodist Ministry Centre
Youth Pastor – Malvern Methodist Church
Associate Pastor – Verona FM Church