While in Ghana we visited 3-4 churches per day for 3 days, each church 1-4 hours away from the other. When we asked what the major social issues are, we were consistently told that it was poverty. As our brothers and sisters asked the question, what kind of Church does Ghana need, they were obviously having to include the alleviation of poverty. How is poverty confronted?
The root issue related to poverty is broken relationship. Broken relationship with God and with each other is the issue, and poverty is the symptom. Poverty, war, and crime are all symptoms of broken relationships with God and each other (as well as with ourselves and creation). The solution then is restored relationships or new relationships. This is the vocation of the Church: inviting people into new or reconciled relationship with God and with each other, discipleship, worship-prayer and justice.
When we are reconciled to God, we begin to love each other, we begin to share, we begin to trust, we begin to pray, we begin to brainstorm, and solve issues.
In Ghana, this has meant that the Free Methodist Church has impacted communities by creating workplaces. There is a FM pig farm, a weaving factory, and gari factory run by local FM churches for the purpose of dealing with poverty in their community, creating work, offering dignity, being a force for Biblical “good” in their communities.
The trick will be for these churches, of course, to not allow the industry to become the Church. The Church must stay focussed on inviting people to Christ, worship-prayer, justice, and discipleship. The industry must only continue to be the how these churches minister.
What kind of Church does Canada need? Whatever the issues that we identify in our local communities, the root of the issue will be broken relationship with God and each other. That’s why God has called us to be “Ambassadors of reconciliation”, a job that we should not take lightly Church.
Questions: If I were to ask the mayor, councillors or police chief what the major issues are in my community, what would they say? What are issues in my community which the Church should consider being responsive to (for instance, we probably aren’t called to deal with potholes, but jobs, meth, affordable housing are examples of issues that we could prayerfully consider)? What could my local church do to begin to address these issues?
Tuesdays: Cliff’s Notes
New episode available: 2nd Tuesday of each month: What’s Got You Thinking?
Check out all the latest photos from around the FMCiC here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fmc-gallery/
ANNOUNCEMENTS
None this week
ORDINATION SERVICES
None scheduled
Tyndale University’s Annual Wesley Studies Symposium is taking place on April 25, and once again the Lorne Park Foundation is sponsoring Free Methodist attendance.
This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the Bastian Chair of Wesley Studies at Tyndale. We are celebrating with keynotes from the two previous Chairs: Victor Shepherd and Howard Snyder. We’ll be exploring the theme, “Heritage and Hope: Wesleyan Wisdom for the Future of Ministry.”
This will be a hybrid event, so you can join via livestream if you aren’t able to make the trip to Toronto.
The Lorne Park Foundation is covering in-person registration for up to 25 Free Methodists. Both ministers and lay people are eligible. Click here to apply for a ticket through Lorne Park (don’t register through the Tyndale website if you are taking this option). The deadline to apply is MARCH 31: https://fmcic.wufoo.com/forms/wesley-studies-symposium-april-25-2023/
If you are going to attend online, registration is $25 +HST and you can do so here: https://www.tyndale.ca/seminary/wesley-studies/annual-symposium
This symposium is worth 6 hours of required Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for Ordained and Commissioned Ministers, whether you attend in-person or online.
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 2-4, 2023 – Uxbridge FMC, Uxbridge, ON
Wesleyan Theology:
November 3-5, 2023 – location TBA*
Also available:
- Tyndale University – https://www.tyndale.ca/seminary/wesley-studies
- Free Methodist Church-USA NEW! Anytime on Pathwright (multiple instructor choices)
- Self-paced, up to 8 months to complete
- 16-week intensive version, select Instructor Vaughan (session start dates: May 1, June 26, Aug. 21, Oct. 16)
- Central Christian College online, 6 weeks, asynchronous – deadline to apply: Sept 18 (start dates Oct 2 and Nov 12)
- Northeastern Seminary at Roberts Wesleyan University
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 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!)
2023 SCHOLARSHIPS:http://www.fmcic.ca/scholarships/
LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP PLAN (LSP) [APPLY TWICE PER YEAR]:
[PLEASE NOTE: The FMCiC preference for LSP is for students to attend one of the approved schools on this list. However, if you decide to apply to a non-approved school, you must first send a request to the Credentialing Coordinator to determine whether the committee will approve funding for you to study at a non-approved school. Along with your request, please include a written explanation as to why you are choosing to study at a non-approved institution. It is strongly recommended that you do this before paying tuition, and well in advance of the LSP deadline. The Credentialing Coordinator, along with the LSP committee, will consider each request individually and according to LSP policy.]
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 next deadline to apply for LSP for any courses taken during the spring, summer and/or fall semesters of 2023. The 2023 application forms and instructions are now available to download from the link above. Please use the application forms marked “rev 2023.”
SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIPS [APPLY ONCE PER YEAR]:
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 2023 calendar year – apply online anytime from the link above. Special Scholarships are awarded in late November/early December each year.
CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS (CEU’S) 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
Bracebridge, ON – New Hope FM Church
Kingston, ON – Polson Park FM Church
Madoc, ON – Madoc Free Methodist/Wesleyan Church
Sarnia, ON – New Horizons Community Church
Sault Ste Marie, ON – Hillside FM Church
Warkworth, ON – Warkworth FM Church
Church Profiles Available
Contact Davika Dotson in the Leadership Development Office to request a church profile – [email protected] (deadline to apply in brackets)
Brampton, ON – Bramalea FM Church (part-time) [April 18]
Hilton Beach, ON – St. Joseph Island FM Church (full-time) [March 28]
Salmon Arm BC – Lakeside Community Church (full or part-time – negotiable) [March 21]
Thornbury, ON – Blue Mountain Community Church (full-time) [March 28]
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.
Brantford, ON – The Open Door Church (Rev. Greg Pulham – retiring Apr 30)
Campbellford, ON – Campbellford FM Church (Rev. Leonard Bruce – Interim Pastor)
Cloyne, ON – Pineview FM Church
Dunnville, ON – Dunnville FM Church (Rev. Neale Robb – Interim Pastor)
Frankford, ON – Frankford Community Church
Godfrey, ON – Cole Lake FM Church
Kingston, ON – Kingscourt FM Church
Marmora, ON – Marmora FM Church (Pastor Keith Deyo – Interim Pastor)
Orillia, ON – Church on the Hill (Pastor Velma Shewfelt – Interim Pastor)
Richmond Hill, ON – Richmond Hill Chinese & English FM Churches (Rev. Louis Leung – Interim Pastor)
Seeley’s Bay, ON – Pine Grove Community Church
Tillsonburg, ON – Open Arms Church
Wallaceburg, ON – Charlemont FM Church
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
