BOA Vacancies and The New Board Chair
The board shall have general organizational, promotional and supervisory powers over all activities of the church during the interim between general conference sessions. It shall meet regularly, at times to be determined by the board, but no less than once in each 12-month period.
The Manual ¶425.2.2.1
The Board of Administration (BOA) still has 2 vacancies. Pastors and FM’ers we need your help – in fact if you are a member of the FMCiC you have the responsibility and privilege of sending a recommendation to the Nominating Committee. Actually, it is also your responsibility and privilege to use your gifts nationally! We need leaders to participate in national committees and teams! The FMCiC ethos requires a BOA membership that accurately represents the Free Methodist Church in Canada demographically, ethnically and in terms of gender.
Take a moment and pray.
Pray:
- “Would you have me serve nationally Father? In what capacity?
- Do I pray already regularly for FMCiC, and the BOA? SCOD? MEGAP? Nominating Committee? Task forces?
- What young people Father would you have for FMCiC leadership in the future? Have I encouraged them with notes, prayer, mentoring, and the like? If I am a pastor, have I begun to help them develop leadership skills?
- What FM members do I know, who I should encourage into leadership now?
I have the pleasure of introducing you to our new Board of Administration Chair, Dave Kreutzweiser.
Cliff: Tell us a bit about yourself, where you live, your family…
Dave: I live in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, with my wife Connie. We have two boys, both of whom now have families of their own. So, I have the undisputed world’s cutest grandkids, five of them, all aged 7 and under. I spent my career here in Sault Ste Marie as an environmental scientist with Canada’s federal forestry department, the Canadian Forest Service. I retired four years ago, and that allowed me to venture into other areas where I felt I could serve or contribute, including the BOA.
Cliff: I have met your family and they are beautiful – your baby granddaughter even chose to share her food with me! Now, how did your journey with Christ bring you to the FMC?
Dave: I grew up in a small denomination of Wesleyan-Arminian tradition, so here in Sault Ste Marie it was a natural fit for Connie and I to begin attending the Sault Ste Marie Free Methodist Church, about 30 years ago. I’ve had the privilege of serving in varying capacities at the SSMFMC over the years. But my faith journey has been more nuanced than landing in a similar theology. For some years I struggled with what I saw as a dichotomy between my science training and my Christian faith, and pretty much just avoided any attempt at bringing those together. Unfolding that story for you would take a lot more time than what we have here, but I can say that the more I explore the nature of God, the more I come to a full and complete and deeply satisfying reconciliation between my bible-based Christian faith and the works of God as revealed through modern science. Our FMC ethos encourages that sort of faith seeking and exploration, which I appreciate.
Cliff: I have personally appreciated that about you Dave: you love Jesus and you think deeply about Him. How long have you been on the BOA, and what’s your hope for this term?
Dave: I joined the BOA the same year you became Bishop, so you and I are relative newbies on this BOA. I am fully aware that I have big shoes to fill, coming in after the previous chair, Harold Gonyou. In the previous term, Harold, yourself, and the NLT helped set us on a path that led to several large initiatives, so my hope and plan for the BOA this term is to see those through. I will do my best to foster a continued spirit of Jesus-centered innovation, exploration, and advancement. I plan to make the BOA a little more visible to the denomination, finding ways to communicate relevant processes and actions of the BOA out to the local churches. We have a lofty goal, to see a healthy church within reach of every Canadian and beyond, but with the Lord’s help I believe we can take another step in that direction over this term.
Below are recordings from each of the General Conference sessions held on Saturday, June 5th. If you only want to listen to part of a session or specific report, we have provided links to those videos and reports as well.
All GC 2021 documents can be found on the FMCiC’s website. Other reports including SCOD, ICCM, Tearfund Canada, and camps can be found there.
GC 2021 Session One
https://vimeo.com/561536459
GC 2021 Session 2
https://vimeo.com/561466185
GC 2021 Session 3
https://vimeo.com/561545031
Land Acknowledgements
https://vimeo.com/561549433
Three Year Ministry Plan
https://vimeo.com/561565818
https://mcusercontent.com/f567f25fb527019e5d6bc0940/files/bb86f871-8ade-c71b-752f-f23996526cc7/GC_2021_Three_Year_Ministry_Plan.pdf
Church Health Report
https://vimeo.com/562743219
Leadership Development Report
https://vimeo.com/561568053
Church Planting Report
https://vimeo.com/561569979
BOA Report
https://vimeo.com/562741606
https://mcusercontent.com/f567f25fb527019e5d6bc0940/files/197109a6-6e7c-8cb3-6700-910a07b53756/GC2021_Report_BOA_Report.pdf
Intercultural Engagement Team Report
https://vimeo.com/562761310
Prayer Report
https://vimeo.com/562746765
MEGAP Report
https://vimeo.com/562752489
Retirees Video
https://vimeo.com/558234495
Memorials Video
https://vimeo.com/558282328
GC 2021 Worship Service
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsWN1Ygca_s
BE FREE Videos
Freedom: https://vimeo.com/560592317
Justice: https://vimeo.com/560592924
Inclusion: https://vimeo.com/560593114
Discipleship: https://vimeo.com/560593283
Innovation: https://vimeo.com/560598661
Jesus: https://vimeo.com/560593663
WHAT’S NEW THIS WEEK:
Stay tuned!
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
Rev. Joe Manafo and Lakeview Free Methodist Church, Saskatoon, SK – in transition, effective July 31
Pastor Nancy Luross, Associate Pastor, Lakeview Free Methodist Church, Saskatoon, SK – transition to retirement, effective June 30
Rev. Peter Tursa, Lead Pastor, and Rev. Brenda Tursa, Associate Pastor, both at Rymal Road Free Methodist Church, Hamilton, ON – transition to retirement, effective December 31
ORDINATION SERVICES
Wilder Boutin – date and time TBA – Centre Biblique Louange a L’Eternel, Montreal, QC
Leonard Bruce – date, time and location TBA
Kathleen Casement – September 12, 2021 at 2:00 pm – Verona FMC, Verona, ON
Blake Found – date and time TBA – Uxbridge FMC, Uxbridge, ON
Jessica Isaak – date and time TBA – Hampton FMC, Saskatoon, SK
Tyler Lane – date and time TBA – Trulls Rd FMC, Courtice, ON
Erika Mills – July 25, 2021, time TBA – Blue Mountain Community Church, Thornbury, ON
Benjamin Platz – Date and Time TBA – Next Church, Kingston, ON
Douglas Smith – August 1, 2021 at 1:00 pm, Fellowship of Joy, St. Williams, ON
COMMISSIONING SERVICES
Alyson Lauber – Date and time TBA – Lakeview FMC, Saskatoon, SK
Nathaniel Prakash – Date and time TBA – Surrey FMC, Surrey, BC
FOUNDATIONAL COURSES https://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:
Nov 5-7, 2021 – location TBA*
Wesleyan Theology:
Nov 5-7, 2021 – location TBA*
Also available:
- Tyndale University: https://www.tyndale.ca/seminary/course/theo-0629
- FMC-USA as a 7-week intensive online course with several start dates: 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 – Start Date TBA
(* These course locations are selected based on where the majority of the participants reside – so please register early! )
SCHOLARSHIPS
2021 APPLICATIONS https://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.
October 15 is the deadline to apply for LSP for any courses taken during the summer/or fall semesters of 2021. The 2021 application forms and instructions are now available to download from the link above. Please use the application forms marked “rev 2021.”
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 2021 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://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
New Hope FMC, Bracebridge, ON
Whitby FMC, Whitby, ON
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)
Cedar Street Community Church, Simcoe, ON (July 6)
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.)
Blue Mountain Community Church, Thornbury, ON
Campbellford FMC, Campbellford, ON (Rev. Jurgen Rausch-Transition Pastor)
Cornerstone FMC, Prince Albert, SK
Harrowsmith FMC, Harrowsmith, ON
First FM Church, New Westminster, BC
Frankford Community Church, Frankford, ON
Lakeland Community Church, Spiritwood, SK
Lakeview Free Methodist Church, Saskatoon, SK
New Horizons Community Church, Sarnia, ON (Rev. Mary Lee DeWitt-Transition Pastor)
Pineview FMC, Cloyne, ON
Richmond Hill Chinese & English FM Churches, Richmond Hill, ON (Rev. Louis Leung – Interim Pastor)
Rymal Road Free Methodist Church, Hamilton, ON
Trinity Christian Centre, Dresden, ON (Rev. Alan Adams – Interim Pastor)
Warkworth FMC, Warkworth, ON
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Kids Pastor – Lakview Church
Camp Director – Harbour Ridge Camp
Summer Research Student – Bramalea FM Church
