CliffsNotes – May 28, 2019

Who evaluates the Board? Part 3

The Board of Administration of the FMCiC is exploring what it looks like to become a healthy board. We are discussing the “culture” of the BOA and of the FMCiC and creating an organizational structure that would help us move toward what we believe is a healthy leadership culture. [Questions for your leadership team: What is a healthy leadership culture? What should be true about your board, staff, pastors and their relationships? What does it mean to be a “theocracy” rather than a democracy?]

The BOA is not only considering leadership culture but it is developing a model that can be used by our churches. I believe that a healthy local FM organization should look like this: a healthy Nominating Committee, a healthy Personnel Team, a healthy Finance Team and a healthy dynamic, honest, creative, PRAYERFUL, united Board.

Two weeks ago I described the BOA’s new initiative to evaluate BOA. Last week I pointed to The Manual to remind us of the opportunity we have to develop a relevant, contextual, institutionally smart Nominating Committee. Our Manual makes room for doing this.

Your current organizational structure reflects your current church family culture. If you are feeling stuck as a leader or church, feeling frustrated, wondering about apathy in the pews (or worse) then I suggest that it’s not just because your pastor is tired, or that you don’t have enough workers – your culture is tired! Prayerfully developing a healthy culture is energizing!

In order to help the Board and Bishop have a clear understanding of our aspirations as a board we created a covenant (see attached). At our last BOA weekend we actually read it through again, and signed it. In my travels I have met very few boards that have created one of these (though I have mentioned it several times in these notes). It is an essential and potential first (or next) step towards learning what it means to have one heart as a leadership team.

I arrived home from Ireland Wednesday. On Thursday evening I enjoyed very much my time with Toronto area churches at the Regional Gathering hosted by Wesley Chapel (there were even 2 Kingston area pastors who came because they won’t be able to make their RG’s). On Saturday I was with our Northwest churches in the Regional Gathering hosted by O’Connor FM. The Fort Francis crew organized a pre-Regional Gathering get-together on the Friday night – what a great idea to have extra time together and enjoy a unique Thunder Bay delicacy (it was cinnamon-ee, with pink icing and delicious). On Sunday I worshipped with the O’Connor church family. An excellent weekend because of excellent people!

One of you sent me this note about worship this past Sunday in your church – it made me say out loud “Thank You Father”:

I trust you have had a good day Bishop. We had one of those special services where God’s presence is so real you feel like you can reach out and touch Him. About 1/2 way through my message I was speaking about experiencing how Jesus said to the disciples as he left them to ascend to the Father….Mark 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

As I spoke I felt as a church family and pastor we needed to stop the message and ask God to make us that kind of a people, where we would experience God’s power in a new and miraculous way and see the power of “All authority in Heaven and are Earth is His” At least 3/4’s of our congregation joined at the front and committed themselves to be available for God to work. Wow what a powerful time…..only the future will reveal what God was doing.


2019 REGIONAL GATHERINGS 2019 Regional Gathering Locations and Dates – PDF
Regional Gatherings are all about connecting! Our intention is to see Free Methodist leader and lay people meeting together as a movement for both an “informative” and “formative” gathering.  We hope to see you there! https://fmcic.ca/regional-gathering-2019/


MEDIA CONNECTIONS

Church Health Thursdays – We The Church: https://fmcic.ca/we-the-church/New
News & Stories Blog – Interns Wantedhttps://fmcic.ca/interns-wanted/ New
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: Learning Party stories – Andrew Benson: https://www.newleafnetwork.ca/podcast/ep-64-learning-party-stories-andrew-benson/
Faith and Finances Website: http://faithandfinances.ca


PHOTO GALLERY
Wesley Chapel Regional Gathering


ANNOUNCEMENTS
None this week

 

Ordination and Commissioning Services 

Belinda Leibel – Commissioning Service at Northview Community Church, Regina, SK – date and time 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:
May 31-June 2, 2019 – Peterborough FM Church, Peterborough ON
November 1-3, 2019 – western Canada-location TBA*

Cours sur le Coeur du Méthodisme Libre Canadien
12 au 14 juillet 2019 à Montréal à l’Église Méthodiste Libre de St-Henri

Wesleyan Theology:
May 31-June 2, 2019 – Weyburn  Free Methodist Church, Weyburn, SK
October 25-27, 2019 – 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:
Western Canada course starts October 7 (deadline to register – October 1)
Part One: Oct 7-31 – advance online engagement
PLUS
Part Two: Nov 1-2 – two-day in-person class at Lakeview Free Methodist Church, Saskatoon, SK

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/

October 15 is the deadline to apply for the Leadership Scholarship Plan (LSP) for any courses taken during either the summer and/or the fall semesters of 2019. The 2019 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 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. 

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CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
Interviewing
Caistor Centre FMC, Caistor Centre, ON
Hampton FMC, Saskatoon, SK
Madoc Wesleyan/FMC, Madoc, ON

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)
New Horizons Community Church – Sarnia, ON (June 11, 2019)

 

Preparing Profiles

(If you are interested in seeing 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)
Crossroads FMC, Salmon Arm, BC (Vern Frudd – Interim Pastor)
Queensway FMC, Niagara Falls, ON
Richmond Hill Chinese & English FM Churches, Richmond Hill, ON (Abbs So and Shadow Lau-Interim Co-Pastors)
Smiths Falls FMC, Smiths Falls, ON (Vic Stonehouse)


EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Part-Time Office Administrator – Westdale Park FM Church
Summer Intern – Wawota FM Church
Children’s Ministry Director – Barrie FM Church
Intern Job Position – Maple Grove Christian Retreat Centre
Youth Pastor – Malvern Methodist