Last week I introduced
the Ignite the Spark congregational transformation events that will be
connected to future presbytery meetings and which will be funded by a grant
from the General Assembly. Our initial Ignite the Spark! will feature the Rev.
Dr. Tom Tewell from Macedonian Ministries in Atlanta on Friday, August 19
beginning at 1:00 and continuing into the combined presbytery meeting on
Saturday, August 20. I would like to take this opportunity to preview our fall
presenter, the Rev. Dr. Ray Schullte.
The Rev. Dr. Ray Schullte is the executive director of the Center for Parish Development in Chicago. The Center works with congregations across denominations through online training programs for church members and distance coaching for pastors. At the fall meetings for both Grand Canyon and de Cristo presbyteries, Dr. Schultte will preview and overview the Center’s online offerings that include courses in vision discernment, missional practices, leadership development and generosity.
The Rev. Dr. Ray Schullte is the executive director of the Center for Parish Development in Chicago. The Center works with congregations across denominations through online training programs for church members and distance coaching for pastors. At the fall meetings for both Grand Canyon and de Cristo presbyteries, Dr. Schultte will preview and overview the Center’s online offerings that include courses in vision discernment, missional practices, leadership development and generosity.
What excites me about
the possibilities of our partnering with the Center for Parish Development is
that they will allow our rural congregations to participate in Ignite the
Spark! even if church members are unable to attend a Friday workshop. I am
aware that our rural churches sometimes feel left out; I was once pastor to a
rural church. Therefore, the leadership who helped plan the Ignite the Spark!
congregational transformation events was intentional in designing something
that can be accessed remotely, which the Center’s offering can both through the
online modules as well as the coaching hours for congregational leaders that
are available.
The only down-side to our partnering with the Center is that participation in the online training programs is limited due to cost. We estimated that a percentage of our congregations will choose to partner with the Center and so designed the Ignite the Spark! budget accordingly. Registration will be on a first-come, first-serve basis; however, because this part of the Ignite the Spark! program is designed especially to offer help to our congregations located farther from the metro area, there will be preferential registration for rural congregations. More details will follow in the fall so stay tuned.
One last invitation: in talking with Ray Schultte of the Center, he invites three churches in the presbytery to preview the online courses and get involved even before the Fall. He would like to be able to point to specific churches within our presbytery who are using the online courses and interacting with their coaching staff. If you would like to be a part of this pilot program, please contact me at bradmunroe1963@gmail.com.
The only down-side to our partnering with the Center is that participation in the online training programs is limited due to cost. We estimated that a percentage of our congregations will choose to partner with the Center and so designed the Ignite the Spark! budget accordingly. Registration will be on a first-come, first-serve basis; however, because this part of the Ignite the Spark! program is designed especially to offer help to our congregations located farther from the metro area, there will be preferential registration for rural congregations. More details will follow in the fall so stay tuned.
One last invitation: in talking with Ray Schultte of the Center, he invites three churches in the presbytery to preview the online courses and get involved even before the Fall. He would like to be able to point to specific churches within our presbytery who are using the online courses and interacting with their coaching staff. If you would like to be a part of this pilot program, please contact me at bradmunroe1963@gmail.com.
Jesus got a hold a me and he ain’t lettin’ go,
Brad Munroe
P.S.
Here is a link for the Center:
http://missionalchurch.org/online-learning-modules/
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