The CEU News Continuing Education Update December 2019 A Publication of the Wesley Leadership Institute Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church
Featured Events National Conference on Youth Ministries exists to provide professional level training for men and women serving within youth ministries all across the nation. This year's theme is "Before Us." Featured speakers include Chris Seidman, Mike Cope, Rick Atchley and Sarah Brooks. 1.5 CEUs
UMC Lead Seattle, WA January 12-15, 2020 0.7 CEUs In the midst of talk of the “death of the church,” vital, creative, life-giving communities exist around the world, in communities large and small. The LEAD conference has always strived to shine a spotlight on this emerging church, not as a hope for the future but as a recognition of God’s work in the world here and now. For three days, every year, we bring together leaders, innovators, and creatives from within, and outside of, The UMC. Participants hear big ideas, experience amazing music, and network with others. There are no paid speakers or professional experts, this is a conference that is fully participant driven.
Ministers Convocation 2020 February 17 - 19 Pigeon Forge, TN
2.0 CEUs
Join us for another exciting Minister’s Convocation event in February! Through our combination of speakers, whether your congregation is downtown, suburban, or tiny and rural, there will be helpful ideas and inspiration for everyone to take home to their local church. Our leadership this year will include: Carey Nieuwhof, Jasmine Smothers, and Jeremy Troxler. Registration information and more details will be sent this week, so be sure to watch your email inbox!
Events - Coming Soon! Check the Holston online calendar for a full listing of future events. December 2019: Holy Spirit Seminar December 6 Dayton, OH 0.5 CEUs
January 2019: National Conference on Youth Ministries January 6-9 Arlington, TX 1.5 CEUs UMC LEAD January 12-15 Seattle, WA 0.7 CEUs SEJ Cabinet Consultation January 20-23 St. Simon’s Island 1.0 CEUs
Creativity Orlando January 21-23 Lake Buena Vista, FL 2.5 CEUs Winter Conference January 26-29 St. Simon’s Island 2.5 CEUs February 2019: Fresh Expressions Vision Day for Holston Conference February 1 Knoxville, TN 0.4 CEUs Ministers Convocation 2020 February 17-19 Pigeon Forge, TN 2.0 CEUs
CEU QUICKLINKS: Check & Print CEU Report Apply for CEU Credit Event Evaluation Form
CLERGY NOTES:
We have re-tooled the reporting system for CEUs, which is still housed on the old website. Use the Quicklinks above to access the legacy system until a CEU module can be programmed on the new website.
To get to the WLI website page, go to Holston.org and click on the Administration tab at the top of the page, then Clergy & Candidates, then Continuing Education (WLI). If you have any questions regarding this process, just call (865-293-4135) or email our office. Also, we will soon be moving the events from the 2019-2020 appointment year to the quadrennium listing only for CEU reports. You can continue to report the older events by separate email, but the online reporting list will only reflect events attended starting 7/1/19. Your annual CEU report will then only reflect events attended as of that date. Finally, we want to wish you all a most joyous and Blessed Christmas (and a New Year filled with attendance at continuing education events. Don’t forget - 2 full CEUs for coming to Convocation!)
Book Review Didn’t See It Coming: Overcoming the 7 Greatest Challenges That No One Expects & Everyone Experiences by Carey Nieuwhof (Note: Carey Nieuwhof will be one of our plenary speakers at Convocation 2020. This is a review of his latest book.) Founding Pastor of one of North America's most influential churches, Carey Nieuwhof wants to help you avoid and overcome life's seven hardest and most crippling challenges: cynicism, compromise, disconnectedness, irrelevance, pride, burnout, and emptiness. These are challenges that few of us expect but that we all experience at some point. If you have yet to confront these obstacles, Carey provides clear tools and guidelines for anticipation and avoidance. On the other hand, if you already feel stuck in a painful experience or are wrestling with one of these challenges, he provides the steps you need to find a way out and a way forward into a more powerful and vibrant future.
A Message from Our Director... The last month and a half has been a busy one for me. In addition, to three national meetings, I have also been to each district (some combined) and offered training for the District Committees on Ordained Ministry (DCOM’s). Part way through that training, I learned that Candler School of Theology has created a special scholarship program whereby any certified United Methodist candidate can attend tuition free for three years. (see website for details). As I spoke with DCOM’s one of the items I pointed out to them, was that they were to ask candidates if they intended to attend seminary and to recommend that they attend a Senate approved seminary. Full disclosure—I am a Candler alumnus. However, even if I wanted to attend Duke or Asbury, I would have to take seriously the offer that Candler is giving to certified candidates. I just checked their website. The 2020-2021 tuition rate for a full time class load is going to be $23,400. Over three years, (assuming no annual increases) that would be $70,200 in tuition. I don’t know about you, but that is a significant amount of pocket money to pay for a seminary education. Studies continue to show that our United Methodist students are entering into significant amounts of student loan related debt in order to complete seminary. Friends. You might not want to go to Candler. However, if you can get your seminary education tuition free, then you need to seriously consider going to Candler. Lest you think I am biased toward Candler, I have also discovered that you can attend Boston University Seminary tuition free and I have heard that there are a couple of more (although I can’t recall the names at the moment) that also allow you to attend tuition free. You can attend any seminary you want to attend (please remember it has to be Senate approved). If you want to be an elder, you have to have that MDiv degree. All I am saying is, be smart. Find a way to attend without putting yourself so far in debt that you will have a difficult time surviving on a pastor’s salary when you graduate and begin serving in a local parish. - Terry Goodman
CONTACT INFO: Director: The Rev. Terry Goodman terrygoodman@holston.org
Phone: 865-293-4147
Admin. Asst. & Editor: Sue Weber sueweber@holston.org
Phone: (865) 293-4135 Website: Wesley Leadership Institute