The CEU News Continuing Education Update December 2020
A Publication of the Wesley Leadership Institute Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church
Events - Coming Soon! December 2021:
Holy Spirit Seminar
December 4 Online 0.25 CEUs This year’s Holy Spirit Seminar focuses on “Touching Heaven, Changing Earth: The Holy Spirit and Prophetic Prayer.” Join Dr. Bellini to praise and worship God and receive anointed teaching on prophetic prayer. Sponsored by United Theological Seminary.
A Pastoral Response Post-Election December 7 Online 0.2 CEUs
The Hispanic House of Studies at Duke Divinity School will hold a webinar on "A Pastoral Response Post-Election" featuring Nina Balmaceda, consulting professor at the school and missional strategist at at the Center for Reconciliation, presenting on how to guide congregations through volatile election cycles and their results. January 2021:
Creativity Hacks: Ideas to Get Your Congregation Unstuck & Moving Forward January 7 Online 0.1 CEUs
We’ll define creativity and learn the power of asking the right question at the right time. Then we’ll dive into 15 paradigm shifting questions that will help you see things you may not see and push past stuck-ness into new thoughts and creativity.
Preparing Fields: Cultivating Hope and Growth in the Small Church January 11 - February 19 Online 1.5 CEUs
Small rural congregations face challenges in the 21st century, and often forget they are uniquely connected to the Gospel through the land and fields that surround them. This study uses the power of agricultural narratives in Scripture as well as local church stories to help small rural churches recover the connection to the land where God has placed them to cultivate hope and growth. Rebecca Collison’s book Preparing Fields for Seasons of Change gives a guide to churches wanting to reclaim their corner of God’s farm (1 Cor. 3:9).
More Than a Sermon: Tips to Become a More Effective Preacher January 14 Online 0.1 CEUs During this one-hour session Quincy Brown – district superintendent in the North Georgia Conference and author of multiple books including The Q.U.E.S.T. for Vocation: A Personal Journey to Discern a Life’s Calling and Discipleship Path – will discuss the many hats worn by a pastor and how we can wear them more effectively. Events continued on last page
CEU QUICKLINKS: PeoplePortal User Instructions (Includes directions for submitting CEU requests) Event Evaluation Form
CLERGY NOTES:
GBHEM has updated their Annual Conference Support Videos playlist on YouTube with new videos and helpful educational clips you can use in your conference or congregation. Many of these will qualify for CEUs. Just submit those you have viewed on the CEU page in your PeoplePortal for review.
Terry and I would like to wish you a Blessed Christmas and a joyous (and healthy!) New Year filled with growth and learning!
Book Review The Light of Bethlehem Shines On Sermons and Children's Messages for Advent and Christmas - by Thomas A, Pilgrim The impact of the miraculous event of the incarnation continues - and the light of hope that appeared in the darkness of that night in Bethlehem two thousand years ago still shines on us today, even in the midst of life's most difficult situations. Illustrated with poignant stories and anecdotes, these powerful messages celebrate the heartwarming joy of Christ's coming, and demonstrate how we can rely on the Lord to serve as our steady lighthouse while we navigate the shoals of life. This seven-part series for Advent, Christmas Eve, the Sunday after Christmas, and Epiphany Sunday provides a comprehensive seasonal resource for busy pastors and worship planners. Each chapter includes a sermon, a children's message, a candle lighting response with scripture reading, and a pastoral prayer.
Thomas A. Pilgrim, the senior pastor of First United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, Georgia, has served several United Methodist congregations in the North Georgia Conference since 1966. He is the author of six other books, including They Came Together In Bethlehem and The Man From Galilee (CSS). Pilgrim has served on mission trips to Puerto Rico and Costa Rica, and his travels have included eight trips to the Holy Land as a tour host/leader. He is a graduate of LaGrange College and Candler School of Theology at Emory University.
A Message from Our Director... As 2020 comes to a close, few people would say that it was a bland and uninteresting year. In many ways all of us have been educated in a new way of doing church. As the Wesley Leadership Institute Director, I am glad that this new knowledge has been learned. I am sorry for the format in which it came! Some might say we are all graduates of the 2020 School of Hard knocks. I have noticed a large number of people, myself included, have done a lot of online courses. Some might enjoy this manner of learning - others may not. To be honest, 2021 might not be any different. Even now we are planning a Convocation. It will not be an in person event. It will involve online learning. Info should be forthcoming sometime this month. I appreciate what you have learned, and I pray that 2021 will also be a great time of learning for you. I also pray that you find creative ways to celebrate Advent and Christmas. Who knows? There still might be some online classes to give you new ideas! God Bless you and accept my thanks for the ministry you continue to do. You are making a difference. Lives are being changed. People are receiving the Love of God and the Kingdom of God is still alive and well. - Terry Goodman
A Message from Our Convocation Design Team Director... As you might have guessed, due to the ongoing pandemic, our design team made the decision to not hold Convocation in person this February. However, we look forward to having Dr. James Thobaben as part of that event (hopefully!) in person in 2022. In the meantime, we consulted with Kathy Heustess on what she was hearing most often from our clergy during the pandemic. To no surprise, it seems the thing we need most right now is rest. So we're excited to share that the Convocation Design Team has been working on an opportunity to help facilitate just that: for you to take a sabbath, and get CEU credit for it. We're working with Life Around the Table, a ministry of the United Methodist Church, and Norman Wirzba, professor at Duke Divinity School, both of whom specialize in sabbath. We anticipate a one-day online component with this opportunity during Convocation's traditional mid-February window, followed by an invitation to take a sabbath one day each week during Lent. You'll be invited to answer a couple of reflection questions from Kathy Heustess online each week. And at the end of the process, you'll earn 1.0 CEUs. More details and registration available soon! Thanks for your patience - we hope this opportunity can help provide better rhythms of rest for all of us. - Will Shelton
Events, continued: The “Post-Pandemic” Normal: Inspiring your congregation to take leaps of faith during uncertain times January 21 Online 0.1 CEUs 2020 is unlike any other year, and the Church continues to deal with the changes experienced over the past year. As we begin to think about life post-pandemic, it’s important to begin taking leaps of faith as the “new normal” creates new challenges for the Church. February 2021:
Navigating Rough Waters February 15 - March 8 Online 1.0 CEUs Four 2-hour retreat sessions centered on being a soulful leader in conflict situations. Through solitary reflection, small group discussion, and community engagement, you will explore the ways you navigate conflict and crisis from the heart of who you are. Another continuing ed opportunity for clergy…
Made to Flourish In-Person and Virtual Learning Cohorts Made to Flourish seeks to empower pastors and their churches to integrate faith, work, and economic wisdom for the flourishing of their communities. We are excited to make available three unique cohort opportunities centered around our mission for a flourishing world. Each cohort will meet 6 times to engage with readings focused on one of three areas: • Becoming Pastors For Faithful Presence, • Discipleship With Monday In Mind, and • Economics of Neighborly Love. Cohorts are designed to help participants implement new ministry practices. Start dates for cohorts will be determined as cohorts are filled. Contact Drew McCallie at drewm@madetoflourish.org for more information about cohorts in Holston or visit madetoflourish.org to learn more about the network. Available Cohorts for 2021: 1) Flourishing Pastors - Becoming Pastors For Faithful Presence 2) Flourishing Churches - Discipleship With Monday In Mind 3) Flourishing Communities - Economics of Neighborly Love CEU: 1 Credit per cohort Cost: $25 (with options) per cohort Start Date: TBD Contact: drewm@madetoflourish.org
CONTACT INFO: Director: The Rev. Terry Goodman terrygoodman@holston.org Admin. Asst. & Editor: Sue Weber sueweber@holston.org
Phone: 865-293-4147 Phone: (865) 293-4135 Website: Wesley Leadership Institute