The July 29 – Aug. 1 2013 Festival of Wisdom and Grace Conference is sponsored by the SEJ Association of Older Adults. It is designed for older adults as well as for persons working with older adults in  congregations.

Conference leadership will include Dr. Rodney K. Powell, Conference Preacher; Missy Buchanan, Plenary Bible study Leader; Rev. Dr. Richard Gentzler, Professional Track; and the Lake Junaluska Singers in worship.

The registration package includes three nights’ lodging, meals, snacks, conference registration, and materials. Download the registration form or register online. (Online registration includes registration fee only. Please call 800.222.4930 to reserve room and meals.) For questions about this event, contact Jenny Turner, registrar at: jturner@lakejunaluska.com.

Find video below from the April 16, 2013 workshop “Making The Good Move: Transitions In Ministry Appointment” by Doug Anderson. Also, download the outline (PDF) Doug used during his presentation.

Part 1 – Preparing To End Well

Part 2 – Pastoral Power And Trust

Part 3 – Focusing On The Mission

Part 4 – Pastoral Time-use And Priorities

Part 5 – Choosing Well The Pace Of Change

Part 6 – Getting Acquainted Well

Part 7 – Regular Meetings Of PPRC

Part 8 – Staying Spiritually Fit

Join outstanding musicians Pepper Choplin, Joseph Martin, Randy Edwards, and others at the Renew for the Journey Church Music Conference at Campbell University Divinity School in Buies Creek, July 15-17.

This ecumenical event is co-sponsored by the NC Conference Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts. For more information and registration, go to OASIS or call 1-800-334-4111, ext. 1830.

Registration is open for Exploration 2013 in Denver, a three-day event for young adults age 18-26 to hear, discern and respond to God’s call to ordained ministry in The United Methodist Church.

Featured speakers will include Louisiana Area Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey and the Rev. Jorge Acevedo, senior pastor of the multi-campus Grace Church in Southwest Florida. Please pass this information along to young persons in your church who might be wondering what ministry in The United Methodist Church is all about, who would like help sifting through issues involved in an ordained vocation, or who want to learn more about The United Methodist Church.

Learn more about Exploration.

The North Carolina Council of Churches’ 2013 Legislative Seminar brings together national experts with grassroots activists who share a progressive, prophetic vision for the state  This year’s seminar takes place on Thursday, April 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 4801 Six Forks Road, Raleigh. The Rev. Joseph Brown, Presiding Elder, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, will lead worship, and the Rev. Fletcher Harper, Executive Director of GreenFaith, will lead the plenary on “Communicating the Values We Believe.” Register at Legislative Seminar or by calling 919-828-6501. Cost, including lunch, is $10 for students; $25 for all others. Lunch, provided by the Interfaith Food Shuttle’s Catering With A Cause, cannot be guaranteed after April 4.

Online registration for Duke Divinity School’s 2013 Convocation on the Rural Church will begin May 15 at 9 a.m. Pastors of rural churches that are eligible for Duke Endowment grants are invited to register for the event, which will be held August 12-14 at the Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort and Conference Center in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Thanks to the generous funding of The Duke Endowment, costs will be kept to a minimum. For additional information, visit the event website.