Events

Saying, “Yes, And” in Ministry

Events Published on
May 6, 2024

Embracing the unexpected…In the life of the local church and ministry, change happens. Using improvisational skills and tools can help local churches adapt and thrive.

Join us for this Day of Learning where we’ll spend time considering the scriptural journeys of biblical figures whose “yes, and” approach is a means to a greater path forward. We will also practice new models and ways to adapt, and at the same time explore the beauty of not having all the answers.

Embracing the Unexpected:
Facing the Unknown with Grace and Humor
Presented by the Center for Leadership Excellence
with MaryAnn McKibben Dana

Tuesday, May 21, 2024, 9:30am – 3pm ET
NC Conference Building, Garner
$40, includes lunch

Bring Your Team! We believe this Day of Learning, like most of our events, will have the biggest impact when clergy and laity attend together. Bring a group of 3 or more from your church and receive a 20% discount on your total registration. You must register by this Wednesday, May 8th, to receive this discount!

About MaryAnn Mckibben Dana:

The Rev. MaryAnn McKibben Dana is a writer, pastor, speaker, and ministry coach living in the Virginia suburbs of DC. She is author of three books, Hope: A User’s Manual, God, Improv, and the Art of Living, and Sabbath in the Suburbs, and writes a weekly newsletter for thousands of subscribers called The Blue Room. Her writing has also appeared in TIME.com, The Washington Post, Huffington Post, Religion Dispatches, Journal for Preachers, the Christian Century, and Presbyterians Today. She was featured on PBS’s Religion and Ethics Newsweekly for her work on Sabbath and was recognized by the Presbyterian Writers Guild with the 2015-2016 David Steele Distinguished Writer Award.

She is a sought-after speaker, preacher, conference leader and writer around issues of leadership, faith formation, and congregational transformation. She currently serves as associate pastor at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Herndon, VA. MaryAnn is a graduate of Rice University in Houston, Texas and received her M.Div. from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. She is a mother of three, an imperfect knitter, and an occasional ultramarathoner. Connect with her at her website.

What Do Certified Lay Ministers Do? (Part 2)

Events Published on
April 29, 2024

Certified lay ministers (CLMs) are movers and shakers in their communities and they are involved in a wide-range of different ministries that reflect their specific gifts and callings.

Last week, we shared a video of one CLM candidate, Sue Ann Jatko, presenting her ministry project, a culminating project unique to the NC Conference’s CLM training program that gives candidates an opportunity to share their vision and plan for ministry as a CLM.

Sue Ann is one of 8 CLM candidates who have been together since September, working through the four training modules, building relationships with their pastor and district superintendent, and creating a team of support in their local church, all as a part of their preparation to become certified lay ministers.

We give thanks to God for all of these CLM candidates and the ways they are answering God’s call on their lives…

Back Row (left to right):

Rick Stanford (Millbrook UMC, Capital) is drawing on his years of experience as a restaurant owner to create a hospitality ministry at his church.
Dick Morrison (Wrightsville UMC, Harbor) is instituting regular worship services in a retirement community and organizing a team of laity to ensure the worship and ministry remains sustainable.
Jeanne Gregory (Trinity UMC-Southport, Harbor) is instituting a ministry fair in her congregation to build connections between people involved in different ministries and to share with the congregation and community about the many ways to become involved.
Lisa O’Donnell (Live Oak UMC, Harbor) is building a food pantry ministry in partnership with the three congregations her pastor serves.
Sue Ann Jatko (St. Francis UMC, Fairway) is partnering with the NC Conference to increase awareness of spiritual direction opportunities for United Methodists.

Front Row (left to right):

Mary McLeod (St. Matthews UMC, Gateway) is establishing a preschool to meet a need for affordable childcare in her community and to share the love of Jesus with children who may not attend church otherwise.
Shannon Perkins (St. James UMC, Heritage) is still listening for God’s direction but plans to start with her own Girl Scout troop. She is encouraging her church to use its space and partner to sponsor cooking classes for children who may be home alone to learn to prepare healthy food without needing to turn on an oven.
Lusi Radford (Avent Ferry UMC, Capital) is reestablishing adult Christian discipleship in her church, starting with a Tenx10 study for adults that will run in parallel to the youth confirmation class.

How is God calling you to deepen your witness and commitment as a lay person?

If you are curious about certified lay ministry, we invite you to join us for a Day of Discovery, Saturday, June 1, 10am-3pm, at the NC Conference Building in Garner. We’ll share about the CLM training program and what it means to be a certified lay minister in our conference. Lunch is provided free of charge to all registrants.

Watch the Preview Video! Embracing the Unexpected

Events Published on
April 24, 2024

Ready to hear more about the upcoming Day of Learning?

On May 21, MaryAnn McKibben Dana will lead us through scripture, theology, psychology, literature, pop culture, music, and more. All the while, we will be dreaming and planning for the future of our churches!

Bring Your Team! We believe this Day of Learning, like most of our events, will have the biggest impact when clergy and laity attend together. Bring a group of 3 or more from your church and receive a 20% discount on your total registration. You must register by May 8th to receive this discount!

About MaryAnn Mckibben Dana:

What Does a CLM Do? (Part 1)

Events Published on
April 23, 2024

Have you ever wondered what a certified lay minister (CLM) does?

A few weeks ago, eight CLM candidates gathered at the NC Conference building in Garner to present their ministry projects. The audience included district superintendents, pastors of the CLM candidates, the Board of Laity, and CLMs who have been mentoring and supporting these candidates since they began this journey in September.

To get a feel for the day and hear one example of what a CLM does, check out this video of Sue Ann Jatko’s presentation, where she shares about her experience in the CLM training program and her ministry project. For her CLM ministry, Sue Ann will collaborate with the NC Conference to help United Methodists connect with opportunities for spiritual direction.

Interested in learning about the other things CLMs are doing? Stay tuned for another email next week, where we’ll share about the rest of the cohort and the many different ways they are answering God’s call on their lives.

How is God calling you to deepen your witness and commitment as a lay person?

If you are curious about certified lay ministry, we invite you to join us for a Day of Discovery, Saturday, June 1, 10am-3pm, at the NC Conference Building in Garner. We’ll share about the CLM training program and what it means to be a certified lay minister in our conference. Lunch is provided free of charge to all registrants.

When laity say “yes” to God’s call to ministry, exciting things happen!

2024 Retiree, Spouse, and Surviving Spouse Retreat

Events Published on
April 12, 2024

Registration for this event is open until August 24. You can do so below.

Rev. J. Dana Trent is our guest speaker for this year’s retreat, which will be held on September 11-13 at Ft. Caswell Conference Ctr. Our theme is “The Stories We Share.”

Rev. Trent is a speaker, professor, crisis counselor, award-winning spirituality author, minister, and graduate of Duke Divinity School.

We will begin our time together by checking in by 4:00 pm on Wednesday and end our time together before noon on Friday.

Preparing for Racialized Storms

Events Published on
April 11, 2024

The Center for Leadership Excellence invites you to a webinar, Preparing for Racialized Storms, with Harold “Dorrell” Briscoe.

Preparing for Racialized Storms
Presented by the Center for Leadership Excellence
with Harold Briscoe
Tuesday, May 14, 2024, 1-2 pm ET

The Center for Leadership Excellence invites church leaders to join us for Preparing for Racialized Storms, presented by the Rev. Dr. Harold Dorrell Briscoe. This webinar introduces a longer training offered by Dorrell and equips churches with the knowledge and skills to prepare for and respond to racially charged events that inflict trauma on the social fabric of America. It will include four sessions: Understanding Systemic Racism, the Racial Crisis Framework, Proactive Measures for Racialized Crises, and Standing Up for Racial Justice.

About Harold Briscoe:

Rev. Dr. Harold “Dorrell” Briscoe founded and serves as lead pastor at The Six:Eight Church in Durham. His education includes a master’s degree in Public Administration as well as Theological Studies and a Doctor of Ministry degree. His work focuses on the intersection of race, religion, law, and power.

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About Harold Briscoe:

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