methodist

There is a discussion going on in our district/conference about lay speaking and the changes in the curriculum for lay speakers. I have some idea about the lay speakers in our district and will be getting answers as to the courses that they have taken in the past. But I want to get some idea of the nature of lay speaking on a broader scale. So I have come up with these questions:
1. Are you now or have you ever been a local lay speaker? Are you now or have you ever been a certified lay speaker?
2. When did you take your first course to become a local lay speaker?
3. Describe the course or courses that you took when you became a local lay speaker?
4. When did you take your first course to become a certified lay speaker?
5. Describe the course or courses that you took when you became a certified lay speaker?
6. How much of your being a lay speaker (local or certified) is more leadership than speaking? (an approximate percentage of the total time)
7. How much of your being a lay speaking (local or certified) is leading worship rather than speaking? (an approximate percentage of the total time)
8. If you are a certified lay speaker, how many Sundays in a given calendar year are you at other churches?
9. Are you aware of the category of lay speaker known as “Certified Lay Minister”?
10. Is your conference aware of the category? Is your district aware?
11. Are there any individuals in your conference qualified as Certified Lay Minister?
12. If so, how are they utilized in this position?
Thought provoking question – “In your opinion, should a person be a lay speaker before they consider full-time ministry?”
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If you are not a lay speaker, can I be as bold as to ask why not? And would you mind sharing these questions with your friends who happen to be lay speakers? Thank you!
Answers may be posted to my blog (http://heartontheleft.wordpress.com/2010/02/13/a-questionnaire-about-lay...) or you may mail them to me at TonyMitchellPhD@verizon.net. I will try to have a summary of the answers up by the 1st of March.

I recently conducted a workshop entitled “Technology in the Pulpit”.  It was designed to explore many of the ways that computers and its attending technology can be used not only in the pulpit but in other ways to facilitate evangelism and the work of the church.  This include exploring how to become a blogger.

For me, it was an interesting time because it allowed me to do what I am supposed to be doing, teaching, and in an area that I have explored since it became part of the educational and religious landscapes some twenty years ago.

More importantly, the two “graduates” of the workshop are now bloggers in their own right and a part of the Methodist Blogging community.  They are

1. The Odd Thought, and
2. Living Water

Please visit their sites and help welcome them to the neighborhood.

It is with sad news that we share the word that GracePoint UMC will be closing its doors. Quite a bit of energy was spent around the break up of GracePoint UMC into GracePoint Community Church in our methoblogosphere (not to mention to congregations involved). Bishop Scott Jones is quoted,

 

"We would have liked to continue the GracePoint United Methodist congregation. Unfortunately, there were not enough remaining members to continue the congregation," Kansas United Methodist Bishop Scott Jones said in a news release issued today. "We are disappointed that things worked out this way."

 

Andrew Conard shares his thoughts saying,

 

I believe that the new church start that was GracePoint UMC has been and will continue to bear fruit in God’s kingdom.

It is okay that the new church start that was GracePoint UMC did not work out for the Kansas West Annual Conference or the United Methodist Church. I believe that the annual conference should be about starting more new churches, not less as a result of this scenario.

 

I mentioned similar sentiments to Andrew upon the breakup that a scenario like this does not need linger in our minds in starting a new church (that they might eventually leave the umc) but that whatever we do, we do faithfully and it will bear fruit for the Kingdom of God.

 

our UK contingent of methodist bloggers are getting together for their first ever intentional gathering. richard has started posting pictures with a short recap of the day. in attendance as i can see

• dave warnock
• olive morgan
• turbulent cleric
• PamBG
• Will Grady
• John Cooper
• Richard Hall

in other news i think richard was joking, but we already have a methoblogsphere facebook group.