The Fourth Annual Lay Servant Academy 36 th Edition of Lay Speaker Training Blackstone Conference and Retreat Center February 21-23, 2014 Page 1 of 11
Our theme this year is Lord, Renew Our Spirit. To that end we will again have opening prayers each day in the Auditorium. Additionally we will have four separate courses about different aspects of prayer throughout the weekend, and we will encourage each class to pray for renewal in the Holy Spirit. The Lay Servant Academy is about equipping laity to carry out the mission of the church. The mission of the Virginia Annual Conference is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world by equipping its local churches for ministry and by providing a connection for ministry beyond the local church; all to the glory of God. -Virginia Conference Mission Statement In addition to the 10 different choices of the familiar courses, plus one new course, this year s Academy is also offering eleven mini-courses in a wide range of specialties and interests that are designed to be appetizers for the different topics to be explored by the Laity in any role at your church. For Lay Servants, taking 5 mini-courses will count this year towards advanced certification if you have not taken the course before. Anyone interested can take one or more courses just for the interest in the topic. For a full weekend you can take up to six classes. This format will also allow Friday and Saturday or Saturday and Sunday participation only. All of the courses are open to anyone interested in one or more topics. To obtain the new endorsement as a Lay Speaker (remember the name has changed) you need six specific courses plus the Basic course. You also need to be endorsed by your Charge Conference, and approved by your District Committee following a demonstration sermon. All six courses are provided this year at Blackstone, though you can take only one. The interim qualification is available if you have had two of the six courses. Your District Director can recommend that you give your demonstration sermon in front of a small group during the Academy. Contact your District Director of Lay Servant Ministries for more information on this process. Link for the Directors on the Virginia Conference website: http://www.vaumc.org/page.aspx?pid=807 Lay Servant Academy Director, at or 804-338-3168 Reminder: Cokesbury bookstore is no longer open at Blackstone. If required, order your text before you arrive. Page 2 of 11
Tentative Schedule DATE TIME ACTIVITY LOCATION FRIDAY 4:00-6:30 pm Registration Lobby 6:00-6:45 pm Dinner Dining Hall 7:00-7:30 pm Opening/Prayer Auditorium 7:30-8:30 pm Music Auditorium 7:30-9:00 pm The Basic Class and first mini-session As assigned 9:15pm District Directors Meeting SATURDAY 6:30-7:00 am Morning Prayer Auditorium 7:00-8:00 am Registration Lobby 7:15-7:45 am Breakfast Dining Hall 8:00-9:55 am First Session (all other full-course As assigned offerings begin) 10:10 am - 12:05 pm Second session As assigned 12:15-1:00 pm Lunch Dining Hall 1:15-2:30 pm Plenary Session Auditorium 2:45-3:15 pm District meetings As assigned 3:30-5:15 pm Third session As assigned 5:30-6:15 pm Dinner Dining Hall 6:45-8:45 pm Fourth session As assigned 9:00-9:45 pm Coffee House Dining Hall SUNDAY 6:30-7:00 am Morning Prayer Auditorium 7:15-7:45 am Breakfast Dining Hall 7:45-8:30 am Move out 8:45-10:45 am Fifth session 11:00 am - 12:30 pm Commitment service Auditorium 12:30-1:30 pm Lunch Dining Hall The Lay Servant Academy is held at the Blackstone Conference and Retreat Center in Blackstone, VA. Blackstone Conference and Retreat Center provides dormstyle accommodations. There are currently 126 bedrooms for guests. Most rooms have a private bath with 2-5 beds per room. For more information and driving directions, visit their website at http://www. vumac.org/ Page 3 of 11
Mini-course Schedule Mini-Courses like the regular courses are open to anyone. Just $7 per mini-course The goal is to get you interested in a topic that will help engage, equip, and empower you. We encourage everyone to share in what is the most uplifting spiritual environment of the Lay Servant Academy, but meals and staying overnight is not required. DATE TIME COURSE NAME INSTRUCTOR FRIDAY 7:30-9:00 pm Rethink Welcome Neill Caldwell 7:30-9:00 pm Prison Ministry: What to Expect Jennings & 7:30-9:00 pm Missional Evangelism Andrew Ware SATURDAY 8:00-9:55 am Ministry to men/women on the inside 8:00-9:55 am Power & Purpose in Prayer (4 hours) Part 1 Jennings & Shirley Cauffman 8:00-9:55 am Rethink Welcome Neill Caldwell 8:00-9:55 am Accountable Discipleship Martha Stokes 10:10-12:05 am Preparing inmates for reentry to Society, including mentoring and aftercare Jennings & 10:10-12:05 am Journaling Your Prayers Jane Joyner 10:10-12:05 am Power and Purpose in Prayer (4 hours) Part 2 10:10-12:05 am Helping Your Church Become More Vital Shirley Cauffman Rev. Larry Davies 3:30-5:15 pm Ministering to At Risk Youth Jennings & 3:30-5:15 pm Journaling Your Prayers Jane Joyner 3:30-5:15 pm Wesley s class meeting model and/or Martha Stokes small group leadership. 3:30-5:15 pm Missional Evangelism Andrew Ware 6:45-8:45 pm Working w/ Youth/Families of Incarcerated Jennings & 6:45-8:45 pm Storytelling 6:45-8:45 pm Leading in Prayer Andrew Ware SUNDAY 8:45-10:45 am Social Issues related to Incarceration (Death penalty, voting rights, war on drugs Jennings & 8:45-10:45 am This Holy Mystery Jim O Quinn Page 4 of 11
Full (10 Hour) Course Listing (Register by Number) 1. The Basic Course If you are a chairperson, committee member, teacher, congregational leader or in the process of discerning ways that you might be a servant leader, you are encouraged to take this introductory course and overview of United Methodism. In this basic course, you can begin the process of recognizing and employing your spiritual gifts for the church and be empowered to use them as God intended. You will discover the importance of being a servant leader, developing future leaders, remaining rooted in consistent spiritual practices and being part of a group that holds members accountable in discipleship. Best practices for church leaders are the focus of this course and you will explore the various ministries in which lay speakers provide leadership. This class starts Friday night. Lay Speaking Ministries Basic Course Participant s Guide by Sandy Jackson. 1a Basic Course Leader: Richard Speirs or 1b Basic Course Leader: Bill Walker 2. Prison Ministry God s love is meant to be shared with all, even those who are incarcerated and their families. Come and learn ways your faith community can reach out in Christian love to all of those impacted by crime, including the victims and their families. This course is made up of the five mini-prison ministry modules which are scheduled for all day Saturday and Sunday morning. Attendance at the Friday night module is optional. Leaders: Louise Jennings and Jim 3. Growth of the Church and Its Interaction with the World (50-553 AD): From Martyrs to Monarchial Bishops The course covers the time period 50 AD to 553 AD. It looks at how the struggling church interacted with pagan neighbors, other organized religions, the court system, the emperors, and the persecutions. It looks at the structure of the church, how it handled ritual, how it solved internal problems. And it examines the phenomenal growth of the church despite the ongoing persecution. We will also compare strategies of the early church living in a non-christian world with those of the modern church living in what is often called a post-christian world. Leader: Allen Barnes 4. Fishing from the Right Side of the Boat Tired of fishing on the wrong side of the boat? Based on the resurrection story of Jesus instructing his disciples to fish on the right side of the boat in John 21:1-14, this workshop will help congregational leaders to understand the dynamics of congregational life that affect current and future ministry. Leader: Rev. Marc Brown Page 5 of 11
(Full-course descriptions continued) 5. Survey of Apologetics There are many believers and skeptics who have questions about logic, philosophy, science and truth related to Christianity. These questions are often stumbling blocks to faith and belief. We will identify the most common questions asked and attempt to answer questions including: Can we know God exists? Is the Bible reliable and true? How can a loving God allow evil? Are all religions paths to know God? Text: Holman QuickSource Guide to Christian Apologetics by Doug Powell. Leader: C.G. Miller 6. Heritage of the United Methodist Church The class will explore the fascinating United Methodist story from Wesley s time to today. Students will learn about John and Charles Wesley, the United Methodist movement in America, and how to share our faith heritage with others. Leader: Hal Costley 7. Exploring Our Spiritual Gifts An interactive, fun, informative, relational and experiential course designed to help you better understand your spiritual hardwiring and the impact your unique spiritual gifts have upon relationships and your ministry within the body of Christ. Prerequisite: Complete a spiritual gifts self-assessment ($10.00) prior to class. Inventories may be obtained by contacting Linda at linda4thegoodlife@cox.net (Pay Linda directly for the inventory at the beginning of the class). Leader: Rev. Linda Young 8. Polity of the United Methodist Church Discover the ins-and-outs of the method of Methodism. 1) To enhance familiarity and facility in usage of The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church; 2) To gain a working knowledge and understanding of the polity of The United Methodist Church in its various forms as practiced in the life of congregations, conferences, and the connection; 3) To explore the theology, history, disciplines, and social principles of United Methodism in relation to the ministry and mission of the church in the world. Required texts: Bible, Book of Discipline, Book of Worship, Book of Resolutions, Social Principles, Hymnal. You can bring the books or computer or both. Homework: Bring a Wesley quote to share with the group. Explain the when and why along with the history of the quote. Leader: Vicki Poindexter 9. Preaching from Your Heart to Theirs This course is designed for lay leaders, pastors, student pastors who have not completed formal preaching training, pastors seeking a basic refresher course, and others who are called upon to preach in a pastor s absence. Helpful experiential guide includes: types of sermons, from exegetical to topical to children s sermons; finding the story and using the hymnal; reading the Bible aloud; communication on paper and moving beyond the paper; and presentation and practice. Leaders: Rev. Jennifer Vestal Moore and Rev. Tom Page Page 6 of 11
(Full-course descriptions continued) 10. Leading Worship Leading Worship 101 will focus on basic worship leadership skills for lay persons ( liturgists or lay readers ) who assist the pastor in leading Christian worship. If you currently help lead worship in your congregation or would like to prepare for such leadership, this course is for you. Particular emphasis will be given to basic skills: understanding your leadership role in relation to other leaders and the congregation, reading Scripture, leading prayer, distribution of the elements at the Lord s Supper, and basic do s and don ts of effective worship leadership. Lay worship leader coordinators are welcome, particularly with an eye to doing local training and providing support to lay readers/ assisting ministers in their local church settings. Leader: Rev. Nathan Decker 11. Adventures in Prayerful Living Drawing on a variety of traditions and his personal exploration, Bert will serve as a guide for people looking to deepen their prayer life. Sessions will offer hands-on experiences, reflections on Christian thinking about prayer, and practical advice about how individuals can grow in their relationship with God through prayer and other spiritual disciplines. Attention will be given to contemplative prayer and the Wesleyan tradition. Text: When You Pray: Daily Practices for Prayerful Living, Rueben P. Job (Abingdon Press, 2009) Available in paper or as an ebook. Leader: Rev. Bert Cloud Page 7 of 11
Mini-course Descriptions A. Prison Ministry-What to Expect: Explore ways of showing God s love for those in prison and those impacted by the imprisonment. Session highlights the different types of prison ministry and considers how each of us can become involved. Leaders: Louise Jennings and Jim B. Ministry to Men and Women on the Inside: Main emphasis of this session is working with inmates incarcerated in our state prisons. What it is like to minister on the inside and in what areas one can become involved. Leaders: Louise Jennings and Jim C. Preparing Inmates for Reentry to Society, Including Mentoring and Aftercare: This course includes mentoring and aftercare. Ninety percent of those incarnated today will be our neighbors tomorrow. Learn what is being done to prepare the incarcerated to be productive returning citizens tomorrow. Christian mentoring is a big part of successful reentry. Leaders: Louise Jennings and Jim D. Ministering to At-risk Youths: If children do not receive the love and attention they want at home, they will look for it elsewhere. Will that love and attention come from a local gang or a local church family? How can the church bring Christ s love to those already in the juvenile system? Come and find out. Leaders: Louise Jennings and Jim E. Working w/ Youth/Families of the Incarcerated: When a person is locked up, the lives of an average of five other people are impacted. How can the church minister to these families and to the victims of crime? Leaders: Louise Jennings and Jim F. Social Issues related to Incarceration (Death penalty, voting rights, war on drugs): How can our churches deal with the violence that surrounds us? Our church talks about the death penalty and the restoration of voting rights, which is good. But what are we doing to deal with the growth of gangs and the violence that surrounds our children in the form of video games and movies? Leaders: Louise Jennings and Jim G. Journaling Your Prayers: Learn to weave Bible verses, favorite hymns, and prayers in times of sorrow and joy, concerns for friends and family, and personal insights into a resource for your faith walk. Leader: Jane Joyner H. Rethink Welcome: The Rethink Welcome workshop is an opportunity for local churches to discover ways to do engaging ministries that connect with people beyond the walls of the church building. Continuing our denomination s promise of Open hearts, Open minds, Open doors, Rethink Welcome challenges participants to identify ways of extending their church s open hearts into the community. It also offers ways to make visitors feel welcome once they have arrived at your church. Leader: Neill Caldwell Page 8 of 11
(Mini-course descriptions continued) I. Power and Purpose in Prayer (4 hours): To learn what prayer is, gain a better understanding of the importance of prayer in our daily lives, and to learn different ways of praying. Leader: Shirley Cauffman J. Leading Prayer: To many people, prayer remains a mystery, and praying in public is a test of faith left to the professionals of the church. Mary O. Benedict offers a short course on praying in public to help you grow in confidence and skill in prayer, both public and personal. Benedict s deep passion grows from her awareness of prayer as an intimate connection to God. She teaches you to encourage deeper and more vital prayer among all Christians. Leader: Andrew Ware K. Missional Evangelism: The Missional church is the idea that the church is the mission of God. What does that mean? How does this change our traditional view of evangelism? And how does this also help grow our community of faith? Leader: Andrew Ware L. Accountable Discipleship: Accountable discipleship is a distinctively Methodist way of Christian formation, founded in the movement led by John and Charles Wesley. Early Methodists met in small groups (class meetings) to hold themselves mutually accountable for their discipleship. Come explore this concept as we are being called back to this important part of our heritage. Leader: Martha Stokes M. Small Group Leadership: In early Methodist communities, participation in small groups (class meetings) was required. Small groups today have many areas of focus: accountability, support, learning, service, and administration. Yet each requires spiritual leaders who are called to help members experience Christian community. This course will help us explore the skills needed for small group leadership. Leader: Martha Stokes N. Helping Your Church Become More Vital: Today more than ever, people feel disconnected. They find themselves isolated from each other, from their churches and from their God. Vital Churches have found ways to connect with those who feel disconnected and isolated. But becoming more vital isn t as easy as it sounds. Helping Your Church Become More Vital offers practical and spiritual idea to guide any church: small, medium or large. Leader: Rev. Larry Davies O. Storytelling: You will learn what constitutes a good story, discover your storytelling styles, learn the techniques of effective storytelling, and practice creating stories from your own experiences. Leaders: Mechelle Beauchamp and Page 9 of 11
(Mini-course descriptions continued) P. This Holy Mystery: We come to Communion seeking to nourish our spiritual hunger, but what is happening as we share this meal together? Actually, United Methodists believe that there is a lot happening with God, with our community and within ourselves. This course invites you to a deeper experience of the divine grace made available through this sacrament and will help you share this experience with others. Text: This Holy Mystery A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion by Gayle Carlton Felton Leader: Rev. Jim O Quinn Lay Servants are active, supportive members of a United Methodist Church; eager to serve their local church; well-informed on Scripture, doctrine, heritage, organization, and life of The United Methodist Church; committed to witnessing through church and community leadership, care giving ministries, and spoken communication; and willing to improve their skills for service. Each year they must reapply reporting how they have served and continued to learn during that year. Every 3 years, they must complete a refresher course. Certified Lay Servants serve in and through their local churches, district and conference; must be recommended by their pastor and Church Council or Charge Conference; and complete the Basic Course for Lay Servant Ministries. Each year they must reapply reporting how they have served and continued to learn during that year. Every 3 years, they must complete an Advanced Course. Lay Speakers are Certified Lay Servants who serve in their own churches and other churches; and through district or conference by speaking in the pulpit. They must be recommended by their pastor and Church Council or Charge Conference, complete the Basic Course and six Advanced Lay Speaking Course; and be interviewed by the District or Conference Committee on Lay Speaking. They must report and reapply annually, and they must complete at least one Advanced Course every three years. Page 10 of 11
Lay Servant Academy Registration Blackstone Conference and Retreat Center, Blackstone, VA February 21-23, 2014 Enter Course Number: 1st Choice 2nd Choice 3rd Choice Or Mini Course Letter from Page 3: 1st Choice 2nd Choice 3rd Choice 4th Choice 5th Choice 6th Choice Fees for 2014 Friday/Saturday/Sunday registration before Feb. 1 st $175 after Feb. 1 st $195 Saturday/Sunday registration before Feb. 1 st $130 after Feb. 1 st $145 Mini-course fees: Full cost Fri-Sun for 5 mini-courses received by Feb. 1 st $175 Saturday/Sunday cost for mini-courses received by Feb. 1 st $130 After Feb. 1, 2014, or if you want to select specific meals, overnight stay, or mini-courses: Call the Blackstone Conference and Retreat Center for rates. Make check payable to: Virginia Conference UMC Send the completed form and full costs in a check to: Blackstone Conference and Retreat Center 707 Fourth Street, Blackstone, VA 23824 Or Call 1-434-292-5308 to pay by credit or debit card ($5 fee). PLEASE IDENTIFY ANY SPECIAL NEEDS (Please print or type) Roommate preference (by name): Special Housing Needs: Special Dietary Needs: ANY Allergies: REGISTRATION DEADLINE - FEBRUARY 14, 2014 Registrations may be cancelled prior to February 14, 2014 for full refund. After February 14, a refund may be made less program fees. Contact the conference center by mail, e-mail, telephone or by FAX for further information. Name: Telephone Street: City State Zip Church & District E-Mail Cell Phone Church Position : ; ; :, Page 11 of 11