District Training Day 2020
District Training Day 2020
District Training Day 2020 will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2020 at New Creation UMC (4320 Bruce Road, Chesapeake, 23321). The plenary speaker will be Rev. Rachel Billups, a visionary, leader, speaker and author. Currently she serves as Senior Pastor at Ginghamsburg Church multi-campus ministry in Tipp City/Dayton, Ohio. Rachel draws on her love of people and passion to explore new venues for ministry and mission.
Registration will begin at 8:30 am, with the plenary session starting at 9 am. Session 1 workshops will begin at 10 am, lunch at noon, and Session 2 workshops begin at 1 pm. The day will conclude at 3 pm. 0.5 CEU for clergy are pending.
The cost will be $30/person to cover speaker costs, fees, materials, and lunch. Childcare will only be available upon request at registration.
Below are the workshops being offered during the two workshop sessions.
Session 1 Workshops:
1. 8 Systems That Will Forever Change Your Church (Part 1): The church is the body of Christ. And just like any body, it has systems. Expect, instead of a skeletal system or a digestive system, churches must have healthy, functioning Assimilation, Evangelism, Worship Planning, Stewardship, Volunteer, Small Groups, Leadership, and Strategy Systems. In this two-part workshop, you will learn about each system, how it is critical to the health of your church, and practical first steps you can take to improve it. This workshop will continue in Session 2. (led by Rev. Brandon Robbins, Lynnhaven UMC)
2. Everything You Need to Know About S/PPRC: The Staff-Parish Relations Committee is the administrative unit in the local church where staff and congregational interests are integrated to focus on the mission of the church. This workshop will explain who the committee is and is not, the four duties of the committee, five areas of focus, a calendar flow for meetings, and much more. Ideal for new and returning members of S/PPRC. (led by Rev. Wayne Snead, District Superintendent)
3. Lead Bold: Leadership has a way of combining crazy good with just plain crazy. Who hasn’t had a moment they just wanted to walk out of the meeting and never come back? But leaders that find their inner fierce do not maintain the status quo, ignore social
4. How to Share Your Faith: Most Christians admit that they do not share their faith because they fear offending someone or being rejected. Yet, the number one way in which new Christians come to know Jesus is through relationships with other people. This workshop will explore simple ways to share your faith without freaking yourself or others out. (led by Rev. Greg West, Chaplain at Virginia Wesleyan University)
5. How to Develop an Intentional Discipleship Plan: Disciples are lifelong learners who influence others to serve. But how is the local church developing disciples? This workshop will provide clarity on what an intentional discipleship plan is and explore discipleship movements. In addition, the workshop will provide a guide on how to develop a process and strategies that will depend on the needs and strengths of your congregation. (led by Rev. Jason C. Stanley, District Coordinator for Church Revitalization)
6. Local Church Finances: The Finance Committee serves to “underpin the ministries of the church.” This workshop will provide an overview of the primary tasks of the Finance Committee and the budget process. The roles and responsibilities of the counters, finance secretary, and treasurer will be introduced. Ideal for Treasurers, Counters, Finance Secretaries, and finance committee members. (led by Rev. Jeff Witt, St. Andrew’s UMC, Virginia Beach)
7. Conflicts in Church Transformation: Want to learn skills to help save yourself from the chaotic and powerful energy in church conflict? Want to grow in skills in how to grow a more peaceful space inside yourself and in your congregation or family? This workshop can help with this. Come, laugh, laugh again, and breathe. This workshop can help you experience how Bowen Family Systems and the Gospel of Matthew helps you protect your hide, transform energy, and help your congregation be a safer place to be! (led by Rev. Teresa Keezel and Gerry Fuss)
8. How to Recruit and Keep Volunteers: One of the greatest challenges in ministry is recruiting volunteers to help make ministry happen. The second greatest challenge in ministry is keeping volunteers engaged. This workshop will consider practical ways to developing a system of recruiting volunteers whose gifts match the ministry needs and maintaining volunteer engagement. (led by Mary Kaye Cochran, Admin Assistant, VAUMC Center for Congregational Excellence)
9. How to Create a Welcoming Environment: Hospitality is a core component in helping guests feel welcome when they visit your church. But creating a welcoming environment goes beyond coffee and refreshments. This workshop will present key elements learned from the hospitality industry that can be applied to the local church. (led by Bob Howard, Chief Investment Officer, Gold Key/PHR and lay leader at Baylake UMC)
10. 4 (or more) Ways to Cultivate a Culture of Call: Churches are like greenhouses, nurturing and cultivating new life. As such, many individuals through the life and ministry of the church experience a call to ministry. How can you help cultivate such a culture? How can you help those who have a call on their hearts, respond? This workshop will explore ways you and your congregation can help cultivate a culture of call to help individuals discern their call to ministry. (led by Rev. Lindsey Baynham, Director, VAUMC Center for Clergy Excellence)
Session 2 Workshops:
1. 8 Systems That Will Forever Change Your Church (Part 2): The church is the body of Christ. And just like any body, it has systems. Expect, instead of a skeletal system or a digestive system, churches must have healthy, functioning Assimilation, Evangelism, Worship Planning, Stewardship, Volunteer, Small Groups, Leadership, and Strategy Systems. In this two-part workshop, you will learn about each system, how it is critical to the health of your church, and practical first steps you can take to improve it. This workshop continues from Session 1. (led by Rev. Brandon Robbins, Lynnhaven UMC)
2. Everything You Need to Know About S/PPRC: The Staff-Parish Relations Committee is the administrative unit in the local church where staff and congregational interests are integrated to focus on the mission of the church. This workshop will explain who the committee is and is not, the four duties of the committee, five areas of focus, a calendar flow for meetings, and much more. Ideal for new and returning members of S/PPRC. (led by Rev. Wayne Snead, District Superintendent)
3. Lead Bold: Leadership has a way of combining crazy good with just plain crazy. Who hasn’t had a moment they just wanted to walk out of the meeting and never come back? But leaders that find their inner fierce do not maintain the status quo, ignore social injustice, or turn their backs on systems that keep entire people groups oppressed. Those possessing dreams of leading the human race into God’s promised future must grab on to the courage to speak the truth in love. Join Rachel Billups, Senior Pastor of the Ginghamsburg Church movement as she offers a courageous way to move forward – weaving real-life stories with time-tested scriptures – empowering leaders to stay the course and LEAD BOLD. (led by Rev. Rachel Billups, Ginghamsburg Church)
4. Stewardship Made Easier: What would it mean to your ministries if you could receive a 5 or 10% increase in offerings? This workshop will provide a useful philosophy of stewardship, 11 key implementable tools, as well as additional resources to improve the stewardship of your congregation. Ideal for finance and stewardship leaders. (led by Rev. Jeff Witt, St. Andrew’s UMC, Virginia Beach)
5. How to Structure for Ministry: Do you find yourself in more meetings than in ministry? Too often current church structures do not allow for adaptive challenges. To reach the new missional frontier churches may need to restructure. This workshop will introduce the Simplified, Accountable Structure. Practical tips and steps will be shared in how to make the transition, how to communicate it to the congregation and live into it. (led by Rev. Brian Boettcher, Associate, Community UMC, Virginia Beach)
6. Worship Design & Planning: Worship is about giving honor and glory to God. But how does our worship connect? This workshop will introduce creative design elements and practical ways to plan worship with a central theme so that all the elements of worship connect, resulting in a powerful worship experience. (led by Rev. Sarah Locke, Hickory UMC)
7. How to Start a Small Group: Jesus started a small group. John and Charles Wesley started small groups. Small group ministry is a part of our Wesleyan heritage. There are numerous benefits to small group ministry. But how do you start a small group? This workshop will explore ways to develop, communicate, invite, and start a small group. (led by Rev. Greg West, Chaplain, Virginia Wesleyan University)
8. How to Follow-Up with Guests: On any given Sunday, hundreds of people will visit a church for the first time. And the next Sunday too. Are we doing all we can to accept and welcome these first-time guests? This workshop will explore practical steps to follow-up with first-time guests, ultimately prompting them to become fully engaged disciples in the life of your church. (led by Rev. Jason C. Stanley, District Coordinator for Revitalization)
9. What’s a Trustee?: The Trustees are elected by the congregation to lead in the stewardship of the property. This workshop will help provide trustees with key tools for managing current and future property. In addition, it will address how to organize the Board of Trustees, what its management responsibilities are, implementing new ideas for effective property utilization, and supporting the ongoing ministries of the church. Whether you are a new trustee or a continuing trustee, consider this workshop to look at the big picture of your responsibility. (led by Rev. Tim Hazlett, Oaklette UMC)
10. How to Be in Ministry with Millennials: The “Millennials” (those born after 1980 or so) are often described in faith communities as the “missing demographic.” This workshop will explore reasons they are “missing” and practical ways to be in ministry with “Millennials.” (led by Rev. Randy Timmerman, IGNITE at ODU)
