Metro District Leadership Training

Metro District Leadership Training

February 3, 2018 – Blair Road UMC  

• The Role of Staff-Parish Relations Committee in Affirming the Call to Ministry  (Rev. Mark Andrews, District Superintendent) – In addition to addressing some of the basic duties of the committee, we will explore the role of the committee in recognizing and encouraging the call to ministry among those in their congregation.  As an additional piece, we will answer some questions regarding the distinction between exempt and non-exempt employees on a church staff.  Facilitators:  Mark Andrews, Jim Parsons, and Kathy Odell
• Local Church Lay Leader (Jatana Royster, District Lay Leader) – This class is intended for the person who serves as the lay leader in each local church.  We will focus on responsibilities of the lay leader and have time for sharing ideas and concerns.  The session is for new and continuing local church lay leaders.
• How to be a disciple making church (Rev. Stephanie Hand, District Vitality Strategist) – Matthew 28:18-20 – Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.  Why does all of humanity need God’s church?  What is a disciple? How are they formed? And most importantly: Why does the church need to make them? Come participate in the conversation asking questions, seeking clarity, and gaining tools, as we work towards fulfilling the mission of Christ – “To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”
• Finance (Rev. Dr. Mark King, WNCC Conference Treasurer / Director of Administrative Services) – Finance:  “Do’s and Don’t’s of Exemplary Finance Committees”- what are the best practices of local church committees on finance to advance the mission of the church most effectively?  And what are pitfalls to avoid?  Topics will include audits, membership of committee, committee responsibilities, budget forecasting and preparation, understanding apportionments and forms that are required.
• How to be an effective church leader (Rev. Dr. Terry Moore, Senior Pastor – Weddington UMC) – “Where there is no vision, the people perish” – Proverbs 29:18.  Or, as Eugene Peterson paraphrases it in , The Message, “If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed. “  Leadership in the church is about discerning God’s vision and embracing it through faith and action.  Leadership is also about people and involves people skills.  How do we discern God’s vision, cast the vision to our congregations, select the right lay leadership, minimize antagonists, and create enthusiasm and commitment to what God is doing in our midst?  These are some of the questions we will explore together.
• Church Historian / Archives (Rev. Jim Pyatt, WNCC Archivist / Historian) – This session is open to local church historians, church secretaries, anyone who is interested in the history of their church, or anyone interested in their church’s records and historic documents.We will focus on which records to keep and which records can be discarded (and why), how best to keep these records for posterity, and where to look to find records from the past.Those attending are encouraged to share their questions regarding the preserving and recording of their church’s history and its records.