Missouri Union Presbytery

Looking forward to taking time this summer for personal and professional renewal? Looking for opportunities to improve your ministry at an affordable price? Wanting to learn and exchange ideas with leaders serving in campus-based and congregationally-based collegiate ministries? Then come to suburban Kansas City, July 17-20, for “Convergence: Bridging Ministry,” the 2008 edition of the National Campus Ministry Association’s (NCMA) annual conference. Situated on the campus of the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, this four-day, workshop-based event will feature three concurrent tracks: one for campus ministers with less than three years of experience, one for campus ministry veterans, and another for congregationally-based campus ministry staffs. Scholarships are available on a priority basis to congregationally-based staff and first-time conference attendees. For more information and to register for the Convergence, go to www.ncmaconference.org

Distance Learning @ the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary is a new DVD produced by PMM that takes you inside the experience of distance theological education opportunities for Certified Lay Preachers, single Academic Courses, and the certified Masters in Divinity Degree Program that is one of a kind! The unveiling of the new DVD will be at the General Assembly of the PCUSA in June. For more information on Dubuque’s distance theological education programs contact PSell@dbq.edu and get on the list to receive a copy of the DVD.

A one-day conference “Tools and Techniques for Tomorrow's Church” hosted by the Iowa Religious Media Services will be held Saturday, August 16,2008, at Plymouth Congregational Church in Des Moines, IA

8:30 AM Registration
9:15 AM keynote presentation by Rodger Nishioka, Associate Professor of Christian Education at Columbia Seminary–widely recognized for reasearch into why teens and young adults leave mainline churches

Schedule includes 3 break-out sessions and lunch before concluding at 4:00 PM
Cost: $65/person person.

Early registration appreciated to help with planning. Go to www.irms.org or by call IRMS at 1-800-777-8661 for information or to register. Call MUP office 1-800-635-3178 or email contact at this site for flyer or registration form–available in either hard copy or electronic format.

Dear Presbytery Colleague,

I am happy to announce that Columbia's introductory seminar for the D.Min. in Church and Ministry begins in September 2008 and will be offered on campus in Decatur, GA, and at the Montreat (NC) Conference Center. We are also offering the introductory seminar for the D.Min. in Christian Spirituality this fall.

Please request a flyer with details about this fall introductory seminars and for our two other D.Min. concentrations: Gospel and Culture, and New Church Development, which will be offered in 2009.

The flyer can be forwarded by e-mail and printed for distribution at meetings or through your mailings to pastors. The Missouri Union Presbytery office will email you this pdf document, if you contact them at 1-800-635-3178 or email office@mupresbytery.org.

I also hope you will contact me directly if you have questions about the program or would like for me to contact pastors in your area who might be interested in strengthening their skills as leaders for the church of Jesus Christ.

Yours truly,
Charles Raynal
(404) 687-4534
Director of Advanced Studies
AdvancedStudies@CTSnet.edu

Sponsored by: Synod of Lincoln Trails and Synod of Mid-America
Mercy Center, St. Louis, MO
Week I & Week II April 28-May 2, 2008

Registration Deadline: Week I-April 14, Week II-March 28
REGISTRATION IS LIMITED AND FILLING UP QUICKLY!
Future Tentative Dates:
Oct 27-31, 2008 May 4-8, 2009 Nov 2-6, 2009
Contact Mary Sue at the Synod office for brochure, maryst@synodma.org

Malt Interim Executive Training
Sponsored by Synod of Mid-America &
Synod of Lincoln Trails
Mercy Center, St. Louis, MO
Oct 31-Nov 3, 2008
Registration Deadline: Oct 10
Future dates: Nov 6-10, 2009

Contact Mary Sue for brochure: maryst@synodma.org
This training program is designed to supplement Basic Interim Pastor Training and will focus on the unique challenges encountered by executive leaders during the in-between times when governing bodies are experiencing leadership transitions.

WHEN GOD'S PEOPLE TRAVEL TOGETHER: Information for YOUR Church or Group Mission Trip

Need some resources to plan a successful mission trip? Purchase this 3-volume set for the special price of $20.00 (plus shipping and handling) by calling 800-524-2612 to order PDS#24358-07-014. These volumes provide guidelines and procedures to follow before, during, and after the trip.

Volume I A Trip Leader's Planning Manual
Volume II Reflecting and Acting on Mission Trip Experiences
Volume III Bible Studies for Mission

A Healthy Congregations Workshop will be presented on April 25 and 26 at New Summit Presbyterian Church in Lees Summit, MO. Healthy Congregations equip leaders to serve as the “immune system” for a congregation, by preventing destructive conflict and keeping a church focused on its own unique mission and purpose. The workshop helps leaders be stewards of congregational health by preventing anxiety from becoming an infectious force in the church. For registration information, contact Dave Moore at 816-246-7474 or davemoore@swbell.net

I atteneded this class at Missouri School of Religion and found it to be an excellent use of my time.

Key points presented by Dr. Karen Tye were that small member congregations do not need to beat themselves up about not being corporate or program churches. As with individual people, God calls congregations to be and do different things. Each congregation needs to use the talents and resources God has provided with imagination and creativity to build up the body in the way and place where God has placed them.

Another key emphasis was that education IS happening ALL the time. Our role as leaders/teachers/mentors is to be conscious of what we are teaching. Even when we don't realize others are watching and learning, what we neglect, ignore or won't talk about are also conveying a lesson.

The class was held at the Rickman Center in Jefferson City and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to help other learn and grow as Christians or to grow themself.

Pastoral Enrichment for Transitions in Ministry (PETM) is a professional development program primarily for pastors in
their first 5-7 years of ministry. It provides an opportunity to
strengthen role identity, congregational understanding, and necessary
leadership skills. Ministers in the Synod of Mid-america are eligible to attend–primarily (but not exclusively) those in their first 5-7 years of ministry. Contact Mary Sue in the Synod office at maryst@synodma.org or 913-384-3020 for information about plans for 2008.