CEU News February 2020

The CEU News Continuing Education Update February 2020 A Publication of the Wesley Leadership Institute Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church

Featured Events Sermon Academy February 11 Alcoa, TN 0.5 CEUs Lent and Easter are high moments in the year. Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Holy Week, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday are critical in Jesus' story. This Sermon Academy, led by Rev. Charles Maynard, will focus on texts and topics for the season and offer tools to assist in preaching in 2020. The cost is $25.00 and includes lunch and materials. Register now! 0.5 CEUs

The Future of Christianity in the West: Augustine & Benedict February 13-14 Nashville 0.7 CEUs What does faithful Christian civic presence look like? What will it look like in the future? At this conference, we will explore and debate two ancient prophetic models—the cloister model of St. Benedict and the two-city model of St. Augustine - mining the riches of the two ways of life,and envisioning creative and practical possibilities for powerful Christian witness in the 21st century and beyond. Speakers are Rod Dreher and Dr. Mark Clavier.

Ministers Convocation 2020 February 17 - 19 Pigeon Forge, TN

2.0 CEUs

Register by Wednesday, 2/5 - save $10!

Join us for another exciting Minister’s Convocation event in February! Through our combination of speakers, whether your congregation is downtown, suburban, or tiny and rural, there will be helpful ideas and inspiration for everyone to take home to their local church. Our leadership this year will include: Carey Nieuwhof, Jasmine Smothers, and Jeremy Troxler. Registration information and more details can be found here and on the Holston events calendar page. Register now!

Events - Coming Soon!

Check the Holston online calendar for a full listing of future events.

February 2019: Fresh Expressions Vision Day for Holston Conference February 1 Knoxville, TN 0.4 CEUs Conversations on Race: Book Discussion & Workshop February 2 & 9 Knoxville, TN 0.4 (2 sessions) Caring w/Compassion: First Responders & Families February 10 - March 28 Online Course 1.0 CEU Sermon Academy February 11 Alcoa, TN 0.5 CEUs Church Leaders: Preparing Yourself for Lent February 12 Online Course 0.1 CEUs

The Future of Christianity in the West: Augustine & Benedict February 13-14 Nashville, TN 0.7 CEUs Ministers Convocation 2020 February 17-19 Pigeon Forge, TN 2.0 CEUs March 2019: Looking Ahead to the 2020 General Conference March 4 Online Course 1.0 CEUs

Ministry Entrepreneurship Program March 5-7 Washington DC 1.7 CEUs From Readiness to Launch: Starting a New Worship Service March 10 Online Course 0.1 CEUs Five Things for Being a Good Visitor to Someone w/Dementia March 12 Online Course 0.1 CEUs Brent Strawn Event March 23-24 TN Wesleyan 0.5 CEUs

CEU QUICKLINKS: Check & Print CEU Report Apply for CEU Credit Event Evaluation Form

CLERGY NOTES:

We are working on a new Holston website portal, but in the meantime you still have access to your CEU information via our legacy systems on the old site. All the information is available on the links above or here http://ceureporting.holston.org and here: https://www.holston.org/ceu-program-for-appointed-pastors Also, until the new financial system is operational, you can request copies of your financial statements from kathyratchford@holston.org in accounts receivable.

Finally, a word about Convocation. There may be some of you who have chosen not to register this year because a speaker appears too liberal for you, too conservative, or too “whatever.” This is not a “political” event. All of our plenary speakers will be addressing how to make YOUR church stronger and healthier! Please read Terry Goodman’s article this month and take this message to heart. And register for Convocation by Tuesday’s deadline to save $10!

Book Review Blank Slate: Write Your Own Rules for a 22nd Century Movement - by Lisa McIntosh, Jasmine Smothers & Rodney Smothers (Note: Jasmine Smothers will be one of our plenary speakers at Convocation 2020. This is a review of her books.)

How to release old assumptions from previous generations, and embrace new ones, so that the church will thrive.

If you’re a Baby Boomer, you probably don’t get Millennials and Gen Z’ers, especially when it comes to what they want from a church. Guess what? You’re probably not going to get Generation Alpha either. And that’s a problem, because if we can’t make church relevant to younger people, it will die right along with us. Blank Slate helps us realize that we must let go of what we think church should be. It provides us with tools we can use to change the landscape of ministry and shows us how to engage our children and our children’s children within the church so that it—and they—can thrive.

A Message from Our Director...

Last night, January 30th, I went to my son’s youth group meeting. I arrived early and had to wait. Outside the meeting place, there was a patio and some chairs. It was 8:00 pm, and I sat down and read some things on my phone. I remember thinking, “It’s strange sitting comfortably outside in the middle of winter.” Normally, I would think that a mid-winter nighttime temperature would be in the 30’s. It was in the low 50’s. I was not even wearing a jacket - just a long sleeve shirt and vest. It was not what I expected.

It was not what I would have predicted.

In the life of our denomination right now, there is a lot going on that I cannot predict nor expect.

So, how do we function in the midst of such unpredictability and uncertainty? Personally, I have decided to keep on doing what I have been placed here to do. When General Conference is over, there will still be a church. There will still be ministers seeking to move through the process. There will still be the need for continuing education. There will still be paperwork I have to complete.

There will still be a Savior I must follow and worship.

Things may function differently. There may be new names to learn. There may be new paragraphs in The Book of Discipline, which I have to interpret and apply. My Bible, though, is still going to be the same. The God I serve is still going to be the same. My need to please that God with my service and devotion will still be the same.

Since this is the Wesley Leadership Institute newsletter, let me wrap all this up by suggesting: Get on with your life and your ministry. Keep studying, learning, and growing in your faith and in your knowledge. Keep on being faithful to the God you serve right now. When all is said and done. It will still be the same God. It will still be the same people in your community that need to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. It will still be your ministry and the ministry of the church you serve that brings that Good News to those around you.

- Terry Goodman

CONTACT INFO: Director: The Rev. Terry Goodman terrygoodman@holston.org

Phone: 865-293-4147

Admin. Asst. & Editor: Sue Weber sueweber@holston.org

Phone: (865) 293-4135 Website: Wesley Leadership Institute