Do you sense God “nudging” you toward something new?
Are there people in your community or networks who desire a different kind of spiritual experience?
Are you feeling called to offer a new ministry in order to reach new people?
Would a new ministry or church change the dynamics of your city, town, or neighborhood?
The WVUMC Office of Congregational Vitality invites you to a FREE webinar Friday, Oct. 8, from 1:30-3:00pm EDT to learn why these questions (and many more) are important components to discerning how, when, where, and most importantly WHY to launch a new faith community.
While our originally scheduled Generative Discernment Academy has been postponed due to Covid-19 concerns, our presenters, Rachel Gilmore and Matt Temple, will offer this free webinar to help you understand the “WHY” behind generative discernment. As you consider whether God is calling you to start something new and what that might look like in your context, exploring the question of “WHY” will help you focus your thinking and conversations.
Rachel and Matt will lead us in a frank conversation about the current state of the church and how Covid-19 has compiled upon other pre-existing realities to leave us with exhausted clergy and staff and a world longing for hope and community. They will introduce the difference between being a guest and a host in the community and between transactional and relational ministries, and how to make a simple pivot that could have a huge impact on your community. Finally, they will share inspirational stories from leaders in rural contexts to help you imagine what new ministries could look like in your own context.
This webinar will be a first step in our plans to offer ongoing training for generative discernment and new ministry creation. We are still planning to hold the full two-day academy sometime in early 2022 once we can safely gather people together. Follow-up training and experiential learning opportunities will be scheduled for future dates.
Once again, this is a FREE webinar, but registration is required. Visit this link to register: https://wvumc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_CcMxFCcsTjCbz2u8eDp02Q
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar and the zoom webinar link.
For more information, contact WVUMC New Faith Communities Coordinator Joe Webb at 304.481.5683 or faithrants@gmail.com.