Upcoming Events for Pastors & Conference Related Ministry Leaders :

• Thursday, March 8, 2012, 8-10 a.m. – Joanna Shenk, editor of Widening the Circle: Anabaptist Experiments in Discipleship.  She will share excerpts from her book and observations from her travels around the country. She’s interested to explore questions such as:  Why are these emerging movements attracted to the Anabaptist tradition? How do established Mennonite churches cultivate mutual relationships with non-traditional expressions of Anabaptism?  What do established churches and organizations have to give and gain through these relationships?  Shenk serves as Associate for Interchurch Relations and Communication of Mennonite Church USA.  Click here to register for this breakfast.  $6 donation requested.
• We’re expecting you [Franconia Conference Credentialed Leaders] …  Saturday, April 21, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., will be a required resourcing event for all leaders credentialed by Franconia Conference.  For the past number of years, we have talked about three strategic priorities for Franconia Conference—being missional, formational, and intercultural.  This day will focus on increasing our understanding of what it means to be intercultural and our capacity to respond to differences in our congregations—whether that means bridging racial/ethnic boundaries or transcending any cultural differences that can be found in all congregations… generational, economic, gender, etc.  This day will equip you to better name and navigate the various dynamics.  There will also be important information shared about Formation Expectations and Requirements for Credentialed Leaders approved by the Conference Board Ministerial Committee.  Please add this important event to your calendar.  More information to come….
• Thursday, June 14, 8-10 a.m. – Pastors & Leaders Breakfast featuring conversation with Dale Nafziger, entrepreneurial missionary in Nepal, who will share his learnings about doing ministry through business.  Pastors–if you bring a business leader with you, you’ll get your breakfast for free!

Also, enjoy video and audio recordings of earlier Pastors’ & Leaders’ events:

• “Worship and Mission After Christendom” with Alan and Eleanor Kreider, authors of the book by the same title (Friday, February 10, 2012, 8-10 a.m.).  Alan and Eleanor served at the London Mennonite Centre in London, England for many years as well as faculty at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary.  They were part of founding the Anabaptist Network in the United Kingdom and have done much work in what it means to minister in a Post Christendom world.  http://vimeo.com/36711081
• “Sharpening our Current Vision for Peace and Justice:  Held on Thursday, January 12, 2012, 8-10 a.m. – A conversation on pressing peace and justice issues.”  The joint Peace & Justice Committee of Eastern District and Franconia Mennonite Conference will resource this event. http://vimeo.com/35157499
• Pastor/Chaplain & Spouse Appreciation Breakfast – held Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at West Swamp Mennonite Church.  Music by Pastor Duane Hershberger and meditation by Mark & Kathy Weaver Wenger titled, “Leading without Fear: Being Missional Christians in a Fear-filled World.”  Available under Media/Video Galleries from the Franconia Conference home page and here – http://vimeo.com/33461748
• “God Worming a Way Into Our Conferences” – the video shown as part of the presentation by Claude Good, Merrill Moyer, and Fred Cole of The Worm Project Board at the November 17 Pastors’ & Leaders’ Breakfast – http://vimeo.com/30687921
• “Managing Conflicts from a Christian Perspective” by Rev. Dr. Barbara Moses, Principal of Philadelphia Mennonite High School on Thursday, September 15, 2011.  http://vimeo.com/30340644
• “The Age of Convergence: Practical Tools for Effective Intergenerational Leadership” by Sheldon Good (Mennonite Weekly Review and Salford Mennonite Church) and Steve Kriss (Franconia Conference Director of Communication and Leadership Cultivation and LEAD Minister, Philadelphia Praise Center) on Thursday, August 11, 2011.  http://vimeo.com/30340405
• “Adopt a Street” led by Pastor Peter Smith of Hope Valley Community Church, Red Hill, Pastor Charlie Ness (Perkiomenville Mennonite Church), and Pastor Scott Landes (Frederick Mennonite Church) on Thursday, June 9, 2011 – podcast available from http://franconiaconference.org/category/media/audio.
• “Building or Burning Bridges: Searching for a Way Forward in Christian and Muslim Relations” by Dr. Andrew Bush, Professor from Eastern University and member at Methacton Mennonite Church.  Portions available by podcast on http://franconiaconference.org/category/media/audio.
• “The Why, What & How of Social Media: Engaging Your Community in the Context that is Revolutionizing the Way the World Connects” by Todd Hiestand and Scott Hackman (Salford Mennonite Church). Available by podcast on http://franconiaconference.org/category/media/audio.
• “Celebrating Shared Leadership Across Gender Lines”  – October 21, 2010 Available by podcast on www.FranconiaConference.org/media/audio.
• “The Naked Anabaptist” with author Stuart Murray Williams – November 4, 2010 Available by podcast on http://franconiaconference.org/category/media/audio.
• “A Place to Call Home: Our New Immigrant Neighbors” – September 29, 2010 Available by podcast on http://franconiaconference.org/category/media/audio.

COLLABORATIVE
Franconia Mennonite Conference launched the School for Leadership Formation with inaugural sessions in the Summer of 2007. Rooted in the formational, missional, and intercultural core values of Franconia Conference, the School for Leadership Formation is an embodiment of the conference’s equipping, resourcing, and cultivating initiatives. Collaborative in nature, all of Franconia Conference’s equipping and educational resources will be considered part of the School for Leadership Formation.

CONTEXTUAL
With seminars, courses, and opportunities intended for experienced and emerging leaders, the School for Leadership Formation is set to become a resource for persons across the conference and beyond. Centered in Christ and recognizing our historic commitments to community and reconciliation, the School for Leadership Formation will take on many forms, adapted to the different contexts that make up Franconia Conference communities and commitments.

CULTIVATING
The School for Leadership Formation focuses on cultivating the call to God’s work through encounters that are transformative and have practical value. Transformation is ultimately the work of God but steps toward transformation are practical and tangible. Experienced and emerging leaders need to be refreshed and equipped for changing times and communities. The School for Leadership Formation connects an array of resources to equip leaders with a focus on healthy relational patterns, identity formation, and lifelong learning. Leadership is both practice and identity. Leading takes both Spirit and skill.

POSSIBILITIES
How do I engage the School for Leadership Formation? Where is it? The School for Leadership Formation will feature initiatives* like:

• Gateway courses for credentialed leaders, collaboratively with Eastern Mennonite University
• Damascus Road anti-racism trainings, sponsored with Mennonite Central Committee and Franconia Conference congregations
• Internship experiences for students, collaboratively with Mennonite institutions
• Ongoing continuing education opportunities in Southeastern, PA, in collaboration with Eastern Mennonite Seminary
• Intercultural learning experiences that broaden understandings of what it means to be global and local followers of Christ
• Third Thursdays, pastoral leaders breakfasts focused around timely issues and possibilities
• Learning communities, intended for both credentialed and congregational leaders to engage possibilities and questions around similar goals and issues.

*Costs per equipping initiative will vary.

AN EMERGING REALITY
The School for Leadership Formation is more than a dream yet not an institution. Because of its collaborative nature, new possibilities may emerge continually. New partnerships will be possible as they align with missional, intercultural, and formational possibilities. There’s so much to learn and so many places that God is continuing to move. God is preparing us to move together into a present and future that is hopeful. Centered in Christ, all things are possible. Join the emerging reality with your ideas, your questions, your hopes and dreams.

Kairos School for Spiritual Formation is offering the following free Saturdays for Pastors:

“In the Image of God: Beauty & Creativity“ with Richard Weaver
Saturday, March 31 only (Register by March 16, 2012)

Beauty and creativity (and, of course, love) mark us as God’s own children. On this retreat day we will celebrate these gifts of God to us and to our world. “No synonym for God is so perfect as Beauty!” – John Muir

“A Contemplative Heart Engages the World“ with Susan Classen
Saturday, May 5 only (Register by April 20, 2012)

This day of reflection focuses contemplative of awareness of God’s presence in the context of our times. When we look deeply at the reality of both beauty and pain, we discover that God is inviting us to respond with gratitude and compassion. We will reflect on ways of responding that sustain us through the continuous process of receiving and giving.

For more information, please visit the Kairos School for Spiritual Formation website.

Damascus Road Anti-Racism Analysis Training

There was a great turnout for training for 2012.  Watch for information regarding 2013 training later this year.  (Damascus Road training is typically held in late February at Philadelphia Mennonite High School.)

Tools for equipping and leading

• Walter Sawatzky, Customized Coaching LLC…supporting leaders in pursuit of a fulfilled calling.
  Walter Sawatzky is a professional coach who has more than 25 years of experience coaching individuals, supporting and empowering people toward implementing new visions for their work and life journeys. He offers a variety of resources for church leaders including coaching to align ministry and calling, to launch a new initiative or business, and to move toward meaning, purpose and significance by pursuing lifelong dreams.  For more information on these services click here.

• Responses from Table Conversations