Ordinands spend the day with Bishop Leeland
Last Saturday, clergy approved by the Western North Carolina Conference Board of Ordained Ministry for ordination and full membership in The United Methodist Church were invited to the home of Bishop and Mrs. Leeland.
The day was shaped by a cookout at the episcopal residence, offering a time for conversation and reflection on the nature of ministry and ordination.
The twenty ordinands who will be ordained at Annual Conference on June 24th at Lake Junaluska were invited to spend the day sharing their faith stories with each other and reflecting on why they chose to be ordained in The United Methodist Church. In addition, they reviewed the historical examination for admission into full connection and engaged Bishop Leeland in conversation about their calling into ministry and the unique nature of the denomination.
Many of these newly ordained clergy will participate in a reading group over the next year with Bishop Leeland, meeting one full day each month as they explore issues of leadership, spiritual authority, and “ordering the life of the church.” Bishop Leeland said he offers this time each year to those being ordained as “a means of investing in the next generation of clergy and developing a relationship with those I am privileged to ordain.”
Resources for Vital Congregations
CHURCH LEADERSHIP
Lewis Center for Church Leadership
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Books
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Serve Your Neighbor
GBHEM Leadership Resources
Living Faithfully: Human Sexuality and the United Methodist Church
Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations
Ted Talks: The Power of Vulnerability
Ted Talks: The Price of Invulnerability
Meditations on the Ministry of All Christians
DISCIPLE FORMATION:
A Disciple’s Path; A Guide for United Methodist
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Adult Christian Studies from the Wesley Ministry Network
Traveling Together: A Guide for Disciple Forming Congregations
WESLEYAN STUDIES:
Living As United Methodist Christians
Methodist Doctrine: The Essentials
Reclaiming our Wesleyan Tradition: John Wesley’s Sermons for Today
John Wesley Sermons: Anthology
REACHING PEOPLE:
Evangelism & Theology in the Wesleyan Spirit
Fresh Expressions: Dinner Church
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Reach New Disciples
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: 50 Ways to Reach People
Community: The Structure of Belonging
RESOURCES TO CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITY:
GRANTS:
The Royce and Jane Reynolds Ministry Fund Grants
OTHER:
The Appalachian District Church Vitality Team has been prayerfully seeking ways to help support you and the ministries of your local congregation during this COVID-19 pandemic. Together they have diligently researched and connected with others throughout the conference and our denomination to identify resources and offer them to you. We hope they will be helpful to you and bless you greatly in leading your churches and communities through this unprecedented time. We are very grateful to the District Vitality Team and other contributors for their great work on this resource.
This faithful team has created three documents, two of which you are receiving today. They include:
- Family Home Worship – designed to help families establish a regular worship space within their homes as well as a time where they can worship together.
- Tech Strategies – to help guide you in selecting effective tools and resources within your budget to best communicate in the digital world.
We believe these resources will be of great benefit to you. Also know that the District Vitality Team is available to answer any questions you might have in regards to the documents attached. If you have questions, you may email Rev. Howard Fleming at hfleming@wnccumc.net.
- Resources