Leadership News (Page 54)

Leadership News (Page 54)

Trinity speakers examine care of resources

Are financial resources another of the many blessings God has given to be used in the ways God intends? Or is money simply our own property to be used as we see fit? How is a committed Christian meant to benefit, invest, give of this gift which God gives us freely? Trinity Fort Worth invites all comers to spend Wednesday evenings in May looking at the spiritual practice of taking care of the financial resources that God has placed in…

Executive council meeting rescheduled

The September meeting of the diocesan executive council has been rescheduled. Because the House of Bishops will be meeting Sept. 19-23 in Nashville, the meeting has been moved to Sept. 28, at All Saints Fort Worth. Please mark your calendar.

TENS offers resources, conference

Are you looking for help in forming your congregation in faith-driven, sacrificial generosity? Do you need resources for your newly convened stewardship committee? Not sure where to start in planning your annual fall pledge campaign? Check out the website of The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS). The TENS website offers members-only resources for a full range of stewardship tools and practices. All congregations of the diocese are members, thanks to the diocesan membership in TENS. Among the resources offered again…

ECW calls for CASA ingathering

The Episcopal Church Women (ECW) around the diocese have selected the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program as their principal charity. The group is asking congregations throughout the diocese to collect funds in both the spring and the fall, for disbursement to CASA offices throughout the diocese.

We’re called to be icons of the Kingdom

Juan Oliver’s post on “At the Threshold” offers a perceptive look at power, control, creativity, liturgy, and life-giving practice. He focuses his concern on our churches’ call to be “icons of the kingdom,” and our tendency to be, instead, “a church spending all its energy on controlling each other.”

TENS resources for stewardship free to all congregations

The Diocese of Fort Worth is now a member of TENS (The Episcopal Network for Stewardship). Diocesan membership means that all congregations have access to all the resources TENS has to offer – materials for bible study, annual campaign plans and models, personal financial planning, stewardship formation, congregational leadership, discipleship and generosity, and more. Access to the materials is through the “Member Resources” area of the TENS website, using a username and password available from the diocesan office. (Please call and ask – we’re happy to share!)

Fort Worth to welcome Provincial Youth Gathering

Please share the word with your high school students that the Province VII Youth Event will be held in Dallas this year, July 8-13! All diocesan youth are especially invited to join with their peers from the rest of Province VII (the Dioceses of Arkansas, Dallas, Kansas, Northwest Texas, Oklahoma, Rio Grande, Texas, West Missouri, West Texas, Western Kansas, and Western Louisiana) in the Summer of Service.

COM offers day of discernment June 1

Mark your calendars for the June 1 event “Exploring the Discernment Process,” sponsored by the diocesan Commission on Ministry (COM). The day is aimed at congregational leaders who are seeking to discern candidates for ordination to the priesthood or the diaconate, as well as for individuals discerning a call to ordination, along with their spouses, partners, and family members.

Young adults invited on pilgrimage, May 24-27

There is no churchwide young adult gathering this year, but all young adults are encouraged to think about making a pilgrimage to Taizé in South Dakota. The event (details on the Episcopal Young Adult and Campus Ministries Facebook page) is being partially organized by the young adults of the Episcopal Diocese of South Dakota and the Brothers of the Taizé Community in France.

ECF webinars support congregational leaders

Looking for ways to grow your congregation and increase your skills for leadership? Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) offers free and low-cost webinars that offer an opportunity to learn from other leaders in the church. In April and May, you can register for outstanding sessions that focus on stewardship, vestries, and inviting new people into leadership. To participate, all you need is a computer and internet access, and about an hour of your time. Better yet, invite your vestry or ministry colleagues to join you to share the learning experience.

Websites / pages you’ll want to see

Englewood Review of Books – a weekly book review published by Englewood Christian Church, Indianapolis, focusing on valuable resources for the people of God. Growing Deeper in Our Communities – 50 Ideas for Connection in a Disconnected Age by C. Christopher Smith – Practical ideas for connecting your congregation to the community where it is rooted.

Congregations start from nothing

How do you create sustainable projects/communities when you have nothing to start with? Read what Jonny Baker has to say about Becky Garrison’s book Starting from Zero with $0.

Congregations partnering with ECBF

A group of Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth congregations will be partnering with the Episcopal Church Building Fund (ECBF) in the coming year, participating in the Recasting of Building Assets process. The project focuses on congregations who wish to deepen their connection to their community and to build mission and value, as well as develop financial self-sustainability through the creative use of building assets.

Thriving in Change offers discernment opportunity

Is your congregation wrestling with an issue, trying to make a decision? Bring a group to Advent Lutheran on Saturday, April 6, to learn a practice that will help your members communicate more effectively while listening for God and each other.