2021 Charleston District Virtual Lay Training Workshops (1)

2021 Charleston District Lay Training Workshops

Saturday, January 16, 2021 and Saturday, January 30, 2021

Both Sessions are Zoom Meetings

Please preregister online at: http://charlestondistrict.wixsite.com/mysite-1

Zoom instructions will be emailed to you following registration.

Saturday January 16, 2021

SPRC                                                          9:00 – 11:00 a.m. 

Digital Tools                                                 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.

Epworth Hub                                             10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Missions                                                    10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Forward Focus                                           11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

Trustees                                                     11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

Lay Leader & Lay Delegates to AC             11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

Saturday, January 30, 2021

SPRC                                                          9:00 – 11:00 a.m. 

Digital Tools                                                 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.

Finance                                                      10:00 – 11:00 a.m

.Lay Servant Ministries                               10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Church Administration                                11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon.

Worship                                                      11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon.

You are invited to attend more than one session. Workshop descriptions follow:

1. Staff Parish Relations Committee

Rev. Dr. Sandra Stevens-Poirel, Charleston District Superintendent

A detailed discussion of the essential work of the SPRC/PPRC Committee and how the Committee interfaces with both the Church and the District.

Who should attend? SPRC/PPRC Chairs, Committee Members and Pastors.

2. Epworth Children’s Home – Charleston Hub

Rev. Kathy James, Director of Church Relations, Epworth Children’s Home

Katrina L. Patton, Charleston District Representative

Amanda Winnen, Director of Foster Care and Adoptions, Epworth Hub

Sherri Mims, Associate Director of Church Relations, Epworth Children’s Home

January 16: 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Epworth continues to develop new strategies with how its ministry serves our children.   The approach toward more expansive foster care placements resulted in the opening of a Lowcountry “Hub” on the campus of Bethany United Methodist Church in Summerville.  Epworth is committed to serving children through developing strategies for licensed foster homes and kinship foster homes in the Lowcountry.   This workshop will help individual congregations identify ways to support Epworth, both traditionally though the children’s home in Columbia and with the Lowcountry Hub.

Who should attend? All District Churches should participate.  Pastors, Epworth Local Church Representatives (LCRs), and a lay person(s) committed to serving our children will benefit from this presentation.

3. Finance and Administration

Mrs. Beth Westbury, SC Annual Conference Treasurer

January 30: 10:00 -11:00 a.m.

Session will describe the responsibilities of the church Finance Committee, including the local church audit; statistics and how apportionments are calculated; gift acceptance policy; and how to release restricted gifts.

Who should attend? Finance Chairs and Committee Chairs, Treasurers and Financial Secretaries.

4. Role of Lay Leaders and Lay Delegates to Annual Conference

Katrina L. Patton, Charleston District Lay Leader

Dr. David Braddon, Assistant Charleston District Lay Leader

January 16: 11:00 – 12:00

Learn about the duties and expectations for the elected Church Lay Leader and Lay Delegates to the 2021 Annual Conference. Time is planned for Q & A and discussion.

Who should attend? Elected Church Lay Leaders and Lay Delegates to 2021 Annual Conference.

5. Responsibilities of Church Trustees

Rev. Michael Wood, Pastor Trinity UMC Charleston

January 16: 11:00 – 12:00

Learn the detailed responsibilities of the Board of Trustees of the local Church. Time is planned for Q&A

Who should attend? Pastors, Trustee Chairs and Committee Members.

6. Forward Focus

Rev. Suzanne Walker, Charleston/Walterboro Congregational Specialist

January 16: 11:00 - 12:00

Learn about the process and the advantages of completing a study in your church. Forward Focus is a powerful and well tested self-evaluation process for a church to reflect on and evaluate their current ministry and systematically consider future direction and ministries. It is a helpful self-study led by a team from your church with the help of an experienced guide from the District.

Who should attend? Representatives from any church that feel it might be time to step back and evaluate their current situation and take a fresh look at the future. Previous workshop participants should consider attending – Rev. Walker will discuss strategies for ministries in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

7. Missions

Rev. Elizabeth Sullivan, Pastor Point Hope UMC, Mt. Pleasant

January 16: 10:00 – 11:00

In the United Methodist Church, all members are expected to be missional. While faith is the only response to God’s grace required for salvation, John Wesley reminds us that salvation evidences itself through good works. Come and learn from each other how to develop and grow your personal missional ministry and that of your church.

Who should attend? Everyone and especially those planning and executing missional ministry.

8. Lay Servant Ministries  

Ms. Constance Wilborn, Director Charleston District Lay Servant Ministry

January 30: 10:00 – 11:00

Lay Servant Ministries is a leadership development program in the United Methodist Church focused on equipping and empowering laypersons who have responded to the call of God to serve in mission and ministry. Courses are available locally to allow you to become certified as a Lay Servant, Lay Speaker or Lay Minister. This workshop will describe this ministry and teach what some of our Lay Servants are doing within the Charleston District.

Who should attend? Lay servants and anyone interested in learning more about Lay Servant Ministries (including Lay Servants, Lay Speakers and Lay Ministers).

9. Worship

Rev. Susan Leonard, Senior Pastor, Bethel UMC, Charleston

January 30: 11:00 - 12:00

Worship is the heartbeat of the church!  It’s where we place our lives intentionally before God and alongside one another. But how are we to do that with care in the days of a pandemic?  In this session we will discuss ways of keeping the mission of the church sacred and the method flexible as we seek to create ways for people to come close to God and close to one another.

Who Should Attend? All are welcome!!!!

10. Digital Tools for Your Church

Rev. Bryan Pigford, Pastor Stallsville UMC

Rev. Rob Rabsenstein, Pastor, Epworth UMC

January 16 and 30: 9:00 – 10:00

Join us for a discussion about the tools necessary for an effective online worship experience.  While our conversation will be centered on our weekly worship, we will also touch on the subjects of bringing other ministries online such as Bible Studies, Small Groups, and VBS as time allows.  Please come with your ideas on how you would use digital broadcasting in your ministry as this will guide our conversations.

Who Should Attend? Church staff and members with responsibilities for online communications.

11. Church Administration

Rev. Robert Cox, Retired UMC Pastor

January 30: 11:00 -12:00

Rev. Cox will lead a timely discussion about end-of-year reporting for local churches, as well as effective tools for preparation and church management software. Rev. Cox has significant and relevant experience with this subject.

Who Should Attend?  Church and staff members with responsibilities for financial reporting to church authorities.

Please preregister at the District Website:  http://charlestondistrict.wixsite.com/mysite-1