____________________________
Congregational Vitality Office
West Virginia Conference
The United Methodist Church
________________________________
Joe Webb, event questions
faithrants@gmail.com
304-481-5683
Chris Ridwgay, registrar/assistant
cridwgay@wvumc.org
304-344-8331, ext. 30 or
304-552-8469
Event Information:
Where:
Life United Methodist Church3000 Technology Drive
Fairmont, WV 26554
Driving Directions
When:
Friday, June 24
from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm
(dinner provided)
and
Saturday, June 25
from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
(lunch provided)
- 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?
If any of these questions resonate with you, or if you’re just looking for ways your existing ministry can generate new ministries, the Congregational Vitality Office of the West Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church has a great opportunity for you!
We will host a Generative Discernment Academy to help people discern their gifts and potential for starting something new, explore various models of innovation, listen to the needs of their communities, and understand how their specific leadership styles can best be leveraged for creating new ministry opportunities.
The Academy will be held at LIFE UMC in Fairmont, WV. This event will be led by Rev. Rachel Gilmore and Rev. Matt Temple, who have extensive experience planting new churches and launching new ministries throughout the United Methodist connection.
Presentations and coursework will run from 1:00 pm - 7:00 pm Friday, June 24 and from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Saturday, June 25.
Space is limited. Registration will close on June 15.
Schedule and What you will learn...
Friday, June 24 from 1 pm - 7 pm (registration opens at noon)
- Guesting and hosting axis activity
- Context on the 5 Rhythms of reaching new people
- Mission Insite activity in small groups
- Introduction of Three Horizons framework
Saturday, June 25 from 9 am - 3 pm
- Innovation Theory breakdown related to "Mission Possible"
- Mission Insite 2.0 small group activity
- "Who's on your Team" discussion (time permitting)
- Discussion on spiritual gifts and calling
- Spiritual Reflection and Self activity
- Consecration Service with communion
The two-day academy will not only give you tools and resources to more clearly discern where God is calling you, but it will also help you find clarity through small group discussions.
Examples of new ministries would include, but are not limited to: a new Sunday school class, a new small group, Celebrate Recovery ministry, launching a multi-site, starting a video venue, launching a new worship service/style, planting a new church, launching a Fresh Expressions church, church adoption, vital church merger, etc.
Costs...
Cost is $25 for single registration or $10 per person for a team of 2 or more persons from the same church/charge. This will cover dinner on Friday and lunch on Saturday.
Questions or Additional Information...
Please contact Joe Webb, Conference Coordinator for New Faith Communities, at 304-481-5683.
Getting Started...
Before attending the Generative Discernment Academy, each person who registers is asked to complete the Portico online course, Contextual Communities: Finding new opportunities amidst shifting cultural realities.
Portico can be accessed via our conference website. Click on the portico picture to be re-directed.
The Presenters...
Rachel most recently served as the Director of Recruiting, Training and Assessing for lay and clergy church planters in the United Methodist Church. Rachel and her husband, Rev. Brandon Gilmore, are pastors at Central United Methodist Church in Phoenix, Arizona where they are creating a new faith community while revitalizing the existing congregation.
In 2009, Rachel planted a church in Virginia Beach and started two missional preschools. In 2017 she cultivated fresh expressions in the local jail and in a feeding ministry which provided food to over 40,000 people in 2020. Rachel graduated magna cum laude from Duke Divinity School as a Distinguished Leader after serving for two years in the Peace Corps in Bulgaria. She is the author of Expanding the Expedition Reach with Missional Communities and a contributor to Launching a New Worship Community: a Practical Guide for the 2020s (Upper Room, 2021). Her story is also featured in Ready, Set, Plant (Upper Room, 2021) and From Franchise to Local Dive: Multiplying your Church by Developing your Contextual Flavor (Marketsquare, 2020).
Matt is Co-Pastor at NewStory Chicago, serves as Associate Director of New Church Development at North Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church, and is a Church Planter at Connection Quad Cities. He is a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary and has extensive experience in planting new congregations and coaching church planters.