Welcome to the Leadership Training events section. This area provides you with many training resources available locally and throughout the United States. Each icon links to the web address of the resource pictured.

CNN Links | Resources | Events:  United Methodist  |  Interdenominational

CCN Downlink Satellite  

The Baltimore-Washington Conference has 47 Satellite Downlink sites available throughout the region to view the Christian Church Network Satellite series.

Click here to see the program schedule.

Click here to find a downlink site in your area.

United Methodist Events

Training events developed by the Board of Congregational Life...

IMAP Seminar (Integrated Ministry Action Plan)

This seminar is for pastors of existing congregations that are seeking to put develop a strategy to meet the needs of the mission field in the neighborhoods in which their church is located. Currently the seminar is open to congregations designated by the Cabinet as High Potential Churches (churches that have demonstrated a desire to adjust priorities to reach unchurched persons living in the immediate vicinity of the church). Most of the congregations involved are part of the current class of churches receiving grants from the Commission on Equitable Salaries as part of a partnership developed with the Board of Congregational Life. For more information contact Rev. Philip Tocknell, Chairperson of the Commission on Equitable Compensation pastortocknell@msn.com, your district superintendent, or Rev. Dred Scott (410) 285-4466 or email dredscott@comcast.net

DISCernment Seminar

Have you even wondered if God created you with an apostolic temperament. Apostolic leaders cannot help creating new strategies of reaching unchurched and dechurched people. Each November, the Board of Congregational Life in consultation with the Cabinet, provides a three day seminar for pastors, who through the use of several self-assessment tools, will appreciate their own behavior patterns that would give evidence to a call to start new congregations or redevelop existing congregations. Information gleaned from the seminar is released to the Cabinet by the participants.

The DISC assessment tool used by many denominations and fortune 500 companies over the past 25 years is one of the many tools used.

For more information contact the Office of Congregational Development, The Baltimore Washington Annual Conference 1-800-492-2525 ext. 436.

Academy for Initiative Leaders

The Academy is comprised of 21 churches (7 in each of three classes) that meet 6 times each year for 3 years. The peer learning seminars are led by nationally known practioners who have led congregations to redevelop their ministries to meet the needs of the changing needs of the mission fields located in the neighborhoods in which their church is located. 

Click here for 2005-2006 Schedule

Application process:  To be considered for the 2005-2006 entering class, contact the Office of Congregational Development, Baltimore-Washington Conference, 7178 Columbia Gateway Dr, Columbia, Md 21046 or email Rev. Herbert Watson, Jr. hwatson@comcast.net

ShOutreach Workshop

A ShOutreach workshop will be held at the Baltimore-Washington Conference Center Tuesday, Nov. 22, 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. for ministry leaders, both lay and clergy. It will be led by Geoff Peters, cofounder of Missional Marketing. Sessions will focus on ways of researching the community, identifying ministry opportunities and executing effective outreach. They include: "Every member is a minister," "Who are the people in your neighborhood?" "Outreach Planning 101," and "Putting it all together … to go ‘forth’." Cost is $25, which includes lunch. For information, contact conference Director of Congregational Life, the Rev. Rodney Smothers at rsmothers@bwcumc.org or call (800) 492-2525, Ext. 432.

District Board of Church Location and Building Training

TBA

The District Board of Church Location and Building is an important part of any local church development or redevelopment ministry. The board gives final approval to any new building project or major renovation project within the bounds of the district. Knowing what questions to ask, how to read the demographics of the neighborhood and what financial resources are available are important aspects of the board's work. The seminar leaders are:

Few congregations make it past 150 in worship. One of the reasons congregations never break this barrier is the "small church syndrome" or as some call it "single cell phenomena." In the 2 1/2 day seminar Bill will address: the various issues involved in growing the worship attendance past two hundred; the leadership style changes the pastor needs to make; and the normal obstacles facing congregations under two hundred in worship.

Interdenominational Events

Easum Bandy provide innovative thought related to church development and redevelopment. Visit their website at www.easumbandy.com  to see the latest training events.

George Barna Seminar Series

Each year George Barna offers an informative seminar for local church pastors and lay leadership teams.  Watch for more details. Click on the icon to view information for  2005.

Leading Your Church Forward is the theme of George Barna's seminar. Following two years of study, the seminar is designed to provide you with the practical insights needed to facilitate congregational health and individual spiritual growth. Barna points out that our culture continues to struggle to find itself, tinkering with a variety of worldviews, relationships, and lifestyles that are destined to leave us feeling empty and unfulfilled. The church has an opportunity and needs to address the problems people are wrestling with. For more information and to register for the event click on the icon and proceed to www.barna.org .

Resources

United Methodist Sermon and Worship Resource

Rev. Safiyah Fosua, Director of Invitational Preaching Ministries, is the site manager for a broad variety of worship and preaching resources. The resources are comprehensive. The resources are lectionary and topically indexed. One of the sites strengths is its direct links to other sites related to the topics. Click here to go to the site.

The Alban Institute resource for congregations

For over 20 years the Baltimore-Washington Conference has drawn on the expertise and research of this institute. The Institute offers many leadership seminars and publications to assist congregations in the work of developing disciples of Jesus Christ. Click here to see what seminars and publications might be helpful in your work.

Net Results "Byte-Size Net Results"

A great resource for pastors and lay leadership teams is found in NET Results. The resource offers a free or paid subscription services.   Click here to go to the NET Results website ( www.netresults.org )  for a sample issue. The first two articles  show how pastors in two different contexts have arrived at the same realization (and then applied it): Their focus must be to connect with unchurched people in their community. The third article is just for fun... with a dash of encouragement. And the fourth article gives you a jump-start on your holiday planning.