Heading up this fall’s continuing education events offered by the Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center (SVMC) is a three-part series on the “Priesthood of All Believers” taught by Denise Kettering-Lane of the Bethany Theological Seminary faculty.
Business on Wednesday, July 5, included an increase in the minimum cash salary table for pastors for 2024, a request for a study committee on calling denominational leadership, and guidelines for continuing education.
Following are upcoming courses from the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership, a ministry training partnership of the Church of the Brethren’s Office of Ministry and Bethany Theological Seminary. Several courses are offered in English, with other courses offered in Spanish:
Strength for the Journey (SFTJ) is a continuing education opportunity provided by the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership, a collaboration of Bethany Theological Seminary and the Church of the Brethren Office of Ministry.
On July 3-4, all ministers of the Church of the Brethren denomination will have an opportunity to reconnect with one another at the annual pre-Annual Conference continuing education event. Some ministers haven’t seen each other in person since before COVID.
Upcoming events include a virtual session March 27, “Music as a Gateway to the Sacred,” an online book study beginning April 18, the Ministers’ Association pre-conference event July 3-4 in Cincinnati, and the Clergywomen’s Breakfast July 5.
The Ventures in Christian Discipleship program at McPherson College has announced programs for April, May, and June: “Deep Compassionate Listening,” “Beyond Burned Out to Boundaries and Balance,” and “Black Panther Films as Metaphor: Lessons about Race, Colonialism, Violence, and Identity in Wakanda”
The fall series from the Ventures in Christian Discipleship program at McPherson (Kan.) College began this morning, Sept. 17, with “Middle Knowledge: How Can Humans Have Free Will if God Knows Everything?” led by Kirk MacGregor, associate professor of Philosophy and Religion and Department Chair at McPherson. The series continues on Nov. 12 with “Human Trafficking: A Call for the Church to Respond,” led by Vivek Solanky, and on Dec. 6 with “Beyond Burned Out to Boundaries and Balance” led by Jen Jensen.
The Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership is offering a new type of continuing education experience for ministers. Strength for the Journey brings together small groups of ministers to share experiences, hone skills, explore ideas, wrestle with common dilemmas, and take on topics that spark new energy for ministry, all while earning continuing education units (CEUs).
The Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center (SVMC) is launching an additional educational series entitled Nurturing Ministry Skills. Available to both clergy and laity, this online (Zoom) series launches on Monday, March 7, from 7-8:30 p.m. (Eastern time) with “Coping with Two Years of a Pandemic: Care for Self and Others” led by Jim Higginbotham, professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling at Earlham School of Religion.