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.
The next offering from the Ventures in Christian Discipleship program based at McPherson (Kan.) College will be “Peace, Violence, and Nonviolence.” The course will be held online over two evening sessions on Thursday, Feb. 24, and Thursday, March 3, both at 7 p.m. (Eastern time). The course will be presented by Katy Gray Brown and Virginia Rendler.
On March 10-11, Bridgewater (Va.) College and the Forum for Brethren Studies will present a symposium on “Brethren and the Polarizing Pandemic: What Next?” The event is open to the public.
The Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center (SVMC) is offering the TRIM (Training in Ministry) course “Pathways for Effective Leadership, Part 1,” with Randy Yoder as the instructor. This is scheduled as an intensive course to be held online over two weekends, March 25‐26 and April 29‐30.
The Program and Arrangements Committee of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference is shifting away from a long-standing practice of offering “insight sessions” at the denomination’s annual meeting, focusing instead on “equipping sessions.”
The Part-time Pastor; Full-time Church program of the Church of the Brethren Office of Ministry is offering a book study on Flourishing in Ministry: How to Cultivate Clergy Wellbeing by Matt Bloom. The online event is planned once a week from Jan. 4 to March 3, 2022, on Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m. (Eastern time). Continuing education units are available.
In 2020, MSS was held online due to the COVID pandemic. In 2021, as the pandemic continued and MSS applications declined further, the program took a sabbath rest. Facing a third summer of pandemic-affected program, as well as the long-term trends, 2022 will provide a chance to listen. Instead of moving ahead with the program or taking another sabbath, the future of the program will be intentionally considered.
As the seasons of the year turn, we also turn to our upcoming continuing education offerings. While we certainly hoped the pandemic would be greatly diminished by now, we still find ourselves watching carefully and planning with caution. Please note the method of delivery for each event: one is in person, one is via Zoom, and one is hybrid giving both options (attending in person or via Zoom). Registration is open for all the events described below.
Save the date for Earlham School of Religion’s annual Writing Colloquium, to be held this year online on Oct. 23-24. This year’s theme is “Grace, Play, and Delight.” The Writing Colloquium is co-sponsored by Bethany Theological Seminary and it supports the writing and work of the joint Master of Arts in Theopoetics and Writing that is offered by both institutions. The event is free, but donations are encouraged.
Janelle Bitikofer’s June webinar, “Providing Mutual Support when People Are Experiencing Mental Illness,” was so engaging, and viewers had so many questions, that we will be offering a part two. In this continued conversation, we’ll discuss practical ways for congregations to engage in mutual care.
