Thursday, October 2, 2008 1:00-5:30 pm 

At the Heart of the Matter: Excellence in Congregational Care

Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Feed my Lambs."  How do we make that happen?  What is the framework of your pastoral care system?  Have you set a vision, formed a means of response that is proactive instead of reactive, and are you able to invite and inspire a team to effectively care for your congregation?  Can you set boundaries and mean it?

This pre-institute session will help you answer these questions.  Break out sessions will help you develop and sustain models of excellent care and ideas for care-focused worship services.  Learn ways to empower laity and ideas for launching new specialized care ministries.  Hear how to set effective boundaries and explore the unique needs of persons with mental illness (depression, bi-polar, eating disorders).

Jeanne Hoeft, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Care Saint Paul School of Theology and Karen Lampe Executive Director, Congregational Care, Church of the Resurrection- Presenters

Building Community, Making Disciples:
Strategies for Launching and Growing a Life-Changing Small Group Ministry

Starting with John Wesley, the Methodist Church has a strong history of emphasizing Christian discipleship in the context of Small Groups. At Church of the Resurrection, Small Groups have provided a key foundation for growing community and forming disciples to help us live out our purpose of building deeply committed Christians. In this workshop, presenters will review the launch, formation, and development of the Small Group Ministry in two distinct sections:

-Launching a New Small Group Ministry - This first section will examine the practices, techniques, and strategies employed to launch Resurrection’s Home-Based Small Group Ministry. Included will be an examination of the successes and failures encountered as the ministry was expanded from single pilot group of 12 members to over 200 small groups in just six months. It will also review the challenges of starting a new small group ministry while continuing to support existing discipleship programs.

-Building a Life Changing Small Group Ministry - The second section will examine the maturation of the ministry at Resurrection since its initial launch, including a review of how groups are resourced with curriculum, mission, and care opportunities. In addition, this workshop will include an extensive study of how small group leaders are supported, trained and cared for as they helping group members grow in faith together. Finally, this section will examine the critical role of the Small Group Ministry within the life of the church and look at the future plans for the evolution of the ministry.

Debi Nixon, Executive Director, Church of the Resurrection and Correy Trupp Director of Small Group Ministry-Presenters 

Children’s Ministries The Top 52:
Our 52 Newest Ideas of 2008

We’re all looking for something new in Children’s Ministry and in this workshop we’ll give you 52 of our best and newest ideas. One for each week of the year! We’ll show them in action and tell you where to get them. At the end of this workshop you’ll feel ready to take on your ministry with these fresh ideas.

Nick Ransom KiDS COR Director and Teri Chalker Program Director- Presenters 

Leadership Essentials:
Practical Tools for Leading in the Church

Leadership Essentials offers basic, practical skills that are foundational to effective leadership in the church. The goal of this interactive workshop is to provide teaching and tools to equip you in areas such as facilitating groups and meetings, leading change, and managing conflict. Throughout the course of the workshop, we will share the resources you need to then replicate this training in your own church.

Carol Cartmill, Director of Community Life, and Yvonne Gentile, Leadership Development Team- Presenters  

Strategies for Producing Powerful Worship

This four hour experience will take the participant from macro to micro, back out again and then to wide angle to visualize the whole environment of the latest in worship production and planning. Includes segments on the vision and development of creative worship, the impact of image on worship and preaching, the dynamics of effective team design, and strategies for creating and maintaining forward momentum.

Len Wilson and Jason Moore -Midnight Oil-Presenters 

Student Ministries Forum:
Creativity and Innovation

What's the greatest idea you had over the last year? Did it work?

Ever had a game or activity flop? Fresh out of creativity?

Every ministry hoping to reach today's teenager must think creatively in it's approach. In a global world of communication and entertainment, we must constantly re-invent the landscape of ministry. Join Jason Gant, director of student ministries, and his team as we explore creative ways in which to reach, teach, connect, and challenge students into a life with Christ. Through the overarching theme of creativity, we will facilitate a forum discussion on these four topics:

-Getting outside your walls

-Teaching with media

-Interactive Worship and Prayer

-Connecting with students on-line

Here at Resurrection, we are always seeking out "best practices" and "new ideas" of how we might share the power and grace of Jesus to the next generation. Many of you have developed great new strategies, and we hope you will invest in this year's forum as we explore them together!

Jason Gant: Director of Student Ministries- Presenter