Enthusiasm Grows for Congregational Development School: Still Time to Register

By Mary Beth Coudal

"This is the most exciting event in our denomination!" raved Mary Brooke Casad. The North Texas Conference director of mission was describing the upcoming School of Congregational Development.

Ms. Casad will be among hundreds of United Methodists from around the country and indeed, the world, who will gather this August 3-8 at the School of Congregational Development in San Diego, California, to learn about church vitality and transformation.

"It's where the Spirit is moving and the energy is flowing - all centered on our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ," the veteran of six schools added. "Most find that it's a good combination of the practical and inspirational, but mainly it's a place to connect to God and others and learn from each other about effective ministry."

People visiting Southern California for the event will be particularly impressed by the strength of the United Methodist congregations and the rich diversity of the United Methodist people there, remarked Jim Conn, director of new ministries, California-Pacific Annual Conference (Cal-Pac).

On Sunday, participants will worship in one of ten churches. "There'll be an opportunity to visit a congregation across the border in Tijuana (people will have to bring their passports), a Korean congregation, a Vietnamese congregation, a Spanish language congregation, as well as some very large, effective, primarily Anglo-population churches. Not only will they experience worship but they will have a chance to dialogue with the pastors and the people," said Mr. Conn.

"The conference leaders are working very hard to welcome leaders from all over the connection to beautiful San Diego for a time of worship, prayers, learning, connections, and fellowship," said The Rev. Keith Andrew Hwang, executive director of connectional ministries, Cal-Pac.

"Prayer as a Change Agent" is one example of the many workshops offered at the school. "The thrust of the workshop is that prayer can really make an impact in ministry," said The Rev. John Southwick of the Research Office of Global Ministries and veteran of ten schools.

The Rev. Sam W. Dixon, Jr., deputy general secretary of the Evangelization and Church Growth Program Area of Global Ministries, called the upcoming School of Congregational Development, "the preeminent training event for United Methodist clergy and laity interested in starting new churches, expanding their churches to another site, or reinvigorating their current congregation."

The school is sponsored by the Joint Committee for Congregational Development, the General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church, and the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church.

All United Methodist clergy and laity are invited to the School of Congregational Development. The planning team expects this school to be the largest one ever.

For registration and information, please visit Global Ministries' website at: http://new.gbgm-umc.org/about/us/ecg/events/school/