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providing lifelong Christian formation for all baptized ministers in the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan
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Whitaker Monthly Contents |
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Since moving to Michigan two years ago, I have noticed a couple of things. One is that Michigan has really bad roads. The other is that we are absolutely spoiled here when it comes to world-class adult formation opportunities. In addition to our seminaries and universities, we have offerings from the St. Francis Center, other denominations and our own congregations, not to mention Whitaker's own set of courses.
I have several dates to highlight this month: Sep. 20 Music Workshop at St. Stephen's Troy Sep. 22 Registration Deadline for Preaching Class Sep. 25 Peter Steinke at the St. Francis Center Oct. 22 Registration Deadline for Worship Leader Class Nov. 8 Eucharistic Minister/Visitor Training - Madison Hts Nov. 10 John Philip Newell Event in Lansing Nov. 15 Eucharistic Minister/Visitor Training - Brighton
Whitaker will be offering two opportunities for Eucharistic Minister/Eucharistic Visitor training this November. The First Sunday of Advent is the deadline for licensing and re-licensing. Resources for doing your own training are also available on our website.
In the wake of shootings in Ferguson and elsewhere, several people have asked about anti-racism training. The Dioceses of Michigan, Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan have begun working together to develop training and resources aimed at celebrating diversity. Stay tuned for more information about this.
Will you be at convention this year? As you may know we will be in Lansing the weekend of the Michigan / Michigan State football game. Whitaker will be hosting a tailgate style reception on Friday night. At the reception and during the convention on Friday you can cast your vote for which hat you would like to see Bishop Gibbs wear on Saturday (for some reason Ohio State will also be an option). Just like Washington DC all votes cost money and all proceeds will go toward Whitaker scholarships. We will also have a basket raffle. I am also delighted to report that the new Academy for Vocational Leadership began this past weekend. The academic component "The Year of the Bible" is open to everyone as our Saturday Series this year. You can read more below or on our website.
And I am more than happy to talk with you about adult formation in your local setting and how I and Whitaker can support you. I am happy to meet with deaneries, parishes and individuals.
Faithfully,
Eric Williams
------------------------ The Rev. Eric M. Williams Director, Whitaker Institute 4800 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201 (313)833-4412 * [email protected] http://www.edomi.org/whitakerinstitute
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Registration is now open for the following great workshops and programs: |
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Preaching Licensure Course |
This 8-month course will give you the skill and connect you with the resources you need to be an inspiring lay preacher in your congregation. In addition to learning the art and practice of preaching, you will deepen your familiarity with scripture and become more aware the pastoral and spiritual implications of preaching from scripture. Upon completion of all sessions and approval of the instructors, you will be a licensed lay preacher in the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan. Register early because space is limited! Permission from your supervising clergy is required.
Registration: Register on or before September 24. Registration will close early if the class is full.
Date: Class meets on Tuesday evenings beginning September 30. The full schedule will be discussed at the first session.
Location: St Clare's Episcopal Church, 2309 Packard St, Ann Arbor.
Course fee: $400. Scholarships are available. Download the scholarship form here.
CEU's: 15
This year's preaching faculty:
Ian Reed Twiss is the pastor/priest-in-charge at Holy Faith Church, a federated Lutheran and Episcopal congregation in Saline, Michigan. Before becoming a priest in 2007, Ian taught undergraduate creative writing at the University of Michigan where he earned a Master of Fine Arts in fiction writing. He has a passion for words and for helping new preachers develop their unique voice in proclaiming the gospel.
Susie Shaefer serves as the vicar at St. John's in Clinton and lives in Ann Arbor. When she isn't preparing a sermon or tending to work, she often can be found playing imaginary zoo with her two young kids in the living room.
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Worship Leader Licensure Course |
Leading worship requires much more from us than an ability to read and understand the directions in the Book of Common Prayer. The Worship Leader class is designed to prepare you to craft and lead non-Eucharistic services of worship, especially Morning Prayer. Over the course of three 6-hour sessions, on a calendar set by the class at its first meeting, you will learn all the basics of planning worship according to the Church canons and the rubrics set out in the Book of Common Prayer. More importantly, you will learn about the preparation, wisdom, and confidence needed to lovingly lead God's people in prayer. You will be required to lead worship in the time between class sessions.
Registration: Register on or before October 22. Permission from your supervising clergy is required to attend.
Date: The class meets 3 times beginning Saturday, Nov. 1. The dates of other sessions will be determined by the group during the first meeting. All sessions are required.
Location: St. Paul's Church, Brighton, MI
Course fee: $150. Scholarships are available. Download the scholarship form here.
CEU's: 6
This year's worship leader faculty:
Dick Hamlin recently retired as Rector of St. Michael's, Lansing. In addition to serving the diocese on many councils and committees, Dick has taught extensively for Whitaker Institute in areas such as church history, liturgy, stewardship, and scripture and served for 13 years as a mentor for Education for Ministry (EfM). He is a member of the Board of Bexley Seabury.
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Eucharistic Minister/Visitor Training
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Congregations are asked to renew their Eucharistic Minister and Visitor licenses by the First Sunday of Advent in Year B, which falls this year on November 30, 2014. Often that training is done within local congregations. This year Whitaker is offering an additional opportunity to take that training with people from around the diocese. Those attending the course will also need to get specific local instruction from their home congregation. To receive a license, they will need to be approved by their Rector/Vicar/ Priest-in-charge. And to receive a Eucharistic Visitor license, they will also need to have a current Safeguarding certificate.
NOVEMBER 8: ST. PATRICK'S, MADISON HEIGHTS
1434 East 13 Mile Rd., Madison Heights, MI 48071
Phone: 248-585-9591
10:00am - 3:00pm
Leader: The Rev. Bob Hart
NOVEMBER 15: ST. PAUL'S, BRIGHTON
200 W. St. Paul St., Brighton, MI 48116
Phone: 810-229-2821
10:00am - 3:00pm
Leader: The Rev. Deon Johnson
Register online here.
Cost is $25 per person
Bring a bag lunch
CEU's: 1
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Whitaker Saturday Series: Year of the Bible |
We are joining with the Diocese of Eastern Michigan this year to embark on a new venture to deepen our knowledge of scripture. By reading scripture through an historical rather than canonical lens, you will gain more insight about the context of these words we proclaim to be the Word of the Lord. This series is perfect for lay preachers, clergy, or anyone else who wants to learn more about scripture. Sign up for just one or, better yet, come to all of them.
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Sept 13: Introduction to the Year
Register on or before Sept 3
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Oct 4: The Persian Period
Register on or before Sept 24
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Nov 1: Deuteronomic History
Register on or before Oct 22
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Dec 6: Prophetic Literature
Register on or before Nov 26
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Jan 24: Responses to Hellenism
Register on or before Jan 14
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Feb 14: Pentateuch
Register on or before Feb 4
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Mar 21: The Roman Period
Register on or before Mar 11
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Apr 25: Matthew and Luke/Acts
Register on or before Apr 15
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May 16: John and Paul
Register on or before May 6
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Jun 6: Paul and the Canon
Register on or before May 27
Registration: Register for individual class sessions on or before 10 days in advance. Register here.
Times: All sessions on Saturdays from 9:00 - 3:00. You are welcome to join us for Morning Prayer at 8:15!
Location: All sessions will be held at Colombiere Retreat Center, 9075 Big Lake Rd, Clarkston, MI
Course fee: $300 for entire series, includes lunch (a savings of over $100!) $45 for each session, includes lunch.
Download the list of textbooks and the assignments and study guide for the first weekend from the web page.
CEU's: 20 for entire series; 2 for each session
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Safeguarding Series |
Safeguarding God's Children is a training program in sexual abuse awareness for clergy, Sunday school teachers, nursery workers, vestry members, and others who work with minors in our churches. This training covers prevention, detection and reporting guidelines, and was created in response to General Convention Resolution B008.
Safeguarding God's People is a diocesan requirement for anyone in a pastoral or one-on-one situation, such as Eucharistic Visitor or Pastoral Caregiver. This training includes guidelines for the prevention of misconduct in all pastoral relationships. It covers healthy boundaries; high risk situations; the abuse of power; accountability; ethical and theological concerns; and diocesan policies and procedures, to ensure safety in our congregations.
Each date will contain both workshops listed above. There will be a short break for lunch in between. If attending both, please bring your lunch with you. Plan to arrive no later than 15 minutes prior to the start time listed below.
Registration for Saturday classes will be cut off after Wednesday.
Safeguarding Children: 8:45 am - 12:00 pm
Workshop fee: $30
Safeguarding People: 12:45 - 4:00 pm
Workshop fee: $30
Are you required to take either or both of the Safeguarding trainings?
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Clergy: All Clergy and Total Ministry Support Teams are required to complete both of these workshops and attend a workshop every 5 years to renew their knowledge. This includes all candidates and postulants.
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Lay leadership: Safeguarding Children must be taken every 5 years by all those who regularly work with children and youth. Safeguarding People must be taken every 5 years by Eucharistic visitors and pastoral care providers.
Did you know? Many people are eligible to take these classes online for free. For more information on who needs to take what, click here.
SEP 13 2014
| St. Patrick's, 1434 E. 13 Mile Rd, Madison Heights
| OCT 4 2014
| Special session of Safeguarding Children at St. John''s, Royal Oak
| OCT 18 2014
| St. Michael's & All Angels, 11646 Old Monroe Pike, Onstead
| NOV 15 2014
| St. Paul's, 218 West Ottawa, Lansing, MI
| JAN 24 2015
| Cathedral Church of St. Paul, 4800 Woodward Ave., Detroit
| FEB 21 2015
| Christ Church, 120 N. Military St. Dearborn
| MAR 21 2015
| St. Paul's, 200 West St. Paul Street, Brighton
| APR 25 2015
| St. Michael's & All Angels, 1325 Champaign, Lincoln Park
| MAY 9 2015
| All Saints, 171 W. Pike, Pontiac
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This year's Safeguarding Instructors:
Tim Spannaus, Mark Hastings, Pam Wagner, Mike Walbridge, Ron Byrd, Maryjane Peck, assistant rector at Christ Church Dearborn, Katherine Blakley, Rosemary Spatafora, John Wakevainen, Sherry Bass, Silvia Huth
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around the Diocese |
Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014 12:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Led by the Rev. Susan Anslow Williams
and the Rev. Julia Huttar Bailey
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church,
5500 N. Adams Road, Troy MI
Contact: [email protected] * 248-641-8080
Cost: $20 per person;
Groups from one parish Maximum of $75
Register Online today.
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Whitaker Institute
4800 Woodward Ave. Detroit, Michigan 48201 313-832-4400 |
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To promote your formation event here contact Whitaker's director Eric Williams at [email protected]
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across the Church |
is introducing four new courses this Fall. Go to churchnext.tv to learn more.
+ Introducing Judaism with Rabbi Joey Krakoff
- a solid overview that's great for personal use or inclusion in a comparative religion track you may use for your congregation.
+ Introducing Christian Stewardship with Kristine Miller -
take this one together as a church council and/or stewardship team, this is an excellent course.
+ Redemptive Charity: Best Practices for Personal and Congregational Outreach with Robert Lupton -
find out why most of us do outreach poorly, and how to improve.
+ Introducing Church Marketing with Jake Dell-
most of us are averse to 'marketing' and faith, with good reason. Here's a conscientious and practical way forward.
Bexley-Seabury
Join the community at Bexley-Seabury for one of these great courses this Fall!
http://bexleyseabury.edu/courses/current-upcoming/
- Anglican and Episcopal History
- Anglican Liturgy and Music: Development and Theology
- Anglican Spirituality and Ethos
- Atheism 101
- Episcopal Canon Law and Polity
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with Partners in Ministry |
A program of the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center in Chicago. The Clergy Clinic meets for three days, three times a year (for a total of nine days of training) in the Chicago area. There are two groups beginning this Fall. Discounted registration ends September 22.
at St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt Boundary Tending and Border Crossing Designed for pastors, lay staff and volunteer leaders, this one-day workshop reviews essential information and strategies for creating and maintaining a safe environment for vital ministry in today's changing world. Click on the event date for online registration. September 4, 2014 at St. Francis Retreat Center November 3, 2014 at the First Congregational Church UCC in Gaylord, MI March 12, 2015 at the Church of the Master in Troy, MI April 30, 2015 at St. Francis Retreat Center September 10, 2015 at St. Francis Retreat Center Cost: $75 (includes materials and lunch) Click here for brochure with registration form.
Peter Steinke:
Adaptive Challenges and Church Systems
September 25, 2014
9:30 am - 3:30 pm (with lunch)
Peter Steinke - author, speaker, pastor
Peter will present new material from his study of Bowen theory, biblical themes and contemporary challenges for the church.
The program will be in two parts:
Part 1 : Ancient Israel as an Emotional System & Societal Emotional Process and the Rise of Christianity
Part 2: Change, Anxiety and Adaptive Challenges & Adaptive Confidence.
Peter Steinke is the author of Healthy Congregations; Congregational Leadership in Anxious Times and A Door Set Open.
You can register through the St. Francis Website.
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