February 2
University City UMC

Registration and Fellowship: 8:00am –  8:30am
Opening Plenary:  8:30am –  9:30am
First Session:  9:45am – 10:45am
Second Session: 11:00am -  NOON 
Keynote:
Faithful Risk-Taking
Rev. Scott Osterberg, Pastor, New Story Church
8:30am – 9:30am
·          Plan to attend the 8:30AM Keynote Session
Choose one session to attend at 9:45am
·          Choose another session to attend at 11

Breakout sessions:

1.   Faithful Risk-Taking in Ministry
Facilitator :            Rev. Scott Osterberg, Lead Pastor, New Story Church

Christ calls us to take risks in order to engage our communities and our neighbors with the good news. We will explore what it means to take healthy risks as ministry leaders and how we equip others to join us in order that we might become more fully the church we are being called to be.

2.     Gracious Accountability Groups
Facilitator :            Sue Jones, Smoky Mountain District Lay Leader and
Facilitator:          Ron Ballard, encourager of Wesleyan Discipleship

Do you hunger to grow in your discipleship to Christ? A Gracious Accountability Group is a small group experience designed develop deeper discipleship. It is a way to invest in each other's lives by asking "how is it with your life with God?", and to hold each other graciously accountable to a group covenant. 
 
3.     Healthy Ministry in the Small Membership Church
Facilitator:          Rev. Jim Brookshire, Pastor, Sedgefield UMC

“Small” membership churches continue to be the backbone of our denomination. Rather than focus on the word “small”, let’s focus on the word “vital”. In this session, we will recognize the unique challenges and opportunities we face as leaders of small membership churches and discuss what it takes to become and remain a vital church in mission and ministry to the world.
 
4.     Healthy, Vibrant Churches
Facilitator:         Dr. Stephanie Moore Hand, Metro District CVS
     
Do you ever ask the questions, What is a Healthy Vibrant Church? What is Discipleship? Are we a Disciple making Church? What is Evangelism? What is Social Justice? Join me for conversation and an exploration of best practices on what it really means to be a Healthy Vibrant Church?  
 
5.     Not Another Church Meeting     
Facilitator:          Dr. Terry Moore, Senior Pastor, Weddington UMC
 
People want to serve but do not want to attend just another church meeting. This class will focus on how to have an effective and efficient meeting for ministry and mission.

6.     Pastor/Staff Parish Relations Committees and the Mission of the
Church  
Facilitator:          Rev. David Hockett, District Superintendent, Metro District
 
We’ll explore the central and critical role P/SPR committees play in supporting and aligning church leadership with the Church’s mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of our communities. 

7.     Safe Sanctuaries
Facilitator:          Rev. Michelle Foster-Beckerleg, Pastor of Congregational Care
and Adult Spiritual Formation, Covenant UMC, High Point, NC
 
We have all heard about Safe Sanctuaries. Hopefully, your church has a basic policy. In our hour together, we will focus on emerging issues and appropriate Safe Sanctuaries responses.  Specifically, we will discuss the liabilities and safeguards involved with social media, the internet, and cell phones. Of course, all Safe Sanctuaries questions are welcome!

8.     What are the Ten Essential Issues for Local Church Finance and
Stewardship?
Facilitator:          Dr. Mark King, Conference Treasurer, WNCC
 
We will examine the ten most important issues that local church finance and stewardship leaders should consider. Content will be drawn from the Book of Discipline and the practical, logistical and relevant concerns related to finances and stewardship. Topics will include Audits, Annual Reporting, Apportionments, Financial Policies and Giving.

9.     Why Youth Ministry?
Facilitator:    Rev. Meredith Hinton, Youth Minister, Weddington UMC
 
What does youth ministry look like in your setting? How does your church define “youth ministry”? And, what does youth ministry look like in 2019? 
Metro District / WNC Conference / P.O. Box 1504, Huntersville, NC 28070
705.525.3395