General News and Announcements

February 1, 2010

This spring, three continuing education Learning Circles are being convened for small groups of ministry personnel to meet monthly by telephone conference call.

The topics for this spring are the following, and more information and registration are available online:

• Use of Technology in Worship—Facilitator Rev. Bob Fillier
• The Joys and Struggles of Amalgamations—Facilitator Ron Ewart
• Small Is Beautiful: Challenges and Opportunities of Small Church Ministries—Facilitator the Very Rev. David Giuliano

Learning Circles are opportunities to explore practical strategies for ministry, and to build communities of inquiry and support. But for some topics, or some regions, ministry personnel live so far apart that face-to-face meetings are impossible. A conference call is an alternative way to connect when snow or distance prevents us from meeting face-to-face. One Distance Learning Circle in Alberta Conference includes participants who live 15 hours apart, and almost never have the opportunity to see each other. Yet the group has become so life-giving that several participants report they would never miss a meeting.

Groups will be limited to six to eight people, to ensure that there’s lots of opportunity for participation. (If there are more registrations, additional groups will be formed on the same topic). Conference calls will last for 1½ hours, and be held monthly between February and June. A mutually convenient schedule for conference calls will be arranged once all the registration information has been received.

For more information, or to express an interest in other opportunities to participate in Learning Circles, contact Stephen Fetter, Continuing Education Coordinator.