Assisting United Methodist congregations in EPA&GNJ going through a pastoral transition

This overview course outlines the basics of serving on the local church Board of Trustees.

An illuminating overview course on the history of racism and the Methodist Church in America.

A basic course which covers the importance of churches connecting or reconnecting with their neighborhoods with some ideas for practical engagement.

A seminar course with Rev. Dr. Gil Rendle covering leadership in congregations and leading your congregation in reconnecting with the community.

A basic course covering the roles of Lay Leader and Lay Member to Annual Conference

Enhance church communication through diverse techniques, enabling effective sharing and meaningful connections within the local church as well as the community.

Preaching is simultaneously a gift of the Spirit and a craft that can be honed through critical reflection, experimentation, and effort. This course aims to empower and equip preachers of all levels of pastoral experience to take their preaching to the next-level—whatever that means for them. Through video lectures, reflection opportunities, and exposure to new homiletical methods and theologies of preaching, participants will receive the support and challenge needed to enhance their engagement with scripture, their engagement with their local and global contexts, and to reassess how their particular talents, life experiences, and personality quirks may support preaching styles that are organic to who God has made them to be.

Leah D. Schade Associate Professor of Preaching and Worship, Lexington Theological Seminary [email protected]; 610-420-6861 (cell; please text before calling) COURSE DESCRIPTION How can preachers help their parishioners move beyond the handshake following the sermon with the cordial response, “Nice talk, pastor”? This four-module, self-paced, online course will provide structures, strategies, and techniques for eliciting substantive feedback from sermon listeners. The goal is to both deepen the biblical and theological reflection of listeners and create channels for constructive critique enabling preachers to improve their sermons. Participants will learn how to cultivate a culture of deep listening that empowers their sermon listeners to engage with respectful yet robust responses to the sermon event and respond to God’s word together.