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Showing posts with label leadership. Show all posts
Showing posts with label leadership. Show all posts

Friday, October 31, 2014

Local Faith Formation Resources

As I sat in Ian's presentation to our group of Recently Ordained Clergy (ROC) yesterday, I heard him mention a scholar who was going to be giving a lecture at OMSC and a light bulb went off. It occurred to me that all of you (particularly if you are new to CT) might not be aware of some of the amazing resources for theological education, for broadening our horizons and deepening our faith that are quite literally right in our own backyards. So today's post is a bit of info about a few of them. And I am sure that there are more that I am forgetting at this present moment or that I don't know about. If you know of others, please let me know! It would be great to expand this list!

So first, the OMSC . . . the Overseas Ministry Study Center (http://www.omsc.org/) is a place of study and rest for Christian Missionaries and Scholars from all over the world. It is a remarkable place that really makes global Christianity come alive! Many of its lectures are open to the public, and you can subscribe to E-News to learn more about the Center and its events.

And right across the street from OMSC in New Haven is Yale Divinity School, which of course hosts numerous lectures and programs throughout the year: http://divinity.yale.edu/ The great thing about YDS public lectures is that they are almost always recorded, so even if you can't get there in person, you can still hear the lecture. YDS digital resources can be found here: http://divinity.yale.edu/core/digital-resources And if you can get to New Haven on occasion, you should be sure to visit the Ministry Resource Center in the Divinity Library. Imagine having the opportunity to browse, sample and try out any and every christian education resource you can imagine (for children or adults) and that is the MRC.

Another great resource for lectures and programs, particularly of an interfaith nature is Hartford Seminary (http://www.hartsem.edu/). They also have an E-News you can sign up for and record many of their programs, so you don't necessarily have to attend in person. For a tiny little school in the middle of Hartford, they draw a remarkable collection of scholars and faith leaders from across CT and around the world!

If you are in Fairfield County, it is particularly worth noting that Christ Church in Greenwich has a robust adult education program, not all of which takes place on Sunday mornings. More information on that can be found here: http://christchurchgreenwich.org/learn/adult/

Another opportunity in Greenwich is the Greenwich Leadership Forum, which is a program run by David Miller (of Princeton' Center on Faith and Work). It brings business people together to talk about faith and ethics. If spending an evening in Greenwich is not convenient for you, thankfully, they also record many of the sessions (check out the video tab on their website).

So those are a few of our remarkable local resources. Please let me know of more!

Sunday, July 13, 2014

EYE, Immigration, Social Media Sunday, World Council of Churches, Church Jargon and some thought provoking items from around the internet . . .


Items from around the Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion
The Lead: Inspiring Eucharist at EYE
Compassionate Response | in the Diocese of the Rio Grande
The Lead: Theology & Modern Detectives
The Lead: Presiding Bishop & GC Officers
Strange Language: Jargon, Tradition, and Essence | The Sub-Dean's Stall
EYE14 participants summoned to bring their gifts to the world
Five Questions with Episcopal priest, fighter of human trafficking | Tampa Bay Times
Scholar-Priest Initiative offer free videos on Eucharist, Scripture
It’s here! EYE14 kicks off
Daily Episcopalian
Speaking to the Soul
RIP: The Venerable Anthony Turney
Welby braced for 'difficulty' with Rome as Church of England prepares to approve women bishops - Telegraph
Brett & Matt's gothic clergy cemetery wedding
You Can Confess to an Anglican Priest – But Don’t Take My Word For It | The Conciliar Anglican
Anglican spiritual head, the Archbishop of Canterbury in Mauritius
These Religions Were Born In The U.S.A.
'Showing that we care': Teen volunteers put faith in action with Raise the Roof ministry | AL.com
George Takei: Why I love a country that once betrayed me | Talk Video | TED.com
Fresh ways of being Church excite, inspire Anglicans
St. Pete's Rock: Responding to Texas Border Crisis
The Moral Failure Of Immigration Reform: Are We Really Afraid Of Children?
EpiscopalShare: Social Media Sunday
Church jargon jettisoned for better communication
The Young Curmudgeon Priest: "Now you are called to work as pastor, priest, and teacher..."
Anglican mass service at the rugby ground
Are Church leaders the world's most active peacemakers? | Anglican Communion News Service
“No renewal of the Church without renewal of prayer,” - Abp of Canterbury | Anglican Communion News Service
WCC announces September Interfaith Summit on Climate Change
Anglicans, Episcopalians from five continents on WCC’s governing body
2,000 Christians gather in South Africa for Anglicans Ablaze
Columbia Theological Seminary - Women as Equals: the Need for Continuing Change
#Episcopal 'Social Media Sunday' a digital invitation
VTS's Center for Anglican Communion Studies held a Christian-Muslim conference in Tanzania
Marriage task force releases study guide, discussion resources
Pittsburgh Bishop McConnell reflects on the lessons of faith in illness
Diocese of Peshawar helps to meet needs of displaced people
West Texas: San Marcos church rekindles passion for God’s creation
Los Angeles: Religious leaders call for prayer for migrant children
Presiding Bishop on the crisis of unaccompanied children at US border
EYE14 participants summoned to bring their gifts to the world
Religious Leaders Petition Congress To Provide Legal Assistance To Immigrant Children
Members of Anglican laity can now be officially recognised as an order

Religion in the Headlines: Israel, Palestine, the Pope and Chinese Ramadan
CNN Belief Blog
From the Director: Together In Pain & Hope | Ways to Help | Kids4Peace Blog
The Danger of Broken Hearts | Fr. Josh Thomas
Pope Asks Forgiveness From Victims of Sex Abuse - NYTimes.com
China bans Ramadan fast in Muslim northwest - The Washington Post

Poverty
Three Steps We Can Take to Solve Poverty, From Someone Who Knows Firsthand | Perspectives | BillMoyers.com
Let Them Eat Cash - NYTimes.com
This is what happened when I drove my Mercedes to pick up food stamps - The Washington Post
The opposite of homelessness: Carol Howard Merritt on Love Wins Ministries | The Christian Century


Reflections on Culture, Religion and Ministry
Thank You, Disney, for Awakening My Spirituality | OnFaith
COMMENTARY: Christians worship a child who fled violence in his home country | Religion News Service
On Grief and Growing Up | Practicing Families
Baptist pastor on why the Bible supports LGBT equality
We Are All Missionaries on Vimeo
liberal church nerd: When You Stop Walking on Water
The Creative Climate - NYTimes.com
The Friends of Jake: Fear and the Religious Right: a role for liturgical practice?
Hobby Lobby, Megachurches, and the Trouble With Corporate Christianity
Of Kingdom and Empire: Celebrating the Fourth of July as Christians | The Sub-Dean's Stall
The Problem of Contempt in Christianity | The American Conservative
Priests Recieves Last

Local Items of Note (including the blog of our own Audrey Scanlan)
Completing Joy
Newtown Victim's Animal Sanctuary Dream Becomes A Reality

Death & Funerals
Please Don’t Say These Six Things at My Funeral |
BBC World Service - More or Less, Will we Die Before our Parents?

Parenting
A British Nanny's 5 Reasons Why Modern Parenting Is In Crisis
Here Are The Worst States For Working Parents

Leadership & Insights from the Business World
MANAGEMENT: Soothing Savage Structures; A Leaderless Orchestra Offers Lessons for Business - New York Times
Organisation Development, Coaching, Facilitation Change Management & Training - Kinharvie Institute
Women and Leadership: Moving Forward | Wharton Magazine
Ecumenical Resources
Welcome to the Frontpage: Churches Together in Cumbria
Disciples News Service
Open Space Guidelines | Presbytery of San Francisco Open Space Guidelines | Serving PCUSA churches and members in the Bay Area

Friday, June 27, 2014

Marriage Prepartion, Same Sex Marriage, Divestment, Refugees, Ministry at Disney World and other items of note

 A recent conversation among an ecumenical clergy group generated a whole variety of tools for marriage preparation, so I thought I would pass the list along:




And a reflection on marriage
Rhapsody in Realism - NYTimes.com

Religion in the Headlines 
Methodists Reinstate Pastor, Deepening Church’s Rift Over Gays - NYTimes.com

Rev. Cameron Partridge, Transgender Priest, Shares Message Of Acceptance At Washington National Cathedral
Four Spiritual Opportunities of Facebook
Presbyterians vote to divest in companies doing business in Israel-Palestine
The Gospel According to 'Game of Thrones' 
Rite of the Sitting Dead: Funeral Poses Mimic Life - NYTimes.com  
Presbyterian Church Votes To Allow Gay Marriage 
Sweden's first female archbishop sworn in - The Local
Meriam Ibrahim: Sudan 'apostasy' woman freed again
World Cup and Faith Can Conflict, Too
Inspiring LGBT Religious Leaders
 Creationism Banned From UK Schools
 In Face Of ISIS Advance, Many Iraqi Christians Insist On Staying Put
 
 
Items from around The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion
Presiding Bishop’s 2014 World Refugee Day message
Bible Society Malaysia tells authorities: "Bibles not subversive"Anglican priest takes environmental activism to the streetsSecond Church of England priest marries his same sex partnerEpiscopal parties file petition for review by U.S. Supreme CourtCelebrating World Refugee DayEngland’s Synod agenda built around women bishop questionThe Lead: War and Capitalism  
Monastic community at Walt Disney World 
Presbyterian Assembly allows pastors to perform same-gender marriage
 
Parenting and Family Life (and ministry with children)
It's not the family dinner that's important; it's the time together | The Splendid Table
 Pediatrics Group to Recommend Reading Aloud to Children From Birth - NYTimes.com
Why Free Play Is the Best Summer School - Atlantic Mobile
 Wherever You Are | Practicing Families
Storypath
Cool at 13, Adrift at 23 - NYTimes.com
7 things all American mothers should want right now | New York Post
What I Learned From My Daughter's Deadly Brain Tumor Diagnosis | St. Baldrick's Blog | Childhood Cancer Stories & Research 
 
Reflections on Church and MinistryAn excerpt from Cryptomnesia - NEXT Church
In the face of fear, God holds us while nudging us into the world | Round Maine with Bishop Lane
12 Steps for Clergy Recovery 
Corpus Christi 2014 | Saint Mark's Church 
The Seminary Class of 2014 | Trusted consultants for your congregation 
Compost? Secret Sauce to Cultivating New Leadership and Ministry | Hyepin Im | Red Letter Christians : Red Letter Christians 
Three things that pastors are not | The Christian Century 
revrachelrambles.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/thoughts-from-the-train/ 
m.thetimesnews.com/opinion/guest-columns/new-insights-into-the-same-world-1.335671 
When Hipsters Go to Church - Aleteia
www.ministrymatters.com/all/entry/5134/5-reasons-we-worship-in-the-afternoon
Jesus Is the Worst Thing to Happen to Christianity in Awhile
Seven Reasons the Pastor’s Salary Can Be a Source of Tension - ThomRainer.com 
Decently Writ, XVII: A Sermon by the Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton | Sed Angli. 
 
Women in Ministry
For Women in Midlife, Career Gains Slip Away - NYTimes.com
Faithful Women and the Presence of Christ | The Sub-Dean's Stall

Independence Day resources
a litany for independence day | rick morley
 
Leadership and Work/Life Balance
25 Signs You’re Succeeding At Life (Even If It Doesn’t Feel Like It) |
Shawn Achor: The happy secret to better work | Talk Video | TED.com
www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/books/2014/05/26/140526crbo_books_kolbert?currentPage=all&mobify=
Autopsy of a Burned Out Pastor: 13 Lessons - ThomRainer.com
https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140313205730-5711504-the-science-behind-ted-s-18-minute-rule?_mSplash=1 

 
 



 



 

Friday, June 20, 2014

Executive Council, Trinity Wall Street, Pope in the Holy Land, Beyond Seminary, New Tracts, reflections on leadership, parenting and losing a cross . . . oh and a bit of humor


Items from around the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion
Trinity Wall Street Names Next Rector | Trinity Church
Rev. Cameron Partridge Will Be First Openly Transgender Priest To Preach at Washington National Cathedral
Colombia: Episcopal Church marks 50 years
Episcopal seminarians serve as summer chaplains at Hartsfield
Anglicans: ‘We vow to eradicate hate crimes, hate speech in Japan’
A summary of Executive Council resolutions
UTO grants $1.5 million for Episcopal, Anglican mission, ministry
Episcopal Relief & Development photo exhibit celebrates 75 years
Episcopal, ELCA Presiding Bishops issue statement on carbon emissions
Episcopal Church Foundation 2014 fellows announced
House of Deputies president’s opening remarks at Executive Council
Presiding Bishop’s opening remarks at Executive Council
Navajoland Area Mission continues to raise up native leaders
Video: Presiding Bishop preaches at Navajoland Convocation
Archbishop of Canterbury addresses Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast
Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music provides information on Indaba-style gathering | Episcopal Church 
Religion in the Headlines
Priest killed, another one hurt in Phoenix
Pope Francis Shakes Up Vatican Financial Watchdog Board By Firing... Everybody
BBC News - Pope Francis peace plea at Israel-Palestinian prayer meeting
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/08/pope-francis-peace-israel-palestine-_n_5468328.html
How to Determine If Your Religious Liberty Is Being Threatened in Just 10 Quick Questions
Different faiths, same witness: How Vatican explains prayers for peace
Festival Draws Stars of Christian Preaching (Not as Seen on Television) - NYTimes.com
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/17/100-religious-groups-doing-good_n_5460739.html
Mormons Say Critical Online Comments Draw Threats From Church - NYTimes.com
Iraqi Christians find refuge in ancient monastery | Al Jazeera America
Pope Francis says the split between the Catholic Church and the CofE is a 'scandal' | Mail Online

 
Making the transition from Seminary to Ministry
Home page - Clergy Into Action Study - Into Action – From Seminary into Ministry
 
Adult Education Resource
New Tracts for Our Times - The Scholar-Priest Initiative
 
Reflections on Church and Ministry
The Church Bully | NNE
Why I kiss my stole | The Christian Century
No church is exempt from the work of joining God’s Project | Round Maine with Bishop Lane
Developing a Moral Vision for Climate Change: Overview of the Planet | Odyssey Networks
How the Local Movement is Revitalizing the Church | RELEVANT Magazine
uuworld.org : spiritual innovators: into the beyond
We've Seen Megachurch. But How About Micro-Church?
Why Pastors Envy Pope Francis | The Living Church
Open Doors Save a Parish | The Living Church
Do we really believe in the Real Presence? | Inwardly Digest
Ask a Young Clergy Woman: Burnout Edition - The Young Clergy Women Project
We'll All Be Changed | Portico Collective
Jane Redmont: Summer session 2014: online retreats!
Unfolding Light | Daily Reflections by Steve Garnaas-Holmes
9 Fascinating Facts About People Who Attend Megachurches | Leadership Network
Maybe we should stop ‘doing outreach’ | fathercathie
Is Pulpit Plagiarism on the Rise? Some Blame the Internet - Sarah Pulliam Bailey | God's Politics Blog | Sojourners
Australia: Parishes urged to welcome men as anti-violence advocates
Things We Can All Learn From One Of America's Oldest Religious Communities
New Ministry, New Paths: How Did You Know?
The banality of clergy failure | The Christian Century
A Trio of Sonnets for Corpus Christi | Malcolm Guite
David Briggs: Silent Clergy Killers: 'Toxic' Congregations Lead to Widespread Job Loss
Let’s Move On | The Rt. Rev. Greg Rickel, 8th Bishop of Olympia
Unapologetic Theology: Pentecost Episcopalian: Why Responding to the Holy Spirit is Central to Christian Spirituality
 
Leadership
Busy isn’t always better | Faith & Leadership
It’s Time to Talk about Performance | Trusted consultants for your congregation
Ten essential skills the next generation of religious leaders will need | Insights into Religion
Unsolicited Leadership Advice | The Living Church
Training, intensive program offers skills for mission leadership
 
Technology
Schedule send emails in Gmail. Track emails. Set reminders for follow ups

Parenting
What Every Parent Needs To Know About Secondary Drowning 
The One Conversation That Could Save Your Teen’s Life (and Your Own) | Momastery
25 Books That Diversify Kids’ Reading Lists This Summer | MindShift
Sports Should Be Child’s Play - NYTimes.com
spiritual practices with newborns: a new series | mothering spirit
Dress codes and the fingertip rule: Schools should not be telling girls that their bodies are a distraction.
 
Women in Ministry
 Kate Kelly, Mormon Women's Group Founder, Faces Excommunication
Lean Out: The Dangers for Women Who Negotiate : The New Yorker

Inspiration
19-Year-Old Figured Out How To Clean Up The Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch In Just 10 YearsElite Daily
Descartes on Doubt | Words of Wisdom | Big Think
Dan Gilbert: The psychology of your future self | Talk Video | TED.com
 
And for a laugh . . .
 
Pastor’s wife sends body double to sit pleasantly on front pew - LarkNews.com - A Good Source for Christian News