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!

Sudan, Bishops, Preaching, popular culture, parenting and reflections on ministry in the 21st century . . .

Stories from around the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion

 

Video: Presiding Bishop calls the church to prayer for South Sudan

Pregnant woman faces charge of Apostasy in Sudan:news360.com/article/238957729

Video: Bishop Sauls kicks off ‘Advocacy to Challenge Domestic Poverty’

Summit first step in creating a coalition against trafficking

 CT Bishop Jim Curry & daughter Gretchen involved in effort of Young adults speak truth to power on Capitol Hill

California diocese’s first eco-confirmation hailed a success

"Too few Anglican women involved in decision-making processes"

eNews May 15: South Sudan, Nigerian girls, TREC-CT, Stewardship Resources

Joyous celebration of Frances Perkins’ feast day from Maine to D.C.

Court decision about property in San Joaquin

  

Bishop consecrations and elections

http://www.dioceseny.org/news_items/272-allen-k-shin-consecrated-bishop-suffragan

http://www.ecdio.org/election.html 

 

Another TED Talk - suicide and life 

Kevin Briggs: The bridge between suicide and life | Talk Video | TED.com

 

Preaching Resources

When we make the move (a prayer for pastors) | Reflectionary

Weekly Sermon Illustration: What It Means to be a Christian | Frederick Buechner Center

Announcement: Blogging the Lectionary

 

 

More reflections on Church and Ministry in the 21st century

To the Dying Church: Do What You Came Here to Do - Chris Chatelaine-Samsen | God's Politics Blog | Sojourners

Statement on 'Black Mass' | Harvard University

What This Priest Saw At the Harvard Eucharistic Procession - Aleteia

At Its Depths: The Eucharist and the People of God | The Sub-Dean's Stall

Praying Jane Eyre | The Christian Century

Playing With Fire

Blog - NEXT Church

odes4hg | Conversations with God

The Art Is Not in Forgetting But in Letting Go | On Being

"My Faith, My Way": Youth, Spirituality and Christian Practices | Summer Study at Yale Divinity School

EDOW Blog: That's so...awkward.

The First Sunday After A Loss | Portico Collective

Why a church wedding? | The Christian Century

Acts 8 Moment

Marilynne Robinson Discusses Christianity, Gay Marriage Leading Up To Book Release

Q&A: Marilynne Robinson on guns, gay marriage and Calvinism | Religion News Service

3 Things You Might Not Know About Proverbs 31
Are Sundays Dying? - Pacific Standard: The Science of Society 

We Didn’t Earn This | 50 Days of Fabulous

Would Jesus pray at a city council meeting? | Mercy Not Sacrifice

An open letter to pastors (A non-mom speaks about Mother’s Day) - Time-Warp Wife | Time-Warp Wife

Clergy Confidential: 7 Reasons to Go to Church on Mother's Day

www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber/2014/05/stop-saying-the-church-is-dying-a-sermon-for-the-rocky-mountain-synod-assembly/

Reflections on Closing A Church | Imagine an Alternative
a long way from home: A Letter to a Discouraged Christian
Video: Prospects for Pastors | Watch Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly Online | PBS Video

 

A remarkable ministry in TN with women who are survivors of trafficking and prostitution

Welcome to Thistle Farms

 

Lessons from and Reflections on popular culture

Potentially Racist Words and Phrases - The Root

Sara I Writes: Jesus in my Confidence Gap

Five Lessons that a Baseball Park can Teach the Church | buildingfaith

U.S. productivity: Putting in all those hours doesn’t matter - The Washington Post

What If Your Workplace IS Your Mission Field? | The High Calling

23 Photos Of People From All Over The World Next To How Much Food They Eat Per Day - Dose - Your Daily Dose of Amazing

10 Sensory Play Ideas To Pass the Hours (& Save Your Sanity)

15 things youth need to thrive in America Matador

How to Attack the Gender Wage Gap? Speak Up - NYTimes.com

The 9/11 Story Told at Bedrock, Powerful as a Punch to the Gut - NYTimes.com

What happened to Jill Abramson shows everything that sucks about being a woman leader - Vox

The Origins of 'Privilege' : The New Yorker

How Communal Singing Disappeared From American Life - Atlantic Mobile

James Surowiecki: The Startup Mass Extinction : The New Yorker 
10 Things I’ve Learned From Difficult People | RELEVANT Magazine
 
More on Parenting
Once We Become Parents We Don't Want to Hang Out With You Anymore (But Not for the Reasons You Think)What 3 Out Of 10 Homeless Adults Today Had In Common As KidsTo Create a Real Connection, Show Vulnerability - Michael Simmons - Harvard Business Review

Why I Play the Mom Card - NYTimes.com

Why Lone Rangers Always Fail | Trusted consultants for your congregation

The struggles families face to find good mental health services… | Church4EveryChild

The Lutheran | What you don't see: Blessed be those who bring children to worship

Mother's Day Prayers. Poetry, famous quotations, readings and thoughts for the day.

Theology Conference for Graduate Students

Graduate Conference in Theology

And finally a prayer . . .

A Prayer of Oscar Romero

Five Marks of Mission

FIVE MARKS OF MISSION

Archived Session recordings and resources | The Five Marks of Mission

http://5marks.org/archived-session-recordings-and-resources/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/FiveMarksofMission/permalink/407766036027659/

Church in the 21st Century

CHURCH IN THE 21st CENTURY

A Good and Joyful Thing: Turning Outwards

http://goodandjoyfulthing.blogspot.com/2012/05/turning-outwards.html

Seizing the Episcopal Moment: A Manifesto of Hope for the Episcopal Church (by Donald Schell and Karen Ward)

http://api.ning.com/files/E0lkqI5YTdUwm8VWF-yobAlsEGrRPAkaNl6-InFYx4oBzErZ-dqNBIC6MluEcvSZ7-QzGvcb19hKAIsAk6O*r*meOkIVOyFG/SEIZINGTHEEPISCOPALMOMENT.FINAL.7.4.09.pdf

Exploring collaborative ministries

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2012/02/02/exploring-collaborative-ministries/

Pioneer ministry | Fresh Expressions

http://www.freshexpressions.org.uk/pioneerministry

New clergy, new churches: Church planting as a first call | The Christian Century

http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2012-03/new-clergy-new-churches

Anglican and Dominican

http://anglicandominican.blogspot.com/2010/01/reforming-north-american-christianity.htm

A Good and Joyful Thing: But What About Jesus?

http://goodandjoyfulthing.blogspot.com/2012/06/but-what-about-jesus.html

A Growing Church is a Dying Church | The Theological Wanderings of a Street Pastor

http://streetpastor.wordpress.com/2012/09/04/a-growing-church-is-a-dying-church/

Q&A: Tough love for ‘spiritual but not religious’  http://www.unitedmethodistreporter.com/2013/01/qa-tough-love-for-spiritual-but-not-religious/

I’m Done Growing the Church

http://ijoey.org/im-done-growing-the-church

Sermon by Dean Peter Elliott; Ash Wednesday | Christ Church Cathedral Vancouver

http://www.cathedral.vancouver.bc.ca/2013/02/14/sermon-by-dean-peter-elliott-ash-wednesday/

Small Churches are the Next Big Thing - With One Condition | New Small Church

http://newsmallchurch.com/small-churches-the-next-big-thing/

The Missional Church... simple - YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arxfLK_sd68

Making Disciples - YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJWkQ9UP_m8

Christine Organ: How to Avoid a Religious Apocalypse: 6 Changes the Church Needs to Make

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christine-organ/how-to-avoid-a-religious-apocalypse-6-changes-the-church-needs-to-make_b_3001575.html?utm_hp_ref=religion

Shaping vicars: a game of unreality; (Tim Thornton) | Fresh Expressions

http://www.freshexpressions.org.uk/views/shaping-vicars

11 Traits of Churches That Will Impact the Future | careynieuwhof.com

http://careynieuwhof.com/2013/05/11-traits-of-churches-that-will-impact-the-future/

Preparing for the zombie (church) apocalypse | Seven whole days

http://www.sevenwholedays.org/2013/08/07/preparing-for-the-zombie-church-apocalypse/

101 Things To Do (To Continue the Church)

https://www.ctepiscopal.org/news/newsView.asp?NewsId=40968154&NewsCategoryID=1

Équi-Table : Going Missional in Quebec City - The Sustainist

http://ehflaw.typepad.com/blog/2013/09/%C3%A9qui-table-going-missional-in-quebec-city.html

Non-Mega-Church: Church Growth for small churches, mainlines, and a New Generation

http://nonmegachurch.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2013-01-01T00:00:00-06:00&updated-max=2014-01-01T00:00:00-06:00&max-results=

The Church Needs More Innovative Pastors like MTV Needs More Twerking* | Pacific Northwest UMC News Blog

http://www.pnwumc.org/news/the-church-needs-more-innovative-pastors-like-mtv-needs-more-twerking/

Nadia Bolz-Weber Talks Tattoos, Resurrection, and God's Disruption (video) | On Being

http://www.onbeing.org/blog/nadia-bolz-weber-talks-tattoos-resurrection-and-gods-disruption-video/5921

As denominations decline, numbers of unpaid ministers rise | Religion News Service

http://www.religionnews.com/2013/09/17/denominations-decline-numbers-unpaid-ministers-rise/

Five Things That Are Holding Christianity Back - Christian Piatt | God's Politics Blog | Sojourners

http://sojo.net/blogs/2013/09/23/five-things-are-holding-christianity-back

I Want to Be Called a Missionary. | Feeding on Manna

http://www.feedingonmanna.org/?p=314

As denominations decline, numbers of unpaid ministers rise | Religion News Service

http://www.religionnews.com/2013/09/17/denominations-decline-numbers-unpaid-ministers-rise/

8 Reasons Most Churches Never Break the 200 Attendance Mark | careynieuwhof.com

http://careynieuwhof.com/2013/09/8-reasons-most-churches-never-break-the-200-attendance-mark/

Non-Mega-Church: Church Growth for small churches, mainlines, and a New Generation: Changing Small Church Culture - a success story

http://nonmegachurch.blogspot.com/2013/10/changing-small-church-culture-success.html

Missing Message in Today’s Churches

http://www.faithstreet.com/onfaith/2013/10/17/the-missing-message-in-todays-churches

Posts: 10 Ways to Create Community Where You Live (06-21-2012) -  Abundant Community

http://www.abundantcommunity.com/home/posts/friends/parms/1/post/20120621_10_ways_to_create_community_where_you_live.html?utm_campaign=October+2013+update&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=10+Ways+to+Create+Community+Where+You+Live

Making ‘digital’ disciples

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2013/10/11/19617/

Alban - Building Up Congregations and Their Leaders     http://www.alban.org/conversation.aspx?id=10363

Renton Restaurant | Luther's Table Restaurant

http://www.lutherstable.org/

Hello, My Name Is Church | The Unappreciated Pastor

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-unappreciated-pastor/hello-my-name-is-church_b_4124322.html?fb_action_ids=10100132792419732&fb_action_types=og.likes

Why Nobody Wants To Go To Church Anymore | Group

http://www.group.com/why-nobody-wants-to-go-to-church-anymore

Greater freedom in the Diocese of Maine - YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdB7HL2vVms&feature=share&list=UU11cTUwY_iBxbvLQHXZdg6A

How Celebrity, Consumerism & Competition Are Killing The Church | Verge Network

http://www.vergenetwork.org/2013/09/03/how-celebrity-consumerism-competition-are-killing-the-church/

Religion in America’s states and counties, in 6 maps

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2013/12/12/religion-in-americas-states-and-counties-in-6-maps/

Becoming a Welcoming Congregation | buildingfaith

http://www.buildfaith.org/2013/12/16/becoming-a-welcoming-congregation/

Moving "the front line" of your ministry forward

http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/evangelism/moving_the_front_line_of_your.html

The Church (What Will the Church Do?) - YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax8Ta7PGe7s

Alban - Church as Wikipedia

http://alban.org/conversation.aspx?id=10390

Evangelical drama needs Mainline experience | The Millennial Pastor

http://millennialpastor.net/2014/01/06/evangelical-drama-needs-mainline-experience/?utm_content=bufferd7413&utm_source=buffer&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Buffer

A Script to Live (and to Die) By: 19 Theses by Walter Brueggemann  | Per Crucem ad Lucem

http://jasongoroncy.com/2010/02/03/a-script-to-live-and-to-die-by-19-theses-by-walter-brueggemann/

Cathedrals are growing. But so what? - What is in Kelvin’s Head?

http://thurible.net/2014/01/17/cathedrals-are-growing/

Tarnish or Marks of Loving Use?  Of Innovation and Tradition in the Church | The Sub-Dean’s Stall

http://thesubdeansstall.org/2014/01/08/tarnish-or-marks-of-loving-use-of-innovation-and-tradition-in-the-church/

How Primitive Sociology is Killing the Church of England | Humane Pursuits

http://humanepursuits.com/how-primitive-sociology-is-killing-the-church-of-england/

High Church?  Low Church?  Broad Church?  On the Insufficiency of Labels | The Sub-Dean’s Stall

http://thesubdeansstall.org/2014/01/08/high-church-low-church-broad-church-on-the-insufficiency-of-labels/

The Best Way to Challenge Your View of God| RELEVANT Magazine

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/church/best-way-challenge-your-view-god

5 Really Bad Reasons To Leave Your Church | RELEVANT Magazine

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/church/5-really-bad-reasons-leave-your-church

Of Experts and Authority:  Trust, Love, and Obedience in our Doctrine, Discipline, and Worship | The Sub-Dean’s Stall

http://thesubdeansstall.org/2014/01/24/of-experts-and-authority-trust-love-and-obedience-in-our-doctrine-discipline-and-worship/

An Assize Sermon Reflection: What Needs to be Re-Imagined? | The Sub-Dean's Stall

http://thesubdeansstall.org/2014/01/29/an-assize-sermon-reflection-what-needs-to-be-re-imagined/

12 Reasons Why it is Good to Be a Church Bully | The Millennial Pastor

http://millennialpastor.net/2014/01/23/12-reasons-why-it-is-good-to-be-a-church-bully/

The Church’s Frightful Kodak Moment  |  Holy Soup

http://holysoup.com/2014/01/15/the-churchs-frightful-kodak-moment/

Shoppers, including Church Shoppers Go Online

http://www.faithandleadership.com/blog/01-24-2014/shoppers-including-church-shoppers-are-going-online?page=full

Meaningless Church Jargon

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber/2014/02/828/

10 Very Possible Reasons Your Church Isn't Growing | careynieuwhof.com

http://careynieuwhof.com/2014/01/10-very-possible-reasons-your-church-isnt-growing/

'Dinner Church' Where Parishioners Eat While They Worship Coming to Gowanus - Gowanus - DNAinfo.com New York

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20140213/gowanus/dinner-church-where-parishioners-eat-while-they-worship-coming-gowanus

From Jake Dell / THIS WEEK: Butts in Pews, or, Why Anthanasius would have used SEO

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/marketing/2014/02/08/from-jake-dell-this-week-defending-the-faith-or-anthanasius-would-have-used-seo/

7 Secrets of Highly Successful Synagogues — and Churches – Forward.com

http://forward.com/articles/192545/-secrets-of-highly-successful-synagogues-and-ch/?p=all

The Canary in the Coal Mine (Alban Closing)

http://ancientfuturefaith.net/2014/03/20/the-canary-in-the-coal-mine/

Alban Institute, a resource for mainline institutions, to shutter | Religion News Service

http://www.religionnews.com/2014/03/19/alban-institute-resource-mainline-institutions-shut-doors/

Why We Need More Entrepreneurial Church Leaders, Not More Shepherds | careynieuwhof.com

http://careynieuwhof.com/2014/03/why-we-need-more-entrepreneurial-church-leaders-not-more-shepherds/

NY Times - Dying Churches Revived in a Flash http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/22/opinion/dying-churches-revived-in-a-flash.html?emc=edit_th_20140322&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=49823309&_r

Urban Church P̶l̶a̶n̶t̶i̶n̶g̶  Plantations

http://www.christenacleveland.com/2014/03/urban-church-plantations/

Missional questions; one parish’s list | ctepiscopal pearls

http://ctepiscopalpearls.org/2014/02/25/missional-questions-one-parishs-list/

Laura E. Everett: The face of an institution

http://www.faithandleadership.com/content/laura-e-everett-the-face-institution?page=full

Discipleship and Celebration | The Living Church

http://livingchurch.org/discipleship-and-celebration

Bolz-Weber asks, “What does it mean to be a public church?” - The Presbyterian Outlook

http://pres-outlook.org/2014/03/bolz-weber-asks-mean-public-church/

NY Times - Denominations Downsizing and Selling Assets

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/16/us/denominations-downsizing-and-selling-assets-in-more-secular-era.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0

Discrimination in the Name of Jesus | OnFaith

http://www.faithstreet.com/onfaith/2014/03/11/discrimination-in-the-name-of-jesus/31242

Holy stuff: What is Left When a Church Closes | The Christian Century

http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2014-02/holy-stuff#.Uxk_5Jo86Io.facebook

An Open Apology to the Local Church | Christianity Today

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2014/april/open-apology-to-local-church.html?&visit_source=facebook

Mission … Mission … Mission: Part One | A Good and Joyful Thing

http://agoodandjoyfulthing.com/2014/03/01/mission-mission-mission-part-one/

Structuring for Discipleship

http://www.churchwork.com/structuring-for-discipleship/

Rowan Williams is right to tell supposed ‘persecuted’ Christians to grow up - Comment - Voices - The Independent

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/rowan-williams-is-right-to-tell-supposed-persecuted-christians-to-grow-up-8775011.html

Of gimmicks and Gospel | Seven whole days

http://www.sevenwholedays.org/2014/03/03/of-gimmicks-and-gospel/

Questioning the Questions

http://www.ucc.org/feed-your-spirit/stillspeaking-weekly/questioning-the-questions-1.html

Homeless Jesus Statue

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/28/homeless-jesus-statue_n_4875892.html

Mark Sandlin: 10 Things Church Can Learn From Geeks

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-sandlin/10-things-church-can-learn-from-geeks_b_2839507.html

The Missional Church: A Humble and Contrite Heart | The Sub-Dean's Stall http://thesubdeansstall.org/2013/12/14/the-missional-church-a-humble-and-contrite-heart/

Book Notes on Missional Church Resources

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B0nRXj1iVnGsU3dXWVVwYW1EYkU&usp=sharing

Kintsugi, Brokenness, and the Missional Church | The Sub-Dean's Stall

http://thesubdeansstall.org/2014/01/02/kintsugi-brokenness-and-the-missional-church/

Can God make it in Hollywood?

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/23/sunday-review/can-god-make-it-in-hollywood.html?_r=0

End of Elite Denominational Headquarters

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/martin-marty/end-of-elite-denomination_b_5038246.html