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Updates 2003
December 31, 2003
Eleven continuing education proposals were submitted for the December 1st deadline. Of these 11, 7 have received funding. Contact information is listed for each of the events.
- Bridgeway Community CRC-Richfield CRC, NJ
"Church Redevelopment: A One-Day Informational Seminar"
For more information contact: Andy Systma 973-595-6235
- Christian Counseling Center, MI
Stress Management, Effective Communication Skills, Building Effective Leadership with Staff
For more information contact: Samuel Beals 616-956-9604
Event to be held: October 1-2, 2004
- Calvin Institute Christian Worship-Calvin Theological Seminary-Pastor-Church Relations, MI
"Leadership in Anxious Times"
For more information contact: Kathy Smith 616-526-6043
- Classical Home Missions Committee of Classis Chicago South, IL
Leadership Conference
For more information contact: Phillip Leo 708-422-0790
- Immanuel CRC, MI
Seminars from the Church Communication Network
For more information contact: Bob Huisman 616-669-9725
Events to be held: September 14, October 14, November 18, January 13, February 10, March 10, April 21, May 12.
- Leadership Development Committee, IA
"Enhancing Ministry Among Us"
For more information contact: Duane Tinklenberg 712-752-8414
Partially funded by the Center for Excellence in Preaching
- Pella Christian High School, IA
"Keeping Worship Fresh and Faithful"
For more information contact: Jason Lief 641-628-9972
Funded by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
- The next deadline for continuing education proposals is June 1.
- The National Clergy Renewal Program offers grant awards of up to $45,000 to Christian congregations and their pastors to design a Sabbath renewal program that benefits and energizes the pastor and the church for their shared ministry. Deadline for applications is June 25, 2004. For more information on this program visit www.clergyrenewal.org
December 2, 2003
Sixteen peer learning proposals were submitted for the November 1st deadline. Of these 16, 13 have been awarded funds.
- Asian-American Pastoral Ministry, MN, CA, MI, ON
Focus: the challenges of pastors who are recent immigrants
- Bay Area Pastors Together in Spiritual Training, CA
Focus: the practice of Sabbath renewal in pastors' and spouses' lives
- CRC Church Planters in New England. ME, NH, MA
Focus: church plants and their ministries
- Finishing Strong, Ending Well, MI
Focus: exploring how to spend the final years in ministry in ways that sustain pastoral excellence
- Good Shepherd's Association, CA
Focus: personal development and ministry effectiveness in the church
- Near the Mississippi River Peer Group, MO, IA, IL, WI
Focus: fruitful ministries with pastors who continue to grow in effectiveness
- North Jersey Leadership Group, NJ
Focus: equipping the pastors in organizational leadership
- Nurturing Communities of Spiritual Conversation, MI
Focus: nurturing authentic spiritual conversation within and through the Christian community
- Renewing the Church for Mission Effectiveness, ON (4 groups)
Focus: greater leadership and missional effectiveness
- South Grand Rapids Preaching Group, MI
Focus: in-depth study of scripture to enrich preaching
Funded by the Center for Excellence in Preaching
- The Sermon Hub, MI
Focus: moving from text and theological reflection to sermon material
- Urban Mission in the CRC, NJ, IL, OH, IN, ON
Focus: the ministry of the urban church
- West Coast Peer Learning Group, BC
Focus: the challenges of the future in worship and outreach
Funded by the Calvin Institue of Christian Worship.
- Regional pastor matching grant awarded to Classis Greater Los Angeles
- Addition made to analysis document concerning "Pastors and Their Families".
- Sample Peer Learning proposal
- Sample Continuing Education proposal
October 10, 2003
- Article published in the Christian Courier by Lis Van Harten.
- Article published in the Christian Courier by Rachel Boehm Van Harmelen.
- Article published in The Banner by Kathy Smith.
- Article published in The Banner by Paul Delger.
- Reminder of deadlines:
Peer learning proposals - November 1
Continuing education proposals - December 1
Regional pastor grant proposals - April 1
September 16, 2003
The course will be offered in Grand Rapids, MI from June 7-11, 2004. For more information contact Rev. Kathy Smith 616-526-6043 kss4@calvin.edu
- SPE presentations to be made at 20 classis meetings through out Canada and the US during September and October
July 7, 2003
Five continuing education proposals were submitted for the June 1st deadline. All five received funding. Contact information is listed for each of the events.
- Calvin Theological Seminary
"The Messiness of Marriage and the Knottiness of Divorce"
For more information contact: Kathy Smith 616-526-6043
- Calvin Theological Seminary/Christian Reformed Home Missions Ministry Center
A conference for CRC leaders @ All Nations CRC in L.A. California
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Co-sponsored by
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: Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
: Christian Reformed Pastor-Church Relations
: Korean Council of Christian Reformed Churches of Southern California
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For more information contact: Kathy Smith 616-526-6043
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- Chicago Christian Counseling Center
Prevention of Burnout; Protecting the Integrity of Christian Leadership; Fostering Effective Leadership of Staff
For more information contact: Bruce Frens 708-845-5500 ext. 101
- Classis Chatham of the Christian Reformed Church
"Renewing the Church for Mission Effectiveness"
For more information contact: Tom Baird 519-633-4422
- Pastors and Wives of Classis Eastern Canada (Western Section)
Pastoral Counseling Techniques; Pastoral Self-Care; Pastoral Spouse Involvement
For more information contact: Henry Gunnink 613-831-7458
- The next deadline for continuing education proposals is December 1.
June 6, 2003
Twenty-three peer learning proposals were submitted for the May 1st deadline. Of these 23, 12 have been awarded funds.
- Classis Georgetown Pastor's Leadership Network, MI
Focus: leadership in the church and how to develop it
- Eyes Wide Open, MI
Focus: the challenges of change in the established church
- Hamilton Area CRC Pastor's Network A, ON
Focus: the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in ministry
- Hamilton Area CRC Pastor's Network B, ON
Focus: the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in ministry
- Korean Christian Reformed Fellowship, CA
Focus: teamwork in Korean churches
- Joel's Dream Team, AB
Focus: intergenerational worship and ministry
Funded by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
- Miami Hispanic Task Force Members, FL
Focus: bringing Jesus to the Hispanic community
- Nurturing Committed Individuals, FL, GA, NC
Focus: developing leadership skills as missionary pastors
- Puget Sound Peer Preaching Group, WA
Focus: growing in the knowledge and skill of preaching
- Sioux Falls Pastors Spiritual Formation, SD
Focus: personal spiritual formation
- The Preaching Group, ON
Focus: growing in the skills of excellent preaching
- The Revelation 5 Learning Group, MI
Focus: multi-cultural congregations in multi-cultural neighborhoods
- The next deadline for peer learning proposals is November 1.
- SPE materials have been translated into Spanish and Korean. Contact us if you would like a copy.
- Any pastors who are seeking funding for individual continuing education should contact Pastor/Church Relations about financial assistance. 616-224-0837 visserd@crcna.org
- A Calvin seminary course, "The Theology and Practice of Pastoral Ministry", is in development.
The central thesis of this course is that strong pastoral identity is the key to sustaining pastoral excellence.Today's church has witnessed a breakdown of consensus regarding the role of the pastor.This course is a study of the theology and practice of pastoral ministry with a view to creatively and critically engaging changing views of the church and its ministry in our contemporary culture, and enhancing the practice of pastoral ministry.
The course will integrate this theological understanding of pastoral ministry with the basic practices of pastoral ministry: worship, preaching, teaching, evangelism, pastoral care, and congregational leadership. The course will make extensive use of case studies and other materials/insights pastors bring from pastoral ministry. Pastors will develop competencies for good pastoral ministry and a personal plan for sustaining pastoral effectiveness.
For more information contact Duane Kelderman at 616-957-6933dkelderm@calvin.edu.
- The Advisory Board for the grant is in place. The members are:
- John D. Witvliet (chair)-Director of Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, MI
- George Hunsberger - Professor of Missiology, Western Seminary, Holland, MI
- Moon Bae Kim - CRC pastor, Grand Rapids, MI
- Jake Kuipers - CRC pastor, Trenton, ON
- Thea Leunk - CRC pastor, Cincinnati, OH
- Lynn Likkel - CRC pastor, Mill Creek, WA
- Tom Niehof - CRC pastor, Ames, IA
- Reggie Smith - CRC pastor, Grand Rapids, MI
- Carlos Tapanes - CRC pastor, Grand Rapids, MI
- Carl Zylstra - President of Dordt College, Sioux Center, IA
March 17, 2003
Welcome to the first of our updates. Since the February mailing of our materials, we’ve seen strong interest in the Pastoral Excellence program. That’s exciting! We look forward to reviewing proposals for peer learning groups and continuing education events in the months ahead (see below).
- Welcome to Lis Van Harten, who joined the program February 19 as Project Coordinator. Lis has had valuable experience working in the CRC in various capacities and is pleased to be able to be a part of this opportunity to assist pastors.
- Deadlines for submitting peer learning proposals are May 1 and November 1. We’ll make decisions on the proposals within one month of the deadline.
- Materials related to continuing education are now available on this web site.
- Deadlines for submitting continuing education proposals are June 1 and December 1. We’ll make decisions on the proposals within one month of the deadline.
- We recommend the book, Pastor: The Theology and Practice of Ordained Ministry by William Willimon. In fact, our grant implementation team is discussing a chapter at a time at its monthly meetings.
- Please contact us if you would like information on resources for peer learning groups.
Mike Bruinooge
Project Director
616.224.0770
Lis Van Harten
Project Coordinator
616.224.0805
877.279.9994 (toll free)
pastoralexcellence@crcna.org
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