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Updates 2004
October 19, 2004
July 20, 2004
 - SPE has published Persevering in Ministry: Pastors Tell Their Stories, a collection of ten stories written by CRC pastors. This volume is available through Faith Alive.
- Forty-three of the forty-seven classes have had an SPE presentation.
- Spring dinners were held for senior seminarians and their spouses at the Prince Center in Grand Rapids, MI. This was an opportunity to discuss the mentoring and SPE programs with them.
- One hundred and seventeen mentors and mentees attended a mentoring conference held in Grand Rapids in May.
- SPE supported the preparation of Toward Effective Pastoral Ministry, a manual for pastors and their mentors. If you would like to recieve a free copy contact Laura Palsrok at palsrokl@crcna.org.
- A survey will be sent to 350 CRC pastors and their councils in early September. The purpose of the survey is to assess qualitative change in the CRC as a result of the SPE program and to monitor its broad impact. This survey will be sent out again in 2007.
- The Theology and Practice of Pastoral Ministry course offered by Calvin Theological Seminary in conjunction with SPE was held for the first time in Ontario. The course was offered in June at Calvin Theological Seminary in Michigan. The course will be offered in Florida from February 28 - March 4, 2005. For more information contact Rev. Kathy Smith 616-526-6043, kss4@calvin.edu.
- Forty peer learning groups have been formed to date, representing 265 pastors and 238 churches.
- SPE published several articles in the period April - June, 2004:
- Thirteen new proposals for continuing education events will receive SPE funding:
- Ascending Leaders - TX
"Training on Prayer"
For more information contact: Michael Johnson
832-971-3829
Event to be held: February 22-23, 2004
- Back to God Hour - IL
"Preaching Culture Workshop"
For more information contact: Eleanor Lamsma
708-371-8700
Funded by the Center for Excellence in Preaching
Event dates to be determined
- Calvin Theological Seminary/Christian Reformed Home Missions Ministry Center - MI, CA
"Intergenerational Ministry Conference"
For more information contact: Kathy Smith
616-957-6043
Event to be held: October 22-23, 2004
- Christian Reformed Home Missions - MI
"Healthy Congregations"
For more information contact: Ben Becksvoort
616-245-7999
Events to be held: October 4, November 1, December 6, 2004; January 10, February 7, & March 7, 2005
- Classis Grandville - MI
"The Challenges of Transition in the Church"
For more information contact: Kevin Stieva
616-878-1992
Event to be held: February 7-8, 2005
- Classis Lake Erie Leadership Development Committee - OH, MI
"Learning How to Read Scripture Well"
For more information contact: Ken Vander Horst
810-724-4315
Funded by the Center for Excellence in Preaching
Event to be held: March 4-6, 2005
- DTS Skagit County - WA
"Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership"
For more information contact: Michael Kooy
360-336-3503
Event to be held: March 13-15, 2005
- Hamilton Area CRC Pastors' Networks A & B - ON
"Renewing the Church for Mission Effectiveness"
For more information contact: Henry Kranenburg
905-385-0662
Event to be held: November 23-25, 2004
- Northwest CRC Korean Pastors' Association - WA
"Sharpening Preaching Skills"
For more information contact: Steve Kim
425-750-0749
Funded by the Center for Excellence in Preaching
Event to be held: October 4-5, 2004
- Pine Rest Institute for Spiritual Care - MI
"Finishing Well, Ending Strong"
For more information contact: Robert Uken
616-455-5000
Event to be held: October 27-28, 2004
- QuietWaters Ministries - CO
"Leading with Courage Through Congregational Change"
For more information contact: Jim Schlottman
866-592-8377
Events to be held: April 15-16 & April 18-19, 2005
- Revelation 5 Peer Learning Group - MI
"A House of Prayer for All Nations: Toward Building a Multicultural Congregational"
For more information contact: Bill Vanden Bosch
616-245-5514
Funded by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
Event held on: March 11-12, 2005
- Three Pastors - MI
"Learning to be Leaders"
For more information contact: Lynn Likkel
616-452-7034
Event to be held: April 15-17, 2005
- Twelve new peer learning proposals will receive SPE funding:
- Company of Preachers - AB
Focus: becoming better, more effective and more faithful preachers
Jointly funded by the Center for Excellence in Preaching and the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship Competing Spiritualities - WA
Focus: how to minister in a post-modern culture
Partially funded by the Center for Excellence in Preaching
- DTS Skagit County - WA
Focus: ministry reporting to elders/supervisory boards *
- Ironing Board - MI, MN, CO
Focus: the study of pastoral care in various aspects of ministry
- Korean American Ministry Training Association - MI, IL
Focus: conflict management in the church/effective spiritual leadership
- Lakeshore Seekers - MI
Focus: evangelism in the mid-sized church
- Manitoba Pastors' Peer Learning Group - MB
Focus: transformational change for positive church leadership
- New Peaks Leadership Network - BC
Focus: BC interior pastors sharing, praying, encouraging and equipping for effective ministry
- Next Step Challenge - MN, ON, IL, WA, IN, MI
Focus: effective leadership and ministry in the church
- Pan African Clergy in Urban Reformed Ministries - MI
Focus: how ethnicity and culture intersects with theological pursuits
- Senior Pastors' Peer Learning Group - CA, MI, IL, BC, AB, CO, ON
Focus: nurturing health and longevity in demanding senior pastorates
- The CNY Proclaimers - NY
Focus: to grow in preaching and worship planning Partially funded by the Center for Excellence in Preaching and the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
- Three regional pastor matching grants proposals are receiving funding:
- Classis Grand Rapids East - Michigan
- Classis Central California - California
- Pastor Church Relations for Classes Alberta North and South - Alberta
- Reminder of proposal deadlines:
- Regional pastor matching grant proposals - October 1
- Peer learning proposals - November 1
- Continuing education proposals - December 1
February 9, 2004
- Article published in The Reformed Ecumenical Council Focus by Richard L. van Houten.
- Article published in The Banner by Duane Kelderman.
- Article published in Christian Courier by Rachel Boehm Van Harmelen.
- First peer learning group coordinators' meeting was held in Grand Rapids, MI on January 16. Twelve coordinators attended from all over Canada and the US. Great things are happening in these groups!
- In late January, four representatives from the CRC's SPE program attended a conference in Indianapolis, IN with the other 63 recipients of SPE grants from Lilly Endowment. The marketing and advertising strategy of the CRC's SPE program was highlighted in the resource room.
- Forty-one of the forty-seven classes have had a presentation on the SPE program.
- Reminder of proposal deadlines:
Regional pastor grant proposals - April 1
Peer learning proposals - May 1
Continuing education proposals - June 1
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