This year we are pleased to offer several workshops prior to the meeting of General Assembly. Workshops will be held on Monday morning June 16 from 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Anyone may attend.
Step Out: Creating Church Hospitality
Do you want to attract visitors to your church? Do you wonder what visitors think of your church but are afraid to ask? Are you looking for ways to encourage visitors to return? Step Out: Creating Church Hospitality is the workshop for you. This workshop will provide practical ideas on creating hospitality for first time visitors to your church from understanding the mind of the visitor, anticipating newcomers, placement of greeters, ushers, signs and even parking availability. This workshop will help you and your congregation: Assess your church’s strengths toward welcoming first time visitors; and Find ways to help your visitors connect to your church. Discover ideas for church hospitality so that people return. Led by T. J. Malinoski, the Director of Evangelism and New Church Development for the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Women in Ministry: Bible, Denomination, Reality
This workshop will explore three aspects of the ongoing conversation regarding women being ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament. We will briefly touch on our denomination's 125 year history of ordaining women before exploring what the Bible has to say on the subject. Finally, we will engage in honest dialogue regarding the realities for women in ministry today. Led by Dr. Andy McClung and Rev. Tiffany McClung. Andy is a writer, supply preacher, and adjunct professor at Memphis Theological Seminary. Tiffany is chaplain at MTS and serves as pastor at Peace Lutheran Church in their neighborhood in Memphis. They have been married for 23 years and have two children, Ian (11) and Maggie (8).
Behavior, Identity and Re-Envisioning Individual and Community Ministry What we do is tied up in our understanding of who we are. Behavior is linked to identity. Participants in this workshop will explore, clarify and embrace our Christian identity and re-envision our ministry individually and as a community. This workshop is designed to be more experiential than informational. Led by the Ministry Council – Rev. Troy Green is the primary facilitator for this workshop, but the materials and exercises are the product of vision casting efforts by the Ministry Council. Troy and his wife Margie and children, McKenzie and Harrison, live in Petersburg, TN where Troy is the pastor at the Petersburg CP Church. He is also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice in Fayetteville.
Safe Sanctuary
Our world is full of violence and turmoil even in our homes and everyday lives. Does your church offer a safe place for everyone? Are there ways that your camping ministries can become a place where people come to experience peace? How would your church react if a tornado were to hit your town or a member had a heart attack during services? What would your presbytery do if there was a sexual predator amongst the staff? This year a proposal will be placed before General Assembly to require all congregations, presbyteries, synods, and denominational facilities, camps, events, etcetera a plan to keep everyone safe. This workshop will provide concrete ways you can create a safe environment so that people are safe while at the church and to prepare facilities and leaders training in the event of an emergency or crisis so all people can feel safe to focus on their faith and can experience the love of Christ through the Church. We will also offer sample safe church policies from which you can begin writing your own. Led by Susan Groce, Coordinator of Ministries with Youth and Young Adults - Discipleship Ministry Team.
Heading to Colombia South America in 2015?
Planning or thinking about attending the 185th General Assembly Meeting and Women's Convention in Colombia next year? Learn about what's being planned and how to make arrangments to be a part of this historic opportunity. Led by representatives from the Colombian Host Committee and the GA Office.
Our United Outreach
What is OUO? Why is it so important to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church? Learn how your congregation can participate in OUO. Led by Cliff Hudson, Our United Outreach Development Director and Ron Gardner, chairman of the Our United Outreach Committee.