Small Churches Can Make A Big Difference

Your church doesn't have to be large to make an impact and do God's work in the world.  In fact, small churches have some unique benefits which can allow them to thrive in ministry.  This workshop will equip you to help your small church to engage in its community, care for its members, and share the good news of the gospel.

This is a learning event for everybody: lay leaders, folks preparing for ministry, authorized ministers. If it sparks your interest, please join us! The program fulfills 7 hours towards the continuing education requirement for authorized ministers. The registration deadline is March 25, 2015.

Rev. Ann Kansfield has served as pastor of the Greenpoint Reformed Church (www.greenpointchurch.org) for the past nine years.  Her first foray into sharing the gospel occurred at the age of four when, without asking persmission, she rode her tricked-out 1980 Big Wheel around the neighborhood inviting everyone she met to Easter worship followed by dinner at her parents' house.  Ann may hold degrees from Columbia University (BA, with honors) and New Brunswick Theological Seminary (MDiv, summa cum laude), but the most useful skills acquired during her educational years may have come from a four-week course in bartending.  She's worked for the American Baptist Church's Ministers and Missionaries Benefit, the United Church Foundation and even interned for the Reformed Church in America.  She is ordained in the United Church of Christ and is a member of the board of the NY Metropolitan Association of the United Church of Christ.  Much of Ann's time is spent feeding hungry people.  In response to having an increasing number of people come to the church asking for food, the congregation began a soup kitchen and food pantry in October 2007.  These programs currently serve thousands of people per month.  She credits caring volunteers, colleagues and donors for enabling the soup kitchen and food pantry to keep up with this unprecedented demand.  Ann is married to Rev. Jennifer Aull.  They have a son John (born in 2008) and daughter Grace (born in 2011).

Tentative Schedule

Friday                                                                                                                                               5:00   Check-in                                                                                                                                    6:00   Supper                                                                                                                                       6:45   Opening Worship                                                                                                                     7:00   Session I: "Yes! Small churches do big things - stories of ministry in action"                       9:00   Conversation and Refreshments

Saturday                                                                                                                                           8:00   Breakfast                                                                                                                                     8:45   Morning Prayer                                                                                                                         9:00   Session II: "How to grow your impact - discerning your mission, working through change" 12:00 Lunch                                                                                                                                    12:30 Information Session: Christian Leadership & Christian Studies Programs                            1:00   Information Session: Word & Sacrament Program                                                                 1:30   Session III: "But can we affort it? - building financially sustainable ministry for the future"         4:00   Closing Communion Service                                                                                                     5:00   Supper