Volunteer Disaster Chaplaincy Training The Sewanee Inn Sewanee, Tenn., Nov. 10-11, 2015 The Beecken Center of the School of Theology at the University of the South, in partnership with the National Disaster Interfaiths Network (NDIN), invites clergy and spiritual caregivers of the Episcopal Church and religious leaders of all faiths to take this two-day disaster chaplaincy training. Participants who complete this certification can volunteer as a chaplain in their own diocese or faith community, or with NDIN and its national partners. NDIN can also assist unaffiliated volunteers in finding disaster spiritual care volunteer opportunities in local communities across the United States. Emergency managers and disaster mental health professionals may also take this course to develop their knowledge of spiritual care best practices during disasters. This curriculum prepares chaplains and credentialed religious leaders to provide spiritual and emotional care during deployment to disaster sites as well as within their own communities. The course comprises four four-hour sessions offered over two days, covering disaster operations, disaster spiritual care, disaster mental health, and self-care for caregivers. FEMA's online IS 100 course on the Incident Command System must be completed prior to this training. Register here >

School for Ministry offerings in September and October

 

In September 2015, the newly forming diocesan School for Ministry will begin the opportunity for everyone in the Diocese of Southern Ohio to participate.

 

September Offerings:

The Deacon in Worship (Course 2015-01)

What is the deacon's role in worship?  Learn the distinctive place the deacon has in leading worship and how that role invites the entire worshipping community into ministry beyond the walls of the church building.

Friday, September 11, 2015   9 - Noon

 

Theological Reflection: From Scripture to Theology  (Course 2015-02)  
The Rt. Rev. Thomas Breidenthal

Learn the basics of theological reflection and how we move from Scripture to a theological understanding of our faith through the lens of our personal and collective experiences of God.

Friday, September 11, 2015   1 - 4 PM

 

Rule of Life and Beginning Prayer Practices  (Course 2015-03)  
The Rev. Douglas Argue

Students will create or revise a person Rule of Life.  Additionally, students will practice some basic prayer techniques including using the Book of Common Prayer, extemporaneous prayer, silent meditation, and contemplation.

Friday, September 11, 2015   7 - 8:30 PM

 

Biblical Exegesis Meets the World Today  (Course 2015-05) 
The Rev. Dr. Lee Anne Reat & the Rev. Stephen Smith

This class will explore the importance of scholarly study of the Bible's historical and social settings as a precursor to application to pastoral and social issues within the context of the modern day.

Saturday, September 12, 2015   9 to noon

 

The Ministry of Listening: Compassionate Communication (Course 2015-04)  
The Rev. William Sangrey

All ministry, lay or ordained, requires empathic listening skills which invite the other into open and honest relationship.  This class will explore techniques of effective, compassionate communication and include practice of those skills.

Saturday, September 12, 2015    1 - 3.30 p.m.

 

October offerings:

Worship Leader Training [First of Two required sessions]   (Course 2015-WL)
The Rev. Marjorie Menaul

"A Worship Leader is a lay person who regularly leads public worship under the direction of the Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith." [Canon III.4.4 TEC]  Licensing requires participation in both sessions.

Saturday, October 10, 2015  9 a.m.-3.30 p.m.

 

 

Register for any course electronically at  https://diosohio.wufoo.com/forms/school-for-ministry-course-registration/ 

 

If you have questions, please contact the Rev. Canon Anne Reed at areed@diosohio.org.

 

Please direct any questions to Julie Murray at jmurray@diosohio.org or at 800.582.1712 ext. 110.

The diocese is preparing to undergo a complete upgrade/conversion of our database system. We don't know yet when the entire process will be finished, but we do know that we want our data to be current once the new system is in place!

The only way that we currently collect the information about the leadership in our congregations is via the Congregational Leadership List. If your congregation has not filled out the list for 2015 (and most have not), please fill out an updated form as soon as possible. A link to the form can be found at the forms and policies link of the diocesan website, or by clicking here. If you are unsure if your congregation has complied with submitting the list, please contact Julie Murray at jmurray@diosohio.org.

St. John's Confluence Year program just had a fifth and final placement open up for the 2015-16 Episcopal Service Corps year. If you are a recent college grad or young adult, or know one interested in a year long service corps experience that merges social justice with spiritual formation, vocational discernment, and intentional community, apply today! 

The job placement (see attached description) is with our fantastic partner organization Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS) which is part of the Episcopal Migration Ministries and is launching a new collaborative program with the diocese to benefit recently resettled refugees.

To learn more, visit http://confluenceyear.org/about/ or apply today at
 http://episcopalservicecorps.org/programs/confluence-year/

Apply now for Brendan's Crossing

 

Do you know a young adult who is looking to experience a year of service and formation, intentional community or a way to explore their sense of calling and place in the world?

 

Brendan's Crossing (formerly "Floral House") is inviting young adults who desire to grow in faith, serve others, and to explore the questions that bring meaning to life to apply. Our 2015-16 program opens August 25 and ends June 30. You can apply online and learn more on our new website www.brendanscrossing.org

 

Participation in Brendan's Crossing involves 30-35 hours a week of voluntary service at one or more of partner churches or organizations. In exchange for this service, young adults receive room, board, a stipend, health insurance and participation in the programming and activities of the community. Whenever possible we place a fellow in a role where they are partnered with a church and a neighborhood agency or outreach and that allows them to explore an area of interest.

 

For more information visit the website or contact Program Director Aaron Wright at awright@diosohio.org

 

The Rev. Dr. Walter Bouman

The public is warmly invited to join family, friends and former students of the late Rev. Dr. Walter R. Bouman for Alleluia! Jesus is Risen!, a hymn festival honoring his life, teaching and writings to be held on the tenth anniversary of Bouman's death. The event will take place at Trinity Lutheran Seminary on Friday, September 11 at 7 p.m.

Music to be sung will include a variety of beloved hymns in festive settings, as well as Bach's Cantata Erhalt uns, Herr, von deinem Wort, BWV 126, performed by the Muskingum University Chamber Singers under the direction of Dr. Zebulon Highben, and the premiere of a new motet by Carl Schalk on Psalm 118:17 dedicated to Bouman ("I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord").

Featured organists are James Gladstone of Saginaw, Michigan; Linda Kempke of Rocky River, Ohio; and May Schwarz, of Trinity Lutheran Seminary. All are former Bouman students.

Walter R. Bouman was the Edward C. Fendt Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology at Trinity Lutheran Seminary from 1971 until his death 10 years ago. He was thoroughly devoted to the church, its people and especially to his students. His curriculum vitae featured a long list of lectures, presentations and sermons he delivered throughout his career. He taught and preached the Word of God around the globe - from Holden Village in the North Range of the Cascade Mountains of Washington to New York City, from small towns in Australia to tiny villages in Africa and on to cities of Europe. Face-to-face interaction always energized him.

Bouman's theology was grounded in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. "The resurrection of Jesus was and is the starting point for Christianity, for its faith and witness, for its mission and calling," he wrote in a popular handbook on discernment handed to every entering student at Trinity Lutheran Seminary.

The hymn festival "Alleluia! Jesus Is Risen!" not only honors Bouman's legacy but also heralds two new publications - Jesus Is Risen: Theology for the Church, Bouman's two-volume systematic theology edited posthumously by Dr. Ann Lee Haut, and Alleluia!, a commemorative volume of essays on topics of lifelong concern to Bouman, written by leading scholars, pastors and theologians who knew him. Both will be published this summer by Lutheran University Press.

The freewill offering will go to the Walter R. and Janet A. Bouman Chair in Church Music at Trinity Seminary. For more information, contact Nancy Raabe at 614.214.2639 or nancy@nancyraabe.com, or visit www.walterbouman.com.

 

The Diocese of Southern Ohio has a strong commitment to furthering the Millennium Development Goals and once again has designated .07% of its convention budget for MDG mission grants. These grants are designed to help organizations and groups with connections in our diocese to do national and world mission that support one or more of the MDG's.  (http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/)

 

Have an ongoing mission?  Have a new mission project in mind?  The National and World Mission Commission of the diocese encourages you to apply for a grant. Grant applications are being accepted through September 20, 2015 and can be found on the diocesan website. They can be found in the "Grants and Loans" link under Finance.

 

Grants will be determined in October to be awarded for use in 2016.

 

If you have any questions, please contact the Rev. Tom Fehr, Chair of N&WM Commission at tjfehr@gmail.com or 513.312.2614.