Generosity Network
by Bruce Barkhauer, Center for Faith and Giving
 The Center for Faith and Giving has launched the Generosity Network. At the Stepping Into Stewardship event in Orlando, FL, Bruce Barkhauer commissioned 16 people, representing 16 Regions of the church to become a part of team of "living stewardship resources. The Generosity Network members have entered into covenant to engage in training over a two year period in the biblical, theological, and "best practice" aspects of stewardship. The goal is to extend the reach and vision of the Center in its quest to create a culture of generosity across the life of the entire church. While we traditionally think about stewardship as money, the Generosity Network participants will teach stewardship as spiritual discipline and expand its definition into a whole life response to the abundance and generosity of God. Creation care, Sabbath, self-care, sharing of the Gospel as well as the faithful management of our resources are all equal components of a biblical understanding of stewardship. They will also learn and be able to articulate the recognized "best practices" that pertain to non-profit fundraising and those things which create an atmosphere of trust within our congregations.
The Oreon E. Scott Foundation provided start-up funding which enabled these individuals to attend the Orlando event and begin to meet together to form a cadre. It is anticipated that members of the network will be available to assist congregations, pastors, and leaders engaged in financial ministries of the local and Regional church where network members live and serve.
Watch for more details on the Center for Faith and Giving website. Generosity Network members include: Renee Bridwell (KS); Scott Woolridge (Ill/Wis); Al Lopez (PSWR); Day Broers Case (FL); Nathan Hill (Capitol); Guy Adams (Mid-America); Douglas Anne Cartwright (Oregon); Troy Tatum (AL/NWFL); Christopher Goss (GA); Jim Hockman (SC); Liz DeWeese (OH); Mary Anne Glover (Northeast); Ashley Sherard (Great River); Brian Frederick Gray (AZ); Deborah DeWitt (TN); Edith Mendoza (GKC). _______
Pentecost offering supports courageous leaders
by Tonya Ellis, Hope Partnership for Missional Transformation
 Preston Adams, new church planter and certified pastoral leadership coach, wants people who are thinking about starting a church to know that church planting is not an easy task. "It takes effort, praying and sometimes tears," says Adams. "But God will give you the tools you need," he adds.
Adams, pastor of Amazing Grace Christian Church, a thriving congregation in Indianapolis, Ind., joins the ranks of numerous courageous leaders who have felt the call to start a new ministry. And, he is one of many leaders who has benefited from Hope Partnership's Leadership Academy training as a new church planter. He is currently involved with Hope Partnership as a coach for new church projects. Each year, one half of the Pentecost Offering is used by Hope Partnership to support the recruitment, assessment, training and coaching of new church leaders and the other half is designated to the Region or Area in which the offering is taken.
Hope Partnership invites all Disciples pastors to celebrate the 2016 Pentecost Offering, which will be received in Disciples churches May 15 and May 22.
Since the creation of the 2020 Vision, Disciples have planted 934 churches in the United States and Canada, sharing the gospel with more than 61,000 individuals who may not have had a relationship with Christ. According to Gilberto Collazo, president of Hope Partnership, "A Second Wind," which is the theme for this year's Pentecost Offering, is energizing the new church movement, making it a vital force for sharing God's Word. "Our new church planters are more determined than ever to share the gospel and transform lives and communities for Christ," he says.
The 2016 Pentecost Offering video, created by the award-winning SALT Project, is available for congregations to view on offering Sundays. For a link to the video and additional resources and information about the Pentecost Offering, visit www.hopepmt.org.
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NBA Mental health webinar April 21
 So often, people suffer in isolation as they navigate the throes of mental illness in their personal lives. Yet, contrary to widespread assumptions, clergy are sought to help with psychological distress more often than other mental health experts and psychologists. In an effort to begin equipping church leaders with the tools necessary to respond to the silent cries, the NBA Mental Health and Congregational Care Affinity Group is hosting a webinar entitled, "Speaking into the Silence: Storytelling as a Path to Healing." This webinar will focus on storytelling and testimony sharing as a means for healing and empowerment.
Hosted by psychotherapist Angela Whitenhill, M.Div., LCSW, and Rev. Dr. Sarah Griffith Lund, author of Blessed Are the Crazy: Breaking the Silence about Mental Illness, Family and Church, this webinar will offer pastoral and clinical strategies for church leaders looking for ways to break the silence and allow the fullness of testimony to be shared without shame or stigma. Learn more and register!
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Events, resources & continuing education
- Disciples Men Sessions, July 8-10, Ft. Worth
- Hispanic Assembly, July14-16, 2016, Coral Gables, FL
- Association of Disciple Musicians 55th Anniversary Conference, July 17-22, 2016, Evansville, IN
- National Convocation Biennial Session, July 21-24, Overland Park, KS (Kansas City area - all Greater KC Disciples invited!)
- National Youth Event with United Church of Christ, July 26-30, Buena Vista, FL
- NAPAD Convocation, Aug. 3-6, Sunnyvale, CA
For more events, see the calendar hosted by Chalice Press. Also see the event listings in the weekly Disciples News Service e-letter.
Resources
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webinar from Lexington Theological Seminary, May 17
Online classes
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Featured Links
NAPAD opens search for executive
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DMin cohort begins in September
Lexington Theological Seminary offers a D. Min. in Leading Congregations in Adaptive Change. The next cohort will start in September, 2016 and applications are due by July 1. Candidates for the D. Min. will have an M. Div. from an ATS accredited school with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and three years of ministry experience after graduation. For more information, contact Erin Cash, director of admissions at ecash@lextheo.edu or (859) 280-1249.
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