News from the Northwest Conference

Imagine 2015 speakers present 4 truths children need to hear

By Kara Stromberg, Director of Children & Family Ministry

Imagine, a day for children and family ministry leaders, took place on Saturday, Oct. 10, at Crossroads Covenant Church in Forest Lake, MN.

Jim and Lynne Jackson from Connected Families challenged us to remember that what kids learn when they are disciplined will last a lifetime. Jim and Lynne presented four essential truths children need to hear: you are safe, you are loved, you are capable, and you are responsible. When parents and ministry leaders are thoughtful about this, kids grow up knowing that they are valued people built for God's purposes.

Ministry volunteers learned many things, including:

"discipline as an opportunity to join with kids vs. trying to control them"

"how to better relate to my own kids in a more grace-filled way"

"how to show kids they are important"

Volunteers represented Northwest Conference churches from the Twin Cities, and as far away as Mahtowa, Waseca, Lewis Lake, Hutchinson, Ellsworth, WI, and even some students from CHET Northwest Conference, our theological training school for Spanish speakers training for ministry.

The Northwest Conference is proud to invest in our children and family ministry leaders through events like Imagine. If you would like to learn more about the ministry of Connected Families, including how to book a seminar at your church, receive parent coaching, purchase resources, or sign up for their free parent tips via e-mail, visit http://connectedfamilies.org.

Registration details available for Bill Henson Posture Shift workshop

Nov. 14, 2015, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Maple Grove Covenant Church

Bill Henson is the founder of Lead Them Home, an organization that consults church leaders on building a biblically orthodox, missiological framework for church mission and ministry with LGBTQ persons, with a specialization in sharing Christ with non-heterosexual persons.

Henson has developed a framework for conversation and learning called Posture Shift, a national model reaching over 5,000 church leaders in recent years. His work has been featured in Leadership Journal and it has been incorporated as teaching curricula at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Gordon College. The board of trustees of Lead Them Home is chaired by Dr. Raymond Pendleton, professor of pastoral psychology, at Gordon-Conwell.

This is part of our ongoing effort to resource our pastors and churches in living faithfully and graciously into our Covenant position on human sexuality. Henson presented to 140 of our pastors in May and his presentation was well-received by those attending the event. Henson is now coming back for training of pastors, staff members and elected church leaders.

Registration

To register for this event, please email Jessa Anderson at jessa@northwestconference.org or call the Northwest Conference office at 612-721-4893. The registration deadline is Nov. 7, 2015. Lunch will be provided with a suggested donation of $10.

NWC leaders to attend upcoming district pastors meetings to discuss ECC human sexuality papers

On Oct. 2, new documents were distributed to our pastors by the Evangelical Covenant Church to provide more clarity on the topic of human sexuality. The primary documents are an updated "Guidelines for Covenant Pastors and Congregations Regarding Human Sexuality," and a new resource paper, "Freedom and Responsibility: Dissent and Covenant Clergy."

As a follow-up to these documents, Mark Stromberg, Superintendent, and Jeff Burton, Director of Pastoral Care & Development, are intending to visit each of our 15 district pastors meetings in November to hear comments and questions, and provide clarity on both the process followed in creating the documents and the content of the documents.

Pastors are invited to attend their upcoming district meetings for conversation on the topic.

Important info regarding Covenant Orientation during Midwinter

Please use this link Covenant Orientation Registration to sign up for your CO course(s). You will be asked to pay for your CO course at the time of registration. You may pay with a credit card or check. These classes fill up quickly, so do not delay. If you are taking a class during Midwinter, no further registration is required. (Please do not register for Midwinter.)

Please note: if you are only taking Vocational Excellence prior to Midwinter and plan to stay for Midwinter and attend workshops, special events, etc. you will need to register and pay for Midwinter in order to select your agenda items.

Recharge 2016 super early bird registration ends Oct. 31 for some locations, including Twin Cities

Recharge is a one-day multi-denominational conference aimed to inspire and equip church staff and their volunteers in children, youth and family ministry. The Northwest Conference will once again sponsor Recharge in 2016.

www.Ministryrecharge.org

Twin Cities, MN	Jan. 9
Duluth, MN	Jan. 16
Fargo, ND	Jan. 23

October 22, 2015

IN THIS ISSUE

Imagine 2015 Recap

Registration details available for Bill Henson Posture Shift workshop

Covenant Orientation during Midwinter

Recharge 2016 super early bird registration ends Oct. 31

October 26-27

Spiritual Directors Retreat

- St John's Abbey, Collegeville, MN

November 6

Chaplains Connection

- Restoration Ministries, Chanhassen, MN

Nov. 14, 2015

Postureshift workshop w/Bill Henson - Maple Grove, MN

Jan. 9, 2016

Recharge - Twin Cities, MN

Jan. 16, 2016

Recharge - Duluth, MN

Jan. 23, 2016

Recharge - Fargo, ND

Feb. 27, 2016

Dr. Mark Yarhouse workshop - Location TBD

April 28-29, 2016

Ministerial Association Annual Meeting - Lakeview Covenant Church, Duluth, MN

April 29-30, 2016

Northwest Conference Annual Meeting - Lakeview Covenant Church, Duluth, MN

NWC Job Postings Page

Pastors and ministry leaders, if you have people in your congregation who are exploring ministry, on a part- or full-time basis, please refer them to our job postings page.