Upcoming Workshops
IFD100 How to Provide Your Workshop Online -- June 14-25, 2010 --$100
This is a two-week workshop designed to familiarize participants with the mission of the Institute for Discipleship and BeADisciple.com, the basics of planning and teaching online workshops, and the basics of the use of Blackboard software. Participants will complete a series of exercises. In the first week, you will use the software as a student in order to give you familiarity with the perspective of the "students" in online workshops. You will also begin to think about a potential workshop you might want to offer online. In the second week you will be given a workshop site of your own to administer as if you were leading a workshop. Many participants who come into the How To workshop with ideas end up developing much of their actual workshop in the second week. Once you have completed the How To workshop, you will be certified to offer your own workshop through the Institute for Discipleship and BeADisciple.com.
If you have questions about how online workshops work, please check our FAQ's page.
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How to Become a Disciple Online Facilitator -- April 12-23-- $50
Do you have persons in your congregation who are missing out on DISCIPLE because of their schedules? Do you have some whose travel keeps them from committing to a weekly class meeting? Do you have some who might like to take DISCIPLE with others who have a similar life experience? How about the appeal of participating in a serious, tranformational Bible experience with other Christians from around the world?
The Institute for Discipleship is providing an opportunity for Christian leaders to participate in DISCIPLE Bible Study -- online!
In this workshop, DISCIPLE Bible Study facilitators will learn how to facilitate this amazing, life-transforming 34-week walk through the Bible in an online format using one of the top educational online software packages available. Used primarily for college online course curriculum, BeADisciple.com offers this software for use for online workshops and other educational opportunities to nurture and enrich Christian leaders, lay and clergy, for effective living and ministry.
What better way to nurture and enrich Christian leaders, and to make disciples of Jesus Christ, than through DISCIPLE Bible Study?!
The course will be offered April 12-23, 2010, at the cost of $50. To learn more about Disciple Online, please visit www.BeADisciple.com/discipleonline.
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Disciple Making 101 - May 10 to June 14, 2010 -- $20
What is the simplest system one can use to make disciples and mature them spiritually to the point where they can make their own disciples?
A flood of new ideas and methods in evangelism has made us skeptical. The innovation that is needed in churches today is far more elementary yet entirely sufficient: Jesus is Lord.
How can we overcome resistance to this innovation?
This workshop offers a specific, step by step plan of spiritual formation based on the discipleship systems of the world's largest and fastest growing churches.
Participants will learn practical spiritual disciplines based on the Great Commission that operate in pre-venient as well as sanctifying grace to develop Christians into better disciples and then disciple makers.
This online workshop is based on Dr. David Kueker's 2007 Doctor of Ministry project on evangelism, church growth and organizational change at Fuller Theological Seminary (www.disciplewalk.com).
This seven session course at an introductory rate is a great way to try out online learning at BeADisciple.com.
Participation limited to 18. It will be offered January 18 to February 22, 2010.
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Writing Your Safe Sanctuary Policy -- April 5 - May 1, 2010 --$150 (for church team of 3 people)
This four-week online workshop for United Methodist congregations instructed by Beth Perry will help you write (or edit) a Safe Sanctuary policy. It is for congregations who care about their children but who haven’t yet put a policy in place and/or congregations who have a policy that needs to be edited. There must be three participants from each congregation (examples): the pastor, another staff person or a representative of SPRC; a representative of the Trustees; and a representative of the children/youth ministries. These three people will be the basis for the congregation’s Safe Sanctuary committee. Each congregation will need a copy of the most recent edition of Joy Thornburgh Melton’s book Safe Sanctuaries which participants can share or a copy for each participant. Each participant will need a computer and internet connection – dial up, cable, DSL, etc. – and an email address.
You’ll be participating online using Blackboard software provided by www.BeADisciple.com. Students will be instructed on the use of the Blackboard software and technical help will be available throughout the four weeks. You’ll learn why congregations should have a Safe Sanctuary policy; who to include in your Safe Sanctuary committee, what the Safe Sanctuary Policy and Response Plan are; how to get them approved in your local congregation; how to implement the policy once its written; and unique issues that may arise in different congregations.
You’ll have access to the website throughout the entire four weeks and be able to work at a time most convenient for your daily schedule. There will be daily assignments, including evaluating sample or existing policies. You’ll receive information, read, and discuss with other participants in a discussion board and chat room format. You’ll draft your policy, get feedback, and make revisions. And by the end of the four weeks, you’ll have a policy ready to send to your Trustees and Church Council for approval. You may also choose to sign up for an additional six weeks of contact to support you through the approval process.
What benefit do you get from participation? Compliance with denominational and Annual Conference requirements! Continuing Education Units, if you need them! But more importantly, the Safe Sanctuary policies protect your children and youth, your teachers and leaders, and your congregation’s reputation and resources! What better benefit to you than to know you are helping in such a great mission?
One person from each congregation should register and pay the full amount. Then the representative should send the name and email address of the two additional people to Lisa Buffum at beadisciple@sckans.edu. In addition, you can schedule six weeks of support while you get your policy approved. The additional time will consist of once-a-week conference calls or chat room conversations and will cost an additional $50.
If you have questions about how online workshops work, please check our FAQ's page.
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Preparing Conference Journals -- March 8-26, 2010-- $125
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The workshop will be led by Cherrie Graham of UMR Communications in Dallas March 8-26, 2010. If you have questions about how online workshops work, please check our FAQ's page.
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Multi-media Technology in Worship for the Church Volunteer 101 -- $75 -- March 15-26, 2010 (Workshop is now FULL.)
This course has been approved by the General Board of Discipleship as an advanced course in Lay Speaking Ministries.
The use of multi-media technology in worship is growing at an exponential rate. Congregations of all sizes are acknowledging the gift of media technology; however very few have access to formal training.
Rev. John Zimmerman brings his 20+ years of pastoral ministry and his gift of implementing multi-media technology in worship to this seminar. Students will be introduced to the hardware and software in worship technology and discover their ability to plan, create and implement technology in a worship setting. The workshop will also help the student learn about worship itself and the role of technology in design, appropriateness and excellence. Special consideration will be given to budget and a low-cost approach to technology implementation. This workshop is designed for the church volunteer or pastor who would classify themselves as “beginners” in multi-media experience. (Please note that since the workshop utilizes some software that is windows-based MAC users may find some limitations.)
The course content will include:
This course has been approved by the General Board of Discipleship as an advanced course in Lay Speaking Ministries. |
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Much of the work for Multimedia Technology in Worship for the Church Volunteer 101 will be held in Blackboard – an online course curriculum software which is available 24/7 for participants to login and work at a time of day which is convenient for each. We recommend planning on about one hour per day of work online, but that hour can be flexible to your schedule. If you have to miss a day, you should easily be able to make it up the next. Assignments include readings, website links, projects, and interactive discussion on a threaded discussion board provided in the workshop site. Only those with access may participate in the discussion – in other words, it is not a public threaded board, but private within the workshop site.
In addition, the instructor will set three times for live interactive discussion. These are optional, but extremely helpful, and are recorded for your review if you have to miss.
If you have additional questions, please visit our FAQs page or email Lisa at BeADisciple@sckans.edu.
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Living into the Promises: An exploration of how we can experience and help fulfill Jesus’ mission statement --
April 5 - May 8, 2010 -- $75
Provision, Freedom, Healing and Perspective…these are the promises of God that Jesus came to fulfill. (Luke 4) Living into the Promises is a five week online class where we will consider these promises through the study of scripture, the practice of prayer and meditation and discussion with other friends on the journey. Such consideration will allow us to experience these promises in our everyday life which is God’s desire for us and for the world. Beginning the week after Easter, this is a great way to deepen your Resurrection joy!
This workshop will begin the day after Easter (April 5) and run through May 8, 2010. It is offered by Deborah Bellingham. If you have questions about how online workshops work, please check our FAQ's page.
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Biblical Storytelling II -- April 12 - May 3, 2010 --$75
Learning sacred stories by heart and sharing them with others is both an ancient-future art and a powerful spiritual practice. This workshop expands on the methods, developed by Network of Biblical Storytellers International, which were taught in Biblical Storytelling I. Anyone who is already practicing the art of storytelling, Biblical or secular, is also welcome. In this three-week workshop you will dive deeper into developing your unique storytelling “voice,” expand your technique and polish your art. The workshop will also introduce specific ideas for learning tough passages, using and not abusing voice and body, using text-telling, midrash, chancel drama, and first-person storytelling, enhanced with props, digital media and more, with children and adults, as well as deepening your practice of this art as a personal spiritual discipline.
Biblical Storytelling I is not a prerequisite for Biblical Storytelling II, but previous storytelling experience is highly recommended.
The workshop is offered by experienced storyteller, Beth Galbreath, beginning April 12, 2010. If you have questions about how online workshops work, please check our FAQ's page.
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Partnering with Parents in a World of Hurt: A Course for Camp Counselors -- April 16 to May 7, 2010 -- $15
This course is a training course for camp staffs and it assumes that most of the participants are returning counselors to Lake Louise United Methodist Camp in Michigan.
We will focus on those things that get us back into thinking about:
1. our role at camp
2. growing spiritually
3. those things that will help us to be a better counselor
4. building community as we interact with others in the course.
We assume you start with the basic gifts and graces that are needed as a camp counselor.
This course will have three major sections:
1. Understanding the Changing World of Adolescents
2. Researching and learning more about specific areas of concern for children and youth
3. Developing plans for where we can go from here – what will our strategies be for this summer at camp? And … a special focus on “How will we partner with Parents in a world of hurt?
Participants will have their choice of two sessions (both the same):
Session 1 -- April 16 to May 7
Session 2 -- May 7 to May 28
You will be placed into the first session upon enrollment. If you prefer the second session, you will have to email Lisa at beadisciple@sckans.edu in order to switch.
If you have questions about how online workshops work, please check our FAQ's page.
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Living into the Answers: A Workshop on Personal Spiritual Discernment -- May 10-21, 2010 -- $100
Are you facing a decision? How do you know what God wants you to do?
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The Art of spiritual discernment involves asking these questions and then living into the answers. This workshop provides students with the opportunity to explore the process of discernment in an on-line setting. The course utilizes the content of the Circles of Discernment as a guide for learning the discernment process.
The workshop is based on the book – Living into the Answers: A Workbook for Personal Spiritual Discernment by Valerie K. Isenhower & Judith A. Todd (Upper Room 2008). It will be led by the authors beginning May 10, 2010. Participants will need to purchase a copy of the workbook available from Upper Room Books. |
If you have questions about how online workshops work, please check our FAQ's page.
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Family Systems in the Life of the Congregation: An Introduction -- July 6-26, 2010 --$30
Family systems theory applied to the life of the congregation is about learning how to put limits on invasive behavior and manage reactivity, getting clues on how to keep anxiety from becoming infectious, and discovering how leaders can function as a congregations’ immune system. Get started by developing a working understanding of what Murray Bowen originally called ‘natural systems.’ Participants from the West Michigan Conference of The United Methodist Church are encouraged to join one of the family systems peer groups. The course text is available in virtual bookstores, THE EIGHT CONCEPTS OF BOWEN THEORY by Roberta M. Gilbert (2004, 2006).
Most assignments will be held through Blackboard which is a software which allows them to be be accomplished at the time of day which works best for the participant. A few LIVE interactive sessions are planned during this workshop and will be held on Mondays noon to 1 pm (Eastern), July 12, 19 & 26, 2010. The workshop will be led by Naomi Garcia.
If you have questions about how online workshops work, please check our FAQ's page.
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Biblical Storytelling I -- September 20 - October 3, 2010 --$50
Learning the sacred stories of Scripture by heart and sharing them with others is both an ancient-future art and a powerful spiritual practice. This workshop’s methods, developed by the Network of Biblical Storytellers International, are for everyone who wishes to learn, to tell and to connect with God and other people through sacred story – yes, you can do it too! By the end of the two-week workshop you will be able to share at least one text with others by heart, and you will understand how this completely non-technological art fits into a digital-communications world. Whether you work with children in Sunday School or dream of bringing Scripture to life in worship or elsewhere, your ministry and your spirit will be enriched by this art.
This is a two-week introduction to the ancient-future art and spiritual discipline of telling the sacred stories of Scripture. Participants will learn to prepare, learn, and tell a Biblical text by heart (not “memory”) using the methods of the Network of Biblical Storytellers International. The workshop is taught by NBS member and United Methodist deacon Beth Galbreath.
If you have questions about how online workshops work, please check our FAQ's page.
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