EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

Spring district clergy retreat: As noted above, the district’s Ministry Leadership Development Team has scheduled the 2023 spring retreat/continuing education event for clergy April 19-20 at the Bishop Lane Center in Rockford, with 0.5 CEU credits available. Register by contacting the district office no later than April 12.

The Ventures in Christian Discipleship program operated by McPherson College is offering several sessions this spring: “Deep Compassionate Listening” 12-3 p.m. April 15, led by Barbara Date’; “Beyond Burned Out to Boundaries and Balance” (rescheduled from fall), 6-8 p.m. May 9, led by Jen Jensen; and “Black Panther Films as Metaphor: Lessons about Race, Colonialism, Violence, and Identity in Wakanda,” 7-9 p.m. June 5, led by Steven Schweitzer. To learn more about Ventures in Christian Discipleship and to register for courses (suggested donation of $25 per course), visit www.mcpherson.edu/ventures. CEU credits are available.

New online (Zoom) continuing education courses are being offered by the Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center in its “Nurturing Ministry” series: On April 25, 6-7:30 p.m. Central, Frank Ramirez will lead “Julian of Norwich, Catharine Hummer, and Universal Restoration.” Registration for either event is free; .15 CEU’s are available for $10 per session. Learn more and register at www.etown.edu/svmc.

William S. Middleton Memorial VA Hospital in Madison is offering two free virtual clergy training events, May 2 or June 13 from 1-3 p.m.. Each event will be two hours long, focusing on the topics of Moral Injury and Suicide Prevention. Leaders are chaplain Victoria Fishel and social worker/therapist Darlene Ezman. Registration information is at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-clergy-training-event-tickets-566422363537?utm-campaign=social%2Cemail&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-source=strongmail&utm-term=checkoutwidget.

Lands of the Bible study tour: In July 2023, Bridgewater College chaplain Dr. Robbie Miller will again lead a study tour of Israel, Palestine, and Jordan. The tour, conducted by the University of the Holy Land in Jerusalem (https://uhl.ac/), will visit sites of biblical and religious importance including Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Jericho, Capernaum, Caesarea, Masada, Qumran, Petra, and many more. The Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership will provide 4.0 CEUs for the study tour. For an itinerary and more information, contact Dr. Miller at rmiller@bridgewater.edu or at 540-421-2720.

The annual Festival of Homiletics is relatively close this year, in Minneapolis, and an online option is also available. The 2023 event will take place May 15-18 with an all-star cast of speakers and the theme “Preaching Hope for a Weary World,” which they note is a “response to the hardships and heaviness that have been our reality the last few years. In these wearying days, what is our call to preach? Hope. The Festival of Homiletics 2023 will inspire us to a renewed sense of our radical calling. Our weary world needs us, preachers.” Registration ($345 early-bird in person/$95 online) and further details can be found at: Registration and information here.

The organization Faith+Lead (through Luther Seminary) has available on demand a 6-hour self-guided course called “Hybrid Ministry in a Post-Pandemic Church,” helping pastors and others think about ways to create a framework for church that engages and connects the entire community. Cost is $75. Learn more and register at https://t.e2ma.net/click/vfs32k/zarqt/3d8o7ab.

Lombard Mennonite Peace Center is offering its one-day Healthy Congregations webinar (via Zoom) on March 22 (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Central), as well as some additional dates in 2023. Cost is $99. A Restorative Congregations webinar will be presented via Zoom May 23 or Nov. 2 (9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Central). Conflict Transformation Skills for Churches will be offered via Zoom April 11 and Sept. 16 (9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Central). For more details and registration information, and to see other events, go to https://lmpeacecenter.org/all-events/.

Upcoming courses from the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership include “What Brethren Believe” by Denise Kettering April 19-June 13. Registration deadline for “What Brethren Believe” is March 15. Register for courses and pay online at Brethren Academy Course Registration/Biannual TRIM Payment | Bethany Theological Seminary (bethanyseminary.edu).

NCP Learning Tours: New Community Project will offer an educational trip to South Sudan May 11-22, to the Amazon region of Ecuador June 1-7, to Lybrook, N.M., June 22-28, to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons July 20-27, and to central and southern Alaska Aug. 7-15. These trips are open to all ages and explore the beauty of and challenges facing God’s creation and God’s children. Learn more at https://www.newcommunityproject.info/learning-tours.