Dear Colleague in Christ,
I am Interim Pastor of the Rutherford Congregational Church, UCC. Our congregation has engaged in a process called "Authentic Community Engagement" using tools of Faith-Based Community Development. As a result, many members are building real relationships with our neighbors, some of these new friends are showing up for Sunday Worship, but more importantly, as a congregation we are building closer relationships with neighbors, clubs, businesses, city officials and others who care about our town.
Attached is an opportunity for local pastors, church staff, and lay ministry leaders to acquire skills in authentic community engagement. I have learned over the last 15 years that unless we Get Out of our Church Buildings and build authentic relationships with our neighbors, our churches will not survive. I have also learned (through my work with Communities of Shalom and after) that Community Ministries require a certain skill base not taught in seminary. Whether our ministry context is rural, urban or inbetween, building relationships and partnerships are necessary skills for effectively serving our communities.
This Professional Certification in Community Engagement and Ministry is sponsored by the Memphis Theological Seminary - Center for Faith and Imagination. All course materials and classroom instruction are online.
Registration for the first class; Foundations and Theology of Placed-Based Community Building begins on September 7th. Registration ends September 3rd.
I hope you can recommend and share this information within your wide-network of Colleagues in the Ministry. There are limited numbers of income-based scholarships available.
Your partner in Christ,
Annie
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Rev. Annie Allen, MPA, M.Div.
973-557-0611