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Ministry Expo 2010

Zion Church, Manchester Center, April 24, 2010
Church of the Good Shepherd, Barre, May 1, 2010

This first annual Ministry Expo is sponsored by the Diocese of Vermont Ministry Support Team to consolidate events normally spread over several Saturdays. Planners encourage congregations to bring teams to one of the two nearly identical day-long events, which will be packed with workshops designed to educate and inspire ministry in a wide variety of areas. Congregational teams can attend together, experience a variety of learning opportunities, and share their learnings and insights when they return home. Specially designed worship services, with music provided by congregational music teams, will begin and end both events. See below for a schedule for the day and a listing of workshops.

Please register in advance, using the form in the Ministry Expo Brochure (a downloadable version will be available here soon). It will be helpful in planning space use to know which workshops people plan to attend.

The registration fee for a congregational team is $40 for up to six people ($5 per additional registrant). Individuals may register for $10 if the registration is received by March 31, and for $12 after March 31. The fee includes morning snacks and coffee/tea. Please plan to bring lunch.

Download a brochure that can be printed on two sheets, double-sided. Includes workshop schedule and registration form (pdf, 87kb).
Download a brochure for viewing electronically (pages in correct order). Also includes printable registration form (pdf, 92kb).
Download registration form with workshop schedule only (62kb).

Contact Wendy Grace at Trinity, Rutland, with questions: trinity2@sover.net, or 802-775-4368.

Ministry Expo Schedule
9:00 a.m.            Gathering, Hospitality
9:20 a.m.            Worship with music by diocesan musicians (
                                    Zion, Manchester and St. Peter’s, Bennington, in Manchester
                                    St. Andrew’s, Colchester, in Barre
10:00 a.m.          Workshop Session I
11:00 a.m.          Workshop Session II
Noon                  Gather for Noonday prayers
12:15 p.m.          Lunch
1:00 p.m.            Workshop Session III
2:00 p.m.            Workshop Session IV
3:00pm               Final Gathering/Closing worship with music

Workshop Descriptions

Track 1: Financial Stewardship
1a      Vestry, the Financial Management Ministry and Vision
Canonically, the Vestry is responsible for management of the fiscal affairs of the Church.  How does the Vestry approach this task as a ministry that proclaims a vision, invites participation in the building up of the body of Christ, and the spread of the reign of God?  This workshop will ground the work of the Vestry in Scripture and provide practical, hints for developing this important ministry.
Presented by Angela Emerson, Minister of Stewardship Development

1b     Financial Management for Mission: How to create budgets that make people want to give
Legacy giving is an important part of the history of the Diocese of Vermont.  What would YOU have to believe and feel about the Church to be moved to give of your accumulated wealth?  How does Church talk about such gifts and what might constitute good stewardship of those gifts?  Includes basic introductory materials to a Legacy Sunday. Facilitated by Angela Emerson, Minister of Stewardship Development

1c    Planning the Annual Commitment Campaign: Successful stories from the field
Personal stories of transformation, faithful member canvas training, theme development, and much, much more… Come and hear stories from around the Diocese as congregations develop an Annual Commitment Campaign.  Facilitated by Angela Emerson, Minister of Stewardship Development

1d   God, Money and Me: Starting the conversation
Tried and true questions, Bible study, and reflections that help people celebrate the joy of giving, awareness of abundance, and money as a spiritual issue.  Work will primarily be in small groups sharing and reflecting on Scripture with group time for sharing insight and Q&A.  Facilitated by Angela Emerson, Minister of Stewardship Development

Track 2: Wardens and Treasurers
2a     The Church as Employer
This workshop will cover reporting requirements, tax forms, the new mandatory lay pension contributions and other issues related to employment. Also included will be the requirements that will be part of the mandatory Diocesan Health Plan and those of the mandatory lay pension, adopted by the 2009 General Convention, and how congregations will be affected. Presented by Julie Giguere, Financial Administrator.

2b     The Church as God’s Business Enterprise
A walk through the Manual of Business Methods in Church Affairs, the Diocesan Treasurer’s Manual and other topics relating to financial management of church affairs.  Presented by Julie Giguere, Financial Administrator.

2c     New Wardens and Vestry Members
New to your leadership ministry? Come learn about the leadership roles of wardens and vestries. We'll share questions and experiences as well as go over the basics for these ministries. Presented by Thad Bennett in Manchester and Lynn Bates in Barre.

2d     Diocesan Resources
A review of the wide variety of resources available to congregations, from the Resource Center to the Web site to assistance with stewardship and clergy transitions. Presented by Lynn Bates, Canon to the Ordinary

Track 3: Leading Change & Transition Ministry
3ab    Leading Change: How does one lead lasting change in a congregation? (Half Day)
Congregations and their leaders seek to envision and institute positive change. Yet those same congregations tend to return to “the way we've always done things.” Understanding their congregation as an emotional system gives clergy and lay leadership unique tools to envision and implement change, even in the most difficult settings. This workshop will enable leaders to recognize the dynamics of systems theory, and utilize these dynamics toward the goal of shifting the congregation into a new and lasting way of doing things. It will not tell leaders the specific changes to make in their own congregation, but rather how to lead the change process. Presented by Barbara Lemmel.

3c     Transition Ministry: What's Worked; What's going to be Working!
Most of our Vermont congregations have been through a clergy transition since the bishop arrived and many just within the last few years. Join the canon for transitional ministry and we'll sit together to discuss what worked and what did not work and how the congregations in transition now will be working with the diocese. The conversation will be helpful to those in transition now and for future planning in the diocese. Presented by Thad Bennett in Manchester and Lynn Bates in Barre.

Track 4: Communication Ministry
4a     Getting—and keeping—your congregation on the Web
Does your congregation have a presence on the Web? This workshop will explore some basics, including the options of free Web hosting, a new low-cost diocesan-sponsored hosting, and the use of blogs in place of Web sites. Presented by Anne Brown, Communication Minister

4b     Congregation Newsletters and Local Media Relations
What is the best way to keep your congregation informed and connected? Is there still a place for the print newsletter? Should it also be electronic? The workshop will examine characteristics of good print and electronic newsletters as well as the differences between them. It will also address dos and don’ts about working with local media to gain community visibility for your congregation. Presented by Anne Brown Anne Brown, Communication Minister (with others)

4c     Social Networking for Congregations
Is your congregation on Facebook? Does it have a blog? Does it use Twitter? This workshop will consider how these tools can enhance your communication efforts, as well as some dos and don’ts when wading into the social networking world. Presented by Anne Brown, Communication Minister (and others)

Track 5: Christian Formation
5ab   “Wade in the Water”:  Exploring the Ministry of the Baptized (Half Day)
Wade in the Water explores ways that the ministry of the baptized can create healthy congregations. This resource can empower us to find a more active role within the church, including positions of leadership.
            In this workshop led by Companions, you will slosh in the waters a bit and then swim your way through one of the four sessions of Wade. You will learn how a Companion will dive with you and your congregation into deeper waters, offering the complete 4 sessions at your local pool.  
            Wade is created liturgically, using the Lifecycles format, so participants will also float around in this.  So jump in!  The water is fine!  Presented by Companions Jean Smith, Rolfe Lawson, Laura Hunter and Jean Hancock.

5cd   Inviting, Inspiring, and Transforming: Lifelong Christian Formation for Ministry (Half Day)
Invitation:  Stories of Personal Formation in the Church tradition.  How were you formed for Ministry?
Inspiration:  How do Scripture, Tradition, and Reason inform the path of Formation? 
Transformation:  How does one move into action, interaction, and relationships of Christian Ministry?
Resources:  How do we support Formation in parishes?  What resources are available?  What is important to consider in parish life to encourage continued formation that supports ministry?
Presented by Kevin Fisher, Veronika Travis and May Morris of the Christian Formation Committee.

Track 6: Special Ministries
6ab   Developing and/or Growing a Healing Ministry in Your Congregation
         (Half Day, Barre Only)
Congregations and individuals are discovering the blessings of a healing ministry centered in the promises of Christ and the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit.  This workshop will provide both the theological and practical basis for starting or furthering the ministry of healing in your congregation through presentation, discussion, personal stories, hands-on experience and available resources.
Presented by St. Andrew’s, Colchester, Healing Ministry Team [Con Quinby]

6cd   The Deacon: A Full and Equal Order
So why the Deacon, since all members of the church, the laos, are called to ministry by virtue of their baptism?  In this workshop we will explore a bit of history, the rise of the diaconate since 1972 and how it may build community and further the ministry of diakonia or justice and service throughout the diocese. We will explore some aspects of the discernment and formation process as it is in our diocese.
Presented by members of the Deacon Council [Catherine Cooke].

Track 7: Outreach and Social Justice
7ab   Faith-Based Community Organizing: Is your parish ready to wade in? (Half Day)
Certainly, we know Christ when we feed the hungry and share what we have with the poor, but at the end of the day, we haven’t done anything to help them move toward stability and security. Christ calls us to actively transform the systems that perpetuate hunger and poverty, to remove the barriers to full participation in loving and caring communities. He calls us to build foundational relationships with each other, to listen deeply to the needs and concerns of our neighbors, and then, together, united by our common values, take action for justice.          This workshop will teach you a step-by-step process to begin faith-based community organizing in your parish. Our diocesan strategic plan states that in five years, we will have 40 parishes as members of Vermont Interfaith Action. Will your parish be one of them?
Presented by members of Vermont Interfaith Action from St. Paul’s Cathedral, Christ Church, Montpelier, and Good Shepherd, Barre

7c     Why the Millennium Development Goals Matter to Us
Members of the Global Reconciliation Committee will share how participation in the MDGs has touched their congregations and themselves. GRC members will also explain how Vermont congregations can stretch their donations to organizations that support the MDGs through matching grants administered by the GRC. Those congregations who have received grants will be invited to share their experiences in this workshop.
Presented by members of the Global Reconciliation Committee

Track 8: Earth Stewardship
8ab  Congregation Energy Assessments (Half Day)
Review results of assessments done to date; Identify materials and resources available for energy conservation within parish buildings;  walk-thru tour of workshop building to identify opportunities for energy efficiency.
Presented by the Earth Stewards Committee [Ron McGarvey]

8cd   The Low Carbon Diet: Doing Our Part to Stop Global Weirding (Half Day)
What can each of us do?  Surely anything we could do would just be a drop in the bucket! These are questions that many families and individuals in our congregations are asking, as the time gets shorter and shorter in which we can meet the challenge of “the coming climate catastrophe and our last chance to save humanity,” as Nobel-winning NASA physicist James Hansen calls it in his new book Storms of my Grandchildren.
           In the Low Carbon Diet workshop, participants will learn how to start and run EcoTeams—groups of 5-8 households which meet 4 times in 6 weeks to help each other take the steps suggested in the Low Carbon Diet workbook, actions which are aimed at reducing their CO2-emissions (and energy-costs)--in trash-disposal, heating, transportation and all the other areas in which fossil-fuel energy is usually consumed in the everyday lives of Americans. EcoTeams have been formed in many Vermont congregations, including those in several Episcopalian churches. Average carbon-emission-reductions have been running at 20% of each household’s carbon footprint.  Presented by Vermont Interfaith Power & Light [Wes Sanders]

Track 9: Potpourri
9ab     Praising God with the Pipe: Getting the Most Out of Your Pipe Organ.
This workshop is designed for churches that have an organ that they feel doesn’t do everything they need it to. It deals with the practical aspects of how a pipe organ works and what can be done to make it more useful in leading today’s liturgies. Presented by Peter Walker.

9c    Local Sustainable Ecosystems and Faith
Presented by Lisa Ransom (Earth Stewards Committee)