2018 Discipleship Day Summary

Held on April 14, 2018 at St. Simon's on the Sound, Fort Walton Beach

Attendance:

Catalysts for Growth: How Your Congregation Can Grow Spiritually (and Numerically)

Presenter: The Rev. Scott Gunn

Scott Gunn will present findings from RenewalWorks, a ministry of Forward Movement that has learned a great deal about the spiritual vitality of the Episcopal Church, including those practices that are catalysts for growth. He will suggest resources to promote deeper spiritual practices, and many of these resources are free. Come to learn how your church can grow, and how your church can change the focus from maintenance to mission, from preservation to discipleship. Scott Gunn is executive director of Forward Movement, a ministry of the Episcopal Church that inspires disciples and empowers evangelists. He travels widely as a preacher, speaker, teacher, and retreat leader. Before his current ministry, he was a parish priest. He has also worked in technology. You can follow him on Twitter (@scottagunn) or read his blog at www.sevenwholedays.org. Presentation

Learning to Love Our Neighborhoods Again: Practical Strategies for Understanding and Engaging Our Communities

Presenter: The Rev. Ken Howard

Is your congregation trying harder and harder to engage the larger community with less and less success? Does it sometimes seem like you are offering great answers to questions people aren’t asking that much anymore? Great community ministries that aren’t getting the traction they once did? You’re not alone. Gone are the days when neighborhoods changed incrementally over generations – when congregations had the leisure to absorb those changes by osmosis. This workshop explores strategies and practices that may help congregations more rapidly and effectively answer the question, “Who are our neighbors?” so that we might more effectively engage our rapidly changing neighborhoods. ​ Ken Howard is the executive director for the FaithX Project and co-creator of the Datastory for Faith Communities. ​ MISSIONAL PLANNING WORKBOOK Presentation

Spiritual Care of Those With Alzheimer's and Dementia

Presenter: The Rev. Colette Wood As the number of people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia continues to rise, providing spiritual care for those with dementia and their loved ones will be a major part of our work as clergy, congregations and lay leaders in our churches.  But what to do, what to say, and how to be in ministry with those with dementia can be overwhelming, scary and often feel ineffective. We don’t always know what to do when we visit and wonder if our efforts made a difference. The truth is positive spiritual care  makes a big difference, and the good news is we already have all we need to do this work. Jesus taught us to care for the “least of these.” Those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia are today’s “least of these” who need our specialized care; they are men and woman still alive inside and still able to draw strength from the presence of God.  In this workshop you will:

• Hear stories about this ministry at work

• Learn about dementia through a brief  “Dementia 101” 

• Be taught practical “hands on” tips for visiting and engaging those with dementia; how to communicated; what to do and not do when visiting, etc.

• Be reminded of the “tools of faith” available in this ministry

• Offered ideas for support to spouses, family and caregivers

• Offered guidelines for creating dementia friendly congregations and places of worship.

Colette Bachand-Wood, author of “Do This Remembering Me: Spiritual Care of those with Alzheimer’s and Dementia” is rector at All Saints Episcopal Church in Whitman, Massachusetts, who has a specialized ministry in care of people with dementia; she is a clergy member of Dementia Friendly Massachusetts; chaplain in a senior living facility including their memory care unit; and is certified dementia specialist through Positive Approach Care training. She has been featured on Alzheimer’s Radio and on OurParents.com, and has provided workshops around the country for the Church Pension Group. Her father died from complications related to dementia. ​ Link to "Do This Remembering Me: Spiritual Care of those with Alzheimer’s and Dementia”: https://www.churchpublishing.org/dothisrememberingme

Bringing Creativity and Curiosity to Worship

Presenter: The Rt. Rev. Russell Kendrick In their recent report, Renewal Works identified four catalysts for spiritual growth. One of those catalysts is “the transforming power of the Eucharist.”  This workshop will focus on ways that we might be curious and creative with the weekly, seasonal and annual rhythms of worship. We will explore ways to be curious with scripture readings and we will look at liturgies within and beyond The Book of Common Prayer.  Participants can also expect to leave with concrete examples of liturgies that might be adapted for use in their own churches. 

Asset Based Community Development: Creating Partnerships That Change the World

Presenter: The Rev. Deacon Clelia Garrity Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) is centered around the belief that individuals, groups, and communities have the gifts they need to address the needs they see around them. 1 Corinthians 12 tells us that each of us are given different gifts to serve the community and we are all a part of the body of Christ working together.

1. Understand the fundamental elements of Asset Based Community Development (ABCD).

2. Understand how ABCD differs from other models of engagement.

3. Understand the underlying theology of ABCD.

4. Understand what can and cannot be accomplished via ABCD.

Loving Your Neighbor Through the Vision and Efforts of Episcopal Migration Ministries

Presenters: Astrida Miller, Bill Miller, Rachel Harding, Peter Horn and Deacon Terry Goff

This presentation will inform you about the work and ministry of Episcopal Migration Ministries on the national level and present opportunities for local congregations to become involved with placement and or welcoming immigrants resettled in the United States.  Come and be informed about the history of immigrants in our country and their current status. Let you hearts and minds be open. Come, see and meet God’s most vulnerable people.  ​ Astrida, Bill, Rachel, Peter, and Terry attended "Love God, Love Neighbor," a three day seminar on the refugee crisis, presented by Episcopal Migration Ministries, that equips participants to be advocates, allies, and ambassadors for refugees and the ministry of refugee resettlement.