Diocesan Training Day

[Info updated February 17]

Saturday, March 28
St. Stephen's Wilkes-Barre
8:15 am – 9:15 am  Check-in and Hospitality
9:15 Opening Prayer and Welcome
9:45 am – 11:15 Workshops
11:30 Eucharist
12:30 Lunch
1:15 Workshops
2:45 Commissioning and Departure

Register online and find more information here.

See description of workshops below.

Wardens/Vestry 101
An introduction for new wardens and vestry members – or a refresher for experienced vestry members – to the roles, responsibilities, and realities of parish leadership.  We will look at canons, models, strategies, and resources to assist the elected leaders of parishes. [Led by Bishop Jack Croneberger and Archdeacon Howard Stringfellow] Morning

Ministry of the Lay Eucharistic Visitor
“I was hungry and you fed me.” The Ministry of the Lay Eucharistic Visitor extends the celebration of Holy Communion to those who are unable to attend the gathering of the faithful – the home-bound, those in hospital and nursing homes. This two-part course leads to the licensing by the Bishop. The morning session will look at Biblical, theological, and historical background, while in the afternoon, we will discuss resources and practical considerations such as HIPAA rules, safety, and health concerns. [Led by The Rev. Edward K. Erb] Morning and Afternoon

Give and Live: Stewardship as a Way of Life
This workshop will examine the theology and practice of year-round stewardship in the parish.  How can we help an entire parish make the shift from scarcity to abundance, from control to generosity, from maintenance to mission?  We will share ideas for preaching, teaching, and programming for all ages, throughout the liturgical year.[Led by the Rev. Robert L. Tate, Rector, Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Philadelphia.] Morning or Afternoon

Cooking up a Parish Website
Most people looking for a new church use the internet.  A parish website is a basic communication and evangelism tool. You can create for your parish an attractive, easy-to-use website that is inexpensive and can be maintained by anyone with average computer skills. We will construct an actual parish website and show you how to maintain it. We will give you the ingredients to cook up a delicious web page for your congregation. [Led by The Rev. Canon Andy Gerns, rector of Trinity Easton, chair of the Evangelism Commission, helper at Episcopal Cafe and creator of the AndrewPlus blog] Morning

ChurchPost Training
ChurchPost, a communication tool that has been developed for and by the church, has been purchased for you to use. There is no cost to the parish to use it. It’s web-based communication solution that will empower you to enhance communications with one another and your congregation. The basic functionality of this service is that it will allow you to create email groups that will be accessible to you from any computer while also allowing other users to have access to all of the groups that are created. You will have the ability to create quick text emails and eNewsletters or colorful html templates using a wizard, eliminating the need for html knowledge. You will be able to monitor the receipt of your communications as well as spot any trouble email addresses. This will allow you to auto-schedule emails for future sending – and because this is a web-based service – you don’t even need to log on for them to be sent!
Whether you already use ChurchPost or just want to get started come to this 90 minute session to receive a full training and a chance to get your questions answered. We are the first Episcopal diocese to equip all of our parishes with ChurchPost You may have attended a training in September. This will still be worth your while.  As a refresher course, as instruction for another staff or church member or to be trained on Version 3.0 just released, you will see how this tool can improve communications within your parish as well as create a more inviting, inclusive environment. [Led by Debra Gerber, one of the owners of ChurchPost] Morning and Afternoon

Christian Formation: One Size Does Not Fit All –– How to Choose a Curriculum for Your Congregation
Use the lens of your church’s mission statement as well as your programmatic  framework, as you explore the various types of curricula: lectionary-based, scope & sequence, Montessori-type and Rotation Model, including a review of other tools for evaluating and assessing materials. [Led by Sharon Ely Pearson who became Church Publishing’s first Christian Formation Specialist in November 2007 after ten years as Children’s Ministries and Christian Education Coordinator for the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut. With a B.S. in Special Education, she has a certificate in Christian Education from Hartford Seminary and a Master’s degree in Christian Education from Virginia Seminary.] Morning

Christian Formation: Develop an Engaging Lesson Plan
Learn how to plan your Church School lessons so that the children under your  care will be active participants in learning - wanting to come back week after  week for more! This experiential workshop will engage teachers to develop a  means of preparing lessons that will make the best use of their time throughout  the year. [Led by Sharon Ely Pearson. See above.] Afternoon

Treasurers’ Workshop
In this workshop, we will focus on Cash Receipts, Cash Disbursements, Internal Controls, and Audits.  We will review the Balance Sheet and Revenue and Expense statements.  A question and answer session will follow the presentation. [Led by R. Bruce Reiner and Richard Guyer] Afternoon

Grants and New Hope: New Opportunities for Ministry
A glance into the application process for New Hope Grants for Northeastern PA. [Led by New Hope Campaign chair Charlie Barebo and St. Stephen’s Wilkes-Barre rector Father Daniel Gunn] Afternoon

Practical tips for the part-time church organist
The most important aspects of leading singing from the organ. [Led by Mark Laubach, organist/choir master for St. Stephen’s Pro-Cathedral, Wilkes-Barre, and Canon Precentor for the Diocese of Bethlehem] Afternoon

Building a Youth Ministry Program with 6-12 graders
Demery Bader-Saye shares ideas, curriculum and resources for building a youth ministry program in your parish. Because many parishes in our diocese are small, with few teens, special attention will be given to doing youth ministry in a small group format. Innovative worship ideas that might connect with youth, and about the vital role mission can play in transforming the spiritual lives of teens. Questions, answers, and sharing of ideas among workshop participants. Morning

[Late Addition]
A Hand’s On Approach to Developing a Powerful Planned Giving Program in Your Parish
Hand’s on discussion of how a planned giving program can lift up your parish and how to develop this essential ministry at your church. Success stories from parishes in our Diocese. How you can jump start this ministry in your church. [Led by Charlie Barebo] Morning