Trainings and Events for Ministers
Pastoral Care Post-Roe Workshop
For Ohio Disciples of Christ and United Church of Christ Ministers
This workshop is for all clergy - pro-life, pro-choice,
and everywhere in between.
February 4, 2023 ~ 9:30am – 2:30pm
Camp Christian
10335 Maple Dell Rd., Marysville, Ohio 43040
What does the law say? What are the available options of care? What does the sacred commitment to accompany and care request of clergy now?
Rev. Terry Williams of Faith Choice Ohio will be leading a workshop for clergy on Pastoral Care Post-Roe. After the Supreme Court’s decision on Dobbs, each state now has the responsibility of determining the legal availability of reproductive choice within their boundaries. Ohio’s ban on abortions after six-weeks of gestation is currently on hold, but likely to become law soon. Further, the State Legislature is considering additional legislation to reduce and shape options of reproductive choice.
This new landscape has implications for how clergy provide pastoral care. What is required by the state may differ from what we understand our God to request of us. Our personal convictions may differ from the one in our care. So how do we navigate the responsibilities to God, our neighbor, and ourselves - all within our particular state?
Fortunately, we do not need to walk this path alone. Join other Disciples and UCC clergy within Ohio to learn of the current landscape and how we may not only walk, but guide others through it in ways that are compassionate, confident, and faithful.
Below is a list of some upcoming trainings and events specifically for Ministers. Click on the links to be directed to more information about each event.
Multiple Options Now Open For Ministry Training Requirements
Winter/Spring 2023 Courses
The Christian Church in Ohio, through its Commission On Ministry, seeks to ensure that all those in its care maintain the highest level of excellence for the Order of Ministry. One of the ways in which we do this is to require several courses and trainings to enter into ministry, and then to require regular refresher courses to maintain ministerial standing to keep these skills and perspectives fresh.
We require a Disciples History & Polity course for all of those seeking standing in ministry. For those who attend a Disciples of Christ seminary, this course is often easily fulfilled in their seminary’s regular course offerings. But for persons attending non-Disciples seminaries, for clergy seeking to transfer their standing to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), as well as for Commissioned Ministers, it may be more difficult. The Commission seeks to make obtaining this important course easier for everyone.
Additionally, the Commission On Ministry requires that all clergy complete a Pro-Reconciliation/Anti-Racism Course (now "Awareness Conversation") as well as a Clergy Healthy Boundary Course, and that these be updated every five years. We are once again offering the first training here in the Christian Church in Ohio, now completely redesigned and called our Pro-Reconciliation/Anti-Racism “Awareness Conversations.” They are held in person/onsite at Camp Christian and we plan to offer them twice a year. We are working towards offering the Clergy Healthy Boundary Course in person/onsite as well.
We are eager to offer more accessible and more frequently available trainings in both of these areas.
The Commission on Ministry has decided that we will promote and recognize the online and in-person classes and trainings that are being offered by our Disciples seminaries as well as by the Crossroads Institute (for Pro-Reconciliation/Anti-Racism Training). All these trainings, upon certification of completion by the institution, fulfill the requirements necessary for ordination, commissioning, and the recognition and maintenance of standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Ohio.
It is the responsibility of each individual to research the requirements and pay for the costs for each program. If there are questions about these options or you have concerns about costs, please reach out to the Commission On Ministry, via Rev. Allen V. Harris, at AHarris@ccinoh.org for more information.
Disciples History & Polity
Phillips Theological Seminary
Basic Disciples History & Polity- March 6 - April 30, 2023
(Also offered: June 26-August 20, 2023 and October 16-December 10, 2023)
Instructor: Rev. Jeff Gill
This course will present an overview of the history and practices of the Stone-Campbell movement as foundational to its current forms of Disciples worship, missions, and ministry: denominationally, ecumenically, and culturally.
This is an online course. The price of the course is $100. Click here to register: https://fs27.formsite.com/PtNxGa/form21/index.html
Lexington Theological Seminary*
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IP 570 – Disciples History & Polity I |
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This course is an overview of the history and polity of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) from its beginnings on the American frontier to the present day. Offered May 1-27th online |
Pro-Reconciliation/Anti-Racism Training
Christian Church in Ohio Awareness Conversation – Saturday, March 25, 2023
Our Christian Church in Ohio Pro-Reconciliation/Anti-Racism Commission is once again offering this training, now completely redesigned and formatted as an Awareness Conversation. It is being held twice a year in person/onsite at Camp Christian in Magnetic Springs, Ohio. This is the preferred training for all Christian Church in Ohio clergy and lay leaders.
This workshop is designed for new and current ministers wishing to gain or maintain standing with the Christian Church in Ohio. United Church of Christ and other Ministers are also welcome to attend for their denominational requirements.
Attendees will gather for a day of conversation to help raise awareness about Pro Reconciliation and Anti-Racism and how each of us can effect change. We will discuss various aspects and experiences of Racism and provide a safe place to start conversations in hopes of moving each of us forward in our Pro- Reconciliation and Anti-Racism Ministry commitment.
Registration and more information will be available soon on the www.CCinOH.org website.
If you have questions or would like more information please contact the Pro-Reconciliation/Anti-Racism Commission Chairs, Rev. Thomas Barnes and Rev. Heather Schimmel at reconciliation@ccinoh.org
This training, which is face-to-face and led by our own Christian Church in Ohio friends and colleagues, is the preferred training to fulfill the requirement. However, because we know that not everyone can make the specific dates for these trainings, we do offer and accept for credit toward fulfillment of the requirement for standing the following online courses:
Lexington Theological Seminary* – February 27 to March 11, 2023
Course #: IB555 An Introduction to Faith Rooted Anti-Racism
Led By: Rev. Yvonne Gilmore
This course will provide an introductory survey of faith-rooted approaches to anti-racism, and anti-racist community practices. It will explore practical approaches to resisting racism, and to communication, accountability and listening across difference to create a more just church in a just society through systemic analysis coupled with contextual learning and dynamic interaction. Race, justice, identity formation, power, and intersectionality will be considered alongside tools to address racism, and other forms of oppression to increase equity and meaningful social change.
Crossroads Antiracism Organizing and Training
Crossroads Antiracism Organizing and Training is one of the premier anti-racism training organizations around, and their leadership helped shaped the initial work that the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) did in fulfilling our 2020 Mission Imperative to be a fully anti-racist and pro-reconciling church.
Two upcoming online courses are being offered: January 20, 2023.
To find out more and to register, go online to: https://crossroadsantiracism.org/register/ (Note: times are all Central Time).
Clergy Healthy Boundary Training
Lexington Theological Seminary* – February 13 – March 25
Course #: IB582 Clergy Wellness/Boundaries
Led by: Dr. Yvonne Martinez Thorne
The call to ordained ministry continues to be recognized by many persons to be a blessed and consecrated call. People of all ages, educational backgrounds, employment histories, and socio-cultural and linguistic backgrounds continue to hear and respond to the call to ordained ministry and to para-church and faith-based organizations, social /community agencies, heath care institutions, among others. Yet, many clergy feel unprepared for meeting the myriad of challenges and uncertainty they face as they lead congregations during times heightened by social, cultural, and religious change, and natural disasters. Therefore, the establishment and maintenance of healthy boundaries within diverse ministry contexts become an integral part of cultivating clergy wellness and congregational heath.
This half-credit, two-week online course will help to further equip clergy for pastoral leadership across ministry settings by addressing issues pertaining to boundaries in the Church. The goal of the course is to facilitate authentic and healthy fellowship and communication with God’s people in congregational and denominational life. This course will further equip clergy for pastoral leadership across ministry settings. Students will grow in their identification and development of healthy boundaries in cultivating clergy and congregational wellness. They will also increase their knowledge of boundary violations in ministry that includes sexual misconduct, gender discrimination, and clergy burnout. Finally, students will clarify relevant strategies for self-care in ministry.
Lewis Center for Church Leadership https://www.churchleadership.com/
This group offers online training for maintaining healthy boundaries. There are two classes: “Maintaining Boundaries in a Digital Age” and “Clergy Sexual Ethics.” Each costs $49 and is done online at one’s own pace. Participants receive a certificate when you are finished with all the class work.
Clergy and ministerial students who have not taken a Clergy Healthy Boundaries course before should register for the “Clergy Sexual Ethics” course. For clergy who have already taken the basic course, the “Maintaining Boundaries in a Digital Age” will count for clergy standing renewal.
School For Ministry (Christian Church in Ohio/Christian Church in Illinois & Wisconsin/Christian Church in Michigan)
Ethics Course on Finance (Best if done if you have already had one basic Clergy Healthy Boundary Course)
Summer 2023 Intensives Ethics Option: Finances (Open to non-Cohort students)
To find out more about School For Ministry Classes and how to register, contact the Rev. April McClureStewart, Executive Director, at: april@cciwdisciples.org
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*For more detailed information on LTS’s Boundaries, DOC History and Polity and Anti-Racism courses and to register, please go online to:
Here is the schedule: https://lextheo.edu/academics/academic-schedule/
Here are course descriptions: https://lextheo.edu/academics/course-descriptions/
The application link: https://lextheo.mycampus-app.com/app#login/apply
More information about these plus other events, meetings, and important dates can be found on the Regional Calendar.
