Workshops at 186th Diocesan Convention 10:30 Friday, February 17th, 2017 in the East Meeting Rooms
What is Special Session All About—Led by Lindsey Mullen You may have heard Bishop Sloan preach about Special Session—a summer camp session for people of all abilities, staffed by volunteer teenage counselors. Special Session is ministry that is filled with holy surprises, moments of grace, and glimpses of God’s kingdom. This workshop is an opportunity to learn more about this diocesan ministry—how it started, how it’s growing, and how you can be a part of it.
A Church Response to Hunger: The Beans and Rice Ministry—Led by The Rev. Bill King & The Rev. Dn. David Whetstone 20% of households in Alabama suffer from food insufficiency (not enough food resources each month). A successful response to such real hunger has been the Beans and Rice ministry. This workshop will provide information for starting and sustaining such a ministry in any parish or worshipping community. Handouts will be provided.
The Church of the Future: Solar Energy and the Care of Creation Elizabeth and Charles Scribner (Church of the Advent) will lead participants in exploring the potential of solar energy for churches in our diocese and elsewhere. Drawing on experience as a pioneer in solar energy in Alabama, Elizabeth will demonstrate ways solar energy is already becoming indispensable in a sustainable future, including: How solar energy works, on and off the grid Why Alabama is a great place for solar energy to thrive Churches that are already utilizing solar energy Ideas for how churches might move towards solar energy
Christian Formation and Church Next Christina Dorn-Christian formation and communications director at Grace Church , Anniston and Kathy Graham Coordinator of Lifelong Christian Formation for the Diocese invite you to Come share your questions about faith formation for all ages and experience how Church Next and can be a part of your adult formation programs using our diocesan subscription.
Funding our Mission in 2017 Danielle Dunbar talks about how we need to change the culture of resource development in God’s Church. Gone are the days when we can politely decline to talk about money in church, regarding it as “tacky.” Gone are the days when the rector can simply say, “Please submit your annual tithe for the church budget” then watch as the pledges come rolling in. And gone are the days when parishioners come to church every Sunday. How do we face the societal changes that affect the Church in 2017? We must help the needy and powerless as well as the wealthy and connected by bringing the Gospel of Jesus to all in the way they most need to receive it. We need to learn how to communicate this vital work to all demographics within the
Church and to the community at large. We must learn how to invite and encourage monetary support of this continuing ministry of Jesus through the discipline of Christian Stewardship.
Young Adult Ministry with Austin Cook Come join young adults from across the diocese as we explore what is currently available for young adults on a diocesan and local level, what young adults might be looking for in a parish and how to increase young adult involvement in your worshiping community.
Human Trafficking Tajuan McCarty is the Founder of The WellHouse, a nonprofit, faith-based and Christ-centered agency dedicated to rescuing women from sexual exploitation/human trafficking. Tajuan is uniquely qualified to be a forerunner in the fight against trafficking. At 15, she was sexually exploited by her “boyfriend-turned-pimp”. She was trafficked to Birmingham so many times, it became her home. She will tell her story and talk about human trafficking in the US and the work of The WellHouse
How To Tell the Compelling Story of Jesus' Love for Us Debra Peeples, a member of the diocesan Department of Evangelism, will lead this interactive workshop exploring how we can tell the compelling story of God's love for all of us through Jesus. We will develop specific ideas and actions based on the power of living the way Jesus loves and then committing to helping this world become one that is loving.