Classes
Times Offered: 10:15 & 11:30
Instructor: David Spain, Senior Minister, First Christian Church Norman
The Wesleyan Quadrilateral is a way that individuals and churches can have difficult conversations around challenging topics. The four components of the quadrilateral include scripture, tradition, reason, and experience and to “work the process” is to listen to each of the four components inform our decision making processes. This workshop will introduce participants to the quadrilateral, and then will provide a few examples of how the quadrilateral can be engaged.
Times Offered: 10:15 & 11:30
Instructor: Rev. Michael Davison, Associate Regional Minister, Christian Church in Oklahoma
What makes your congregation unique in your community? How does your congregation communicate that unique witness of the good news of God to the public and to members?
Does your communication create connections for a first time visitor, long time member, spirituality seeker, and de-churched person to your unique witness of the good news?
This session will offer ideas about telling your congregation’s story and the variety of tools that can be used.
Times Offered: 10:15 & 11:30
Instructor: Sondra Ladd, Associate Minister, First Christian Church Stillwater
Our youth aren’t our future they are our NOW! How do you provide opportunities for youth and young adults to develop and practice leadership skills? Providing leadership opportunities for the younger generation equips them with the confidence and skills to lead now. Listen to a few of our ideas and testimonies and be inspired to incorporate them into your programing with your youth!
Times Offered: 10:15 & 11:30
Instructor: Rev. Laurie Feille, Senior Minister, First Christian Church Minneapolis
Mission Possible – The SpringHouse Story. Is it possible for declining churches to find new life, mission and ministry? What happens when the biggest obstacle to transformation is the beloved church building? Selling the building and moving to an existing building or using the money from the sale of one building to build a smaller building are options. What if the building were sold and the vision of what it means to be church was transformed? That could lead to doing ministry in a whole new way! This workshop will examine the story of three Minneapolis congregations, from three different denominations (ELCA, UCC, DOC) partnering together to own a building with no intention of merging into one congregation. Come and learn about the life, mission and ministry developing at SpringHouse Ministry Center.
Time Offered: 10:15
Instructor: Rev. Daniel U’Ren, Senior Minister, Western Oaks Christian Church
Adults that volunteer as a counselor at our summer camps are the strength of our Region’s Outdoor Ministry program. This session is an introduction to being a camp counselor for persons wishing to volunteer this summer or in the future. This session is also a refresher course for veteran counselors that qualifies as the training session for all counselors this summer.
Times Offered: 10:15
Instructor: Rev. Dr. Debi Powell-Maxwell, First Christian Church Yukon
Every church needs to have a document guiding its operation. This document protects the church’s tax-exempt status and lays the groundwork for the church leadership to lead. Scripture suggests a design to our congregational identity and undergirds the process by which we live into that identity. This class will explore the governing documents under which most of our congregations are functioning. Do they speak to our identity? Are they undergirded scripturally? Are we even following them?
Attendees, please bring a copy of your vision and mission statements (if you have them) as well as a copy of your Constitution and By-Laws.
Times Offered: 10:15 & 11:30
Instructor: Lisa Wynn
“Spiritual but not Religious” (SBNR) is a fairly recent initialism, and, some say, a movement. One fifth of the US public and a third of adults under the age of 30 are reportedly unaffiliated with any religion, however they identify as SBNR. What is this spirituality all about, anyway, and what does it have to do with mainstream Christianity? In this session we will discuss some current theories for this trend, how churches are responding, how spirituality has evolved over centuries and various ways spirituality is being expressed today, both individually and corporately. Multiple resources for further study will be shared.
Times Offered: 10:15 & 11:30
Instructor: Rev. Julia Jordan-Gillett, Assoc. Min. , Western Oaks CC; Rev. Darlene Martinez, Children’s Pastor, Harvard Ave. CC; Molly Udegraff, Director Children’s Corner, FCC Midwest City
This workshop will discuss many ideas about how to do Children’s Ministry in new exciting ways. The panel of speakers will lead a discussion about selecting curriculum for children’s ministry, fresh ideas for youth fellowships, and provide ideas for Vacation Bible School. Come join us in learning new ways to make children’s ministry exciting and fun for the children in your church.
Time Offered: 10:15
Instructor: Mary Lu Johnston, Executive Director, Reach Beyond Mission
Interested in offering your youth a justice-focused mission trip? Would you like to do less planning and more participating alongside your youth? Are you looking for a mission trip program that is related to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)? Come learn about an alternative mission trip program that not only includes justice education but also walks your group through a process of planning how you might serve in your own community. We’ll also talk about how to effectively organize and plan a safe trip that puts parents at ease and encourages full congregational support
Time Offered: 10:15 & 11:30
Instructor: Rev. Jesse Jackson, Senior Minister, East Side Christian Church, OKC
How to have difficult conversations with the church and keep covenant. Searching for oneness.
Time Offered: 10:15
Instructor: Rev. John Malget, Senior Minister, First Christian Church OKC
Are the words we sign in worship important? We will look at how to find hymns and praise songs to go with scriptures and worship themes. We will also look at “old favorites” and see what they are saying theologically. Additionally, what happens when you find great words, but don’t know the tune? Come, let’s explore together.
Times Offered: 10:15 & 11:30
Instructor: Rev. Shannon Speidel, Associate Minister, Central Christian Church, Enid
As the church continues to journey into the 21st Century, the way we function must be flexible with a changing culture. The way churches reach out to the world around them is vital to maintain relevance in a changing world. This course is designed to discover, develop and implement ways to broaden the church’s presence in our local communities which will increase visibility, improve relationships and place the active and moving ministry of Jesus Christ at the forefront of our mission to change lives. Come and join the conversation of what this looks like and why it is something to begin to think about now, rather than later.
Times Offered: 10:15 & 11:30
Instructor: Leah Miller, Michele Johnson and Jan Palovik, Kindred Community
This “class” is called Kindred Community, which is based on a dinner one night a month for widows. A team of volunteers serve a delicious meal and entertainment provided by and hosted by a different church in Duncan. The project was started 2 1/2 years ago and had 49 ‘wives with heavenly husbands’ come along with about 30 volunteers. The program now serves approximately 250 women and over 100 volunteers every month. Jan Palovik, Michelle Johnson, and Leah Miller who started this venture will speak. They will also share about a venture that Leah and Michelle started about 4 years ago, Beautiful Day, where they celebrate the monthly birthdays in elementary schools with a special pizza party.
Time Offered: 10:15
Instructor: Bobby Hawley, Vice President, Christian Church Foundation
This workshop will address the importance of establishing and growing your congregations’ endowment funds. Emphasis will be placed on developing a useful permanent fund policy, as well as creating a successful planned giving campaign. Finally, the workshop will focus on ways in which members can make effective use of estate planning and planned gifts.
Times Offered: 10:15 and 11:30
Instructors: Rev. Gina Jackson and Rev. Chuck Jackson
Those who have the responsibility of planning worship for the people of God can at times find the task somewhat daunting. Whether you serve on a Worship Committee or are a part of a church staff, those who are involved in planning special services and/or weekly worship can always use fresh ideas for making worship creative and meaningful. In this class we will share ideas we have implemented in our worship planning for Phillip’s Theological Seminary and in our leadership roles as Pastor and Associate Pastors of South Grand Lake Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Come prepared to take home some new ideas for your worship planning toolbox!
Times Offered: 10:15 and 11:30
Instructors: Rev. Bryan Feille
Disciples elders are a gift to the church. However, for decades there has been a shift in understanding the elders’ identity. We find a variety of ways in which elders serve from congregation to congregation. This workshop will share ways that various congregations have developed new approaches to traditional functions: spiritual guiding, oversight, teaching, disciplining and pastoral caring. Special focus will be the prayers at the table.
Schedule of Events
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 8:15 am- 8:45 | Registration • Displays Open • Childcare Open • Snacks |
| 9:00 am – 9:50 | Worship and Keynote Speaker in Sanctuary |
| 9:50 am – 10:15 | Travel to Class/Visit Exhibitors/Snacks |
| 10:15 am – 11:15 | First Class Session |
| 11:15 am – 11:30 | Travel to Class/Visit Exhibitors/Snacks |
| 11:30 – 12:30 pm | Second Class Session |
| 12:30 pm | Leadership Training School Ends |
| 12:45 pm | Child Care Ends |
Visit Our Exhibitors
- Caminante
- Christian Church Commission
- Christian Church Foundation
- Christian Church in Oklahoma
- Commissioned Ministers Training Program
- Insurance Board
- Oklahoma Disciples Foundation
- Oklahoma Disciples Men
- Oklahoma Disciples Women
- Phillips Theological Seminary
- Oklahoma Disciples in Mission
- Water4Life
- Week of Compassion