It is often difficult to summarize the impact of one person's visionary leadership upon the Church. That being said, Dave Elyea has offered tremendous vision in the area of New Church Development at both the District and Conference levels over the past 16 years. Dave has offered his resignation from our District Committee on New Church Development effective February 2012, due to a recent move to the Tallahassee area to be closer to his family.  

While we are seeking new leadership for our District New Church Development Committee, Dave Elyea's legacy will forever provide a permanent footprint of church growth and expansion upon the East Central District and the Florida Conference.  We will forever be indebted to Dave for his servant leadership in the area of Church growth and evangelism for the sake of Christ and His Kingdom.

Churches Dave Elyea has helped start:

Friday and Saturday, March 9 & 10, 2012 at  Flagler Beach UMC

Got Conflict? Conflict is inevitable. No relationship is immune. Mike Mailman & Lennie Burke will lead, Biblical Peacemaking-Resolving Everyday Conflict. Together, we will identify and unpack powerful and practical answers for the conflicts that surface in all of our daily relationships (church, family, work & marital) and discover how, when managed biblically, conflict can serve as a catalyst for change and be an opportunity for spiritual and relational growth.

Mike Mailman: In his home church of Community Casselberry, Mike is the co-chair of their Community Reconciliation Ministry (CRM) and chair of their church council.  He, along with other specially trained clergy and laity, serve in their local congregations and on the EC District's Committee for Congregational Excellence where they provide conflict-coaching, mediation services and Peacemaker training for churches and individuals throughout the district. He is also a candidate pursing certification as a Christian Conciliator through Peacemaker Ministries (www.peacemaker.net). He may be reached through the district office or through email: mikejobman@hotmail.com.

Lennie Burke: Lennie is a member of the Peacemaking Team at Casselberry United Methodist Church. He has completed the Peacemaker's Conflict Coaching and Mediation Training. Lennie is certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a County Court mediator. He has had training in a variety of styles and applications of mediation and is a member of the Florida Academy of Professional Mediators and the Association for Conflict Resolution.

Friday Session: 5:00 - 8:30 p.m.

Saturday Sessions 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.  

March 9 & 10, 2012 at Flagler Beach UMC

1520 S. Daytona Ave., Flagler Beach, FL 32136

Lay Servant training prepares lay people to be in ministry through caring, communication and leadership. The key emphasis of the Lay Servant training is to equip people to teach, do visitation, lead committees and leadership teams, lead small group ministry and grow in personal understanding of God's call on their life.

We gladly offer these Lay Servant Ministry Leadership courses to all laity for your use in your own ministry setting. [Click here] for brochure and registration form.

Participants will select one course from the following four opportunities offered:

"Lay Speakers Grow Spiritually through Daily Discipline" 

This advanced course will enable lay servant ministers to understand the importance of a personal daily devotional life in order to carry out their ministry. Participants are guided in discerning God's direction for their lives, practicing daily disciplines, and reaching out in love. Required text: "Devotional Life in the Wesleyan Tradition" by Steve Harper. Facilitators Rev. Jeanine Spangenberg, Pastor Flagler Beach UMC.

"Lay Servants Lead in PeaceMaking"
Got Conflict? Conflict is inevitable. No relationship is immune. Mike Mailman & Lennie Burke will lead, Biblical Peacemaking-Resolving Everyday Conflict. Together, we will identify and unpack powerful and practical answers for the conflicts that surface in all of our daily relationships (church, family, work & marital) and discover how, when managed biblically, conflict can serve as a catalyst for change and be an opportunity for spiritual and relational growth. Facilitators Mike Mailman and Lennie Burke, Community Casselberry UMC, PeaceMaking Team.

"Lay Servants Lead in Worship" 

Using the Bible, UM Hymnal, and UM Book of Worship, learn how to bring the worship experience alive. See how these basic resources will guide you to making the worship a time of joy, reflection, participation, and excellence. Find out how you are a vital part of this process. Facilitator Rev.Kathryn Ling.

Basic Lay Servant Course 

Focuses on the many ways lay servants are called to be in ministry through such things as leading, teaching, serving, proclaiming the gospel, disciple-making, storytelling, and growing through personal spiritual formation. Find out what it means to be "called" by God and how you can use your calling to work for Him. Learn how you can "Care for, Share with and Lead others" to Christ. Facilitator Lynn Campbell, EC District Director of Lay Servant Ministry.

For more information contact:
Lynn Campbell, EC Lay Servant Director  hat9937@bellsouth.net or 407-719-1630.

REGISTRATION COST: $45.00 Includes Course Materials and Meals 

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: 3/1/2012 

Dr. Jeff Stiggins

Saturday, March 24, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Sanlando UMC, 1890 West SR 434, Longwood 32750

If there is one thing we hear as we work with congregational leaders across the conference, it is their desire to know how to cultivate more and better leaders.

This practical-as-potatoes workshop, led by Dr. Jeff Stiggins and Dr. Phil Maynard, is a condensation of the best material from their six one day workshops on Cultivating More & Better Leaders.

This workshop will be highly interactive and involve multi-media tools which you will be able to take back and use in your congregation. Our goal is to help leaders go to the heart of six

• Cultivating Vital Personal Foundations: The quality and quantity of leadership can only grow when a congregation's core leadership personally have a strong spiritual, relational, financial, physical and intellectual foundation.
• Helping Disciples Discern their Calling: The difference between a chaplaincy and a biblical model of ministry rests on helping every disciple discern how God is calling them to make their contribution to Jesus' Kingdom work -- and helping them make it.
• Multiplying Congregational Leaders: Congregations can't grow without expanding their leadership base.  Expansion can't happen without making peace with the roles of pastor and staff, and without key leaders exemplifying that power expands when shared.
• Partnering for Missional Alignment: To move toward missional alignment, congregational leaders need to learn to collaborate while mentoring, transcending silos, and joining hands with other congregations and organizations. 
• Leading Missional Change: Bringing about change that helps your congregation become more missionally fruitful is not without challenges -- and understanding the challenges and some strategies for addressing them can make all the difference. 
• Planning Effective Ministry: Effective leaders learn how to plan for, involve others, execute, and evaluate ministry that is missionally fruitful.  

To make the best investment of your time, come as a team that includes your pastor and several key lay leaders and/or staff.

Registration Fee $10 includes all materials and lunch.  

Register online. The $10 will be collected at the event.

March 15, 2012 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

St. Luke's United Methodist Church

4851 S. Apopka-Vineland Road, Orlando, FL 32819

Noted scholar of the Hebrew Bible, Dr. Brent Strawn will discuss the Old Testament signs of morbidity and what, if anything, can be done about it. This event is open to everyone - clergy and other church leaders are encouraged to attend. The schedule begins with a 9:30 a.m. continental breakfast, followed by lecture and discussion. The program will adjourn by 12:00 p.m.  

To register for this free event visit: http://tinyurl.com/marcy2012 

Directions to the event can be found at http://www.st.lukes.org/ 

This preaching seminar is presented by Candler School of Theology and sponsored by the Susan H. and Wilbur H. Marcy Trust.

Barbie Boyd, Chair of District CE Team

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things." --Philippians 4:8

At a recent Congregational Excellence Team meeting, members of our team shared some examples of "excellent and praiseworthy" ministry we have experienced here in our district.  In a time when it is easy to dwell on the negative, we want to focus our thoughts and attention on the positive. Some examples:

Community UMC in Casselberry led a dinner event benefiting homeless children from a local elementary school. What made it excellent? Music from children and adult choirs, participation from other churches and local police, a generous outpouring of gifts, and an ongoing relational ministry with a specific group of children.

A Central Florida Peacemaking network meeting. What made it excellent? The program included a judge, a pastor, a counselor, and a lawyer who were able to share real world examples of the difference peacemaking efforts can make in the world. Participants were inspired to continue to work to increase peacemaking efforts in our churches and communities.

First UMC Deland launched a "Mercy Hour" outreach that includes showers, food, and basic medical screening to homeless and indigent folks in their community. What makes it excellent? Prayer, planning, community involvement, worship, and the joy of volunteers.

United Methodist Men at Aloma UMC has a men's ministry initiative that seeks to build relationships through events and small groups. What makes it excellent? An intentional effort to invite friends and business associates, a generous free prime rib lunch (the women's ministry equivalent of this would be chocolate-just saying), and great follow-through opportunities for deeper discussion and spiritual growth.

Members of Pine Ridge Fellowship were challenged to match, dollar for dollar, the money they spent on themselves for Christmas with donations to a Haitian project benefitting orphans and rebuilding. What made it excellent? This event was steeped in prayer and worship. Folks donated over $8,600.00 and experienced spiritual growth. Sacrificial giving is a part of the culture of the church, which has also generously donated funds to a local school.

First UMC of Winter Park started a new ministry called Reclaiming Hope to provide spiritual, informational, and emotional support in challenging economic times. What makes it excellent? Lay and clergy leadership, personal testimonies, community involvement, and intentional relationship building between folks who are struggling and folks who feel called to help.

In short, excellence in ministry occurs when there is authentic transformation. We see this when laity and clergy work together to offer our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness. When we pull all of these elements together in ministry, we are an unstoppable force spreading God's goodness throughout our churches, our communities and the world.

Where have you seen excellence in ministry lately? Share a recent example with us at: congregationalexcellence@gmail.com

March 2 & 3, 2012, at First UMC of Clermont

Invites You to Tapestry IV - 21st CENTURY CHALLENGES for BOOMERS AND BEYOND

Whether "Boomers" (47-65) or "Beyond" (66++), Tapestry IV has something for all: for those in ministry with these age groups, for individuals desiring to enrich their own knowledge and understanding, or for those who want to return to their congregations as resource persons. The Friday presentation will focus on retirement planning.  On Saturday, the issues covered will be caregiving (which knows no age limit), legal hurdles, and a moderated panel addressing adult children returning home/grandparents raising grandchildren. 

Pre-register for Tapestry IV at www.flumc.org by clicking on Ministries and then Beyond 50 Ministries.  Select Tapestry IV where the brochure and registration information can be found. 

Caring for Creation will be taking a major step to reduce its carbon footprint this March when Dr. Bill McKibben, environmental author and founder of 350.org, will interact with participants via Skype. Mckibben, along with over 30 environmental leaders and activists, will explore ways individuals and churches can become more environmentally conscious and good stewards of God's Earth.

Dr. Connie Roser-Renouf of the Center for Climate Change Communication at George Mason University will also be joining Caring for Creation via Skype because of her shared concern for reducing her carbon footprint. Skype will offer participants the opportunity for conversation with McKibben and Roser-Renouf following their individual presentations.

Named for the safe level of Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere, 350 parts per million, 350.org is an international grassroots campaign that aims to mobilize a global climate movement. For over 20 years, McKibben has been environmentally active, releasing over a dozen books and various articles examining climate change.

Over 20 workshops on topics such as "A Biblical Theological Foundation for Creation Care" to "Faith Principles of Creation Care" are available.  Early registration deadline is February 15, 2012.

Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center is an agency of the Southeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church. The mission of Lake Junaluska is to be a place of Christian hospitality where lives are transformed through renewal of soul, mind, and body. 

• Download the 2012 Caring for Creation brochure (PDF).

Call 800-222-4930 to register for event programming and lodging.