Nov. 7 webinar to explore meaning of ‘call’ as ruling elder and deacon
Panel of church leaders will headline event as part of ongoing Leader Formation initiative
LOUISVILLE — As Presbyterians seek to faithfully understand what it means to be called to serve as ruling elders and deacons in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Office of the General Assembly (OGA) stands ready to help.
As part of the OGA’s ongoing Leader Formation initiative — which was launched three years ago to provide training and support to ruling elders and deacons in the PC(USA) — a free webinar titled “Discovering Leadership: Called to Serve,” will be held at 7 p.m. Eastern Time on Nov. 7.
Although the event is being offered at no cost, advance registration is required by Oct. 30.
The 90-minute program will address what the Presbyterian Constitution means for ruling elders and deacons when it states that “some are called to ordered ministries, to fulfill particular functions” in the life of Christ’s Church.
A panel of distinguished church leaders will lead participants in a thoughtful consideration of leadership capacities and gifts, and how those gifts are discovered. Leadership will be contemplated both from an individual outlook and a community dynamic, while probing the meaning of “sharing with others a deep life of worship, prayer, fellowship, and service.” (Book of Order, F-1.0032d.)
“Knowing the diversity of language within the PC(USA), we will be providing this webinar in several languages with interpretation based on the requests made during registration,” said Martha Miller, manager for Ministry Education and Support and an assistant stated clerk in the OGA. “Because we want to have adequate time to arrange for those services, we have necessarily set the deadline one week before the webinar itself.”
This free event is funded by per capita dollars. For those who are unable to attend on Nov. 7 and wish to access the recording, it will be made available in English on the Leader Formation website following the event. Advance registration is not necessary to view the recording.
The panel of leaders includes the Rev. Jihyun Oh, Executive Director and Stated Clerk of the General Assembly for the interim unified agency comprising OGA and the Presbyterian Mission Agency; the Rev. Dr. Daris Bultena, General Presbyter and Stated Clerk for the Presbytery of Tropical Florida; the Rev. Anna Kendig Flores, Antiracism Coordinator for the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area and co-moderator of the General Assembly Committee on Representation; and valerie izumi, assistant stated clerk and manager for General Assembly Nominations and Representation.
For more information or to register for the webinar by Oct. 30, click here.
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