Conference News & Views

"Rotating with Style" a regional conference on the Rotation Model Sunday School on Saturday, January 20, 2007 from 8:30A-3:30P at Brentwood UMC --- registration brochures available soon.

Vacation Bible School Preview and Training on Friday, February 9, 2007 from 9:30A-12:00N, location TBA. Cokesbury will be offering a 20% discount for VBS materials purchased or ordered at the training.

"The Way of the Child: Helping Children Experience God" training Saturday, February 24, 2007 from 9:00A-4:30P at Belle Meade UMC. Cost is $55 per person including training, lunch and refreshments. Register at http://www.upperroom.org/companions/events.asp or contact Janice Neely at jneely@gbod.org or 1-877-899-2780 ext. 1792.

Children's Ministry FORUM '07, a training sponsored by the General Board of Discipleship, February 27-March , 2007 at Canterbury UMC and Trinity UMC in Birmingham, Alabama. For detailed information checkout the website at http://www.gbod.org/children/forum07-home.html

Confirmation Day with the Bishop, Saturday, March 3 from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, location TBA.

"Reality Check: Dare to Teach...Seek to Learn!", annual Childcare Workshop for Weekday Ministries Directors and Teachers, Saturday, March 24, 2007 from 8:00A-4:00P at Hendersonville First UMC ---- registration booklets will be available in January 2007.

Also......"Milk and Honey Cooking School", learning about the history of God's people through cooking and eating....date, time and location will be announced soon!

Susan Groseclose
Director of Nurture Ministries
TN Conference Connectional Ministries
304 South Perimeter Park, Suite 1
Nashville, TN 37211
sgroseclose@tnumc.org
615-329-1177 or 1-800-403-5795 (W)

In response to a motion approved by the 2006 Session of the Tennessee Annual Conference, the Common Table has scheduled a “town hall” meeting in each district.

The purpose of each meeting is to give lay and clergy throughout the Conference an opportunity to discuss the implications of direct billing (to the local church) for their pastor’s pension and health insurance, compared to the present apportioning of these costs.


The “town hall” meetings will take place on

November 13, 2006 at First UMC in Columbia, TN at 6:00 PM

January 18, 2007 at First UMC in Dickson, TN at 6:00 PM

February 13, 2007 at First UMC in Tullahoma, TN at 6:00 PM

February 24, 2007 at First UMC in Hendersonville, TN at 9:00 AM

February 24, 2007 at Coleman Memorial in Lawrenceburg, TN at 2:00 PM

March 24, 2007 at Calvary UMC in Nashville, TN at 9:00 AM

March 24, 2007 at First UMC in Cookeville, TN at 2:00 PM

Teams building is a great way to bond your youth group, choir, or ministry team, and to teach them to work together better. This is a one time opportunity to get this training for only $100 (normally this kind of training would run around $250).

John Cadwallader, of Higher Ground Adventures will be leading the event for us. John has been involved in outdoor adventure programming since the early 1970's and spends most of his time traveling around the country building courses and training individuals to use them in their ministry. John has co-written an experienced based manual "Walking the Talk" focused on assisting addiction based counseling.

The weekend will focus on learning techniques and skills that you can take back to your fellowship hall and do. These activities are designed to teach the group how to problem solve, work as a group and build leadership skills. These are great opportunities for youth leaders to take their group to the next level.

The event will begin with dinner at 6:00 pm on Friday 17th and run through to about 5pm on Saturday. Lodging, dinner, breakfast, and lunch are included in the price. There are only 30 maximum places open for this event.

To register call Debbie @ 1-800-403-5795


James Ralston, Executive Director
Cedar Crest United Methodist Camp
& Spiritual Retreat Center
8384 Barren Fork Bridge Rd.
Lyles, TN 37098
UMcamp@bellsouth.net
1-931-670-3025