Sym*po*si*um, Noun

Practical applications of art, artistic design, and art participation to be used in worship, in your church, and in your communities.

Get your church “out there” by learning how to write press releases, create fliers, and navigate social media advertising for events and services that you want your community and members to know about.

Evaluate the ways your congregation communicates to one another and to the community at-large, and discuss ways and best practices of improving communication platforms to suit your available resources.

An age-old question for the church is “Is it best for children to be in church or to be taken out and be taught in their own ‘church?’” This workshop discusses the benefits of children being a worshipping part of your church community and what the church can do to help them get the most out of the service. We will also explore options for “children’s worship” in another space for young children.

What does youth ministry look like in 2019 and beyond? This workshop will consider modern youth culture and the place innovative thinking has in helping us best form the faith of young people even if it means mixing up the “way we’ve always done it.”

Caregivers of elderly parents, impaired children, or a disabled spouse are priceless to the person in need of care. The caregiver is often the only person providing individualized care. But who cares for the caregiver? This workshop shares ideas about what the church, family, and friend’s community can do to ensure that the caregiver is getting the best care they can get so they can give the best care they can give.

God wired each of us incredibly unique. Some of us love sports, some of us love to hike, some love to dance, some love to read. All of us have our own unique personality, likes and dislikes. The same is true for how we connect with God in worship. Certain aspects of worship move us, while others don’t. Discovering our own spiritual type will help us connect in a deeper and more meaningful way with our Creator. Understanding the different spiritual types will help church leaders lead their congregations to deeper and more meaningful worship experiences.

Discover ways to keep your congregation listening to the sermon, involved in worship, and challenged for ministry beyond the weekly worship service.

In a world that devalues the small, pastors can actually thrive in a small membership church. Come explore ways to thrive in your own small church setting.

First Corinthians 12 tells us that ministry is not a task of one person but rather many people using their unique gifts. Pastors often get caught in the cycle of “doing all” from preaching to mowing the church lawn. Learn how to break that cycle and move into a healthier shared ministry leadership approach to ministry.

As a minister, it is important that you love and care for yourself in all aspects of life so that you can be effective in your ministry and within your personal relationships. Come learn some self-care practices in order to have the abundant life to which God has called you.

3 Keys to strong Letters of Recommendation

5 Keys to prepare for your next interview

7 Keys to succeed during and after the interview

Participants will receive samples of effective letters of recommendation and common interview questions.

By determining their priorities and creating a vision, congregations can have HOPE and leave a legacy- no matter their size.  Come discover ways to partner with other churches and your denomination in order to have a greater impact in your community and around the world.

Serving as a church leader presents some unique challenges to all our relationships, including marriage. In this workshop, you will gain inspirational insight and practical tools to protect and strengthen your marital relationship. We will work on three key areas for marital health with special consideration to the unique challenges ministers and their spouses must face: 1) Conflict resolution, 2) Boundaries, 3) Maintenance and intentional investment.

Explore publication possibilities both within the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the broader publishing community. Get in print without breaking the bank.

Patrick Wilkerson will share his daily experience as a Missionary in Colombia. Learn from him as he relates strategies and key points that can be applied to stateside churches.

Learn the dynamics of working cross-culturally in your community.  Take away new intercultural skills to help relate better to those in your community and integrate your local church.

Many churches have a productive ministry without the leadership of a pastor.  Experience ways to help your church from those who have implemented plans to not only survive but thrive.

A workshop for equipping bi-vocational leaders, lay leaders, young adults and young at heart who are seeking creative ways to do “church” providing different scopes for faith communities.

This breakout is designed to increase awareness of the need for healthy boundaries in the clergy-congregation relationship, to define boundaries and why they are important, and to provide some guidelines for appropriate boundaries and self-care.

Do you have questions, comments, ponderings, ideas regarding the work of the Ministry Council and Ministry Teams? You are encouraged to meet with Rev. Wilkinson, a Council member, for a time of conversation regarding “all things MC.”

In today’s world, you can never be complacent with cybersecurity issues. In this session we will discuss ways to increase your personal and church’s security. Join us in the conversation.

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Using the experience and expertise of those who have a passion for missions, learn effective and efficient ways to plan a mission trip.

Congregations today are representative of society; divided politically, socially and culturally. This workshop helps church leaders learn how to foster genuine Christian faith in spite of the world we live in. It teaches the right and wrong way to engage in dialogue around divisive issues. Pastors and lay leaders can learn how to remain firm in their convictions but still be an effective leader.

Whether we become one church or remain sister denominations, there is much work that we can do together in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. Join the discussion about how to live together beyond the vote taken at the General Assemblies of both CPCA and CPC.

What is your church doing? What have you found useful in your church? Got a good App? Tell us!  This will be an interactive, sharing session.

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Acquire key approaches from presenters who are experiencing large church growth in the churches they are pastoring. What makes them unique? What make them just like your church?

This session will involve a general discussion about the responsibilities and tasks of presbyterial committees, the sharing of ideas and resources. If you are a member of your presbytery and in need of support and help, then you will want to attend this session.

Learn more about this exciting partnership between Bethel University and Memphis Theological Seminary for training new CP ministers. When an MTS graduate is called to service a CP congregation they will receive a monthly $1,000 stipend for the first five years of ministry in a CP congregation. Sounds exciting? Come and learn even more.

Is your congregation happy with the way your projection media looks? Want to make them look better and more professional? There is ALWAYS room for improvement!!!

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