Church Leadership Center Webinars

Shalom. That’s shorthand for what God intends for the world.  A primary way God’s shalom project moves forward is through large and small groups of people gathered around the sin-forgiving, enemy-loving, bread-breaking Jesus. People who come as they are and let their lives be changed by Jesus. And like yeast in the loaf, these communities change the world.

Catch a vision for planting peace churches. Consider different church planting models. Hear stories of successes and challenges. Learn about initiatives within Mennonite Church USA and beyond.

Mauricio Chenlo is Denominational Minister for Church Planting, Mennonite Church USA; Jaime Lazaro, Church Planter in Colorado Springs, Colo.; André Gingerich Stoner is Director of Holistic Witness, Mennonite Church USA.

This webinar will highlight money-related issues which impact pastors daily. Some congregations expect the pastor to engage at all levels and others try to separate the pastor as much as possible from the financial work of the church. The two presenters have extensive experience in pastoring, conference, denominational and agency-related involvement. Topics addressed will include:

• Where does the pastor fit in with congregational finances?
• How involved should the pastor in the visioning and budgeting process of the congregation?
• Narrative budgeting as a supplement to the line item budget
• How to teach and preach about money
• College and seminary student debt and the future of the church

Beryl Jantzi is Stewardship Educator, Everence Financial Services, and Terry Shue is Director of Leadership Development, Mennonite Church USA

Participants are introduced to the Advent theme, "O the Mystery of God's Dwelling!" and the lectionary scriptures for the season. They explore how to use and adapt worship resources published in Leader magazine, including suggestions for visuals, music, scripture presentations, sermons, and children's worship.

Rachel Miller Jacobs is Assistant Professor of Congregational Formation at AMBS

• “Zero limits…”
• “Endless possibilities…”
• “Keep doors open…”
• “Don’t make commitments you can’t keep…”

Making long term commitments is challenging these days. There is significant pressure to keep relationships unfettered – whether it be intimate relationships or relationships with the church and the Christian faith. Together we will explore this current reality and consider how the church might nurture promises and commitments.

Irma Fast Dueck, Associate Professor of Practical Theology, Canadian Mennonite University

Participants are introduced to the Lent theme, "Encountering God: What Have We Witnessed?" and the lectionary scriptures for the season. They explore how to use and adapt worship resources published in Leader magazine, including suggestions for visuals, music, scripture presentations, sermons, and children's worship.

Rachel Miller Jacobs is Assistant Professor of Congregational Formation at AMBS.

Dr. Tan, a highly successful biochemist and venture capitalist whose life was changed when he encountered John Howard Yoder’s teachings on Jubilee, will provide a short summary of his understanding of Jubilee and sabbatical principles, share his story of living out Jubilee principles as a young adult in intentional community with others, and talk about the implications of the “Jubilee Gospel” for his impressive business pursuits today. He will share how Jubilee principles guide his business ethics through socially responsible and environmentally sustainable development efforts around the world.

A common question asked of the preacher is, “What is your sermon about?” This webinar explores another important question for the preacher: “What is your sermon doing?” Sermons are more than educational – they do not simply convey information. Sermons do. At best, sermons do the gospel of Jesus Christ in a given time and place in a specific way. Another way of getting at what the sermon is doing is to ask “What is the main verb of this sermon?” Is this sermon meant to inspire, critique, encourage, judge, uplift, confound etc.? One main verb is enough. A sermon is confusing for the listener if it is doing too many things. This webinar explores the range of what sermons can do, and will offer guidelines for preachers to consider as they ponder integrating what the sermon is about and what it is doing.

Allan Rudy Froese is Assistant Professor of Christian Proclamation at AMBS.

In the 16th century, Anabaptists approached Scripture in ways that were both similar to and different from their fellow Catholics and other Protestants. This webinar will seek to understand those similarities and differences in light of today. Which of those approaches might we repudiate today, or nuance, or embrace whole-heartedly? What historical and theological developments in the centuries since the 16th have influenced today’s Mennonites more profoundly than did the Reformation? Along the way we will be learning what wisdom we can gain from both our Anabaptist forebears and from cross-cultural Bible study today.

Loren Johns, Ph.D., is Professor of New Testament at AMBS.