This weekend is Skills and Leadership weekend at Ziontario.  Skills and Leadership is, above all else, a training retreat for everyone who will be on staff for the various reunions and camps planned for this summer at our four campgrounds in Canada East Mission. Directors, Business Managers, counselors, leaders in training, cooks, nurses, camp pastors and others will gather to learn what the Camping Commission has been working on for the past several months, and to improve our level of readiness.

And they have been working.  I do not know all the things the Camping Commission has in store for us, but I know some of it.  How do we keep our campers safe in the event of a natural disaster?  Do our camp ground boards have plans in place?  Do the directors and staff know what those plans are?  Do we know what to do if an intruder (human or animal) comes on the grounds?  Where do we go if there is a tornado?  What should be the camp policy on the use of cameras and smart phones or other electronic devices?  Given both the risks and blessings of social media so instantly accessed from a smart phone these days, how do we keep campers safe without dampening their fun?  And that is just scratching the surface!

But the weekend is intended to be for more than just camp staff.  Perhaps the name says it best, Skills and Leadership.  The weekend is intended to impart skills to anyone who wants to improve their leadership, whether at camp, in a congregation, or wherever you work and serve.  It offers skills training and leadership tools to anyone who comes, for free!  It is the best deal going, and one that is not nearly enough appreciated.

As I sit down to pen these words, long awaited and much needed rain is pelting against my study window.  Oh-oh!  How many people will see the rain and decide not to go?  I check the forecast.  100% chance of rain today (Friday), but only a 40% chance of showers tomorrow (Saturday).  Whew!  Of course the rain is really not a big deal, is it?  After all, Skills and Leadership classes are held inside nice, warm, dry buildings.  Picture yourself hanging out with friends around a nice warm fire burning cheerfully in that lovely, stone fireplace!  Still, humans are humans and some will be tempted to take the easy way out.  If they do, they will miss a great opportunity to learn skills and strengthen their leadership.

How about you; will you be there?  Even if you don't receive this post until Saturday, you can still come.  Rain or shine, I guarantee you will learn something.  What is more, you get to hang out with some great people, eat great food, and have a good time.  Skills and Leadership; what a deal!

Posted by Carman

Camp II

Friday’s blog (which some of you will have received on Saturday) was all about camp, and pondered some of the possible reasons why people so look forward to going to camp or reunion year after year. I now have new information to share on that subject.

These new insights are a result of having spent a weekend at our new workshop for camp staff training; the Skills and Leadership Weekend conducted this year at Ziontario campgrounds. The workshop was attended by more than 60 people who varied in age from young teens just old enough to serve as LITs (leaders-in-training) to wise elders who were already directing camps before those teens were born or even thought of! Before a certain set of proud grandparents corrects me, let me hasten to add that there were also five “future campers” in attendance, one of whom is less than one year old.

The Skills and Leadership weekend is the brain-child of the CEM camping commission, which really seems to have found its footing now. The 2011 workshop included training for camp staff in such areas as conflict resolution, using Social Media appropriately, and group facilitation. There were also specialized classes for camp directors and business managers, pastors, and LITs. It was very gratifying to have so many attend this first effort at such a training event. It was very worthwhile.

At various points during the weekend there was opportunity for sharing and discussion, which is were the new information emerged about why people love the camps so much. The following are just a few comments that were shared.

*Camp was the first place that I ever felt safe.
*At camp, I was not afraid to be who I really was.
*Here people accept me just the way I am with all my faults.
*I didn’t miss a camp for 17 years, and then I wasn’t able to go for a few years. I really missed it and am so excited to be back.
*I brought a friend last year who had no prior relationship with God. She loved the church services and told me she had never felt this feeling before in her whole life.

Camp: a place of safety and acceptance, a place that is a spiritual home to many, a place to find God; In short, camp is a Community of Christ. No wonder people love going to camp so much. It is a truly amazing and life-changing experience as the testimonies quoted above indicate.

In follow up to Friday’s impromptu invitation, I have been away all weekend but I am already aware that at least one person has indicated a willingness to pay for a kid whose parents cannot afford to send them to camp. I wish to express my deep appreciation for her spirit of generosity and love. Perhaps you also are considering such a gift. If so, there is still time and we would love to hear from you.

May God’s Spirit richly bless you as you remember camps gone by and look forward to those yet to come.

Posted by Carman

Pumped

At the time of this writing it is 10:00 p.m. on a Tuesday night and I am pumped! A conference call with our camping commission has just ended and there is a lot to be excited about.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the camping and reunion program is very important to our community. Hundreds of people will attend our camps this summer, each with hopes of experiencing combinations of activities that will produce relaxation, recreation, and spiritual renewal. In order to make all that happen, there is a lot of work that needs to be done. The work of preparation of the grounds and facilities is undertaken every year by the dedicated campground boards and dozens of volunteers who give freely of their time for the benefit of others. They work to meet provincial and other safety standards for grounds, building, safe drinking water and meal preparation facilities. They work to upgrade and maintain their facilities to make the camping experience not only enjoyable but wonderful. Their work is so important.

Then there is the camps themselves to be planned and provided for. Once again, there are provincial health and safety regulations to meet plus world church standards for risk management. We have four campground boards, each with their own guidelines that need to be understood and followed. Then there is the fact that our six reunions, five youth camps, and numerous retreats are all staffed by volunteers. Those volunteers need to be trained, not only so that we meet or exceed provincial and world church guidelines, but also so that we have safe and enjoyable camps. Their training is clearly very important.

When I was reassigned to Canada East Mission 2 ½ years ago, several people told me that the Director and Staff Retreat every fall was very helpful to them in understanding and planning for the following year, but the Camp Staff Training Day held in the spring needed to be strengthened. It was the weak link in the chain. Consequently, once our new camping commission got their feet under them, their attention was turned to this need. For the past several months, this group of five people has worked to develop a training session that will be not only meaningful but powerful. Tonight we met in teleconference to make final decisions. I truly believe they have nailed it.

This year, on June 17 – 19 at Ziontario, we will provide excellent and important training for all our staff,no matter what camp or grounds they work at. Sessions will be provided for directors, business managers, camp counselors, cooks, recreation leaders, lifeguards, and more. In addition, training will be offered in team building, group facilitation, and guidance in appropriate social media contact following the camp. Can you believe all that? It is amazing what this group has accomplished. PLUS, worship and worship training will be provided by our Apostle!

If you have any role in the camping program this summer, you need to be at Ziontario, June 17-19. Further, if you know someone else who is planning to be on staff, either now or in the future, they need to be there as well. I think you will be surprised and impressed.

Our camping program in CEM just got better. The weakest link in our camping chain has been reforged, and the entire season will be stronger. I am definitely pumped!

Those not yet registered, please contact Wendell Martin at whmartin@brucetelecom.com immediately. Registration is free, but we need to know you are coming, and the sooner the better.

See you on the 17th.

Posted by Carman

Bread & Butter

My blogging friend PeaceBangasked a question that stirred something in me. She’s been working with an Alban Institute vocation consultant who wanted her to think about “What are you a commitment to?” When PB explained that this is not the same as “what are you committed to?” I understood immediately.

Several years ago I went to a workshop with author and consultant Peter Block. His question was “What is your vision of greatness?” and he forced us to come to an answer. In order to tap into another part of our brains, he asked us to draw a picture of that vision and then to explain our picture to the other workshop participants. I can still see the picture I drew that day because it is the answer to that question: what are you a commitment to? It has guided all the work I have done since then and it remains my vision until today!

My picture was one of a loaf of bread and a pat of butter. My explanation went something like this. Whatever I do, whenever I teach a class or preach a sermon or write something or offer advice or do a consultation I want to be sure that what I offer is as basic and as immediately useful as bread and butter. Nothing fancy; just plain bread and butter, nourishing and nutritious. It’s always there driving what I do. It’s there when I’m preparing or doing research or reading. It’s so very present that I seldom think about it; it’s just the way I do business. I’m not suggesting I’ve always been totally successful. That’s the other side of the story and I need your input to answer that. But it’s there at source for me.

This week I’m preparing a couple of sermons and I’ll be teaching a Scripture workshop at Faubert Drive congregation this weekend (weather permitting!). I’ve been struggling all year to find a venue to do a Youth Worker training day. I’ve been at reunions and retreats and CPI gatherings and lots and lots of congregations or visits with pastors (and librarians, Sunday school teachers, worship planners, preachers, mentors, advocates…) and facebook encounters or email exchanges and it’s always, always there in what I try to offer. Is this as good and basic and helpful and immediate as bread and butter?

I pass along the challenge to you. What are you a commitment to? What is your personal vision of greatness?

And as Peter Block would say if someone claimed not to have such a vision: If you had a vision of greatness, what would it be?

Posted by Marion

Priceless

How often do we say it: I hear you!

Not only have your words been heard, but your meaning is understood. Jesus used to say it when he’d told one of his good stories: him who has ears to hear, let him hear. (For example see Mark chapter 4.)

In other words, disciples “Listen up!”

One of the phrases I kept hearing last week as our dozen co-missioned pastors worked together with Apostle Susan Skoor and worship specialist and president of the High Priest quorum, Jane Gardner was some version of that phrase, I hear you. Judi Hopkin and Mike Hewitt also brought glimpses into other areas of pastoral ministry that were much appreciated.

Extensive discussions of church policy, or excellent practices for public worship along with some very philosophical concepts about what it means to be a pastor, to bring compassionate ministry and create truly hospitable welcomes gave lots to listen to, for sure. But opportunities for one-on-ones, or quiet solitary walks added time for reflection. All of it necessary to translate those hours of listening into moments of understanding—of real hearing.

Combine all this with on-the-job experience of being pastors in congregations working together in pastoral teams, leadership teams, community projects and I’m seeing some amazing growth in these committed people. Nobody has it easy; many are dealing with incredible life challenges and everyone has the demands of family and employment. But they have formed strong networks and caring bonds of support with each other and with coordinators and instructors. Each pastor expresses appreciation for the investment being made in them and in their congregations. Again and again someone remarks on the opportunity of making personal friendships with church leaders who might otherwise be quite remote.

We’re a little more than halfway through our CPI experience. One more week of training in the autumn of 2011 and two spring retreats in 2011 and 2012 will complete the formation experience for this group. No decisions have yet been made about what happens next. Mission leaders and staff want to find ways to replicate the best parts of this initiative to develop skill and confidence in congregational leadership as a way to build up the CEM cadre of mission-focused healthy congregations with the optimum level of investment of resources. Lots of conversation will be happening to this end.

What do we get for your investment? More and more often we hear those precious words indicating another new insight: I hear you.

And when we do, it’s priceless!

Posted by Marion

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Pastor

2020 Vision Goal 3: Every Congregation in Relationship with CPI (Co-missioned Pastor Initiative).

“Russ preached a really great sermon last Sunday,” I was told. “The kids were really paying attention, and really ‘got it’.”

If you are a preacher or public speaker, wouldn’t you like to have that kind of ringing endorsement for your messages? Don’t you wish every sermon was so captivating? Can you imagine what that would do for your congregation? The possibilities are almost enough to take your breath away!

Russ, of course, is Russ Pirie; Pastor of Hamilton congregation, and if he is reading this, he is probably both surprised and blushing; surprised to find himself spot-lighted here, and blushing due to the praise that came from a member of his congregation. But how did this pastor get so skilled? Where did he learn to speak that way? At the risk of over simplifying, the answer may lie in the fact that Russ is a trained, CPI Pastor. Along with the other three CPI Alums in CEM, he is a better trained, more competent and confident, and a more effective pastor and speaker as a result of spending time every year for four years in training. That is the benefit we want for all our pastors and their congregations. Consequently, we have begun the CEM CPI program. As far as I know, we are the first mission centre to do so. So far we have twelve pastors from seven congregations involved in our first cohort. This is our pilot group. We are planning for more.

Earlier this year when first we met with this new cohort for team building and orientation, several of the pastors spoke about how they “just knew” this was what they had to do. There was something ‘calling’ them into this new program, even if they didn’t understand exactly what all might be involved. There was an eagerness in each person; an anxiousness to learn, a quiet excitement. I smiled, and knew they would not be disappointed.

This fall, we met with that group of twelve again, this time for a week of intense study with the Dean of the Community of Christ Seminary, Don Compier, and South America Mission President Arthur Smith. They came together in retreat to study theology and learn scriptural exegesis. In the weeks leading up to the retreat, and even at the beginning of the week itself, we heard a fair amount of groaning about the amount of reading, and whether they really had time to do this much work. Again, I smiled. I smiled because I knew of the benefits that would come to them as a result of this commitment of time. Despite their reservation, they began immediately to apply themselves faithfully to the task. One by one, around the room, the light dawned as each began to understand. And I know, without any testimonials, that their sermons are better, their confidence has improved, and their ministry is stronger as a result of that week together.

Our goal is to have every congregation in the CPI program. It won’t happen overnight. It does take work and costs money, but it is worth every minute and every penny. It is an investment in our congregations and in the future. I thank God for pastors who are willing to grow.

Camping

Here you are thinking about getting the snow tires on and raking up the last of the fallen leaves; maybe you've stowed the canoe and drained the lawnmower and serviced the snow blower. And here I come with the good word: camping!

Believe it or not, coming up very soon is the first official weekend of the 2010 Camping Season. Directors from all our camps, reunions and retreats will be gathering for discussion, for updating, for sharing ideas and energizing each other for the ministry they'll be offering next year.

In November of each season, we take a weekend to go into retreat, to look back at the season just past and begin to work seriously on plans for future events. What worked well? Which new leaders are stepping up? How can we best use new skills and tap old experience?

Every year our group grows as veterans bring along their current protégés to introduce them to the fine art of event planning--creating the vision, considering the laws and regulations, constructing the best schedule and staffing lineup. The list goes on and on.

It's a time to network, to greet old friends and new, to just hang out together at this end of the season before that enormous sense of urgency kicks in somewhere around February.

If you aspire to be involved in camp leadership let your favourite camp or retreat director know and get an invitation for a test drive at Scarboro Missions, 2010 Directors' Retreat, November 27-29.

This is a "by invitation" event, so let us know if you want to be considered. There's still time.