*You will be asked to provide an email address to sign up for this event.*
REGISTRATION
OPENS NOVEMBER 1
ENDS DECEMBER 15
WE HAVE RE-OPENED REGISTRATION!
(LIMITED to first 120 Registrants.)
Churches are able sign up and pay for multiple registrants!
WHY FOG?
Life is filled with seasons of fog, of uncertain and puzzling times, often coming unexpectedly. These times of uncertainty can be challenging for our churches. What used to be clarity is now haze and these times challenge us as leaders within our church structures and committees. How do we move forward in the face of much uncertainty? These ideas and suggestions from our overall workshop leader, Brian Zehr, encompass the purpose of our workshops. As we navigate these foggy times, as we attempt to lead our committees forward, Brian and our other workshop leaders, Dr. Glenn Kinken, and Dr. Pamela Palmer offer strategies on improving human interactions, improving human relationships, and better leadership strategies. Dr. Kinken will lead our discussions on improving the effectiveness of our nominating committees, and Dr. Palmer will lead our discussions on establishing succession plans within our committee structures, and the need and strategies to mentor those identified for leadership roles. Please join us at these workshops on Feb. 7 at Memorial UMC in Thomasville improve our abilities to lead others in these uncertain and changing times.
COMMUNITY:
Maintaining a Sense of Belonging
(1) Identify all members of the church, focusing particularly on those who have joined in the last 2-3 years, as well as members of longer duration, and the roles they are fulfilling in the church at the current time. Create a spreadsheet that documents these findings.
(2) Reexamine the mission statement of the church – what we want to be in one year, five years, and the church we want to be within our own communities. Create a document that answers these questions.
COMMITTEE:
Role of the Nominating Committee:
(1) Using the Book of Discipline examine carefully how we fulfill our role as a nominating committee, our responsibilities and purpose, defining a written process that guides the decision as to who is asked to serve in specific roles in the church.
(2) Develop for all members of our congregation a profile of the talents and abilities each
member possesses, a form that is given to members to fill out, and thus serves as a
guide to possible roles to fulfill.
CONTINUITY:
Committee Succession and Mentoring
(1) Establish a clear plan for succession in each of our principal committees in United Methodist churches, Trustees, Staff Parrish, Finance, and Administrative Council, such that a current Chair can mentor the designee who will Chair the Committee as the current Chair relinquishes that role.
(2) Examine all committees within the church to establish clear lines of responsibility that flow to each of the four principal committees, Trustees, Staff/ Parrish, Finance, and Administrative Council, such that there is a clear understanding of the roles of all, emphasizing a statement of the purpose of each committee that is published in the leadership manual for any given year.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER & WORKSHOP LEADERS
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: BRIAN ZEHR
Brian has nearly 30 years experience as a professional speaker, leader, trainer, coach, and leadership developer. During much of this time, Brian has been involved in leading faith-based organizations and continues to work in and with churches across the USA. Brian is the author of The Seven Critical Components to Lead with Confidence, and most recently Driving Through Fog: Leading Yourself And Others When You Can’t See Where You’re Going. Brian earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration from Taylor University and his Master of Arts in Communication from Wheaton College. In addition to his leadership at Intentional Impact, his career has included Executive Coaching, Business Consulting, and Lead Pastor and Campus Pastor. He will be our Keynote Speaker and Workshop Leader for Maintaining a Sense of Belonging at our Workshop on Feb. 7, 2025, at Memorial United Church of Thomasville, NC, as well as Workshop Leader for our follow-up workshop on April 4, 2025, at Hickory United Methodist Church in Hickory, NC.
BRIAN ZEHR is the author of “Driving Through Fog: Leading Yourself and Others When You Can’t See Where You Are Going”. Check out his book before the Workshop! Its a quick read and full of great leadership lessons and practical advice for those trying to navigate in today’s ever-changing church landscape.
WORKSHOP LEADER:
REV. GLENN KINKEN
Dr. Glenn Kinken is the Senior Minister at Centenary United Methodist Church in Winston Salem, NC. He is an experienced pastor with demonstrated history of working in religious institutions. Skilled in Nonprofit Management, Coaching, Leadership Development, Team Building, and Preaching. He obtained his Doctor of Ministry with a focus on Management Ministries from Graduate Theological Foundation. He began his career at Memorial United Methodist Church in Thomasville as Youth Minister, and returns home to lead our workshop on Feb. 7, 2025, in Developing More Effective Nominating Committees.
WORKSHOP LEADER:
DR. PAMELA PALMER
Dr. Pamela Palmer is President and CEO of Pamela Palmer & Associates, a consulting firm dedicated to enhancing the capacity of nonprofits, to improve the delivery of services, and helping people overcome life challenges. She served over two decades as Assistant Professor in Human Relations, Sociology, and Non-Profit Studies at High Point University. She has served on numerous boards for nonprofits in the Triad. She provides consulting in program development, staff development, program evaluation. Her doctorate degree in Leadership Studies was earned at North Carolina A & T State University, as well as a master’s degree in resource counseling. She will lead on workshop on Feb. 7, 2025, at Memorial UMC on Mentoring and Succession Planning.
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
Funding provided through a First Church Initiative grant from the Western North Carolina Conference
