EPNews 2009 11/05
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Urbana '09
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Women In Ministry's 4th REAL Leadership Training Event
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Student Ministry Leadership Networks – Mid Atlantic Gathering
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Interim Committee on Women Teaching Elders
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Children’s Pastors’ Conference
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Ministry Helps from International Network of Children’s Ministry
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New Book of Order available
Urbana '09
The EPC's World Outreach Ministry will be represented at Urbana '09 (December 27-31) as several thousand youth gather to be challenged to participate in global missionary ministry. Those representing the EPC will be World Outreach Director George Carey; World Outreach Administrative Assistant Patti Moore; World Outreach Missionary Sean McKelvey; Argentine Pastor/Student Guille Mackenzie; and World Outreach missionary applicant Allison Gill. The five will be located at an EPC World Outreach display booth to present pertinent information and challenges for the students and will seek to get acquainted with students to share the EPC World Outreach vision.
All EPC students are invited to rally together at a nearby restaurant in St. Louis on Tuesday for lunch and a program about The EPC's World Outreach Ministry. To register for a free luncheon, send an e-mail to or call her at (734) 742-2020 ext 240.
The EPC College Ministries Committee still has some scholarship funds for EPC youth leaders who will attend the Urbana event. If interested in the scholarships, contact Patti Moore at or 734-742-2020 ext 249. Local churches and presbyteries are encouraged to give financial help to any potential students who need assistance to attend Urbana.
Women In Ministry's 4th REAL Leadership Training Event
Reynolda EPC in Winston-Salem, North Carolina was the site last weekend for the 4th REAL Leadership Training Event. 43 leaders with 11 workshop presenters participated in a weekend of worship, conversation and training in areas of ministry skill and leadership formation. The advance planning done by Ann Miller and Mickey Thigpen from Reynolda EPC made both the physical setup and the atmosphere a perfect setting for the event. Many thanks!
To date: Since October 2008, more than 375 women have participated in one of four REAL Training Events. Many leaders are using the REAL Training Guide for equipping women in their churches for ministry in varied and creative ways. If you would like to know more about this training and how it can be used to develop ministry with women in your church, contact Jacky Gatliff, Director of EPC Women In Ministry at .
Student Ministry Leadership Networks – Mid Atlantic Gathering
One of EPC Student Ministries’ strategic goals is to promote regional youth worker networks throughout the EPC. Several meetings have already taken place in 2009, with more in development. Our goal is to have leadership networks within all Presbyteries, or geographically strategic areas and regions. We believe these networks provide the foundational framework to achieve our objectives to Equip, Provide, and Connect EPC churches and youth workers while also being consistent with the denomination’s long range goal to promote ministry at the Presbytery level.
Last week, youth leaders from the Mid-Atlantic 
Presbytery, gathered at River Oaks Community Church in Clemmons, North Carolina on October 26, 2009. The purpose of the meeting was to share, pray, dream, and strategize missional youth ministry through our mission to Equip, Provide, and Connect the local church.
Shawn Stewart from Montreat Presbyterian Church coordinated the gathering and facilitated the discussion. The discussion was healthy and much was accomplished towards building relationships and connection. When leaders are gathered who share a common passion, good things are bound to happen.
For additional information about the Mid-Atlantic Student Ministry Leadership Network, please contact Shawn Stewart at . For more information about other EPC Student Ministry Leadership Networks, please contact Rob Craig at .
Interim Committee on Women Teaching Elders
The Interim Committee on Women Teaching Elders is holding its initial meeting on Thursday, November 5, at Second Presbyterian Church, Memphis, Tennessee. The committee, being co-chaired by Sandy Willson and Jim Dixon, includes the following members: TE Sandy Wilson and RE Carol Vance (Central South), RE Greg Goss and RE Helen Fransell (East), TE Ron DeNunzio and RE Bill Connor (Florida), TE Dave Cover and RE Paul Heidebrecht (Mid-America), TE Don Fortson and RE Papy Fisher (Mid-Atlantic), TE Scott McKee and RE Mike Fike (Midwest), TE Gerrit Dawson and RE Trish Dietz (New Wineskins Transitional Presbytery), TE Grady Davidson and RE Donna Peterson (Southeast) and TE Jim Dixon and RE Ron Bengelink (West). Per the direction of the 29th General Assembly, the committee will “explore ways to include those pastors and churches with conflicting positions on Women Teaching Elders in the presbyteries of the EPC.” Serving as resource/support people to the committee are three General Assembly Moderators (Allen Roes, Nate Atwood and Rob Liddon), Director of Women In Ministry Jacky Gatliff, Assistant Stated Clerk Ed McCallum and Stated Clerk Jeff Jeremiah.
Children’s Pastors’ Conference
Please forward this issue of EPNews to your Children’s Ministries leaders!
The EPC’s Christian Education & Publications Committee encourages EPC Children’s Ministries leaders to attend the 2010 Children’s Pastors Conference (CPC):
- January 4-7 in Nashville, Tennessee at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Conference Center
- March 14-17 in San Diego, California at the Town & Country Hotel and Conference Center
A number of EPC Children’s Ministries leaders have attended CPC in the past and speak highly of the quality training and networking. Enjoy the video and click here for more information.
Planning to attend? Email EPC's Christian Education & Publications Committee - - and let us know. CE&P committee member Bonny Linder (Cornerstone EPC, Brighton, Michigan) is coordinating a gathering of EPC folks at the conference.
Ministry Helps from International Network of Children’s Ministry
The International Network of Children’s Ministry publishes a monthly Insight E-mag with excellent helps for those in children’s ministries. Past feature articles included “Building Kids Who Last,” “Celebrating Advent as a Family,” “Going Green . . . God’s Plan?” and “Goin’ A.P.E. - Sparking Your Creativity.” Click here for more information and to subscribe.
Both International Network of Children’s Ministry (INCM) and the Children’s Pastors’ Conference (CPC) are commended resources of the EPC Christian Education & Publication Committee.
New Book of Order available
The print edition of the 2009-2010 Book of Order is now in stock. Click here to order or call Gerri Sutherland at the General Assembly Office: 734-742-2020 x236. Click here to download a PDF version.
