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RENEWAL OF OLD DOWNTOWN FIRST CHURCH
(now in two tracks to provide follow up for those who have attended before -- the Basic Track and the Follow Up Track)

Basic Track:  This seminar is designed to focus on specific strategies and proven methods to renew the downtown church, which is an exciting and continuing challenge.  Participants will gain insight into the unique dynamics of life in an Old Downtown First Church that impact ministry there.  There will be offered practical coaching of participants on how to develop an effective strategy for implementing ministry back home.  The goals of this track include bringing clarity to the following questions:
            What does it take to be an effective Old Downtown First Church?
            What does it take to be an effective leader of Old Downtown First Church?
            How do you get started?  What are the basic things to focus on to build
                    a solid foundation for the future ministry?
            How do you do ministry "with" and not "for" or "to"?
The specific areas of ministry that will be discussed in the Basic Track include the following:
            Assets based ministry
            Build by addition, not by change
            What we are learning from the struggles
            Importance of worship: preaching and music
            Outreach: for or with?
            Partnerships and community based community development
            Building the staff
            Resourcing laity
            Philosophy and practice of children, youth, and adult ministries
            Recovery circles
            Hispanic ministries
            Care teams
            Financial strategies for healthy ministry
            Facilities and parking challenges
            Future opportunities – where we are heading
            Use of core values to develop ministry in the Old Downtown First Church
            Developing spiritual leaders to lead needed change and ministries

A special feature is that several members and staff will share about their specialty and experience in ministries as part of the presentation team.  There are also specialty workshops for participants to choose from based on their ministries and interests back home.

Follow Up Track:  A continuing feature this year is the addition of a Follow Up Track for those who have attended this seminar previously.  This will be an opportunity to build on the learnings from previous attendance.  The goals of this track include bringing clarity to the following questions:
            How do I put the pieces in place in my context to increase my effectiveness?
            How do I help shift the focus of the vision from survival to mission?
            How can we get clarity about our unique role in our context and build
                    support for that role?
The areas of ministry covered here will include the following topics:
            Developing staff after you are new
            Expanding the funding base
            Using spiritual mapping
            The road from survival to mission
            Overview of an eclectic process of ministry for the downtown
            Key differences in ministry in Old Downtown First Church
            Taking it to the streets
            Expanding partnerships with the downtown community
            A different Bible study that also applies to ministry in the downtown setting
            Panel discussion with participants and leaders around key issues and questions

There will also be some time in which all the participants from both tracks share together their experience and learnings.  Worship time will be done as one community as well.

HOST LEADER AND CHURCH

Rev. Marvin Arnpriester, pastor of Broadway United Methodist Church in Council Bluffs, Iowa, along with a team from Broadway United Methodist Church, lead this dynamic seminar.

Marvin D. Arnpriester begins his 14th year as pastor of Broadway UMC July 1, 2008.  He formerly served as a pastor of a three point charge, a mid-sized church, and as a district superintendent.  Marvin is a 1970 graduate of St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City.  His passion is faithful ministry and helping folk live out their ministry.  The key question he lives by: "Is this what God wants?"  He believes in building God's church by addition, not change.  He is in his 8th year as a member of the local school board serving as president for 4 years.  He has led in development and funding of a county-wide comprehensive preschool program which began in 2006.  Marvin is married to Carolyn, who teaches English as a second language.  They have two grown sons.

Broadway United Methodist is undergoing a dramatic revitalization under Rev. Arnpriester's leadership that continues to be transforming and exciting.  Broadway United Methodist church is in the heart of the city with the city in its heart. It understands its mission as "ever seeking, serving and growing as the family of God with unconditional love and acceptance!" Broadway is the oldest church in Council Bluffs, having been established in 1850. The present building was constructed in 1890. In the 1950's membership stood in the 1400's, reached a low of 690 in June of 1995 and now stands at 912. A thriving Hispanic ministry is also part of Broadway.  Average attendance is over 415 in three worship services each week – up from 260 in 1995. Broadway has a strong innovative Christian education and activity program for all ages.  Broadway is in the process of becoming a 7 day a week church and is very much involved in outreach ministries to the community. Broadway has just finished a $1.5 million renovation of the building which included the addition of an elevator for accessibility. It is interesting to note that 10% of the money raised for the renovation has been and is being given to various mission causes locally and around the world.  Broadway sees the need, and seeks to respond appropriately by developing a partnership with others before taking on the matter themselves.

GUEST PRESENTERS

Revs. John Flowers and Karen Vannoy are a clergy couple that served as co-pastors of Travis Park United Methodist Church in San Antonio, Texas for 10 years (until moving recently to Phoenix, Arizona to develop the downtown First United Methodist Church there).  This church is living out its mission of "unconditional love and justice in action" in numerous, dynamic ways and ministries -- including street people.  They will share how this mission has transformed this congregation and what they have learned in the process.

Doug Anderson, Executive Director of the Bishop Rueben Job Center, will also share in each track some insights and learnings from his work with Old Downtown First Churches.

DATES AND PLACES

This seminar will be offered on the following dates and locations.
Click on the location for further information.

September 22-24, 2008, Broadway United Methodist Church, Council Bluffs, Iowa

If your church or conference would be interested in hosting or sponsoring this seminar, please click on the "Sponsor Info" button or text link for information.

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