MAGNETIC CHURCH CONFERENCE 

Friday, April 8, 2005 • 6:30 - 10:00 pm

Saturday April 9, 2005 • 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

St. Andrew's, Burke, Virginia

One of my collateral duties is to serve on the Commission on Congregational Development (CCD). One of the functions of this Commission is to administer the Mustard Seed Grants. Pohick was a recipient of one of these grants. The Parish Nurse Ministry received funds to get this ministry going along with the dedicated work of Carol Heddleston, RN. I worked on the grant proposal with Carol, and after much complaining to Don about the paperwork involved, I was asked to become a member of this Commission.  

The purpose of this Commission is to “work with parishes around the Diocese of Virginia with the mission of strengthening existing parishes to better equip them to carry out the missions and ministries to which they are called.”[1] This Commission has a website, too. It is www.toolbox.org. Take a look; it is full of useful “tools” to spread the Good News.

So what is the Magnetic Church Conference? The CCD is exploring ways in which we might better serve the churches of the Diocese of Virginia. Andy Weeks and his Magnetic Church Conference came to our attention, and the CCD opted to sponsor this conference for the Diocese of Virginia. The Conference will present practical, non-confrontational evangelism to help a church attract, welcome, and retain new members. Pohick does this well. Andy Weeks, the moderator and a layperson, is an evangelist. His ministry is to help existing parishes look at themselves with a fresh set of eyes. He does it with humor and grace.

I have been to one of Andy Week's conferences. It was very helpful in that it provided useful insights and usable tools. If you are interested, I have more information and registration forms.

[1] Diocese of Virginia's Commission on Congregational Development's operating principles.

<-- Previous Page --Index-- Next Page-->