FORMATION
INSTITUTE FOR MINISTRY
The Northwestern Pennsylvania Institute for Ministry Education is a collaborative ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania and the Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the ELCA. It was established in 2008 to encourage and enable partnerships to provide the resources necessary to prepare persons for particular ministries.
Preparation is provided for:
For more information on the Institute, please contact the Rev. Canon Martha Ishman by phone (814.456.4203) or by e-mail.
2013 Course Offerings
Homiletics
The Very Rev. John Downey, Instructor
St. James, Titusville
9/7, 10/5, 11/9 and 12/7, 9:00 AM-3:30 PM
To register, contact the Rev. Joann Piatko at 814-558-0151 or jpiatko@dionwpa.org.
Intro to Anglican Identity
The Rev. Stacey Fussell, Instructor
St. James, Titusville
8/17, 9/21, 10/19 and 11/16, 9:30 AM-4:00 PM
To register, contact the Rev. Joann Piatko at 814-558-0151 or jpiatko@dionwpa.org.
2013 Continuing Education Gatherings for Authorized Lay Worship Leaders (NWPA, ELCA) & Licensed Worship Leaders/Preachers (Diocese of NWPA)
Saturday, September 14
How the Bible Came to Be
with Bishop Ralph Jones
NWPA Synod Office, Pleasantville – 10 am-3 pm
Saturday, November 2
The Gospel of Matthew
with Pastor Stephen Bond
NWPA Synod Office, Pleasantville – 10 am-3 pm
Typical Agenda
9:30 a.m. Gathering for coffee and conversation
10:00 a.m. Sessions begins
Noon lunch Bring your own lunch or visit a local food vendor.
Afternoon Sessions continues…closing 2:00-3:00 p.m., depending on the needs and wishes of the group
To register, email Pastor Jones at sjones@nwpaelca.org OR contact the Institute for Ministry Education at instituteforministry@gmail.com. Upon registration or when available, information about resources and advanced reading assignments will be shared with each participant.
Missional Leadership Certificate
The Institute for Ministry Education is pleased to announce its first certificate program of continuing education for ordained and rostered leaders of the Diocese and Synod. The Missional Leaders Certificate will assist current leaders to discover and nurture the abilities and gifts needed to engage in the missional work of God in the world, particularly as we face changing contexts in church and society.
The program of study will include the following courses:
•Fostering the Missional Heart (required introduction)
•Leadership for Mission
•Mission in Context
•Appalachian Context
•Missional Strategies
•Emergent Church
•Christian Witness in the Community
Each course will include 12-24 class contact hours, generally to be scheduled on Saturdays at a location central to the participants’ needs. Class participation, reading, and assignments will be required. Assignments may be related to the participants’ interests or contextual concerns.
It is the hope of the Advisory Council and the instructors that following the introductory course, participants will make the commitment to engage the entire certificate program by completing the remaining six courses. The program of study will be a 3-year commitment with two or three courses to be offered each calendar year. The fee will be $300.00 per course and may be paid over the 3-year period. Scholarships will be made available.
The syllabus for the first course, Fostering the Missional Heart, is now available. Details of subsequent courses will be announced in the near future.
To register, or for further information, you may contact Pastor Sandra Jones at the Synod Office or Canon Martha Ishman at the Diocesan Center.
Devotional Resources
A comprehensive list of devotional resources can be found on the St. Stephen's, Fairview, website.