HOLY CURRENCIES:
A Process, An Assessment Tool and Empowerment
A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF REV. DR. LAW
The Rev. Dr. Eric H. F. Law is the founder and executive director of the Kaleidoscope Institute, which provides resources to equip church leaders to create sustainable churches and communities. He has been a consultant and trainer for over 25 years working with the Roman Catholic, Episcopal, United Methodist, Presbyterian, American Baptist, United Church of Christ and Lutheran Churches in the United States, Canada, Asia, Australia and Europe. He is the author of nine books including Holy Currencies, Holy Currency Exchange, The Wolf Shall Dwell with the Lamb (also available in Spanish), Finding Intimacy in a World of Fear, and Inclusion: Making Room for Grace. He is an Episcopal priest, a composer of church music, a photographer and a playwright. He writes a weekly blog called The Sustainist: Spirituality for Sustainable Communities in a Networked World.
Recommended reading for conference (all by Eric Law from Chalice Press):
HOLY CURRENCIES:
Six Blessings for Sustainable Missional Ministries
INCLUSION: Making Room for Grace
SACRED ACTS, HOLY CHANGE:
Faithful Diversity and Practical Transformation
DAILY SCHEDULE and WORKSHOPS
TUESDAY, MAY 1
4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Board of Directors Meeting
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Reception and Registration at Host Hotel,
▂ Fairview Inn, 6880 Fleur Dr., Des Moines
Optional Activity: Leaving at 7:00 p.m. for dinner at the
Machine Shed Restaurant, a cafe decorated with farm tools and serving hearty family-style American meals. 11151 Hickman Rd, Urbandale, IA 50322
WEDNESDAY, MAY 2
United Methodist Conference Center
2301 Rittenhouse Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50321
8:00 a.m. Registration (continued)
9:00 Welcome and Opening Worship
9:30 Plenary 1: Eric Law
▂ HOLY CURRENCIES – A PROCESS FOR MINISTRY
▂ Gain an overview of Holy Currencies – relationship, truth, wellness, money,
▂ time/place and gracious leadership – as a process for entry, congregational
▂ internal engagement and external community discernment.
10:30 Break
10:45 Eric Law (Plenary 1 continued)
Noon Lunch
1:30 Plenary 2: Eric Law
▂ HOLY CURRENCIES – AN ASSESSMENT TOOL FOR MINISTRY
▂ Explore how to use the Holy Currencies model for assessing where the
▂ congregation has been, where it is now and where it is called to be.
3:00 Break
3:15 Plenary 3: Eric Law
▂ HOLY CURRENCIES – EMPOWERMENT THROUGH CURRENCIES
▂ OF RELATIONSHIP AND TRUTH
▂ Focus on empowering congregation members to discern internal and
▂ external truth through the development of their internal and external relationships.
5:15 End of Plenary
6:30 Recognition Banquet
THURSDAY, MAY 3
9:00 a.m. Session One Workshops begin
(choose one workshop for each of two sessions)
- “How to Grow a Healthy Church in a Technological and Polarized World” by Keith Head
DESCRIPTION: From five years of work as a certified Healthy Church Initiative Facilitator and Coach in the North Texas Conference, the instructor will take you on a course to consider how to determine the health of a local church and possible “prescriptions” for growing healthier. Two prescriptions are almost always on the list: 1) improving hospitality, including a digital strategy that will attract younger persons, and 2) determining a new mission and vision that will focus the congregation on offering the love and grace of Jesus Christ to their surrounding community. You will also touch on such aspects of a healthy church as the Life Cycle and Discipleship Pathway.
- “Your Adversity Quotient: How to become more resilient and productive in the face of adversity in the Church.” by Darrell Coats
DESCRIPTION: You’ve heard of IQ which is a measure of one’s intellectual abilities and EQ which pertains to one’s ability to be emotionally self aware and empathetic with others. IQ and EQ are just two of several leadership intelligences necessary for successful leadership. But are you aware of your AQ or your resilience and ability to adjust in the face of adversity? Knowing and developing your adversity quotient can be an invaluable tool in coping with adverse situations frequently faced in ministry. The workshop will explore:
▂ 1. The meaning and promise of examining your Adversity Quotient.
▂ 2. How to determine your Adversity Quotient.
▂ 3. Practical steps you can take to improve it.
10:15 Break
10:30 Session Two Workshops
- “How to Take Yourself More ANDLess Seriously” by Donna Patterson
DESCRIPTION: Using techniques of Lectio Divina and Laughter Yoga, participants will find a fresh approach for self-care in the midst of ministry. Donna is a certified Laughter Yoga Leader, retired United Methodist Clergywoman, poet, and Spiritual Director.
- “Fixing Church and the Small Group Study” by Bill Kemp
DESCRIPTION: This workshop deals with how to lead a multi-week Bible study to change the way people think about their church. Bill Kemp believes that small groups are the appropriate place to teach the fundamentals. The goals are to help people define church, think about what makes a congregational healthy, and hold an honest discussion about what Jesus has in mind for this particular congregation. The seven weeks cover how to be a blessing, how to make your spiritual life more enthusiastic, the joy of real compassion and mission work, the nature of fellowship, how to make worship inspiring, returning to our biblical roots, and finally, the eternal soul of your Church. Workshop is based upon Bill Kemp’s newest book, “Fixing Church 7.0.” Participants will receive a free copy. Advance copies and ebooks are available from Amazon.
11:45 Closing Worship with Communion
12:30 p.m. Box Lunches (dine in or take out!)
1:00 SHALOM!
REGISTER HERE!