The District Leadership Conference is a place to connect with other local church leadership, gain ideas and tools for effective and vital ministry, and be inspired as disciples of Jesus Christ who announced, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
Bishop Carlo Rapanut, our newly elected and assigned bishop, will address each conference. Two Thriving Sessions will be presented, followed by lunch as a time to connect with others. The Thriving Sessions are:
Led by Rev. Rachel Gilmore, Director of New & Vital Faith Ministries
Let’s be honest; most of our churches are struggling. People aren’t coming back to in-person worship, and giving isn’t what it used to be. As a denomination, we continue to decline, and there is a disconnect between the church and the community. But what if it didn’t have to be that way? What if there was ongoing training for clergy and laity to help the church figure out how to reach people in new and innovative ways? What if we learned about the primary shifts the church needs to make in 2023 and beyond? Join us for a brief introductory workshop at the District Leadership Conference to learn more about this exciting ongoing training opportunity available to any church in the DSC.
Led by Rev. Javier Olivares and Jess Brown
The word bias simply means an evaluation or belief that is favorable or unfavorable. Bias in and of itself is a neutral term. Bias is a natural inclination or tendency for or against an idea, object, person, group, or belief. We can only see and perceive people, cultures, and the world from our perspective, regardless of how correct or skewed our perspective is. Of course, if our perspective is correct and we can see things the way they are, then there is no issue. However, an inherent bias in our perspective keeps us from seeing people and the world the way it is. Our faith teaches and encourages us that we do not need to be stuck in our biases. By the grace of God in Jesus Christ, we can overcome our biases and see people and the world as they are. The Holy Spirit lets us see what God sees in people, especially those different from us.