Synod Clergy Cont. Ed Event Bonhoeffer and Nationalism

Page Map In General Sabbatical Region 8 Cont. Ed Sharing First Call Theological Education Plenary 2025 Biannual Synod Clergy Continuing Ed Event The Planning Team Winter/Spring 2025: Bonhoeffer and Nationalism Fall 2024: Preaching in the Wake of Mass Trauma Past Events Boundaries Training

Having all the information about clergy-specific continuing education unnecessarily cluttered the Education for Clergy & Laity page. We've pulled the standards, recommendations, and clergy continuing ed materials here.

In General

WV-WMD typically holds two main clergy cont. ed events each year, one in fall, the other in winter. More about that below.

It is worth noting that CA97.2.7(a)(1)(a), an action of the Churchwide Assembly, encourages "a minimum of 50 contact hours per year of intentional continuing education, or 150 contact hours each three-year period." N.B., a contact hour is defined (as found on the rostered leader's annual report to bishop) as 50 minutes of class time or the equivalent. Time in worship, at meals, etc. does not count as contact hours. You may review the Report on Life-Long Learning and Development for Faithful Leaders (1997), the recommendation of the Church Council, the ensuing debate, and the final action in the Minutes of the Churchwide Assembly 1997 (excerpted).

Who would go to a doctor or a lawyer who did not engage in continuing education? Arguably, the stakes are higher when it comes the the clergy. Congregations should, therefore, not think of continuing education as a reward or a benefit but as an investment. Mutual ministry committees should discuss continuing education plans with their clergy and support education that will advance the professional development of their clergy and, in turn, advance the ministry.

Sabbatical

Region 8 Continuing Ed Sharing

There has been lots of new postings on the Region 8 Facebook page. It's good to see this much activity, and it is especially good to see us all moving beyond our synodical silos.

Synods across Region 8 hold continuing education events, and, on occasion, the Region sponsors an event jointly. It is often, though not always, possible to join another synod for its event. Be sure to check with the appropriate sponsor. If, however, the event is listed on the Region 8 Facebook Page, you may assume that it is open to clergy from across the Region. Check it out.

First Call Theological Education

CA95.6.55 ...To require, by the fall of 1997, that all newly rostered pastors and lay leaders participate, throughout their first three years of ministry under call, in structured programs of theological education, designed and supervised by their synods, according to churchwide standards;....

FCTE Region 8 Plenary

The Biannual Synod Clergy Continuing Ed Event

The Planning Team

At the Winter 2018 Synod Clergy Cont. Education Event, the presbyteral college elected to establish a committee for the design, planning, and management of synod sponsored clergy continuing education with one representative from each of the four conferences. Synod Clergy Cont. Ed, as we currently have it configured, provides approximately 12-17 CEUs per year, assuming attendance at both events.

Serving on the the Continuing Ed Committee we have The Revs. Daniel Collins (PC), chair, Ben Erzkus (MVMC), , Patrice Weirick (OKVC), and The Rev. Devin Ames (UOVC) with Bp. Riegel as an advisory member and staff support. Synod clergy should feel free to talk to their conference's team member about ideas and concerns related to continuing ed.

Thanks are owed to The Revs. Christine Olson (past chair), Sherri Schafer (past chair), Paul Schafer, Casey Linemann, Ryan Heycock, Ruth Bullwinkle, Kevin Mackey, Randy Richardson, Sally Bartling, and Darick Biondi for their now concluded service on the team.

Winter/Spring 2025: Bonhoeffer and Nationalism

While more information will be coming, we can tell you this much: Dr. Terese L. Smallwood, Dean of United Lutheran Seminary and the James Franklin Kelly and Hope Eyster Kelly Associate Professor of Public Theology, will be our speaker on the theme "Bonhoeffer and Nationalism." The event will be held at Cacapon Resort State Park. The event will be held 5-6 February 2025, beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday and concluding 12:00 noon on Thursday. The event is open to clergy and seminarians of all judicatories.

You can follow developments (and give us an unofficial RSVP—which is not the same as registration) on our Facebook event: Bonhoeffer and Nationalism with Dr. Teresa Smallwood.

From Dr. Smallwood

Dr. Smallwood writes,

Michael P. DeJonge in the frontispiece of his manuscript, Bonhoffer on Resistance: The Word Against the Wheel, wrote “A recent surge of references to Dietrich Bonhoeffer in the context of political resistance shows that the story of his struggle against the Third Reich continues to animate imaginations across a broad political spectrum.” (2018) This could not be truer in light of uncanny modes of resistance seen in the last decade of American politics. Moreover, the use of Bonhoeffer’s story to justify various and sundry acts of resistance gives rise to interesting dialectics. On the scholarly front authors such as Eric Metaxas have received critiques because of shallow attention to the full story such that his recent docudrama was trashed as suspect propaganda.

Consequently, a deep dive into the true story of Bonhoeffer beckons all to examine his formation historically, theologically, socially, politically, and spiritually. Over the course of 5 lectures, Rev. Dr. Teresa L. Smallwood will examine these pillars of Bonhoefffer’s formation from the theme “Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Idea of Religionless Christianity.” Each lecture will separately treat the sub themes: early years, social and intellectual formation, latter years, cultural influences, and Holy anger.

• Deitrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together, (Harper One, 1954)
• Deitrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship, (MacMillan, 1959)
• Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letter and Papers From Prison, (Touchstone, 1997)
• Charles Marsh, Strange Glory: The Life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, (Vintage Books, 2015)
• DeJonge Bonhoeffer’s Theological Formation (Oxford, 2012)
• Heinz Eduard Tödt, Authentic Faith: Bonhoeffer’s Theological Ethics in Context, (Eerdman’s, 2007)
• Reggie L. Wiliams, Bonhoeffer’s Black Jesus: Harlem Renaissance Theology and an Ethic of Resistance, (Baylor University Press, 2014)
• The Cambridge Companion to Dietrich Bonhoeffer, John W. deGruchy editor, (Cambridge University Press, 1999)
• Ferdinand Schlingensiepen, Dietrich Bonhoeffer 1906-1945: Martyr, Thinker, Man of Resistance, Trans. Isabel Best (T&T Clark International, 2010)

Venue

Cacapon Resort State Park is a 6,000+ acre park located on both the eastern and western slopes of Cacapon Mountain a little more than ten miles south of Berkeley Springs, WV. The park features not only traditional park recreational offerings (such as hiking, boating, camping, swimming) but also a spa, golf course, and sporting clay shooting. The lodge has been recently modernized and includes dining, an indoor pool, and other such amenities. There are also cabins. Our sessions will be in the lodge (click for location), as will lodging arranged through registration.

A few miles away, one finds Berkeley Springs State Park, known for its baths, massages, and mineral water.

This might be one of those times that you will want to bring your family. A spouse and/or children may enjoy the pool, spa, hiking trails, or local shops while we are in lectures. You may even want to spend an extra night or two.

Lodging

The deadline to secure lodging through our registration platform was 12 January 2025, but you may secure your own lodging at Cacapon Resort State Park or at any other venue you prefer.

Meals

Meals are not included. The lodge houses the Prospects Restaurant, which is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Also in the lodge, one finds the Legacy Lounge. Menus for both are on the Cacapon Resort State Park's webpage (scroll down when you go there to find the menus). For those opting to eat in the lodge for dinner on Wednesday night or lunch on Thursday, it will be possible to place orders a few hours in advance with our planning team.

It is possible to go off-site to dine. There are some restaurants in the Berkeley Springs area and some craft brew houses. We advise that you check their hours of operation prior to venturing out.

Registration

☞	Registration Form

Registration will be in two steps as it was for the fall 2024 event.

• Step 1 —  Register via the online registration form.
• Registration deadline, if commuting or arranging your own lodging, is 3 February 2025.
  
• Step 2 — You will be invoiced through PayPal. You do not need to have a PayPal account to pay the invoice. PayPal is merely the platform for accepting credit cards. There will be a processing fee for those paying online to cover the credit card fees. You may pay by check, but lodging payments must be received at the synod office by 12 January 2025 to guarantee lodging.

The base registration fee is $88.

Questions?

If you have a question about the program, amenities, etc., contact The Rev. Daniel Collins. If you have a question about registration and payment, contact the synod office (304-363-4030 or bishop@wv-wmd.org).

Fall 2024: Preaching in the Wake of Mass Trauma

The Rev. Dr. Kimberly Wagner was presenter for the Fall 2024 Synod Clergy Continuing Education Event held 22-24 October 2024, at Priestfield, Kearneysville, WV, under the theme "Preaching in the Wake of Mass Trauma." Whether due to violence, natural disasters, or public health crises, preachers and ministers are called to respond to and care for communities experiencing mass trauma. In our time together the clergy explored the impacts of trauma on individuals and communities, the work of worship and proclamation to faithfully respond in traumatic times, and the role of the faith leader, exploring biblical and theological models as well as the gifts given us by our traditions and ancestors in the faith as we seek to respond faithfully and well to the ongoing impact of trauma on our communities.

Dr. Kimberly Wagner, serves as the Assistant Professor of Preaching at Princeton Theological Seminary. Though she has served among the Lutherans and was educated among United Methodists, Dr. Wagner is ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Her current writing and work focus on preaching and ministry in the midst and wake of trauma, particularly thinking about collective trauma, the role of the preacher, and the resources of our Scriptures and faith to respond to these moments.

Past Events

Peruse our past events and get a sense of what we do.

• "Mark on Mark" with The Rev. Dr. Mark Vitalis Hoffman
• "Walking with God Today: What's Next?" with The Rev. Harold "Jake" Jacobson
• "My Burden Is Light: Making Room for Jesus in Preaching" with The Rev. Dr. Craig Satterlee
• "Grief" with Sr. Carol Riley
• "St. Paul and early Christianity" with The Rev. Dr. Mark Vitalis Hoffman
• Hybrid Church with The Rev. Dave Daubert
• Best Practices for Live Streaming with The Rev. Matt Day
• Best Practices for Pandemical Worship with The Revs. Susan Claytor, Linday Muhly, Ian Reid, and Micahel Wright
• Racial Sensitivity raining with Ron Scott
• Creative Christian Education and Empowering Families in Times of Covid with The Rev. Jess Felici

Boundaries Training etc.

The Churchwide Assembly has periodically ordered (or encouraged) synods to offer training on a variety of topics: boundaries, anti-racism, diversity, etc. Clergy in the synod are free to secure such training where the wish. The synod may, under some rules, be required to offer, but there is no rule that the clergy must take training under the synod's programming. At the same time, nothing prevents the synod from identifying sources for training outside the synod. United Lutheran Seminary offers a variety of training sessions. For more information and access to an à la carte menu on the registration site, click here. Clergy of full-communion partners should follow whatever norms are required by their respective denominations, but they are most welcome to partake of offerings provided by Lutheran entities.

Additional Resources

Fall Training Events for Rostered Leaders (Professional Boundaries, Cultural Competency, Racial Justice)

In collaboration with the Lower Susquehanna Synod, United Lutheran Seminary offers training for those rostered leaders who wish to learn more about racial justice, professional boundaries, and cultural competency. Register here for both in-person and online opportunities.

Anger Webinar

Barb Keller offered a webinar for clergy on anger for ELCA clergy, via Zoom, on 30 November 2021. A recording is available. Contact the bishop or the D.E.M. for access.