Pssst…. we’ve got an announcement coming up really soon about our partnership with CHURCHx… stay tuned!

We are getting closer to launching our first offerings on CHURCHx (our learning platform for Ministry Forum that joins an ecumenical community of lifelong learners that numbers over 5000). In anticipation of our launch in the coming months, we’d love for you to check out the platform itself - become a member and maybe even try out some of the offerings that are available already from various partners.

Below is a sampling both paid and free that caught our eye.

In May, we anticipate launching our presence on CHURCHx with several offerings. Taking some time to orient yourself to the platform will benefit you and your engagement with what we are going to be featuring. All of the Ministry Forum content will be FREE. 

Hybrid Worship Network
Your Monthly Destination for Online Worship and AV Insights!

About: Our goal is to empower congregations and individuals like you to create seamless and spiritually enriching online worship experiences.

Our webinars offer a unique platform for peer-to-peer learning, where you can connect with fellow church leaders, IT experts, and tech enthusiasts from various denominations. We understand the importance of sharing knowledge and experiences within the faith community. That's why our webinars encourage open discussions, best practice sharing, and expert insights. Plus, we provide a library of valuable resources and a forum for your questions and showcase best practices. We believe in the power of collective wisdom, and by participating in the Hybrid Worship Network, you'll have access to a supportive community that will help you overcome AV challenges, elevate your online worship services, and build a thriving digital congregation. Join us in this exciting journey towards a more connected and spiritually fulfilling future for your church. 

Wait — Is this Racist?
Co-creating Anti-Racist Communities of Faith: A Learning Journey

Join a community of people from across the church who are exploring anti-racist practices! Together, we’ll be drawing from some of the themes of the book Wait—Is This Racist? A Guide to Becoming an Anti-Racist Church to explore very practical ways of co-creating anti-racist congregations. Even though we will be basing some of the conversation on Wait—Is This Racist? this will not be a book study! Reading the book and using the provided assessments will be useful, but it is the shared experiences of learning and implementation that are what will change our communities.

This six-session series is offered between April 2024 and May 2025. The online sessions are designed for congregational teams (ideally three‒four people from each congregation) whose communities of faith have already started the journey to becoming an anti-racist church. It will be helpful, if possible, to ensure that there is some racial diversity in your team.

Webinars for Church Treasurers
A Monthly Series

4th Wednesday of each month, 7:00 - 8:30 pm ET
Join us every month for keep up to date on the latest news and advice for treasurers, trustees, payroll contacts and more.

The “business of church” is complicated. Whether you’re wondering about the latest government grants, or looking for advice on leasing space, maintaining a big property, or the best practices around managing a cemetery, there will be something for you here. This group began in the pandemic as a place for Treasurers to hear from our denomination’s Chief Financial Officer. It has proven so popular that we’re expanding the scope of programming and the variety of presenters.

Everyone enrolled in the program will receive monthly updates before each live session. 

You'll also find a discussion forum where you can post questions and comments between our live meetings. Posts to the discussion forum are emailed to everyone who's enrolled in this course, so you can carry on the conversation between meetings.

AI and Church: Prophets, Priests, and Prompt Engineers

The purpose of this group is to explore the impact of Artificial Intelligence technology on society and church. Together we'll explore both the ethical implications of AI and how to responsibly use these tools for the work of the church.

Here are some of the conversations we're planning:

An Introduction to Generative AI
Ethical and Responsible AI Use
AI and Preaching
AI and Pastoral Care
Theological Reflection on AI 
AI and Social Justice
AI and Education
AI and Theology of Work
Data Privacy and Security
AI, Creativity, and Spirituality

Each month's topic will be accessible to the multiple levels of expertise and concerns within the community. Our goal is to foster an inclusive environment where all participants feel comfortable asking questions and sharing their perspectives. As the group develops, we'll spend some time planning more topics that are timely, relevant, and of interest to participants. 

Transition
an eModule in the United Fresh Start Program

This eModule is intended to help participants understand the difference between change – an event – and transition – the process of changing. This process is complex, multi-leveled and experienced in different ways by individuals and communities of faith. By learning how to assess where people are in their transition and by responding in appropriate ways, we foster healthy transitions and promote acceptance of change.

The total time to complete this eModule is about 50 minutes: 21 minutes of video and 30 minutes to complete the Reflections. We recommend that you then engage in a conversation with a group from your community of faith who have taken the module (at least 90 minutes).

What You’ll Explore

• An overview of the concept of change vs. transition

• Reflecting on your own experience of transition

• Reflecting on the way your community of faith experiences transition

• The role of leadership during periods of transition