Lay Leadership Training Programs and Courses

Charge:  to provide consciousness raising training experiences for lay, clergy and staff leaders that contain information, ideas and tools that will assist these leaders in living and leading into the raised consciousness.

Information and booking concerning these courses may be discussed with Dennis ‘Corky’ Fowler the Chair of the design and deployment team or with the course leaders.

Mr. Fowler may be reached at 713-774-4262 or dcfowler@sbcglobal.net.

Concerns at booking will include dates, place, length of course, audio visual requirements, handouts, target audience, expected number of conferees, meals, snacks and seminar leader fees/expenses.

1. Administrative Council Chair and Lay Leader Training          

This full day training session is the flagship course and is supported by the entire design team.  The target population for this course includes; Admin Council Chairs, Lay Leaders, Clergy, congregation staff and anyone else who may be interested in pursuing leadership roles.  This seminar includes sessions on; Leadership, Planning, Networking, UM Polity and Doctrine for our leaders, and detailed training on the offices of Admin Council Chair and Lay Leader. The sessions are led by Dr. George Atkinson, Dr. Chuck Samson, Leah Taylor, and Loy Sneary.

Contact: Corky Fowler dcfowler@sbcglobal.net 

2. United Methodist Polity and Doctrine for Leaders 

This can be a half or full day seminar.  Conferees will need to bring copies of the current ‘Discipline’.  The course is open to all. 

Contact: Dr. George Atkinson gnjatk@swbell.net.

3. United Methodist Leadership Planning and Networking

This can be a half or full day seminar.  This course will include lecture, discussion and small group work.  The course is open to all. 

Contact: Loy Sneary loys@sbcglobal.net

4. Houston Metro Demographics and United Methodists 

Dr. Steve Kleinberg, Rice University, conducts this course and he is available for two bookings in 2008-2009. This course will assist UM leaders in understanding today’s demographic problems, challenges and opportunities in Houston Metro which will be what our non-metro folks will face in the next five to ten years.  This is a half day to full day seminar and open to everyone.

Contact: Corky Fowler dcfowler@sbcglobal.net 

5. The Various Living Generations and The United Methodist Church and its Leaders

Dr. Stan Menking, Professor Emeritus – Perkins, is offering us two full day bookings during 2008-2009.  Dr. Menking discusses the various living generational groups; how they live and how they live together and how to understand and accommodate them within the church.  The course is open to all.

Contact: Corky Fowler dcfowler@sbcglobal.net 

6. Statistics And Systems - Tools And Understandings For Um Leaders

This is a half to full day seminar led by Dr. Chuck Samson, Professor Emeritus Texas A&M. Dr. Samson will discuss the use of statistics and systems’ tools in a church context. 

Contact: Dr. Samson charleshsamson@msn.com 

7. The Unwanted Gift of Grief 

Dr. Tim VanDuivendyk, author of the book by this name, will book sessions of various lengths to varieties of audiences.  He should be encouraged to sell and sign his books. 

Dr. VanDuivendyk is head of spiritual activities and chaplains for the Memorial-Hermann Hospital System and he may be contacted at 281-313-3885 or tvanduivendyk@yahoo.com

8. Staff Parish Relations Committee Training

Length of this seminar may be arranged with Dr. Karen Dorris, presenter.  Those interested in these responsibilities, potentials and tasks should pursue this training. 

Contact: TBA

9. Lay Leader Training: Congregation, District, Conference               

Length of this seminar may be arranged with Leah Taylor, our conference lay leader. 

This training is for all who hold these positions, want to hold them or who are interested in the positions. 

Contact: Leah Taylor tayleah@comcast.net

10. Ten Commandments for Leadership for United Methodists

This course is being designed by Corky Fowler and is open to all.  The length of the seminar may be arranged.

Contact: Corky Fowler dcfowler@sbcglobal.net

11. How to Run a Church Meeting 101 

(Design – Run – Manage – Evaluate – Etc.) 

This course is being designed by Corky Fowler and the length of seminars may be arranged.  The course is being designed to meet the needs of those who lead and go to church meetings – nearly all of us. 

Contact: Corky Fowler dcfowler@sbcglobal.net

12. Lay Programs – Perkins School of Theology 

Perkins professors and other resource people under the coordination of the Perkins Houston Lay School Advisory Board bring sessions to St. Paul’s – Houston every January and August.  These sessions are open to all UM’s and to the public.  This is a very high level of Biblical and Theological seminar fashioned education. 

Contact: Ron Marr rmarr@netropolis.net