Rev. Tony Campolo

Photo Credit: GBOD

Learn to create new ministries at School of Congregational Development

The annual School of Congregational Development will bring together speakers and United Methodist Church leaders committed to developing strong, disciple-making faith communities.

Rev. Dottie Escobedo-Frank

Photo Credit: GBOD

SCD 2010, sponsored by the General Board of Discipleship, Path 1 and the General Board of Global Ministries, will be July 29-Aug. 2 in Nashville, Tenn.

"The School of Congregational Development is the one place where United Methodists gather together to learn to dream and to learn how to create new ministries," said the Rev. Craig K. Miller, director of pastoral leadership for the General Board of Discipleship. "We have bishops, district superintendents, conference leaders, pastors and laity all gathered for the same purpose of learning together."

Rev. Rudy Rasmus

Photo Credit: GBOD

Plenary and worship leaders will include Nashville Area Bishop Dick Wills; the Rev. Sharma Lewis, Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, McDonough, Ga.; the Rev. Sam Park, lead pastor, Community Church at Holliston, Pasadena, Calif.; David Owens, faculty director, Professional Development Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville; the Rev. Rudy Rasmus, senior pastor, St. John's Downtown United Methodist Church, Houston; the Rev. Dottie Escobedo-Frank, pastor, CrossRoads United Methodist Church, Phoenix; and the Rev. Tony Campolo, author and professor emeritus of sociology, Eastern University, St. Davids, Pa.

The registration fee through July 1 is $425. After July 1, registration is $475.

Rev. Sharma Lewis

Photo Credit: GBOD

Learning will come through 16 Intensives exploring concepts, principles and practices that develop effective leaders and congregations; 25 Ministry Tracks focusing on particular contexts for ministry; 11 Teaching Churches where participants will worship and meet congregational leaders; and 15 90-minute workshops on specific aspects of ministry.

Thursday-Saturday sessions will be at the Nashville Convention Center and McKendree United Methodist Church in downtown Nashville. Brentwood United Methodist Church will host workshops on Monday.

Bishop Dick Wills

Photo Credit: UMNS

On Sunday evening, participants will join people from area churches for music and worship to support the United Methodist Committee on Relief's work in Haiti and flood relief for Nashville. Campolo will speak. Recording artist Richie McDonald, former lead singer with the group Lonestar, and the choir from Gordon Memorial United Methodist Church in Nashville, will sing.

The Tennessee Conference and McKendree and Brentwood churches are hosting the school.

Register online at www.scdumc.org. For questions, contact Deborah Carvin at the General Board of Discipleship by calling (877) 899-2780,  ext. 7051, or e-mailing dcarvin@gbod.org.

Developed by the boards of Discipleship and Global Ministries originally to work with new churches, the School of Congregational Development now includes bishops, district superintendents and conference and local church leaders. In the past 15 years, the school has grown from about 10 attendees to more than 600 in 2009 in Chicago.

Communications Office, General Board of Discipleship, Nashville, Tenn.