Deacon Ministry offers pre-Conference workshops.

Photo by Regina Holmes

Deacon Ministry director Donna Kline leads a training workshop prior to the 2011 Annual Conference. This year the Deacon Ministry is offering a morning and an afternoon training workshop for deacons on the opening day of the 2012 Conference.

Two deacon training workshops will be held in St. Louis on Saturday, July 7, prior to the start of the 2012 Annual Conference. The workshops are sponsored by the Church of the Brethren Deacon Ministry, a part of Congregational Life Ministries. Both workshops will be held in the America’s Center convention center, Room 122.

“Nasty Fights: Reconciliation and Forgiveness” from 9-11 a.m. addresses the Brethren peace position as it may apply to difficult issues within our own congregations. Participants will learn how to analyze and reconcile differences on multiple levels within a congregation, so that churches may remain models of peace.

“Helping the Hurting: Offering Support in Times of Loss” from 1:30-3:30 p.m. will offer guidance for deacons as they help people through the death of a loved one, a debilitating accident, a job lay-off, or other difficult life challenges. Participants will listen and learn from a variety of experiences to be better able to help when someone’s world has collapsed.

Deacons are invited to attend one or both training workshops. Cost is $15 for one workshop, $25 to attend both. Information and registration are at www.brethren.org/deacons/training.html or www.cobannualconference.org/StLouis/DeaconWorkshopsACflyer.pdf.

Source:2/8/2012 Newsline