The Ecclesia Network

a missional church network

Events

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Ecclesia NE Regional Gathering

As some of you may know, The Ecclesia Network is a relational network that exists to help churches, organizations and leaders with a missional bent to connect. Our church and other churches around the country have been privileged to be a part of for the past few years. As Ecclesia is growing, there is a subsequent growing need for and emphasis on greater regional presence. It also provides opportunities geographically for us to connect more often and with greater purpose.

The goal of the Ecclesia Northeast Region is to provide spaces and opportunities to interact formally and informally for connection, support, equipping and training in the Northeast region of the U.S. One of those spaces/opportunities for connection is through meet-ups – spaces to connect with others who are a part of Ecclesia (pastors, elders and lay-leaders) and others who may not be a part of the network, but who would benefit from connection among other missional-minded people who love the church and want to see the kingdom flourish in the Northeast.

We will be having our Ecclesia NE regional winter meet-up on Thursday February 2nd at 10 am in the upstairs cafe at Whole Foods in Plymouth Meeting, PA.

This is free of charge (but you are on your own for buying lunch) and will provide some structure, but it is not an ‘event.’ The goal is that we provide enough structure for focused conversation – but flexible enough for connection to happen naturally. Church planting and pastoring can be difficult and can involve isolation. These times of connection allow spaces to remind us that we are not in this kingdom work alone. We will meet from 10am to noon and then head downstairs to enjoy lunch together. We have picked the location because Whole Foods is right off the exit of the PA turnpike and allows easy access for travelers who are coming from NY, NJ and Central PA.

We’d love for you to join us – and feel free to invite others from your church and forward this invite on to other pastors you think would benefit from this time.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask me.

Blessings,

J.R. Briggs

Ecclesia Northeast Regional Coordinator

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Missional Learning Commons – Oct. 28-29

Missional Learning Commons
The Midwest Missional Learning Commons will take place this year on Oct 28-29 in the Chicago area. Our focus will be on discipleship, and Mike Breen will be helping to facilitate our time together.

The aim of the Missional Learning Commons is to provide a collaborative learning environment for missional churches to share stories, discuss ideas, and encourage one another for the sake of incarnating the Gospel in their contexts.

This year, we want to focus on discipleship. Here are some of the questions that will be shaping our time together:

  • What does discipleship actually look like in our lives?
  • Does the gospel we preach naturally and organically lead people into discipleship, or does it feel like an extra-curricular activity?
  • How should the call to make disciples shape and guide our church practices: what we do, and how we do it?
  • What is the significance of discipleship as the core component of the formation of Christian leaders?

In addition to our regular diet of on-the-ground practitioners, this year Mike Breen and a team from 3DM will be hanging out with us to share some of what they have learned and help facilitate our conversations by asking some provoking questions.

For more information, and to register, please visit http://missionalcommons.org

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Ecclesia Northeast Regional – In Partnership with Fresh Expressions US

Ecclesia Northeastern Regional

A New Church For A New World: A Fresh Expressions Vision Day

At it’s core, Ecclesia is committed to the development of missional churches that are focused on reaching our growing Post-Christian society. We are also a network that is dedicated to collaboration with other like-minded people. Earlier this year, Ecclesia joined into a partnership with several other denominations and church networks to start an initiative called Fresh Expressions US. Fresh Expressions was originally started in England, and it has resulted in the birth of 3,000 new communities in the UK alone Fresh Expressions has also spread to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and is now taking shaping in the US. At it’s heart, Fresh Expressions is a movement dedicated to cultivating new kinds of church alongside existing congregations.

This years Northeast Regional takes a look at the need for new kinds of church expressions along with how to go about starting them. Dave Fitch, JR Woodward, JR Briggs, Chris Backert, and several others will be helping to guide the time.

Download the Brochure for more information on A New Church For A New World: A Fresh Expressions Vision Day

Date

October 6, 2011 at Biblical Theological Seminary; 9am – 4:30pm

Registration / Cost

Cost: $25 (includes lunch) – Registration for this event will be through the Fresh Expressions site and not the Ecclesia site. You can register here.

What is Fresh Expressions?

As someone once said … “if you have a new world – you need a new church”. Fresh Expressions is a movement that is cultivating new kinds of church alongside existing congregations, in order to reach our new world. Begun in England 8 years ago, it has resulted in the birth of 3,000 new communities in the UK alone. Fresh Expressions has spread to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and is now taking shape in the US.

At its heart, Fresh Expressions is about empowering and equipping God’s people to develop creative expressions of church that can reach the increasing diversity of our society.

What is Vision Day?

Vision Day is a great way to discover more about Fresh Expressions. In an interactive format, you will have the chance to:

  • Hear how Fresh Expressions is renewing the church
  • Talk about the development of Fresh Expressions US
  • Learn more about the Mission-Shaped Church
  • Discover tools to start a Fresh Expressions in your area

What’s the schedule?

  • 9.00am // Gathering Time – Coffee & Refreshments
  • 9.30am // Welcome & Worship
  • 10.00am // Session # 1 – Movement: How Fresh Expressions Is Changing the Landscape
  • 11.30am // Lunch Break*
  • 12.45pm  // Session # 2 – Cultivation: How Fresh Expressions Can
  • Develop // In Your Context 2.00pm Afternoon Break
  • 2.15pm // Breakout Sessions/Discussion Groups
    • Discipleship in New Forms of Church – Ben Jamison
    • New Forms of Church in Established Churches & Denominations – Chris Backert
    • Essential Practices for New Forms of Church – David Fitch
    • What Kind of New Church To Start? – J.R. Briggs
  • 3.15pm // Break
  • 3.30pm // Session # 3 – Action: How You Can Get Involved 4.30pm Closing

* Note: There will be a separate lunch for students interested in hearing about vocational ministry opportunities with the Baptist General Association of Virginia.

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2011 Coaches Training – May 10-12

We are pleased to announce we have worked out the dates for an Ecclesia Coaches’ Training. In order to maximize our time and reduce expenses, we will host a 3-day Coaches Training concurrent with the Church Planters Training in Richmond.

Coaches Training is Tuesday, May 10 – Thursday, May 12.

This training will help equip you with the basic tools and framework to becoming an effective coach. Whether you have a desire to coach church planters, pastors or leaders (or all of the above) – this practical training course will be of benefit to you. It is open to all, so consider those on your teams or staff who also may want to grow as a potential coach.

It is our desire to cultivate a regional approach to coaching within our network. If you have the desire to be a part of coaches’ guild within Ecclesia, this would be a prerequisite for that. We’d love to have you help us equip planters and pastors.

Coaches Training is $250 plus accommodations at Richmond Hill (which includes materials, meals, and lodging).

If you would like to sign up or if you have questions regarding the training, please feel free to email Brian Hopper (brian.hopper@idrichmond.org).

Hope to see you in May.

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Rain and Shine: Darkest and Brightest Moments in Church Planting

 

Rain or Shine

14 speakers from 14 different churches with 14 minutes each to talk about church planting

Friday, April 29th 7pm-10pm – Saturday, April 30th 9am-1pm

This Event is FREE – Rsvp on Facebook or email bendudley at me dot com

Location: Mosaic Portland

1832 Northeast 39th Avenue Portland, OR 97212

Hosted by: The Ecclesia Network in Partnership with Northwest Church Planters

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Missional Learning Commons Oct 29-30 in Chicago

The Missional Learning Commons is a collaborative day for missional churches to exchange ideas, support, and encouragement about how to incarnate the gospel in their respective contexts.

This will be our 4th gathering. Because the traveling around the Midwest in the winter can be treacherous, we decided to move our time together to the fall,October 29-30. The Ecclesia Network is helping sponsor the event as well.

This year our theme is KINGDOM RELATIONSHIPS, specifically focusing onDISCIPLESHIP, FAMILY, and LEADERSHIP from a missional perspective.

Get more information and register here.