Professional Development

I have some professional development to catch up on this week. One is an online course through Safe Gatherings, an abuse-prevention system that runs background checks and trainings for those who work with children, youth, and vulnerable adults. As a United Methodist (UM) clergy member, I repeat this process every seven years to ensure that my knowledge is up-to-date.

The second piece is to complete the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), an assessment to test and build cultural competence. It has been used with several groups of New England Conference (UMC) leadership over the past few years, with the goal of improving our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion practices. This will be a focus of discussion at a retreat of the Conference Connectional Table in Rhode Island next weekend.

I share this as an example of the breadth of ongoing training offered (and required) of clergy. Both the UMC and the United Church of Christ (UCC) have standards for clergy continuing education and boundary setting, one of many reasons I am proud to have a denominational home. Accountability, resourcing, and connection help church leaders stay grounded and healthy amidst the challenges of ministry.

This Sunday after church, I’ll be leading an orientation for those interested in church membership. The first half will focus on the core faith statements included in baptismal vows, which are reaffirmed when one joins the church. The second half will share information about the history and values of our two denominations. Although there are significant differences between the two, there are plenty of commonalities—including clergy training and accountability—that make them work well together. Even if you’re already a member, you might be interested to drop by for a refresher!

See you soon,

Pastor Jen