• The Episcopal Church Foundation Ready to help develop Planned Giving programs
  
  http://www.episcopalfoundation.org/giving/pg.html
  
  The Episcopal Church Foundation is pleased to announce that they have reorganized their planned giving program to enable them to work even more efficiently and effectively with congregations, dioceses and other church agencies.
  
  For more information, please contact Planned Giving Manager, Natalie Guthrie, Giving Services Assistant, Matt Freeman or Vice President of Giving Services, Glenn Holliman, at 800-697-2858.

• PAST0RAL CARE AND COUNSELING PROGRAM CELEBRATES 36th YEAR
  
  The Pastoral Care and Counseling Program begins its 36 year as a ministry of the Diocese. Beginning in 1969 with the opening of the Cathdral, the Program was instituted as a means of supporting Episcopal clergy and their families. Over the years the Program expanced to address the needs of lay persons as well as clergy. Approximately one fourth of the individuals receiving counseling are non-Epsiscopalians.
  
  The fee-for-service counseling varies according to the situation and may include couple, family, small group, or individual counseling. Consultation for clergy having to do with individual and group dynamics, as it relates to their ministry, is available by phone or in-person at no charge.
  
  In response to the high divorce rate the PCCP offers pre-marital counseling focusing on a number of areas including communication patterns, finances, and expectations. The PCCP office is located on the second floor of the Cathedral. Clergy and laity desiring additonal information should contact Dr. Ken Reid at (269) 381-4442.

• May 25, 2006 - RETIRED CLERGY, SPOUSES AND WIDOWS ASCENSION DAY LUNCH
  at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Portage.
  Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 11:00am Eucharist. Lunch follows the service.
  Please RSVP to Anne Labat-Gepert as soon as possible: gepertranda@aol.com or 269.217.8864

• June 22-25, 2006 - Western Michigan Cursillo Weekend
  Grace Church, Holland

• Sept. 1-4, 2006 - SOLO FLIGHT - and the Spirituality of Homing
  A national Episcopal Conference for adults who are single at the Kanuga Conference Center in Hendersonville, NC.
  Keynoter:
  The Rev. Dr. Thomas E. Breidenthal, Dean of Religious Studies & Dean of the Chapel -
  Princeton University, Princeton, NJ.
  
  "In a couple-oriented church and society, single adults often struggle with what home is to them, as well as how to create and enjoy home as a single person, whether they are creating their first independent home, or re-creating a home after the loss of a spouse or partner through death or the breaking of relationship. Creating a home for one: why it can be hard, and how it can be a blessing, is a major developmental task for single adults. Thomas Breidenthal, author of Christian Households: the Santification of Nearness and other presenters will assist the 2006 Solo Flight Community in looking at the challenges and joys of the Chrisian approach to householding. The conference will focus on broadening understanding of what home and householding mean to us as people of faith, how the creation of our homes is connected to our understanding of who we are as single men and women who were created to be relational people, and as Dr. Breidenthal says, 'how we balance loyalty and care for those who are closest to us with commitment to the universal and includsive fellowship that is prefigured in the church.' "

DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM HERE.

•  Clergy Leadership Institute - Appreciative Inquiry Based Training Programs
  The failure to reorient is one of the primary causes of why people don’t achieve the change they want in their life. It keeps them trapped in the pain of regret, trying to do less of an unwanted behavior which in turn is a guaranteed way of maintaining that behavior in focus and ensuring that it will persist. Reorientation occurs when we turn our attention to what it is that we do want and orient our life around that preferred behavior. Appreciative Inquiry is a powerful way of helping individuals and organizations to orient around what they would prefer rather than orienting people around having less of what they don’t want. The appreciative way is about living in the New Life of Easter.
  
  The Clergy Leadership Institute is now approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Clergy Leadership Institute maintains responsibility for these programs and their content.
  
  • Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry
    Seattle, WA. July 10-12, 2006
    Baltimore, MD. Oct. 30 - Nov. 1, 2006
  • Appreciative Leadership for Managing Change
    Baltimore, MD. September, 18-20, 2006
    Limited to 12 participants registration is due now to allow for pre- training assessments.
  • Transformational Coach Training
    New Orleans, LA. June 28-30, 2006
    Learn how to apply appreciative strategies and coaching skills to your mentoring of other clergy and leaders.
  • Storyline for Christian Educators
    Seattle, WA. July 10-14, 2006
    This program is heavily discounted for non-stipendary Christian Educators
  • Small Rural Church Summit
    July 27-30, 2006
  •  Appreciative Inquiry and Re-Imagining the Small Rural Church
    Advanced Coach Training
    Chicago, IL November 13-17, 2006
    
• About the Training Programs
  Our training programs are at a professional development level, (typically of 15-30 hours) and qualify for Clergy and for Psychologists Continuing Education requirements. Typical early registration tuition costs are $350 per 2 1/2 days of training. Some prices vary depending on content and accommodation costs are extra. Some programs are size restricted to create an optimal learning environment.
• Not Just For Clergy
  Our programs are typically designed with clergy in mind, however they would be appropriate to anyone professionally engaged in ministry and who can reflect theologically and psychologically on the nature of their ministry.
  
• For registration and details of these and other events please visit the Clergy Leadership web site:
  http://www.clergyleadership.com/training/programs.html

• NIGHTWATCH MIDWEST: THE SACRED CASTLE - April 29/30th, 2006.
  Sponsored by the Diocesan Commission on Church Growth and Evangelism
  and The Parish Church of Christ the King
  
  This is where young people in grades 6-8 embark on the journey outward. We will look for God in the world through a variety of faith-building activities. Symbols of wind, fire, water and food will be used in new and creative ways on our journey to God with Christ.
  
• Visit http://www.nightwatchmidwest.org/nightwatch/video.htm
  to view a video presentation of the January event.
• Click to read feedback on the January event:
  http://www.nightwatchmidwest.org/NightwatchReport-01_06.pdf
• Click for a printable flyer:
  http://www.nightwatchmidwest.org/nightwatch/index01.htm

• Saturday May 6,2006
  ECW of the Diocese of Western Michigan will hold its 125th Annual Meeting
  The Episcopal Church Women of the Diocese of Western Michigan will hold its 125th Annual Meeting on Saturday May 6,2006 at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 5333 Clyde Park SW, Wyoming , MI 49507.
  
  A complete packet containing a letter of invitation, registration form, flyer, directions, agenda and board nomination form is available at the following link:
  
  http://www.edwm.org/ecw/pdf/2006_ECW-PACKET.pdf
  

• August 25-26, 2006
  SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT PROGRAM
  
  Spiritual Discernment program Application Form & Program Essentials can be downloaded here:
  http://www.edwm.org/pdf/2006-SDP.pdf
  
  TheDiocese will begin its second year of the Spiritual Discernment Program (SDP) with the first session to be held at Kettunen Center, Tustin, the weekend of August 25-26, 2006.
  
  Those in charge of congregations are invited to identify parishioners who might be suitable for the SDP. Key in the parish recommendation process is an identification of the gifts parishioners might have for ordination as deacons or priests.
  
  Anyone with questions is asked to contact the Director for the Discernment Program:
  the Rev. John Crean 616-682-7810 [home] 616-540-4566 [cell].
  
  Persons who completed the SDP last year and are now in the David Pendleton Oakerhater School for Deacons, as well as graduates considering seminary enrollment, are also willing to talk with prospective applicants. Please note the absolute May 15 application deadline, and that any application must be endorsed by the applicant's rector or senior warden.