Christian Church | Pacific Southwest Region

All Licensed and Ordained Ministers in the Pacific Southwest Region are required to meet the minimum standard of 1.5 CEUs (Continuing Education Units) per year to maintain standing in the PSWR, effective January 1, 2006. 1.5 CEUs equals 15 hours of instructional time.  

Ministers can earn CEUs by attending either Regionally sponsored and other religious/spiritual educational opportunities not sponsored by the PSWR. 

To apply for CEU credit for Regionally sponsored events, a CEU credit form will be provided for you at the event and will be stamped by event leaders at the end of the event. The minister is then required to submit this stamped form to the Regional Office for the credit to be applied to their ministerial profile. Submit the form and documentation via email to Michel Johnson at mjohnson@docpswr.org or a copy mailed to the Regional Office. Be sure to keep a copy for your records.

To apply for CEU credit for events not sponsored by the PSWR, download and print the PSWR CEU Form. Complete the form and attach proper proof that you completed the instructional hours. Submit the form and documentation via email to support@disciplespswr.org or a copy mailed to the Regional Office. Be sure to keep a copy for your records.

Upcoming CEU opportunities will often be shared via PSWR E-Shout. Use the form below to sign up to receive these emails. Please scroll down below for a list of upcoming CEU opportunities. You can also check the PSWR Regional Calendar and the “Upcoming Events” page for information on upcoming events.

National Benevolent Association (NBA) is thrilled to announce their first Innovation Institute webinar and workshop series. This was designed specifically for professionals like you who are committed to fostering healthier workplaces and communities. Mark your calendars for these invaluable events! Learn more

Organizational Wellness Workshop
Saturday, April 27, 2024
9 AM - 3 PM PT | Continental breakfast and lunch included.
All Peoples Community Center, 822 E 20th St, Los Angeles, CA 90011
Presenter: Joselyn Spence, Director of NBA’s Mental Health & Wellness Program
Cost: $50.00 per person

This dynamic experience will delve deeper into the process of integrating a more structured wellness approach through the development of a wellness toolkit.

Participants will engage in interactive sessions on exploring the specific needs of their organization and creating a “wellness kit” of practices and policies to implement in their non-profit for lasting organizational well-being. Space for our in-person event is limited—reserve your spot today!

Note: Workshop participants must also register and attend the webinar, as they will build upon one another.

Unpacking the Core Competencies of DisciplesNEXT: Contemplative Action
May 8, 2024 at 12:00 pm PT
Webinar

 What does contemplative action look like day to day? Join Rev. Brian Frederick-Gray, Director of Justice and Advocacy Ministries for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and Rev. Dr. Jose Martinez, Minister of New Church Strategies, for a New Church Ministry webinar that explores this core competency of DisciplesNEXT, its connections to spiritual formation, and its connections to New Church! Register

THE PULSE OF LIFE: EXPLORING THE POWER OF COMPASSION IN TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD
Saturday, May 11 10 am - 12 pm PT
In person at First Christian Church, Pomona or online via Zoom

Compassion is not merely a soft sentiment; it is a powerful force that can transform ourselves, our communities, and our world. Spiritual leaders and directors are at the forefront of providing spiritual guidance, comfort, and support.

Contributors from the book The Pulse of Life, including Frank Rogers, Jr., Aizaiah G. Yong, Natasha Huang, Nancy Fowler, and Alane Daugherty, will share their insights and experiences on how the Compassion Practice can change our lives and communities.

This is a hybrid event hosted online via Zoom and in-person at First Christian Church in Pomona, CA. When you register, please indicate whether you will be joining us online or in-person. REGISTER HERE

Earn Continuing Education Credits (.2 CEUs) through the Pacific Southwest Region in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ): Participate in thoughtful discussions and gain insights that contribute to your professional development.

Learn from Diverse Voices: Engage with experts from across the fields of chaplaincy, neuroscience, practical theology, and education who will share practical ways compassion enhances their work.

Expand Your Toolkit: Discover strategies to integrate compassion your leadership roles.

Network and Connect: Build relationships with others who are committed to making a positive impact through compassion.

FESTIVAL OF HOMILETICS
MAY 13-16, 2024 PITTSBURGH, PA

This is the best preaching event of the year! The 2024 Festival of Homiletics is an invitation to lean into a little self-love. Together, we will relearn ways to care for the craft of preaching and discover new habits to support the preaching life. We will listen to uplifting sermons and experience inspiring worship, but we will also have time for reflection and renewal and remembering – to recall once again the why for what we do.

The hope for this year’s Festival is that you take home practices that will support you in the days to come and that you leave nourished in your proclamation of the Gospel. Come renew, refresh, and recharge your spirit! For more information or to register, visit festivalofhomiletics.com.

LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
OCTOBER 21-25, 2024
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA

New Church Ministry is excited to announce that Leadership Academy will be held at Meizon Church in Gainesville, FL this year! Join us in person or later online for an event that will jump-start your ministry, whether you’re the pastor or core team of an established congregation or just thinking about forming a community of faith. Undergraduate and seminary students, ecumenical partners, and laity are more than welcome to participate. Stay tuned for registration details!

New Church Ministry proudly presents IMPACT, a new webinar series that welcomes you on a captivating journey of storytelling and deep mutual learning. In each episode, host and Minister of New Church Strategies Rev. Dr. Jose Martinez invites guests who have defied conventions and fostered vibrant communities of faith to share their invaluable experiences and personal narratives. By exploring the challenges, triumphs, and transformative moments of these visionary leaders, attendees gain invaluable inspiration and direction for their own ventures. 

This dynamic series embraces diversity, welcoming influential leaders from a multitude of faith traditions and backgrounds. From established religious institutions to emerging spiritual movements, IMPACT showcases a broad spectrum of voices and perspectives, ensuring participants have a rich tapestry of insights to draw from. While each of its speakers bring a distinct approach and innovative strategies to the table, equipping participants with a toolkit of ideas to create thriving, inclusive places of worship that resonate with today’s seekers, IMPACT emphasizes the power of storytelling as a catalyst for change. Whether you are an aspirational individual looking to make a difference or a member of an established congregation that is considering revitalizing its mission, IMPACT is your transformative guide. Join us as we delve into the profound potential that storytelling has to shape the future of faith communities worldwide. Together, we can ignite a new era of spiritual vitality and make an enduring impact on the lives of those we serve.

CERTIFICATE IN PASTORAL MINISTRY

Join the conversations that will expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitments, and give insights on how to minister in a changing world. The Center for Ministry and Lay Training's online program allows you to explore your call to ministry or even earn a Certificate in Pastoral Ministry. Click here to apply.

Phillips is the only Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) seminary offering this Certificate in Pastoral Ministry. Since 1906, Phillips has been educating those who serve the church and is pleased to continue the 120-year legacy of the Bible College of Missouri through the Center for Ministry and Lay Training.

As a student, you’ll not only learn from our top-notch faculty, but you’ll also build a network of others engaged in ministry. The Center for Ministry and Lay Training is not designed for those who want to do ministry the way it’s always been done. If you want to make a difference in this changing world, we’ll help you push beyond your comfort zone. Learn more about the program and upcoming course schedule.

Fundamentals of Transitional Ministry training consist of two steps and a small group Fieldwork experience. The first step is Fundamentals of Transitional Ministry: The Work of the Leader (FTML). The second step, Fundamentals of Transitional Ministry: The Work of the Congregation (FTMC) builds on the information and experiences of FTML. The curriculum is designed for experiential learning throughout. Participants read content prior to class so that they are able to use the information to understand specific transition situations as found in sacred stories or in congregational case studies. Even in the virtual world connections and conversation are a vital part of the IMN FTM training.

UN*SILENCE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: BECOMING A SENSITIVE RESPONDER TO THE HIDDEN PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS

Clergy and lay leaders who are passionate about reducing Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence (DV/IPV) can sign up for a 5 hour training facilitated by Courtney Armento. The course is available for a discounted rate of $117 and is self-paced with occasional live sessions with Courtney for Q&A. In the course, you will discover what to say (and what not to say) to those experiencing DV/IVP so that you facilitate spaces of calm in the midst of their storm. You will become equipped to create safe spaces so that you can empower those going through DV/IVP to make conscious choices. With your help, we can turn around the toxic culture of DV/IVP that unfortunately many have experience in churches and reduce -- dare we say eliminate? -- DV/IVP in our communities. Sign up for the course here (CEU credits available)

Several ministries are offering online trainings and webinars for clergy and church leaders. One source is New Church Hacks, offered by New Church Ministry, a ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) that trains, equips, assists and multiplies emerging and affiliating congregations and leaders. New Church Hacks provides clever solutions to tricky problems and empowers courageous leaders with the tools, tips and how-tos to start, sustain and strengthen congregations.

ChurchWest Insurance and their partners are busy developing tools to help your ministries in the weeks and months to come. Please visit their website to browse available webinars. CEU credits will be given based on the length of the webinar session (most sessions average one hour).

The Lombard Mennonite Peace Center provides speakers and education resources for churches of all denominations on biblical peace and justice issues, as well as conflict transformation skills training and training for church leaders grounded in family systems theory. It also provides mediation and consultation services for churches, schools, and other organizations. Please visit their website to browse available webinars and educational opportunities. CEU credits will be given based on the length of the webinar session.

Union Theological Seminary | Progressive theology has long taken shape at Union, where faith and scholarship meet to reimagine the work of justice. Grounded in the Christian tradition and responsive to the needs of God’s creation, a Union education prepares its students for committed lives of service to the church, academy, and society. A Union education develops practices of mind and body that foster intellectual and academic excellence, social justice, and compassionate wisdom. Union forms courageous faith leaders who make a difference wherever they serve. Please visit their website to browse available webinars and educational opportunities. CEU credits will be given based on the length of the webinar session.