SCD 2024

The School of Congregational Development is returning to Chicago this summer as SEE//CREATE//DISCIPLE (SCD) after a hiatus due to challenges posed by COVID-19.

Save the Date: August 4-7, 2024
Hyatt Regency Schaumburg, Schaumburg, IL

With more than two decades of providing exceptional learning and networking experiences for United Methodist Church leaders, nationally and internationally, SCD is set to empower and inspire again.

Interested in sponsoring SCD 2024? Click here to learn more!

Additional Downloads:

SCD 2024 Ministry Tracks and Workshops (PDF)

Click the links below for additional information:

SCD Programs & Activities:

Sunday, August 4, 2024

1-5 p.m. - Arrival and registration; Ministry Resource Fair (SCD sponsors and UMC General Agencies)
5-6:15 p.m. - Dinner (participants on your own); SCD leaders' dinner fellowship
6:15-6:30 p.m. - Transition break.
6:30-7 p.m. -Welcome remarks – Jeffrey M. Campbell & Bishop Dan Schwerin; General orientation – Bener B. Agtarap
7-8:30 p.m. - Opening worship with Bishop Dan Schwerin; Felicia Patton, Worship Leader, featuring Rev. Clark and the Heirs of Joy. Sponsored by the Junius B. Dotson Institute for Music and Worship in the Black Church and Beyond.

Monday, August 5, 2024

8-9 a.m. - Gathering and worship with Bishop Ruben Saenz, Jr.; Felicia Patton, Worship Leader
9-9:15 a.m. - Intermission/announcements
9:15-10 a.m. - Plenary session (See) with Micheal S. Pope
10-10:30 a.m. - Roundtable conversation. Panelists: Michael S. Pope, Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson, Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr., Haw-Young Chong, Vanesa Cisneros, Mimi Luebress; Moderator: Motoe Yamada Foor
10:30-10:40 a.m. - Reflection & Integration - Facilitator: Stephane Brooks
10:40-11 a.m. - Transition Break
11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. - Ministry Track Session 1 - Group A (Scroll down for a full list of breakout sessions)
12:15-1:30 p.m. - Networking/lunch
1:30-2 p.m. - Intermission/Announcements
2-2:45 p.m. - Plenary session (Create) with Michael A. Beck
2:45-3:15 p.m. - Roundtable Conversation - Panelists: Michael A. Beck, Bishop Lanette Plambeck, Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez,
Candace M. Lewis, Lori Valentine de Segovia, and Precious Mangubat; Moderator: Jessica Taylor
3:15-3:25 p.m. - Reflection & Integration - Facilitator: Stephane Brooks
3:25-3:45 p.m. - Transition Break
3:45-5 p.m. - Ministry Track Session 2 - Group A (Scroll down for full list of breakout sessions)
5 p.m. - Networking/Self-care
Free evening

Tuesday, August 6, 2024

8-9 a.m. - Gathering and worship with Bishop Carlo Rapanut; Felicia Patton, Worship Leader
9-9:15 a.m. - Intermission/announcements
9:15-10 a.m. - Plenary session (Disciple) with Jeffrey Campbell
10-10:30 a.m. - Roundtable conversation - Panelists: Jeff Campbell, Bishop Kennetha J. Bigham-Tsai, Bishop Carlo S. Rapanut, Michelle Oberwise Lacock, Nura Zaki, and Sifa Hingano; Moderator: Mike Bowie, Jr.
10:30-10:40 a.m. - Reflection and Integration - Facilitator: Stephane Brooks
10:40-11 a.m. - Transition break
11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. - Ministry Track Session 1 - Group B (Scroll down for full list of breakout sessions)
12:15-1:30 p.m. - Networking/Lunch
1:30-2:45 p.m. - Ministry Track Session 2 - Group B (Scroll down for full list of breakout sessions)
2:45-3 p.m. - Transition Break
3-4:30 p.m. - Workshop (Scroll down for full list of workshops)
4:30-4:45 p.m. - Transition break
4:45 p.m.-Onward - Experimental Learning Opportunities (Option 1: FXUM Discovery; Option 2: Teaching church/ministry; Option 3: Affinity Group Networking)
Free evening

Wednesday, August 7, 2024

8-9 a.m. - Gathering and worship with Bishop Tracy Smith Malone; Felicia Patton, Worship Leader, featuring Rev. Clark and the Heirs of Joy
9-9:15 a.m. - Intermission/Announcements
9:15-10:15 a.m. - Moving Forward (World Cafe) - Moderator: Owen Ross
10:15-10:30 a.m. - Acknowledgement and evaluation - Scott Hughes & Naomi Annandale
10:30 a.m. - 12 noon - Communion and consecration service with Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez
12 noon - Homeward bound

Breakout Sessions / Workshops:

Monday, August 5

Ministry Track - Group A

Ministry Track 1: Dare to Shift—Challenging Leaders to See, Create, and Disciple in a New Way - Michael Bowie, Jr.
Ministry Track 2: Courageous Church - Blair Boyd Zant
Ministry Track 3: Let's Get it Started - Curtis Brown
Ministry Track 4: Expresiones de amor: Fresh Expressions - Chris and Jaidymar Alicea Smith and Lori Valentine de Segovia
Ministry Track 5: Intentional Discipleship Systems and Community Engagement - Scott Hughes and Bryan Tener
Ministry Track 6: Equipping Leaders to See, Create, and Go Make Disciples in a Relevant and Transformative Way - Stephanie Moore Hand
Ministry Track 7: Casting and Living into a God-given Vision - Rodrigo Cruz
Ministry Track 8: Becoming a Listening Church - Luke Edwards
Ministry Track 9: Worship and Disability: Anti-Ableist Practices for the Body of Christ - Lisa Hancock and Mimi Luebbers
Ministry Track 10: The Futuring Church: Believing into Tomorrow Today - Rob Hutchinson
Ministry Track 11: A Theological Framework for Trauma and Resilience - Ronald Bell
Ministry Track 12: Digital Ministry for Everyone - Nicole Reilley
Ministry Track 13: Integrated Discipleship: Honoring Faith, Feelings, and Actions - Charity Goodwin
Ministry Track 14: Hopeful Together: Reimagining Cooperative Ministry Partnerships - Susan Arnold
Ministry Track 15: Lay Leadership and Vocational Imagination - David Teel

Tuesday, August 6

Ministry Track - Group B

Ministry Track 1: Ver – Discernir – Actuar: A Model for Congregational Development - Lydia Munoz
Ministry Track 2: Dreaming, Embodying, and Leading a Young, Diverse, and Inclusive Church - Kristopher Sledge
Ministry Track 3: Fruitfulness in Every Season of Leadership - Candace Lewis
Ministry Track 4: Reviving the Movement: Embracing Fresh Expressions for Transformative Church - Jessica Taylor
Ministry Track 5: Discipleship Coaching to Reignite Your Ministry - Ken Willard
Ministry Track 6: Bold and Courageous: Taking Risks for the Sake of Love - Kipp Nelson
Ministry Track 7: Funding Ministry Year-Round through Discipleship - Joe Park
Ministry Track 8: Creating a Culture of Discipleship: Tongan UMC's Approach of Connecting Faith and Culture to Church Growth - Kalesita Tuifua
Ministry Track 9: Good Grief for Change - Jonathan Page
Ministry Track 10: Funding Fresh Ministry Initiatives - Brett Dehart
Ministry Track 11: Churches Adopting Churches: New Life for Healthy and Struggling Churches - Dirk Elliott
Ministry Track 12: I Refuse to Lead a Dying Church! - Paul Nixon & Jane Voigts
Ministry Track 13: Unlocking Hope: Paving the Path to a Future Beyond Mass Incarceration - Toska Medlock Lee and Devron Jerome Crawford
Ministry Track 14: Church Planting: We Put the Fun in Dysfunction! - Ellen Thornburg and Luis Ramirez
Ministry Track 15: From Nice to Meet You to Welcome Home - Digital Relationship Management - Jeremy Scott

Workshops

Workshop 1: Public Theology: Engaging Bicultural Communities and Demographics - Lydia Munoz
Workshop 2: Sharing Good News in a Bad-News World - Owen Ross
Workshop 3: Online and Hybrid Small Groups for Churches - Abigail Browka
Workshop 4: See New People, Build Community, Make Disciples - Mighty Rasing
Workshop 5: Hey Preacher – Rethinking Preaching for a Greater Impact - Derek Weber
Workshop 6: Writing Grants for Ministry - Naomi Annandale
Workshop 7: Harnessing AI for Good - Blake Davis
Workshop 8: Reaching New People Through Effective Marketing - Steven K. Adair
Workshop 9: Philippians 4:8: Unlocking the Power of Appreciative Inquiry - Claudine Leary
Workshop 10: Making the Blended Ecology Work in a Traditional, Established Church - Brett Dehart
Workshop 11: Generation Alpha is Not the Church’s Generation Omega - Chris Wilterdink
Workshop 12: The Way of Integrity - Denise Sears
Workshop 13: Why Do I Have to Engage in Anti-Racism as a Disciple of Jesus? - Enger Muteteke
Workshop 14: How Financial Well-being Empowers Strong Leaders and Stronger Congregations - Dorlimar Lebron and Ryan Macqueeney
Workshop 15: Brand Identity in Ministry: Defining Your Brand to Guide Your Ministry Story - Melissa Jackson
Workshop 16: United Women in Faith Transforms the Mind and Soul - Francine Davis & Amanda Hutchinson

Please contact Bener Agtarap if you have any questions about this event.