District Training Day — Now Virtual & Free!

We’re doing something new this year, and new things sometimes come with surprises. After working through some challenges with our original plans, we’re excited to share that District Training Day is still on — just reimagined.

On Saturday, April 25, we’re moving the event fully online, and we couldn’t be more hopeful about what that means: more people from across the district will be able to join us, no matter where they are.

Here’s what to know:

  • Keynote at 10:00 AM via Zoom
  • Breakout workshops at 11:00 AM — all sessions are still happening just via ZOOM
  • Completely FREE — because we’re virtual, we no longer have the same expenses, and we want as many people as possible to say yes
  • Registered participants will receive a Zoom link by email before the event
  • If you already paid, a full refund is on its way to you
  • This is still a day to learn, connect, and grow together across the Shenandoah River District. We hope going virtual means more of you can be part of it.

Ready to join us? Register using the link below.

REGISTER

 

Workshop List

Putting It All Into Practice

Leader: Tim Ward
Tim will be doing a practical workshop looking at the participants’ communities and seeing how we can put the keynote address into practice.

Full Circle Care to Bless Your Laborers

Leaders: Jordan Dillon and Mike Singer from Brotherhood Mutual
With more than a century of experience serving and protecting ministries, Brotherhood Mutual launched Brotherhood Works to help ministries protect and care for what matters most – their people. In this session, we’ll explore practical ways your ministries can support their staff and volunteers to keep them healthy and strong. We’ll discuss tools and practices that simplify your efforts, satisfy compliance and duty of care standards, streamline risk management, and help you care well for your team.

How the Church Can Reach and Help the Anxious Generation (19-30 year olds)

Leader: Rebecca Harrigal
We will dive into 19-30 year olds (the Anxious Generation); what the research says about this age group, and what this age group needs and wants from the church. Resources will include J. Haidt, The Anxious Generation; Thom Rainer, The Anxious Generation Goes to Church; K. Powell, J. Mulder, and B. Griffen, Growing Young

Discovering Our Gifts and Strengths for Ministry

Leader: Amanda Webber
Discover the hidden potential within your ministry team. In this engaging introduction to CliftonStrengths, church leaders will explore how understanding each person’s God-given gifts can transform how your team serves together. You’ll learn why focusing on what’s naturally strong in each person—rather than trying to fix what’s weak—creates more effective ministry, deeper collaboration, and greater joy in serving.

Serving Christ Together: An Effective Approach to Cooperative Parishes

Leader: Jason Stanley
Have you ever wondered what kind of Kingdom impact two or more churches in the same community could have if they cooperated in ministry? Cooperative parishes, as outlined in the Book of Discipline, provide an innovative way to bring churches together to be in ministry, not an appointment solution. This workshop will explore a discernment process, seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, in bringing churches together as a cooperative parish.Bio: Rev. Dr. Jason Stanley is the Director for Call and Candidacy for the Virginia Annual Conference. For eight years, he was the Coordinator for Church Revitalization for the Coastal Virginia District. Jason is the co-author with Kay Kotan of the book An Effective Approach to Cooperative Parishes.

Art & Soul – A Visual Arts Worship Design Workshop

Leader: Kathleen Haynes
This workshop will enable you to deepen and reinforce your Church’s worship by helping you: Learn to create a theologically grounded feast for the eyes and the soul in your worship space, Learn to create spiritual focal centers for worship in non-sacred places. Incorporate a usually “silent” group of volunteers who have SO much to offer! Learn how to create this ministry with efficiency and ease. Who should attend? Anyone with an interest in starting or growing a Visual Arts ministry within your church. Anyone who is simply passionate about creating beauty of any kind in honor of God. You do not have to be an “artist” to be great at Visual Arts Design. Crafters, quilters, painters, those who sew, knit, crochet, or work with clay, wood, metal, plants, etc.Bio: This workshop will be led by Rev. Kathleen Haynes, an elder in the Virginia Conference, who was in charge of the Visual Arts for Worship at the 2022, 2023, & 2024 Annual Conferences. She has been passionate about incorporating visual elements into worship since 2005. 

REGISTER