Exploration
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Next Exploration Event Set for November 13-15, 2009
EXPLORATION 2009 will be held in Dallas, Tex., Nov. 13-15, 2009.A gathering for young people (high-school seniors through age 24) considering ordained ministry in The United Methodist Church.
You will learn that all baptized Christians are called to ministry, and that some people are called to ordained ministries of Word, Sacrament, Order and Service through the church.
The ordained ministry of deacons and elders offers incredible opportunities for service in a variety of settings. Ministry settings might include the local church, campus ministry, hospital or military chaplaincy, mission at home and abroad, teaching in college or seminary, social work, counseling, music or youth ministries and many others.
At Exploration you will learn:
- how you can discern God’s call in your life
- the nature of ordained ministry in The United Methodist Church
- steps into ordained ministry
You will also:
- participate in workshops on topics that speak to your own questions and interests
- meet others from across the country who are considering their call to ministry
- have an opportunity to talk with people engaged in a variety of ministries
Scholarships
Registration scholarships in the amount of $150 are available for participants who demonstrate need and meet the following guidelines:- Are attending EXPLORATION for the first time.
- Submit a completed Scholarship Application Form by September 9, 2009.
- Complete registration for EXPLORATION by September 9, 2009 – including a $150 deposit. Scholarship recipients will be reimbursed for their registration fee at EXPLORATION.
- Recipients must pick up their reimbursement checks in person at EXPLORATION.
GBHEM/EXPLORATION – Scholarships
Tom Carter
PO Box 340007
Nashville, TN 37203-0007
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Friday, November 13
12:00 pm – 6:00 pm Registration3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Small Group Leader Training
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm Dinner with Annual Conferences
7:00 pm – 7:15 pm Gathering and Welcome
7:15 pm – 8:30 pm Opening Worship
8:30 pm – 10:00 pm Small Groups Meet
10:00 pm Late Night Activities and Entertainment
Saturday, November 14
6:00 am – 7:00 am Morning YOGA/Run/Spiritual Disciplines7:00 am – 8:15 am Breakfast
8:15 am – 9:15 am Morning Worship
9:45 am – 11:00 am Workshop Session 1
11:15 am – 12:15 pm Small Groups Meet
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm Lunch & Ministry Fair – Meet representatives from the 13 United Methodist Seminaries
2:30 pm – 3:45 pm Workshop Session 2
4:15 pm – 5:30 pm Workshop Session 3
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Conversation Circles
5:30 pm – 6:00 pm Free Time
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Dinner
7:30 pm – 9:00 pm Evening Worship
9:15 pm – 10:45 pm Small Groups Meet
10:45 pm Late Night Activities and Entertainment
Sunday, November 15
6:00 am – 7:00 am Morning YOGA/Run/Spiritual Disciplines7:00 am – 8:15 am Breakfast
8:30 am – 9:30 am Small Groups Meet
10:00 am – 11:30 am Closing Worship
Speakers
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Rev. Tyrone D. Gordon
The Rev. Tyrone D. Gordon was born in Los Angeles, California. He is an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church and is a member of the North Texas Conference . He received a Bachelor of Art from Bishop College in Dallas, Texas and a Master of Divinity from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University.In September 1988, the Rev. Gordon was appointed as the senior pastor of Saint Mark United Methodist Church , Wichita, Kansas. Saint Mark grew from 350 members in 1988 to over 2,600 members and was considered to be one of the fastest growing African American congregations in The United Methodist Church. Additionally, Saint Mark was one of the most racially diverse congregations in the Kansas West Annual Conference .
In July 2002, the Rev. Gordon was appointed to St. Luke “Community” United Methodist Church , Dallas, Texas. Since then, St. Luke’s membership has grown from 5,200 to 6,000. Rev. Gordon has been the recipient of many distinguished awards and is currently involved in many denominational and community boards. His latest published work is FOCUS: Living the Lord’s Prayer (Abingdon Press). Rev. Gordon is married to the former Marsha Douglas and they have two beautiful daughters, Lauren and Allyson.
Dr. William B. Lawrence
William B. Lawrence is Dean and Professor of American Church History at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. An elder in The United Methodist Church, he is a member of the North Texas Annual Conference and serves on its Board of Ordained Ministry.
Born in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Dr. Lawrence received a baccalaureate degree in religion with distinction from Duke University, a Master of Divinity degree cum laude from Union Theological Seminary in New York, and a Ph. D. with distinction from Drew University. He has been a pastor of local churches in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington D. C., and he served as a district superintendent. Before beginning his present position in 2002 as Dean of Perkins, he has been a faculty member or administrator at Duke Divinity School and at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. The General Conference of 2008 elected him to an eight-year term as a member of the Judicial Council of The United Methodist Church.
He and his wife, Naomi have two married sons and three grandchildren.
Bishop Sally Dyck
“My vision for The United Methodist Church is that its membership will become a spiritually vital and energized body of believers who make a difference in every community as well as the world. I envision a community of people studying scripture, exercising the disciplines of our faith, and discovering the joy of sharing faith with others through word and deed.”
Bishop Sally Dyck was ordained in 1981, served in the East Ohio Conference, and was consecrated bishop in 2004. She is currently the bishop of the Minnesota Area of the UMC.
Bishop Dyck graduated from Boston University School of Theology, the University of Geneva/World Council of Churches, and United Theological Seminary.
Her leadership priorities are based on the Great Commandment and the Great Commission: to cultivate spiritual vitality and to reach new people with the gospel. She has devised a "spiritual pyramid," based on the FDA food pyramid, which illustrates the spiritual practices that build healthy people of faith.
Believing that God wants people to experience wholeness in all parts of their lives, she encourages nutrition and exercise for physical health and runs daily for exercise and meditation.
Bishop Dyck has been married to the Rev. Kenneth Ehrman, a United Methodist elder, since 1976. The two have traveled the globe together by plane, bicycle, and on foot.
Rev. Motoe Yamada
The Rev. Motoe Yamada was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. She was baptized by the Rev. Denise Baker, Toledo Campus Ministry. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations with a Psychology minor from the University of Toledo, a Master of Arts in Educational Administration from Michigan State University, and a Master of Divinity from the Graduate Theological Union/Pacific School of Religion.
She was selected for the Lewis Fellows Program, a leadership development initiative for outstanding young clergy sponsored by Wesley Theological Seminary. She is an associate pastor of Wesley United Methodist Church, San Jose, Calif.
She served on the United Methodist Student Movement Steering Committee and the Ecumenical Networks Standing Committee for the National Council of Churches of Christ. She is a vice chair of the United Methodist Asian American and Pacific Islander Clergywomen Association and one of four United Methodist members of the World Council of Churches Central Committee.
Videos
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See past Exploration experiences
What Has Been Your Favorite Part?
Why Did You Come to Exploration?
Where Are You From?
Workshops
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Workshop descriptions and information
Discern: How do I know that God is calling me?God calls all of us into Christian service. God's call can come in many ways – through a mountaintop experience, an invitation through someone else, or a gradual awareness that becomes more apparent over the years. Come to this workshop to hear about the ways God is calling you, and how you can discern God's call for ministry.
Discern: I'm called…but to what? Learning about your gifts for ministry.
So you are called to Christian ministry. That's great! But now what? Refining your personal understanding of your gifts and God's grace can help you understand where God is calling you to serve. Learn more about yourself and God's call for you through a spiritual gifts inventory and get more resources for further exploration.
Discern: Still in High School? Thinking about college, seminary and ordained ministry
Leaving high school and moving into your first couple years of college is a time of change and transition. Where should I go to school? What should I study? Should I change my major? How do I discern what God is calling me to? Learn about your options for college, campus ministry opportunities, your future vocational options, and looking ahead to seminary or graduate school.
Discern: Options for professional ministry in The United Methodist Church
You have options! Come to this workshop to learn about your different options for professional ministry in The United Methodist Church. You will be provided with an overview of the ministry of elders, deacons, licensed local pastors and lay professionals. There are a lot of options – where you are called to serve may surprise you!
Discern: What does it means to be an elder?
Get an in-depth look at United Methodist elders and the many ways they serve. Men and women can be ordained as elders by a bishop to minister through word, sacrament, order and service. An elder preaches and teaches the Word of God, administers the sacraments of baptism and communion, equips the laity for ministry, exercises pastoral oversight, orders the life of the church and leads in service of mission and ministry. Learn about options for serving within the local church and through extension ministries like campus ministry, chaplaincy, education, administration and more. You will also learn about seminary, ordination and the process of becoming an elder.
Discern: What does it mean to be a deacon?
Come and learn more about who deacons are and how they serve within and beyond the local church. A United Methodist deacon is a clergyperson called by God and ordained by a bishop to a ministry of word and service. A deacon's ministry connects worship with service to God in the world. A deacon may serve within and beyond the local church, through education, ecumenical or secular agencies. Deacons can serve in music ministry, Christian education, mission outreach, age-group ministry, ethnic ministry, social justice ministry, campus ministry, health care ministry, business administration, counseling, disaster relief, teaching, social work, or community ministries and in other ministries as well. Come and meet deacons who serve in diverse ministry settings, and learn about how seminary, graduate school and ordination connect to becoming a deacon.
Discern: What is endorsement, and why would I want that?
Learn more about what endorsement is, and how it can apply to people called to be elders and deacons. Endorsement is the process established by The United Methodist Church to ensure that chaplains and pastoral counselors who provide ministry in hospitals, prisons, the armed forces, hospices and counseling centers are qualified and prepared to appropriately represent the denomination. Both deacons and elders serve in these areas of ministry and can receive endorsement on behalf of the church.
Discern: What are some non-ordained ministry options?
Learn more about options for service as a non-ordained person in The United Methodist Church. The church has many different categories for ministry and ways to serve. These options include deaconess and home missioners, licensed local pastors, lay missionaries and laypersons who serve in a variety of ways. Learn more about what these categories mean and how they might be one way for you to answer God's call to serve.
Respond: Little Known Great Moments in United Methodist History
Clergy serve courageously everyday in situations where their actions can be risky or lifesaving for the people they serve. Through out the ages women and men have served faithfully and have dared to live life abundantly in their radical service to God. Be inspired by hearing these true stories of faith, radical discipleship, and life changing service. The world needs Christians who are ready to make a radical difference – how do you want to serve?
Respond: Forgive us our Debts: Financial Planning and Scholarships for Seminary
Preparing for ordained ministry requires thinking about and planning for seminary or other graduate education, and how to pay for that education. Learn about options for financing theological or graduate education. We will talk about scholarships available from your local church, your annual conference, United Methodist seminaries, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, and loan options through the church.
Respond: Candidacy Process
You've discerned a call to ordained ministry – now what? The United Methodist Church's candidacy process is the application and discernment process for ordination; and this workshop will address any and all questions related to the candidacy process. Sharon Rubey, Director of Candidacy and Conference Relations, along with other staff members from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry will explain the process, give an overview of the steps to take, and give suggestions on how to work through this process.
Respond: Seminary 101: What to Expect
Seminary is master's level education and ordination requires a master's degree. If you have questions about seminary – when to apply, what kinds of degrees are offered, what classes are like, how to apply – or want to hear from current seminary students, attend this panel discussion led by current seminary students and admissions staff.
Respond: Being a “Young Adult” in Ministry
Young adults face a unique set of challenges in ministry. This panel discussion will be an opportunity for you to ask questions about what it's like to be a young adult in ministry. Topics may include: sex and singleness, being single and/or dating while you're serving; sex and marriage, having a significant other as you enter into ordained ministry; age and authority: overcoming the “aren't you cute?!?” reaction when you walk into a church; self-care: acting your age while leading in ministry; why young adults matter, why young adults stay in ministry.
Respond: A Self-Care Manual
In full time ministry, it is easy to focus on caring for others' spiritual journeys while neglecting your own. This workshop will give you a definition of self-care, practical ways to build self care into your ministry plan and suggestions for helpful resources as you nurture your spiritual life.
Respond: Being a Woman in Ministry:
Although women have been serving in ministry for much longer, women have only been ordained in the Methodist tradition since 1956 (53 years). A diverse group of women have been invited to share their stories and journeys in ministry and to lead a discussion and Q&A time for participants.
Respond: Being differently-abled in ministry
This is an in-depth look at the challenges and opportunities facing persons with disabilities in the ministry. Explore and discuss the unique contributions persons with disabilities bring to ordained ministry.
Respond: Cross-cultural and cross-racial ministry
At the 2008 General Conference a specific definition for cross-cultural and cross-racial appointments was added to the Book of Discipline for the first time. Get an in-depth look at the challenges and opportunities that cross-cultural and cross-racial appointments bring and discuss the opportunities for ministry in a diverse world.
Exploration 2009 Scholarship Form
