At its May 13 meeting, the Connectional Table set the dates for its 2017 Fall Retreat with Conference leaders.

The retreat will be Friday and Saturday, Nov. 17-18, at Sudbury UMC in Massachusetts. The dates coincide with the leadership training event, The Ripple Effect, which takes place Nov. 15-17 in the same location.

The Ripple Effect workshops are designed to inspire and equip lay and clergy leaders to live more fully into the mission of the church. The Connectional Table strongly encourages leaders to attend The Ripple Effect. (Click the link to learn more and register).

This Fall Retreat will be the first hosted by the Connectional Table. Members of the Connectional Table will gather with the chairs and leaders of the Conference’s boards, committees, and agencies to offer some leadership training and to help groups set priorities and goals.

One responsibility of the Connectional Table is to ensure that groups are functioning in alignment with the Conference’s five critical values as outlined in the Strategic Plan.

Groups will also learn more about the procedures and expectations of the Connectional Table around submitting budget requests. The Connectional Table is responsible for reviewing and making recommendations about the programming budget (Fund 2).

The Connectional Table acknowledged that boards, agencies, committees are being asked to get up and running with people who are new and may not be fully acquainted with their responsibilities. That’s what makes training a critical component, said Rev. Rene Perez, Cabinet liaison to the Connectional Table.

“The more informed they are about what they need to do, the better; that’s a great way to empower people,” he said.

“We want to get people in leadership on the train and moving forward,” said Rev. Erica Robinson-Johnson, Director of Connectional Ministries. “We hope this will be empowering and give them some tools for their toolbox.”

It will also be a chance, she said, to express the Connectional Table’s gratitude to leaders for their willingness to serve in these important roles.

Watch the website and e-news for details about the Connectional Table Fall Retreat.