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News

Discipleship University Focuses on "Living the United Methodist Way"

NOTE: Photographs are available at http://photos.gbod.org

Karen Greenwaldt, General Secretary, addresses Discipleship University participants via video.

In a video greeting to participants in the first session of Discipleship University, which launched in Nashville, October 9-12, Greenwaldt said the "Methodist movement is a movement of today that brings a similar response to need -- disaster recovery, malaria bed nets, medicines, water, food, scholarships for young people, new churches for new people, and support for the spiritual formation of principled leaders and faithful people in our churches and communities."

Greenwaldt spoke to about 50 participants and staff attending GBOD's Discipleship University, a key component of the agency's efforts to develop principled Christian leaders for the church and world, one of the denomination's Four Areas of Focus over the next four years.

Participants began the first of five weekend experiences of Burning Bush, the core curriculum of Discipleship University, focused on "Living the United Methodist Way."

Clergy and lay leaders participate in a small-group session during the first weekend experience of Burning Bush, the core curriculum for Discipleship University.

Built around the dramatic appearance of God to Moses in the Exodus story, Burning Bush is a two-year experience for congregations to focus on developing an intentional process for making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

The curriculum covers identity and purpose, hospitality and faith-sharing, worship and spiritual practices, reconciliation and justice, and service and mission.

Associate general secretary, the Rev. MaryJane Pierce Norton addresses the first group of participants in Burning Bush I.

Participants are grouped according to average worship attendance. The first seven groups are from congregations with 100-250 in worship.

The registration deadline for Burning Bush 2, which targets large-membership churches, is January 15, 2009. Registration is $225 per person, per weekend. For additional information, including application materials, go to www.gbod.org/du or contact Mary McDonald at 1-877-899-2780, ext. 1760 or mmcdonald@gbod.org.

The General Board of Discipleship's mission is to support annual conference and local church leaders for their task of equipping world-changing disciples. An agency of The United Methodist Church, GBOD (www.gbod.org) is located at 1908 Grand Ave. in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, call the Media Relations Office toll free at 877-899-2780, ext. 7017.