wenty-one participants from five jurisdictions attended the pilot Accountable Discipleship Training of Trainers event in Nashville, TN, February 25-27, 1999, at West End United Methodist Church. The participants included 11 clergy and 10 laity, 10 men and 11 women, 6 people from the Northeast Jurisdiction, 6 from the Southeast Jurisdiction, 4 from the North Central, 4 from the South Central Jurisdiction, and 1 from the Western Jurisdiction. The objectives for the workshop were for the participants to be able to: Explain the model for Accountable Discipleship at regional meetings and help a church, district, or conference organize a regional meeting. Articulate the pedagogical principles used in the regional meeting model. Assess their leadership styles as trainers and understand how each leadership style fits into the regional meeting model. Have a base-level knowledge of the content to be presented in a regional meeting. Improve their skills as trainers. The sessions included: Teaching principles for adult education; The seven ways of learning (verbal, visual, musical/rhythmic, kinesthetic, intrapersonal, interpersonal, logical-mathematical); Practicing facilitation skills through presentations on the theological foundation for accountable discipleship, basic information about class leaders and covenant discipleship groups, and the historical foundation of accountable discipleship; An immersion experience and dialogue about why we include an immersion experience in a regional meeting; Classical objections to accountable discipleship; and How to organize a regional meeting. The teaching style for the training was the workshop model. Everyone participated and contributed to creating a core of knowledge, wisdom, and skills that can be applied in leading training sessions and orientations about accountable discipleship, as well as in regional meetings. There were many high moments during the workshop. The group presenting the theological foundation did so by leading everyone in Wesley hymns, admonishing all to sing “lustily and with a good courage” (The United Methodist Hymnal, page vii). Another highlight took place when participants shared testimonies of personal transformations full of grace, about how the grace of God had carried them through the pain and difficult moments of their lives. The participants’ creativity opened up new ways of thinking about how trainers lead workshops. Some of the best moments included the fellowship shared over a meal or painting assignment and the encouragement to continue in ministries back home. The evaluation of the workshop was positive. One participant said, “It was worth spending three days away from my family.” This is high praise. JoAnn Eslinger, David Watson, Cindy Olszewski, Bill Pyatt, Margie Mayson, Drew Henry, and Marigene Chamberlain formed the leadership team for the event. A Reflection on Discipleship | Covenant Discipleship Groups in OIMC Accountable Discipleship Training of Trainers | Resources | Back to Covenant Discipleship Quarterly Home Page