UM leaders and pastors will have three opportunities for a week of
self-directed study, worship and prayer during 2011 at the General Board
of Discipleship (GBOD) Learning Center and the adjacent Vanderbilt
University Divinity School campus. Dates for the "Leave for Leaders" sessions-Jan. 31-Feb. 4, Apr. 25-29 and Oct. 24-28-were selected to avoid traditionally busy times on the church calendar.Participants will have full access to the Vanderbilt University Divinity School Library and lectures in classrooms by select Vanderbilt Divinity School faculty through a partnership with the Turner Center for Church Leadership. They may also audit courses and meet privately with Divinity School faculty. One-on-one consultations with GBOD staff from Upper Room Ministries, Leadership Ministries, New Church Starts (Path 1) and Youth
People's Ministries (DMYP) will also be available. For more information,
contact Steve Manskar (877- 899-2780, ext. 1765; smanskar@gbod.org
 or Craig Kennett Miller (877-899-2780, ext.
7081; cmiller@gbod.org

Jan. 6 is the deadline to apply to attend the 8th annual Young Clergy
Capitol Hill Leadership Forum sponsored by the General Board of Church &
Society (GBCS). The forum will be Jan. 30-Feb. 2, at the historic UM Building next door to the Supreme Court and across the street from the U.S. Capitol. Annual conferences are encouraged to send up to two persons, age 35 and under,who may be either elders or deacons serving a local church full-time.
GBCS advocacy staff will discuss key legislative issues under consideration on Capitol Hill. The forum will provide creative, participatory ways to teach the Social Principles of The UMC http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=793692 in
congregations. GBCS resources that support nurture, outreach and witness will be presented. Register online at Young Clergy 2011 http://www.umc-gbcs.org/youngclergy2011. For more information, contact Julie Wilson, (202- 488-5650; jwilson@umc-gbcs.org the Rev. Neal Christie, assistant
general secretary for Education & Leadership Formation (202-488-5611);
nchristie@umc-gbcs.org/