2026 District Learning Opporunity - Registration Deadline: October 13

Crossroads and Finger Lakes Districts Learning Day
Saturday, October 24, 2026
Deadline to register: October 13, 2026
Location: Auburn UMC, 99 South Street, Auburn, NY 13021

Open to everyone! Bring a friend!

​Schedule:

• 9:00 a.m. Gather
• 9:30 a.m. Worship in the Sanctuary
• 10:45 a.m. Workshop One
• 12:15 p.m. Lunch (provided)
• 1:15 p.m. Workshop Two
• 2:30 p.m. Homeward Bound

 
Each workshop will be offered once in the morning and once in the afternoon–please sign up for which workshop you would like to attend. There is a limit of 12 people per workshop session.

Workshop Descriptions:

• The Effective SPPRC - led by Superintendent, Rev. Dr. Sherri Rood: This workshop will help participants understand the role of the Staff Pastor-Parish Relations Committee in the life of the church. It will also address how to create and utilize job descriptions for evaluations.

 

• Single Board Governance - led by Rev. Susan Ranous: How to explore and move toward a single board or simple governance model.

 

• The ABCs of Running a Good Meeting – led by Rev. Dr. Aaron Bouwens: Everyone has attended at least one poorly run meeting. How can we be good stewards of time and talent by planning and leading a good meeting? Come to this workshop to learn how to create and run a helpful and meaningful meeting.

 

• Messy Church - led by Rev. Bryant Clark: Messy church is a new way to be church. It welcomes and integrates people of every generation together through crafts, games, music, storytelling, prayer and more for the purpose of building Christian community. Come learn more about Messy Church and how you can start Messy Church in your congregation.

 

• The Many Expressions of Grief - led by Pastor Andrea Simmons: How do we name and help people grieve loss. Many congregations are experiencing grief personally and as congregations. They are grieving loss of family, friends, even churches. This workshop will help people name their grief and provide some resources on how to work through the stages of grief.​​

Register