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CONNECTIONAL MINISTRIES

Portico Online Learning Platform

The Connectional Ministries team is pleased to offer East Ohio Conference clergy and laity the opportunity to learn and grow by engaging in online courses offered via the Portico platform, named for a place where people gathered to learn in ancient times.

You can create a free Portico login to access online courses created by the East Ohio Conference Connectional Ministries office team, as well as content created by other UMC conferences. The online format allows learners to take courses when their schedule permits and to move at their own pace. Those learners can then meet in-person to study a topic more deeply and to nurture relationships.

Learn more and register to use Portico for free.

Amplify Media Orientation Video Available on Portico
Our East Ohio Conference has partnered with Amplify Media, a division of the United Methodist Publishing House, to offer local churches a discounted opportunity to download small-group resources. This partnership succeeds the former EOC Media Center in supporting our shared mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Amplify Media created a video tutorial to orient East Ohio Conference churches to its resources and explain the first-year 50% new member discount available to our churches. The video can be viewed on Portico, the free online curriculum resource available to all EOC clergy and laity. Signing up is easy – and free. Portico enables users to take online courses when their schedule permits and to move at their own pace.

Portico members can view the Amplify Media orientation video.

New Courses Offered on Portico:

• The Rule of Christ course teaches the basics of engaging in conflict from a Christian perspective. The course is recommended for: clergy and congregations who have recently experienced a pastoral change; congregations that wish to develop a healthy culture of processing conflict instead of avoiding it; and those who want to take these lessons into their lives. The online course needs to be completed before a Rule of Christ trainer is assigned to the congregation to build upon these basics. Learn more and register.
• The Charge Conference course focuses on the importance of completing charge conference paperwork in a way that properly highlights the vital of the ministry of the church. Charge Conference forms are used during the appointment-making process to pair churches with pastors and as a tool in determining the health and vitality of a local church. Learn more and register.
  
• The Safe Sanctuaries course covers the basics of Safe Sanctuaries. Rev. Gary Jones walks participants through the what is it, the why we do it, and common elements. This is a great course for churches reviewing or creating their policies, for ministry team leads, and for any one working with vulnerable persons in your faith community. Learn more and register.
• The Knots of Children’s Ministry course considers the who, what, when, where, how, and why of starting and redeveloping ministry for children. Learn more and register.

Learn local church committee basics including the responsibilities and structure of the committee:

• Church or Ad Council
• Finance
• SPRC
• Trustees
• Nominations/Leadership Development
• Simplified Governance (sometimes referred to as one board)