Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors

Ric Olson

Responsive service to the local congregation is primary for the ministry of Congregation and Circuit Development Coordinator, Ric Olson.

Dedicated to encouraging an open climate for new ministry start teams, revisioning of established churches, strengthening racial ethnic ministries, and assisting mutual leadership among the Laos.

Phone: 888.240.7328

Fax: 608.837.8547

Email: RicOlson@WisconsinUMC.org

Previous Ministry Experience:

1996-2006                    Iowa Annual Conference              Des Moines, IA

Connectional Field Minister

• Helped create the new Conference Staffing model across the state with 6 field staff working in regional areas.  I consulted with 128 congregations to equip to reach their growth potential, improving stewardship, church health and evangelism.
• Consulted with the Conference Parish Development Committee to develop congregational revitalization processes and launch new congregations. 
• Helped create and launch the Iowa Annual Conference Academy for New Ministry Development in 1998.  To date, we have graduated over 100 pastors and started the new Academy VIII class last January.
• Developed a sabbatical study on developing team ministry among rural churches.

1991-1996                    Iowa Annual Conference              Des Moines, IA

Director of Church Growth and Revitalization

• Came to Iowa in a pilot project to have field staff consult with 225 local churches in three districts, mostly rural southeast Iowa.
• Assisted churches in launching new outreach ministries, and new contemporary worship services.  Many grew spiritually and numerically.
• Worked to create an apportionment formula for the conference that rewards churches that are growing.

1981-1984                    Greenwood UMC                          Greenwood, IN

Associate Pastor

• Developed spiritual formation and evangelism ministries in an 1100 member congregation.
• Expanded lay shepherding ministries and outreach events.
• Introduced a computer into the church office for the first time.

1980-1981                    Morton Memorial UMC                   Clarksville, IN

Associate Pastor

• First full-time Associate Pastor for Youth Ministry and Lay Discipleship.
• Developed a Lay Caring Ministry and expanded the Youth Ministry.

Ordination:

1977                   Deacon, North Indiana Annual Conference

1981                   Elder, South Indiana Annual Conference

1991                   Transfer to Iowa Annual Conference

Education:

1984-1988          Northwestern University                              Evanston, IL

• Ph.D., completed August 1988.  Field of Applied Behavioral Sciences, Industrial Engineering and Management Science.
• Dissertation on The Largest Congregations in the United States:  An Empirical Study of Church Growth and Decline.

1976-1980          Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary     Evanston, IL

• M.Div., completed May 1980.  Interests in Pastoral Leadership.

1972-1976          Ball State University                                     Muncie, IN

• B.S.W., Major in Social Work, Minor in Philosophy.
• Graduated summa cum laude and with honors.

Teaching Experience:

1996-2000                    St. Paul School of Theology      Kansas City, MO

Course of Study Instructor

• Team-taught with Dr. Lindsey Pherigo in the Evangelism course for Third Year students. 

1996-Present                Iowa Annual Conference              Des Moines, IA

School for Lay Ministry Instructor

• Team-teach with Rev. Paul Shultz in the Strategies for Church Growth course for lay ministry students.

2003                             Iowa Central Community College     Ft. Dodge, IA

Adjunct  Instructor

• Taught an Ethical Dilemmas course in the Religion Department.

Experiences / Training in Faith Community Development:

1996-2006                    Iowa Annual Conference              Des Moines, IA

Parish Development Staff Consultant

• Developed revised guidelines and joint strategy for Congregational Revitalization and New Church Development.
• Coached pastors and laity in developing missional designs for launching new faith communities.
• Utilized Percept data for Local Church planning processes, developing new Matthew 25 ministries, launching Hispanic congregations and ministries, and promoting multiple-site strategies.
• Implemented and grew the Academy for New Ministry Development which has become the new training model for Lay Ministry, Youth Ministry, and Christian Educators in the Iowa Annual Conference.
• Developed a strategic partnership with ConnectionPower for using their Ministry Solutions like PowerVisitor and PowerMember to improve local church ministry processes.

1996-Present                GBGM and GBOD                                            

Schools for Congregational Development

• Attended several events with others from Iowa in the conference leadership track for effective strategies for new church development and revitalization.
• Participated in the study of other conferences engaged with new faith communities and new congregational development.

1996-Present               

North Central Jurisdictional Church Developer Network

• Represented the Iowa Annual Conference at jurisdictional meetings of the conference church developers.
• Exchanged ideas about using Asset-Mapping, Church Vitality Indicator, Natural Church Development, Appreciative Inquiry, and other cutting-edge developments in the field.

Interests:

Spiritual formation, church health, church redevelopment consultations, survey guided development, kayaking, biking, camping, and computers.

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