Register for​ Upcoming
​
Trainings & Webinars 

New Subscriber Orientation
This 1 1/2 hour, free webinar provides newly subscribing congregations and their leaders with an overview of our resources, how to access them and how to adapt them to their environments. Also offers an introduction to our unique take on theme-based ministry and the theology that inspires it. We leave time at the end for you to ask questions about adapting and implementing our resources in your unique setting.  Offered twice in August. Click on the the buttons below to register for the date that works for you.
​COST: FREE
​DATES & TIMES:   Monday, August 9 -  7:30 pm ET,  6:30pm  CT,  5:30pm MT,  4:30pm PT
                                        Tuesday August 24 -  7:30 pm ET,  6:30pm  CT,  5:30pm MT,  4:30pm PT

New Facilitator Training

This two-hour online training for new small group facilitators covers the Soul Matters facilitation model, our unique approach to deep and disciplined listening, tips for handling facilitation challenges and start up strategies.
Designed for new facilitators but also serves as a great tune-up training for long-time facilitators! 
Discounts available for congregations sending 5 more more facilitators. Contact Susan Arnold, our Membership Director, to this discounted group registration
Click on the the buttons below to register for the date that works for you.
​
​COST: $20 per participant. Contact Susan for discount when a congregation sends five or more people
​DATES & TIMES: See buttons below
Widening the Circle Through RE Work  - A webinar on de-centering whiteness in RE
Our presenters are the members of our Soul Matters Widening the Circle Team: Michele Capobianco, April Rosario, Christina Strong, Adrienne Summerlot. Learn more about them HERE.
They'll share what they’ve learned as they’ve worked to de-center whiteness in their RE programs and address a number of the common challenges many of us are facing as we develop RE programming that centers BIPOC children and families. We’ll be sure to leave time for the questions and the challenges you are wrestling with in your own setting.
This webinar will be offered twice: Friday, Aug. 27 at 1 pm ET  & ​Thursday, Sept. 9, 7 pm ET. Pick whichever time best fits your schedule.
There is a small fee of $10 to compensate our presenters for their time and expertise.
​If you are unable to attend, we will offer recordings of the webinars after they are completed.

Social Media Toolbox Overview & Orientation Webinar - Aug. 25

This orientation webinar is for those who have purchased or are interested in purchasing our Social Media Toolbox. It is run by Susan Arnold, our Director of Membership and Media Coordinator, and Rev. Scott Tayler, our Team Lead.  It covers how the toolbox images and memes can be used and offers tips for editing and posting memes as well as general guidance about using it to enhance your entire social media presence.  Since our toolboxes contain resources for worship screens as well as Facebook and websites, this webinar will be useful to worship leaders as well as administrative and media support people.
Advanced Facilitator Training - 3 Month Lecture Based  (Last Mondays)
This 3-session advanced facilitator training covers the three core stages of group development:

  • Getting Groups Off the Ground (covenant formation, start-up meetings, teaching the Soul Matters discernment practices, advertising, etc.)
  • Ensuring Good Group Practice (facilitation tips, handling challenging group dynamics, check-in & check-out strategies, introduction scripts, etc.) 
  • Adapting and Enhancing The Group Experience (strategies for adapting & expanding our model)

Participants meet for an hour and a half, once a month for three months. Soul Matters founder, Rev. Scott Tayler, leads the sessions in a lecture-oriented style, with room for questions.
It is highly recommended that participants take our single-session New Facilitator Training prior to this training.

​COST: $60 total per participant.
​DATES: The last Monday of each month, from September to November  (Sept. 27, Oct. 25, Nov. 29)
​TIME: 7:30-9pm eastern time
Advanced Facilitator Training - 5 Month Experiential Based 
This 5-session, once-a-month training uses an experiential approach, with each monthly meeting run as a small group that follows the packet for the upcoming month. Our Team Lead, Rev. Scott Tayler, facilitates each group meeting. This allows participants to experience a “dry run” of the session they will be leading the following month. It is an entirely different way of approaching training. Instead of being told how to facilitate, group members learn through participation and watching Rev. Tayler model facilitation. Along the way, Rev. Tayler will pause to point out tips and group process. After each 2 hour session, facilitators can stay on the call for an optional and more personalized troubleshooting and tips session with Rev. Tayler. This is a chance for facilitators to receive monthly support for the particular challenges they are wrestling with in the groups they run in their home congregations. In addition to training, this approach provides participants with personal spiritual nourishment as they bond and share with fellow facilitators from around the country.
It is highly recommended that participants take our single-session New Facilitator Training prior to this training.
​
​COST: $100 total per participant.
​DATES: Two groups to choose from:
          Last Tuesdays of each month, from September to January (Sept. 28, Oct. 26, Nov. 30, Dec. 28, Jan. 25)
          Last Wednesdays of each month, from September to January (Sept. 29, Oct. 27, Nov. 24, Dec. 29, Jan. 26)
​TIME: both groups meet 7-9pm eastern time​
GROUP LIMIT: 7 participants per group
Crossing Paths Leadership 101 Orientation 
This free webinar provides Crossing Paths leaders with an overview of the curriculum's unique components, including our theological grounding, distinct take on religious pluralism ("Many Mountains, Many Paths"), abundance of experiential learning and family-centered activities.
This webinar will be held on Thursday, August 5, 2021 at 7:30 pm eastern. A recording of the webinar will be posted afterward on our Webinar Recordings page.
Crossing Paths Advanced Leader Coaching Cohorts
Advanced training and support for those leading our Crossing Paths program with youth. This two-session webinar series is held in August and October.  The August meeting offers a deep dive into running the family orientation and adapting the program to your unique setting. The October session focuses on problem solving the challenges you run into after you’ve started the program.

To give you flexibility, we are offering two distinct groups, with a limit of 10 in each group.
Group one will meet on Wednesday, Aug. 11 at 8 pm ET and Wednesday, Oct. 6 at 8pm ET. 
Group two will meet on Thursday, Aug. 12 at 8 pm ET and Thursday, Oct. 7 at 8pm ET. 

Click on the button below to register for the group that best fits your schedule.
Recordings of Past Webinars
A number of our past webinars are available, many of them free.  Topics include: new subscriber orientation, adapting our small group model, social media tools, crossing paths, vibrant music on small budgets, leading meditation with children and an intro to our Starting Point newcomers program.
  For more information contact Susan: susan@soulmatterssharingcircle.com.                           Soul Matters Sharing Circle LLC