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Connecting the Church in Ministry
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FAQ Table of Contents
What's a teleclass? How does it work?A teleclass is a class held on the telephone, just like a conference call. People call in from all over the country at the scheduled time of the class. Your only cost is the class registration fee and the cost of the long distance phone call. You must be able to call in from a landline -- not a cellphone, cordless phone or speakerphone -- in order to participate.
When you sign up, you receive a confirmation email a link to the private class page for your class. This class page contains important call information -- the phone number to call and special PIN code to enter. It also contains links to any class outlines and other materials as they become available for download closer to class time.
When you dial the conference number, you will be asked to enter the PIN code, followed by the # sign. As soon as you do, you will be on the call.
At the start of the class everyone will have the chance to say their name and where they're calling from. Helpful information about teleclass participation is found below in the "Teleclass Tips" section of this FAQ page. It is also found in the "Teleclass Tips" link on your class page.
The class will include a presentation by the leader on the class topic -- and there will also be time for conversation and questions. eMinistry classes always begin and end with prayer.
When you register, you'll get an email directing you to the class web-page, which contains all the information you need for the class:
When the class is finished, everyone says goodbye -- and you simply hang up!
What's a web-seminar? How does it work?A web-seminar is a class which is held on the telephone -- just like a teleclass -- but which also allows you to follow along on your computer as the class leader gives a PowerPoint presentation, or looks at other charts and materials, during the class session.
IMPORTANT!! Participating in a web-seminar requires that you have the ability to be on a land-line phone (not cell) and on the internet at the same time. Therefore, if your internet service is dial-up, you will not be able to participate in the web-seminar class.
Like a teleclass, when you sign up, you receive an email with the phone number to call and special PIN code. Your only cost is the class registration fee and the cost of the long distance phone call. When you dial the conference number, you will be asked to enter the PIN code, followed by the # sign. As soon as you do, you will be on the call.
Web-seminar information: You'll also receive an email with the invitation and information you need to log into the online web-seminar at class time.
What
is a typical eMinistry teleclass like?
Depending
on the topic, a class hour will probably contain the following:
Depending on the topic, the above material may be covered in a series of classes.
How do I sign up for a class?
It's easy! Click on the registration linknext to the teleclass name you want to sign up for, and you'll be taken straight to our secure server.
As soon as you're registered, you'll receive an automatic confirmation email which will tell you the the conference phone number to call and the PIN number to enter, and any web-seminar log-in information if applicable.
If you do not receive this email within one day after registering, please email us or call us at 509-456-7344.
Reminder: you will need to adjust the time of the class according to where you are located: for example, if the class is to be held at 7:00 pm Eastern and you live in California, your email will list the time as 7:00 Eastern and you will call in at 4:00 Pacific. You may also need to adjust your calendar to reflect regional differences in Daylight Savings Time. Back to Top
How do I register a group of people from my congregation for a class?If you want to register several participants from your congregation for a class, you can do so by clicking the registration link next to the class listing -- this will bring you to our "shopping cart" page. Enter the number of registrations you wish in the "quantity" box on the page and the total registration amount will appear. Then click "check out." On the check-out page, in the "Comments" box at the bottom, please give us the name and email address of each participant so we can contact everyone individually with the call information and class page link.
On selected classes, a registration discount may be offered for three or more participants from one congregation.
What if there's no teleclass on the ministry I'm interested in? Or how do I suggest a ministry topic for a teleclass?We are always looking to expand our teleclass offerings. Send us an email and let us know what ministry you want to explore, and we will do our best to 1) connect you to some resources and 2) develop a teleclass on that topic. Back to Top
Who are the teleclass leaders?They are leaders in ministry throughout the Episcopal Church and in other mainline Protestant denominations -- lay people and clergy who have expertise in a particular area of outreach or congregational ministry. All of them have had active participation in a congregation, and understand how ministry works within the congregational setting. We have sought them out and asked them to share their knowledge with you.
Some of them may have led workshops on their topic in their diocese or at a conference for the wider Church.
You can find biographical information for each of our leaders below the description/listing for their class, along with any available links to their ministries.
If you have experience in a particular ministry area and would like to lead a class, send us an email and tell us about it! We will be happy to explore the possibility with you. Back to Top
How do I contact a teleclass leader directly?If there is a link to their ministry website, you can contact them directly through that website. If there is no additional link to the leader, you are welcome to send them an email via the eMinistry Network, and we will see that your email gets forwarded on to them. Please be sure to put the leader's name in the subject line of the email.
Please note: Our policy is not to give out our teleclass leaders' email addresses. Back to Top
What if I register for a class and then find out I can't attend?Click here for our registration and fee policies.
Teleclass TipsParticipating in a teleclass is like being part of any group situation — certain practices will give the best experience for everyone on the call. Here are some things to be aware of. But above all, relax! The teleclass process is much easier than it may sound….and we’ll do our best to make it a great experience for you! 1. Please call in from a grounded, "land line" — not a cell phone, cordless phone or computer -- which can cause static and background noise. The more participants on a call, the more everyone's noise gets magnified! Speaker phones are not permitted, as they negatively impact the sound quality for all. 2. Try to call in as close to the scheduled class time as possible. The class will have a few minutes in the beginning when participants can check in (usually you can just give your first name and your location. The leader may ask what size congregation you are in. This will give the people on the call a sense of who’s participating and from where, and gives some time for the group to gather before beginning.) 3. If you have to call in late, please just join the call but don’t announce yourself, as that can interrupt the class process…. Feel free to introduce yourself later when you want to ask a question or make a comment. 4. You can always hit "Star 6"--*6 -- while on a call to "mute" yourself. This is especially important if you have dogs barking or other noise happens while you are on the call. We have heard everything on a call — dishes being washed, lunches eaten, etc. — so please make sure to use the mute option if that will help the class. 5. When you want to say something during the class, introduce yourself and then wait for the leader to acknowledge you. It often happens that several people begin to speak at the same time — that’s okay! The leader will ask for your names so that you can each get a chance to talk. 6. Also, you of course never have to say anything if you don’t want to! Sometimes participants just want to be active listeners. Participation is helpful to the class as a whole, and the leader may ask a question or ask for a few people to comment, but feel free to participate only at the level that you feel comfortable. 7. And remember, just as in any conversation, make sure everyone has the opportunity to contribute if they want to. If you have special questions or needs, the leader may arrange to follow-up with you after the call. 8. Other than that, dial into the class and enjoy!! Back to Top
Can I audiotape a teleclass I participate in?No. Audio taping of teleclasses by participants is not permitted.
Can I have others sit in on the class with me -- either on other extensions or via speakerphone?No. Using a speakerphone negatively affects the sound quality of the class for everyone. Everyone needs to call in on a separate line. Also, participants should register and pay for the teleclass individually -- this enables us to email them phone information and the link to the class page for each teleclass. This is a ministry -- we keep our registration fees moderate, and at this time they are our sole source of funding to cover the basic costs of holding our classes and paying our leaders.
If several people in a congregation would like to register for a class together, we encourage you to do so! Congregations can benefit from members' sharing the same teleclass experience, and can use our teleclasses as a basis for further discussion or exploration.
On selected classes, we offer a discounted registration fee for three or more participants from one congregation.
Please click here for more information on how to register your participants.
What if my question isn't answered on this FAQ page?Please contact us! Probably others have the same question, and we are constantly working to improve this website. Your suggestions will be most welcome. Back to Top
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