Print This Document
General Conference delegates and others from the Southeastern Jurisdiction (SEJ) of The United Methodist Church met their 14 SEJ episcopal nominees, including two from the South Georgia Conference, on Tuesday, May 1 and Wednesday, May 2.
Seven of the 14 candidates spoke during General Conference’s lunch break on Tuesday, including Rev. Robert Beckum, and the remaining seven, including Dr. Ivelisse Quiñones, had their turn on Wednesday.
Rev. Beckum, senior pastor at St. Luke United Methodist Church in Columbus, is endorsed by the South Georgia Conference delegation to the 2012 General and Jurisdictional Conferences. Dr. Quiñones, associate pastor and minister of Hispanic ministries at St. Luke UMC, is endorsed by Methodists Associated Representing the Cause of Hispanic Americans (MARCHA).
Prior to being appointed to St. Luke UMC in June 2011, Rev. Beckum served for seven years as vice president of Church Relations and Development for Magnolia Manor in Americus. He has also served the following congregations: Albany First United Methodist Church; Trinity United Methodist Church in Warner Robins; Douglas First United Methodist Church; Mt. Olivet and Midway, both near Savannah; and as associate at Grace United Methodist Church in Savannah.
In addition to pastoral responsibilities, Rev. Beckum has served as the Chair of the South Georgia Annual Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, the Conference Council on Ministries and the Conference Personnel Committee.
“Churches I’ve served have borne fruit evangelically and missionally,” he said during his address to the delegates.
When asked the most important role of a bishop, he stated that knowing and sharing God’s vision for the Church is most critical.
“The biggest role of a bishop, I think, is to be the custodian of the vision that God has given the Church for the Annual Conference, and to share that vision through preaching, teaching, and supervision – making appointments and the oversight of clergy,” he said. “I have the courage to make the decisions that are required for personnel, but also the compassion to be able to enter into people’s lives as we make those decisions. I think that combination is essential.”
Rev. Beckum received his bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Georgia Southern University and a Masters of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He has done further work towards a Doctor of Ministry from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. Rev. Beckum was ordained an elder in 1982.
Originally from Louisville, Ga., Rev. Beckum has been married for 34 years to Mary Pat (Jones) Beckum, an elementary school educator. They have one son, Jonathan, who is a senior at Georgia Southwestern State University.
Dr. Ivelisse Quiñones is a second-career pastor who has served as St. Luke UMC’s associate pastor since 2006. As the church’s lead pastor for the Hispanic ministries, she oversees a vibrant, vital and growing ministry serving members from more than 12 Latin American and Caribbean countries. She has also served as director for Hispanic Ministries in the South Georgia Conference and as associate pastor of Edgewood United Methodist Church in Columbus.
In addition to her pastoral duties, Dr. Quiñones has also served as a member of the General Commission on Religion and Race.
“My passion is to expand the Kingdom of God and to make disciples of Jesus Christ,” she said during her address to the delegates. “I want to make sure we continue expanding. I won’t be a bishop who sits behind a desk. I want a vibrant church, I want a powerful church, I want a church that lives in this century.”
The most important role of a bishop is to lead and to cast a vision for the Church, she said. Having a clear vision and building relationships with the local churches and pastors are of vital importance.
“It’s important to make sure that whoever I have in the cabinet and in the local churches knows exactly where we’re going,” she said. “We don’t have much time, so we need to know from the get-go where we are going and our vision.”
If elected a bishop, Dr. Quiñones said that she will meet with each local pastor three to four times each year to build and develop relationships.
“I will be present in those churches,” she said. “I want to be there and for them to tell me what they need and where they’re struggling. I will pray with them and hold their hands; that’s what I think the Lord is calling me to do – to be present and in the midst of their struggles.”
Dr. Quiñones, who has 20 years of corporate finance and human relations experience, earned a bachelor’s degree in management from the University of Puerto Rico, a Masters of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University and a Doctor of Ministry degree in Congregational Development from Drew School of Theology. Dr. Quiñones was ordained as an elder in 2009.
The remaining 12 SEJ episcopal candidates include Rev. Larry Bryars of the Alabama - West Florida Conference; Rev. Ken Carter of the Western North Carolina Conference; Rev. Young Jin Cho of the Virginia Conference; Rev. Randy Cooper of the Memphis Conference; Rev. David Graves of the Holston Conference; Rev. Jonathan Holston of the North Georgia Conference; Sharma Lewis of the North Georgia Conference, sponsored by the Black Clergy Women caucus; Rev. Bill McAlilly of the Mississippi Conference; Rev. Tim McClendon of the South Carolina Conference; Rev. Deborah McLeod of the Florida Conference; Rev. H. Gray Southern of the North Carolina Conference; and Rev. Debbie Wallace-Padgett of the Kentucky Conference.
Bishops will be elected in July when the Southeastern Jurisdiction will hold its quadrennial gathering for the primary purpose of selecting bishops to serve conferences in the SEJ.
Three South Georgia Conference laity have been selected and elected to serve on the general church level of The United Methodist Church.
South Georgia Conference Chancellor Warren Plowden, a member of Vineville United Methodist Church in Macon, was elected as a lay alternate to The United Methodist Church’s Judicial Council, the denomination’s highest judicial body.
Two clergy, two laity, and six clergy and laity alternates were elected during General Conference’s Monday, April 30 proceedings. Composed of nine members who reflect the global diversity of The United Methodist Church, both clergy and laity serve on the Judicial Council – four of one, five of the other, alternating every eight years.
Plowden was nominated by the Council of Bishops in recognition of his exemplary service to the whole Church. As the Chancellor – an Annual Conference’s legal counsel – with the longest tenure of service, Plowden is well versed in all disciplinary matters that would come before the Judicial Council. In recognition of his expertise he has been called upon by other Chancellors and the General Church's Council to assist in numerous cases.
“I was quite surprised when Bishop King called me to ask if he could put my name in nomination as a member of the Judicial Council,” Plowden said. “I was even more surprised when I learned that I had actually been elected as an alternate member. It will be my pleasure to serve if I am ever called to sit in for one of the members.”
A partner since 1975 in one of Georgia’s oldest law firms, Jones Cork & Miller, LLP in Macon, Plowden specializes in employment, labor, personnel, and education matters, including litigation in these areas in the state and federal trial and appellate courts in such matters as civil rights damage suits, voting rights claims, employment discrimination cases, and numerous education related claims.
In addition to serving as Chancellor for the South Georgia Annual Conference, Plowden also serves as General Counsel for Wesleyan College and is outgoing president of the Conference’s Board of Trustees.
The Judicial Council determines the constitutionality of any act of the General Conference, proposed legislation, and shall “pass upon and affirm, modify, or reverse the decisions of law made by Bishops” among other duties and responsibilities.
The Judicial Council is required to review each decision on a point of law made by a bishop during an annual conference session. Other cases come from lower church courts, or from an official body of the church requesting a declaratory decision as to the legality of a particular action. There usually are several requests during General Conference for declaratory decisions.
Decisions are based on the Constitution of The United Methodist Church and on the specific paragraphs of the Book of Discipline cited in a case, but may refer to other relevant paragraphs. Conflicting paragraphs must be resolved before a decision is reached. The Discipline instructs the court not to go "further than is necessary to decide the question of church law involved."
Members are elected for eight-year terms by General Conference and may not serve on any other United Methodist Board or Agency beyond the Annual Conference. Members are limited as to two consecutive terms. The council elects its own president for a four-year term.
Laity elected to the Judicial Council are N. Oswald Tweh, Sr. and Beth Capen. Lay alternates are Sandra Lutz, Kurt Glassco, Randall Miller, Deanell Reece Tacha, W. Warren Plowden, Jr., and Reynaldo V. Abdon. Clergy elected to Judicial Council are J. Kabamba Kiboko and Dennis L. Blackwell. Clergy alternates are Timothy K. Bruster, John E. Harnish, Susan Henry-Crow, Oyvind Helliesen, Jane A. Tews, and Laura B. Easto.
Roberson to serve on Central Conference committee
The United Methodist Church has nearly 40,000 congregations in the United States, Africa, Europe and the Philippines. As of 2010, the denomination’s membership topped 12 million members worldwide.
However, the denomination’s U.S. membership has been declining for more than 40 years, even as the church in Africa and the Philippines has been growing. Today, about 7.8 million United Methodists live in the United States with the remaining 4.2 million hailing from Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Russia, Norway and more than 100 other countries around the world.
Amid this increasingly global church environment, United Methodists are exploring what it means to be in mission worldwide and how it should shape its organizational structure accordingly.
Kelly Roberson, Conference director of communications and member of The Chapel in Brunswick, was selected to serve on the Church’s Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters.
A standing committee of the 2012 General Conference, it serves as the coordinating body to study the structure and supervision of The United Methodist Church in its work outside the United States and its territories and relationships to other Church bodies. It handles issues related to episcopal areas, affiliation and autonomy, and joining The United Methodist Church. The General Board of Global Ministries is the facilitating agency for the standing committee.
The standing committee is composed of one bishop, one ordained minister, and one layperson from each jurisdiction and each central conference who are delegates to the General Conference and named by the Council of Bishops. In addition, one bishop, one ordained minister, and one layperson who are members of the General Board of Global Ministries are named to the committee by the Council of Bishops.
Roberson, who was nominated by the Council of Bishops, will attend at least two committee meetings during the four-year period between sessions of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church.
“As a delegate to General Conference I witnessed firsthand the beauty of the global church,” Roberson said. “Though we are from different parts of the world, separated by differing cultures and language, we are the body of Christ with so many things in common.
“I’m both humbled and excited to serve on this committee as we explore what it means to be in mission worldwide and how that shapes our life together as the Church.”
Roberson’s 11 years of ministry, service and leadership in the South Georgia Conference have provided her with a deep love and understanding for The United Methodist Church, its people and its policies.
Bush elected member of GCFA
Kay Bush, a member of Bainbridge First United Methodist Church, was elected as a member of the General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) during the 2012 General Conference session in Tampa, Fla.
The General Council on Finance and Administration was created by the General Conference to perform defined responsibilities of review and oversight on behalf of the General Conference in relation to the other general agencies receiving general Church funds. It is amenable and accountable to the General Conference and reports to it. All monies contributed by a local church to any of the general funds of the Church and such other funds as may have been authorized by the General Conference are held in trust by the council and distributed only in support of the ministries of the respective funds.
In the spirit of earlier conversations during General Conference, the Council of Bishops nominated both a youth and young adult representative to the 2013-2016 committee, which the General Conference approved.
“We have young people rooted in faith all over the world who are capable of leading and mobilizing transformation. All of us who are deeply rooted in God can make transforming decisions to look beyond the next four years and work to advance the church for 20, 50, or more years,” said Joy Eva Algodon-Bohol, president of the National United Methodist Youth Fellowship in the Philippines, during her portion of the April 25 Young People's Address to the General Conference.
Bush, who was nominated by the Council of Bishops, is a 16 -year-old sophomore at Bainbridge High School, president of the Bainbridge First UMC youth group, and is the youth representative at the church’s monthly administrative team meetings.
“I’m really excited and this is a huge honor,” said Bush, the 2011 Thomasville District at-large lay delegate to Annual Conference. “I’m excited to represent the youth. This is a really big deal for me.”
By Rich Peck*
United Methodists from five continents addressed a wide range of challenging issues, including church structure and human sexuality, and engaged in an Act of Repentance toward indigenous people during their 10-day legislative gathering.
Meeting in the Tampa Convention Center, steps away from the waters of Tampa Bay, the 988 delegates recalled through worship, song and sermon the healing and transforming ministry of Jesus beside the Sea of Galilee.
As storms on the Sea of Galilee alarmed the disciples, so too, conflicting stands on structure and social justice issues troubled the delegates and some 4,000 visitors and staff. Perhaps the most surprising lightning strike occurred at 4:30 p.m. on May 4, the final day of the assembly, when the delegates received word from the church’s supreme court that a major piece of legislation regarding restructuring violated the denomination’s Constitution.
Afterward, Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster of the Charlotte (N.C.) Area, outgoing Council of Bishops president, sought to comfort a frustrated assembly at the start of the evening session. “God always provides a way,” he said.
In addition to restructuring and the Act of Repentance, General Conference addressed a wide range of topics during its April 24-May 4 gathering. The delegates:
The delegates, from more than 60 nations, processed some 1,200 petitions during the assembly. General Conference meets every four years and is the only body that speaks for the 13 million-member denomination.
Church restructuring received more attention from delegates than any other issue. Plans for a new structure that had been evolving over the last year and finally hammered out after a weeklong struggle took a major hit when The Rev. L. Fitzgerald “Gere” Reist, secretary of the conference, announced that the Judicial Council had ruled the newly established structure unconstitutional.
Delegates and visitors reacted in stunned silence and scattered applause. After a 10-minute recess, delegates returned to their chairs.
“We need time to consider what just happened,” said Bishop Jeremiah L. Park of the New York Area, who was presiding over the session. The body adjourned until 7:30 p.m.
The Judicial Council found several problems with the new structure. The nine-member “Supreme Court” of the denomination said that the plan called for the creation of a 45-member General Council on Strategy and Oversight that would have “authority for consolidation of administrative services to the extent practicable. …”
“The Constitution authorizes Council of Bishops to bear the responsibility for general oversight,” the court said.
Judicial Council members said they did not review the “tortured process” by which the plan had been approved “outside established legislative processes.” They did review the plan itself.
“We have reviewed the plan to determine whether any part, portion, or all of Plan UMC can be saved and conclude that it cannot. The broad delegation of legislative authority and the commingling of the role of oversight so inextricably permeate the plan as to render it constitutionally unsalvageable.”
During the dinner hour, delegates and agencies huddled to consider next steps. Members of the General Council on Finance and Administration, which had earlier agreed to withdraw $3 million from the Episcopal Fund and give it to the World Service Fund, reconsidered their action. Instead, they agreed to give general agencies $1.5 million to help compensate them for losses when $12 million was removed from their budgets to create a line item for theological education outside the United States and the recruitment and training of young clergy in the United States.
The rest of the evening was spent trying to make certain the United Methodist Women becomes a separate agency, the budget remains intact and proposed agency reductions are carried out. The agencies proposed to reduce their boards by 266 directors, or about half. Those reductions will move forward because they were not part of the restructuring plan.
One of the most troubling actions occurred May 3 when some 100 people entered the plenary area following the defeat of an effort to add a statement to the Social Principles that urged unity and co-existence in spite of opposing views on homosexuality.
The assembly retained the current stance saying the denomination considers all persons are “individuals of sacred worth [however, the church] does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching.”
Indiana Bishop Michael Coyner, presiding officer, adjourned the May 3 morning session after only 20 minutes as the singing of protesters made it difficult to conduct business.
When the assembly gathered after a longer-than-planned lunch break, Kansas Bishop Scott Jones, was the presiding officer for the afternoon session.
Some 100 people seeking changes in denominational policies related to homosexuals gathered around a communion table at the center of the assembly hall.
“I feel your pain,” said Germany Area Bishop Rosemarie Wenner, president of the Council of Bishops, in an opening prayer. The Rev. Frank Wulf, a supporter of changing the policies and clergy person from the California-Pacific Annual (regional) Conference, offered a second prayer, asking God for a way for the “broken community [to find] a voice that promotes healing and hope.” After the prayers, the demonstrators left peacefully.
Since only the morning session had been set aside to discuss issues related to human sexuality, the conference did not address petitions calling for changes in the present policy of denying clergy the right to conduct services of union for persons of the same gender or policies prohibiting the ordination and appointment of self-professed practicing homosexuals.
An earlier “holy conversation” on issues related to human sexuality also was cut short because of an extended discussion on the rules.
Difficulties with homosexuality did not originate in Tampa, and the journey through these difficult waters will not end here. Advocates for change proclaimed they will not leave the church; they will live out their calling within the denomination.
The Judicial Council decision does not significantly affect budgets approved by the assembly.
General Conference approved a quadrennial budget of $603.1 million for seven general church funds during 2013 to 2016; that total is 6.03 percent less than the amount apportioned in the 2009 to 2012.
That sounds like a whopping amount, but local churches should not count on huge savings, since only 2 cents out of every dollar in a collection plate goes to support general church ministries.
Delegates approved two new line items in the World Service Fund. They created a $5 million fund for theological education in central conferences – church regions in Africa, Europe and the Philippines -- and $7 million to recruit and train young clergy in the United States.
That action, combined with earlier recommendations to reduce agency budgets by 6 percent, means general agencies will receive nearly 10 percent less money in 2013-16 than they received in 2009-2012. That action will be softened by a grant of $1.5 million from the General Council on Finance and Administration to the World Service Fund. That grant is partly the result of the finance agency decision to reduce the Episcopal Fund by $3 million. Agency members also granted $1 million to help offset deficits experienced by the Commission on General Conference and returned $500,000 to the General Administration Fund.
While agencies may experience some savings in a reduced number of agency board members, those savings will be less than the 10 percent reduction in funds and the rate of inflation over the next four years.
Since all local churches do not pay the full apportionments, the amount received by all funds is less than the amount budgeted.
On Friday, April 27 before legislation reached the plenary floor, delegates participated in “An Act of Repentance toward Healing Relationships with Indigenous Peoples,” recognizing and repenting of actions taken against Native peoples of all nations. In a moving ceremony in the plenary hall, they confessed that the church has “participated in the violation, the exploitation, and even the killing of indigenous people.”
At the close of the service of repentance, delegates picked up symbolic stones from the “river of life” scattered in the worship area. They were asked to take them back to their communities “as a covenant to continue to listen and to walk the journey of healing with one another.”
Many delegates were surprised when the conference placed a proposal that would effectively end guaranteed appointment for clergy on the consent calendar, a device used to expedite legislation when there are fewer than 10 members of a legislative committee opposed to a proposal.
After a few delegates discovered what they had passed, an attempt to reconsider the issue was rejected by a margin of 564 to 373. On May 4, the final day of the meeting, the conference agreed to ask the Judicial Council for a ruling on whether the measure violates the Constitution. That ruling will come at a later meeting of the Judicial Council.
Delegates were far more cautious on other issues. Less than the required two-thirds of the delegates voted to seek a constitutional amendment that would allow for a bishop to serve as president of the Council of Bishops without responsibility for overseeing a geographic area. They also didn’t approve a proposed amendment to allow budgets to be adjusted between sessions of General Conference.
Somewhat like the advance billing for a high wire act that turns out to be a foot off the ground, so too, this General Conference was billed as the assembly that would make the most sweeping changes since the 1968 formation of the denomination.
By the time exhausted delegates shuffled their way out of the assembly hall shortly before 11 p.m., the denomination looked very much like it had before the delegates arrived.
Bishop Rosemarie Wenner of Germany, the new president of the Council of Bishops, sent the delegates forth on an encouraging note during the conference’s closing worship.
“At the end of all our business ‒ unfinished though (it is), as we are ready to go, let us pause for a moment,” she said. “Let us listen as the risen Christ says to us, ‘Fear not! I am with you. And, therefore, follow me.’”
*Peck is a retired clergy member of New York Annual Conference attending his 12th General Conference, four times as editor of the DCA and three times as a member of United Methodist News Service staff
Once again, the Blueprint for Wellness health screening will be held during the Annual Conference session on Monday and Tuesday, June 4-5. Screenings will take place from 6:30 am to 10:30 am both days. If you are on HealthFlex and plan to be at Annual Conference, you are encouraged to sign up and participate in the event. Click here for details on how to register and schedule your appointment time. If you have questions, please contact Eleanor Dickson at the Administrative Services Office, eleanor@sgaumcadmin.com or 800-535-4224.
By Kara Witherow, Editor
Poulan United Methodist Church wants to be a church that does something.
They’ll do just that May 19-20, joining thousands of other United Methodist congregations around the world for “Change the World” weekend.
“Too often we get stuck inside the box of a sanctuary and are not really thinking about what’s outside and what we can be doing for our community,” said Poulan UMC pastor Rev. Nate Lehman. “I really base it on loving our neighbors. We want to be a church that loves our neighbors and is doing something.”
“Change the World,” a weekend of church-led service organized through The United Methodist Church’s “Rethink Church” initiative, is a movement to show God’s love in real and tangible ways, both locally and globally, by utilizing outreach events to make a positive difference in the world beyond the church doors.
“Vital congregations are engaged in mission, and Change the World illustrates the power of our interconnectedness,” said Rev. Larry Hollon, chief executive of United Methodist Communications, in a press release. “Last year, more than 2,000 events took place in 15 countries. Change the World presents an opportunity to transform lives in connection with others.”
On Saturday, May 19, youth from Poulan UMC will make dozens of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and distribute them to local children. The church’s United Methodist Women will create goodie baskets and give them to the town’s shut-in residents, and the United Methodist Men plan to help Poulan residents with small home-improvement projects.
Every generation is getting involved, Rev. Lehman said. The church’s children are collecting DVDs to take to the children’s wing at the local hospital.
Poulan UMC’s involvement with the “Change the World” weekend has a two-fold purpose.
“I feel like one of the best ways to grow the church is to outreach to the community,” Rev. Lehman said. “I really base it on the ‘love your neighbor’ mandate that Jesus gave us. I think that if we really want to grow as a church, the first thing that we need to do is show love to our neighbor. This weekend presents an ideal time to do that and to really focus on what we can do as a church to reach out to others.”
Trinity United Methodist Church in Warner Robins will kick off two weeks of mission and ministry on May 5. For the second year in a row, the church will launch their “Change the World” efforts with a 5K race and a “Biking for Bibles” bike-a-thon. More than 250 runners and walkers participated in last year’s 5K race, and event coordinators hope for an even better turnout this year. Proceeds from the race will be donated to Imagine No Malaria, and donations to the bike-a-thon will provide Bibles to children in Jamaica.
“This initiative talks about doing more, ‘being’ the church and thinking worldwide about what we can do,” said Angela Gilbert, Trinity UMC’s children’s and media technology director. “We want to do more things outside the church and in the community, not always just thinking about ministry inside the building.”
During the two weeks, the church will also host a teachers’ appreciation luncheon, plant vegetables in their community garden and host a community-wide block party. For 10 days the church’s youth will give up all beverages except water in an effort to raise funds for a water well.
“Our participation (in last year’s “Change the World” event) helped emphasize and increase awareness,” Gilbert said. “It’s great to have a tangible goal and to be a part of a disease that we really can eliminate. It also connects us with so many people, not just here, but around the world. We want to help others, and we also want to raise awareness of what’s going on around the world.”
Plans are taking shape for Payne’s Chapel United Methodist Church’s “Change the World” day. Church members will help local Millen residents with minor home repairs, and as they discover other needs, they will offer at least “a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name,” said pastor Rev. George Durham.
“Sometimes small churches feel left out in our ‘bigger is always better’ day of mega-churches,” Rev. Durham said. “Our efforts are small in comparison, but we try to change one life at a time.”
This fall, Central United Methodist Church in Fitzgerald will host its own “Change the World” day. Last spring, nearly 200 members served in 19 different ministries and service projects, ranging from visiting local nursing homes and assisted living homes to cleaning city parks and writing cards to local firemen, policemen, and Sheriff’s deputies.
“Every single ministry project focused on others outside our church doors. That was the purpose of this event – to focus on others and not ourselves,” said Susan Hughes, Central UMC’s youth and adult ministries coordinator. “This is what church is supposed to be, not sitting in a building taking care of ourselves, but reaching out to take care of others.”
Interested in hosting a Change the World event?
Change the World, a global movement of United Methodists to build community locally and fight malaria globally, will take place Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20. Local churches are asked to plan for the denominational event, as The UMC seeks to have 4,000 events take place worldwide. For more information on the 2012 Change the World weekend, visit www.umcom.org/changetheworld.
By Kara Witherow, Editor
More than 25,000 eggs were scooped up in less than five minutes at Harvest United Methodist Church’s annual Easter egg hunts.
Nearly 5,000 people attended one of Harvest Church’s five egg hunts, which were held immediately following five of the church’s eight Easter worship services. What used to be held on the weekend preceding Easter is now an event held in conjunction with the Easter worship services.
The timing is intentional and by design, church leaders say.
In years past, crowds for the hunt itself were large, but often did not translate into increased worship attendance or new visitors attending Easter services.
A few years ago, though, as Harvest Church was planning for its annual egg hunt, bad weather loomed and the church was forced to cancel the event. Not deterred, they rescheduled it for the following weekend, which also happened to be Easter.
The event worked so well that church leaders never again considered hosting it on a weekend other than Easter.
“So often at Harvest, we stumble onto something and it’s not necessarily by design,” said Rev. Jim Cowart, Harvest UMC’s senior pastor. “We didn’t invent this or anything, but what we’ve found out, at least in our area, is that there are people who want their kids to go to an egg hunt maybe more than they want them to go to church. But that’s who we’re targeting – people who don’t go to church and for whom church really isn’t on their radar. So the egg hunt is a little bit of an excitement and enticement for them to come to the worship service.”
Harvest UMC’s Easter egg hunt is one of several “bridge events” that the church hosts throughout the year. Intended as a connecting “bridge” between the church and community, the egg hunt and other similar events are designed to welcome and introduce newcomers to the church and its members.
One such bridge event is the church’s hosting of the African Children’s Choir. In the past, the concert was typically held on a weekday evening, or whenever the choir’s calendar coincided with the church’s. Much like the egg hunts, the concerts attracted large crowds but church leaders did not see an increase in visitors or new attendees the next week.
But now that the concert coincides with a worship service – Rev. Cowart preaches a 10-15 minute message, the band plays a few songs and then the African Children’s Choir performs – the church has seen an uptick in the number of new attendees. The week following the combined concert/worship service Harvest UMC saw a 14 percent increase in attendance – nearly 200 visitors and new attendees.
“What (hosting an event in conjunction with a normal worship service) does is that it lets people who are just coming to hear the children’s choir also experience a worship service at Harvest,” Rev. Cowart said. “And then hopefully they’ll think, ‘hey, I kind of like this,’ or ‘I was made to feel welcome at Harvest,’ or ‘my family could fit in here.’”
Hosting these types of bridge events is possible for any size church in any location. All that’s needed is organization, planning, volunteers and an emphasis on community.
“Using the word ‘community’ is key,” Rev. Cowart said. “It says that we want you guys, we want you here. And when they’re here be nice to them! We think these events can work in any church, any size. It’s just a matter of organizing and doing things a little differently. I can’t imagine now why anyone wouldn’t do this.”
Harvest UMC’s message is that the experience that guests have the day of the event is the same experience they’ll have during a regular worship service.
While those who attend a bridge event service may hear a shorter-than-usual message or fewer worship songs than during a typical worship service, the message is never compromised or diluted.
“What better time to do an Easter egg hunt than on Easter or that weekend,” said Jennifer Cowart, Harvest UMC’s director of Christian Education and Emerging Ministries. “We let people know very clearly in the service that Easter is not about the eggs, it’s not about the bunny, it’s about Jesus Christ. Until that becomes your reality, though, it is about the bunny, it is about the eggs. So we use the egg hunt as a way to draw visitors in. Like Paul said, become all things to all people, so we want to speak their language so they can come and hear about who Jesus is.”
A Transition Workshop for Part-time Local Pastors and Lay Speaker serving as supply pastors will be held May 19 in Eastman.
The Appointive Cabinet will meet June 2 in Macon.
The 2012 South Georgia Annual Conference Session is set for June 3-5 in Macon, GA.
In a world where 250,000 children are forced to be fighters or sex slaves, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the largest persistent violator, according to the United Nations Security Council. Because of the war, young boys are forced to enlist in the rebel army. Sexual assault of women and young girls has become the norm.
Compounding the problem is “conflict mineral,” the selling of copper, tungsten, tin and other minerals to support war efforts. Unfortunately, minerals sold to global supply chains and corporations may be used as components for electronics that are part of our everyday lives: mobile phones, MP3 players and computers.
United Methodists are trying to do something about it.
Armed with a grant from the Peace with Justice Sunday offering, the Jerusalem Justice and Peace Ministry (JJPM) is assisting communities in the DRC. While physical and emotional healing is vital, the ministry also challenges unjust systems.
“We cannot keep quiet if there is something wrong,” said JJPM executive Dr. Leonard Kabwita. JJPM workshops educate and empower Congolese people about justice issues in their communities and seek local solutions to close the gap between rich and poor.
When you give to Peace with Justice Sunday, you support ministries in the DRC, the United States and worldwide to remove unjust systems and equip the victimized to live more fulfilled lives.
Click here for resources to help promote this special Sunday.
Once again, the Blueprint for Wellness health screening will be held during Annual Conference. If you are on HealthFlex and plan to be at Annual Conference, we encourage you to sign up and participate in the event. Click here for details on how to register and schedule your appointment time. If you have questions, please contact Eleanor Dickson at the Administrative Services Office, eleanor@sgaumcadmin.com or 800-535-4224.
Click here to view the full version of The Link
Click here to view the full version of The Link
By Kara Witherow, Editor
Music and singing have long been passions of Moultrie First United Methodist Church pastor Rev. Mark Addington.
Growing up in Thomasville, he sang in church and in the youth choir. While in college at Florida State University, he played trumpet as a member of the Marching Chiefs. And at Candler School of Theology he sang in a men’s a cappella group.
“If I wasn’t in ministry I think I would move to Orlando and audition to be in one of their bands or do something performing,” he laughed. “I enjoy singing. Music is something that I’ve always been passionate about.”
While on a recent family vacation to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Rev. Addington put his singing talent to the test at the theme park’s American Idol Experience attraction.
At the urging of friends, Rev. Addington auditioned for the show, which is inspired by the popular television series. At the Disney World attraction, park guests are invited to audition in front of live audiences who then vote for their favorite singers.
“I did this on a whim,” Rev. Addington said. “I’ve always kind of wanted to do this while we’ve been down there, and I finally walked in at the encouragement of a friend who said I ought to try it.”
The theme park attraction’s audition process is very similar to the television show’s, he said. Any Walt Disney World guest 14 years old or older can try out.
One of more than 3,400 people to try out for the day, Rev. Addington sang Garth Brooks’ “The River” for his first audition. After being approved to move on to round two, he chose to sing the popular Christian band MercyMe’s, “I Can Only Imagine” for the remainder of the competition.
Singing the only Christian song on the approved song list seemed like a good fit, he said.
“I was told that the show had just added that song a few weeks before I was there, and I decided to try it.”
After going through two initial rounds of auditions, Rev. Addington was chosen as one of the day’s 15 semi-final performers.
In each of the day’s five preliminary shows, three singers perform and are voted on by the audience. Each of the five preliminary winners compete in the day’s final show.
Singing at the 6 p.m. semi-final show, Rev. Addington faced competition from two female singers. Audience members voted him the winner, and he moved on to the finale show to sing against four other semi-final winners.
It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to get to sing with a vocal coach and perform in front of more than 1,000 people, he said.
“The experience itself was really, really awesome. It was one of the most fun things I’ve ever done.”
As one of five contestants in the day’s finale show, Rev. Addington sang “I Can Only Imagine” in front of a packed house. Placing third, he was bested by another man and a young lady from Mississippi.
In addition to it being an “awesome experience,” singing at the American Idol Experience gave Rev. Addington a chance to share his faith.
The show’s makeup artist, also a Christian, watched Rev. Addington’s final performance and was brought to tears by his rendition of the song. And after the show was over he was able to have a conversation with and pray for one of the show’s sound technicians.
“People told me how awesome it was that I was able to witness through the song,” he said. “People all over the park that night and even some the next day at another park stopped to tell me that they loved the song and how neat it was for me to be able to sing it in front of so many people.”
Magnolia Manor Sunday – May 13
Magnolia Manor is a ministry of the United Methodist Church that serves older adults of all faiths throughout South Georgia. On Sunday, May 13, South Georgia United Methodists are asked to take up a special offering to support this vital ministry. To learn more about Magnolia Manor visit www.magnoliamanor.com.
Transition Workshop for Moving Part-Time Local Pastors – May 19
Peace with Justice Sunday – June 3
2012 Annual Conference Session – June 3-5
Eagles’ Annual Conference Luncheon – June 5
At noon on Tuesday, June 5, the South Georgia Eagles will host their Annual Conference luncheon at Vineville United Methodist Church in Macon. The luncheon’s program will be “Man from La Mancha,” a brief skit performed by Lee and Nan Weaver. For cost information and to make reservations, contact Rev. Grover Bell at (912) 355-8420, (912) 238-0215 or belltalk@bellsouth.net.
Wesley Glen Day – June 17
Golden Cross Sunday – July 1
Summer Camps
Dive into “The Deep,” the 2012 Summer Camps sponsored by Connectional Ministries at Epworth By The Sea! Mid High Camps, intended for rising 6th-9th graders, are filled with a week’s worth of fun activities and opportunities to grow closer to Christ though daily worship, Bible study, and fellowship. Campers will enjoy the beach, pool, crafts, games galore, hilarious morning shows, and evenings of worship. All camps are held at Epworth By The Sea on St. Simons Island. Counselors are provided. Visit www.sgaumc.org for more information and to register. For questions, contact the Office of Connectional Ministries at 888-266-7642.
Elementary Camp I – June 25-29
Elementary Camp II – July 9-13
Join us this summer in “The Deep” for the 2012 Summer Camps! Elementary Camps, intended for rising 4th-6th graders, are filled with a week’s worth of fun activities and opportunities to grow closer to Christ though daily worship, Bible study, and fellowship. Campers will enjoy the beach, pool, crafts, games galore, hilarious morning shows, and evenings of worship. All camps are held at Epworth By The Sea on St. Simons Island. Counselors are provided. Visit www.sgaumc.org for more information and to register. For questions, contact the Office of Connectional Ministries at 888-266-7642.
By Kara Witherow, Editor
Poulan United Methodist Church wants to be a church that does something.
They’ll do just that May 19-20, joining thousands of other United Methodist congregations around the world for “Change the World” weekend.
“Too often we get stuck inside the box of a sanctuary and are not really thinking about what’s outside and what we can be doing for our community,” said Poulan UMC pastor Rev. Nate Lehman. “I really base it on loving our neighbors. We want to be a church that loves our neighbors and is doing something.”
“Change the World,” a weekend of church-led service organized through The United Methodist Church’s “Rethink Church” initiative, is a movement to show God’s love in real and tangible ways, both locally and globally, by utilizing outreach events to make a positive difference in the world beyond the church doors.
“Vital congregations are engaged in mission, and Change the World illustrates the power of our interconnectedness,” said Rev. Larry Hollon, chief executive of United Methodist Communications, in a press release. “Last year, more than 2,000 events took place in 15 countries. Change the World presents an opportunity to transform lives in connection with others.”
On Saturday, May 19, youth from Poulan UMC will make dozens of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and distribute them to local children. The church’s United Methodist Women will create goodie baskets and give them to the town’s shut-in residents, and the United Methodist Men plan to help Poulan residents with small home-improvement projects.
Every generation is getting involved, Rev. Lehman said. The church’s children are collecting DVDs to take to the children’s wing at the local hospital.
Poulan UMC’s involvement with the “Change the World” weekend has a two-fold purpose.
“I feel like one of the best ways to grow the church is to outreach to the community,” Rev. Lehman said. “I really base it on the ‘love your neighbor’ mandate that Jesus gave us. I think that if we really want to grow as a church, the first thing that we need to do is show love to our neighbor. This weekend presents an ideal time to do that and to really focus on what we can do as a church to reach out to others.”
Trinity United Methodist Church in Warner Robins will kick off two weeks of mission and ministry on May 5. For the second year in a row, the church will launch their “Change the World” efforts with a 5K race and a “Biking for Bibles” bike-a-thon. More than 250 runners and walkers participated in last year’s 5K race, and event coordinators hope for an even better turnout this year. Proceeds from the race will be donated to Imagine No Malaria, and donations to the bike-a-thon will provide Bibles to children in Jamaica.
“This initiative talks about doing more, ‘being’ the church and thinking worldwide about what we can do,” said Angela Gilbert, Trinity UMC’s children’s and media technology director. “We want to do more things outside the church and in the community, not always just thinking about ministry inside the building.”
During the two weeks, the church will also host a teachers’ appreciation luncheon, plant vegetables in their community garden and host a community-wide block party. For 10 days the church’s youth will give up all beverages except water in an effort to raise funds for a water well.
“Our participation (in last year’s “Change the World” event) helped emphasize and increase awareness,” Gilbert said. “It’s great to have a tangible goal and to be a part of a disease that we really can eliminate. It also connects us with so many people, not just here, but around the world. We want to help others, and we also want to raise awareness of what’s going on around the world.”
Plans are taking shape for Payne’s Chapel United Methodist Church’s “Change the World” day. Church members will help local Millen residents with minor home repairs, and as they discover other needs, they will offer at least “a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name,” said pastor Rev. George Durham.
“Sometimes small churches feel left out in our ‘bigger is always better’ day of mega-churches,” Rev. Durham said. “Our efforts are small in comparison, but we try to change one life at a time.”
This fall, Central United Methodist Church in Fitzgerald will host its own “Change the World” day. Last spring, nearly 200 members served in 19 different ministries and service projects, ranging from visiting local nursing homes and assisted living homes to cleaning city parks and writing cards to local firemen, policemen, and Sheriff’s deputies.
“Every single ministry project focused on others outside our church doors. That was the purpose of this event – to focus on others and not ourselves,” said Susan Hughes, Central UMC’s youth and adult ministries coordinator. “This is what church is supposed to be, not sitting in a building taking care of ourselves, but reaching out to take care of others.”
Interested in hosting a Change the World event?
Change the World, a global movement of United Methodists to build community locally and fight malaria globally, will take place Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20. Local churches are asked to plan for the denominational event, as The UMC seeks to have 4,000 events take place worldwide. For more information on the 2012 Change the World weekend, visit www.umcom.org/changetheworld.
By Kara Witherow, Editor
More than 25,000 eggs were scooped up in less than five minutes at Harvest United Methodist Church’s annual Easter egg hunts.
Nearly 5,000 people attended one of Harvest Church’s five egg hunts, which were held immediately following five of the church’s eight Easter worship services. What used to be held on the weekend preceding Easter is now an event held in conjunction with the Easter worship services.
The timing is intentional and by design, church leaders say.
In years past, crowds for the hunt itself were large, but often did not translate into increased worship attendance or new visitors attending Easter services.
A few years ago, though, as Harvest Church was planning for its annual egg hunt, bad weather loomed and the church was forced to cancel the event. Not deterred, they rescheduled it for the following weekend, which also happened to be Easter.
The event worked so well that church leaders never again considered hosting it on a weekend other than Easter.
“So often at Harvest, we stumble onto something and it’s not necessarily by design,” said Rev. Jim Cowart, Harvest UMC’s senior pastor. “We didn’t invent this or anything, but what we’ve found out, at least in our area, is that there are people who want their kids to go to an egg hunt maybe more than they want them to go to church. But that’s who we’re targeting – people who don’t go to church and for whom church really isn’t on their radar. So the egg hunt is a little bit of an excitement and enticement for them to come to the worship service.”
Harvest UMC’s Easter egg hunt is one of several “bridge events” that the church hosts throughout the year. Intended as a connecting “bridge” between the church and community, the egg hunt and other similar events are designed to welcome and introduce newcomers to the church and its members.
One such bridge event is the church’s hosting of the African Children’s Choir. In the past, the concert was typically held on a weekday evening, or whenever the choir’s calendar coincided with the church’s. Much like the egg hunts, the concerts attracted large crowds but church leaders did not see an increase in visitors or new attendees the next week.
But now that the concert coincides with a worship service – Rev. Cowart preaches a 10-15 minute message, the band plays a few songs and then the African Children’s Choir performs – the church has seen an uptick in the number of new attendees. The week following the combined concert/worship service Harvest UMC saw a 14 percent increase in attendance – nearly 200 visitors and new attendees.
“What (hosting an event in conjunction with a normal worship service) does is that it lets people who are just coming to hear the children’s choir also experience a worship service at Harvest,” Rev. Cowart said. “And then hopefully they’ll think, ‘hey, I kind of like this,’ or ‘I was made to feel welcome at Harvest,’ or ‘my family could fit in here.’”
Hosting these types of bridge events is possible for any size church in any location. All that’s needed is organization, planning, volunteers and an emphasis on community.
“Using the word ‘community’ is key,” Rev. Cowart said. “It says that we want you guys, we want you here. And when they’re here be nice to them! We think these events can work in any church, any size. It’s just a matter of organizing and doing things a little differently. I can’t imagine now why anyone wouldn’t do this.”
Harvest UMC’s message is that the experience that guests have the day of the event is the same experience they’ll have during a regular worship service.
While those who attend a bridge event service may hear a shorter-than-usual message or fewer worship songs than during a typical worship service, the message is never compromised or diluted.
“What better time to do an Easter egg hunt than on Easter or that weekend,” said Jennifer Cowart, Harvest UMC’s director of Christian Education and Emerging Ministries. “We let people know very clearly in the service that Easter is not about the eggs, it’s not about the bunny, it’s about Jesus Christ. Until that becomes your reality, though, it is about the bunny, it is about the eggs. So we use the egg hunt as a way to draw visitors in. Like Paul said, become all things to all people, so we want to speak their language so they can come and hear about who Jesus is.”
JOHN WESLEY MOMENTS
“Did John Wesley ever marry?”
That is the most often asked question after my Thursday afternoon lectures at the Arthur J. Moore Museum at Epworth By The Sea on St. Simons Island.
It is amazing how much interest there is in John Wesley’s relationships with women. Well, I guess some things never change. So, for the next several months in this column I will tell you about “John Wesley’s Women.”
The number one woman in his life was his mother, Susanna. Susanna Wesley, “The Mother of Methodism,” was one of the most remarkable women in all of Christendom. She gave birth to 19 (some say 20) children and raised 10 to adulthood. Beginning on their fifth birthday she homeschooled her children. She expected instant obedience. She managed her large household with little help from her husband. Each week she spent one hour alone with each of her children listening to their hopes, dreams, and struggles and encouraging them in their spiritual lives. She prayed for them and let them know how much she loved them even while teaching them to cry softly and never ask for food outside of mealtimes. When John went off to Oxford he asked his mother to pray with him each Thursday afternoon at the same time they had met together at Epworth.
Once while her husband Samuel was away for a length of time, she began a devotional time in the parsonage on Sunday afternoons because the curate (assistant pastor) preached the same sermon every Sunday. Soon 200 people were coming to the parsonage and nobody was attending church! The curate complained to Samuel who wrote his wife to stop those meetings. Susanna wrote back, “If you show me from scripture and command me as my husband to stop, I will surely do so, but you must promise me that when we stand before Almighty God you will explain to the Lord why I was not allowed to help feed these hungry souls.”
Susanna encouraged John to allow more lay leadership in the church. She also helped him expand the role of women in church leadership.
I pray that God will raise up more women like Susanna Wesley. We need them today, more than ever.
By Rev. Dr. John E. Stephens
"If you try to be all things to all people, you will never exceed at anything." - Dave Ulrich
The first and most important aspect of becoming a more contemplative leader is learning to cultivate the ability to ask the right questions. Unfortunately, many of us never learn to ask the right questions. We have become so reactive in our responses and actions due to dealing with day to day struggles and problems that we never take the time to reflect on why it is that we are here leading in the first place. This leads to a variety of problems, the biggest of which is short-sighted leadership. When we are overly reactive, we are spontaneous and emotional. When we are overly reactive we lack strategic direction and we rarely reflect on our actions at all. When we are overly reactive, we have no goals and we have no effective way to measure the success of our goals. How do we move from reactive response to a more strategic and goal oriented way of leading? We must begin with ourselves. We need more contemplative leaders - leaders who are willing to begin with their own motives, fears, and desires.
What questions do contemplative leaders begin with?
At the beginning, I would answer this question with another question. What question are you afraid to ask? Usually this is not a question regarding how to lead our organization or congregation. This is usually a question that has something to do with our understanding of self, or lack thereof. This is why the contemplative component of leadership is so vital. If we don't have an adequate understanding of self, motives, fears, and passions, we cannot lead effectively.
What are the questions we should begin with?
What is the meaning of life?
How do I fulfill my calling/vocation?
How do I live a full and complete life?
How do we find meaning in our vocation?
What is our destiny?
Am I capable, worthy, useful?
Whether you consider yourself a religious person or not, you are a spiritual being. Define it as you will, we all must have meaning in life, but meaning is hard to nail down and can often escape us. There are moments for all of us when we stop and “smell the roses,” lifting our eyes up from the ordinary reactive responses we face every day. During these times, we begin to question ourselves and what we do. The contemplative leader learns to foster reflection on the big questions in ways that are productive and life-giving. The contemplative leader thinks about the bigger questions and issues regularly. These thoughts guide their decision making and their relationships. The process of living, growing up, finding meaning, and increasing awareness of who we are and why we are here is something contemplative leaders strive toward. While it may be a difficult task, this is really the only work a contemplative leader can accomplish themselves. Unfortunately, too many leaders rely on others to tell them who they are and how they should lead. Too many leaders find their self-worth in what they can produce. The reality is that you can never be the best and most effective leader you can be by seeking affirmation from the outside. Others cannot tell you who you really are. That is something that you can only discover within.
Rev. Dr. John E. Stephens is the senior pastor at Wesley United Methodist Church at Frederica on St. Simons Island. Reprinted with permission from his blog, “Reflections from the Porch.” Read more at thejohnstephens.blogspot.com.