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June 10, 2011
Volume 157, Number 24
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Conference leaders meet with consultants
Future of Southwest Texas churches hinges on 3 pivotal priorities
By Rachel L. Toalson
Managing Editor
Southwest Texas Conference leaders and members of a Financial Advisory and Consulting Team brainstormed ideas that could move conference churches from maintaining to thriving.
Leaders of the Southwest Texas met May 25 with a Financial Advisory and Consulting Team (FACT) to discuss who the conferences are individually and where they are going.
“I honestly believe that in our area, we’ve had good engines and good trains running down the tracks, both in the Rio Grande and Southwest Texas Conferences,” said Bishop Jim Dorff. “But it’s kind of like we’ve been going in the same direction, trying to get in the same place but with two different trains and two different tracks.
“Are there some other ways we can be going about business in the Area?”
Leaders in the Rio Grande Conference met the day before to discuss their goals for their conference, Dorff said.
After a presentation on the state of the church and the Southwest Texas Conference, attendees broke into three groups to help flesh out the top three priorities the conference should have as it moves forward and tries to reverse the declining numbers.
The three priorities initially identified (in rough form) were:
How do we evangelize people that we know nothing about? We necessarily need to be committeed to the whole mission field. Faithfulness to The United Methodist Church and still faithful in the midst of our communities. Leadership understand worship as a fundamental expectation in their work. Focusing on and education about the strengths of the church’s connectional nature. Leaders said they need to continue to review and explore the opportunities for sharing ministries and resources with the Rio Grande Conference and other entities; have agility in response to situation—they need the ability to adapt, experiment and adjust and realize there is no one right way to do church; and the need to enhance the lay and clergy leadership and deployment.
How do we foster change in all levels of the church? How do we make the system we have work with some sort of authority? Where should the authority reside on various issues and challenges? How do we use the freedom we’ve already been given?
Need to do a better job defining what being a disciple means. If we are about making disciples, we need to know what that is. How do we measure the output of our work?
In the next few weeks, the consultants will work on solidifying the priorities identified by conference leaders. Another meeting is scheduled for July.
The purpose of the meeting, Dorff said, was to engage in conversation about who the individuals conferences understand themselves to be and then have some conversations about their future possibilities.
“These are extremely important conversations,” Dorff said.
He’s had the Bishop’s Commission on Area Cooperative Ministries for two years, and the group has done “some excellent work,” he said. Members presented the group’s final report at the annual conference session in June.
The group’s recommendations have raised some “significant conversation points,” Dorff said.
The FACT Team, comprised of outside consultants from the General Board of Pension and health Benefits and the General Council on Finance and Administration, will create even more conversation by helping both conferences look at themselves “through different lenses,” he said.
“There are lots of moving parts out there,” Dorff said. “I think they are converging. What that means, I don’t know. I’m hoping they will converge in an easy fashion and that God will make his will clear to us so we can continue doing our work and doing it effectively.”
Tim Koch, chief financial officer for the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits and member of the FACT Team, said that just bringing in the team proved that the San Antonio Area is determined to improve.
“This is something that takes a lot of courage and leadership,” he said. “It shows leadership to invite such a team in. This is about sharing best practices and trying to help other people embrace those and avoid the stubbing of toes that will happen on occasion.”
He assured leaders that the conference is in reasonably good financial shape—but could always be doing better.
The FACT Team, he said, developed in response to the financial crisis of 2008, when leaders in The United Methodist Church were challenged to “change their conversation.”
“The financial crisis of the markets, it did not cause the issues of the church,” Koch said. “It did not highlight them or put a spotlight on them. But if we continue as we’re going, we are not sustainable. We have much fewer people supporting even more people than we did in the past. That in itself is unsustainable.
“Some of the issues we’re facing are not that different from what we are seeing in the country.”
The FACT Team members think of themselves as a “sustainability advisory group,” Koch said.
The General Board of Pension and Health Benefits conducted a report, and one of the issues that became evident is that the pension plan has a shared liability. If one conference doesn’t meet its liability, all the other conferences share that liability.
“This is not all about pensions or apportionments,” Koch said. “It’s really about mission and ministry, but the two go hand in hand. Some churches don’t like to talk about money, but it takes money to do mission and ministry, and when you have good mission and ministry, you sometimes get more money.”
So the team was formed, initially just between the GCFA and the GBPHB.
Koch showed a video that demonstrated the current reality of the denomination. In 1968, the United Methodist Church had 11 million members. In 2009, membership decreased to 7.6 million—26 percent. The United Methodist Church hasn’t grown in attendance since 2001.
Forty percent of United Methodist churches have had no professions of faith. All churches are spending more money on fewer members.
Koch said the challenges the Methodist Church is facing are not unique; all denominations are seeing the same problems. The Presbyterian church attendance has fallen by half.
“We’re not alone, but we’re actively trying to address it,” Koch said.
During the time in which membership decreased, the United States population grew by more than 50 percent, and Texas had an even greater increase in population.
Scott Brewer, a representative with the General Council on Finance and Administration, took leaders through a slide show of the Southwest Texas Conference’s statistics.
The average of worship attendees per church is about 50 percent higher than what is being seen in the general church, he said.
“That’s a pretty good sign,” he said. “In our experience, the tiny churches are not the ones that create the financial drain. It’s the medium-getting-smaller churches that still spend on staffing what they used to and what isn’t supported anymore.”
He said they’ve found that when churches are in poor state financially, they’ll forego paying their apportionments in order to pay their staff salaries because staff members have a face.
Membership in the conference, he said, is 89 percent white, 4 percent African American and 5 percent Hispanic.
“You have some challenge in reflecting the demographic patterns of the state,” Brewer said. “If you keep this same demographic pattern, you’ll have to get a larger and larger population of the Caucasian, which will be difficult to do.”
The clergy member age is slightly older than what is seen at the general church level, Brewer said, with a “significant number of people who are eligible to retire.”
He added that 121 churches of the 340 did not have professions of faith in 2009.
Those included in the FACT Team meeting, Dorff, formed a group of people who were somewhat representative of the conference, but it is not a “group that will put together a strategic plan for the Southwest Texas Conference or the San Antonio Episcopal Area.”
“Hopefully, as a result of what we’re doing here and using the expertise that is available,” Dorff said, “we can get a perspective from them with some specific recommendations that they would have for us, and hopefully they can have some stuff for us that we can then look seriously at, together.”
The point, he said, is to get a sense of direction for where God is leading both conferences individually and together.
“We have serious issues here, in a day of decline in our church,” Dorff said. “All of this can be very complex, but if the Southwest Texas Conference doesn’t understand what it’s up to and what its shortcomings are, there’s no way we can figure out where God is leading us individually and together.
“We’re looking for ways to clarify our vision in the direction God would have us go. If that means we need to make some structural changes, then we need to do that. If that’s going to help us reach the mission field, it’s not optional.”
Expert to unlock mysteries of Mark’s gospel
By Rachel L. Toalson
Managing Editor
The Gospel of Mark is ripe with intriguing questions, confounding truths and joyous good news.
The Rev. C. Clifton Black, professor of Biblical Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary, will attempt to enlighten clergy and lay members about Mark’s richness during a Study of the Gospel of Mark Aug. 9-11 at Mt. Wesley.
Black is a well-known voice in the study of Mark, a former professor at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University and a frequent presenter on the mysteries of Mark.
He believes the gospel is full of interesting details that help one further understand the other three gospels.
“Mark’s genius lies, not in telling a story about Jesus, but in creating conditions under which the reader may experience the peculiar quality of God’s good news,” Black said. “It is more than a matter of being led up to a mountain where Jesus is transfigured before being steered to Golgotha where he is crucified, though these are crucial stops on the way. The Evangelist hurries one along breathlessly, immediately, making sure that the reader lurches with the characters into one pothole after another.
“What is this new teaching that consorts with the flagrantly sinful, turning the pious homicidal, intimates into strangers and mustard seeds into ‘the greatest of all shrubs’? What pilgrim saunters the Temple one day and unhinges its operations the next? What teacher speaks well, impartially teaching ‘the way of God in accordance with truth,’ while spinning riddles intended to blind the sighted and to deafen the hearing, ‘so that they may not turn again and be forgiven’?”
Black said that Jesus’ closest “adherents, the Twelve,” are among the most confused. They ask for an obscure parable’s interpretation and get an answer that’s even more confusing.
“They are told to feed thousands with next to nothing,” Black said. “Their boat almost capsizes while their teacher sleeps. As they oar in rough waters, the teacher strides the waves intending to bypass them. Putting the reader in the same boat, Mark structures conversations with Jesus that make little sense, if any.
“The Twelve are craven, stupid, self-serving and disobedient: meet the average Christians. Besides, ‘their hearts were hardened.’ Who hardens hearts? God. Should not God’s Messiah lift the burdens of those following him? What kind of Christ heads to a cross, handing his disciples another for themselves?”
Black said he will explore several themes, including money, terror and humor.
“Mark’s Gospel touches some themes that hit a lot of people where they are now living,” he said. “The Evangelist says some startling things to Jesus’ disciples about money—which, alongside death, may be the final taboo for polite conversation in the church. The economy will still be page-one news in August; the way that mark talks about God’s economy will be as disturbing then as it is right now.
“The same with terror: if you haven’t noticed, Mark’s Gospel is filled with terrified people—including the Twelve and, at Gethsemane, Jesus himself. They are all in a life-and-death struggle to trust God, (a struggle) with which somebody in Kerrville is going to have first-hand acquaintance.”
Yet the gospel, he said, also touches on some humor.
“This quality of the Gospel has often been overlooked,” Black said. “Mark deals in serious matters, mind you, yet tells the story of Jesus with a quirky sense of humor. This may be the Evangelist’s way of springing on us the untamed, joyous news of God’s sovereignty.”
Registration for the event can be done through Cynthia Bedford, conference registrar, by calling (210) 408-4527 or e-mailing cynthiab@umcswtx.org.
Costs for the event are: commuter without meals or lodging at Mount Wesley—$50; commuters with meals and no lodging at Mount Wesley—$90; and participants staying at Mount Wesley for two nights (two-person rooms) with meals—$150.
More info and register for event on line - GO HERE
Limited scholarship funds are available. Contact the Rev. Steven Sweet at ssweet@sierravista.org for information about scholarships.
Disaster clothing drive is successful at First UMC, Johnson City
Frank Jeys, the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s clothing collection organizer for the Blanco County area, had expected to be able to carry Blanco County’s collection in his pickup truck to the warehouse for sorting and sanitizing.
When he arrived at the interfaith drive’s mid-point, he found at least three trucks’ worth of clothing at First UMC, Johnson City, and more coming in with half of the drive yet to go.
St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Blanco had already delivered carloads of clothing twice, as did Blanco UMC.
“I knew we’d have a good response to the call for donations of wearable used clothing,” said Pastor Ken Greene of Blanco UMC, “but I didn’t expect that much.”
Another big donation was from Rushmoore House Ministry in Blanco, which sent an SUV so jammed with bags and boxes of clothing for disaster victims that there was barely room for driver and dog.
Word of Blanco County’s campaign spread across the county line.
A man in New Braunfels had been collecting clothing but had no way to deliver it to those who needed it until he found a newspaper story about the drive online.
Jacqueline Ingles of KXAN-TV in Austin did a Memorial Day story on the success of the county’s collection drive.
“It’s nice to get positive publicity for Blanco County,” said Pastor Norman Roe of First UMC, Johnson City, “but of course that’s not why we do it.
“We do it because people in Joplin and Tuscaloosa and Morgan City need the help, and we’re fortunate enough to be able to give it. Christian churches have been doing it for 2,000 years, so it’s pretty well in our blood.”
Some of this collection is likely to find its way to Joplin, Missouri, but they’re still in need in Alabama, too, and the flood victims along the Mississippi will need help for a long time. And the next wave of floods is just beginning up in the northwest.
“For a first-time campaign, you’ve had an amazing success here,” Jeys praised. “Blanco County can be proud of itself. But the need never goes away...just the locations of the disasters...so now you need to start planning for next year.
“We’ve got an 18-wheeler we’d like to see you fill.”
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Special team shares recommendations with general church leaders
By Rachel L. Toalson
Managing Editor
An Interim Operations Team, created by the Call to Action Committee (CTA) and approved by the Council of Bishops and the Connectional Table to evaluate The United Methodist Church’s structures and systems and opportunities for “deep change” reported to the Connectional Table some preliminary recommendations May 9 in Nashville.
“They want to do a number of things that will push the church forward,” said Jay Brim, Southwest Texas Conference lay leader and a member of the Connectional Table.
The group will come back for another meeting in July, he said, when members will vote on the final set of recommendations, from which to create legislation that will be presented to the General Conference in 2012.
The Interim Operations Team, comprised of seven people who have extensive business, church and transformation experience, was created in response to some initiatives identified by the Call to Action Steering Team, commissioned by the Council of Bishops in 2009 to conduct an assessment of the denomination’s practices and processes.
The Council of Bishop’s charge was to “find ways to become more effective at fulfilling the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world and to be vital in ministries addressing the Four Areas of Focus.”
Research suggests that The United Methodist Church in the United States has experienced four decades of membership decline; has an aging and predominantly Anglo membership; has been declining in worship attendance, professions of faith and baptisms; and struggles in attracting younger generations.
The CTA Steering Team’s study found that the “church is confronting a ‘creeping crisis’ of relevancy that accompanies the acute crisis of an underperforming economic model.”
The team’s research identified four “key drivers” of vital congregations:
Effective pastoral leadership, including aspects of management, vision and inspiration
Multiple small groups and programs for children and youth
Mix of traditional and contemporary worship services
High percentages of spiritually engaged laity who assume leadership roles
The team challenged leaders to engage in “five mutually dependent initiatives:”
For a minimum of 10 years, starting in January 2011, use the drivers of vital congregations as initial areas of attention for sustained and intense concentration to build effective practices in local churches.
Collect, report, review and act on statistical information that measures progress in key performance areas to learn and adjust our approaches to leadership, policies and the use of human and financial resources. (This will include indicators such as how congregations and annual conferences are increasing their effectiveness in implementing the three factors of vitality from the towers Watson report: attendance, growth and engagement.)
Reform the Council of Bishops with the active bishops (1) assuming responsibility and public accountability for improving attendance; increasing professions of faith, baptisms, participation in servant/mission ministries and benevolent giving; and lowering the average age of participants in local church life; and (2) establishing a new culture of accountability throughout the Church.
Consolidate program and administrative agencies, align their work and resources within the priorities of the Church and the decade-long commitment to build vital congregations and reconstitute them with much smaller competency-based board of directors in order to overcome current lack of alignment, diffused and redundant activity, and higher than necessary expense due to independent structures.
The Interim Operations Team was formed to evaluate ways the Church could begin to make deep change. Members include:
Neil Alexander, president and publisher, United Methodist Publishing House, Nashville, Tenn.;Carolyn Byrd, chair and CEO, GlobalTech Financial, LLC; former president of the Coca-Cola Financial Corporation, Atlanta; Bishop Larry Goodpaster (ex-officio), president of the Council of Bishops and presiding bishop of the Western North Carolina Annual Conference, Charlotte, N.C.; Adam Hamilton, senior pastor, Church of the Resurrection, Leawood, Kan.; Bishop John Hopkins (ex-officio), chair of the Connectional Table and presiding bishop of the East Ohio Annual Conference, North Canton, Ohio; Laura Nichol, executive coach, former senior vice president of human resources, Chase Bank of Texas; Bishop Gregory Vaughn Palmer (chair of the Interim Operations Team), former president of the Council of Bishops; Gary Shorb, president and CEO, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Memphis, Tenn.; Carol Tutill, global diversity and organizational capability, retired from Procter and Gamble, New York.
Brim said that, in addition to creating legislation that implements the recommendations of the Interim Operations Team, the General Council on Finance and Administration will be amending the budget to take changes into account.
The Connectional Table will propose the legislation to the General Conference. Brim chairs the legislative committee.
“This is a real chance to change the direction of the denomination,” Brim said. “There is a real sense that this is the time to change things.”
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Autumn in the Hills to be Sept. 15-17 in Kerrville
The question asked in childhood, “what do you want to be when you grow up,” can lead to a lifetime of discovering the answer. Rephrasing the question to “who is God creating you to be” can completely shift the context of seeking.
In leadership, this question of being prompts our call to action, our doing. Each in our unique giftedness lives out God’s urgency. Once we have become a follower of Christ, we, in fact, become a leader. There’s no way to get around it. Attuning daily to the presence of God, we fix our gaze upon a world of need, being led to show mercy, compelled to do justice, drawn to love kindness. This is the way of the kingdom. It is as though a fisherman throws a net into the sea and it is full of all kinds of fish. Jesus said he came to save that which is lost. He came to call sinners to repentance. To all whose load is heavy, whose burden is hard to bear, Jesus invites to come with him and he will give us rest; the load he offers is light and good to bear; in learning from him our souls will find relief.
In adulthood, our sense of urgency deepens. We tend to “lead from the rear,” passing the mantle to younger generations, mentoring, encouraging, sharing a lifetime of wisdom and strength. Your Conference Council on Older Adult Ministry offers servant leadership tips in creativity, community and culture from keynoter Missy Buchanan and Bible study leaders Dick West, Terry Dowdy, and Glenna Kelley, during Autumn in the Hills Sept. 15-17 at Mount Wesley. More info is at www.umcswtx.org by clicking on Programs and then Adult Ministries. Autumn In The Hills dean is Laura Rhodes.
Many servant leaders in the Southwest Texas Conference inspire others to want to be like Christ when they grow up. The world teaches that the greatest is the one seated at the head of the table. Jesus came as one who serves. He said that blessed are the humble and the meek, that whomever would become great among us must become the least among us, that in the end it is only the destitute who will be found innocent, only the wretched who will be guiltless and only the despised who will be blameless. Those of us who are well, and those who claim they are well, have no need of a physician, but the poor in spirit—they will be given the kingdom. Some asked Jesus why he spent his time with publicans and sinners. His answer offers guidance today: I came to save that which is lost. I came to call sinners to repentance. He leads us still, that we may grow to lead others.
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Missionaries to retire after itineration
After 38 years of service under the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church, the time has come to celebrate and retire. In 1973, Roy and I left the Southwest Texas Conference to work with the Methodist Church in Bolivia, Roy as a pastor and myself as a Christian Education worker.
We had planned on serving one or two terms but didn’t realize how much this experience would change us. We stayed in Bolivia until 1985 and then moved to Costa Rica to join the faculty of what is now the Latin American Biblical University, or UBL, according to its Spanish initials.
For the past 24 years Roy has taught theological ethics, and I have taught a variety of courses, but now am focusing on systematic and feminist theology. It has been profoundly satisfying to help men and women from many denominations grow in the skills and knowledge that they need to serve more effectively in ministry.
We will be visiting churches in the Southwest Texas Conference in August of this year, to thank you for your generous support and to encourage you to continue in that generosity by supporting Becky Harrell, another GBGM missionary from SWTX Conference (Advance # 15141Z ), or Genilma Boehler, a Brazilian Methodist theologian, and new GBGM missionary who replaces both Roy and me in theology (Advance # 3021277).
Itineration contact information: Roy: royhmay@gmail.com; Janet: janetmay28@gmail.com; mailing address: Apartado 901-1000, San José, Costa Rica;
Phones: Costa Rica, house: 011 506 2234-5744; Janet’s cell phone (Costa Rica): 011 506 8837-3880; United States phone contact from mid-June until the end of August: 1 505 433-8680.
GBGM Advance support numbers: Roy: 05217Z; Janet: 05218Z; UBL scholarships: 10247B; Becky Harrell: 15141Z; Genilma Boehler: 3021277; UBL: 09139A.
Itineration schedule: We plan on being in the Southwest Texas Conference in August. Here are the dates we have scheduled. Come join us at one of these stops or contact us to set a date to visit when we are nearby.
• Aug. 7 (Sunday morning): Trinity UMC, San Antonio
• Aug. 7 (Sunday evening): University UMC, San Antonio
• Aug. 8: ecology conference in Austin
• Aug. 10 (Wednesday, 6 p.m.) First UMC, Edna
• Aug. 14 (Sunday morning): First UMC, Austin
• Aug. 14 (evening): Bethany UMC, Austin
• Aug. 17 (Wednesday evening): First UMC, Eldorado
• Aug. 21 (Sunday morning): St Paul’s UMC, Kerrville
• Aug. 21 (Sunday evening): New Fountain, Hondo
• Aug. 28 (Sunday morning): First UMC, Corpus Christi
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Choirs sought for General Conference session
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—United Methodist choirs and ensemble groups from around the world may now audition online for an invitation to perform at the 2012 General Conference, The United Methodist Church’s top legislative assembly which meets in Tampa, Fla. beginning April 24, 2012.
To apply for an invitation to General Conference, choirs and ensembles are asked to submit a letter of application to gc2012worship@gmail.com, including a brief bio and a YouTube video link of the group performing. The deadline for applications is July 31, 2011.
“As always, we look forward to having musicians and artists from across the connection involved in leading the people of God in worship at General Conference,” said Dr. Marcia McFee, worship director for 2012 General Conference. “This ministry of worship and inspiration is vital for those delegates and leaders who spend many days in discernment and work on behalf of our denomination. To come to General Conference takes a lot of dedication and work for the groups who are selected and invited. We honor this gift they give to the church.”
Invited choirs will perform at lunch and during evening worship at General Conference. Choirs are responsible for their own expenses.
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UM Global AIDS fund working to raise $5 million with new initiative
Mozambique is one of the countries most affected by the AIDs/HIV pandemic. The United Methodist Global AIDS Fund is working to address the problem.
The United Methodist Global AIDS Fund is working to raise $5 million through a new initiative, “20/20: Visioning an AIDS-Free World.”
Persons are asked to make a contribution from $20 to $2,020 from now until 2020. The initiative solicits the endorsements of United Methodist leadership from throughout the denomination to contribute at least $20 and to ask others for contributions of $20 or more.
“Perfect 20/20 vision requires more than seeing—it requires action,” said the Rev. Don Messer, chairperson of the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund committee. “It means transforming money into medicine and ministry and changing cash into care and compassion. It’s time we cast a vision for creating an AIDS-free world.”
A gift of $20 can save a life by preventing the transmission of HIV from a mother to a child or providing nursing care for an infant born with AIDS. Twenty dollars can supply nutrients to 20 HIV-positive children suffering from dehydration or feed an HIV-positive person for a month, so they can take their medications. It can be used to teach young people and adults how to prevent HIV or to share biblical readings and prayers to those infected and affected.
More than 33 million people are infected with HIV and AIDS, and more than 26 million individuals have died. About 15 million children are orphaned as a result. In the United States, more than 1.2 million persons suffer from HIV and someone new is infected every 9 ½ minutes.
United Methodists have so far contributed more than $3 million for HIV/AIDS ministries. These gifts have funded 175 projects in 37 countries. One-hundred percent of contributions to the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund go directly to support HIV and AIDS programs.
The United Methodist Global AIDS Fund is designated as UMCOR Advance #982345. Give online at www.givetomission.org, through a local United Methodist church, or by mailing a check to United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), PO Box 9068, New York, New York 10087 Find out more about getting involved with“20/20: Visioning an AIDS- Free World” at http://2020aidsfreeworld.org/ or e-mail 2020AIDSFreeworld@gmail.com.
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Corpus Christi District News
Guaranteed appointments mean hard work
As an elder in full connection of the Southwest Texas Conference, I share with my brother and sister elders, and our Associate Member brothers and sisters, in a special and some would say, “ancient” covenant that many call “the Guaranteed Appointment.” Many compare this to a tenured professorship, where the belief within the denomination is that one will always have a job, not always at the same pay, but a church where we can be appointed if we get moved from another church.
The issue of appointments is a matter that will come before the denomination at the next General Conference in Tampa, Fla. Our delegates may have to vote on keeping the present language as is or to remove the sense of anything guaranteed in terms of our appointment. I have heard arguments on both sides; those who want it removed and those who call it a sacred trust that should not be removed.
The Council of Bishops when initially speaking about this in November, 2009, spoke of “institutionalization” and a “broken leadership system” (See UM Portal News, 11/09). Their concern is rightly justified; we find ourselves at a critical point in our history. The denomination is growing, just not here in the United States. Our portion of the UMC is declining as is our giving in some parts of the United States denomination. It is logical and right for the bishops to ask, what do we do now? One group that naturally gets pointed to is the clergy.
And so to try and correct the situation the question is asked, would we be better off if we could eliminate having or giving an appointment to those who are not producing or living up to what is expected of them?
I looked to see exactly what the current Book of Discipline says about this. I found in paragraph 334.1: “Every effective elder in full connection who is in good standing shall be continued under appointment by the bishop…(The rest of the language in this section deals with affiliate relationships in missionary conferences). The Discipline continues in section 2 where it reads, “There are professional responsibilities (par. 340- the “job description” of clergy) that elders are expected to fulfill and that represent a fundamental part of their accountability and a primary basis of their continued eligibility for annual appointment. These shall include: a) Continuing availability for appointment. b) Annual participation in a process of evaluation with committees on pastor-parish relations or comparable authority as well as annual participation in a process of evaluation with the district superintendent or comparable authority. c) Evidence of continuing effectiveness reflected in annual evaluations by the pastor-parish relations committee and by the district superintendent or comparable authority. d) Growth in professional competence and effectiveness through continuing education and formation. The Board of Ordained Ministry may set the minimum standards and specific guidelines for continuing education and formation for conference members; e) willingness to assume supervisory and mentoring responsibilities within the connection.” Whew!
Our mission statement says that we are to “make disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” Can our effectiveness not be measured in terms of the disciples we have made? Do we possess the instruments and tools to make disciples, and if so, are we teaching these to others so that all can be involved in this? And it is something we should take quite seriously and not as something to which we are entitled. To have a “guaranteed appointment” is to have the responsibility of working harder, praying harder, and doing as much as we can to grow God’s influence on the lives of those inside and outside of our churches.
Corpus Christi District Happenings
In just a few days we will gather again for Annual Conference. It is a time of Holy Conferencing where we do the business of the Southwest Texas Conference. Yet, it is much more than just a conference. Our time together includes seeing friends and colleagues we have known over the years, affirming those who have served throughout the years and now seek a new adventure called retirement, setting appointments for the upcoming year, and worshipping together in the memorial service, the ordination service and the setting of appointments service. This year, however, has a very special emphasis as we elect both lay and clergy delegates to the Jurisdictional and General Conference which will happen in 2012.
The Leadership development team of the Corpus Christi District has been hard at work designing an eight week video study on General Conference. This study is designed to help the members of our churches understand the history, the importance, the role of General Conference, what happens there, and how it is put into action. The video series will be given to each church in our district in early fall. It is our hope that this will be used in small group settings to enlighten our people about the structure and the workings of General Conference and how decision are made.
It is the hope of the Leadership Development team of the Corpus Christi District to be able to publish a video series each year on various issues that we have heard the United Methodist Churches of our District need to think about. If you have suggestions for future video series please contact Linda Morrow, Director of District Ministries at ccprogram@bizstx.rr.com or call the District Office (361) 852-8268.
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Kerrville District News
New appointments begin new clergy year
Happy New Year? Does that sound strange coming in June? For a Methodist preacher it makes sense. We celebrate the new beginnings of our new appointment, whether we are going back to the same place or moving to a new “opportunity or challenge.” We begin anew, knowing we are set in place for sure for a new year. Perhaps you’ll hear us say “Happy New Year” on the First Sunday of Advent or the first Sunday of the new calendar year. However, coming home from Annual Conference has always meant a new start for me and other pastor friends, emotionally and spiritually.
One humorous thing that happens to the Methodist preacher arriving for the “New Year.” The members scatter like quail when a hunter comes tramping through the brush! Summer vacations have begun, the choirs sometimes take leave, Bible studies adjourn and it’s hard to keep ministries from slowing down. More than once I’ve arrived new on the scene to have members show up for that “Freak Sunday” (to see the new preacher), ready to roll up my sleeves and go to work only to have the VBS kids left to talk to on Monday! Everyone else is ready for recreation – the “re-creation” of summer.
The “re-creation” will be good for all of us, especially if the truly is time away from the normal grind, time spent closer to loved ones, and time spent being refreshed and re-created by God’s loving Spirit. If those months of summer could only be a time of “sharpening the blade” we could cut through the timbers and build a stronger church and ministry.
What will this coming “conference year” mean for us? Perhaps we Methodist preachers are the only ones who think with this calendar in mind. Then, at least for us, may the new beginning of our appointments begin with “re-creation,” allowing God’s Spirit to refresh our calling, our commitments and our covenant with one another “make disciples for Jesus Christ and seek the transformation of the world.” May the summer “down time” be a preparation for the “up times” that will come, when we lead our leaders and our congregations with great preaching, great pastoring, and a great gathering of all the wonderful gifts God’s Spirit has given us for ministry to our neighbors.
We have been blessed to live in such “interesting times.” There are incredible problems in our world today. Yet we need to imagine these as opportunities for the glory of God to be seen through our faithful, hopeful and loving response. In this New Year coming we can be the means by which God’s Spirit moves across the chaos of this world to shape the Kingdom of God. May it be so.
Kerrville District happenings
Cleaning Buckets Needed
The Kerrville District Churches are invited to join in a campaign to put together 500 cleaning (flood) buckets to help those in need that have been recently devastated by the floods along the Mississippi River and from the tornadoes.
UMCOR is asking for cleaning buckets. It’s an opportunity for all of us to “pitch” in to help. Each church would contribute by giving one or more cleaning buckets or make a donation of $50 to help put a bucket together. The donation would go to The First United Methodist Church-Boerne, 205 E James Street, Boerne, TX 78006, with the check tagged cleaning bucket. FUMC-Boerne will use the funds to put together buckets in your church’s name. We would like to wrap up the donation by July 17, 2011.
What’s in a cleaning bucket: go to http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/getconnected/supplies/flood-bucket for the list of supplies: 5 gallon bucket with resalable lid, 2- 25 oz or 1- 50 oz liquid laundry detergent, liquid household cleaner, 12-16 oz , dish soap, 16-28 oz bottle, 1 can air freshener, 1 insect repellant spray,6-14 oz, 1 scrub brush, 18 cleaning wipes, 7 sponges, 5 scouring pads, 50 close pins, clothes line (2-50 foot, or 1-100 ft, 24 roll heavy duty trash bags, 5 dust masks, 2 pair disposable waterproof gloves, 1 pair work gloves. Enclose $1.00 in each kit to help cover distribution costs.
The buckets will be consolidated at the Wesley Disaster Center and shipped to the UMCOR’s Sager Brown depot. Contact Robert Dibble, (rkdibble@gvtc.com) to let him know how many buckets you will be preparing. Let’s all join hands and demonstrate our faith through action.
“Welcome to your new church, pastor. Here...carry this!” Pastor Lee Romero thought he would slip quietly into Johnson City to do some spiff-up on the parsonage before moving in later this month, when he officially takes over his new charge. Surprise! The day he picked turned out to be when volunteers were loading the used clothing collected for disaster victims through a county-wide interfaith campaign spearheaded by First United Methodist of Johnson City, his new flock. Instead of painting trim in the air-conditioning, Rev Romero (center) found himself sweating in the sun, hoisting boxes up to Jerry Charniak of Trinity Lutheran Church in Stonewall to place in the Seventh-day Adventists’ truck. Romero’s new followers welcomed him as their leader, but advised him to bring track shoes if he wanted to stay out in front.
The Kerrville District would like to say “WELCOME” to our new clergy family.
Newly appointed are:
Ricky Burk (FUMC Boerne); Beverly Burk (FUMC Boerne, Associate); Thom Elliott (FUMC Burnet); Donna Shaw (Highland Lakes UMC Associate); Phillip Hoeflinger (FUMC Carrizo Springs); Adam Knapp (Center Point UMC); C.J. Tillinghast (FUMC Cotulla); Lee Romero (FUMC Johnson City); Joe Tognetti (Kempner UMC); Everett McCarley (Lakehills UMC Associate); Ellen Ely (FUMC Marble Falls); Mel Hazelwood( New Fountain UMC); Chuck Crane (Utopia UMC).
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San Angelo District News
What I learned from a simple blessing
Recently I read Michael W. Smith’s new book, What I Learned From a Simple Blessing: The Extraordinary Power of an Ordinary Blessing. Smith, a Christian recording artist and author, wrote that “he had been blessed all his life-not just with abundance, but verbally from Godly people actually speaking words of blessing to him.” With this in mind, he began to pray a prayer of blessing at the end of each one of his concerts to help people be aware of God’s desire to bring good into their lives.
With summer just starting, we have ample opportunities to pass on God’s blessings. I hope you and your church will intentionally pray a blessing for:
Graduating Seniors- Be blessed with supernatural strength to turn your eyes and ears from foolish, worthless, and evil pursuits. Instead may you behold the wonderful life God has planned for you as you obey His word. May your mind be strong, disciplined, balanced, and faith-filled. May God’s angels protect and keep you.*
Church Groups attending Mission and Summer Camps- May the Holy Spirit make you healthy and strong in body, mind, and spirit to move and participate in faith and expectancy.* May God’s angels protect and keep you as you shine the light of His glory for others.
Vacation Bible Schools and Summer Church Programs-Through the power of these teachings may you come to know and accept Jesus Christ in your life. May you learn about His goodness and His love for you. May you always go to Him in prayer.
Teachers and Parents off for the Summer- May God’s grace be upon your home, that it may be a sanctuary of rest and renewal, a haven of peace where sounds of joy and laughter grace its walls, where love and unconditional acceptance of one another is the constant rule. *
Church Leaders, Youth Directors, and Musical Directors- May the Holy Spirit uplift you and encourage you. May you have peace of the Spirit, power of the Blood, and refreshing of the soul.
Clergy and Laity- May God’s Grace be upon you to fulfill your church’s dreams, visions, and God’s leadership. May God uphold His servant so that you can obey his decrees and commands. May God use you in mighty ways to spread the truth of the Gospel.
To All Christians- May your eyes behold the beauty of God’s world. May your hands reach out to others. May your feet walk in God’s ways. May your heart listen to the Holy Spirit. May you experience Jesus’ love and spread His peace.
May your summer be one filled with rest and peace sustained by worship and thanksgiving!
(*excerpts taken from What I Learned From a Simple Blessing: The Extraordinary Power of an Ordinary Blessing by Michael W. Smith)
Corpus Christi District Happenings
The winning team, 1st place: Frank Calderon, A.C. Calderon, Amando Calderon, and Jerry Mooring
5th Annual Wesley “Soup Kitchen” Golf Tournament
The 5th Annual Wesley “Soup Kitchen” Golf Tournament was held Saturday, May 21st at Quicksand Golf Course. With everyone’s help, we were able to raise $12,079.55 to help the Soup Kitchen with their ministry in this community. The winning teams were: 1st place: Frank Calderon, A.C. Calderon, Amando Calderon, and Jerry Mooring; 2nd place: Larry Burk, Mark Coggins, Sam Miller, and Carl Williams; and 3rd place: Norman & Helen Fullerton, Aaron Brothers, and Gene Green.
We thank First United Methodist Church for hosting the tournament, and Nelda Von Gonten, Birdie Pool, Betsy Sadler, and Dr. Ricky Burk. We thank all of the golfers who participated, and volunteers Mary McClure, Melanie Block, Meredythe McGlothlin, Daily Bread Executive Director- Mary Hankins, and Board Member Susan Wood, who helped with registration, and Benny Stuard. We thank the Tournament Planning Committee: Joe McClure, Fred Gudmundson, Jim & Nelda Von Gonten, Buddy Beck, Terry Mobley, Chuck Weedon, and Hank Hankins. We especially thank our Underwriters, Sponsors and Businesses listed below.
PLATINUM UNDERWRITERS:
First Financial Bank
GOLD SPONSORS:
Harrison Roofing Co. Inc., The Cactus Hotel, Johnson Funeral Home, CCA Eden Detention Center, Wells Fargo Bank N.A., Wesley Daily Bread Program, Keith & Dorrie Hall
SILVER SPONSORS:
Randall Motors, Standard Times, Dr. Ricky Burk, Jane Wardlaw, Mature Adults Council, Mayfield Paper Co., Peggy Gainer
BRONZE SPONSORS:
Griffin, INDECO Industrial Electric, Holiday Cleaners, Annetta M. Lupton, Oliver, Rainey, & Wojtek LLP CPA, Gary Donaldson Architecture, Roman Catholic Diocese of San Angelo, Johnny & Gay Fender, Texas State Bank, Eric J. Igler
TEE BOX SPONSORS:
Sharon M. Alexander, Dr. Gus Alexander, Barney’s Studio, City Lumber & Wholesale, FUMC Harmony S.S. Class, Reed, McKee & Co. P.C., Gary & Mignon Gammage, Steve Eustis Co. Realty, First National Bank, FUMC Cheers S.S. Class, FUMC Seekers S.S. Class, Porter Henderson Implement Co., Foster Communications Co., FUMC Journey S.S. Class, Calvert Collision Center, Inc., Bob Steely, Clay & Cathy Hubbard, Davey & Stephanie Sheen, Darryl Jordan,Trimble-Batjer Ins. Assoc.LLP Jim & Nelda Von Gonten, Stuard Crane Services, Superior Services, Pat Revell “In Memory of Don”, SVUMC Contemporary Christian Class, Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, LaQueta Shelburne Financial Services for the Concho Valley, SVUMC Seekers S.S. Class
RAFFLE PRIZES:
Carino’s Italian, Cheddar’s, CICI’S, Community Pharmacy, Discount Tire Co., Fuente’s Café Downtown, Gil’s Restaurant, Olive Garden, Outback Steakhouse, Quicksand Golf Course, Roxie’s Diner, San Angelo Country club, Steak Express, Sweet Designs, T-Bears Restaurant, Zentner’s Daughter, First Community Federal Credit Union, RJ Catering, Trans Texas Southwest Credit Union, S. A. Chamber of Johnny & Sally Commerce
DONATIONS/SAND TRAP:
Alfred & Betty Harbin, Joe McClure, Carolyn Beck, & SVUMC New Life S.S. Class
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Briefs
Imagine No Malaria mobile
app available for Android
NASHVILLE, Tenn.— The United Methodist Church’s Imagine No Malaria campaign is using technology to fight mosquitoes with the launch of a new mobile application that keeps mosquitoes away and also raises funds for the fight against malaria.
The new mobile app repels mosquitos using sound instead of spray. When used, the application emits three different high-pitched frequencies that serve as a deterrent for mosquitoes. Available for download on the Android platform at a cost of $.99, 70 percent of the proceeds benefit the fight against malaria in Africa. In addition, the app provides information about malaria, and a link to ImagineNoMalaria.org for those who wish to donate to the cause.
The Imagine No Malaria app was developed by Pico Brothers in conjunction with Ad Hope.
Imagine No Malaria is an extraordinary ministry of the people of The United Methodist Church to eliminate death and suffering from malaria in Africa by 2015. With a goal of raising $75 million to improve health infrastructure and empower a sustainable victory over the disease, Imagine No Malaria is our opportunity to rethink how we reach beyond our church, opening doors to those who need it most. For more information, please visit us online at www.ImagineNoMalaria.org.
Opportunities
Manchaca UMC is seeking a part-time business manager to maintain the church’s financial records including, income, deposits, purchase orders, invoices, payroll and cash flow management. Accounting degree preferred. Send letter of introduction and resume including at least three verifiable references to, office@ManchacaUMC.org no later than June 15. Salary $15-$20 per hr. Full job description available on church Web site.
Kerrville District
The Kerrville District staff has compiled
the information for Page 6 and paid to
use the space as a district newsletter.
Bill Henderson
Superintendent
dskerrville@texxa.net
Elizabeth Cover
Admin. Assistant
kdumc@texxa.net
Address:
222 Sidney Baker S # 528
Kerrville, Texas 78028
District Office
(830) 896-6400
Fax: (830) 896-6407
Program Office
(830) 896-6400
District Calendar
June
12 Last Sunday for moving clergy
19 First Sunday for New Appointed
Clergy.
SUMMER HOURS:
The District Office will not be open on
Fridays during the summer months of
June and July and though August 19.
Corpus Christi District
The Corpus Christi District staff has compiled
the information for Page 6 and paid to use the
space as a district newsletter.
Eradio Valverde, Jr.
Superintendent
districtsuper@bizstx.rr.com
Sheila Campbell
Admin. Assistant
ccdistrict@bizstx.rr.com
Linda Morrow
Ministries Director
ccprogram@bizstx.rr.com
Address:
3510 Gollihar Road
Corpus Christi, TX 78415-2750
District Office
(361) 852-8268
Fax: (361) 852-3370
Program Office
(361) 852-8268
District Calendar
June
12-17 Sea City Wrokcamp, Portland
FUMC.
14 Witness Deadline.
16 Moving Day.
18 UMCOR Early Response Training,
First UMC, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
19-24 Sea City Workcamp, Grace UMC.
20 United Campus Ministries, District
Office, 5:30 p.m.
July
12 Newsletter Deadline
18 United Campus Ministries, District
Office, 5:30 p.m.
August
4-8 Eradio Valverde in Africa for World
Methodist Conference.
4 Sea City Workcamp, District Office,
6 p.m.
15 United Campus Ministries, District
Office, 5:30 p.m.
San Angelo District
The San Andelo District staff has compiled the
information for Page 8 and uses the space as
a district newsletter.
Larry Altman
Superintendent
sangds@suddenlinkmail.com
Amy Moore
Operations Manager
sangom@suddenlinkmail.com
Gini Christian
District Ministries Coordinator
sangpd@suddenlinkmail.com
Address:
1315 S. Abe Street.
San Angelo, TX 76903
District Office
(325) 486-1500
Fax: (325) 482-0033
District Calendar
June
16 Moving day for Clergy.
23-25 Bishop’s Week.
July
4 District Office closed.
6 Larry & Patti, Mission trip to Costa
Rica.
11-22 District Office closed.
30 Weekday Ministries, Sierra Vista
UMC.
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