TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW FEBRUARY 23, 2007
Stories in this issue of THE REVIEW:
1. Sharletta M. Green named new director of the Tennessee State University Wesley Foundation
2. Life Journaling Makes a difference at Pleasant View United Methodist Church, article by the Rev. Ryan Bennett.
3. YouthWorker Movement: Weaving a fabric of relationship between youthworkers across the U.S. New movement ties together ALL workers with youth from meal planners to experienced directors of youth ministry.
4. You can go home again, article about former Pro-Bowl football, Robert James, Assistant Principal at Riverdale High School and a part-time lay pastor in the United Methodist Church, reprinted article from the Murfreesboro Daily News Journal
5. Founder shares story of Room In the Inn with Glendale UMC volunteers and Green Hills YMCA Young Leaders Group. Father Charles Strobel tells about the founding of Room at the Inn.
6. Zion Still Sings songbook soon to be released. The United Methodist Publishing House and the Nashville community celebrate the upcoming release of an important new songbook.
7. A reply to the Open Letter to the Annual Conference Connectional Table. In the spirit of Christian Conferencing the Rev. Dennis Meaker (West Nashville United Methodist Church) responds to a letter by Rev. Howard Olds.
8 . Learn About Journaling: Self Feeding for Spiritual Growth. Bishop Dick Wills explains the rich potential in Christian Journaling.
Sharletta M. Green named new director of the Tennessee State University Wesley Foundation
The Board of Directors of the Tennessee State Wesley Foundation and Bishop Richard Wills have announced the appointment of Sharletta M. Green to become Director of the Wesley Foundation at TSU. She comes to the position with excellent interpersonal skills with training in education and curriculum development. Her background includes teaching, youth ministry, preaching, worship leadership, choir directing, writing liturgy for worship, writing and facilitating workshops on classroom diversity, and aiding churches in crisis. She is certified in West Virginia to teach General Science, Biology, Chemistry and English.
Ms. Green, who began her duties at Tennessee State University on February 1, 2007, has a Master of Divinity Degree from the Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from West Virginia State College, and a Master of Arts degree from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia.
While at Candler she received the Honors Fellowship Seminarian Award for outstanding leadership in the worship arts. She also received a diversity scholarship for ministerial promise.
She has a large amount of work experience in areas as diverse as Human Resource Technician for the City of Atlanta Fire Department and Worship Coordinator for the Office of Worship of the Candler School of Theology. Educationally, she has many academic achievements and honors to her credit. As for her new position as Wesley Foundation director Green notes with enthusiasm, that “I have a passion for helping young adults find their voice in the church, making faith practical and using their gifts in the church and in the broader community to make a difference in the world.”
The Rev. Robert H. Lewis, chairperson of the TSU Wesley Foundation Board, says, “The Board and Personnel Committee at the TSU Wesley Foundation were very impressed with her communications skills, her dedication to campus ministry, her ability to relate to the university, and her genuine openness to all people. The Board, Personnel Committee, and Bishop Wills all feel that Sharletta Green is the right person at the right time to be the campus minister at the TSU Wesley Foundation. Through prayer we all feel that God directed her to this exciting position for ministry.
Life Journaling Makes a difference at Pleasant View United Methodist Church
by Ryan Bennett*
Why was Eve not named until after the fall? Why was Abel’s offering acceptable to God while Cain’s was not? Why did God want to kill Moses? How did Jesus look directly at Peter as the cock crowed and Peter had denied him three times? These are a few of the many questions that have been discussed “around the coffee pot” at Pleasant View United Methodist Church this January as the church has undertaken the discipline of Life Journaling as a congregation in 2007. Many text message savvy teenagers may be confused at how SOAPY is being used as short-hand in the bulletin, newsletter, and on the website, but it is having an impact less than a month into it.
Those participating in Life Journaling have realized quickly that reading takes on a totally different feel when the discipline of journaling is added in with it. Church member and first time Life Journaler Barbara Nunnally said of this, “I pay more attention to what it is I am reading when I know I will be choosing a verse. Then the observation requires that I think about what this verse is saying to me. The application and yield parts really grab me because they require an action on my part to be the child of God I should be. Using the SOAPY also requires that I have a prayer at that specific time about the application and yielding. I am learning to really appreciate this discipline.”
This has been a stretch for many, as well, as there is a definite discipline in doing this. “Journaling has not been as easy as the reading, but I am making progress. I feel this has helped me feel closer to God and helped me to be a more disciplined person,” said Janice Chandler, also a church member. As many have said, this is a habit that is desperately needed in all of our lives, to make God our first priority.
And the early indications are that it is going to be an exciting year. As pastor, the one thing I have noticed is that the Word of God has come off of the pages and started smacking those reading in the face, myself included. It is one thing to read the Bible. It is a whole other thing to read it with the expectation of instruction, inspiration, and direction. I have talked with persons who have found encouragement, forgiveness, hope, peace, and a clear sense of calling, all from the first three weeks of reading. As the spiritual leader of the congregation, I cannot wait to see what the remaining forty-nine weeks hold. I firmly believe that if we are faithful with this task, then God will open our hearts, minds, and doors to unbelievable ministry opportunities; things that are transformational – things that will literally change the world we live in. Through my prayers for those on this journey, I get the feeling that God will empower this body of believers to great things in the name of Jesus as the Word becomes flesh for us once again, leaping off the pages and into our hearts, lives, and ministries.
The nuts and bolts of us doing this are really simple. We are taking the basic premise introduced to us by our bishop, Dick Wills, and adapting it for our church. We are putting the daily readings on our website, in our newsletter, and on bookmarks available in the church vestibule. Members have the option of purchasing a journal, notebook, three ring binder, or even utilizing the computer for their journal entries. As pastor I am committed to doing my journaling on the computer and sending it out to the congregation via email and website periodically to provide encouragement and accountability and also to share what God is speaking to me through this journey.
Even Bishop Wills himself, when informed that this congregation was Life Journaling in 2007, sent out a daily journal entry of his as encouragement to us. It was a great thrill to know that they were partnering with our Bishop in seeking God’s Word in their life. “He has not been coming first in my life and that is what I truly desire,” spoke Margie Christoffer. These are the kind of commitments that God honors and uses to build God’s Kingdom.
We have scheduled a Spiritual Formation weekend during the first of March to further our growth and more enable God to be able to form us. Reverend Diane Blum will be our leader and has entitled the time of teaching Words to Build a Life On. This has already proven to be prophetic in the lives of those journaling. I cannot wait to see the end results of the lives that are being built by the Word!
(Read Bishop Dick Wills’ description of the journaling process followed regularly by both himself and the District Superintendents in the article, “Learn About Journaling: Self Feeding for Spiritual Growth.)
*Ryan Bennett is pastor of the Pleasant View United Methodist Church.
YouthWorker Movement: Weaving a fabric of relationship between youthworkers across the U.S.
Robert James, Assistant principal at Riverdale High School, former NFL Pro Bowler, and a part-time local pastor in the Tennessee Conference.
“The top thing I remember about him was the respect he has for people,” said Smyrna principal and former football coach Robert “Bud” Raikes. “Anytime people see a former pro athlete, their eyes light up.”
“But Robert wasn’t like that. He was just an everyday guy.”
And it is that humbleness which probably made James so adept at his second career—that of teacher and school administrator.
Now in his 25th year at Riverdale, assistant principal Robert James carries himself confidently and speaks softly—a man who has learned life’s lessons and feels a responsibility to pass those on.”
“That’s what Robert always was. He was determined and quiet,” said Martin. “He was reserved and intelligent. He was humble—except for on that ball field.”
Founder shares story of Room In the Inn with Glendale UMC volunteers and Green Hills YMCA Young Leaders Group
The Green Hills YMCA Young Leaders Group is heavily involved in community service.
Second grader Maia Garbett meets her real life hero Fr. Charles Strobel
Three persons who worked on Zion Still Sings celebrate at the songbooks public introduction: Dr. William B. McClain, Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, D.C; Harriet J. Olson, Sr. VP, UMPH; Dr. Myron McCoy, President, Saint Paul School of Theology, Kansas City, MO
The newest congregational hymn collection from Abingdon Press, Zion Still Sings! For Every Generation will be officially published in May 2007. This follow-up to Songs of Zion (Abingdon Press, 1981) is designed to be an important congregational worship resource for many years to come, providing congregations with a resource for corporate singing with an African-American church flare. Zion Still Sings! will emphasize new contemporary songs of praise as well as songs for worship, featuring service music, seasonal music, neosoul (new soul) and hip-hop. The book will contain about 250 songs.
On January 18th, 2007, the editorial committee for Zion Still Sings joined with several composers and arrangers of new material to introduce the soon-to-be-released songbook to the Nashville area. Forty percent of the songs in the new book were published in this century and eighty percent were published since1981. Twenty-five new songs are included—songs that are not available anywhere else.
Christian Conferencing
A reply to the Open Letter to the Annual Conference Connectional Table
1. Sharletta M. Green named new director of the Tennessee State University Wesley Foundation
2. Life Journaling Makes a difference at Pleasant View United Methodist Church, article by the Rev. Ryan Bennett.
3. YouthWorker Movement: Weaving a fabric of relationship between youthworkers across the U.S. New movement ties together ALL workers with youth from meal planners to experienced directors of youth ministry.
4. You can go home again, article about former Pro-Bowl football, Robert James, Assistant Principal at Riverdale High School and a part-time lay pastor in the United Methodist Church, reprinted article from the Murfreesboro Daily News Journal
5. Founder shares story of Room In the Inn with Glendale UMC volunteers and Green Hills YMCA Young Leaders Group. Father Charles Strobel tells about the founding of Room at the Inn.
6. Zion Still Sings songbook soon to be released. The United Methodist Publishing House and the Nashville community celebrate the upcoming release of an important new songbook.
7. A reply to the Open Letter to the Annual Conference Connectional Table. In the spirit of Christian Conferencing the Rev. Dennis Meaker (West Nashville United Methodist Church) responds to a letter by Rev. Howard Olds.
8 . Learn About Journaling: Self Feeding for Spiritual Growth. Bishop Dick Wills explains the rich potential in Christian Journaling.
Sharletta M. Green named new director of the Tennessee State University Wesley Foundation
The Board of Directors of the Tennessee State Wesley Foundation and Bishop Richard Wills have announced the appointment of Sharletta M. Green to become Director of the Wesley Foundation at TSU. She comes to the position with excellent interpersonal skills with training in education and curriculum development. Her background includes teaching, youth ministry, preaching, worship leadership, choir directing, writing liturgy for worship, writing and facilitating workshops on classroom diversity, and aiding churches in crisis. She is certified in West Virginia to teach General Science, Biology, Chemistry and English.Ms. Green, who began her duties at Tennessee State University on February 1, 2007, has a Master of Divinity Degree from the Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from West Virginia State College, and a Master of Arts degree from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia.
While at Candler she received the Honors Fellowship Seminarian Award for outstanding leadership in the worship arts. She also received a diversity scholarship for ministerial promise.
She has a large amount of work experience in areas as diverse as Human Resource Technician for the City of Atlanta Fire Department and Worship Coordinator for the Office of Worship of the Candler School of Theology. Educationally, she has many academic achievements and honors to her credit. As for her new position as Wesley Foundation director Green notes with enthusiasm, that “I have a passion for helping young adults find their voice in the church, making faith practical and using their gifts in the church and in the broader community to make a difference in the world.”
The Rev. Robert H. Lewis, chairperson of the TSU Wesley Foundation Board, says, “The Board and Personnel Committee at the TSU Wesley Foundation were very impressed with her communications skills, her dedication to campus ministry, her ability to relate to the university, and her genuine openness to all people. The Board, Personnel Committee, and Bishop Wills all feel that Sharletta Green is the right person at the right time to be the campus minister at the TSU Wesley Foundation. Through prayer we all feel that God directed her to this exciting position for ministry.
Life Journaling Makes a difference at Pleasant View United Methodist Church
by Ryan Bennett*
Why was Eve not named until after the fall? Why was Abel’s offering acceptable to God while Cain’s was not? Why did God want to kill Moses? How did Jesus look directly at Peter as the cock crowed and Peter had denied him three times? These are a few of the many questions that have been discussed “around the coffee pot” at Pleasant View United Methodist Church this January as the church has undertaken the discipline of Life Journaling as a congregation in 2007. Many text message savvy teenagers may be confused at how SOAPY is being used as short-hand in the bulletin, newsletter, and on the website, but it is having an impact less than a month into it.
Those participating in Life Journaling have realized quickly that reading takes on a totally different feel when the discipline of journaling is added in with it. Church member and first time Life Journaler Barbara Nunnally said of this, “I pay more attention to what it is I am reading when I know I will be choosing a verse. Then the observation requires that I think about what this verse is saying to me. The application and yield parts really grab me because they require an action on my part to be the child of God I should be. Using the SOAPY also requires that I have a prayer at that specific time about the application and yielding. I am learning to really appreciate this discipline.”
This has been a stretch for many, as well, as there is a definite discipline in doing this. “Journaling has not been as easy as the reading, but I am making progress. I feel this has helped me feel closer to God and helped me to be a more disciplined person,” said Janice Chandler, also a church member. As many have said, this is a habit that is desperately needed in all of our lives, to make God our first priority.
And the early indications are that it is going to be an exciting year. As pastor, the one thing I have noticed is that the Word of God has come off of the pages and started smacking those reading in the face, myself included. It is one thing to read the Bible. It is a whole other thing to read it with the expectation of instruction, inspiration, and direction. I have talked with persons who have found encouragement, forgiveness, hope, peace, and a clear sense of calling, all from the first three weeks of reading. As the spiritual leader of the congregation, I cannot wait to see what the remaining forty-nine weeks hold. I firmly believe that if we are faithful with this task, then God will open our hearts, minds, and doors to unbelievable ministry opportunities; things that are transformational – things that will literally change the world we live in. Through my prayers for those on this journey, I get the feeling that God will empower this body of believers to great things in the name of Jesus as the Word becomes flesh for us once again, leaping off the pages and into our hearts, lives, and ministries.
The nuts and bolts of us doing this are really simple. We are taking the basic premise introduced to us by our bishop, Dick Wills, and adapting it for our church. We are putting the daily readings on our website, in our newsletter, and on bookmarks available in the church vestibule. Members have the option of purchasing a journal, notebook, three ring binder, or even utilizing the computer for their journal entries. As pastor I am committed to doing my journaling on the computer and sending it out to the congregation via email and website periodically to provide encouragement and accountability and also to share what God is speaking to me through this journey.
Even Bishop Wills himself, when informed that this congregation was Life Journaling in 2007, sent out a daily journal entry of his as encouragement to us. It was a great thrill to know that they were partnering with our Bishop in seeking God’s Word in their life. “He has not been coming first in my life and that is what I truly desire,” spoke Margie Christoffer. These are the kind of commitments that God honors and uses to build God’s Kingdom.
We have scheduled a Spiritual Formation weekend during the first of March to further our growth and more enable God to be able to form us. Reverend Diane Blum will be our leader and has entitled the time of teaching Words to Build a Life On. This has already proven to be prophetic in the lives of those journaling. I cannot wait to see the end results of the lives that are being built by the Word!
(Read Bishop Dick Wills’ description of the journaling process followed regularly by both himself and the District Superintendents in the article, “Learn About Journaling: Self Feeding for Spiritual Growth.)
*Ryan Bennett is pastor of the Pleasant View United Methodist Church.
YouthWorker Movement: Weaving a fabric of relationship between youthworkers across the U.S.
Pictured in the Youth Worker Movement national office are:Rev. Terry Carty (right), Director of The YouthWorker Movement and a ministerial member of the Tennessee Annual Conference; Jennie Murray, Assistant to the Director.
The YouthWorker Movement is a networking of persons working in United Methodist youth ministry—not only professional Ministers/Directors of Youth Ministry on a local church level, but anyone working with youth: Sunday School teachers, adults responsible for food and refreshments at youth meeting, youth coordinators at a conference or district level, camp counselors, chaperones, after school tutors, coaches for youth sports teams, persons leading special through-the-week studies for youth—any adult working in some way with young people. Almost without thinking, Terry Carty, Director of the YouthWorker Movement, adds “and van drivers, don’t forget van drivers” to the listing of the various ways adults work with youth.
By choice this national organization is headquartered in a local church (Historic McKendree United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee) rather than in a denominational center or a conveniently located office building. The reason, explains Carty, is that the YouthWorker Movement wants to continually focus on local church youth ministry and not lose sight of the focus even for a moment. The YouthWorker Movement is committed to being a supporting link tying United Methodist youthworkers in the USA to the substantial resources available from the general agencies of the Church. The Movement serves the connectional system by facilitating good relationships and communication at every level of the Church.
If the focus is on youthworkers, professional and nonprofessional, the operative term in the YouthWorker Movement title is “Movement.” This is a grass-roots movement coming from the local church and providing a way for youthworkers to share ideas across jurisdictional, conference, national, and even sometimes denominational borders. It also provides a way for experienced youthworkers to help the novice (“What! I’ve got to start teaching the youth class on the first Sunday of the month. I don’t know much about youth ministry!”). Carty describes the purpose of the movement succinctly: “It’s to weave a fabric of relationships between youthworkers across the United States.”
The YouthWorker Movement is a national organization that charges no membership fees. The Board of Directors, who are all youthworkers, have studiously avoided trying to stage huge national conferences and elect officers. “We want to stay a movement as long as possible,” admits Carty. That doesn’t mean that the Movement isn’t active on a national level -- they have had dinner and luncheon meetings at all Youth Specialties Conferences and the Perkins School of Youth Ministry in Texas. “We fed over 700 persons in four Youth Specialties meetings and 230 at Perkins. We try to show up anywhere there are a lot of United Methodist youthworkers.”
Carty talks to both youthworkers and connectional ministry leaders about how to stay in touch with youthworkers, and how to network experienced youthworkers with the less experienced for training and fellowship. He is on the road about 30 percent of the time, but there are some months when that raises to 60 percent of the time. He tries to model staying in connection by personal contact.
The strong urge of youthworkers nationwide to share ideas and experiences is manifested most dramatically in the YouthWorker Movement national website, www.youthworkermovement.org. Here is a database where persons can share great stories, present ideas for programs that work well, and even present good advice. On a recent day the “good advice” section of the site offered advice on successful fundraising and budgeting, advice on being part of a staff, and even advice on what it means to have a successful ministry. The visitor to the website can also choose to join The YouthWorker Movement (remember, membership is free). Membership allows complete access to the entire site.
The Movement was launched in April of 2005 by the General Board of Discipleship Young People’s Division with major funding given by an anonymous donor to the Foundation for Evangelism. The website was an additional gift from the Foundation as their Evangelism Network team actually built and tested the site. At the end of 2006, The General Board of Discipleship and the Foundation For Evangelism cooperated to “plant” the YouthWorker Movement as a freestanding entity. The Movement’s board of directors has applied for 501(c)(3) tax exempt status and they will petition for official affiliation status with the General Board of Discipleship.
By the end of 2006 there were 2500 “members” affiliated with the Movement and by early January of 2007 there were already another 35 members committed to tying together all youthworkers from around the country. “We usually grow at the rate of 5 people per day and the increases in membership come mainly through word of mouth,” says Carty. He adds quickly, “Besides getting the persons you would expect to be interested in pulling together youthworkers, we are getting people from smaller churches, Korean, African-American, Hispanic – even some from outside the U.S.”
Another important role of the YouthWorker Movement is bringing together agencies, organizations, and companies that have an interest in youth ministry –from Interlinc (interested in youth and music) to creative partnerships with Pfeiffer University and Southwestern College (both which offer degrees in youth ministry). The coalition of groups coming together around the YouthWorker Movement is already paying dividends. And there are partnership conversations with several schools of theology –Clermont, Duke, Candler, and Perkins. Many of the Movement’s “Partners in Ministry” offer discounts and other benefits to the members.
Presently the Movement is planning a summit for youthworkers from all annual conferences who plan major youth events. It is also exploring ways to provide training in public speaking to meet the demand for persons to speak to youth, fill pulpits and teach about youth ministry.
The value of membership in the YouthWorker Movement is best stated on the website: “As this movement grows, the result will be people networking, sharing ideas, producing energy, yielding valuable content, and the growth of leaders. Members can expect:
+A membership made up of the most experienced and the least experienced United Methodist youthworkers
+A great website that connects people wherever they are
+People gatherings for learning and reunion
+Partnerships with companies that support youth ministry
+Free and reduced-cost resources for ministry
+Local youthworker associations in many areas
For further information:
YouthWorker Movement
PO Box 331927
Nashville, TN 37203
615-263-0530
Tcarty@youthworkermovement.org
Jmurray@youthworkermovement.org
Black History Month
By choice this national organization is headquartered in a local church (Historic McKendree United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee) rather than in a denominational center or a conveniently located office building. The reason, explains Carty, is that the YouthWorker Movement wants to continually focus on local church youth ministry and not lose sight of the focus even for a moment. The YouthWorker Movement is committed to being a supporting link tying United Methodist youthworkers in the USA to the substantial resources available from the general agencies of the Church. The Movement serves the connectional system by facilitating good relationships and communication at every level of the Church.
If the focus is on youthworkers, professional and nonprofessional, the operative term in the YouthWorker Movement title is “Movement.” This is a grass-roots movement coming from the local church and providing a way for youthworkers to share ideas across jurisdictional, conference, national, and even sometimes denominational borders. It also provides a way for experienced youthworkers to help the novice (“What! I’ve got to start teaching the youth class on the first Sunday of the month. I don’t know much about youth ministry!”). Carty describes the purpose of the movement succinctly: “It’s to weave a fabric of relationships between youthworkers across the United States.”
The YouthWorker Movement is a national organization that charges no membership fees. The Board of Directors, who are all youthworkers, have studiously avoided trying to stage huge national conferences and elect officers. “We want to stay a movement as long as possible,” admits Carty. That doesn’t mean that the Movement isn’t active on a national level -- they have had dinner and luncheon meetings at all Youth Specialties Conferences and the Perkins School of Youth Ministry in Texas. “We fed over 700 persons in four Youth Specialties meetings and 230 at Perkins. We try to show up anywhere there are a lot of United Methodist youthworkers.”
Carty talks to both youthworkers and connectional ministry leaders about how to stay in touch with youthworkers, and how to network experienced youthworkers with the less experienced for training and fellowship. He is on the road about 30 percent of the time, but there are some months when that raises to 60 percent of the time. He tries to model staying in connection by personal contact.
The strong urge of youthworkers nationwide to share ideas and experiences is manifested most dramatically in the YouthWorker Movement national website, www.youthworkermovement.org. Here is a database where persons can share great stories, present ideas for programs that work well, and even present good advice. On a recent day the “good advice” section of the site offered advice on successful fundraising and budgeting, advice on being part of a staff, and even advice on what it means to have a successful ministry. The visitor to the website can also choose to join The YouthWorker Movement (remember, membership is free). Membership allows complete access to the entire site.
The Movement was launched in April of 2005 by the General Board of Discipleship Young People’s Division with major funding given by an anonymous donor to the Foundation for Evangelism. The website was an additional gift from the Foundation as their Evangelism Network team actually built and tested the site. At the end of 2006, The General Board of Discipleship and the Foundation For Evangelism cooperated to “plant” the YouthWorker Movement as a freestanding entity. The Movement’s board of directors has applied for 501(c)(3) tax exempt status and they will petition for official affiliation status with the General Board of Discipleship.
By the end of 2006 there were 2500 “members” affiliated with the Movement and by early January of 2007 there were already another 35 members committed to tying together all youthworkers from around the country. “We usually grow at the rate of 5 people per day and the increases in membership come mainly through word of mouth,” says Carty. He adds quickly, “Besides getting the persons you would expect to be interested in pulling together youthworkers, we are getting people from smaller churches, Korean, African-American, Hispanic – even some from outside the U.S.”
Another important role of the YouthWorker Movement is bringing together agencies, organizations, and companies that have an interest in youth ministry –from Interlinc (interested in youth and music) to creative partnerships with Pfeiffer University and Southwestern College (both which offer degrees in youth ministry). The coalition of groups coming together around the YouthWorker Movement is already paying dividends. And there are partnership conversations with several schools of theology –Clermont, Duke, Candler, and Perkins. Many of the Movement’s “Partners in Ministry” offer discounts and other benefits to the members.
Presently the Movement is planning a summit for youthworkers from all annual conferences who plan major youth events. It is also exploring ways to provide training in public speaking to meet the demand for persons to speak to youth, fill pulpits and teach about youth ministry.
The value of membership in the YouthWorker Movement is best stated on the website: “As this movement grows, the result will be people networking, sharing ideas, producing energy, yielding valuable content, and the growth of leaders. Members can expect:
+A membership made up of the most experienced and the least experienced United Methodist youthworkers
+A great website that connects people wherever they are
+People gatherings for learning and reunion
+Partnerships with companies that support youth ministry
+Free and reduced-cost resources for ministry
+Local youthworker associations in many areas
For further information:
YouthWorker Movement
PO Box 331927
Nashville, TN 37203
615-263-0530
Tcarty@youthworkermovement.org
Jmurray@youthworkermovement.org
Black History Month
You can go home again
Editor’s Note: We thought the entire Tennessee Conference would like to read the story of Robert D. James that appeared in the Murfreesboro Daily News Journal. James, in addition to being a former NFL Pro-Bowler, and the assistant principal at Riverdale High School is a part-time local pastor in the Tennessee Annual Conference. He has served St. John UMC in the Murfreesboro District since 2002.
Former NFL star James’ heart never left Murfreesboro
by Jared Hastings. Reprinted from the Daily News Journal, Murfreesboro, Thursday, February 8, 2007, p. C-1, Daily News Journal Sports. Used here by permission.
Murfreesboro is a different place in 2007 than it was in 1965. But in the 42 years that have passed since Robert James left Murfreesboro to attend Fisk University in Nashville, one of the few things that has not changed is James himself.
Though he would most likely never own up to it, there are several around who would argue that James is the best athlete to ever come out of Murfreesboro. While the notion that James is the greatest athlete Rutherford County has ever produced is debatable, what is not debatable are the obstacles which the three-time NFL Pro-Bowler had to overcome to reach those heights.
Though integration had slowly started in Murfreesboro, segregation was still prevalent in the town and county. That institution left James to attend Holloway High School, the county’s lone all-black high school at the time.
“We knew that things weren’t equal,” James said of his time growing up in the segregated south. “We knew things weren’t right. It was a black-and-white society with haves and have-nots. We were the have-nots.”
A rangy defensive back, James showed a fire on the field not otherwise seen in the young man with soft hands and speed.
“There was only one thing he did that bothered me,” said Pearlie Martin, who taught James in high school and later taught with him at Riverdale. “He always fought. He was always getting into it. But he told me it was because of his faith. He said ‘When good and evil meet, there’s bound to be a clash.’”
But it could have been an outlet for a young man, intelligent and out to prove that despite the social structure, he could still be a success.
“I think it drove us to work to be better,” said James. “Not just in football, but in the classroom. We wanted to prove that we were every bit as good as the white students.”
And it could have very well been that drive which sent James to Fisk University in Nashville to play football in the fall of 1965, after graduating from Holloway.
“There weren’t black athletes playing major college football in the south back then,” said James. “Some people, like me, were able to move on to black colleges and play. Others just got lost because they weren’t recruited.”
“There were some better athletes on the team at Holloway than I played with in the NFL.”
There were not many athletes better than James, though. After a standout career at Fisk, James signed a free-agent contract with the Bills—a move that would eventually lead to being named to the team’s Silver Anniversary Team in 1984, and an induction into the organization’s Wall of Fame in 1998. James keeps impressive company on the Bills’ Wall of Fame, joining notables such as quarterback Jim Kelly, running back O.J. Simpson, owner Ralph Wilson, and coach Marv Levy.
James was considered one of the best man-to-man cover men in his era, picking off nine passes in his career to go along with six fumble recoveries. He was selected to three-straight Pro Bowls, from 1972 to ’74.
But a knee injury in 1975 would eventually lead to James’ retirement from football. After rehabbing the knee, James tried a brief comeback in 1978, but was unable to return to form.
Though his football career was over, James—as a former Buffalo Bill—could have no doubt found a way to start a second career in New York. He could hardly be held at fault for choosing not to return to a region of the country which had put such social restraints on James as a child. But James made a decision to return to Rutherford County.
“I looked at it like: I have a job in Buffalo, I just work there,” said James. “I had always been used to a rural town, which is what this used to be. But I had always lived in Murfreesboro. This had always been home. It was where I was reared and where I wanted to rear my family.”
In 1979, James was hired as a coach and teacher at Smyrna High School, beginning a career in education which would continue to this day.
Editor’s Note: We thought the entire Tennessee Conference would like to read the story of Robert D. James that appeared in the Murfreesboro Daily News Journal. James, in addition to being a former NFL Pro-Bowler, and the assistant principal at Riverdale High School is a part-time local pastor in the Tennessee Annual Conference. He has served St. John UMC in the Murfreesboro District since 2002.
Former NFL star James’ heart never left Murfreesboro
by Jared Hastings. Reprinted from the Daily News Journal, Murfreesboro, Thursday, February 8, 2007, p. C-1, Daily News Journal Sports. Used here by permission.
Murfreesboro is a different place in 2007 than it was in 1965. But in the 42 years that have passed since Robert James left Murfreesboro to attend Fisk University in Nashville, one of the few things that has not changed is James himself.
Though he would most likely never own up to it, there are several around who would argue that James is the best athlete to ever come out of Murfreesboro. While the notion that James is the greatest athlete Rutherford County has ever produced is debatable, what is not debatable are the obstacles which the three-time NFL Pro-Bowler had to overcome to reach those heights.
Though integration had slowly started in Murfreesboro, segregation was still prevalent in the town and county. That institution left James to attend Holloway High School, the county’s lone all-black high school at the time.
“We knew that things weren’t equal,” James said of his time growing up in the segregated south. “We knew things weren’t right. It was a black-and-white society with haves and have-nots. We were the have-nots.”
A rangy defensive back, James showed a fire on the field not otherwise seen in the young man with soft hands and speed.
“There was only one thing he did that bothered me,” said Pearlie Martin, who taught James in high school and later taught with him at Riverdale. “He always fought. He was always getting into it. But he told me it was because of his faith. He said ‘When good and evil meet, there’s bound to be a clash.’”
But it could have been an outlet for a young man, intelligent and out to prove that despite the social structure, he could still be a success.
“I think it drove us to work to be better,” said James. “Not just in football, but in the classroom. We wanted to prove that we were every bit as good as the white students.”
And it could have very well been that drive which sent James to Fisk University in Nashville to play football in the fall of 1965, after graduating from Holloway.
“There weren’t black athletes playing major college football in the south back then,” said James. “Some people, like me, were able to move on to black colleges and play. Others just got lost because they weren’t recruited.”
“There were some better athletes on the team at Holloway than I played with in the NFL.”
There were not many athletes better than James, though. After a standout career at Fisk, James signed a free-agent contract with the Bills—a move that would eventually lead to being named to the team’s Silver Anniversary Team in 1984, and an induction into the organization’s Wall of Fame in 1998. James keeps impressive company on the Bills’ Wall of Fame, joining notables such as quarterback Jim Kelly, running back O.J. Simpson, owner Ralph Wilson, and coach Marv Levy.
James was considered one of the best man-to-man cover men in his era, picking off nine passes in his career to go along with six fumble recoveries. He was selected to three-straight Pro Bowls, from 1972 to ’74.
But a knee injury in 1975 would eventually lead to James’ retirement from football. After rehabbing the knee, James tried a brief comeback in 1978, but was unable to return to form.
Though his football career was over, James—as a former Buffalo Bill—could have no doubt found a way to start a second career in New York. He could hardly be held at fault for choosing not to return to a region of the country which had put such social restraints on James as a child. But James made a decision to return to Rutherford County.
“I looked at it like: I have a job in Buffalo, I just work there,” said James. “I had always been used to a rural town, which is what this used to be. But I had always lived in Murfreesboro. This had always been home. It was where I was reared and where I wanted to rear my family.”
In 1979, James was hired as a coach and teacher at Smyrna High School, beginning a career in education which would continue to this day.
Robert James, Assistant principal at Riverdale High School, former NFL Pro Bowler, and a part-time local pastor in the Tennessee Conference.
“The top thing I remember about him was the respect he has for people,” said Smyrna principal and former football coach Robert “Bud” Raikes. “Anytime people see a former pro athlete, their eyes light up.”
“But Robert wasn’t like that. He was just an everyday guy.”
And it is that humbleness which probably made James so adept at his second career—that of teacher and school administrator.
Now in his 25th year at Riverdale, assistant principal Robert James carries himself confidently and speaks softly—a man who has learned life’s lessons and feels a responsibility to pass those on.”
“That’s what Robert always was. He was determined and quiet,” said Martin. “He was reserved and intelligent. He was humble—except for on that ball field.”
Founder shares story of Room In the Inn with Glendale UMC volunteers and Green Hills YMCA Young Leaders Group
The Green Hills YMCA Young Leaders Group is heavily involved in community service.
The Green Hills YMCA Young Leaders Group is involved in community service including serving as monthly volunteers at Glendale United Methodist Church’s hospitality to Nashville's homeless through Room In the Inn -- a Nashville ministry that reaches the homeless and provides food as well as a warm place to spend the night during the cold winter months.
The Young Leaders Group and their advisor/counselor Ms. Eli Parrott held their weekly meeting Monday night, February 12th at Glendale Methodist Church in order to meet Father Charles Strobel who came to share the Room In the Inn story and encourage these young community leaders from Hillsboro, Hume Fogg, Harpeth Hall, and Martin Luther King (MLK).
Strobel outlined how a simple feeding program serving peanut butter sandwiches led to a soup kitchen and then to the volunteer feeding program Loaves and Fishes which has been helping the hungry since 1983. Around 1985 he was on a boat trip on the Cumberland River, it was autumn and the leaves were gone from the trees. He was shocked by what he saw—shacks and shanties on the riverbank that were much more reminiscent of Third World countries than the U.S.
Near the same time, with Nashville's growing tourism industry, the Corps of Engineers set out to remove the shacks from along the river. As the weather grew frigid, faced with no place to stay, the dispossessed began staying in the parking lot of Strobel’s church—knowing they could at least find a good meal the next day courtesy of Loaves and Fishes.
Looking out his bedroom window Strobel noticed the persons in the parking lot, some in automobiles, some completely exposed to the cold. He felt he could do no less than invite the homeless in for the night even though he knew there was really no way to stop the hospitality once it started. He was correct. Crowds came to the church night after night after night.
Volunteers came to help. Several nearby churches offered to help lodge the homeless—and Room In the Inn was born, starting with three churches, then 31 churches, and within a few years 120 congregations including many United Methodist. The ministry continued to expand through the years—a “Guest House” to assist alcoholics, a Respite Program for persons who are ill or have a handicapping condition, Campus for Human Development to help get some of the individuals back on their feet financially. “And to think,” noted Strobel, “that it all began with serving a peanut butter sandwich to a homeless person.”
Strobel spent time doing some theological reflection with the students helping them connect the biblical story with the present day call to serve others. Strobel concluded his presentation challenging all present. He noted that much of what has been done is for men and that good programs for women lag behind; he was forceful with his feelings that though a number of national and local concerns have pushed the plight of the homeless and the hungry out of the news that doesn’t mean that it isn’t still a major problem. He also related to the plight of the homeless. “Many chose homelessness out of resignation . . . it is easier to stop trying to succeed rather than risk failure time after time.”
The Young Leaders Group and their advisor/counselor Ms. Eli Parrott held their weekly meeting Monday night, February 12th at Glendale Methodist Church in order to meet Father Charles Strobel who came to share the Room In the Inn story and encourage these young community leaders from Hillsboro, Hume Fogg, Harpeth Hall, and Martin Luther King (MLK).
Strobel outlined how a simple feeding program serving peanut butter sandwiches led to a soup kitchen and then to the volunteer feeding program Loaves and Fishes which has been helping the hungry since 1983. Around 1985 he was on a boat trip on the Cumberland River, it was autumn and the leaves were gone from the trees. He was shocked by what he saw—shacks and shanties on the riverbank that were much more reminiscent of Third World countries than the U.S.
Near the same time, with Nashville's growing tourism industry, the Corps of Engineers set out to remove the shacks from along the river. As the weather grew frigid, faced with no place to stay, the dispossessed began staying in the parking lot of Strobel’s church—knowing they could at least find a good meal the next day courtesy of Loaves and Fishes.
Looking out his bedroom window Strobel noticed the persons in the parking lot, some in automobiles, some completely exposed to the cold. He felt he could do no less than invite the homeless in for the night even though he knew there was really no way to stop the hospitality once it started. He was correct. Crowds came to the church night after night after night.
Volunteers came to help. Several nearby churches offered to help lodge the homeless—and Room In the Inn was born, starting with three churches, then 31 churches, and within a few years 120 congregations including many United Methodist. The ministry continued to expand through the years—a “Guest House” to assist alcoholics, a Respite Program for persons who are ill or have a handicapping condition, Campus for Human Development to help get some of the individuals back on their feet financially. “And to think,” noted Strobel, “that it all began with serving a peanut butter sandwich to a homeless person.”
Strobel spent time doing some theological reflection with the students helping them connect the biblical story with the present day call to serve others. Strobel concluded his presentation challenging all present. He noted that much of what has been done is for men and that good programs for women lag behind; he was forceful with his feelings that though a number of national and local concerns have pushed the plight of the homeless and the hungry out of the news that doesn’t mean that it isn’t still a major problem. He also related to the plight of the homeless. “Many chose homelessness out of resignation . . . it is easier to stop trying to succeed rather than risk failure time after time.”
Second grader Maia Garbett meets her real life hero Fr. Charles Strobel
At the conclusion of the program a Glendale Elementary School second grader, Maia Garbett, was brought forward to meet Fr. Strobel. Maia’s class had engaged in a project where each student could select a modern hero, research information about the hero, and prepare a presentation. Maia who serves each month with her parents at the Glendale UMC Room In the Inn was urged to select a “hero” who somehow was part of her life. She chose Fr. Charles Strobel and prepared a chart indicating what Fr. Strobel had done—“All starting with a peanut butter sandwich.” She was tremendously excited that Fr. Strobel was coming to Glendale UMC, the family’s church home, and awed that she might have an opportunity to actually meet the person she has written about. She did meet her hero but Fr. Strobel was equally awed to meet Maia, a second grader who was concerned about helping the homeless.
Interested in finding out more about Room In the Inn? Contact The Campus for Human Development 615-251-7019 or if your church is insterested in hosting with a local congregation contact Rev. Sandra Griggs, Glendale UMC 615-297-6233
Zion Still Sings songbook soon to be released
Interested in finding out more about Room In the Inn? Contact The Campus for Human Development 615-251-7019 or if your church is insterested in hosting with a local congregation contact Rev. Sandra Griggs, Glendale UMC 615-297-6233
Zion Still Sings songbook soon to be released
Three persons who worked on Zion Still Sings celebrate at the songbooks public introduction: Dr. William B. McClain, Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, D.C; Harriet J. Olson, Sr. VP, UMPH; Dr. Myron McCoy, President, Saint Paul School of Theology, Kansas City, MOThe newest congregational hymn collection from Abingdon Press, Zion Still Sings! For Every Generation will be officially published in May 2007. This follow-up to Songs of Zion (Abingdon Press, 1981) is designed to be an important congregational worship resource for many years to come, providing congregations with a resource for corporate singing with an African-American church flare. Zion Still Sings! will emphasize new contemporary songs of praise as well as songs for worship, featuring service music, seasonal music, neosoul (new soul) and hip-hop. The book will contain about 250 songs.
On January 18th, 2007, the editorial committee for Zion Still Sings joined with several composers and arrangers of new material to introduce the soon-to-be-released songbook to the Nashville area. Forty percent of the songs in the new book were published in this century and eighty percent were published since1981. Twenty-five new songs are included—songs that are not available anywhere else.
Rev. Cynthia A. Wilson, Atlanta, GA, leads the crowd in singings some of the new songs in Zion Still Sings!
Marilyn Thornton, Music Editor for Zion Still Sings, recently reflected on the uniqueness of the new songbook. “God meets us in every situation, for every generation, and in every location. That’s what is meant by Zion Still Sings. Zion is where we meet God. When heads were bowed down with the oppression of slavery, a song would come forth such as “Guide My Feet” or “I Want Jesus to Walk with Me” and God would be there, lifting heads and hearts.
“God was in the bush arbors, the segregated galleries, the mission churches, and in the churches built from used bricks, as the community sang hymns such as “At the Cross” and “Yield Not to Temptation,” gaining the assurance that God’s kingdom was inclusive.
“Zion Still Sings,” Thornton continued, “because just as God was present during the Great Migration with Charles Tindley and Kenneth Morris, just as God was present during the Civil Rights Movement when we sang “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ’Round,” God meets the current generation in the streets of our 21st century world. God will meet you with “It’s Incredible,” using call and response in a way that the ancestors would never have dreamed. God will be present as you rap out “Heavenly Father” and interpret the prayer of Jesus for post-moderns. God will meet you in the contemporary sounds of Martha Munizzi and Michael Smith, the hip-hop of Frederick (Ricky B.) Burchell, the jazz tones of a song for ushers, “Step,” and the upbeat, 12-bar blues of “All Around Me!” a song that echoes the biblical truth that God is so high, so low, and so wide. God is inclusive.”
Dean McIntyre, the Director of Music Resources for the General Board of Discipleship, expands on Thornton’s words: “The scope of the style of the collection is breathtaking: Spirituals, hymns, chants, sacred songs, traditional Gospel songs, contemporary Gospel, Hip-Hop, rap, and more. The committee grappled with the challenge of how to notate some of this music so that it can be reproduced by local musicians. So much of it has always been learned by listening and imitation. Given the limitations of the printed page to communicate the nuances of style and practice, there will be audio and video samplings, clips, and a Web site to demonstrate some of these styles and nuances. A CD-Rom will be available that will have recordings of songs and hard copies of scores for printing.
“In numerous ways,” McIntyre condludes “Zion Still Sings is taking us into new areas of both publishing and worship. It is an important and historical collection for the church. But more than that, it will be a source of new life and vitality for many churches, Black and White.”
Bob MacKendree, Director of Music Resources, leads singers from the Publishing House in one of the hymns from the songbook.
“God was in the bush arbors, the segregated galleries, the mission churches, and in the churches built from used bricks, as the community sang hymns such as “At the Cross” and “Yield Not to Temptation,” gaining the assurance that God’s kingdom was inclusive.
“Zion Still Sings,” Thornton continued, “because just as God was present during the Great Migration with Charles Tindley and Kenneth Morris, just as God was present during the Civil Rights Movement when we sang “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ’Round,” God meets the current generation in the streets of our 21st century world. God will meet you with “It’s Incredible,” using call and response in a way that the ancestors would never have dreamed. God will be present as you rap out “Heavenly Father” and interpret the prayer of Jesus for post-moderns. God will meet you in the contemporary sounds of Martha Munizzi and Michael Smith, the hip-hop of Frederick (Ricky B.) Burchell, the jazz tones of a song for ushers, “Step,” and the upbeat, 12-bar blues of “All Around Me!” a song that echoes the biblical truth that God is so high, so low, and so wide. God is inclusive.”
Dean McIntyre, the Director of Music Resources for the General Board of Discipleship, expands on Thornton’s words: “The scope of the style of the collection is breathtaking: Spirituals, hymns, chants, sacred songs, traditional Gospel songs, contemporary Gospel, Hip-Hop, rap, and more. The committee grappled with the challenge of how to notate some of this music so that it can be reproduced by local musicians. So much of it has always been learned by listening and imitation. Given the limitations of the printed page to communicate the nuances of style and practice, there will be audio and video samplings, clips, and a Web site to demonstrate some of these styles and nuances. A CD-Rom will be available that will have recordings of songs and hard copies of scores for printing.
“In numerous ways,” McIntyre condludes “Zion Still Sings is taking us into new areas of both publishing and worship. It is an important and historical collection for the church. But more than that, it will be a source of new life and vitality for many churches, Black and White.”
Bob MacKendree, Director of Music Resources, leads singers from the Publishing House in one of the hymns from the songbook.
Christian Conferencing
A reply to the Open Letter to the Annual Conference Connectional Table
by Rev. Dennis Meaker, Pastor, West Nashville UMC
In the Spirit of Christian Conferencing, I am responding to the Open Letter sent by Rev. Howard Olds regarding the proposal to begin direct billing of churches for the clergy pension and health insurance costs of the clergy appointed to each Church.
· It is suggested that this is a justice issue. That it is inequitable for a small membership rural church to pay the clergy costs of clergy working in large membership churches. With respect, this argument is disingenuous. This proposal is not being championed by a coalition of small membership rural churches tired of supporting clergy costs at large membership suburban churches. It is being proposed by the large membership churches that do not wish to support clergy costs at small membership churches.
· It is suggested that this proposal would “free up” $6 million dollars for mission and ministry. This is apparently the money that is now being paid by large membership Churches to pay clergy costs at small membership churches. But, while such figures work on paper, they are illusory. Forced to pay 20 to 30% more than current apportionment payments, the small membership churches would likely have to choose, at least in the short run, to pay less in apportionments. Not only would the small membership churches be subject to losing their full time clergy for that “failing,” (i.e. not paying full apportionments) but no additional funds would be “freed up” for ministry.
· It is suggested that this is not about the money but about the mission. To the contrary, this is all about the money and the practical business practice of identify “performing” profit centers. Any member of our congregations who has experienced a down-sizing because their department was not profitable understands the principle. A profit center cannot support itself without help? Close it down. Does it work in business? Maybe. Sometimes. But, Christian stewardship of resources does not always look to the “bottom line.”
· For decades (40 years, 50 years, 70 years?) small membership churches have been treated by the Conference as “stepping stones.” They have been conditioned to the idea that their clergy will be moved every one or two years. How many times have we heard these churches describe themselves as places where “new clergy” or “young clergy” are trained, apparently for bigger and better things. These Churches have not dared to dream of anything better because they know that they will soon have to start over with a new clergy leader. And, to one’s great surprise, these Churches did not thrive on the practice of churning their leadership.
· The Bishop’s new policy on appointments is the most positive evangelistic policy that I have seen in my short ten years in the Conference, and I suspect the most promising policy that has been implemented in many decades. All Churches in the Conference can now have an expectation of stable leadership for five to ten years. Even the smallest membership church can dare to dream and plan knowing that they have stable leadership. Having given that dream with one hand, the Conference now proposes to take that dream away by making it difficult, if not impossible, for that small membership church, just being given a chance to grow, to keep its full time clergy.
· We are not a connectional system in any meaningful sense. We are, at best, a loose coalition of congregations with similar polity and theology. There are very few shared ministries among churches in the Tennessee Conference. Congregations, even when in close proximity, have little interaction with one another. When we have a blessed Church that outgrows its buildings, it does not use its “healthy DNA” to plant a new church or to help revitalize a nearby struggling church. It instead seeks to build bigger and better buildings to house the blessings God has conferred. The one truly connectional ministry left is the financial help from larger membership Churches that allows full time clergy to stay at small membership churches that otherwise couldn’t afford full time clergy AND pay their apportionments. Combined with the Bishop’s new policy on appointments, that could still be a significant help. This proposal would remove even that connection.
· The fact that others are following this pattern does not make it right. It simply makes it popular. In the conferencing yet to take place, let us prayerfully explore ways to be stewards of all the blessings we have received and ways to revitalize our conference other than cutting off the “unprofitable” members.
Are there Churches that should be closed? Churches that simply cannot be revitalized? Certainly. There are also many that, given stable leadership and a chance to live into God’s dream for their ministry, can begin to grow and thrive. But this proposal will do more to rend and isolate those Churches then to help them. Let’s lift our eyes for a moment from the balance sheet. We are not called to be business minded. We are called to share the mind of Christ.
Learn About Journaling: Self Feeding for Spiritual Growth
By Bishop Richard J. Wills, Jr.
The District Superintendents of both the Tennessee and Memphis Annual Conferences and myself read through the Bible each year and keep a journal each day on the scripture readings for the day. Printed Journals can be ordered from The New Hope Christian Fellowship at www.enewhope.org or you can use an online tool to journal from your computer. All entries in the online journal are encrypted and can only be seen by their author after entering a username and password. Go to http://www.nashvilleareajournal.org for further information or to register to use the Life Journal on line.
The Steps in Using the Journal:
Find the Bible reading corresponding to today’s date from the Bible readings listed in the Life Journal. Turn to the chapter in your Bible, asking the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you. Mark off each daily reading as you complete it to keep yourself accountable. If you use the online version the day’s scriptures are displayed once you log on and your journal is located to the right of the scripture.
Read the passage. As you are reading, take note of anything the Lord impresses on you as a personal word to be applied. When you read with an open heart, God will give you words of encouragement, direction, and correction (2 Timothy 3:16)
When God has revealed a special lesson of life to you, record in your journal what God has just shown you.
You can recall the steps in Journaling by remembering the acronym S-O-A-P-Y:
Scripture. Write down the verse you have chosen as a lesson for the day.
Observation: Write down what the lesson is for you that day.
Application: Write how this lesson applies to your life.
Prayer: Write a prayer to God concerning this lesson and your life.
Yield: Write what you must yield in your life for this lesson to become alive in you.
Conclude your daily devotional time by turning to the prayer list in your Life Journal and spend some personal time with God in prayer.
Both Cabinets have agreed to use the Journal daily and we hold each other accountable for this daily practice. When the Cabinet gathers we start the morning by sharing the verse chosen and then read our Life Journal entry for that day.
The Life Journaling and Bible reading provides an opportunity for God to gently shape our lives into the very character of Jesus.
In the Spirit of Christian Conferencing, I am responding to the Open Letter sent by Rev. Howard Olds regarding the proposal to begin direct billing of churches for the clergy pension and health insurance costs of the clergy appointed to each Church.
· It is suggested that this is a justice issue. That it is inequitable for a small membership rural church to pay the clergy costs of clergy working in large membership churches. With respect, this argument is disingenuous. This proposal is not being championed by a coalition of small membership rural churches tired of supporting clergy costs at large membership suburban churches. It is being proposed by the large membership churches that do not wish to support clergy costs at small membership churches.
· It is suggested that this proposal would “free up” $6 million dollars for mission and ministry. This is apparently the money that is now being paid by large membership Churches to pay clergy costs at small membership churches. But, while such figures work on paper, they are illusory. Forced to pay 20 to 30% more than current apportionment payments, the small membership churches would likely have to choose, at least in the short run, to pay less in apportionments. Not only would the small membership churches be subject to losing their full time clergy for that “failing,” (i.e. not paying full apportionments) but no additional funds would be “freed up” for ministry.
· It is suggested that this is not about the money but about the mission. To the contrary, this is all about the money and the practical business practice of identify “performing” profit centers. Any member of our congregations who has experienced a down-sizing because their department was not profitable understands the principle. A profit center cannot support itself without help? Close it down. Does it work in business? Maybe. Sometimes. But, Christian stewardship of resources does not always look to the “bottom line.”
· For decades (40 years, 50 years, 70 years?) small membership churches have been treated by the Conference as “stepping stones.” They have been conditioned to the idea that their clergy will be moved every one or two years. How many times have we heard these churches describe themselves as places where “new clergy” or “young clergy” are trained, apparently for bigger and better things. These Churches have not dared to dream of anything better because they know that they will soon have to start over with a new clergy leader. And, to one’s great surprise, these Churches did not thrive on the practice of churning their leadership.
· The Bishop’s new policy on appointments is the most positive evangelistic policy that I have seen in my short ten years in the Conference, and I suspect the most promising policy that has been implemented in many decades. All Churches in the Conference can now have an expectation of stable leadership for five to ten years. Even the smallest membership church can dare to dream and plan knowing that they have stable leadership. Having given that dream with one hand, the Conference now proposes to take that dream away by making it difficult, if not impossible, for that small membership church, just being given a chance to grow, to keep its full time clergy.
· We are not a connectional system in any meaningful sense. We are, at best, a loose coalition of congregations with similar polity and theology. There are very few shared ministries among churches in the Tennessee Conference. Congregations, even when in close proximity, have little interaction with one another. When we have a blessed Church that outgrows its buildings, it does not use its “healthy DNA” to plant a new church or to help revitalize a nearby struggling church. It instead seeks to build bigger and better buildings to house the blessings God has conferred. The one truly connectional ministry left is the financial help from larger membership Churches that allows full time clergy to stay at small membership churches that otherwise couldn’t afford full time clergy AND pay their apportionments. Combined with the Bishop’s new policy on appointments, that could still be a significant help. This proposal would remove even that connection.
· The fact that others are following this pattern does not make it right. It simply makes it popular. In the conferencing yet to take place, let us prayerfully explore ways to be stewards of all the blessings we have received and ways to revitalize our conference other than cutting off the “unprofitable” members.
Are there Churches that should be closed? Churches that simply cannot be revitalized? Certainly. There are also many that, given stable leadership and a chance to live into God’s dream for their ministry, can begin to grow and thrive. But this proposal will do more to rend and isolate those Churches then to help them. Let’s lift our eyes for a moment from the balance sheet. We are not called to be business minded. We are called to share the mind of Christ.
Learn About Journaling: Self Feeding for Spiritual GrowthBy Bishop Richard J. Wills, Jr.
The District Superintendents of both the Tennessee and Memphis Annual Conferences and myself read through the Bible each year and keep a journal each day on the scripture readings for the day. Printed Journals can be ordered from The New Hope Christian Fellowship at www.enewhope.org or you can use an online tool to journal from your computer. All entries in the online journal are encrypted and can only be seen by their author after entering a username and password. Go to http://www.nashvilleareajournal.org for further information or to register to use the Life Journal on line.
The Steps in Using the Journal:
Find the Bible reading corresponding to today’s date from the Bible readings listed in the Life Journal. Turn to the chapter in your Bible, asking the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you. Mark off each daily reading as you complete it to keep yourself accountable. If you use the online version the day’s scriptures are displayed once you log on and your journal is located to the right of the scripture.
Read the passage. As you are reading, take note of anything the Lord impresses on you as a personal word to be applied. When you read with an open heart, God will give you words of encouragement, direction, and correction (2 Timothy 3:16)
When God has revealed a special lesson of life to you, record in your journal what God has just shown you.
You can recall the steps in Journaling by remembering the acronym S-O-A-P-Y:
Scripture. Write down the verse you have chosen as a lesson for the day.
Observation: Write down what the lesson is for you that day.
Application: Write how this lesson applies to your life.
Prayer: Write a prayer to God concerning this lesson and your life.
Yield: Write what you must yield in your life for this lesson to become alive in you.
Conclude your daily devotional time by turning to the prayer list in your Life Journal and spend some personal time with God in prayer.
Both Cabinets have agreed to use the Journal daily and we hold each other accountable for this daily practice. When the Cabinet gathers we start the morning by sharing the verse chosen and then read our Life Journal entry for that day.
The Life Journaling and Bible reading provides an opportunity for God to gently shape our lives into the very character of Jesus.
posted by TN Conference UMC @ 2:17 PM
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