TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW January 25, 2008
Stories in this issue of THE REVIEW:
1. Important Changes scheduled for the 2008 Annual Conference.
2. Jim Allen named Conference Treasurer and Director of Administrative Services.
3. 2300 expected at 2008 Warmth in Winter Youth Event, February 8-10, Nashville Convention Center.
4. Leap of Faith for McMinnville First United Methodist Congregation.
5. Two congregations work cooperatively to bring Light in the Nations.
6. Why the changes? How did they come about?
7. More about Dr. A. Lynn Hill, endorsed by the Tennessee Conference for election to Bishop.
8. Just How Well DO I Know My Neighbor?
9. Last Minute Toys Store Serves 1,379 families, 3,902 children.
10. Training events for local church Martin Methodist College representatives.
11-year-old Kevin Ly les works tirelessly to help feed the homeless and working poor at Madison Street UMC’s Sunday Supper
Last Minute Toys Store Serves 1,379 families, 3,902 children
The 61st Avenue United Methodist Church’s Last Minute Toy Store was able to make a merrier Christmas for 1,379 family units consisting of 3,902 children.
A number of toy animals with specially knitted scarves were blessed during an Advent Service at Blakemore UMC. At the conclusion of the service the toys were taken to the 61st Avenue UMC Toy Store.
On behalf of the congregation and the Toy Store planning committee, 61st Avenue pastor Paul Slentz issued public thanks to the dozens of United Methodist Churches and hundreds of individuals who helped make the toy store experience a concrete way to love our neighbors.
We have some needs we’ll have to address in the months before the 2008 Last Minute Toy Store open its doors,” noted Slentz. “In particular we will have to work on increasing the number of gift items for teen boys as well as boys and girls, ages 0-4.
1. Important Changes scheduled for the 2008 Annual Conference.
2. Jim Allen named Conference Treasurer and Director of Administrative Services.
3. 2300 expected at 2008 Warmth in Winter Youth Event, February 8-10, Nashville Convention Center.
4. Leap of Faith for McMinnville First United Methodist Congregation.
5. Two congregations work cooperatively to bring Light in the Nations.
6. Why the changes? How did they come about?
7. More about Dr. A. Lynn Hill, endorsed by the Tennessee Conference for election to Bishop.
8. Just How Well DO I Know My Neighbor?
9. Last Minute Toys Store Serves 1,379 families, 3,902 children.
10. Training events for local church Martin Methodist College representatives.
-----------------------------------------------
Important Changes scheduled for the 2008 Annual Conference
The 2008 Annual Conference will be held June 8-10 at Murfreesboro First United Methodist Church in Murfreesboro, TN
This year the pre-conference materials and reports will be placed on a DVD or CD to be sent to each delegate. Delegates may then print their own pre-conference booklet to bring to the conference. The pre-conference materials will also be available for downloading directly from the conference website http://www.tnumc.org/
If a board/agency/committee expects time on the Annual Conference Agenda, then contact must be made with Loyd Mabry by email at lmabry@tnumc.org or Vicki Sharber at the Conference Connectional Ministries Office at 615-329-1177 or 800-403-5795 or by email at vsharber@tnumc.org.
Reports: A DVD will be prepared for the majority of presentations previously made at Annual Conference. Visual presentations such as power point, video, graphs, photographs, etc can all be included in this format. Combining these features together makes for a power presentation that can inform, impact, challenge, and resource the local church. Instead of a one time presentation at Annual Conference this DVD will continue to be available for use in the local church. Instead of the printed Pre-Conference Journal a DVD, CD and some printed material will be used to provide information for use at Annual Conference and for continued use in the local church.
Presentation to be included in the DVD are ones such as but not limited to the following:
Conference Council on Ministries report
Youth Ministries
Young Adult Ministries
Camping
Miriam’s Promise
McKendree Village
United Methodist Women
United Methodist Men
Higher Education and Campus Ministry
Martin Methodist
Congregational Development
Cooperative Ministries
In addition, the Tennessee Conference website will have this information available as well.
Written reports must be submitted in Word or HTML format and emailed to 2008reports@tnumc.org. Spreadsheets must be in Excel format for 8.5” by 11”—landscape or portrait. This material must be received by March 14, 2008.
Video reports to be placed on the DVD can be submitted as pictures, power point, and/or video. These reports are subject to editing. If a video is submitted to be included on the DVD, it may not be longer than 10 minutes. If your organization desires to submit a completed DVD it can be distributed through our process. Production and preparation cost would be the expense of the organization. All video reports must be submitted to Bill Freeman by March 14, 2008
Additional Requirements:
+ Display Space – is available only to entities officially connected to the Tennessee Conference and space is limited. Contact Trish Myrick at the Conference Center to reserve your table, 615-329-1177 or 1-800-403-5795. Deadline: May 12, 2008
+Group Meals – Reservations are on a first come first served basis. Some meals will have to be at other sites. Contact Helen Noffsinger at 615-898-0301 Deadline: June 1, 2008
+Childcare will be available at Murfreesboro First for children up to six years old. Reservations must be made with the church by contacting Tammy Smith at 615-893-1322. The deadline is June 1, 2008.
See related article, Why the changes? How did they come about?
Jim Allen named Conference Treasurer and Director of Administrative Services
At a joint meeting of the Conference’s Council on Finance and Administration and Board of Pensions on January 8, 2008, James R. Allen was officially named Director of Administrative Services and Conference Treasurer for the Tennessee Conference. Allen had been serving as Interim Director of Administrative Services after the sudden death of the Rev. David Hawkins.
Allen, a United Methodist layperson, graduated from Clemson University with a B.S. in Industrial Management (with Honors) and has a law degree from the University of South Carolina. He came to Nashville as part of the staff of the General Council on Finance and Administration of The United Methodist Church where he served as General Council for the agency. As head of GCFA’s Legal Services Department he was charged with protecting the legal interests of the denomination (40,000 clergy, 35,000 churches, and 63 regional offices in the U.S.); provided legal counsel on a wide variety of matters involving constitutional, corporate, real estate, tax, employment, and trademark law; and was a primary resource for bishops and others on issues related to ecclesiastical law.
Before his service to GCFA he was a partner in the law firm, Barnes, Alford, Stork and Johnson, LLP, Columbia, South Carolina. Previous to embarking on his law career Allen was a bank vice president in Greenville, South Carolina, and before that served a stint as a bank examiner for the United States Treasury Department.
Through the years he has been an active layperson in two Annual Conferences. He represented the South Carolina Conference at the 2000 General Conference, and the 2000 and 2004 Southeast Jurisdictional Conferences. Presently he is the chairperson of the Nashville District Committee on Superintendency.
Don’t be surprised to be with Jim and have him start humming classical music. This banker/lawyer was, for four years, a member of the Nashville Symphony Chorus and for eight years before that was part of Palmetto Mastersingers, Inc. in South Carolina. And, don’t be surprised if Jim pulls up to a meeting on a motorcycle, a motor cyle he fondly calls (remember his interest in classical music) “Brunhilda.”
He and wife Deb are active members of Blakemore United Methodist Church in the Nashville District. He currently serves that congregation as chairperson of the Staff Parish Committee. Jim and Deb have been blessed with 5 daughters and 3 grandchildren.
“Choosing Jim,” notes Steve Angus, Chairperson of the Board of Pensions, “was a good decision. In his work as interim Director of Administrative Services he understood and embraced innovations made by his predecessor David Hawkins—including the possibility of electronic filing of local church reports--and carried them forward. We were indeed fortunate to have David Hawkins as Director of Administrative Services, and it is a blessing to have someone with Jim Allen’s abilities, interests, and skills to build on David’s legacy.” Ken Edwards, Chairperson of the Conference Council on Finance and Administration, shares Steve Angus’ feelings. “Jim was chosen from a very gifted pool of applicants,” says Edwards, “and we are honored to have someone with his gifts and graces serving the Tennessee Conference. In this complex time it is good to have Allen’s background in law and banking.”
Bishop Dick Wills said, “I am delighted that our Board of Pensions and CF&A has selected Jim Allen as Treasurer and Director of Administrative Services. He is more than qualified to lead in this important area.”
2300 expected at 2008 Warmth in Winter Youth Event, February 8-10, Nashville Convention Center
Youth and youth workers from across the Tennessee Conference will be gathering for a weekend of exploration , fun and spiritual growth around the theme “Eye of the Storm” (a look at how God is the peace we need and can be the “eye” of the storm our lives sometimes tend to be.). Music leadership is by 3 Mile Road, and our speaker this year is well known in youth ministry circles. Bob Stromberg has a very unique way of sharing. His ministry is a perfect blend of standup comedy, story and schtick. He will truly bring our topic to life. Haven’t registered yet—it’s not too late. Rush to your phone and contact Debbie McHaffie, 615-329-1177 or email her at dmchaffie@tnumc.org
Hispanic Latino appointed as supply pastor
Leap of Faith for McMinnville First United Methodist Congregation
McMinnville and Warren County have a difficult year due to moving industry and inclement weather for farmers and the nursery industry. However even the blatantly unobservant couldn’t help but notice that substantial growth has attracted immigrants—mainly immigrants from south of the U.S. border. Many of the new residents came offering the community not only their Hispanic culture and language but a strong work ethic. The area is largely rural and far from Nashville and its suburbs.
Rev. Francisco “Frank” Dale and his wife Ivett are seen with Barbara Garcia.
Some persons at McMinnville First wondered how to minister to the new population and that concern was shared by Pastor Steve Angus and Cookeville District Superintendent Harold Martin . Start an English as a Second Language Class? Plan seasonal celebrations and invite the new neighbors? Work toward a genuinely multi-cultural congregation? There were numerous questions: What do we do? When do we do it? How can we do it most effectively?
Martin and Angus worked together with one of the Tennessee Conference’s newest ministries—The Hispanic Latino Academy, a unique collaborative effort between Martin Methodist College and the Tennessee Conference Council on Connectional Ministries. For several months the church, District Superintendent Martin and the Academy explored options, and finally made a giant leap of faith.
In the midst of this discussion an opening occurred on the staff of the church and the time seemed right. The congregation determined that it wanted to request the appointment of an associate pastor—one with an Hispanic background—but that pastor would serve the growing congregation as any other pastor would. He would participate in McMinnville First’s two services, teach, visit the hospitalized and the shut-ins – he definitely was NOT appointed to a designated racial or ethnic group. In like manner the anglo pastor would be involved in the lives of all persons within the church. The congregation was positioning itself for whatever the future would hold as it reached out to the McMinnville community.
Contact was made with Francisco Gale, an excellent choice for the new position given Francisco’s Hispanic background. abilities, and sense of commitment—but Francisco “Frank” Gale was also comfortable with English and serving an Anglo congregation. The long process of working with Francisco and the conference structure in order to have him appointed as supply pastor was begun—and on January 1, 2008—a new year with new dreams and hopes and challenges—Gale began his service as supply pastor at McMinnville First United Methodist Church. No one—not the membership of McMinnville First, not the DS, not Joaquin Garcia representing the Hispanic Latino Academy , not Steve Angus, nor even Francisco Gale knows the direction the new ministry will take.
According to Sr. Pastor Steve Angus, “God is already doing some wonderful things. A preliminary gathering at the church had forty Hispanics gather. The congregation has already set in motion a plan to begin a Spanish speaking Sunday School and Worship service on Sunday afternoon which will lead into the already existing Youth and Children programming at 5 pm. Most of the Hispanic youth and children are bilingual and this presents a wonderful opportunity to build bridges. Pastor Frank is already taking part in leading the existing Sunday morning services and I look forward to being involved in the Hispanic services. Our church mission statement is, “It’s all about relationship. It’s all about Jesus.” Those who have been involved in this process, including the church itself cannot help but say, “This is a God- thing.”
There are many possibilities—but the love of Christ, fulfilled in the United Methodist slogan “Open Minds, Open Hearts, and Open Doors,” was moving outward from McMinnville First UMC.
Helping Hands Seed Grants support cooperative ministries
Two congregations work cooperatively to bring Light in the Nations
By the Rev. Paul Slentz
Sixty-First Avenue and Franklin First UMC have been working as partners in ministry since 1995. That cooperative ministry has been lived out in many ways over the years. Most recently it has taken flesh in the form of a venture called "Light in The Nations" -- referring to the low-income West Nashville neighborhood called "The Nations" where Sixty-First Avenue UMC is located. Through "Light in the Nations" the two churches are working to encourage neighbors to work together for the welfare of the Nations community.
One concrete expression of this work has been a Senior Assistance Ministry that was started in the winter after Hurricane Katrina when natural gas prices rose dramatically. Through this ministry, members of Light in the Nations have formed relationships with seniors in the neighborhood and provided financial assistance for utility bills, medicine, and food.
Last year, with help from a "Helping Hands" grant from the Conference Cooperative Ministries Committee, Light in the Nations was able to help more senior households than ever. Brenda Hix, Lay Leader of Sixty-First, neighborhood resident, and president of Light in the Nations says, "We are grateful to the Cooperative Ministries Committee for the 'Helping Hands' grant. It means so much to us to be able to help our senior neighbors who struggle to make it month to month and who have a particularly difficult time in the winter months."
Churches can download a “Helping Hands Seed Grant” application form directly from the Tennessee Annual Conference website. The web-address for direct access to the form is http://www.tnumc.org/index.cfm?PAGE_ID=2395. If you would like a copy of the application form faxed to you then contact Debbie McHaffie at dmchaffie@tnumc.org or 615-329-1177.
Why the changes in Annual Conference 2008? How did they come about?
By the Rev. Loyd Mabry*
The Annual Conference Planning Committee met to begin planning the 2008 Session of Annual Conference on September 13, 2007. As the planning began several new options and possibilities for the way we conduct Annual Conference were brought to the table for discussion. A Task Force was selected to make proposed changes and present them to the next meeting on October 24, 2007.
The Task Force began by reviewing the purpose of Annual Conference. From those discussions several items surfaced as essential elements of Annual Conference that should be highlighted as preserved. The Book of Discipline outlines the essential items that must take place and require voting. As the Task Force worked through the process several priorities surfaced. Among those are as follows:
.Commitment to enhance the ministry of the local church
.Honor those who have served the Annual Conference—Memorial Service
.Credentialing and Ordination
.Honoring retirees for their service
.State of the church—Bishop and Laity messages
.Reclaim the teaching/visioning aspect of Annual Conference
.Holy Conferencing
.Consolidate time and resources to accomplish these purposes.
The Task Force brought forth several recommendations to the Annual Conference Planning meeting on October 24, 2007. These proposed changes were adopted for implementation at the 2008 Session of Annual Conference.
The Task Force focused on ways to communicate information for the local church and to be used in the local church. Presentations at Annual Conference will be minimal. A DVD will be prepared for the majority of presentations previously made at Annual Conference. Visual presentations such as power point, video, graphs, photographs, etc can all be included in this format.
Combining these features together makes for a power presentation that can inform, impact, challenge, and resource the local church. Instead of a one time presentation at Annual Conference this DVD will continue to be available for use in the local church. Instead of the printed Pre-Conference Journal a DVD, CD and some printed material will be used to provide information for use at Annual Conference and for continued use in the local church.
More about Dr. A. Lynn Hill, endorsed by the Tennessee Conference for election to Bishop
Lynn Hill has served the national church was delegate to the 2000 and 2004 General and Southeastern Jurisdiction Conferences of the United Methodist Church, and is head of the clergy delegation for the 2008 General and Jurisdicational Conferences. Hill’s understanding of the national church has been used by the denomination’s General Council on Finance and Administration as he has served on the Council from 2004 to the present. Over the same period he has also been a member of the GCFA’s Financial Services Committee
Dr. A. Lynn Hill
His wide-range of interests and skills have been used by the Tennessee Conference in a variety of ways. He has served on the Board of Ordained Ministry, the Board of Camping and Outdoor Ministry, the Council on Finance and Administration, the Ethnic Local Church Committee, the Standing Rules Committee, and the New Church Development Committee. He was on the Board of Directors for the Nashville Area Foundation, and was chairperson of the Vision Committee for that agency. He has also been active on committees in each district he has serviced, Nashville District Chairperson of the District Superintendency Committee, Nashville District Chairperson of the Committee on Evangelism, Columbia District Chairperson Church Location and Building Committee.
After a number of appointments within the conference—Associate pastor Meridian Street, Associate Pastor Donelson Heights, Chaplain McKendree Manor, Pastor of St. Paul’s UMC, and then Senior Pastor at Dalewoood UMC and City Road UMC, he was appointed as District Superintendent of the Cumberland District from 1997-2002 and served a time as Deal of the Cabinet. In 2002 he was appointed Senior Pastor at Franklin First United Methodist Church
He was born in Nashville, Tennessee, and has been married for 28 years to Susan Troxler Hill. They have one daughter, Emily Lynn Hill, presently a student at Belmont University majoring in history.
Dr. Hill has an Associate in Science degree from Aquinas College, a Bachelor of Arts in Arts and Science from the University of Tennessee, and Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Vanderbilt University.
Of all his accomplishments, Hill is most noticeably happy about those things accomplished by local United Methodist churches during his pastorates—all positioning the local congregations for future growth and ministry:
· Lead the congregation of St. Paul’s UMC in a $200,000 campaign to build and pay for an education building with classrooms, kitchen, and fellowship hall.
· Lead the congregation of City Road Chapel in a $1.5 million campaign to build and pay for a “fellowship center” with a gym/fellowship hall, drama stage, elevated walking track, and commercial kitchen.
· Lead the congregation of Franklin First UMC in a $3.4 million campaign to purchase 107 acres on the gateway to Franklin, Tennessee, to relocate this 208-year-old congregation from a landlocked site to position it for the future.
On the possibility of election to Episcopal Leadership in the denomination, Lynn Hill is willing to leave everything in God’s hands: ”My prayer is that God will use me as God sees fit. The one thing I absolutely believe is that in the life and ministry of the United Methodist Church, the best is yet to be! Thanks be to God!“
Just How Well DO I Know My Neighbor?
Important Changes scheduled for the 2008 Annual Conference
The 2008 Annual Conference will be held June 8-10 at Murfreesboro First United Methodist Church in Murfreesboro, TN
This year the pre-conference materials and reports will be placed on a DVD or CD to be sent to each delegate. Delegates may then print their own pre-conference booklet to bring to the conference. The pre-conference materials will also be available for downloading directly from the conference website http://www.tnumc.org/
If a board/agency/committee expects time on the Annual Conference Agenda, then contact must be made with Loyd Mabry by email at lmabry@tnumc.org or Vicki Sharber at the Conference Connectional Ministries Office at 615-329-1177 or 800-403-5795 or by email at vsharber@tnumc.org.
Reports: A DVD will be prepared for the majority of presentations previously made at Annual Conference. Visual presentations such as power point, video, graphs, photographs, etc can all be included in this format. Combining these features together makes for a power presentation that can inform, impact, challenge, and resource the local church. Instead of a one time presentation at Annual Conference this DVD will continue to be available for use in the local church. Instead of the printed Pre-Conference Journal a DVD, CD and some printed material will be used to provide information for use at Annual Conference and for continued use in the local church.
Presentation to be included in the DVD are ones such as but not limited to the following:
Conference Council on Ministries report
Youth Ministries
Young Adult Ministries
Camping
Miriam’s Promise
McKendree Village
United Methodist Women
United Methodist Men
Higher Education and Campus Ministry
Martin Methodist
Congregational Development
Cooperative Ministries
In addition, the Tennessee Conference website will have this information available as well.
Written reports must be submitted in Word or HTML format and emailed to 2008reports@tnumc.org. Spreadsheets must be in Excel format for 8.5” by 11”—landscape or portrait. This material must be received by March 14, 2008.
Video reports to be placed on the DVD can be submitted as pictures, power point, and/or video. These reports are subject to editing. If a video is submitted to be included on the DVD, it may not be longer than 10 minutes. If your organization desires to submit a completed DVD it can be distributed through our process. Production and preparation cost would be the expense of the organization. All video reports must be submitted to Bill Freeman by March 14, 2008
Additional Requirements:
+ Display Space – is available only to entities officially connected to the Tennessee Conference and space is limited. Contact Trish Myrick at the Conference Center to reserve your table, 615-329-1177 or 1-800-403-5795. Deadline: May 12, 2008
+Group Meals – Reservations are on a first come first served basis. Some meals will have to be at other sites. Contact Helen Noffsinger at 615-898-0301 Deadline: June 1, 2008
+Childcare will be available at Murfreesboro First for children up to six years old. Reservations must be made with the church by contacting Tammy Smith at 615-893-1322. The deadline is June 1, 2008.
See related article, Why the changes? How did they come about?
Jim Allen named Conference Treasurer and Director of Administrative Services
At a joint meeting of the Conference’s Council on Finance and Administration and Board of Pensions on January 8, 2008, James R. Allen was officially named Director of Administrative Services and Conference Treasurer for the Tennessee Conference. Allen had been serving as Interim Director of Administrative Services after the sudden death of the Rev. David Hawkins.Allen, a United Methodist layperson, graduated from Clemson University with a B.S. in Industrial Management (with Honors) and has a law degree from the University of South Carolina. He came to Nashville as part of the staff of the General Council on Finance and Administration of The United Methodist Church where he served as General Council for the agency. As head of GCFA’s Legal Services Department he was charged with protecting the legal interests of the denomination (40,000 clergy, 35,000 churches, and 63 regional offices in the U.S.); provided legal counsel on a wide variety of matters involving constitutional, corporate, real estate, tax, employment, and trademark law; and was a primary resource for bishops and others on issues related to ecclesiastical law.
Before his service to GCFA he was a partner in the law firm, Barnes, Alford, Stork and Johnson, LLP, Columbia, South Carolina. Previous to embarking on his law career Allen was a bank vice president in Greenville, South Carolina, and before that served a stint as a bank examiner for the United States Treasury Department.
Through the years he has been an active layperson in two Annual Conferences. He represented the South Carolina Conference at the 2000 General Conference, and the 2000 and 2004 Southeast Jurisdictional Conferences. Presently he is the chairperson of the Nashville District Committee on Superintendency.
Don’t be surprised to be with Jim and have him start humming classical music. This banker/lawyer was, for four years, a member of the Nashville Symphony Chorus and for eight years before that was part of Palmetto Mastersingers, Inc. in South Carolina. And, don’t be surprised if Jim pulls up to a meeting on a motorcycle, a motor cyle he fondly calls (remember his interest in classical music) “Brunhilda.”
He and wife Deb are active members of Blakemore United Methodist Church in the Nashville District. He currently serves that congregation as chairperson of the Staff Parish Committee. Jim and Deb have been blessed with 5 daughters and 3 grandchildren.
“Choosing Jim,” notes Steve Angus, Chairperson of the Board of Pensions, “was a good decision. In his work as interim Director of Administrative Services he understood and embraced innovations made by his predecessor David Hawkins—including the possibility of electronic filing of local church reports--and carried them forward. We were indeed fortunate to have David Hawkins as Director of Administrative Services, and it is a blessing to have someone with Jim Allen’s abilities, interests, and skills to build on David’s legacy.” Ken Edwards, Chairperson of the Conference Council on Finance and Administration, shares Steve Angus’ feelings. “Jim was chosen from a very gifted pool of applicants,” says Edwards, “and we are honored to have someone with his gifts and graces serving the Tennessee Conference. In this complex time it is good to have Allen’s background in law and banking.”
Bishop Dick Wills said, “I am delighted that our Board of Pensions and CF&A has selected Jim Allen as Treasurer and Director of Administrative Services. He is more than qualified to lead in this important area.”
2300 expected at 2008 Warmth in Winter Youth Event, February 8-10, Nashville Convention Center
Youth and youth workers from across the Tennessee Conference will be gathering for a weekend of exploration , fun and spiritual growth around the theme “Eye of the Storm” (a look at how God is the peace we need and can be the “eye” of the storm our lives sometimes tend to be.). Music leadership is by 3 Mile Road, and our speaker this year is well known in youth ministry circles. Bob Stromberg has a very unique way of sharing. His ministry is a perfect blend of standup comedy, story and schtick. He will truly bring our topic to life. Haven’t registered yet—it’s not too late. Rush to your phone and contact Debbie McHaffie, 615-329-1177 or email her at dmchaffie@tnumc.orgHispanic Latino appointed as supply pastor
Leap of Faith for McMinnville First United Methodist Congregation
McMinnville and Warren County have a difficult year due to moving industry and inclement weather for farmers and the nursery industry. However even the blatantly unobservant couldn’t help but notice that substantial growth has attracted immigrants—mainly immigrants from south of the U.S. border. Many of the new residents came offering the community not only their Hispanic culture and language but a strong work ethic. The area is largely rural and far from Nashville and its suburbs.
Rev. Francisco “Frank” Dale and his wife Ivett are seen with Barbara Garcia.Some persons at McMinnville First wondered how to minister to the new population and that concern was shared by Pastor Steve Angus and Cookeville District Superintendent Harold Martin . Start an English as a Second Language Class? Plan seasonal celebrations and invite the new neighbors? Work toward a genuinely multi-cultural congregation? There were numerous questions: What do we do? When do we do it? How can we do it most effectively?
Martin and Angus worked together with one of the Tennessee Conference’s newest ministries—The Hispanic Latino Academy, a unique collaborative effort between Martin Methodist College and the Tennessee Conference Council on Connectional Ministries. For several months the church, District Superintendent Martin and the Academy explored options, and finally made a giant leap of faith.
In the midst of this discussion an opening occurred on the staff of the church and the time seemed right. The congregation determined that it wanted to request the appointment of an associate pastor—one with an Hispanic background—but that pastor would serve the growing congregation as any other pastor would. He would participate in McMinnville First’s two services, teach, visit the hospitalized and the shut-ins – he definitely was NOT appointed to a designated racial or ethnic group. In like manner the anglo pastor would be involved in the lives of all persons within the church. The congregation was positioning itself for whatever the future would hold as it reached out to the McMinnville community.
Contact was made with Francisco Gale, an excellent choice for the new position given Francisco’s Hispanic background. abilities, and sense of commitment—but Francisco “Frank” Gale was also comfortable with English and serving an Anglo congregation. The long process of working with Francisco and the conference structure in order to have him appointed as supply pastor was begun—and on January 1, 2008—a new year with new dreams and hopes and challenges—Gale began his service as supply pastor at McMinnville First United Methodist Church. No one—not the membership of McMinnville First, not the DS, not Joaquin Garcia representing the Hispanic Latino Academy , not Steve Angus, nor even Francisco Gale knows the direction the new ministry will take.
According to Sr. Pastor Steve Angus, “God is already doing some wonderful things. A preliminary gathering at the church had forty Hispanics gather. The congregation has already set in motion a plan to begin a Spanish speaking Sunday School and Worship service on Sunday afternoon which will lead into the already existing Youth and Children programming at 5 pm. Most of the Hispanic youth and children are bilingual and this presents a wonderful opportunity to build bridges. Pastor Frank is already taking part in leading the existing Sunday morning services and I look forward to being involved in the Hispanic services. Our church mission statement is, “It’s all about relationship. It’s all about Jesus.” Those who have been involved in this process, including the church itself cannot help but say, “This is a God- thing.”
There are many possibilities—but the love of Christ, fulfilled in the United Methodist slogan “Open Minds, Open Hearts, and Open Doors,” was moving outward from McMinnville First UMC.
Helping Hands Seed Grants support cooperative ministries
Two congregations work cooperatively to bring Light in the Nations
By the Rev. Paul Slentz
Sixty-First Avenue and Franklin First UMC have been working as partners in ministry since 1995. That cooperative ministry has been lived out in many ways over the years. Most recently it has taken flesh in the form of a venture called "Light in The Nations" -- referring to the low-income West Nashville neighborhood called "The Nations" where Sixty-First Avenue UMC is located. Through "Light in the Nations" the two churches are working to encourage neighbors to work together for the welfare of the Nations community.
One concrete expression of this work has been a Senior Assistance Ministry that was started in the winter after Hurricane Katrina when natural gas prices rose dramatically. Through this ministry, members of Light in the Nations have formed relationships with seniors in the neighborhood and provided financial assistance for utility bills, medicine, and food.
Last year, with help from a "Helping Hands" grant from the Conference Cooperative Ministries Committee, Light in the Nations was able to help more senior households than ever. Brenda Hix, Lay Leader of Sixty-First, neighborhood resident, and president of Light in the Nations says, "We are grateful to the Cooperative Ministries Committee for the 'Helping Hands' grant. It means so much to us to be able to help our senior neighbors who struggle to make it month to month and who have a particularly difficult time in the winter months."
Churches can download a “Helping Hands Seed Grant” application form directly from the Tennessee Annual Conference website. The web-address for direct access to the form is http://www.tnumc.org/index.cfm?PAGE_ID=2395. If you would like a copy of the application form faxed to you then contact Debbie McHaffie at dmchaffie@tnumc.org or 615-329-1177.
Why the changes in Annual Conference 2008? How did they come about?
By the Rev. Loyd Mabry*
The Annual Conference Planning Committee met to begin planning the 2008 Session of Annual Conference on September 13, 2007. As the planning began several new options and possibilities for the way we conduct Annual Conference were brought to the table for discussion. A Task Force was selected to make proposed changes and present them to the next meeting on October 24, 2007.
The Task Force began by reviewing the purpose of Annual Conference. From those discussions several items surfaced as essential elements of Annual Conference that should be highlighted as preserved. The Book of Discipline outlines the essential items that must take place and require voting. As the Task Force worked through the process several priorities surfaced. Among those are as follows:
.Commitment to enhance the ministry of the local church
.Honor those who have served the Annual Conference—Memorial Service
.Credentialing and Ordination
.Honoring retirees for their service
.State of the church—Bishop and Laity messages
.Reclaim the teaching/visioning aspect of Annual Conference
.Holy Conferencing
.Consolidate time and resources to accomplish these purposes.
The Task Force brought forth several recommendations to the Annual Conference Planning meeting on October 24, 2007. These proposed changes were adopted for implementation at the 2008 Session of Annual Conference.
The Task Force focused on ways to communicate information for the local church and to be used in the local church. Presentations at Annual Conference will be minimal. A DVD will be prepared for the majority of presentations previously made at Annual Conference. Visual presentations such as power point, video, graphs, photographs, etc can all be included in this format.
Combining these features together makes for a power presentation that can inform, impact, challenge, and resource the local church. Instead of a one time presentation at Annual Conference this DVD will continue to be available for use in the local church. Instead of the printed Pre-Conference Journal a DVD, CD and some printed material will be used to provide information for use at Annual Conference and for continued use in the local church.
More about Dr. A. Lynn Hill, endorsed by the Tennessee Conference for election to Bishop
Lynn Hill has served the national church was delegate to the 2000 and 2004 General and Southeastern Jurisdiction Conferences of the United Methodist Church, and is head of the clergy delegation for the 2008 General and Jurisdicational Conferences. Hill’s understanding of the national church has been used by the denomination’s General Council on Finance and Administration as he has served on the Council from 2004 to the present. Over the same period he has also been a member of the GCFA’s Financial Services Committee
Dr. A. Lynn HillHis wide-range of interests and skills have been used by the Tennessee Conference in a variety of ways. He has served on the Board of Ordained Ministry, the Board of Camping and Outdoor Ministry, the Council on Finance and Administration, the Ethnic Local Church Committee, the Standing Rules Committee, and the New Church Development Committee. He was on the Board of Directors for the Nashville Area Foundation, and was chairperson of the Vision Committee for that agency. He has also been active on committees in each district he has serviced, Nashville District Chairperson of the District Superintendency Committee, Nashville District Chairperson of the Committee on Evangelism, Columbia District Chairperson Church Location and Building Committee.
After a number of appointments within the conference—Associate pastor Meridian Street, Associate Pastor Donelson Heights, Chaplain McKendree Manor, Pastor of St. Paul’s UMC, and then Senior Pastor at Dalewoood UMC and City Road UMC, he was appointed as District Superintendent of the Cumberland District from 1997-2002 and served a time as Deal of the Cabinet. In 2002 he was appointed Senior Pastor at Franklin First United Methodist Church
He was born in Nashville, Tennessee, and has been married for 28 years to Susan Troxler Hill. They have one daughter, Emily Lynn Hill, presently a student at Belmont University majoring in history.
Dr. Hill has an Associate in Science degree from Aquinas College, a Bachelor of Arts in Arts and Science from the University of Tennessee, and Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Vanderbilt University.
Of all his accomplishments, Hill is most noticeably happy about those things accomplished by local United Methodist churches during his pastorates—all positioning the local congregations for future growth and ministry:
· Lead the congregation of St. Paul’s UMC in a $200,000 campaign to build and pay for an education building with classrooms, kitchen, and fellowship hall.
· Lead the congregation of City Road Chapel in a $1.5 million campaign to build and pay for a “fellowship center” with a gym/fellowship hall, drama stage, elevated walking track, and commercial kitchen.
· Lead the congregation of Franklin First UMC in a $3.4 million campaign to purchase 107 acres on the gateway to Franklin, Tennessee, to relocate this 208-year-old congregation from a landlocked site to position it for the future.
On the possibility of election to Episcopal Leadership in the denomination, Lynn Hill is willing to leave everything in God’s hands: ”My prayer is that God will use me as God sees fit. The one thing I absolutely believe is that in the life and ministry of the United Methodist Church, the best is yet to be! Thanks be to God!“
Just How Well DO I Know My Neighbor?
By the Rev. Jodi McCullah*
Last month I resolved that, in this New Year, I would ask the Lord to help me be a better neighbor. I had done badly in this past year and I knew it. My neighbor’s husband had died and I had been too busy even to stop in. The longer I waited, the worse I felt and the more awkward it was going to be. When she moved out a few weeks later, I prayed for help to do better. God showed me right away that getting to know the folks who live on either side of me was just the beginning of being a neighbor.
Co-founder Susan Powers marks a cross on the hand of one of the diners at Sunday Supper
Most of my neighbors congregate, it turns out, like folks always have, around a meal. Most recently, many of my neighbors can be found at the Sunday Supper at Madison Street United Methodist Church in Clarksville, which was started several years ago by Susan and Bobby Powers, to feed the homeless and the working poor. The two Madison Street UMC members had helped serve at Loaves and Fishes and discovered that there was no meal on the seventh day of the week; folks who were homeless or whose paychecks could not stretch far enough were simply going hungry on the Sabbath.
“We started out with faith. We didn’t know how we would get all the food but so many folks came forward with food,” says Bobby. Local grocery stores, CC’s Pizza and Bojangles Chicken restaurants have provided enough food to cover even the heavier crowds (of more than 200 hungry folks) that show up in the last week of the month. From the beginning, bakeries brought bread and pastries and hunters brought venison. “So far, there has always been enough,” says Bobby.
While only about a tenth of those who attend the meals are truly homeless, the need is real for many families, according to Bobby. “When you work for eight or ten dollars a day and you have kids, there’s no earthly way you can ‘work harder.’ If someone doesn’t help you out once in a while, you’ll never get ahead.” “Working to help the working poor among these neighbors is as much a focus as feeding,” says Bobby, “in order to help those folks not move to the ranks of the truly homeless.”
Recently, at the meal, a church member looked out at the 200-plus neighbors lined up and wondered how Bobby’s wife, Susan, knew nearly every person who came through line. Watching her take each person’s hand and mark it with a cross as they came through the line, we learned that it’s really simple: you ask, and then you listen.
So, just in the past month, I have asked, listened and learned that among my neighbors is George, 67, who “ran away from home” up north several years ago. Getting to know him meant learning that he was doing fine until he got stuck in town with car troubles, then could not afford to get his car fixed and his tags renewed. He gets his “widower’s benefits,” monthly but those are not enough. When there is no “Room in the Inn” program set up on a given night, George at least can sleep in his car. George is one of the ten percent or so of the folks at the meal who have no home.
Getting to know these neighbors helped me not be inconsiderate like I was last month when I gave Benny a chocolate bar after I saw him sitting outside the grocery store. I knew he, like George, was one of the truly homeless, so I thought I’d give him something to carry in his pocket. Worried as I was about not being politically incorrect and not wanting to embarrass him, I kept the gift small. If I had tried to get to know Benny first, though, I would have discovered that he has diabetes and cannot eat the chocolate. I also have since learned that another neighbor cannot eat the apples I had given him because his teeth are bad. Ask. Listen.
In line this Sunday next to George is a pregnant mother with two small children in tow. It’s cold and rainy and they’ll walk home without an umbrella, but we are neighborly and one is provided. There’s also a young veteran of the war in Iraq who is nursing wounds from having been beaten up two days before. He shows me the stitches in his hand and we check together for any infections and offer some attention and sympathy. At the next table is Ken, a sculptor who lives on a houseboat; he introduces his mother. She is crocheting an afghan, one of several she will make and give away at the meals this winter.
Last month I resolved that, in this New Year, I would ask the Lord to help me be a better neighbor. I had done badly in this past year and I knew it. My neighbor’s husband had died and I had been too busy even to stop in. The longer I waited, the worse I felt and the more awkward it was going to be. When she moved out a few weeks later, I prayed for help to do better. God showed me right away that getting to know the folks who live on either side of me was just the beginning of being a neighbor.
Co-founder Susan Powers marks a cross on the hand of one of the diners at Sunday SupperMost of my neighbors congregate, it turns out, like folks always have, around a meal. Most recently, many of my neighbors can be found at the Sunday Supper at Madison Street United Methodist Church in Clarksville, which was started several years ago by Susan and Bobby Powers, to feed the homeless and the working poor. The two Madison Street UMC members had helped serve at Loaves and Fishes and discovered that there was no meal on the seventh day of the week; folks who were homeless or whose paychecks could not stretch far enough were simply going hungry on the Sabbath.
“We started out with faith. We didn’t know how we would get all the food but so many folks came forward with food,” says Bobby. Local grocery stores, CC’s Pizza and Bojangles Chicken restaurants have provided enough food to cover even the heavier crowds (of more than 200 hungry folks) that show up in the last week of the month. From the beginning, bakeries brought bread and pastries and hunters brought venison. “So far, there has always been enough,” says Bobby.
While only about a tenth of those who attend the meals are truly homeless, the need is real for many families, according to Bobby. “When you work for eight or ten dollars a day and you have kids, there’s no earthly way you can ‘work harder.’ If someone doesn’t help you out once in a while, you’ll never get ahead.” “Working to help the working poor among these neighbors is as much a focus as feeding,” says Bobby, “in order to help those folks not move to the ranks of the truly homeless.”
Recently, at the meal, a church member looked out at the 200-plus neighbors lined up and wondered how Bobby’s wife, Susan, knew nearly every person who came through line. Watching her take each person’s hand and mark it with a cross as they came through the line, we learned that it’s really simple: you ask, and then you listen.
So, just in the past month, I have asked, listened and learned that among my neighbors is George, 67, who “ran away from home” up north several years ago. Getting to know him meant learning that he was doing fine until he got stuck in town with car troubles, then could not afford to get his car fixed and his tags renewed. He gets his “widower’s benefits,” monthly but those are not enough. When there is no “Room in the Inn” program set up on a given night, George at least can sleep in his car. George is one of the ten percent or so of the folks at the meal who have no home.
Getting to know these neighbors helped me not be inconsiderate like I was last month when I gave Benny a chocolate bar after I saw him sitting outside the grocery store. I knew he, like George, was one of the truly homeless, so I thought I’d give him something to carry in his pocket. Worried as I was about not being politically incorrect and not wanting to embarrass him, I kept the gift small. If I had tried to get to know Benny first, though, I would have discovered that he has diabetes and cannot eat the chocolate. I also have since learned that another neighbor cannot eat the apples I had given him because his teeth are bad. Ask. Listen.
In line this Sunday next to George is a pregnant mother with two small children in tow. It’s cold and rainy and they’ll walk home without an umbrella, but we are neighborly and one is provided. There’s also a young veteran of the war in Iraq who is nursing wounds from having been beaten up two days before. He shows me the stitches in his hand and we check together for any infections and offer some attention and sympathy. At the next table is Ken, a sculptor who lives on a houseboat; he introduces his mother. She is crocheting an afghan, one of several she will make and give away at the meals this winter.
11-year-old Kevin Ly les works tirelessly to help feed the homeless and working poor at Madison Street UMC’s Sunday SupperOne of my favorite new neighbors is Kevin Lyles, who wasn’t even alive when the phenomenon of homelessness became widespread in this country. That hasn’t stopped the eleven-year-old from arriving bright and early every Sunday morning for the past couple of years to help prepare the meal and clean up afterward. Watching Kevin would wear anyone out. From setting up the tables for as many as 250 guests, to washing and drying all those trays, Kevin usually only stops long enough to eat his own meal, and then he is off, hauling dirty trays to his dad to be washed. The worst part of the job is wrapping up the silverware, he says. The best part is going home with leftover food and new books to read, thanks to the lending library available to all the supper guests.
Kevin works every Sunday with his parents, David and Virginia, and the other regular neighbors who work at the meal, Junior Tidwell and Charles Clark. These folks know lots of their neighbors. Like Ray Lee Shephard, these regulars check on their neighbors and routinely offer suggestions for making life a little easier today, trying to make sure no one goes without the necessities. Shephard says he just tries to live up to his name, watching out for his flock of neighbors. While he waits to eat, he hugs the teenager next to him and moves on, checking in, encouraging, asking, and listening, being neighborly.
Last week, I was shown some neighborly love by two of my homeless friends. I was visiting the day shelter when Billy flagged me down and pointed out a tire that was going flat on my car. There was a nail protruding from it. In the past, I would have looked in the phone book, then nervously driven to the tire store or worse, been stuck in the nasty weather trying to change my tire myself. Both Billy and Benny offered to change the tire if I needed; that was not an insignificant offer considering they have to stand in line to wash their clothes at the day shelter. After some discussion, though, Billy began to offer directions to the nearest tire store. The directions were confusing to me, however, since I am new to the area. So Benny, formerly a taxi driver, offered to ride along and show me the fastest back way to the tire store. He did, we made it fine, and the tire store which came highly recommended by Billy as being fair and reasonable, fixed my tire for no charge. I felt so cared for by my neighbors that day.
Turns out that in asking and in listening, I find I learn as much about the needs and issues of homelessness and poverty in my neighborhood as I could from a book or a course. Now I wonder if homelessness and poverty aren’t directly related to the lack of interaction among neighbors, the way we move so much more often than we used to do or the way we can live next door to someone for ages and not know what they need or that they have died. Surely it’s not as simple as asking and listening.
Rev. Jodi McCullah is Director, Austin Peay State University Wesley Foundation
Kevin works every Sunday with his parents, David and Virginia, and the other regular neighbors who work at the meal, Junior Tidwell and Charles Clark. These folks know lots of their neighbors. Like Ray Lee Shephard, these regulars check on their neighbors and routinely offer suggestions for making life a little easier today, trying to make sure no one goes without the necessities. Shephard says he just tries to live up to his name, watching out for his flock of neighbors. While he waits to eat, he hugs the teenager next to him and moves on, checking in, encouraging, asking, and listening, being neighborly.
Last week, I was shown some neighborly love by two of my homeless friends. I was visiting the day shelter when Billy flagged me down and pointed out a tire that was going flat on my car. There was a nail protruding from it. In the past, I would have looked in the phone book, then nervously driven to the tire store or worse, been stuck in the nasty weather trying to change my tire myself. Both Billy and Benny offered to change the tire if I needed; that was not an insignificant offer considering they have to stand in line to wash their clothes at the day shelter. After some discussion, though, Billy began to offer directions to the nearest tire store. The directions were confusing to me, however, since I am new to the area. So Benny, formerly a taxi driver, offered to ride along and show me the fastest back way to the tire store. He did, we made it fine, and the tire store which came highly recommended by Billy as being fair and reasonable, fixed my tire for no charge. I felt so cared for by my neighbors that day.
Turns out that in asking and in listening, I find I learn as much about the needs and issues of homelessness and poverty in my neighborhood as I could from a book or a course. Now I wonder if homelessness and poverty aren’t directly related to the lack of interaction among neighbors, the way we move so much more often than we used to do or the way we can live next door to someone for ages and not know what they need or that they have died. Surely it’s not as simple as asking and listening.
Rev. Jodi McCullah is Director, Austin Peay State University Wesley Foundation
Last Minute Toys Store Serves 1,379 families, 3,902 children
The 61st Avenue United Methodist Church’s Last Minute Toy Store was able to make a merrier Christmas for 1,379 family units consisting of 3,902 children.
A number of toy animals with specially knitted scarves were blessed during an Advent Service at Blakemore UMC. At the conclusion of the service the toys were taken to the 61st Avenue UMC Toy Store.On behalf of the congregation and the Toy Store planning committee, 61st Avenue pastor Paul Slentz issued public thanks to the dozens of United Methodist Churches and hundreds of individuals who helped make the toy store experience a concrete way to love our neighbors.
We have some needs we’ll have to address in the months before the 2008 Last Minute Toy Store open its doors,” noted Slentz. “In particular we will have to work on increasing the number of gift items for teen boys as well as boys and girls, ages 0-4.
Teen volunteers at the Last Minute Toy Store were able to give helpful guidance to parents shopping for teenagers.
Training events for local church Martin Methodist College representatives
A series of training events will be held throughout the Tennessee Conference in the next six weeks to educate United Methodist parishioners about becoming Martin Methodist College representatives in their respective churches.
Martin Methodist College seeks to have at least one person in each congregation from the churches in the Tennessee Conference who has been identified as a Martin Representative to serve as a liaison between the college and his or her church. Seven district training events have been scheduled to equip these representatives in this ministry. Staff personnel from Martin Methodist College's Cal Turner, Jr. Center for Church Leadership will facilitate the workshops and share exciting details about MMC's growth.
Some of the Nashville District Martin College representatives with Martin College president Dr. Ted Brown (r) and Martin College staff persons Domenico Nigrelli (left), Cal Turner, Jr., Center for Church Leadership, and Mary Noble Parrish, (next to Nigrelli) Martin College Church-based recruiter. Both Nigrelli and Parrish are ministerial members of the Tennessee Conference.
The Martin Representatives were identified at charge conferences and the new year of service began in January 2008.
"As the college of the Tennessee Conference, Martin Methodist College desires to be in an active relationship with the congregations of our conference," said the Rev. Mary Noble Parrish, director of church relations for the college. "I am your liaison who serves as a link to further connect Martin Methodist College with your congregation. This is a wonderful opportunity to support this important institution of the United Methodist Church by uniting to serve our risen Lord as one body."
Pulaski District Martin College representatives at 2007 training session. Mary Noble Parrish is at the right.
"We invite all Martin Representatives as well as the clergy appointed to the local congregations of our conference to attend one training event," Parrish added. The remaining training dates and locations are as follows:
+Cookeville District - Saturday, January 26, 2008 at the district's training event, 8:30 a.m. at Sparta FUMC;
+Nashville District - Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008 at the district's training event, 6:30 p.m. at Brentwood UMC;
+Cumberland District - Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008 at the district's training event, 2:00-5:00 p.m. at Hendersonville FUMC;
+Murfreesboro District - Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008 at the district's "Shepherd School," 1:30-4:00 p.m. at Tullahoma UMC;
+Clarksville District - Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008 at the district's training event, 2:30-5:00 p.m. at Madison Street UMC.
To learn more about Martin College Representatives contact the Rev. Mary Noble Parrish at mparrish@martinmethodist.edu, through the Martin Representatives website at http://www.martinmethodist.edu/ccl/martinreps or by calling 931-363-9834 or 1-800-467-1273, ext. 3834.
The Martin Methodist Vision
Martin Methodist College is committed to being one of the leading small, nurturing, liberal arts colleges in the Southeast and a model of church-related higher education for the United Methodist Church. The Cal Turner, Jr. Center for Church Leadership strives to enhance the relationship between Martin Methodist College and the local congregations of the United Methodist Church.
A series of training events will be held throughout the Tennessee Conference in the next six weeks to educate United Methodist parishioners about becoming Martin Methodist College representatives in their respective churches.
Martin Methodist College seeks to have at least one person in each congregation from the churches in the Tennessee Conference who has been identified as a Martin Representative to serve as a liaison between the college and his or her church. Seven district training events have been scheduled to equip these representatives in this ministry. Staff personnel from Martin Methodist College's Cal Turner, Jr. Center for Church Leadership will facilitate the workshops and share exciting details about MMC's growth.
Some of the Nashville District Martin College representatives with Martin College president Dr. Ted Brown (r) and Martin College staff persons Domenico Nigrelli (left), Cal Turner, Jr., Center for Church Leadership, and Mary Noble Parrish, (next to Nigrelli) Martin College Church-based recruiter. Both Nigrelli and Parrish are ministerial members of the Tennessee Conference.The Martin Representatives were identified at charge conferences and the new year of service began in January 2008.
"As the college of the Tennessee Conference, Martin Methodist College desires to be in an active relationship with the congregations of our conference," said the Rev. Mary Noble Parrish, director of church relations for the college. "I am your liaison who serves as a link to further connect Martin Methodist College with your congregation. This is a wonderful opportunity to support this important institution of the United Methodist Church by uniting to serve our risen Lord as one body."
Pulaski District Martin College representatives at 2007 training session. Mary Noble Parrish is at the right."We invite all Martin Representatives as well as the clergy appointed to the local congregations of our conference to attend one training event," Parrish added. The remaining training dates and locations are as follows:
+Cookeville District - Saturday, January 26, 2008 at the district's training event, 8:30 a.m. at Sparta FUMC;
+Nashville District - Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008 at the district's training event, 6:30 p.m. at Brentwood UMC;
+Cumberland District - Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008 at the district's training event, 2:00-5:00 p.m. at Hendersonville FUMC;
+Murfreesboro District - Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008 at the district's "Shepherd School," 1:30-4:00 p.m. at Tullahoma UMC;
+Clarksville District - Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008 at the district's training event, 2:30-5:00 p.m. at Madison Street UMC.
To learn more about Martin College Representatives contact the Rev. Mary Noble Parrish at mparrish@martinmethodist.edu, through the Martin Representatives website at http://www.martinmethodist.edu/ccl/martinreps or by calling 931-363-9834 or 1-800-467-1273, ext. 3834.
The Martin Methodist Vision
Martin Methodist College is committed to being one of the leading small, nurturing, liberal arts colleges in the Southeast and a model of church-related higher education for the United Methodist Church. The Cal Turner, Jr. Center for Church Leadership strives to enhance the relationship between Martin Methodist College and the local congregations of the United Methodist Church.
posted by TN Conference UMC @ 6:19 AM
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