TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW April 2, 2010
Articles in the April 2, 2010 issue of THE REVIEW
1. A love for the creator translates into a love for creation
2. Youth Ministry Workshop for Mustard Seed Churches provides impetus for the growth of smaller church youth programs
3. Hope Comes to Joelton
4. Clarksville District Superintendent promoted to Colonel in the Air National Guard
5. Committee on Native American Ministries provides yearly training in preparation for Native American Sunday
6. KIDS AND CHRIST: Let the children come by Bishop William H. Willimon
7. Jimmy L. Carr’s Lasting Legacy at Lake Junaluska
8. Lebanon First United Methodist Church provides new look at Native American Survival Mission Study
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Hope for Creation: A Live Simulcast Event, April 21, 2010
A love for the creator translates into a love for creation
by Ryan Bennett*
The Rev. Ryan Bennett
For the longest time, I laughed at “tree huggers” and labeled them left wing extremists. I did not see how the environment fit into following Jesus Christ. In fact, I saw them as opposing forces, working against each other. But that all changed when I met Matthew Sleeth. Matthew loves God. He is a passionate follower of Jesus Christ, and he has a call on his life to help the church wake up to its responsibility to be good stewards of God’s creation. I grew to realize the Scriptures are clear on this mandate. From the creation story which tells humanity to rule over creation wisely to Psalm 24’s recognition that “the earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it; all who live in it belong to God.” Jesus’ words that we are to love God with everything we have and love our neighbor as ourselves infers that care for creation is our responsibility. A love for the creator translates into a love for creation, and a love for both current and future neighbors shows a desire to protect our their food supply, air supply, and water supply.
Through Matthew Sleeth, I have learned to watch for trees mentioned in the Biblical narrative. It is not a coincidence that trees are mentioned over 500 times in the Bible, and usually when there is a tree, there is something important going on. The human story begins with the tree of life in the garden, and the story of redemption ends in the book of Revelation with two trees of life and an unpolluted river that runs between them. It is not a coincidence that Jesus died on a tree, or worked with wood as a carpenter. I have learned to embrace the term tree hugger and the connotations it brings.
It is about Jesus! It always has been and always will be. As we turn to look at what we can do as Christians to care for God’s creation, we are not turning away from Christ. We are in fact turning to look him square in the face. I have found that as I have brought this part of stewardship into clearer focus, God has opened doors to be able to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to far reaching areas that I never would have imagined. Just recently I was able to preach chapel service for our state legislature. This opportunity arose because of some work I have done there concerning a bill seeking to ban mountain top removal of coal in Tennessee, a destructive and irresponsible method of harvesting coal. The message was about the passion and joy of following Jesus and serving others. The door was opened because of a growing love for God’s creation.
On April 21st over one thousand churches and one million people will join together around the globe under the banner of a Biblical vision for care of the planet. Matthew Sleeth will be leading the event and will be premiering the newest video series by the people who created the NOOMA video series with Rob Bell. The event is on the eve of Earth Day because the church should be the ones leading the way concerning care for creation. It is not about politics. There are no agendas. Just a desire to come together and share in the hope and good news that we have for all that is God’s creation.
You can sign up to be a host site, get more information, and print off everything you need to promote this event by going to their website at www.blessedearth.org. To host the live event, all you need is broadband internet connection and a way to project the feed from the computer. Even if you do not have that capability, you can sign up to host an event in which you can receive and show two of the film series videos and then discuss their message. Will your church sign up to be a host site? We will also be publishing on listserv and the conference web site several anchor sites in each district where you can go and watch the event live.
Hope for creation is the hope of Jesus Christ, and the church is beginning to understand this.
*Ryan is pastor of Bethlehem UMC in Franklin and is a Blessed Earth board member. If you have questions about the event, you can contact him at 615.794.6721
Youth Ministry Workshop for Mustard Seed Churches provides impetus for the growth of smaller church youth programs
Workshop leader Brad Fiscus used interactive exercises to make important points about the advantages of being a Mustard Seed congregation
Bishop Will’s Life Journal meditation for October 29, 2009 focused on what he called “Mustard Seed Churches.” He dismissed negative comments about small membership churches, and instead showed the value and advantages of healthy small membership congregations. Rather than “small church” or “small membership church” or “circuit church” he felt a more honest descriptive phrase of such churches is “Mustard Seed Churches,” picking up the parable Jesus used in Mark 4:29 when describing the kingdom of God: “It’s like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”
A group of five persons led by host pastor Amy Rayson attempts to navigate a maze
A large group of ten persons attempts to navigate the same maze—they had a much more difficult and time-consuming adventure than a smaller group navigating the same maze.
Bishop Will’s meditation has set a course for the Tennessee Annual Conference—strengthening and enabling “Mustard Seed Churches.” Nowhere was this focus more apparent than on March 11th when Annual Conference Director of Young People’s Ministry, Brad Fiscus, led the workshop “Youth Ministry in Mustard Seed churches” at Palmyra United Methodist Church in the Clarksville District. Representatives from several small churches gathered to explore how their congregations could become “Mustard Seed Churches” that focus on growing a youth ministry when there a few children and youth in the congregation.
Through the workshop Fiscus helped the participants to explore the characteristics of a small church – recognizing both the assets and the obstacles associated with being small. This naturally led to the question, “What are some characteristics of churches who THINK of themselves as small?” The summary statement from the discussion was, “It’s not the size of the church in ministry, it’s the size of the passion for ministry in the church.” As the group segued into discussion of youth ministry there was a feeling that there could be a richer, more satisfying youth ministry in smaller sized congregations than in some of the large congregations. Intermingled with discussion and informative video segments were several interactive exercises that proved the value of rethinking our stereotypes about small churches.
In another interactive moment, a group with eyes shut moves about the room and in their “blindness” prove that people need each other.
Fiscus urged participants to work with their congregations in setting goals. To illustrate the important of goal setting he noted a small regional airline that set goals and followed them even in the face of immense competition from industry giants. Southwest Airlines is no longer a small regional carrier—they have grown considerably with the goal/mantra, “Our planes don’t make money sitting on the ground, we have to get them into the air.” The employees know the goal, and know their airline is different. Within the company, high performance relationships are fostered – one person’s role is not more important than others, company exec or baggage handler. From this comes mutual respect, shared knowledge, and trust among team members.
Group reflection generated good ideas about Mustard Seed youth ministry
Toward the conclusion of the workshop Fiscus prompted participants to think about how congregations relate to youth culture. There are four “E” words that should guide this relationship. “How,” he asked, “does your church Engage, Encourage, Empower, and Equip the young people in the community?” He also stressed the need for congregations within our “connectional” United Methodist system to explore how they could work cooperatively with other congregations.
After the event was over, Beverly Dycus, pastor of the Tennessee Ridge Charge, commented on the value of the workshop: “The Youth Ministry in the Mustard Seed Church training was excellent! I especially enjoyed the interactive components of the training that kept it informative and inspirational. It was evident the event was planned with much prayer in how to effectively reach youth for Jesus Christ. In addition to receiving valuable resources, I left the training energized and equipped with fresh ideas for ministry.” I highly recommend that other “Mustard Seed Churches” work together to sponsor this event in their area for all leaders within Mustard Seed congregations.
Do you want to explore a “Youth Ministry in Mustard Seed Churches” workshop with a cluster of churches in your area? Contact Brad Fiscus, Director of Young People’s Ministry, Tennessee Annual Conference, 304 S. Perimeter Park Drive, Suite One, Nashville, TN 37211, email bfiscus@tnumc.org, phone 615-329-1177.
Hope Comes to Joelton
Six smaller United Methodist Churches in Whites Creek, Joelton and Pleasant View have banded together to make a greater impact in helping the poor in their area of Northern Davidson County than any of them could have done alone. The Joelton Hope Center opened on February 3 with a time of prayer and blessing. Initially the Hope Center will be a community food pantry supported by a thrift store. At the beginning all the staff are volunteers from the churches. As support for the ministry grows other services will be added, like help with prescriptions, utilities, transportation, housing, and education.
An inviting front entrance offers hope. Sales from the thrift store will help support the work of the Hope Center.
Rev. Frank Billman, part-time pastor at Forest Grove UMC and Vice President of the Board of Directors, says “It has been a process of at least 4 years planning to bring this ministry about. And there have been numerous pastoral changes over those years among these churches. We have never had this level of cooperation among these churches before. It’s a God thing!”
The first contribution toward the center came in the form of a “Helping Hands Seed” Grant from the Tennessee Conference Cooperative Ministries. A second grant was received from the Conference Committee on Mercy and Mission. People from the community and the churches have contributed goods and services to renovate the building (a former Bar-b-Que restaurant) and turn it into the Hope Center. Some of the churches have now put the center in their budget for 2010 and Advance Special status will be applied for. The Hope Center is already registered as a Tennessee non-profit corporation and has 501c3 status from the federal government. The Tennessee Department of State has issued a solicitation permit. It will become a Community Food Partner of the Second Harvest Food Bank.
The Blessing time to dedicate the Hope Center, left to right are Dr. Diana Dewitt of Greenville MC, Rev. Caroline Hewett of Beech Grove UMC, Rev. Jeremy Squires of Pleasant View UMC, Dr. Frank Billman of Forest Grove UMC and Martha Neeley who attends Forest Grove UMC
The churches that have formed this ministry are: Greenville, Forest Grove, and Oakwood in Joelton, Beech Grove and Denton’s Chapel in Whites Creek, and Pleasant View in Pleasant View. They are now reaching out ecumenically to involve other churches in the community. St. Lawrence Roman Catholic Church in Joelton has already come on board. A representative from the Civitan Club is being recruited.
Rev. Caroline Farmer Hewett , pastor of Beech Grove, is loaning her expertise gained as director of the Trousdale County Help Center to get this new Hope center up and running. Caroline is on the Board as Director of Development and is serving as the interim director of the center until a permanent director is recruited. Allen Graham, of Greenville UMC is president of the Board. Each church has at least one representative on the Board.
The Center is located at 7158 Whites Creek Pike, in Joelton across from the Joelton Middle School. It is hoped that the ministry will grow so much in a year that a new location will have to be found. The Hope Center is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10-5.
Clarksville District Superintendent promoted to Colonel in the Air National Guard
On Friday, March 5, Dr. Ron Lowery, the district superintendent of the Clarksville District, became a Colonel in the Air National Guard. His new duties include service for the Air National Guard at the Tennessee Joint Forces Headquarters in Nashville, USAFE Headquarters in Ramstein, Germany and EUCOM Headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany. His assignment includes pastoral care ministry in the Tennessee Air National Guard, coordination of care for the hospitalized military personnel and their families and assisting in chaplain ministry development with the State Partnership Programs between American states and European nations.
With his hand on his childhood Bible and his wife, Connie, at his side, Chaplain, Colonel Ron Lowery takes the oath of office, as Col Gus Schettler, Tennessee Joint Forces Headquarters, presides.
The special “pinning on” service was narrated by Col. Gus Schettler at the Air National Guard Headquarters in Nashville. Major General (Air Guard) Russ Cotney and Connie Lowery, Ron’s wife, Myra Harris and Betty Lowery, installed Ron’s eagles. Bishop Dick Wills and the Cabinet attended the event and Bishop Wills prayed the invocation. Tom Halliburton offered the benediction. Among those attending the ceremony was COL (retired) Melvin Nelson, Ron’s first commander in the Army National Guard, and a member at Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church, in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. The occasion was followed by a reception in the headquarters building.
Ron left on Sunday, March 7, for a ten day tour of duty in Germany to provide ministry to our infirmed and wounded warriors. During the next three years, he will be engaged in these duties to ensure that the needs of our soldiers, sailors and airmen are being meet. As a district superintendent, he is working with a team to develop a ministry to the military community in the Clarksville area. This effort, known as “The Ft. Campbell Connection” will be a way to provide meaningful ministry to the military community.
Committee on Native American Ministries provides yearly training in preparation for Native American Sunday
Cookeville District Representative Pat Bryan points out special items in the display
Each year the Tennessee Conference Committee on Native American Ministries (CONAM) sponsors an event to train local church Native American representatives and church lay leaders. This event is designed to prepare persons for the celebration of Native American Sunday (To be held officially April 18, 2010) and the special ministries supported by the offering taken on that day. This Special Sunday offering educates Native American seminarians and cultivates Native American outreach in educational endeavors.
Group speaking with Native American Ministry committee chairperson Wes Bryan at the resource table.
CONAM, however, takes “Native American Resource Day” a giant step beyond just supporting an important offering—persons attending the “Resource Day” learn a great deal about all aspects of Native American culture and tradition. The event, held at Blackman United Methodist Church on March 14, 2010, was a good example with rich displays, an exceptional collection of printed resources including books, and the piece de resistance – the serving of Native American Foods including freshly prepared fry bread.
Clarksville District Representative Debbie Fitzhugh with Pat and Rev. Al Geeting.
CONAM also sponsors the nationally acclaimed retreat/festival Native Moccasins Rock which features interactive workshops, music, dance, worship and plenty of fellowship as participants have a chance to learn from noted Native American artists, speakers, story tellers, and performers. This year’s Native Moccasins Rock will be held August 13, 14, and 15th at Camp Lake Benson, Bon Aqua, Tennessee. This is one festival that persons can genuinely enjoy as a family since there will be major interactive workshop experiences for children and youth as well as adults.
Lining up for a traditional Native American meal prepared by Juanita and husband Joe Gardinski.
Because the date for Native American Sunday is not always a good one for some local churches, THIS is a Special Sunday that can be moved to a time that is more convenient for any given congregation. Whenever Native American Sunday is held there are special resources available to help interpret the special offering, including free offering envelopes. Call (888) 346-3862 today to order envelopes and other resources so your congregation can participate in this church-wide offering. They will be sent at no cost to your church!
The Conference Committee has garnered a large amount of resources through the years and will be glad to work with local churches. They have books, displays, audio-video materials and can also provide speakers or teachers. Some of the Committee members are also Lay Speakers.
KIDS AND CHRIST: Let the children come
By Bishop William H. Willimon*
Special Contributor
One day Jesus was teaching. Everyone gathered round was attempting to pay attention (Mark 10:13-16). Nearby, a couple of children scuffled in the dust.
“Can’t something be done about these children?” said one of the disciples. “Send them away. We can’t pay attention to you with the distraction of these children. Don’t we have a nursery for people like them?”
Do you remember what Jesus said? “Let the little children come to me.” And embracing them in his arms, Jesus blessed the children saying, “The Kingdom of God belongs to children. Grownups have difficulty getting into a kingdom with such a small door.”
Children, whom we tend to regard as distractions, were put by Jesus at the center of his realm. Biblical interpreters agree that in a day and a culture when children were considered less than full human beings, Jesus performed a radical, countercultural act when he put children at the center, making them the enactment of his Good News.
What Jesus said about children is similar to what Jesus said about the poor, the marginalized and “the least of these.”
Before I rose to preach last Sunday, the host pastor said, “And now the children are dismissed to go to children’s church.” The implication is that my sermon was for adults only. Was Jesus in error when he said that children have no problem entering the Kingdom of God?
The average age of my church is about 58 years old. The proportion of United Methodists who are under age 12 is in serious decline. Children’s Christian education, judging from the sales of literature, is virtually extinct. We are therefore in violation of Jesus’ clear command: “Let the little children come to me.”
And yet—according to my read of Jesus and the children—one of the distinguishing marks of the church is the active presence of children.
One of my district superintendents recently invited me to preach at Trinity UMC, in the northern part of our conference, to see the transformation that is occurring there.
I had trouble finding a parking place in the streets around this once moribund church. They had quite a crowd gathering for worship. I was amazed. But the most amazing sight was yet to come: The first four pews were packed with children and youth.
“That’s a rare sight,” I commented to the pastor. “You have so many children!”
“Only four of those kids are related to anybody in the congregation,” the pastor told me.
“What? Whose children are they?” I asked.
“They belong to Jesus,” said the pastor as he busied himself with pre-service preparations. “He’s loaning them to us to help turn this thing around.”
The surrounding community lacks the social services to care for children in need, the pastor explained, so he had “cut a deal with the police in this county.”
“When they go in to bust up a meth lab,” he said, “there are usually children present in that horrible place. They can call us day or night, and in 30 minutes we will have trained people to rescue the children and provide them a safe place to stay until the courts can sort things out.
“We’ve got a family court judge who works with us, too. We’ve got six families that are certified foster care parents. Two of these kids were threatened by their parents, who told them that if they didn’t behave they couldn’t come to Sunday school! Our Sunday school is that good!
“Half of our kids are only allowed by the court to live at home with their parents if our church certifies that we are working with the parents properly to care for them.”
There were tears in my eyes.
“Those children have given us more than we’ve given them,” the pastor said. “Like Jesus said, ‘When you receive one such child in my name, you receive me.’”
Our culture is not very child-friendly. Only a tiny proportion of North American children have been introduced or instructed in the Christian faith.
Yet God has blessed many of our congregations with older people who have the talents and the time to lead ministries with children. Any United Methodist church that is bereft of children, that has no program for reaching children and allowing children to reach us, has yet to meet the theological criteria for church.
I can show you churches that grew tired of competing with Sunday morning youth soccer league games. Instead they formed their own soccer league to play at times other than Sunday morning.
I’ve visited churches with after-school programs for latchkey kids.
In one of my congregations, older adults offer a “Parents’ Night Out” on Fridays where parents can bring children for an evening of stories, games and food. The size of their children’s ministry doubled in one year, confirming our conference children’s coordinator’s dictum: “The easiest way to grow a church is with children.”
I appointed a former elementary school teacher to be pastor of a small, declining church with a median age of 60 (a typical United Methodist church, that is). On her first Sunday, she announced, “I am here to see if God can give this church a future,” and told them that the only way for that to happen is to be hospitable to children as a way of embracing the “least of these.”
Unused Sunday school rooms were a disgrace, so she had a team of painters refurbish them. The next Sunday, she gave an altar call and asked people to come forward who were gifted for children’s ministry.
Three older women came and knelt at the altar. The pastor consecrated them to lead the congregation into a new century and promised to equip them. By the next Sunday, she said, each of these teachers would prepare a great lesson and be ready for God’s children.
If no children showed up, the teacher would sit in the newly painted Sunday school room and spend the hour praying that God would bring children who could lead the congregation to Jesus. Then she charged each person in the congregation to bring at least one child with them to worship next Sunday.
A year later, that church is being reborn, confirming the truth of the biblical promise, “A little child shall lead them.”
*United Methodist Bishop Willimon leads the Birmingham Area.
Join the conversation: A “Kids and Christ” Facebook page has been set up by the United Methodist Publishing House.
Jimmy L. Carr’s Lasting Legacy at Lake Junaluska
The Rev. Dr. Jimmy L. Carr
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. – Since June 2000, Rev. Dr. Jimmy L. Carr has faithfully served as the Executive Director of Lake Junaluska. With a lasting legacy established because of his strong leadership, Carr recently announced his retirement, effective at the conclusion of 2010.
“I will soon be in the eleventh year as Executive Director here at Lake Junaluska, and I feel that I have given the leadership I needed to give,” Carr said. “These years have been challenging and rewarding. Joy, my wife, and I have enjoyed our opportunities for ministry at this very special place. We both feel now is the time to begin to enjoy a new chapter in our lives.”
During his time as Executive Director, Carr has successfully spearheaded several major campaigns, including a fundraising campaign that collected $11 million dollars for improvements at Lake Junaluska, the establishment of a workplace discipleship program, and renovations of several lodging and meeting facilities around campus. As a result of Carr’s leadership, the Lake Junaluska staff has striven to provide a quality experience to all who visit Lake Junaluska.
Upon retirement, Jimmy and Joy Carr will divide their retirement between Lake Junaluska and Brandon, Mississippi. Carr and his wife plan to enjoy spending more time with their children and grandchildren upon retirement.
“I believe that the best days for Lake Junaluska are ahead. We have dealt with many transitional issues and have implemented many good ministry and business practices that will carry us into the future,” said Carr.
Bishop Larry Goodpaster, the President of the Lake Junaluska Board, and the Executive Committee are in the process of searching for the right person to fill the position.
“We will move forward,” said Bishop Goodpaster. “Transitions are never easy, but being at a strong place like we are now will make it easier. We have assembled a great group of people at Lake Junaluska. Over the next few weeks we will name a search committee. My challenge to them will be to bring us a name for the new Executive Director at the October Board Meeting. Furthermore, we hope that by January 2011, we will have a new Executive Director in place.”
Rev. Carr is an ordained Deacon in The United Methodist Church. A native of Forest, MS, he was educated at Forest schools, the university of Southern Mississippi and Scarritt College, Nashville, TN, where he was awarded the Masters of Arts degree in Christian Education. He has served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Rust College since 1995 and chairs the Student Affairs Committee. He also serves as a member of the Executive Committee.
Prior to his appointment to the Southeastern Jurisdiction position, Carr served as associate general secretary, section of Deacon and Diaconal Ministries with the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. He was instrumental in the development of the Order of Deacon having participated in the study of ministry for two quadrennia on behalf of the general church prior to serving in that appointment. From 1986-1988, Rev. Carr also served on the committee that began the process for establishing Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe.
In 2003, Rev. Carr was awarded a Doctor of Humanities from Rust College in Holly Springs, MS, where he served as a member of the Board of Trustees from 1995 – 2003 and Chaired the Student Affairs Committee. Rust College is one of the 13 historic African-American United Methodist colleges within the United States.
Rev. Carr served appointments in Pascagoula, Meridian and Jackson as a member of the Mississippi Conference. His commitment to The Church has led him to serve in many conference and district positions throughout his career. In addition he has been active in the life of the communities in which he lived. He served as a governor appointee on the board of Supervisors of Rankin County, MS, and as chair of the Rankin County Democratic Executive Committee.
“It has been a real joy being at Lake Junaluska. I especially appreciate the support of my co-workers, The United Methodist Church, and the local community,” said Carr.
Throughout 2010, Lake Junaluska will be celebrating the accomplishments and retirement of Rev. Jimmy L. Carr. For more information about Rev. Carr’s retirement, please visit http://www.lakejunaluska.com/jimmy-carr.
Lebanon First United Methodist Church provides new look at Native American Survival Mission Study
By Margaret Partee
Lebanon First United Methodist Church sponsored a workshop in February related to a 2008-2009 United Methodist Women Mission Study entitled “Native American Survival.” The event was wonderful. It was sponsored by the UMW but that fact was not advertised. We just asked for interested persons to sign up. As teacher, I only wanted between 20 and 30 participants because I wanted to sit in a circle to encourage participation. The event attracted three men and twenty two women, over half of whom were NOT in the UMW. That pleased me. Of the twenty five, nine participants have Native American heritage. It was held on a Saturday from 9:30 until 2:00.
We met for potlatch (like our potluck) where we shared with one another. I had a focus table with items to discuss - a cornucopia filled with the three sisters (corn, beans, squash—always planted together in Native American tradition), a basket of strawberries, a pitcher of water, and other items. I told about the companion planting and the Cherokee strawberry legend, etc. Others were wonderful in sharing. They were so receptive to the class it made it easy. I had the CD playing in the background during Potlatch and I told some about the music especially it providing a way to preserve the language. We watched the DVD provided with the study after I had given a review of parts of the textbook then discussed it. I used the Iroquois litany and several native prayers that I gleaned from different sources.
We had lunch that consisted of the three sisters in a succotash, turkey, blueberry corn muffins and pumpkin cranberry cake (all available to Natives!) After lunch two women told stories of Native women like those to be found in the back of the text. One story depicted a mother trying to get medical care for her child. It was told by a church member who had actually lived in the far reaches of Alaska and gave birth to two children there. She was quite familiar with the medical issues!!! The other related to the Indian schools where the kids were sent.
Then several women summarized articles from a 2008 issue of Response Magazine that focused on the Native Americans, the Methodist Church, and UMW involvement in Native American ministry. It all really worked out well. Our local church United Methodist Women’s Unit may pick up on one of the ways Response suggested to help Native Americans in addition to providing the school supplies we collected for Native Schools. Collecting and sending coats or the baby supplies to Nome is a real possibility.
I was quite pleased with the way the workshop turned out and have had a number of positive comments on it.
1. A love for the creator translates into a love for creation
2. Youth Ministry Workshop for Mustard Seed Churches provides impetus for the growth of smaller church youth programs
3. Hope Comes to Joelton
4. Clarksville District Superintendent promoted to Colonel in the Air National Guard
5. Committee on Native American Ministries provides yearly training in preparation for Native American Sunday
6. KIDS AND CHRIST: Let the children come by Bishop William H. Willimon
7. Jimmy L. Carr’s Lasting Legacy at Lake Junaluska
8. Lebanon First United Methodist Church provides new look at Native American Survival Mission Study
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Hope for Creation: A Live Simulcast Event, April 21, 2010
A love for the creator translates into a love for creation
by Ryan Bennett*
For the longest time, I laughed at “tree huggers” and labeled them left wing extremists. I did not see how the environment fit into following Jesus Christ. In fact, I saw them as opposing forces, working against each other. But that all changed when I met Matthew Sleeth. Matthew loves God. He is a passionate follower of Jesus Christ, and he has a call on his life to help the church wake up to its responsibility to be good stewards of God’s creation. I grew to realize the Scriptures are clear on this mandate. From the creation story which tells humanity to rule over creation wisely to Psalm 24’s recognition that “the earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it; all who live in it belong to God.” Jesus’ words that we are to love God with everything we have and love our neighbor as ourselves infers that care for creation is our responsibility. A love for the creator translates into a love for creation, and a love for both current and future neighbors shows a desire to protect our their food supply, air supply, and water supply.
Through Matthew Sleeth, I have learned to watch for trees mentioned in the Biblical narrative. It is not a coincidence that trees are mentioned over 500 times in the Bible, and usually when there is a tree, there is something important going on. The human story begins with the tree of life in the garden, and the story of redemption ends in the book of Revelation with two trees of life and an unpolluted river that runs between them. It is not a coincidence that Jesus died on a tree, or worked with wood as a carpenter. I have learned to embrace the term tree hugger and the connotations it brings.
It is about Jesus! It always has been and always will be. As we turn to look at what we can do as Christians to care for God’s creation, we are not turning away from Christ. We are in fact turning to look him square in the face. I have found that as I have brought this part of stewardship into clearer focus, God has opened doors to be able to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to far reaching areas that I never would have imagined. Just recently I was able to preach chapel service for our state legislature. This opportunity arose because of some work I have done there concerning a bill seeking to ban mountain top removal of coal in Tennessee, a destructive and irresponsible method of harvesting coal. The message was about the passion and joy of following Jesus and serving others. The door was opened because of a growing love for God’s creation.
On April 21st over one thousand churches and one million people will join together around the globe under the banner of a Biblical vision for care of the planet. Matthew Sleeth will be leading the event and will be premiering the newest video series by the people who created the NOOMA video series with Rob Bell. The event is on the eve of Earth Day because the church should be the ones leading the way concerning care for creation. It is not about politics. There are no agendas. Just a desire to come together and share in the hope and good news that we have for all that is God’s creation.
You can sign up to be a host site, get more information, and print off everything you need to promote this event by going to their website at www.blessedearth.org. To host the live event, all you need is broadband internet connection and a way to project the feed from the computer. Even if you do not have that capability, you can sign up to host an event in which you can receive and show two of the film series videos and then discuss their message. Will your church sign up to be a host site? We will also be publishing on listserv and the conference web site several anchor sites in each district where you can go and watch the event live.
Hope for creation is the hope of Jesus Christ, and the church is beginning to understand this.
*Ryan is pastor of Bethlehem UMC in Franklin and is a Blessed Earth board member. If you have questions about the event, you can contact him at 615.794.6721
Youth Ministry Workshop for Mustard Seed Churches provides impetus for the growth of smaller church youth programs
Bishop Will’s Life Journal meditation for October 29, 2009 focused on what he called “Mustard Seed Churches.” He dismissed negative comments about small membership churches, and instead showed the value and advantages of healthy small membership congregations. Rather than “small church” or “small membership church” or “circuit church” he felt a more honest descriptive phrase of such churches is “Mustard Seed Churches,” picking up the parable Jesus used in Mark 4:29 when describing the kingdom of God: “It’s like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”
A group of five persons led by host pastor Amy Rayson attempts to navigate a maze
A large group of ten persons attempts to navigate the same maze—they had a much more difficult and time-consuming adventure than a smaller group navigating the same maze.
Bishop Will’s meditation has set a course for the Tennessee Annual Conference—strengthening and enabling “Mustard Seed Churches.” Nowhere was this focus more apparent than on March 11th when Annual Conference Director of Young People’s Ministry, Brad Fiscus, led the workshop “Youth Ministry in Mustard Seed churches” at Palmyra United Methodist Church in the Clarksville District. Representatives from several small churches gathered to explore how their congregations could become “Mustard Seed Churches” that focus on growing a youth ministry when there a few children and youth in the congregation.
Through the workshop Fiscus helped the participants to explore the characteristics of a small church – recognizing both the assets and the obstacles associated with being small. This naturally led to the question, “What are some characteristics of churches who THINK of themselves as small?” The summary statement from the discussion was, “It’s not the size of the church in ministry, it’s the size of the passion for ministry in the church.” As the group segued into discussion of youth ministry there was a feeling that there could be a richer, more satisfying youth ministry in smaller sized congregations than in some of the large congregations. Intermingled with discussion and informative video segments were several interactive exercises that proved the value of rethinking our stereotypes about small churches.
Fiscus urged participants to work with their congregations in setting goals. To illustrate the important of goal setting he noted a small regional airline that set goals and followed them even in the face of immense competition from industry giants. Southwest Airlines is no longer a small regional carrier—they have grown considerably with the goal/mantra, “Our planes don’t make money sitting on the ground, we have to get them into the air.” The employees know the goal, and know their airline is different. Within the company, high performance relationships are fostered – one person’s role is not more important than others, company exec or baggage handler. From this comes mutual respect, shared knowledge, and trust among team members.
Toward the conclusion of the workshop Fiscus prompted participants to think about how congregations relate to youth culture. There are four “E” words that should guide this relationship. “How,” he asked, “does your church Engage, Encourage, Empower, and Equip the young people in the community?” He also stressed the need for congregations within our “connectional” United Methodist system to explore how they could work cooperatively with other congregations.
After the event was over, Beverly Dycus, pastor of the Tennessee Ridge Charge, commented on the value of the workshop: “The Youth Ministry in the Mustard Seed Church training was excellent! I especially enjoyed the interactive components of the training that kept it informative and inspirational. It was evident the event was planned with much prayer in how to effectively reach youth for Jesus Christ. In addition to receiving valuable resources, I left the training energized and equipped with fresh ideas for ministry.” I highly recommend that other “Mustard Seed Churches” work together to sponsor this event in their area for all leaders within Mustard Seed congregations.
Do you want to explore a “Youth Ministry in Mustard Seed Churches” workshop with a cluster of churches in your area? Contact Brad Fiscus, Director of Young People’s Ministry, Tennessee Annual Conference, 304 S. Perimeter Park Drive, Suite One, Nashville, TN 37211, email bfiscus@tnumc.org, phone 615-329-1177.
Hope Comes to Joelton
Six smaller United Methodist Churches in Whites Creek, Joelton and Pleasant View have banded together to make a greater impact in helping the poor in their area of Northern Davidson County than any of them could have done alone. The Joelton Hope Center opened on February 3 with a time of prayer and blessing. Initially the Hope Center will be a community food pantry supported by a thrift store. At the beginning all the staff are volunteers from the churches. As support for the ministry grows other services will be added, like help with prescriptions, utilities, transportation, housing, and education.
Rev. Frank Billman, part-time pastor at Forest Grove UMC and Vice President of the Board of Directors, says “It has been a process of at least 4 years planning to bring this ministry about. And there have been numerous pastoral changes over those years among these churches. We have never had this level of cooperation among these churches before. It’s a God thing!”
The first contribution toward the center came in the form of a “Helping Hands Seed” Grant from the Tennessee Conference Cooperative Ministries. A second grant was received from the Conference Committee on Mercy and Mission. People from the community and the churches have contributed goods and services to renovate the building (a former Bar-b-Que restaurant) and turn it into the Hope Center. Some of the churches have now put the center in their budget for 2010 and Advance Special status will be applied for. The Hope Center is already registered as a Tennessee non-profit corporation and has 501c3 status from the federal government. The Tennessee Department of State has issued a solicitation permit. It will become a Community Food Partner of the Second Harvest Food Bank.
The Blessing time to dedicate the Hope Center, left to right are Dr. Diana Dewitt of Greenville MC, Rev. Caroline Hewett of Beech Grove UMC, Rev. Jeremy Squires of Pleasant View UMC, Dr. Frank Billman of Forest Grove UMC and Martha Neeley who attends Forest Grove UMC
The churches that have formed this ministry are: Greenville, Forest Grove, and Oakwood in Joelton, Beech Grove and Denton’s Chapel in Whites Creek, and Pleasant View in Pleasant View. They are now reaching out ecumenically to involve other churches in the community. St. Lawrence Roman Catholic Church in Joelton has already come on board. A representative from the Civitan Club is being recruited.
Rev. Caroline Farmer Hewett , pastor of Beech Grove, is loaning her expertise gained as director of the Trousdale County Help Center to get this new Hope center up and running. Caroline is on the Board as Director of Development and is serving as the interim director of the center until a permanent director is recruited. Allen Graham, of Greenville UMC is president of the Board. Each church has at least one representative on the Board.
The Center is located at 7158 Whites Creek Pike, in Joelton across from the Joelton Middle School. It is hoped that the ministry will grow so much in a year that a new location will have to be found. The Hope Center is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10-5.
Clarksville District Superintendent promoted to Colonel in the Air National Guard
On Friday, March 5, Dr. Ron Lowery, the district superintendent of the Clarksville District, became a Colonel in the Air National Guard. His new duties include service for the Air National Guard at the Tennessee Joint Forces Headquarters in Nashville, USAFE Headquarters in Ramstein, Germany and EUCOM Headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany. His assignment includes pastoral care ministry in the Tennessee Air National Guard, coordination of care for the hospitalized military personnel and their families and assisting in chaplain ministry development with the State Partnership Programs between American states and European nations.
The special “pinning on” service was narrated by Col. Gus Schettler at the Air National Guard Headquarters in Nashville. Major General (Air Guard) Russ Cotney and Connie Lowery, Ron’s wife, Myra Harris and Betty Lowery, installed Ron’s eagles. Bishop Dick Wills and the Cabinet attended the event and Bishop Wills prayed the invocation. Tom Halliburton offered the benediction. Among those attending the ceremony was COL (retired) Melvin Nelson, Ron’s first commander in the Army National Guard, and a member at Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church, in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. The occasion was followed by a reception in the headquarters building.
Ron left on Sunday, March 7, for a ten day tour of duty in Germany to provide ministry to our infirmed and wounded warriors. During the next three years, he will be engaged in these duties to ensure that the needs of our soldiers, sailors and airmen are being meet. As a district superintendent, he is working with a team to develop a ministry to the military community in the Clarksville area. This effort, known as “The Ft. Campbell Connection” will be a way to provide meaningful ministry to the military community.
Committee on Native American Ministries provides yearly training in preparation for Native American Sunday
Each year the Tennessee Conference Committee on Native American Ministries (CONAM) sponsors an event to train local church Native American representatives and church lay leaders. This event is designed to prepare persons for the celebration of Native American Sunday (To be held officially April 18, 2010) and the special ministries supported by the offering taken on that day. This Special Sunday offering educates Native American seminarians and cultivates Native American outreach in educational endeavors.
CONAM, however, takes “Native American Resource Day” a giant step beyond just supporting an important offering—persons attending the “Resource Day” learn a great deal about all aspects of Native American culture and tradition. The event, held at Blackman United Methodist Church on March 14, 2010, was a good example with rich displays, an exceptional collection of printed resources including books, and the piece de resistance – the serving of Native American Foods including freshly prepared fry bread.
CONAM also sponsors the nationally acclaimed retreat/festival Native Moccasins Rock which features interactive workshops, music, dance, worship and plenty of fellowship as participants have a chance to learn from noted Native American artists, speakers, story tellers, and performers. This year’s Native Moccasins Rock will be held August 13, 14, and 15th at Camp Lake Benson, Bon Aqua, Tennessee. This is one festival that persons can genuinely enjoy as a family since there will be major interactive workshop experiences for children and youth as well as adults.
Juanita Gardinski readies fry bread for the skillet
Lining up for a traditional Native American meal prepared by Juanita and husband Joe Gardinski.
Because the date for Native American Sunday is not always a good one for some local churches, THIS is a Special Sunday that can be moved to a time that is more convenient for any given congregation. Whenever Native American Sunday is held there are special resources available to help interpret the special offering, including free offering envelopes. Call (888) 346-3862 today to order envelopes and other resources so your congregation can participate in this church-wide offering. They will be sent at no cost to your church!
The Conference Committee has garnered a large amount of resources through the years and will be glad to work with local churches. They have books, displays, audio-video materials and can also provide speakers or teachers. Some of the Committee members are also Lay Speakers.
KIDS AND CHRIST: Let the children come
By Bishop William H. Willimon*
Special Contributor
Bishop William H. Willimon
One day Jesus was teaching. Everyone gathered round was attempting to pay attention (Mark 10:13-16). Nearby, a couple of children scuffled in the dust.
“Can’t something be done about these children?” said one of the disciples. “Send them away. We can’t pay attention to you with the distraction of these children. Don’t we have a nursery for people like them?”
Do you remember what Jesus said? “Let the little children come to me.” And embracing them in his arms, Jesus blessed the children saying, “The Kingdom of God belongs to children. Grownups have difficulty getting into a kingdom with such a small door.”
Children, whom we tend to regard as distractions, were put by Jesus at the center of his realm. Biblical interpreters agree that in a day and a culture when children were considered less than full human beings, Jesus performed a radical, countercultural act when he put children at the center, making them the enactment of his Good News.
What Jesus said about children is similar to what Jesus said about the poor, the marginalized and “the least of these.”
Before I rose to preach last Sunday, the host pastor said, “And now the children are dismissed to go to children’s church.” The implication is that my sermon was for adults only. Was Jesus in error when he said that children have no problem entering the Kingdom of God?
The average age of my church is about 58 years old. The proportion of United Methodists who are under age 12 is in serious decline. Children’s Christian education, judging from the sales of literature, is virtually extinct. We are therefore in violation of Jesus’ clear command: “Let the little children come to me.”
And yet—according to my read of Jesus and the children—one of the distinguishing marks of the church is the active presence of children.
One of my district superintendents recently invited me to preach at Trinity UMC, in the northern part of our conference, to see the transformation that is occurring there.
I had trouble finding a parking place in the streets around this once moribund church. They had quite a crowd gathering for worship. I was amazed. But the most amazing sight was yet to come: The first four pews were packed with children and youth.
“That’s a rare sight,” I commented to the pastor. “You have so many children!”
“Only four of those kids are related to anybody in the congregation,” the pastor told me.
“What? Whose children are they?” I asked.
“They belong to Jesus,” said the pastor as he busied himself with pre-service preparations. “He’s loaning them to us to help turn this thing around.”
The surrounding community lacks the social services to care for children in need, the pastor explained, so he had “cut a deal with the police in this county.”
“When they go in to bust up a meth lab,” he said, “there are usually children present in that horrible place. They can call us day or night, and in 30 minutes we will have trained people to rescue the children and provide them a safe place to stay until the courts can sort things out.
“We’ve got a family court judge who works with us, too. We’ve got six families that are certified foster care parents. Two of these kids were threatened by their parents, who told them that if they didn’t behave they couldn’t come to Sunday school! Our Sunday school is that good!
“Half of our kids are only allowed by the court to live at home with their parents if our church certifies that we are working with the parents properly to care for them.”
There were tears in my eyes.
“Those children have given us more than we’ve given them,” the pastor said. “Like Jesus said, ‘When you receive one such child in my name, you receive me.’”
Our culture is not very child-friendly. Only a tiny proportion of North American children have been introduced or instructed in the Christian faith.
Yet God has blessed many of our congregations with older people who have the talents and the time to lead ministries with children. Any United Methodist church that is bereft of children, that has no program for reaching children and allowing children to reach us, has yet to meet the theological criteria for church.
I can show you churches that grew tired of competing with Sunday morning youth soccer league games. Instead they formed their own soccer league to play at times other than Sunday morning.
I’ve visited churches with after-school programs for latchkey kids.
In one of my congregations, older adults offer a “Parents’ Night Out” on Fridays where parents can bring children for an evening of stories, games and food. The size of their children’s ministry doubled in one year, confirming our conference children’s coordinator’s dictum: “The easiest way to grow a church is with children.”
I appointed a former elementary school teacher to be pastor of a small, declining church with a median age of 60 (a typical United Methodist church, that is). On her first Sunday, she announced, “I am here to see if God can give this church a future,” and told them that the only way for that to happen is to be hospitable to children as a way of embracing the “least of these.”
Unused Sunday school rooms were a disgrace, so she had a team of painters refurbish them. The next Sunday, she gave an altar call and asked people to come forward who were gifted for children’s ministry.
Three older women came and knelt at the altar. The pastor consecrated them to lead the congregation into a new century and promised to equip them. By the next Sunday, she said, each of these teachers would prepare a great lesson and be ready for God’s children.
If no children showed up, the teacher would sit in the newly painted Sunday school room and spend the hour praying that God would bring children who could lead the congregation to Jesus. Then she charged each person in the congregation to bring at least one child with them to worship next Sunday.
A year later, that church is being reborn, confirming the truth of the biblical promise, “A little child shall lead them.”
*United Methodist Bishop Willimon leads the Birmingham Area.
Join the conversation: A “Kids and Christ” Facebook page has been set up by the United Methodist Publishing House.
Jimmy L. Carr’s Lasting Legacy at Lake Junaluska
The Rev. Dr. Jimmy L. Carr
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. – Since June 2000, Rev. Dr. Jimmy L. Carr has faithfully served as the Executive Director of Lake Junaluska. With a lasting legacy established because of his strong leadership, Carr recently announced his retirement, effective at the conclusion of 2010.
“I will soon be in the eleventh year as Executive Director here at Lake Junaluska, and I feel that I have given the leadership I needed to give,” Carr said. “These years have been challenging and rewarding. Joy, my wife, and I have enjoyed our opportunities for ministry at this very special place. We both feel now is the time to begin to enjoy a new chapter in our lives.”
During his time as Executive Director, Carr has successfully spearheaded several major campaigns, including a fundraising campaign that collected $11 million dollars for improvements at Lake Junaluska, the establishment of a workplace discipleship program, and renovations of several lodging and meeting facilities around campus. As a result of Carr’s leadership, the Lake Junaluska staff has striven to provide a quality experience to all who visit Lake Junaluska.
Upon retirement, Jimmy and Joy Carr will divide their retirement between Lake Junaluska and Brandon, Mississippi. Carr and his wife plan to enjoy spending more time with their children and grandchildren upon retirement.
“I believe that the best days for Lake Junaluska are ahead. We have dealt with many transitional issues and have implemented many good ministry and business practices that will carry us into the future,” said Carr.
Bishop Larry Goodpaster, the President of the Lake Junaluska Board, and the Executive Committee are in the process of searching for the right person to fill the position.
“We will move forward,” said Bishop Goodpaster. “Transitions are never easy, but being at a strong place like we are now will make it easier. We have assembled a great group of people at Lake Junaluska. Over the next few weeks we will name a search committee. My challenge to them will be to bring us a name for the new Executive Director at the October Board Meeting. Furthermore, we hope that by January 2011, we will have a new Executive Director in place.”
Rev. Carr is an ordained Deacon in The United Methodist Church. A native of Forest, MS, he was educated at Forest schools, the university of Southern Mississippi and Scarritt College, Nashville, TN, where he was awarded the Masters of Arts degree in Christian Education. He has served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Rust College since 1995 and chairs the Student Affairs Committee. He also serves as a member of the Executive Committee.
Prior to his appointment to the Southeastern Jurisdiction position, Carr served as associate general secretary, section of Deacon and Diaconal Ministries with the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. He was instrumental in the development of the Order of Deacon having participated in the study of ministry for two quadrennia on behalf of the general church prior to serving in that appointment. From 1986-1988, Rev. Carr also served on the committee that began the process for establishing Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe.
In 2003, Rev. Carr was awarded a Doctor of Humanities from Rust College in Holly Springs, MS, where he served as a member of the Board of Trustees from 1995 – 2003 and Chaired the Student Affairs Committee. Rust College is one of the 13 historic African-American United Methodist colleges within the United States.
Rev. Carr served appointments in Pascagoula, Meridian and Jackson as a member of the Mississippi Conference. His commitment to The Church has led him to serve in many conference and district positions throughout his career. In addition he has been active in the life of the communities in which he lived. He served as a governor appointee on the board of Supervisors of Rankin County, MS, and as chair of the Rankin County Democratic Executive Committee.
“It has been a real joy being at Lake Junaluska. I especially appreciate the support of my co-workers, The United Methodist Church, and the local community,” said Carr.
Throughout 2010, Lake Junaluska will be celebrating the accomplishments and retirement of Rev. Jimmy L. Carr. For more information about Rev. Carr’s retirement, please visit http://www.lakejunaluska.com/jimmy-carr.
Lebanon First United Methodist Church provides new look at Native American Survival Mission Study
By Margaret Partee
Lebanon First United Methodist Church sponsored a workshop in February related to a 2008-2009 United Methodist Women Mission Study entitled “Native American Survival.” The event was wonderful. It was sponsored by the UMW but that fact was not advertised. We just asked for interested persons to sign up. As teacher, I only wanted between 20 and 30 participants because I wanted to sit in a circle to encourage participation. The event attracted three men and twenty two women, over half of whom were NOT in the UMW. That pleased me. Of the twenty five, nine participants have Native American heritage. It was held on a Saturday from 9:30 until 2:00.
We met for potlatch (like our potluck) where we shared with one another. I had a focus table with items to discuss - a cornucopia filled with the three sisters (corn, beans, squash—always planted together in Native American tradition), a basket of strawberries, a pitcher of water, and other items. I told about the companion planting and the Cherokee strawberry legend, etc. Others were wonderful in sharing. They were so receptive to the class it made it easy. I had the CD playing in the background during Potlatch and I told some about the music especially it providing a way to preserve the language. We watched the DVD provided with the study after I had given a review of parts of the textbook then discussed it. I used the Iroquois litany and several native prayers that I gleaned from different sources.
We had lunch that consisted of the three sisters in a succotash, turkey, blueberry corn muffins and pumpkin cranberry cake (all available to Natives!) After lunch two women told stories of Native women like those to be found in the back of the text. One story depicted a mother trying to get medical care for her child. It was told by a church member who had actually lived in the far reaches of Alaska and gave birth to two children there. She was quite familiar with the medical issues!!! The other related to the Indian schools where the kids were sent.
Then several women summarized articles from a 2008 issue of Response Magazine that focused on the Native Americans, the Methodist Church, and UMW involvement in Native American ministry. It all really worked out well. Our local church United Methodist Women’s Unit may pick up on one of the ways Response suggested to help Native Americans in addition to providing the school supplies we collected for Native Schools. Collecting and sending coats or the baby supplies to Nome is a real possibility.
I was quite pleased with the way the workshop turned out and have had a number of positive comments on it.
posted by TN Conference UMC @ 12:26 PM
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