TENNESSEE CONFERENCE REVIEW May 14 2010
Articles in the May 14th edition of THE REVIEW
1. At-Risk Grant Award Recipients Announced
2. Youth Service Fund Grants Awarded
3. Time for Rebirth of the Wesley Class Meetings
4. North Georgia Conference Delivers UMCOR Relief Supplies to storm ravaged Middle Tennessee
5. 61st Avenue Psalm
6. Congregations Urged to Make a Difference with God’s Money,
7. Murfreesboro District Holds Mustard Seed Church Workshop Day,
8. Small Church Creates Vibrant Evangelism Campaign
9. Robert Churchwell: The Jackie Robinson of Journalism World Premiere
10. Publishing giant promoted integration
11. Monterey United Methodist Church formally adopts Burks Middle School in Monterey, Tennessee
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At-Risk Grant Award Recipients Announced
(Nashville, Tennessee) On April 29, 2010 the At-Risk Grant Fund Committee of the Tennessee Conference of the United Methodist Church announced the recipients of 6 grants to help churches reach at-risk children and families in Tennessee.
Grants were awarded to Sixty-First Avenue United Methodist Church, Gallatin Shalom Zone, Gallatin, TN; A.C.T.I.O.N. Program City Road Chapel United Methodist Church, Madison, TN; East End United Methodist Church, Lawrenceburg, TN; First United Methodist Church, Manchester, TN; and Mountain T.O.P, Altamont, TN.
Given the current economic conditions, grant recipients were ecstatic about receiving funds to fuel their ministry programs. Cara Copple from First United Methodist Church, Manchester, TN. exclaimed, “The shock has not worn off yet! I am super excited to have this money to help the children in my community. This money means more fun in the summer for kids that would be stuck in their house all day until their parents got home, and food to go around. Thanks!”
Upon receiving the award, Conan Hassan from A.C.T.I.O.N. Program at City Road Chapel United Methodist Church, Madison, TN said, “I believe in the sun even if it's not shinning. I believe in love even when I am alone. I believe in God even when He is silent. We thank the people of the Tennessee Conference of The United Methodist Church for helping with our Program for at-risk children. This money helps us to bring Jesus to our "opportunity kids", the ones that others refer to as hopeless. We were hopeless and God sent his most precious gift- Jesus Christ. Let us be the Jesus to our broken opportunity kids. Our kids need the same Father that was revealed to us. Thanks for this opportunity. We appreciate the help”!
The At-Risk Grant Fund was established in 2009 through donations by children, youth, and adults from over 400 churches during the United Methodist Church’s Tennessee Annual Conference gathering.
The At-Risk Grant Fund Committee has additional funds to award. If your ministry would like to apply for funding, please contact Patty Smith at psmith@tnumc.org for specific information.
Youth Service Fund Grants Awarded
Elizabeth Roten, Rachael Junard, and Jessica Hall discuss one of the YSF grant requests.
On Saturday May 1, 2010, the Conference Council on Youth Ministries (CCYM) reviewed Youth Service Fund grant requests of $21,000 from ten youth groups from across the Conference. After several hours of review, the CCYM awarded $6,000 to support these mission projects.
YSF is unique to the United Methodist Church. Money from this fund is raised by youth, and given to youth to be used to help other youth. Each year, 70% of the money raised stays in our conference. All of that money is distributed to youth groups who request help with their mission projects for the year. The other 30% of the fund is given to the United Methodist Division on Ministries with Young People which gives grants internationally to help youth.
CCYM members Hannah Lamon and Todd Cox listen to the YSF grant request being considered.
Youth Service Fund is much more than just a drive for funds. It is one way United Methodist youth respond to God’s command that we be good stewards of all with which God has gifted us. In addition to good stewardship, it is a way to engage in the mission of the Church, being in ministry to a broken world as we strive to live as disciples of Jesus Christ who are working to transform the world around us.
2010 Youth Service Fund award recipients include:
Clarksville District
• Sango United Methodist Youth will serve in Copperhill, TN with Team Effort
• Spring Valley Charge is partnering with Great Spirit United Methodist Church, a Choctaw Mission church from Mississippi to serve in Houston County, TN
• Hilldale United Methodist Youth will be serving in the Clarksville community to experience local mission opportunities.
Columbia District
• Hillsboro United Methodist Youth from Lieper’s Fork will be traveling to the Bahamas Methodist Habitat in Eleuthra, Bahamas.
Cookeville District
• Gainesboro First Youth will be serving during two of the Hands and Feet weekends sponsored by the Young People’s Ministry.
Murfreesboro District
• Wesley Heights United Methodist Youth and Adults will be traveling to Baldwin, Louisiana to serve with Chez Hope.
Nashville District
• Synergy Youth in Nashville will be working in mission with S.L.A.M. serving people in Nashville.
Pulaski District
• Lawrenceburg First United Methodist Church will be serving in Nashville this summer.
• Loretto United Methodist Church will be serving in Memphis.
• A large intergenerational group from the Pulaski District including 22 youth from seven different churches will be serving in Costa Rica this summer.
Time for Rebirth of the Wesley Class Meetings
By Tim Moss*
Bishop Richard Dick Wills addresses the seminar on Wesley Class Meetings
A significant part of early Methodism and a major reason for its growth was the Wesley Class Meeting. Class meetings were highly structured small group organizations that saw to the education and spiritual well-being of its members. The class meeting was the device for attracting and developing new members for the church and getting them into a lifelong commitment to Jesus Christ. It even saw to the collection of tithes. Part of the genius of class meetings was an inherent ability to continually reinvent and rejuvenate itself. Sadly, class meetings largely disappeared from Methodism with the attendant growth in Sunday Schools, nearly one hundred years ago. Now, in 2010, it may well be the time for a rebirth of the Wesley Class Meeting.
Small group discussion illustrated the value of Class Meetings
On Saturday, March 27 Bishop Dick Wills led a half-day seminar on Wesley Class Meetings at Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Franklin. More than 130 laypersons and clergy from all over the Tennessee Conference attended the event. Bishop Wills gave us an overview of Class Meetings and how they work and how the movement perpetuates itself through the formation of new meetings. People who will be class leaders recruit the members of the classes. Meetings are generally held in private homes once per week. In the meetings, members share with each other and do a Bible study together. The class must be involved in mission of some sort, acting as a group, in that mission, at least every six months. Individual members are accountable to the class. When a class grows to more than a dozen, a member who has been pre-designated, leaves and starts a new class.
Some of the very interesting factors in Bishop Will’s presentation were actual stories he shared with us of the experiences he had with class meetings in his Fort Lauderdale, Florida congregation. He talked about the many kinds of groups that could make up classes -- whatever they are, they tend toward a kind of homogeneity. Remember, the leader recruits the class. He said that the movement in his congregation had generated over one hundred classes and was, he believed, the most Wesleyan United Methodist Church in America.
Those churches represented at the March 27 meeting will be followed up on to see what action has taken place. Another seminar will happen soon so more churches can learn. Bishop Wills will be willing to help where needed and he promises that he will visit any congregation which develops fifteen classes and help it move to the next level of management.
*Tim Moss is the Tennessee Annual Conference Lay Leader
North Georgia Conference Delivers UMCOR Relief Supplies to storm ravaged Middle Tennessee
Tennessee Conference Emergency Response Coordinator Jason Brock helps unload UMCOR cleaning kits and other relief supplies sent to Tennessee by the North Georgia Conference in the wake of heavy flooding in and around Nashville. “This is a tremendous example of the value of Methodist Connectional ministry,” noted one onlooker.
61st Avenue Psalm
Shared by Nancy Neelley
Psalms are cathartic – helping humanity express its deepest emotion – whether that be joy, desperation, deep sorrow or victory. Last fall, a group at 61st Avenue United Methodist Church studied Psalm 124 and used it as a model to write our own communal psalm. In the process, voices of faithfulness participated – from longtime members to visitors; from those who have economic stability to those living on the streets. The elation of creating something beautiful together was felt that night, and experienced again the next week when many voices came together in worship to proclaim the Sixty-First Avenue Psalm:
We could never have made it without God
Listen up! Are you with me?
We could never have made it without God
When all our enemies rose against us to beat us with more than just a rod,
we would have been lost, lonely, downcast, or even killed.
We felt like a child who had lost his parent,
filled with bitterness and hatred.
After walking through the darkness for so long,
we have finally seen the light; we found that we were not alone.
God was on our side all the time.
Our God is an awesome God.
If God be for us, who can stand against us?
Congregations Urged to Make a Difference with God’s Money
By the Rev. Jeremy Squires
Recently a Brentwood church distributed $25,000 in cash to its members.
Though plenty of people sitting in its pews have felt the recession’s pinch, it wasn’t a handout. Instead, a private donor gave the money to see how far it could grow and touch the lives of people outside the church’s walls.
All attending Brentwood United Methodist Church or the church’s Trinity Church in Spring Hill that weekend had the opportunity to select a sealed envelope from baskets passed near the conclusion of the church’s five services. Inside each was a $5, $10 or $20 bill.
Senior pastor Clift Wright, who has spent the past several weeks preaching the message “Live a Better Story,” charged those who opted to take an envelope to follow the example of Jesus and the Feeding of the 5,000 as told in all four Gospels. It is the Biblical story of Jesus’ feeding over 5,000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fishes.
Now it is Pleasant View’s turn. Rev. Jeremy Squires, former associate pastor at Brentwood United Methodist and now currently pastor at Pleasant View United Methodist was given a once in a lifetime opportunity.
After learning about the exciting life changing event at Brentwood, Squires had wanted to figure out how he could do this in his church with limited resources. The perfect opportunity would come as United Methodist Churches gathered around the world to celebrate Change the World Weekend on April 25th. “I wanted to find a way that our congregation could change the world by Living a Better Story” said Squires.
Then a phone call later he found the answer. Rev. Mack Strange, associate pastor at Brentwood, offered Pleasant View a startling surprise. Mack called me and said “we have another anonymous donor and we would like to give your church the opportunity to Live a Better Story” Squires said. “I was floored at this powerful opportunity that came out of the blue.”
“We’re often criticized in the church for always asking for money,” Squires said. That Sunday I was able to tell my congregation “Today we’re going to give you money.”
After explaining the concept behind the giveaway, Squires said, “Remember, this is God’s money. Now take that money and multiply it. There is only one catch. Whatever money you multiply, you can’t bring it back to the church. It must go to a mission, ministry or person outside of this church."
Which isn’t to say the church doesn’t want to know what happens to it.
In addition to cash, each envelope included a brochure outlining the project, a Bible study and a call to prayer. It also included a pledge to tell the church on or by May 23 how much money was in the envelope, how it was multiplied, where it was invested and observations and feelings along the way.
The concept is not new. In 2006, TV host Oprah Winfrey gave audience members $1000 debit cards with the challenge that they must be given away as part of the ever-growing “pay it forward” movement. By paying something forward, people do something for someone else with no expectation of getting something back.
“The basic idea has been done all over the United States,” explained the Rev. Mack Strange, a member of the BUMC staff and pastor at Trinity Church. “It’s really to help engage people and to truly help them ‘live a better story.’“Of course, it’s also a great sign of trust. But we believe our people can make an incredible difference with it.”
Both Wright’s and Squires’ sermon series which influenced the project was largely based on the book, A Million Miles and a Thousand Years (2009, Thomas Nelson, $19.99). In it, author Donald Miller, who also penned the best-selling memoir Blue Like Jazz, shares how he started editing his own life story into a better one after working with two screenwriters on a film version of Jazz.
“This experience is not about the money. It is instead about helping people write and live a better life story. To make a difference and change the world in some way” Squires said, who added he also can’t wait “to see what creative ideas each member of the congregation hears from God to enable them to not only live a better story themselves but also to help someone else live a better story as well.”
Murfreesboro District Holds Mustard Seed Church Workshop Day
Tom Laney spoke about the importance of the small membership church.
On Saturday, April 24th, representatives of 19 of the Mustard Seed Churches in the Murfreesboro District gathered for a District workshop day at Wesley Heights UMC. Smaller congregations have special gifts as well as unique challenges, and exploring both the gifts and the challenges made for some lively dialogue and good fellowship. Presentations focused on radical hospitality, claiming and telling your story, visioning and casting a vision, and three testimonies of creative and exciting ministries that have begun in the District in the past year.
Representives from "All God's Children" an ecumenical feeding ministry in Manchester which began in a small membership church
Nearly 60 people participated with plans for another gathering in the fall. With the bulk of our churches throughout the Conference (and the denomination) being Mustard Seed Churches, it’s exciting to see this kind of interest, energy and conversation. We all know the potential and value of mustard seeds!
Tammy Burrow demonstrating how vision in any church pulls all resources in the same direction.
Are we are truly a friendly church,” asked presenter Danny Freeman, “or do we appear to visitors as though we are taped off with caution and anyone visiting is an outsider?”
Danny Freeman concluded his presentation by issuing a challenge of radical hospitality as outlined in Bishop Schnase’s book, Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations. Are we really as friendly as we think?
Small Church Creates Vibrant Evangelism Campaign
Matthews Memorial United Methodist Church in the Cumberland District had an average attendance of 48 persons at its principle worship service in 2008. It is not the smallest membership church in the district, but under the leadership of minister Hyeon Sik Hong and some dedicated laypersons the congregation is moving away from status quo and beginning a substantial evangelism emphasis in 2010.
The campaign, called an “adventure” by church member Cathy Carter started by offering an evangelism meeting after church on two different occasions. The meetings were the same so each member was urged to attend one session. The sessions included light lunch and were designed to start members thinking about evangelism and the future of Matthew Memorial church. The decline in Methodist membership was discussed and some sociometric information about non-churched people was presented. There was agreement about how hard it was to invite persons to church, and in a discussion exercise participants talked about evangelism efforts they had seen work and not work—and the fears that stopped them as individuals from inviting people to church.
Out of the meetings an invitation plan was created – which focused on inviting 1000 people to Matthews Memorial within a ten month period. In order to give the congregation some tools to use for the campaign, an evangelism campaign packet was created for 60 congregants. The packets were passed out on March 21st, the day the congregation was informed about the campaign. The first day participants turned in the numbers of people invited was April 4, Easter Sunday.
There was a minimal cost for the packets; it was developed on a home computer. The number of people invited is tracked, whether they come to the church or not. The campaign is only three weeks old and the invitation numbers are on target. There were several family visitors for Easter but the congregation hasn't seen the fruits of their labors yet. They continue to be faithful and work toward the 1000. The congregation knows that this is not about numbers, it is about bringing people to God’s house but they feel that they work best with a goal.
Together with the “ask people to church” campaign the congregation is also seeking ways to reach out into the community. On May 8th Matthews Memorial was scheduled to have a free car wash but this was postponed due to major flooding in the midstate with subsequent retrictions on the use of fresh water. When the event is held donations will not be accepted. This will be an experiment for the congregations, an attempt to reach out to persons in the immediate area. As part of the car wash anyone having their car washed would be given a free bottle of water with the church information card taped to it.
If you could like further information about the campaign and the training packet created by Matthews Memorial contact Cathy Carter, 615-865-2871.
Robert Churchwell: The Jackie Robinson of Journalism World Premiere
Posters advertise the Robert Churchwell, Sr. film
Highlight of the Tennessee Film Festival’s final night was the screening of the Robert Churchwell story. Churchwell, who served in World War II in both the European and Pacific theatres, and was part of the epic Battle of the Bulge, was the first African-American hired to work as a journalist for a major southern daily newspaper, the Nashville Banner. He was also a devoted family man who worked hard to insure that the difficulties he faced on the job because of his race did not affect his relationship with his wife and children. Finally, Churchwell was also a committed Christian with a deep faith and was a long-time member of Seay Hubbard United Methodist Church in Nashville.
Television Channel 5 anchor/reporter Vicki Yates speaks with Robert Churchwell, Jr., at a pre-screening reception. Robert Churchwell is the oldest son of Robert and Mary Churchwell
An unexpected part of the world premiere of Robert Churchwell: The Jackie Robinson of Journalism was a video of the Percy Priest Elementary School dramatization of Churchwell’s life and contribution to race relations in the United States. This dramatization and the impact it had on the participants added weight to the concept that Robert Churchwell’s story needed to be told nationally through film and video—media that could be used in theatres, church sanctuaries, social clubs, school history classes.
Gloria Respress Churchwell, film maker and daughter-in-law of Robert Churchwell, Sr., provided an introduction to the film along with her husband Dr. Kevin Churchwell.
At the conclusion of the evening, family members gathered at the front of the theatre for a panel discussion of Robert Churchwell Sr.’s life.
The Rev. Dr. Kennard Murray was pastor to Robert and May Churchwell at Seay Hubbard United Methodist Church and delivered Churchwell's eulogy on February 5, 2009. Among the statements made during the eulogy were the following:
Pamela and Kennard Murray. The Rev. Dr. Murray is pastor at Seay Hubbard UMC.
“Brother Churchwell was a Christian man, a husband of 57 years to his bride Sister Mary. He was the father of 5 outstanding children. As his oldest son Robert Churchwell, Jr. stated about his father in Monday’s Tennessean, ‘He will be remembered not only as a trailblazer but a family man. There was nothing that he wouldn’t do for his family.’”
“The tributes in his honor have clearly stated that Robert Churchwell, Sr. will be remembered for another distinction. He was one of a generation who God chose to participate in tearing down the walls of discrimination and victoriously confronting blatant or at times subtle, but still a very real demonic ideology that one person’s race made them inferior to another's race. It is interesting where he would be sent to do his part; to be what some call a trailblazer: the former Nashville Banner in 1950.”
Mary Churchwell, widow of Robert Churchwell, with Tommy Cresswell who did the voice over for the film.
“When I canvassed family pictures and articles, I noticed one titled Southern journalism’s Jackie Robinson. This was an article about Mr. Churchwell being the first black person hired as a general assignment reporter for a white-owned daily newspaper in the South. Unfortunately, alone with the honor of being the first black reporter during that time in the South, there was also contempt by many. It has been well documented that not all 31 years he was employed at the former Nashville Banner were pleasant, friendly, or professional. He endured hardships, frustrations, disrespect, and some difficult times from some of his white co-workers.
Family members shared stories and answered questions at the conclusion of the film. From left to the right: Dr. Keith Churchwell, Dr. Andre Churchwell, and Robert Churchwell, Jr.
It was also documented in the book titled The Children there were some in the black community who did not understand why he would work for the Nashville Banner of that time. But Brother Churchwell was determined that negative attitudes, no office space at the building for several years, having to work out of his home, not being included in staff meetings, and being limited to reporting on certain events in the black community would not stop him from fulfilling his chosen career as a reporter for a major newspaper. One need only to look at his children’s accomplishments to see he passed down that determination.” (Today three of Churchwell’s sons work in prominent positions at Vanderbilt University Medical Center where Churchwell once had to view the football games from behind the fence.)
Publishing giant promoted integration
A UMNS Commentary by Rich Peck*
John Procter, 91, former president and publisher of the United Methodist Publishing House, died April 15 in Nashville.
After noting that two daughters, three grandchildren and one great-grandson survive him, the obituary noted that the former World War II Army Air Force captain “was employed by the United Methodist Publishing House for 43 years and served as president and publisher for 13 years.”
Just two lines?
How can anyone summarize the contributions of this giant of a man in a two-line sentence?
His rags-to-riches story reads like a novel.
Following his 1938 graduation from Pleasant Hill Academy near Crossville, Tenn., John packed his cardboard suitcase and hitched a ride to Nashville with the graduation speaker. With $15 in his pocket, the son of a sharecropper got a job as an elevator operator at a YMCA for $12 a week.
In 1940, he began his long career with the Methodist Publishing House as an accounting clerk. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, he entered the Army Air Force, advanced to the rank of captain, navigated B-24 bombing missions over Italy and once flew to the North Pole.
In 1945, he returned to the publishing house as an accountant, and worked there until he returned to service in the Air Force during the Korean War.
Following his stint in Korea, he served as an accounting supervisor for the Nashville publishing house. He was appointed vice president in charge of publishing in 1964. He was elected president and publisher in 1970 and served until his retirement in 1982.
Integration
When he was named president, the publishing house was a segregated facility. Lovick Pierce, the former chief executive, had resisted efforts to integrate the editorial and executive offices. But when Procter assumed the office, he declared, “The church wants us to integrate and that’s what we are going to do.”
At that time, all vice presidents had to be elected by the board, so Procter worked with key board members to ensure the election of the Rev. W. T. Handy as the first black vice president. Handy, a popular official and pastor, was elected bishop in 1980. During his 1982 retirement dinner, Handy noted that the publishing house “now has been cited by the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race to be a model to the rest of the church.”
Roger Burgess, 82, former top staff executive of United Methodist Communications and former vice president of public relations of the publishing house, said, “Of all the bosses I’ve had in my 40-year career through the church, John Procter was the best; he was the fairest and the most successful".
Burgess, who worked at the publishing house from 1974 to 1984, said he only saw Procter get angry once in all the time he worked with him.
“During a board meeting, a businessman who was new to the agency challenged one of his decisions. 'Sometimes you have to put a burr under the saddle of a horse to get him going,' said the man. 'That might work with a mule,' responded Procter. 'It won’t work with a thoroughbred.'”
Personal memories
I was hired by Procter in 1974 as an editor with “Today” magazine, the successor to “Together” magazine. Unfortunately, circulation fell to 160,000 subscribers. Prior to the computer age, that figure was not sufficient to support a labor-intensive publication, so Procter decided to discontinue the magazine. I moved to the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference to serve as director of communications for 18 months and was later invited back to the publishing house as the editor of two new publications, “Circuit Rider,” a magazine for clergy, and “Newscope,” a weekly newsletter. Both publications, introduced by Procter, are still published.
During that time, Procter gave absolute freedom to the editorial process, but was always available for advice when needed.
He was unafraid of controversy. I remember when he gave the green light to publish a book on Sun Myung Moon and the Unification Church. He allowed me to carry positive and critical reviews of the book. How many publishers allow negative reviews of their own products?
Lasting legacy
During his presidency, he enabled the publishing agency to open additional Cokesbury stores, create Curric-U-Shops, and shift from linotype or hot-metal composition to a computerized typesetting system.
The publisher worked long hours during the week, but he proclaimed, “Saturdays are for me and Sundays are for families.” He was an avid golfer and staff retreats were frequently held near Florida golf courses.
John and his family attended Calvary United Methodist Church every Sunday, where he taught a Sunday school class. Legend has it, he also enjoyed watching the television exploits of Woody Woodpecker, the Road Runner and the battered Coyote. He also found time to serve` on boards of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club, the Association of American Publishers, the Vanderbilt Medical Center and Third National Bank.
Neil Alexander, current president and publisher, arrived at the publishing house long after Procter retired, but he said, “Then and now, Mr. Procter’s legend lives on as a strong, compassionate, pragmatic and effective leader. The missional and financial foundations he established have helped UMPH remain a viable, self-funding ministry for nearly three decades after his retirement.
“We are in his debt.”
*Peck was an employee of the United Methodist Publishing House for 25 years prior to his 2000 retirement.
Monterey United Methodist Church formally adopts Burks Middle School in Monterey, Tennessee
Participants in the adoption ceremony are: Standing L to R: Denette Kolbe, Burks Middle School Principal, Judge John Maddux, Pastor James Johnson, Jr, Monterey United Methodist Church, Ellene Duncan, Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce and Dr. Kathleen Airhart, Putnam County Schools Director.
Seated L to R Row 1: Chris Pierce, Monterey High School Vice-principal, Kevin Maynard, Burks Middle School Vice-principal, Jerry Maynard, School Board Member, David McCormick, School Board Member, Keith Phillips of Goff Funeral Home and Kim Blaylock, Putnam County Executive.
Row 2: L to R: Judy Powell, Hazel Walker, Linda Jensen, Nick Axen, Joan Axen and Wanda Thurmond.
Row 3 L to R: Franny Ray, Glenda Chaffin, Bernie Gilmore Hicks, Ron Williamson, Victoria Williamson, Frances Eldridge and Mayor Richard Godsey of Monterey.
Row 4 L to R: Ken Welker, Marcy Milligan, Pauline Seese, Debbie Stott, John Stott, Patsy King and Darlene Greene.
On May 26, 2010 The Monterey United Methodist Church became an adopter of Burks Middle School, Monterey, Tennessee. Monterey United Methodist Church joined MMA Creative, Goff Funeral Home, Bishops Drugs, Inc, Puleo’s Grill, First Volunteer Bank, Mr. & Mrs. Sam Tayes and RMR Consulting . Two of the businesses are from Cookeville, Tennessee, and the balance are from Monterey. In adopting Burks Middle School the members of Monterey United Methodist Church indicated strong willingness to serve as volunteers as well as mentoring in the classrooms of our middle school.
After the opening welcome from Principal Denette Kolbe, she then introduced all the guests. After each guest spoke, the adoption ceremony was then performed by Judge John Maddux of the local court system in our district. Pastor James Johnson, Jr. was the representative for the Monterey United Methodist Church.
Refreshments were served to all guests. Dale Welch who owns Monterey’s newspaper “hilltop express.net” then made a picture of all the Guest Speakers and the Monterey United Methodist Church Representatives.
1. At-Risk Grant Award Recipients Announced
2. Youth Service Fund Grants Awarded
3. Time for Rebirth of the Wesley Class Meetings
4. North Georgia Conference Delivers UMCOR Relief Supplies to storm ravaged Middle Tennessee
5. 61st Avenue Psalm
6. Congregations Urged to Make a Difference with God’s Money,
7. Murfreesboro District Holds Mustard Seed Church Workshop Day,
8. Small Church Creates Vibrant Evangelism Campaign
9. Robert Churchwell: The Jackie Robinson of Journalism World Premiere
10. Publishing giant promoted integration
11. Monterey United Methodist Church formally adopts Burks Middle School in Monterey, Tennessee
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At-Risk Grant Award Recipients Announced
(Nashville, Tennessee) On April 29, 2010 the At-Risk Grant Fund Committee of the Tennessee Conference of the United Methodist Church announced the recipients of 6 grants to help churches reach at-risk children and families in Tennessee.
Grants were awarded to Sixty-First Avenue United Methodist Church, Gallatin Shalom Zone, Gallatin, TN; A.C.T.I.O.N. Program City Road Chapel United Methodist Church, Madison, TN; East End United Methodist Church, Lawrenceburg, TN; First United Methodist Church, Manchester, TN; and Mountain T.O.P, Altamont, TN.
Given the current economic conditions, grant recipients were ecstatic about receiving funds to fuel their ministry programs. Cara Copple from First United Methodist Church, Manchester, TN. exclaimed, “The shock has not worn off yet! I am super excited to have this money to help the children in my community. This money means more fun in the summer for kids that would be stuck in their house all day until their parents got home, and food to go around. Thanks!”
Upon receiving the award, Conan Hassan from A.C.T.I.O.N. Program at City Road Chapel United Methodist Church, Madison, TN said, “I believe in the sun even if it's not shinning. I believe in love even when I am alone. I believe in God even when He is silent. We thank the people of the Tennessee Conference of The United Methodist Church for helping with our Program for at-risk children. This money helps us to bring Jesus to our "opportunity kids", the ones that others refer to as hopeless. We were hopeless and God sent his most precious gift- Jesus Christ. Let us be the Jesus to our broken opportunity kids. Our kids need the same Father that was revealed to us. Thanks for this opportunity. We appreciate the help”!
The At-Risk Grant Fund was established in 2009 through donations by children, youth, and adults from over 400 churches during the United Methodist Church’s Tennessee Annual Conference gathering.
The At-Risk Grant Fund Committee has additional funds to award. If your ministry would like to apply for funding, please contact Patty Smith at psmith@tnumc.org for specific information.
Youth Service Fund Grants Awarded
On Saturday May 1, 2010, the Conference Council on Youth Ministries (CCYM) reviewed Youth Service Fund grant requests of $21,000 from ten youth groups from across the Conference. After several hours of review, the CCYM awarded $6,000 to support these mission projects.
YSF is unique to the United Methodist Church. Money from this fund is raised by youth, and given to youth to be used to help other youth. Each year, 70% of the money raised stays in our conference. All of that money is distributed to youth groups who request help with their mission projects for the year. The other 30% of the fund is given to the United Methodist Division on Ministries with Young People which gives grants internationally to help youth.
Youth Service Fund is much more than just a drive for funds. It is one way United Methodist youth respond to God’s command that we be good stewards of all with which God has gifted us. In addition to good stewardship, it is a way to engage in the mission of the Church, being in ministry to a broken world as we strive to live as disciples of Jesus Christ who are working to transform the world around us.
2010 Youth Service Fund award recipients include:
Clarksville District
• Sango United Methodist Youth will serve in Copperhill, TN with Team Effort
• Spring Valley Charge is partnering with Great Spirit United Methodist Church, a Choctaw Mission church from Mississippi to serve in Houston County, TN
• Hilldale United Methodist Youth will be serving in the Clarksville community to experience local mission opportunities.
Columbia District
• Hillsboro United Methodist Youth from Lieper’s Fork will be traveling to the Bahamas Methodist Habitat in Eleuthra, Bahamas.
Cookeville District
• Gainesboro First Youth will be serving during two of the Hands and Feet weekends sponsored by the Young People’s Ministry.
Murfreesboro District
• Wesley Heights United Methodist Youth and Adults will be traveling to Baldwin, Louisiana to serve with Chez Hope.
Nashville District
• Synergy Youth in Nashville will be working in mission with S.L.A.M. serving people in Nashville.
Pulaski District
• Lawrenceburg First United Methodist Church will be serving in Nashville this summer.
• Loretto United Methodist Church will be serving in Memphis.
• A large intergenerational group from the Pulaski District including 22 youth from seven different churches will be serving in Costa Rica this summer.
Time for Rebirth of the Wesley Class Meetings
By Tim Moss*
A significant part of early Methodism and a major reason for its growth was the Wesley Class Meeting. Class meetings were highly structured small group organizations that saw to the education and spiritual well-being of its members. The class meeting was the device for attracting and developing new members for the church and getting them into a lifelong commitment to Jesus Christ. It even saw to the collection of tithes. Part of the genius of class meetings was an inherent ability to continually reinvent and rejuvenate itself. Sadly, class meetings largely disappeared from Methodism with the attendant growth in Sunday Schools, nearly one hundred years ago. Now, in 2010, it may well be the time for a rebirth of the Wesley Class Meeting.
Small group discussion illustrated the value of Class Meetings
On Saturday, March 27 Bishop Dick Wills led a half-day seminar on Wesley Class Meetings at Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Franklin. More than 130 laypersons and clergy from all over the Tennessee Conference attended the event. Bishop Wills gave us an overview of Class Meetings and how they work and how the movement perpetuates itself through the formation of new meetings. People who will be class leaders recruit the members of the classes. Meetings are generally held in private homes once per week. In the meetings, members share with each other and do a Bible study together. The class must be involved in mission of some sort, acting as a group, in that mission, at least every six months. Individual members are accountable to the class. When a class grows to more than a dozen, a member who has been pre-designated, leaves and starts a new class.
Some of the very interesting factors in Bishop Will’s presentation were actual stories he shared with us of the experiences he had with class meetings in his Fort Lauderdale, Florida congregation. He talked about the many kinds of groups that could make up classes -- whatever they are, they tend toward a kind of homogeneity. Remember, the leader recruits the class. He said that the movement in his congregation had generated over one hundred classes and was, he believed, the most Wesleyan United Methodist Church in America.
Those churches represented at the March 27 meeting will be followed up on to see what action has taken place. Another seminar will happen soon so more churches can learn. Bishop Wills will be willing to help where needed and he promises that he will visit any congregation which develops fifteen classes and help it move to the next level of management.
*Tim Moss is the Tennessee Annual Conference Lay Leader
North Georgia Conference Delivers UMCOR Relief Supplies to storm ravaged Middle Tennessee
61st Avenue Psalm
Shared by Nancy Neelley
Psalms are cathartic – helping humanity express its deepest emotion – whether that be joy, desperation, deep sorrow or victory. Last fall, a group at 61st Avenue United Methodist Church studied Psalm 124 and used it as a model to write our own communal psalm. In the process, voices of faithfulness participated – from longtime members to visitors; from those who have economic stability to those living on the streets. The elation of creating something beautiful together was felt that night, and experienced again the next week when many voices came together in worship to proclaim the Sixty-First Avenue Psalm:
We could never have made it without God
Listen up! Are you with me?
We could never have made it without God
When all our enemies rose against us to beat us with more than just a rod,
we would have been lost, lonely, downcast, or even killed.
We felt like a child who had lost his parent,
filled with bitterness and hatred.
After walking through the darkness for so long,
we have finally seen the light; we found that we were not alone.
God was on our side all the time.
Our God is an awesome God.
If God be for us, who can stand against us?
Congregations Urged to Make a Difference with God’s Money
By the Rev. Jeremy Squires
Recently a Brentwood church distributed $25,000 in cash to its members.
All attending Brentwood United Methodist Church or the church’s Trinity Church in Spring Hill that weekend had the opportunity to select a sealed envelope from baskets passed near the conclusion of the church’s five services. Inside each was a $5, $10 or $20 bill.
Senior pastor Clift Wright, who has spent the past several weeks preaching the message “Live a Better Story,” charged those who opted to take an envelope to follow the example of Jesus and the Feeding of the 5,000 as told in all four Gospels. It is the Biblical story of Jesus’ feeding over 5,000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fishes.
Now it is Pleasant View’s turn. Rev. Jeremy Squires, former associate pastor at Brentwood United Methodist and now currently pastor at Pleasant View United Methodist was given a once in a lifetime opportunity.
After learning about the exciting life changing event at Brentwood, Squires had wanted to figure out how he could do this in his church with limited resources. The perfect opportunity would come as United Methodist Churches gathered around the world to celebrate Change the World Weekend on April 25th. “I wanted to find a way that our congregation could change the world by Living a Better Story” said Squires.
Then a phone call later he found the answer. Rev. Mack Strange, associate pastor at Brentwood, offered Pleasant View a startling surprise. Mack called me and said “we have another anonymous donor and we would like to give your church the opportunity to Live a Better Story” Squires said. “I was floored at this powerful opportunity that came out of the blue.”
“We’re often criticized in the church for always asking for money,” Squires said. That Sunday I was able to tell my congregation “Today we’re going to give you money.”
After explaining the concept behind the giveaway, Squires said, “Remember, this is God’s money. Now take that money and multiply it. There is only one catch. Whatever money you multiply, you can’t bring it back to the church. It must go to a mission, ministry or person outside of this church."
Which isn’t to say the church doesn’t want to know what happens to it.
In addition to cash, each envelope included a brochure outlining the project, a Bible study and a call to prayer. It also included a pledge to tell the church on or by May 23 how much money was in the envelope, how it was multiplied, where it was invested and observations and feelings along the way.
The concept is not new. In 2006, TV host Oprah Winfrey gave audience members $1000 debit cards with the challenge that they must be given away as part of the ever-growing “pay it forward” movement. By paying something forward, people do something for someone else with no expectation of getting something back.
“The basic idea has been done all over the United States,” explained the Rev. Mack Strange, a member of the BUMC staff and pastor at Trinity Church. “It’s really to help engage people and to truly help them ‘live a better story.’“Of course, it’s also a great sign of trust. But we believe our people can make an incredible difference with it.”
Both Wright’s and Squires’ sermon series which influenced the project was largely based on the book, A Million Miles and a Thousand Years (2009, Thomas Nelson, $19.99). In it, author Donald Miller, who also penned the best-selling memoir Blue Like Jazz, shares how he started editing his own life story into a better one after working with two screenwriters on a film version of Jazz.
“This experience is not about the money. It is instead about helping people write and live a better life story. To make a difference and change the world in some way” Squires said, who added he also can’t wait “to see what creative ideas each member of the congregation hears from God to enable them to not only live a better story themselves but also to help someone else live a better story as well.”
Murfreesboro District Holds Mustard Seed Church Workshop Day
On Saturday, April 24th, representatives of 19 of the Mustard Seed Churches in the Murfreesboro District gathered for a District workshop day at Wesley Heights UMC. Smaller congregations have special gifts as well as unique challenges, and exploring both the gifts and the challenges made for some lively dialogue and good fellowship. Presentations focused on radical hospitality, claiming and telling your story, visioning and casting a vision, and three testimonies of creative and exciting ministries that have begun in the District in the past year.
Nearly 60 people participated with plans for another gathering in the fall. With the bulk of our churches throughout the Conference (and the denomination) being Mustard Seed Churches, it’s exciting to see this kind of interest, energy and conversation. We all know the potential and value of mustard seeds!
Small Church Creates Vibrant Evangelism Campaign
Matthews Memorial United Methodist Church in the Cumberland District had an average attendance of 48 persons at its principle worship service in 2008. It is not the smallest membership church in the district, but under the leadership of minister Hyeon Sik Hong and some dedicated laypersons the congregation is moving away from status quo and beginning a substantial evangelism emphasis in 2010.
The campaign, called an “adventure” by church member Cathy Carter started by offering an evangelism meeting after church on two different occasions. The meetings were the same so each member was urged to attend one session. The sessions included light lunch and were designed to start members thinking about evangelism and the future of Matthew Memorial church. The decline in Methodist membership was discussed and some sociometric information about non-churched people was presented. There was agreement about how hard it was to invite persons to church, and in a discussion exercise participants talked about evangelism efforts they had seen work and not work—and the fears that stopped them as individuals from inviting people to church.
Out of the meetings an invitation plan was created – which focused on inviting 1000 people to Matthews Memorial within a ten month period. In order to give the congregation some tools to use for the campaign, an evangelism campaign packet was created for 60 congregants. The packets were passed out on March 21st, the day the congregation was informed about the campaign. The first day participants turned in the numbers of people invited was April 4, Easter Sunday.
There was a minimal cost for the packets; it was developed on a home computer. The number of people invited is tracked, whether they come to the church or not. The campaign is only three weeks old and the invitation numbers are on target. There were several family visitors for Easter but the congregation hasn't seen the fruits of their labors yet. They continue to be faithful and work toward the 1000. The congregation knows that this is not about numbers, it is about bringing people to God’s house but they feel that they work best with a goal.
Together with the “ask people to church” campaign the congregation is also seeking ways to reach out into the community. On May 8th Matthews Memorial was scheduled to have a free car wash but this was postponed due to major flooding in the midstate with subsequent retrictions on the use of fresh water. When the event is held donations will not be accepted. This will be an experiment for the congregations, an attempt to reach out to persons in the immediate area. As part of the car wash anyone having their car washed would be given a free bottle of water with the church information card taped to it.
If you could like further information about the campaign and the training packet created by Matthews Memorial contact Cathy Carter, 615-865-2871.
Robert Churchwell: The Jackie Robinson of Journalism World Premiere
Highlight of the Tennessee Film Festival’s final night was the screening of the Robert Churchwell story. Churchwell, who served in World War II in both the European and Pacific theatres, and was part of the epic Battle of the Bulge, was the first African-American hired to work as a journalist for a major southern daily newspaper, the Nashville Banner. He was also a devoted family man who worked hard to insure that the difficulties he faced on the job because of his race did not affect his relationship with his wife and children. Finally, Churchwell was also a committed Christian with a deep faith and was a long-time member of Seay Hubbard United Methodist Church in Nashville.
An unexpected part of the world premiere of Robert Churchwell: The Jackie Robinson of Journalism was a video of the Percy Priest Elementary School dramatization of Churchwell’s life and contribution to race relations in the United States. This dramatization and the impact it had on the participants added weight to the concept that Robert Churchwell’s story needed to be told nationally through film and video—media that could be used in theatres, church sanctuaries, social clubs, school history classes.
At the conclusion of the evening, family members gathered at the front of the theatre for a panel discussion of Robert Churchwell Sr.’s life.
The Rev. Dr. Kennard Murray was pastor to Robert and May Churchwell at Seay Hubbard United Methodist Church and delivered Churchwell's eulogy on February 5, 2009. Among the statements made during the eulogy were the following:
“Brother Churchwell was a Christian man, a husband of 57 years to his bride Sister Mary. He was the father of 5 outstanding children. As his oldest son Robert Churchwell, Jr. stated about his father in Monday’s Tennessean, ‘He will be remembered not only as a trailblazer but a family man. There was nothing that he wouldn’t do for his family.’”
“The tributes in his honor have clearly stated that Robert Churchwell, Sr. will be remembered for another distinction. He was one of a generation who God chose to participate in tearing down the walls of discrimination and victoriously confronting blatant or at times subtle, but still a very real demonic ideology that one person’s race made them inferior to another's race. It is interesting where he would be sent to do his part; to be what some call a trailblazer: the former Nashville Banner in 1950.”
“When I canvassed family pictures and articles, I noticed one titled Southern journalism’s Jackie Robinson. This was an article about Mr. Churchwell being the first black person hired as a general assignment reporter for a white-owned daily newspaper in the South. Unfortunately, alone with the honor of being the first black reporter during that time in the South, there was also contempt by many. It has been well documented that not all 31 years he was employed at the former Nashville Banner were pleasant, friendly, or professional. He endured hardships, frustrations, disrespect, and some difficult times from some of his white co-workers.
It was also documented in the book titled The Children there were some in the black community who did not understand why he would work for the Nashville Banner of that time. But Brother Churchwell was determined that negative attitudes, no office space at the building for several years, having to work out of his home, not being included in staff meetings, and being limited to reporting on certain events in the black community would not stop him from fulfilling his chosen career as a reporter for a major newspaper. One need only to look at his children’s accomplishments to see he passed down that determination.” (Today three of Churchwell’s sons work in prominent positions at Vanderbilt University Medical Center where Churchwell once had to view the football games from behind the fence.)
Publishing giant promoted integration
A UMNS Commentary by Rich Peck*
After noting that two daughters, three grandchildren and one great-grandson survive him, the obituary noted that the former World War II Army Air Force captain “was employed by the United Methodist Publishing House for 43 years and served as president and publisher for 13 years.”
Just two lines?
How can anyone summarize the contributions of this giant of a man in a two-line sentence?
His rags-to-riches story reads like a novel.
Following his 1938 graduation from Pleasant Hill Academy near Crossville, Tenn., John packed his cardboard suitcase and hitched a ride to Nashville with the graduation speaker. With $15 in his pocket, the son of a sharecropper got a job as an elevator operator at a YMCA for $12 a week.
In 1940, he began his long career with the Methodist Publishing House as an accounting clerk. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, he entered the Army Air Force, advanced to the rank of captain, navigated B-24 bombing missions over Italy and once flew to the North Pole.
In 1945, he returned to the publishing house as an accountant, and worked there until he returned to service in the Air Force during the Korean War.
Following his stint in Korea, he served as an accounting supervisor for the Nashville publishing house. He was appointed vice president in charge of publishing in 1964. He was elected president and publisher in 1970 and served until his retirement in 1982.
Integration
When he was named president, the publishing house was a segregated facility. Lovick Pierce, the former chief executive, had resisted efforts to integrate the editorial and executive offices. But when Procter assumed the office, he declared, “The church wants us to integrate and that’s what we are going to do.”
At that time, all vice presidents had to be elected by the board, so Procter worked with key board members to ensure the election of the Rev. W. T. Handy as the first black vice president. Handy, a popular official and pastor, was elected bishop in 1980. During his 1982 retirement dinner, Handy noted that the publishing house “now has been cited by the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race to be a model to the rest of the church.”
Roger Burgess, 82, former top staff executive of United Methodist Communications and former vice president of public relations of the publishing house, said, “Of all the bosses I’ve had in my 40-year career through the church, John Procter was the best; he was the fairest and the most successful".
Burgess, who worked at the publishing house from 1974 to 1984, said he only saw Procter get angry once in all the time he worked with him.
“During a board meeting, a businessman who was new to the agency challenged one of his decisions. 'Sometimes you have to put a burr under the saddle of a horse to get him going,' said the man. 'That might work with a mule,' responded Procter. 'It won’t work with a thoroughbred.'”
Personal memories
I was hired by Procter in 1974 as an editor with “Today” magazine, the successor to “Together” magazine. Unfortunately, circulation fell to 160,000 subscribers. Prior to the computer age, that figure was not sufficient to support a labor-intensive publication, so Procter decided to discontinue the magazine. I moved to the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference to serve as director of communications for 18 months and was later invited back to the publishing house as the editor of two new publications, “Circuit Rider,” a magazine for clergy, and “Newscope,” a weekly newsletter. Both publications, introduced by Procter, are still published.
During that time, Procter gave absolute freedom to the editorial process, but was always available for advice when needed.
He was unafraid of controversy. I remember when he gave the green light to publish a book on Sun Myung Moon and the Unification Church. He allowed me to carry positive and critical reviews of the book. How many publishers allow negative reviews of their own products?
Lasting legacy
During his presidency, he enabled the publishing agency to open additional Cokesbury stores, create Curric-U-Shops, and shift from linotype or hot-metal composition to a computerized typesetting system.
The publisher worked long hours during the week, but he proclaimed, “Saturdays are for me and Sundays are for families.” He was an avid golfer and staff retreats were frequently held near Florida golf courses.
John and his family attended Calvary United Methodist Church every Sunday, where he taught a Sunday school class. Legend has it, he also enjoyed watching the television exploits of Woody Woodpecker, the Road Runner and the battered Coyote. He also found time to serve` on boards of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club, the Association of American Publishers, the Vanderbilt Medical Center and Third National Bank.
Neil Alexander, current president and publisher, arrived at the publishing house long after Procter retired, but he said, “Then and now, Mr. Procter’s legend lives on as a strong, compassionate, pragmatic and effective leader. The missional and financial foundations he established have helped UMPH remain a viable, self-funding ministry for nearly three decades after his retirement.
“We are in his debt.”
*Peck was an employee of the United Methodist Publishing House for 25 years prior to his 2000 retirement.
Monterey United Methodist Church formally adopts Burks Middle School in Monterey, Tennessee
Seated L to R Row 1: Chris Pierce, Monterey High School Vice-principal, Kevin Maynard, Burks Middle School Vice-principal, Jerry Maynard, School Board Member, David McCormick, School Board Member, Keith Phillips of Goff Funeral Home and Kim Blaylock, Putnam County Executive.
Row 2: L to R: Judy Powell, Hazel Walker, Linda Jensen, Nick Axen, Joan Axen and Wanda Thurmond.
Row 3 L to R: Franny Ray, Glenda Chaffin, Bernie Gilmore Hicks, Ron Williamson, Victoria Williamson, Frances Eldridge and Mayor Richard Godsey of Monterey.
Row 4 L to R: Ken Welker, Marcy Milligan, Pauline Seese, Debbie Stott, John Stott, Patsy King and Darlene Greene.
On May 26, 2010 The Monterey United Methodist Church became an adopter of Burks Middle School, Monterey, Tennessee. Monterey United Methodist Church joined MMA Creative, Goff Funeral Home, Bishops Drugs, Inc, Puleo’s Grill, First Volunteer Bank, Mr. & Mrs. Sam Tayes and RMR Consulting . Two of the businesses are from Cookeville, Tennessee, and the balance are from Monterey. In adopting Burks Middle School the members of Monterey United Methodist Church indicated strong willingness to serve as volunteers as well as mentoring in the classrooms of our middle school.
After the opening welcome from Principal Denette Kolbe, she then introduced all the guests. After each guest spoke, the adoption ceremony was then performed by Judge John Maddux of the local court system in our district. Pastor James Johnson, Jr. was the representative for the Monterey United Methodist Church.
Refreshments were served to all guests. Dale Welch who owns Monterey’s newspaper “hilltop express.net” then made a picture of all the Guest Speakers and the Monterey United Methodist Church Representatives.
posted by TN Conference UMC @ 10:27 AM
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