Title: Report of The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Georgia

Transcription

1 General Board Business Item #GB Title: Report of The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Georgia Origin: Denise Bell, Regional Minister Information to the General Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Regional Staff: Denise Bell, Regional Minister Betty Brewer-Calvert, Director of Women s Ministries (Position financed by above-giving by women) Terressa Ewing, Director of Camping Programs (Position financed by the camping program) Katie Gibson, Co-Director of Youth Ministries (Position financed by annual Youth Assembly) Tommy Freeman, Camp Manager (Position financed by Camp usage) Pam Van Dusen, Administrative Assistant F Full Time F PT Contracted F PT Contracted F PT Contracted M PT F 2/3 Time Number of Congregations: 58 Members: Total 15,800, participating 10,780 and AWA 4,540 States included in the Region: Georgia Georgia is on the move to make a difference. That's right Georgia is on the move to make a difference. We want to make a difference for the next generation as it develops frameworks of faith, meaning, and life. This current generation and the next will wrestle with a bombardment of ideas that trivialize God, dismiss Jesus as Lord, and make invisible instead of personal issues of justice and care. The church must be able to deal with change and absorb the shock waves of these ideas to withstand them and remain an integral part of life and community. We must be ready to make a difference! One of the highlights of regional ministry is to serve with congregational leaders and congregations in praying and discerning about pastoral leadership. The Office of the Regional Minister supports and provides tools to Search Committees and congregations in successfully traveling the journey of discernment and decision in interim and pastoral selections. In 2016, the Georgia Region installed five pastors and ordained three persons into the sacred community of clergy. Rev. Sarah McClelland-Brown was ordained and installed as the pastor of Eastman Christian Church. Rev. Jarrod Longbons was installed as the pastor of

2 Peachtree Christian Church and transferred his ordination to Disciples of Christ. Rev. Justin Floyd now serves as co-pastor of FCC Athens. Rev. George Pinkard was ordained and continues his ministry as the pastor of God s City of Refuge. Rev. Cheryl Cloar was installed as the pastor of FCC Winder, and Rev. Amy BeVille was installed as the pastor at Community Christian Church. Rev. David Kenley is serving as the interim of Johns Creek Christian Church and Rev. Paul Pryor is the interim at Cherry Log Christian Church. Rev. Tom Edmondson has been called as the senior pastor of FCC Atlanta in Tucker. Rev. Jennifer Heinz, Senior Pastor, and Rev. Beth Parlier-Wendl, Associate Pastor of Brookhaven Christian Church, have transferred their ordinations to Disciples of Christ. And lastly, Rev. Johan Van der Merwe was called to serve Williamson Christian Church as their pastor. The Commission on Ministry supports the nurture and development of 165 clergy in Georgia. These are men and women who serve the church, educational institutions, hospitals, and other agencies with great faith and obedience to God. The Commission provides guidance for 21 persons who are currently candidates for Ordained or Commissioned ministry. The church entrusts the Commission on Ministry to provide opportunities for learning, education, and support to clergy and clergy candidates. This past year we sponsored two Boundary classes under the leadership of Revs. Kathy McDowell and Erica Geralds. Additionally, we hosted two clergy conference calls and held a Clergy Town Hall meeting to involve our clergy community in shaping a region- wide ministry that positively impacts clergy and congregations. Our conversations helped to shape a 60-day region-wide prayer effort launched by the Regional Elders that focused on cultivating a shared prayer life across the region for specific congregational needs as communicated from each congregation in the Georgia region. The prayer calendar started in October and extends to December Georgia is on the move to make a difference! The Clergy Town Hall meeting was a significant gathering designed to talk about clergy concerns and areas of clergy support that the region can provide better service in. We discovered that the areas of concern most prevalent for our clergy were clergy self-care, leadership development for congregational vitality, and social concerns and care for the larger community. In 2017 we will provide learning opportunities to address these issues. Georgia is on the move to make a difference! The Christian Church in Georgia has been invited to partner with the National Benevolent Association to strengthen and increase clergy and congregational education around mental health and well-being. Clergy self-care and congregational mental health and care will be a major emphasis of concern in the next two years ( ). The shared partnership will include workshops for clergy, congregations, and community members designed to help us discover our own habits of care and how to find and develop resources to increase habits of mental health, wholeness and wellbeing. Georgia is on the move to make a difference!

3 The Regional Board under the capable leadership of Bob Grant, called for the Georgia Region to fully invest in the Mission First! initiative launched by the General Church. From May to August, we hosted 11 clusters and engaged 250 people across the region ranging in ages from 13 to 90 focusing on mission in Georgia and around the country. Thirtytwo congregations participated. The Cluster gatherings created a renewed bond for networking and restoration on which Regional church success depends. As stories were shared around tables of hospitality, participants of various hues and viewpoints connected at the level of the heart. The stories of congregational successes and struggles bonded everyone, creating pathways to a new story of faith and hope. The sharing of ideas encouraged the connection to the Regional church, as well as the General Church to be and bring Christ to the communities in which we serve. Georgia is on the move to make a difference! Camp Christian suffered a hit this year when a January storm came and destroyed the dam that kept the lake intact. The damage left the lake empty and shallow with no water or fish life. The cost of repair was $25,000. Our normal commitment for our annual fund drive turned into a campaign to repair the dam. We received an excess of $34,000 for repair and ongoing maintenance for the dam. Not only was the dam repaired, through funds raised at the GALA and the management of other funds, we purchased new carpet, furniture covers, a new paint job, and new beds and mattresses for Woodland Lodge. We praise God for the generosity of many of our members and congregations. The reflection of the cross on the lake is still illuminating a reminder of what Camp Christian is all about. The light of Christ at Camp Christian shines bright. Several congregations and groups utilized the campgrounds to hear God and discover mission and ministry. Georgia is on the move to make a difference

4 Our Youth & Camp program ministered to almost 450 youth between the February Youth Assembly at Epworth By The Sea, and our summer camp program. Year after year chaperones and group leaders at youth assembly and camp directors and counselors during the summer camp program, commit themselves to our children so that they can grow in faith and Christian service. New stories are birthed every year marking deeper faith in Christ, calls into ministry, finding lifelong friends, and learning how to deal with life's difficulties. Georgia is on the move to make a difference! Georgia Disciples Women are making a difference through service, learning, prayer, worship, and stewardship! They explored God in the Everyday at Spring Conferences hosted by New Hope CC in Lawrenceville and Warner Robins First Christian. Women donated non-perishable food for the Lawrenceville Coop and personal care and household items for Safe House in Warner Robins. Handmade cards were created for Out of Darkness Middle Georgia, an anti-trafficking ministry. At the annual fall retreat, Keynoter Rev. Khalia J. Williams, Assistant Dean of Worship and Music at Candler School of Theology, offered inspiration on the theme Finding Wholeness in a Broken World. Women enjoyed a creative time of prayer and a variety of workshops. Backpacks were filled with personal care items for homeless female veterans; and preschool books were donated for the Craddock Center. Participants in the Disciples Girls Program hand-made blankets for Project Linus. Georgia Disciples Men are on the move to make a difference. They hosted two rallies and an annual Disciples Men Retreat. The rallies serve as opportunities for men from the north to the south of Georgia to gather and encourage one another in mission and ministry. A favorite mission project of the men is Camp Christian. The ministry is often around fellowship, worship, study, and celebration. This year they celebrated Lamar Hall as Laymen of the year. The retreat featured biblical scholar Rev. Dr. Stan Saunders who reminded them of God s creation. The theme was A Dwelling Place for God: The forgotten Story of Creation in the New Testament. The preachers at the two rallies were Rev. James Shelton and Rev. Johann Van de Merwe. They stirred the

5 men into a rich discussion about how to increase the impact of the men s ministry throughout Georgia to include all churches and all ages. Georgia is on the move to make a difference through our Ministry of Reconciliation. Our commitment in Becoming God s Beloved Community, calls us to ensure a strong reconciliation ministry. Our Reconciliation Commission was relaunched under the capable leadership of Rev. Valerie Alexander. The commission seeks to transform individuals, communities, and congregations through providing resources that connect churches with community needs, to give voice to the voiceless, and to take seriously the Word of God. We seek to break down the walls of division, to change oppressive narratives to God s Holy narrative, and to move towards becoming God s beloved community. Georgia is on the move to make a difference will address the occurrence of church closures and church decline. The Christian Church in United States and Canada in the last three years lost 10% (300) churches due to withdrawals or closures. Georgia lost 12% (8) in the last three years due to closures and withdrawals, a statistic that is just over the national average. Out of 58 congregations, half of our congregations worship less than 30, most of whom are members who celebrate maturity of life and faith as persons 65 and older. Georgia is on the move to make a difference! The Commission on New Church and Church Development in 2015 started a conversation with congregations about renewal and repositioning mission and ministry. Five congregations over the last year have engaged in a process with Hope Partnership: FCC Lawrenceville, FCC Warner Robins, FCC Albany, FCC Macon, and Johns Creek CC. They are all working on their new stories to become vibrant and engaged congregations. In 2017 the Commission will launch a Turnaround Church initiative for congregations interested in engaging in any process to increase their witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their community. Georgia is on the move to make a difference in the community at large. Many of our congregations are involved in engaging and meeting needs in the community. Most recently community needs are calling for building bridges and developing relationships between law enforcement agencies, congregations, and communities. One Congregation and One Precinct (1C1P) is a pilot program in several counties in the Atlanta metro area designed to assist congregations and law enforcement agencies in strengthening trust, respect, and public safety. Three of our congregations Ray of Hope Christian Church, Brookhaven

6 Christian Church, and Chestnut Ridge Christian Church are now apart of 1 Congregation 1 Precinct (1C1P). Seven DOC clergy participated in several activities including task forces, ride-alongs, active shooter exercises, and simulated exercises in judgment and reaction. In 2017 we hope to share mission projects across the region, continue to cultivate development for clergy and clergy candidates, sponsor spiritual transformation retreat at Camp Christian, host Stewardship Workshop, Youth Ministry seminar, Team Building workshop, and create learning opportunities for lay leaders and congregations to share ideas on becoming stronger and more vibrant for this current generation and the generations to come. Georgia must be on the move to thrive and make a difference for our children!! Recommended Action: The General Board receives the report from the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Georgia.