West District. The Pastor as Missionary. November/December June 4-7, United Methodist Church of the Texas Annual Conference

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1 November/December 2011 Texas Annual Conference June 4-7, 2012 HOST FACILITY: Galveston Convention Ctr 5600 Seawall Blvd Galveston, TX HOST HOTELS: The San Louis Resort Hilton Galveston Island Resort Holiday Inn Resort On The Beach West District Office 4205 State Hwy 6 South College Station, TX Office: Fax: district.org Rev. Joe W. Fort, Jr. District Superintendent jfort@txcumc.org Debbie Keim Administrative Assistant dkeim@txcumc.org Linda Tatum Office Assistant ltatum@txcumc.org West District United Methodist Church of the Texas Annual Conference The Pastor as Missionary Back in 1990 Kennon Callahan wrote a work entitled Effective Church Leadership. The first words of his book are these: The day of the professional minister is over. The day of the missionary pastor has come. Callahan s thesis was that by the late 1980 s the so-called churched culture that thrived in the 1940 s through the mid-1960 s was over. He believed that pastors who were trained to fill the role of professional clergy, with all that this term implies, were becoming obsolete leaders even by Indeed, in the first chapter Callahan went on to state, Professional ministers are at their best (and they do excellent work) in a churched culture. But put them in an unchurched culture, and they are lost. In an unchurched culture they do a reasonably decent job of presiding over stable and declining and dying churches. They maintain a sense of presence, dignity, decorum, and decency with a quietly sad regret much like the thoughtful undertaker who sees to keeping things in good order throughout the funeral. When he penned those words over twenty years ago, our part of the country was still in the last waning stages of the churched culture. Therefore, it was hard for many folks to accept his proposition about mission pastors as seriously as they should have. We were still enjoying relative success with the church growth strategies that had as an underlying assumption a competitive, consumer-driven model. In other words, if one does it bigger and better than the church down the road they will come. Also, pastors were still being educated by seminaries to conform to a model of clergy leadership that had as its roots an academic, professional model for ministry. My observation is that at least in some seminaries such a training model still lingers on. But the world of the Texas Annual Conference that was beginning to change by the early 1990 s has fully changed by Back then we were still hanging on to enough remnants of the churched culture to keep acting as if things would never change. However, now the world has changed for good, and we continue to shake our heads wondering why we no longer seem relevant as pastors and established churches. The old patterns of ministry simply don t work anymore. In our time we must fully accept that the pastor is no longer a professional who simply minds the store in reasonably competent fashion. That dog still hunted around here back in the 1980 s, and even somewhat in the 1990 s. This old identity, though, is today s recipe for gradual or precipitous decline in the vast majority of congregations. Today we must completely adopt and live out that the pastor is first and foremost a missionary, even when appointed to older, established churches. If we chose to embrace such a self-

2 identity, what assumptions would go along with it? As Methodists, I believe above all it would call us back to our earliest roots in Wesleyanism. Early Methodism was about taking the Gospel to those not being reached by the established Church in the eighteenth century. The parallels to Wesley s England and the unchurched culture of our time bear some similarities. Wesley and his early preachers had a true passion for souls that we too often lack today. They saw everyone, no matter who they were, as one of Christ s lost sheep for whom he gave his life on the cross. Unless we recover that passion today, along with its dynamic use of small groups as key building blocks for Christian disciple-making, we are doomed to continue our funeral director course as pastors. Wesley and the early Methodists were also vitally concerned to address the deep hurts of society. Their ministry to the poor, those in prisons, and concern for the self-destructive habits of their time is testimony to this commitment. But we do need to be clear that social concerns were not elevated above the Gospel. Jesus healed the paralytic at Capernaum only after he had forgiven the man s sins. Still, we must today actively reach out to people s deepest needs, especially when those needs are hindering them from coming to a meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ. Our compassion for the wounds of the world must come along side our compassion for their spiritual well-being. I submit that missionaries when at their best live out such values. Missionaries are armed with the Gospel of Christ and live out mercy every day. They are actively looking to reach the lost. They do not wait for people to show up at their mission stations on their own. Missionaries understand that the surrounding culture is not by nature very open to the faith, therefore they are not deceived that great work needs to be done and that much of that work will be a struggle. They do not assume that resources will be abundant more has to be done with less. Money cannot be wasted. Missionaries do not assume the need for fancy facilities or many expensive toys. Such things are viewed in functional terms, and not as goodies to be accumulated for their own sakes. Some missionaries only minister to house church gatherings and never have any permanent facilities at all. It seems to me that pastors are above all missionaries in the twenty-first century. This is who we are if we are to find our true calling in this age. The sooner we accept this reality, the sooner we will have the chance to change the present course of our church. Grace and peace, Joe W. Fort, Jr. District Superintendent Date: Saturday, December 3, 2011 Time: 11:00 AM Where: First United Methodist Church Caldwell, Texas First UMC in Caldwell is hosting our Christmas Brunch this year. We appreciate their hospitality and look forward to enjoying great Food, Fellowship and Celebration. Invitations will be mailed soon so mark your calendars now.

3 Bishop s Visit Join us in conversation with Becoming Fruitful Churches The key to fruitfulness is not effort, circumstance, wisdom or charisma, although all of these will make individuals and ministries more fruitful. According to John 15, fruitfulness results from lives joined to the one, true, healthy vine Jesus Christ. Join Bishop Janice Riggle Huie as she shares inspirational thoughts on the topic of fruitfulness during her District visits. Thursday, November 17, 2011 Christ UMC 4201 State Hwy 6 South College Station, TX p.m. - Clergy Session 6 p.m. - Laity Session Thanks to the West District Churches that have paid 100% of their 2011 District Apportionments as of October 27, Anderson UMC Anderson Circuit: Yarborough UMC McKenzie UMC Bedias UMC Bellville UMC Blue UMC Bremond: Grace UMC Brenham Circuit: Pleasant Grove UMC Mt Zion UMC Bryan: Lee Chapel UMC Bryan: Alexander UMC Calvert Circuit: St. James UMC Cameron: First UMC Cedar Springs UMC Centerville: First UMC Chappell Hill UMC College Station: A&M UMC Aldersgate UMC Christ UMC First UMC Cooks Point UMC Donie Memorial UMC Elwood UMC Evans Chapel Franklin UMC Flynn UMC Gause UMC Giddings: First UMC Hearne: Grace UMC Hempstead: Bethlehem UMC Hempstead: First UMC Huntsville: Farris Chapel UMC Iola: Zion UMC Kosse UMC Leona UMC Leona Circuit: Hillary Chapel UMC Tanyard UMC Two Mile UMC Lexington: First UMC Lynn Grove UMC Madisonville: First UMC Thanks also to Richards UMC, Bays Chapel UMC and Donie Memorial UMC for Paying 2012 Apportionments. Marlin: First UMC Marlin Circuit: Chilton St. Paul UMC Marquez UMC Maysfield UMC Milano Ct: Chriesman UMC Millican UMC Navasota Circuit: Lee Tabernacle UMC Pleasant Grove UMC Stonehamville UMC Paige UMC Reagan UMC Richards Ct: Richards UMC Bays Chapel Shiro UMC Sneed Memorial UMC Somerville: First UMC Stoneham UMC Thorndale: Pleasant Retreat UMC Friendship UMC Wheelock UMC

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6 Dear Clergy and Finance Chairs, Report Day is Monday, January 9, Churches will be required to have their money (check only please) and the signature page of the Report Day report signed by the Finance Chair and the Senior Pastor brought to the one of the Hub locations or the District Office by 11:30 am on Monday, January 9 th. Also note that the Transformation Survey and Missional Excellence Reports will need to be in by this date. Please remember, Auditors cannot leave the District Office till you get your reports finished, signed and payments in. So please start your reports early. Monday, December 12 th is the final day for sending money to the Conference Office. If you have apportionment funds for the Conference after December 12 th, your apportionment funds should be brought to Report Day with your signed report. District Auditors and Hub locations: District Office Auditors: Mac Vaughn or Cathy Richardson or Jeff Dungan BCS Hub and Normangee Hub churches go to the District Office Cameron FUMC Auditor: Chuck Bratz or Jeff Stull Marlin Hub and Rockdale Hub churches go to FUMC Cameron Huntsville FUMC Auditor: Gene Bixler or Richard Prather Centerville Hub and Huntsville Hub churches go to FUMC Huntsville Brenham FUMC Auditor: Robert Stutes or Victoria Simons Brenham Hub and Navasota Hub churches go to FUMC Brenham Introducing EZRA New reporting system for Report Day DOVE will no longer be used for Report Day statistical reporting. As of December 1, 2011, the Texas Annual Conference will be using the GCFA reporting system. The West District will be reporting the same information as before, but in a different data base. You will still need to input church vital signs in the DOVE system on a weekly basis through the end of the year. More information will be posted on the Texas Conference web site as it becomes available. It will be found under Resources and then under Information Technology. They will be posting specific steps on how to find the logon page for report day reporting and how to logon to do a church report. In order to help everyone navigate the new system, we are holding a training session on Tuesday, December 6 th at 2 pm in the District Office. Please call the office to reserve your space. If there is an interest, training sites at outlying Hubs will be set up at a later date. Remaining Hub Charge Conference Schedule Date Hub Location Paperwork due in District Office November 6 Navasota Area Hub Millican UMC Oct 27 November 13 Huntsville Area Hub FUMC Huntsville Nov 3 November 20 Bryan/CS Area Hub Aldersgate UMC Nov 10

7 WEST DISTRICT CALENDAR November 2011 thru February 2012 NOVEMBER District Office will be CLOSED: Nov 1, 2, & 3 Tues - Thursday - Nov Noon - 12 Noon - West District Office Closed Conference District Assistants Workshops here Sat - Nov 5 9:00 AM - 3 PM - ERT Training - First UMC - Huntsville Sun - Nov 6 4:00 PM - Navasota Area Hub - Chg Conf - Millican UMC Sun - Nov 13 4:00 PM - Huntsville Area Hub - Chg Conf - First UMC - Huntsville Mon-Wed - Nov Cabinet Meeting Thurs - Nov 17 2:00 PM - Bishop Huie s Visit to District - Clergy - Christ UMC - CS 6:00 PM - Bishop Huie s Visit to District - Laity - Christ UMC - CS Sun - Nov 20 4:00 PM - BCS Area Hub - Chg Conf - Aldersgate-CS Wed - Nov 23 12:00 Noon - OFFICE CLOSED until Monday Sat - Dec 3 Sun - Dec 4 Mon - Dec 5 Tues - Dec 6 Sun - Dec 11 Sun - Dec 18 Thurs & Fri - Dec 8-9 Sun - Dec 25 Dec Sun - Jan 1 Mon - Jan 9 Sat - Jan 21 Sun - Jan 29 Thurs - Feb 2 Sat - Feb 11 and 18 Mon-Wed - Feb Tues-Thurs - Feb 28-Mar 1 DECEMBER 11:00 AM - West District Clergy Christmas Brunch - First UMC - Caldwell 2nd Sunday of Advent 5:15 PM - Finance Meeting - District Office 2:00 PM - REPORT DAY Training - District Office 3rd Sunday of Advent 4th Sunday of Advent Cabinet Meeting Merry Christmas OFFICE CLOSED January Have a Blessed New Year REPORT DAY 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM - West District Mission Forum - Christ UMC - College Station 3:00 PM - Lead Institute with Rev. Jim Leggett - Christ UMC - College Station FEBRUARY Sexual Ethics Training - Christ UMC - College Station Lay Speaking School - Christ UMC - College Station Cabinet Meeting Elder s Retreat Meetings are held at District Offices : 4205 State Hwy 6 South, College Station, TX View calendar - Saturday, November 12 th 10:30 AM - Silent Auction 2 PM - Live Auction Chili Served: 11 AM - 4 PM Wesley United Methodist Church 4201 North Texas Avenue - BRYAN ERT Training First UMC Huntsville Saturday, November 5 th 9 a.m. 3 p.m. to register, contact Rev. Ellen Willett ewillett@huntsvillefumc.org Lord's Acre BBQ lunch Sunday, November 13 Noon to 3 PM Live Auction and Crafts & Goodies St. John's United Methodist Church 1700 Hillcrest, corner of Hillcrest and Summit - ROCKDALE

8 The West District Office Of the United Methodist Church 4205 State Highway 6 South College Station, TX Nonprofit Organization U. S. Postage PAID Bryan, Texas Permit No. 55 Return Service Requested Retired Ministers Monthly Luncheon Notices Nov 21 Dec 19 HUNTSVILLE GROUP DAN & JOYCE LOUIS The Golden Corral - Huntsville Bell Ranch Steak House - The Hilton Hwy 30 to 11th St - 2nd red light College Station Note: Luncheons begin at 11:30 AM unless otherwise noted. Rev. Ferel Little s wife, Nita People of Cote d Ivoire, The United Methodist Church in Cote d Ivoire and the Leaders of the people. Rev. Ann Worrell s husband, Pat Rev. Gene Bixler