Dr. Nita M. Crump SOUTHWEST DISTRICT NEWSLETTER Bishop James R. King, Jr District Superintendent August- 2014 Resident Bishop nitac@sgaumc.com 1602 Goff Circle, Cordele, GA 31015 229-273-3119(Office)-229-273-4476(Fax) Wow! What a wonderful District! In the seven weeks since move day (has it only been seven weeks?), Jackson and I have been busy traveling in and around the District. We visited many of the moving pastors on move day. The ones we could not see on Wednesday, we were able to be in touch with on Thursday. We ve worshiped with Quitman, Moultrie First, Porterfield, Camilla, The Pointe, Avalon, Cordele First, Ashburn First, and Cairo First. We ve spent time with the UMW ladies at Mission U. By the end of July I will have met with nearly all the appointed clergy in the District. I have enjoyed these meetings tremendously, as each meeting gives me one-on-one time with each pastor in the District so that I could get to know each one better. District Committee on Ordained Ministry training is scheduled for July 31 st. There have been several meetings, including Clergy Coordinators, Finance and Trustees, to plan and attend. And I ve been home to a previous appointment to preach Homecoming. Jackson has been busy planning a spouse s luncheon for September. My August calendar doesn t look quite as full. So far there are only three meetings and a week of DS training (aka Charm School ). But don t worry! In the two weeks that I ll be in the office, I have to pack up the last of the Americus District files and paperwork and then set up files, filing cabinets, and do the needed paperwork to finish the work of establishing the Southwest District office. I sure hope that I ll have a chance to catch my breath because Charge Conferences begin on Wednesday, September 3 rd and last through Sunday, November 23 rd. As I ve traveled around the District, I ve discovered several things. I ve discovered that the District is filled with wonderful Christian folk. Everywhere we ve visited, both the pastors and laity have been so warm and welcoming. I ve discovered that folks are excited about the future and ready for the Clusters to be up and running. I ve discovered that many, many churches are happily doing the Lord s work in their communities. I ve heard so many creative ways that the churches are doing outreach, mission, and evangelism work and can t wait to find ways for these churches to share their ideas with other churches. I ve also found areas that need attention in many churches. Some churches feel discouraged because of their small size. Some churches are struggling financially. Some churches don t understand the meaning of connectional. Many churches do not have Discipleship plans. And some churches do not pay apportionments. I m already hard at work praying about what to do in these areas. I m asking for guidance from the Lord on how to encourage the small churches, strengthen the struggling churches, and help all the churches realize how vitally important each church is to our united, connectional system. As you get to know me better, you ll find out that I m a Star Trek fanatic. I love the old series, the Next Generation series, and the Enterprise series. I have all the movies. I have enjoyed the last two movies that have been produced with the newest cast of characters and new timeline. In the first movie of the new timeline, there s a scene where Kirk and Scotty have beamed onto the Enterprise and Scotty ended up in a water tank. He and Kirk are escorted to the bridge, where all kinds of interesting things begin to unfold. Scottie is dripping wet, standing in the middle of an ever-widening puddle, on the bridge of the most advanced starship ever built. He watches all that s taking place both on the bridge and outside in space for a few minutes. Then he says, to no one in particular, I like this ship. It s exciting! That s how I feel about all that s going on in and around the District and Conference right now. I like this District! It s exciting! And I can t wait to see how the future unfolds. Many blessings to each of you. I pray for pastors, churches, and laity around the District daily. Please keep praying for me and for your brothers and sisters in Christ as we travel into the future God has planned for us. Nita
AUGUST BIRTHDAYS Aug 4 Rhonda Addington-spouse of Mark Addington-Moultrie FUMC Aug 5 Leshia Sattler- Sumner/Ty Ty Aug 6 Kaye Hartsfield- spouse of Allen Hartsfield- Morningside(Thomasville) Aug 7 Mary Houseal- spouse of Jim Houseal-Tyson Memorial Aug 8 Don Adams- Albany FUMC Aug 10 Garth Duke-Barton- Friendship (Donalsonville) Aug 14 Randy Spicer- Palmyra Road Aug 16 Carol Hurley- spouse of Lynn Hurley-Attapulgus and Climax Martha Walls- Administrative Assistant- Southwest District Office Aug 24 Emory Smith- Faceville/Hopewell/Sylvania Aug 25 Mark Oliver- Leila Rick Hamilton-Warwick Lynda Boyd- spouse of Ronnie Boyd-Recovery Aug 31 Lynn Hurley-Attapulgus and Climax Ken Myers- Camilla FUMC AUGUST CALENDAR Aug 4 OCM Meeting with DS s and Administrative Assistants 5:30-8:30pm- Retreat at Lake Blackshear- Supper included Aug 5 Clergy Coordinators Gathering- Cordele FUMC- 10am-3pm Administrative Assistant Training-10am-3pm- Cordele FUMC Aug 9 UMMen Rally- Climax UMC-Climax, GA-9am-Noon Aug 17 District Leadership Team Meeting-5pm at Camilla UMC Let s remember that though it is very hot this time of the year there is another place that is much hotter than this!!!!
TRANSITION UPDATE Prayerfully Organizing The Conference Chancellor will continue to address legal matters. Districts will organize with appropriate leadership to address district offices, etc. Over the summer, information regarding training for clergy and laity within the new district structure will be forthcoming. How can you help during these initial weeks of transition? We invite your prayers, patience and positive reflections during this time. Invite your local church to keep the annual conference in prayer as we work diligently to prayerfully organize. God is at work among us and everyone is needed to make a difference in the kingdom. The conference website, www.sgaumc.org, will continue to provide updates and persons are encouraged to contact their district office as needed. TRANSITION TEAM MEETING UPDATE Within each new district, there will be eight clusters, or groups, of churches. Once formed, these clusters will have the opportunity to creatively determine their own names. Bishop King, in consultation with the Transition Team, added additional dates to the transition timeline: September. 1, 2014 Each District will have established the location of its district office and will have employed one Administrative Assistant January 1, 2015 District property issues such as parsonages will be addressed by district leadership teams and will be ongoing until resolved January 1, 2015 Projected Date for conference and district budgets to be aligned with the six district conference model Also discussed during the meeting were the development and implementation of leadership training modules for use by district leadership teams. These modules will assist leaders in living out the vision and mission of the South Georgia Annual Conference.
SPECIAL NOTE In last month s newsletter the numbers we sent out for the different churches are not related to the numbers you will used to log in to complete your Charge Conference information. Those numbers and passwords will be provided in the near future. Southwest District United Methodist Men s Rally At Climax United Methodist Church 210 West Broad Street Climax, GA 39834 Date: Saturday, August 9, 2014 Time: 9:00 a.m.: Gather for Donuts and Coffee 9:30 till 1:00 p.m.: Speakers, Music Noon: Lunch- grilled pork chops with all the trimmings All men from the churches in the newly formed Southwest District of the South Georgia Conference are invited with guest. There will be a time for sharing, singing, and fellowship. Dress casual and bring your pastor. Speakers: Walter Powell- Farmer from Omega, GA Area Representative for Fellowship of Christian Farmers, member of Week s Chapel UMC will be sharing his testimony and demonstrating their Wordless Walking Stick Ministry of bringing people to Christ. Hymnmasters-Singing Group from Climax/Cairo, Sam Sirmons, Wayne McDonald and Joe Salter Gospel singing trio of laymen and pastor sharing God s word in song and leading us in fellowship and worship. Flynn Bridges: Layman from Albany who has been called to share God s word with high school students, will share his testimony and witness. Flynn gave up a successful landscaping business to go out on faith for God. Officers for newly transitioned Southwest Georgia District UMMen will be elected. Dr. Nita Crump, District Superintendent, and Johnny Hemingway, South Georgia President UMM will welcome the group. Cost: $10.00 each *** Reservations must be guaranteed by August 5 *** Call to make reservations giving name, church and your phone number to: Larry Price at home 229-883-3302 or cell 229-317-3900, email price2406@bellsouth.net Gene Trulock at work 229-246-0294 or cell 229-254-3926, email trulockinsurance@bellsout.net
Plantations, A Mansion and Gardens at the Museum Autumn Adventures, September 22-25, 2014 Epworth By the Sea, St. Simons Island, GA An Event for Older Adults Details: www.epworthbythessea.org or call 912-638-8688
Southwest District Charge Conference Schedule 2014 Wed, 9/3 Sun, 9/7 Mon, 9/8 Tues, 9/9 Sun, 9/14 Mon, 9/15 Tues, 9/16 Wed, 9/17 Thurs, 9/18 Sun, 9/21 Mon, 9/22 Wed, 9/24 Thurs, 9/25 Sun, 9/28 Mon, 9/29 Tues, 9/30 Wed, 10/1 Thurs, 10/2 Sun, 10/5 Mon, 10/6 Tues, 10/7 Wed, 10/8 Sun, 10/12 Tues, 10/14 Wed, 10/15 Sun, 10/19 Tues, 10/21 Wed, 10/22 Thurs, 10/23 Sun, 10/26 Hartsfield/Burns Memorial 6:00pm Colquitt 11:00am Leary Charge 2:30pm Arlington Charge 5:00pm Avalon 6:00pm Peavy/Hatley 6:00pm Fort Gaines Charge 11:00am Blakely Charge 2:30pm Blakely First 5:00pm Midway 6:00pm Barney 6:00pm Quitman 6:00pm Morven/Mt. ZionCampground 6:00pm Climax 9:30am Faceville Charge 1:30pm Whigham/Springhill 5:00pm Wenona 6:00pm Moultrie First 6:00pm Pavo 6:00pm Friendship, Donalsonville 11:00pm Brinson Charge 2:30pm Bainbridge First 5:00pm Rebecca/Arabi 6:00pm Kimball 6:00pm Pinson Memorial 6:00pm Tyson Memorial 11:00 am Morningside, Thomasville 11:00am Metcalf Charge 2:30pm Meigs/Ochlocknee 5:00pm Norman Park 6:00pm Morningside, Albany 6:00pm Ashburn/Sycamore 6:00pm Trinity/Reynolds Chapel 2:30pm Cairo First 5:00pm Providence 6:00pm Christ 6:00pm Leesburg 10:30am Sumner/Ty Ty 2:30pm Evelyn 5:00pm Dawson Street 6:00pm Thomasville First 6:00pm Trinity, Albany 6:00pm W. Bainbridge 11:00am Recovery 2:30pm Cook s Union 5:00pm
Mon, 10/27 Tues, 10/28 Wed, 10/29 Thurs, 10/30 Sun, 11/2 Tues, 11/4 Wed, 11/5 Thurs, 11/6 Sun, 11/9 Wed, 11/12 Thurs, 11/13 Sun, 11/16 Tues, 11/18 Wed, 11/19 Thurs, 11/20 Sun, 11/23 Cordele First 6:00pm Doerun/Funston 6:00pm Warwick 6:00pm Leila 6:00pm Hand Memorial 11:00am Calvary Charge 2:30pm Cairo Circuit 5:00pm Poulan 6:00pm Camilla 6:00pm Palmyra Road 6:00pm Wesley Chapel 11:00am Boston/Oak Grove 2:30pm Dixie/Ozell 5:00pm Porterfield 6:00pm Attapulgus- 11:00am Putney 6:00pm Baconton 11:00am Newton/Bethany 2:30pm Branchfield/Sutton s Chapel 5:00pm The Pointe 6:00pm Albany First 6:00pm Westtown 6:00pm Beulah 11:00am Weeks Chapel 2:30pm Damascus/Shingler 5:00pm STAY CONNECTED!!! Thanks to those who have begun to post on the facebook page. Everyone is encouraged to post pictures and stories about what s going on in the churches around the District. Announcements can be posted ahead of time to encourage other congregations to support an activity at your church. Pictures and celebrations can be posted after events so that we can all share in the good news. If you don t want to post or can t post, send your pictures, announcements and news to either me or Martha and we ll post for you. Ya ll are doing great things for Christ and I can t wait to see all about it. Nita
Dr. Loyd D. Melton will be with us on Saturday, November 1 st to lead a study of the gospel of Mark. Dr. Melton is the John Montgomery Bell professor of the New Testament and the Director of the Doctor of Ministry program at Erskine Theological Seminary. Dr. Melton has been a favorite of many, many students at Erskine through the years. He was a pastor prior to becoming a professor and has continued to serve small churches on a part time basis much of his time at Erskine. In his spare time, he works his family farm in western South Carolina. The Day of Study is open to everyone, clergy and laity alike. Please begin to announce this date in your churches. We will give specifics as to location and schedule/time as those details are worked out.