Northwest District Office The United Methodist Church 1022B - Second Avenue Columbus, Georgia 31901 Phone 706-561-4541 James R. King, Jr. Bishop Edwin M. (Buddy) Cooper, Jr. Superintendent Volume 1 March 2015 Number 9 2015 Open Door Classic Walk and 5k Run Saturday, March 7, 2015 Race starting line Woodruff Park along the Uptown Riverwalk Race Time 5k registration starts at 7:00 a.m. and Race starts at 8:00 a.m. Walk registration starts at 8:00 a.m. and Walk starts at 9:00 a.m. Route Through uptown and along riverwalk in Columbus and Phenix City Activities Walk, 5k run, live music and a hot meal for a small donation Registration Information This year we are asking individuals and teams to register for the Open Door Classic online at the Open Door Website. You may also choose to download a paper form to register for the 5k Run or download a paper form to register for the Walk Bulletin Insert Also you may download a small flier or bulletin insert to share with others about the Open Door Walk. LRE District Training Loving Others, Relating to Others and Encouraging Others April 17-18 Begins with dinner on April 17, 6:30 p.m. Wynnton United Methodist Church Led by Proactive Ministries CEU credit available Proactive Ministries was founded in 1993 by the Rev. Jim Hollis, an ordained Elder of the North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church. Proactive has worked with more than 900 congregations, across 40 states and 42 annual conferences. Proactive provides in depth training, coaching and ministry development with churches in more than 20 major areas of ministry. They have a staff of 21 and are based in Smyrna, GA. The weekend will be an incredibly powerful time of spiritual motivation, practical teaching and modeling of the initiation of new, caring relationships in the community and in businesses. Northwest District Conference May 17, 2015 4:00-5:30 p.m. Americus First United Methodist Church Americus, Georgia See Page 4 for UMC secretaries meeting information!!
Page 2 March 2015 The Northwest District Website The Northwest District has launched a new district website. The domain name is www.northwestumcdistrict.org. You are invited to visit the website for district news, the district calendar, charge conference dates and the new Discipleship Form. Reminder... New Discipleship Form Due 5 th of Each Month In previous years, each district had an evangelism form and clergy were required to complete this form as instructed by their district office. As we move through transition, all six districts collaborated to develop a form that included the 20.1.5 discipleship reporting and evangelism information. This new form is known as the Discipleship Form. All clergy under appointment are now required to complete a Discipleship Form each month. Here are some important details: To complete the Discipleship Form go to your district website. Instructions for completing the Discipleship Form have been sent to each minister. The Discipleship Form is due on the 5 th of each month. Your first reporting month was September 2014 which was to be complete by October 5. You will not need a username or password to complete the Discipleship Form. For questions, please contact your district office. Do not send hard copies of Discipleship Form to the District Office. Ministers Spouses Retreat All Hands on Deck March 13-15, 2015 See brochure at http://www.sgauc.org/clergyspouses Come to Epworth by the Sea and gather with clergy spouses from North and South Georgia. This adventure will be filled with fun, faith and laughter as we gather with Jesus as our Captain, and Mary Varnell and Susan Unkles as our Cruise Directors for our journey together on the S. S. Friendship. Silent Auction Silent Auction bidding will begin during the Friday evening activities and will conclude Saturday evening. Auction announcements and payments will be at 8:45 p.m. on Saturday. More Stress Equals More Peace Speaker: Jan Horton Spence In a world attempting to reduce stress, Jan shares the unique view that we will stress the right things in order to have more peace in our lives. Jan Horton Spence is an international consultant, professional speaker, trainer and one-on-one business coach. With contagious charisma and a zest for life which make her an excellent motivator and leader the Georgia native has used her vast knowledge in sales, marketing, and business operations to help numerous clients including Pillsbury, Walmart, and Frito-Lay. UMW Annual Spiritual Growth Retreat "Behold the new thing God will do in your life" March 20-22, EBTS The retreat s worship leaders are Annie Akins and Debbie McIlrath. Ivy Kratzer, Dir. of Christian Education at Waycross First UMC, will lead the teen and young women s special sessions. Well-known author and speaker Cathy Lee Phillips will use personal experiences and her trademark humor to show how God guides and nurtures believers as they face new and sometimes unexpected events in their lives. Participants will also have opportunities on Saturday to participate in two interest groups. Special interest groups are specially designed for young adult and teen participants. Other special interest groups include a PraiseMoves yoga class, Discover Your Story, and Hooray for Hollywood Part 2. Beginning with registration on Friday afternoon, March 20 and ending after lunch on Sunday, March 22, the retreat is designed to help participants grow closer to Christ and strengthen their faith walk. Retreat participants have the opportunity to bring items to benefit three South Georgia Conference mission agencies: Wesley Community Center, Open Door Community House and Vashti Center. There will also be free time for attendees to enjoy fellowship with one another and the beauty of.
March 2015 Page 3 Dooly Camp Meeting June 21-25, 2015 Preacher: Bishop Richard Looney CEU Credit Available OPEN HEARTS Come experience Dooly Campground. Dooly is a special place centrally situated in the heart of Georgia and in the hearts of those who visit. Our campground provides facilities to accommodate our guests attending camps, retreats and conferences as well as weddings and family reunions. OPEN MINDS Dooly Campground has a rich history as a United Methodist camp meeting which started in 1874 in a brush arbor and soon became an annual event held under the canopy of the hand hewn timbers of the Tabernacle. From there, it expanded into a center for camps and a place for spiritual retreats. We pray you will discover a home at Dooly Campground as well. OPEN DOORS At Dooly Campground, you will find a quiet place to worship, individually and corporately, and form life changing relationships in serene surroundings set-aside for devotion and fellowship. We pray your encounter with Dooly Campground will allow you to experience a place of new beginnings! Webinars Available The Office of Connectional Ministries has developed a series of webinars designed to train and prepare the local church new officers. The series of six webinars, ranging from basic leadership to those specifically for trustees and finance team members, can be found online at www.sgaumc.org/leadershipserieswebinars. Offering this format of leadership training is a great way for the Office of Connectional Ministries to partner with the District Superintendents, said Allison Lindsey, associate director of Connectional Ministries. Laity who are stepping into a new roles or who are continuing to serve in key leadership positions can take advantage of this training without traveling. They will receive tools, training and encouragement to equip and empower them as they begin the year in their roles. The Leadership Webinar Series is just one of many offered by the Office of Connectional Ministries. Those interested in being a part of these virtual, informative, educational and interactive experiences may access them from home or office all that s needed is a computer or tablet and an Internet connection. Past webinars are archived and may be accessed here. For more information or to suggest an idea for a future webinar, please contact Allison Lindsey at allison@sgaumc.com. The Leadership Toolkit and Leading Change and Transition webinars are designed for everyone serving in any leadership capacity, Lindsey said. The other webinars focus specifically on the role of the PPR, Trustees, Finance Committees and the Lay Leadership position. These different groups are interwoven and should work together within the life of the local church for mission and ministry. Resourcing and empowering the laity to build healthy churches will serve to strengthen the connection and discipleship making for the kingdom. Leadership Webinar Series All Leadership seminars are archived and can be accessed and w a t c h e d a t a n y t i m e a t http://advocate.sgaumc.org/advocate/detail/10432 Safe Sanctuary Training Butler UMC March 14, 2015 3:00-5:00 p.m. The Annual Conference Safe Sanctuaries Team developed a policy to govern the programs and ministries sponsored by the SGAC. This policy was presented and approved at the AC session in June 2007. The policies and practices will go a long way toward protecting children, youth and vulnerable adults; protecting the adult workers who serve in these ministries, and protecting the various assets of the church for making disciples of Jesus Christ. One Great Hour of Sharing March 15, 2015 Summer Camps Someone once said that kids can learn more about their relationship with Jesus in a week of camp than they might in a year of Sunday School. Because of that, we take our time with our campers very seriously! Days are filled with Bible studies, worship, sharing among friends, and learning through fun camp activities. 2015 Summer Camps Entering 6th-9th grades Entering 4th-6th grades Mid-High 1: June 8-12 Elem. Camp 1: June 22-26 Mid-High 2: June 15-19 Elem. Camp 2: June 29-July 3 Elem. Camp 3: July 13-17 Registration fee $275 Online registration is now open. http://www.sgaumc.org/2015campregistration
Page 4 March 2015 UMC Secretaries Meeting March 12, 2015 12:00 noon St. Peter UMC 6507 Moon Road, Columbus The Northwest District local church secretaries will meet for a time of fellowship, support, sharing, and spiritual enrichment. Lunch will be served at no charge. This meeting is for all secretaries, full-time, part-time, paid, and volunteer. We would love to have you come and join us! Meal reservations by March 9: Kim Welsch, kim@stpeterumc.com The Georgia Chapter of PAUMCS will be hosting the... NATIONAL 2015 PAUMCS ANNUAL CONFERENCE Georgia On My Mind April 16-19, 2015 Hilton Atlanta Airport Early Bird registration extended until March 8, 2015 Deadline for Hotel Group Rate is March 24 2015 Conference Leaders Dr. Quincy Brown - Servant - Leadership Quincy was appointed in June 2014 to start a new church in the Newnan area. Threshold Church is a new United Methodist Church start-up committed to helping people imagine new ways of living to reach their God-given potential. Prior to this appointment he served for 17 years as the Vice President for Spiritual Life and Church Relations at LaGrange College. Cathy Lee Phillips - Laughter is a Necessity, Not An Option! A native of Newnan, GA, Cathy graduated from LaGrange College. She then received The Presidential Merit Award to attend Scarritt College in Nashville. After graduation she returned to Georgia and served in several large United Methodist Churches in Atlanta where she developed and maintained comprehensive Christian Education and Spiritual Formation programs of all ages. Her writing was a therapeutic outlet during a struggle with intense grief. Gradually, she felt God calling her to use writing to encourage others experiencing loss. Rev. Phil Schroeder - How is Your Personality and Communication? Phil is the Director of Congregational Development for the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church. He serves as a consultant on all aspects of local church life. He has completed three books with Abingdon Press entitled Using the Five Senses to Tell Gods Story: Children s Sermons for the New Common Lectionary-Years A, B & C. He is the co-author of two stewardships resources, The Stewardship Journey and The Capacity for More. Phil will take conference attendees on a tour of different facets of their personalities. Rev. Jasmine Smothers - Have You Heard About Vital Congregations? Jasmine is an Associate Director of Connection Ministries of the North Georgia Conference. She serves as a church consultant and is the staff liaison for the Annual Conference ministry teams. Jasmine has a primary responsibility for Vital Congregations, Black Church Development, Multi- Ethnic/Cultural congregations, support for training for Cross-Cultural/Racial appointments, and developing Young Clergy leadership. She is a native of Atlanta and a graduate of Spelman College where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. She earned a Master of Divinity degree from Emory University s Candler School of Theology. 2015 Mission Project The Methodist Home of South Georgia and the United Methodist Children s Home of North Georgia. Conference attendees are encouraged to bring baby items such as diapers. Wipes, baby blankets or personal toiletry items such as deodorant, toothpaste, etc. to donate. Walmart gift cards are also welcome. Outings Friday attendees will be transported by bus to the World of Coca-Cola museum in downtown Atlanta. Wednesday (Optional) Bus tour around historic downtown Atlanta and surrounding areas seeing the sites, i.e., State Capitol building, Olympic Centennial Park, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic District, Carter Presidential Library and museum, the Fox Theater, home of Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone With The Wind, CNN Center, the Georgia Dome and more. Registration for outing required at time of registration. Saturday (Optional) Buses will take attendees from the hotel to Atlantic Station and back. Atlantic Station is a city within a city. It is a model community that features upscale housing, world-class restaurants, theaters, and lots of shopping. Registration for outing is required at time of registration. For questions and information: Contact Tish Schultheiss, tschultheiss@wesleymemorial.org or visit www.paumcs.org for more details about the 2015 PAUMCS conference.
March 2015 Page 5 13 th Annual Wesley Glen Cherry Blossom Road Race 5K 10K Fun Run March 28, 2015 5K & 10K start at 8:15 a.m. One mile Run/Walk starts at 9:15 a.m. Howard Middle School 6600 Forsyth Road Macon Activities: race, Kid s Korral - 5 large inflatables, face painting, popcorn and snowcones Discounts are available to families, and complementary entries provided to challenged athletes. All course maps and activity information is available at http://www.cherryblossomroadrace.com In this 13 th annual edition of Macon s premier Cherry Blossom fitness event, all proceeds from the race will be donated to Wesley Glen Ministries, a United Methodist ministry caring and providing housing for adults with developmental disabilities. Register at www.cherryblossomroadrace.com Methodist Home Guest Speakers Available To Preach Guest speakers from The Methodist Home for Children and Youth are available to preach and share with local congregations the vital ministry they are providing to the more than 400 children and families they serve every day. As a mission agency of the South Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church, the Methodist Home is helping restore childhoods and strengthen families. Partnering with local United Methodist congregations and individuals is vital to The Methodist Home's ministry. Call today to let them share the good work that God is doing! Available speakers include Dr. Marcus Tripp, Rev. Derek McAleer, Rev. Jimmy Duke, Rev. Creede Hinshaw, Dr. Steve Rumford, Alison Evans, Jill Myers, and more. Contact Alison Evans at 478-832-1280 or alison.evans@themethodisthome.org to schedule a speaker Election Submissions Tthe conference website is now open to receive information from those interested in serving on the General Conference and Jurisdictional Conference delegations. St. Luke UMC Scholarship Program St. Luke United Methodist Church awards scholarships annually to graduate students who are preparing for full-time employment in the United Methodist Church. An undergraduate student who is already employed full-time in the United Methodist Church and who anticipates continued employment in the church will be consider: however, first priority is given to graduate students. Applications (due May 1 of each year) are available from the church and from the district superintendent s office. Scholarships are awarded each summer for the following academic year; checks from the church are sent to the financial aid office of the institution before the fall term. Applications must be postmarked by May 1 and include a complete and signed application, an official transcript, a typed personal statement, and three letters of recommendation. Women s Getaway Weekend Divine Surprises A Bible Study with Carol Kent April 24-26 2015 Carol is the best-selling author of When I Lay My Isaac Down & A New Kind of Normal and has been featured on Focus on the Family. She has been keynoter at Women and Heritage Keepers arena events. She testifies to the reality that when seemingly insurmountable challenges crash into our lives, we can be transformed as we discover God at work in ways we never imagined. Online registration is available for this event. Springtime By The Sea Discovering Island Treasures May 18-21, 2015 Take time to absorb the history of St. Simons Island via a 1930's era historic trolley. Then cruise by America s Most Beautiful Wilderness Beach - Cumberland Island National Seashore. Experience the ambiance of Amelia Island s historic district, Fernandina Beach. And be an armchair traveler of the Civil War era via Eugenia Price s Beloved Invader, written while she resided on St. Simons Island. Details: www.epworthbythesea.org or 912-638-8688 Grand Camp 2015 For Grandparents & their Elementary Age Grandchildren Sea Turtle Odyssey June 26-29, 2015 Exciting adventures await our Grands as they experience hands on learning fun and interactive presentations with the Georgia Sea Turtle & Driftwood Education Center staff members. Grands will visit the Sea Turtle Hospital and meet current patients. They also visit the beach and get dirty with a mock nest excavation while learning the process of taking scientific data in the field. Numerous other activities away this active bunch! Details www.epworthbythesea.org
Page 6 March 2015 South Georgia Annual Conference 2015 Appointment Making Schedule... 3. Meeting Schedule The Appointive Cabinet will meet on Monday, February 16, 2015 (2:00 p.m.) through Thursday, February 19, 2015, at Epworth By The Sea to begin the appointment-making process. Consultations with the District Superintendents will continue following this meeting in relation to all Pastors and Pastor/Staff Relations Committees. The Cabinet will meet on these additional dates: Monday-Tuesday, February 23-24, 2015 Monday-Wednesday, March 2-4, 2015 Monday-Tuesday, March 23-24, 2015 Tuesday-Wednesday, April 7-8, 2015 Monday-Tuesday, April 13-14, 2015 Tuesday-Wednesday, April 21-22, 2015 Wednesday-Thursday, May 13-14, 2015 District Superintendents will continue consultations with Pastors and Pastor/Staff Relations Committees following these meetings, as needed. 4. Projected Appointments Appointment making is an intensive process involving consultation, prayer, discernment, collaboration and more prayer. Clergy and laity at the local church level join Bishop King and the Appointive Cabinet in this complex work most intensely during the initial phase of consultation... Ultimately, the Bishop and District Superintendents seek to prayerfully discern the anointed pastor for each appointment. Once a decision to make a change in pastoral appointment is made, the clergyperson and Pastor-Parish Chairperson are notified of the projected appointment. Following time for the announcement to be made in the local church, the projected appointments will be posted on the Conference website (www.sgaumc.org). These appointments are considered firm projections, still subject to change, until the Bishop finalizes them at the Annual Conference Session. 5. Orientation for Moving Pastors Bishop King and the Appointive Cabinet will host an orientation session for full-time moving clergy. Superintendents will release the date, location, and time for this event as information is firmed up. 6. Annual Conference Session The South Georgia Conference will meet June 3-6, 2015 in Tifton, during which Bishop King will fix these appointments for 2015-2016. Moving Day will be Wednesday, June 10, 2015.