March 13, 2017/Volume 16, No. 5

Conference News

Graves Announces Bishop To AWF Cabinet

(Montgomery, AL) - Bishop David W. Graves announces that Dr. Debora Bishop has been projected as a District Superintendent to the Alabama-West Florida Conference cabinet, effective July 1, 2017. Currently serving as pastor of FUMC Atmore, Bishop was ordained as an elder in the AWF Conference in 2010. She was previously the Spanish Fort UMC associate from 2006-2013. “We are excited to welcome Debora as a valuable addition to our cabinet. She has exemplified outstanding leadership abilities in her appointments and conference-level work. In addition to her ministry gifts, her previous career has well positioned her for the work of the chief missional strategist. I look forward to her being a part of our team.” Full release here.

Annual Conference Logo and General Details Announced

The 2017 session of the Alabama-West Florida Conference Annual Conference will be held June 4-7, 2017 at Frazer Memorial UMC. The theme will be, "By Faith: It Can Happen." A working agenda can be found here. Tentative details have been posted and will be updated weekly. We will begin each day with worship, which will involve many of our own clergy and laity. We encourage you to nominate someone for one of our conference awards. Applications and information can be found here. The reservation system will be live this month and more details will be sent to your email inbox. Full information can be found at www.awfumc.org/ac2017.

Mark La Branche Leaving Louisburg College for Post at Tennessee Institution

(Louis burg College) - Dr. Mark La Branche, Louisburg College’s president, will leave his job in June to assume the presidency of Martin Methodist College, a small, private four-year institution in Pulaski, Tenn. Dr. La Branche, who has led Louisburg College since January 2009, has overseen its transformation and has been an active church and community leader. On July 1, he takes over the helm of Martin Methodist, a liberal arts college in Southern Middle Tennessee founded in 1870 that offers associate, baccalaureate and master’s degrees. Mike Boddie, chairman of Louisburg College’s Board of Trustees, said the trustees are “grateful to Mark for the fine leadership he has given to Louisburg College.” “It’s been transformational,” he said. “We congratulate him on his new appointment and are confident we will be successful in attracting another great leader to take the college into the next decade.” More here.

Around the Conference

Vet, Pastor Starts PTSD Support Group

(The News Herald) - Since January, three of Clayton Lassiter's buddies from his military command have killed themselves. Having served with the Marine Corps during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Lassiter has dealt with his own struggles. He's had nightmares, flashbacks and used to have trouble being in unfamiliar environments. His wife, children and spiritual life helped him keep focus and avoid taking drugs or drinking excessively like other veterans, he said. Those were symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with which Lassiter was diagnosed with in 2015. Because of his experiences he decided to start up a local PTSD support group for veterans,their spouses and families, which will partner with other groups. "I started it out of necessity," said Lassiter, who is also a pastor at City Lights Church in Panama City. "I've had other pastors call me asking what to do about the veterans in their congregations. 'How do I minister to them?' " Full article here.

Bishop Celebrates March Madness with Court Dedication

In the spirit of March Madness, Bishop David Graves helped Forest Park UMC in Panama City, FL, dedicate their new goals on the recreational basketball courts. Graves was in the area as he was conducting the Marianna-Panama City Town Hall Meeting. The courts were existing but John Mooneyham, lay leader at the church, explained that the goals had seen some wear and they wanted to replace them with something more in ground and permanent. Mooneyham said, "It has always been Dr. Friendman's (pastor) vision to have this court open to the community. Our church has always welcomed community events and this court has the potential to reach many in the area, especially young people." Mooneyham further explained that if Friedman sees a group wanting to play in the evenings, he will personally turn the lights on for them. Each year Forest Park UMC hosts a Men's Basketball Extravaganza open to the area where they grill out, have games and giveaways. This recreational effort allows youth to have something positive and outside vs. hours in front of a TV or screen. After the Bishop dedicated the court, 15 young people played for over four hours. The church sees this as a community ministry opportunity that can positively shape lives. Photo courtesy of Doug Pennington.

All In The Family: Allen Siblings Prepare to Graduate

(SSSEF) - The family of God is a phrase often used to convey the feeling of togetherness in Christ. In the case of brother and sister seminary students Mary Kathryn Allen and Jack Allen, the family part is quite literal. Both Jack and Mary Kathryn are preparing to graduate from seminary this Spring and pursue ordination as Elders in the United Methodist Church. Mary Kathryn and Jack grew up in a family that was incredibly active as members of Trinity United Methodist Church in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. Their parents, Kim and Mary Allen, modeled for their three children what it meant to be congregational servants. The importance of weekly church life to their family even led the children to playfully argue over who got to put the tithe check in the offering plate. Full story here.

Guest Commentary: Dr. Darren McClennan

Greetings to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! I pray this reflection finds you secure in God’s grace and attuned to the initial cadence of this Lenten season. I greatly enjoyed worshipping in Andalusia, Spanish Fort, and Monroeville during this first week of the journey. Even so, I must confess that without the responsibility of regular worship planning this year I have had to find other ways to get myself “in step.” This oddity has given me a greater appreciation for the experience of our laity; many of whom are looking to march, but desiring direction. Like many I now sit with in the pews, I find that I too am hungry to have my life disrupted by a fresh Word from God. As prevenient grace would have it, I have recently stumbled upon two sources of nourishment worth sharing. One is Walter Brueggemann’s latest offering A Way Other Than Our Own: Devotions for Lent. I know many of you share my affection for Brueggemann and perhaps have utilized his prophetic voice in your own spiritual navigation. This recent work does not disappoint, with plenty of seeds (and needles!) deserving our contemplation. Full commentary here.

Bishops Visits Pensacola United Methodist Community Ministries

As part of the Pensacola Town Hall three-day meetings, Bishop David Graves visited Pensacola United Methodist Community Ministries. This outreach program is part of Richards Memorial UMC, led by Rev. Robin Noble. Pictured below is Rev. Robin Noble, Bishop Graves, Terrell, Juan and Jerry (inmates at the minimum security federal prison at Saufley Field), and Dr. Tim Trent. Juan, Jerry and Terrell are each in their last year at the minimum security prison and are picked up each Tuesday and Thursday by Dick Baker, the director of the REAP program. From 8:00am to 3:00pm, they work in the community garden and enjoy a lunch together. The prison and community garden outreach is only one of many ways PUMCM serves the community to reach hundreds of people each week.

Connectional News

Wespath Changes Retirement Process for 2017

Wespath is currently mailing retirement kits to participants who intend to retire in June or July 2017. A sample kit will was mailed to conference benefits officers on February 9, 2017. In an effort to streamline the retirement process, Wespath will not mail paper applications for benefits (AFBs) or AFB guides to this year’s retirees. The materials provided in the kit will focus on the online process. The online benefits application—available at www.benefitsaccess.org—customizes applications for benefits so that retirees are only presented information that is pertinent to their unique situations. Retirees may contact the retirement team to request printed forms. More here.

BSC Launches New "Rise to Your Potential" Campaign

(BSC) - Birmingham-Southern College kicked off a new advertising campaign titled “Rise to Your Potential.” The campaign highlights the ways in which BSC propels its students to post-graduate success through its innovative academic programs, hands-on learning, and supportive campus environment. “There is so much discussion these days about why college matters and what students should expect from their education, and yet we find so many parents and students just don’t know that a small liberal arts college like BSC is the best preparation for success,” said President Linda Flaherty-Goldsmith. “We know that, to put it simply, BSC changes lives. This is one part of our ongoing efforts to let others in our state, our region, and our nation in on the secret.” More here.

New Video Showcases Renewal and Transformation at Lake Junaluska

(Lake Junaluska) - Lake Junaluska has created a new video, inspired by the renewal and transformation that happens there every day. The video talks about removing the distractions of everyday life and providing a space for connection. It also highlights what makes Lake Junaluska unique–its location, programs, concerts and lodging, as well as the undeniable feeling of walking on holy ground when you visit. The video will be used to encourage people to visit and explore Lake Junaluska. View the video here.

Resources

UMCOR Sunday (formerly One Great Hour of Sharing) is March 26

When disaster strikes around the globe—Haiti’s 2010 earthquake or Typhoon Haiyan in 2013—so many watching the drama unfold on our living room televisions feel entirely helpless. How could any one person make a difference in the wake of such widespread devastation? As responders around the globe scramble to help survivors, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, UMCOR, is prepared to act. When you give, you equip Christ’s body to serve in His name. That’s because your generous giving to UMCOR Sunday (formerly One Great Hour of Sharing) is what allows UMCOR to act as the arms and legs of Christ’s church, moving toward the most vulnerable in their darkest days. Convinced that all people have God-given worth and dignity—without regard to race, religion or gender—together we are assisting those impacted by crisis or chronic need. More information here.

Fountain of Love Offering Focuses On Mother’s Day

(Methodist Homes for the Aging) - A mother’s love is as precious as a rare jewel. As we approach Mother’s Day, we hope that your church will celebrate that priceless love through the taking of a Mother’s Day Offering for the Fountain of Love. The Fountain of Love Fund provides financial assistance to older adults living in a Methodist Home retirement community who find that they can no longer pay for their entire care. Because of the support of the Alabama-West Florida Conference and its churches, no resident has ever been asked to leave a Methodist Home due to their inability to pay. Free offering materials and more information is available online here.

How Best to Use Overflow Worship Space on Easter

(Tom Berlin for Lewis Center) - Increased worship attendance on Easter Sunday requires some churches to set up spaces beyond the sanctuary for overflow seating. Sometimes this is space just outside the sanctuary in the narthex or perhaps in an adjacent chapel. Other times churches have to use a fellowship hall or classrooms and transmit the service electronically. Often, when overflow space is needed on Easter, it is the visitors who are placed there, because they may be the last ones to arrive. This is not the best way to ensure your visitors feel welcome and have a quality worship experience. If you need to use overflow space, make sure that the people seated there are not visitors, but regular worshipers. More here.