August 21, 2017/Volume 16, No. 13

Conference News

Welcome Lucy Elizabeth Johnson

Bishop and Mrs. David Graves proudly welcome their second grandchild, Lucy Elizabeth Johnson. Lucy was born on August 16 in Kingsport, TN, and is the daughter of Casey and Bryan Johnson. Lucy is the Johnson's second child with Brooks being the proud big brother. She is seven pounds, nine ounces and 20" long. All are doing very well. The Graves and Johnsons are most appreciative for all of the prayers and well wishes. Thank you, God, for this wonderful blessing!

Bishop Forms New Team to Help Congregations in Crisis

(Kari Barlow for the AWF Conference) - A new 19-member Bishop’s Response Team now stands ready to support congregations across the Alabama-West Florida Conference in times of crisis. Bishop David Graves, along with his cabinet and the Board of Ordained Ministry, began forming the team in May, after recognizing the need to provide more tangible support to churches dealing with a wide range of disruptive and life-altering events. “His vision is to deploy a response team of trained persons into a church and community whenever there is a traumatic event,” said Rev. June Jernigan, Assistant to Graves and Director of Ministerial Services. “He wants the congregation, complainant, clergy and clergy family to find support, encouragement and healing.” Full story here.

The Charlottesville Violence Aftermath

Bishop David Graves posted the following message on social media on Sunday, August 13, 2017. "As I read social media posts from around the Alabama-West Florida Conference, I am so thankful that many are joining together in speaking out against white supremacy, hatred, racism, and evil. As I shared in my Episcopal Address at our Annual Conference a few weeks ago, we must work together to end the kind of event that took place in Charlottesville, Virginia yesterday. In this moment, I am thankful for our Clergy and Conference leadership. We have much work to do as the past 48 hours proves, but today, just today, I pray we are moving to a better place. With this, there is great hope for tomorrow. Keep speaking the truth and pray to end these evil acts of injustice." Click hear to read the Council of Bishop's statement from Bishop Bruce Ough.

Around the Conference

Foundation Celebrates Past, Imagines Future at 10th Anniversary “Dinner of Celebration”

(Montgomery, Ala.) – Imagination. The ability to imagine the future often fuels creativity, drive, and determination. On Thursday, August 10, 2017, the Stegall Seminary Scholarship Endowment Foundation asked supporters during its annual Dinner of Celebration to imagine the future, while celebrating the past 10 years. “We celebrate that you have enabled us to build our foundation to the point where tonight with $6.25 million in our endowment, we are reaching out in faith and establishing a new goal of $10 million,” said Dr. Karl K. Stegall, volunteer president of the foundation. The banquet, held at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Montgomery, welcomed approximately 450 students, alumni and supporters. Including those in attendance were some of the 49 seminary students being supported by the Foundation during the 2017-2018 school year. Full story here.

Methodist Homes Resident to Encounter Two Solar Eclipses

(MHFTA) - Today’s centenarians, those who have lived for 100 years or more, are in the unique position of being alive during the last total solar eclipse that made its way across the United States from coast to coast back on June 8, 1918. According to the most recent US Census Bureau Statistics, only about .02% of Americans living today are 100 years of age or older. One of these rare centenarians is Mildred Watson Pelt, a woman who has called Wesley Place on Honeysuckle home since 2010. Mildred was merely 1 year old in 1918. At that time, Mildred’s family would have witnessed the celestial event from their family farm in Berrien County, Georgia, a small community north of Valdosta. Mildred’s father raised cotton, pigs, cows, and all kinds of farm animals, and was one of the first farms to get a tobacco allotment in that area when Mildred was about 5 years old. More here.

AWF Director of Lay Servant Ministries Elected to SEJ Leadership

Congratulations to David Bowen, who was elected as secretary of the SEJ Directors of Lay Servant Ministries. This is a two-year term. The meeting was held at Trinity UMC in Birmingham, AL. The officers are Mary Williams, North Georgia Conference, President; Janet Sligar, North Georgia Conference, Vice President; David Bowen, Alabama-West Florida Conference, Secretary; Dianne Holland, Tennessee Conference, Treasurer.

Pastor Completes Course of Study

Rev. Terry Tatum, executive pastor of Lynn Haven UMC in the Marianna-Panama City District, completed the Course of Study School at Candler School of Theology on July 28, 2017. Rev. June Jernigan, Assistant to the Bishop and Director of Ministerial Services, was present to congratulate him on this accomplishment. The Course of Study School educates and trains local pastors in The United Methodist Church. To be admitted, students must be certified candidates for ordained ministry, have completed the requirements for license as a local pastor, have been tested in language skills proficiency through a process determined by the annual conference, and received endorsement of the annual conference Board of Ordained Ministry.

Connectional News

SEJ College of Bishops Grieves the Violence in Charlottesville

(SEJ College of Bishops) - Serving with you in the Southeastern Jurisdiction, we grieve the violence in Charlottesville. We renew our baptismal covenant to trust and serve Christ, to resist evil, and to honor all in the human family. We share with you our resolve to name, resist and dismantle racism in our churches, in our communities and in the world. As Paul writes in Ephesians 2:14, we pray that the dividing walls of hostility come down so that in every place Christ becomes our peace. At the 2016 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference, a mission initiative for our region was embraced. That plan identified anti-racism as an essential focus of our shared mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Each of us is working with clergy and laity to build anti-racist commitment in our episcopal areas. Full statement here.

Embrace Love: United Methodist Church Stands Against Racism

(UMNS) - The United Methodist Church is advertising nationally to encourage a unified stand against racism, challenging people to learn how we all can be a force for good. A compilation of articles and denominational statements is available at UMC.org/EmbraceLove. Resources from across the connection are also available, including liturgies, discussion guides, videos to use in worship and on social media, and tips for talking to kids. Explore resources here.

Commission on a Way Forward Offers Status Report

The Commission on a Way Forward has released a status report to the Council of Bishops and the entire United Methodist Church, updating the church and the leaders on the faithful work of the Commission after four meetings. The 32-member commission is accountable to the Council of Bishops, which named the members following a mandate from the 2016 General Conference. The charge from the General Conference was for the bishops to find a way forward and for unity in the UMC on issues related to human sexuality. More here.

Call to Commemorate the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation

(Council of Bishops) - Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ! This year marks a significant moment in the life of whole Christian Church: the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. Already the year has been punctuated by moments of commemoration across the world. Churches from many traditions have gathered to give thanks for the renewing impulses unleashed by the Reformation, repent for the ongoing brokenness and dividedness of Christ’s body, and look forward in hope to the healing and unity of the Church. More here.

Local Church Resources

Charge Conference Forms Available Online

2017 Charge Conference Forms are now available online. You may access them through this link or go to our home page and click on the link under Quick Links. Should you have questions, please contact your district office or Lauren in the Episcopal office. Click here to access forms.

AWF Pastor and Youth Cohort Leader Releases New Book

Rev. Jeremy Steele, associate pastor at Christ UMC in Mobile, AL, has released a new publication entitled, "The Book of Everyday Prayer." The new release is for anyone looking to have deeper conversations with God in a busy world. It contains a seven-day read-along guide for praying the hours—dawn, morning, midday, afternoon, evening, and midnight. Within each prayer you’ll find Scripture and even song lyrics to help you focus your mind and heart on God. Also included in the book are over 30 prayers for every occasion from cleaning your room to taking a test to fighting with a friend. There are even prayers for difficult times like parents’ divorcing or a loved one dying. For those wanting to dig even deeper still, there is also a quick guide to four ancient, mystical prayer practices that have been used by Christians for centuries—centering prayer, the Jesus Prayer, Lectio Divina, and the Ignition Examen. Click here for more.

Financial Planning for Clergy Candidates

(GBHEM) - The United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry has joined with Wespath and EY (formerly Ernst & Young) to offer financial planning services to certified candidates for licensed and ordained ministry. The services will be offered for free to candidates upon certification by their district committees on ordained ministry. Read press release.