South Georgia United Methodists conference in Tifton
Fellowship, worship, Bible study and celebration marked the 2010 South Georgia Annual Conference session, held June 6-9 at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton.
Nearly 1,200 South Georgia United Methodist clergy and laity gathered together to conference in the Wesleyan tradition. Bishop James R. King, Jr., episcopal leader of the South Georgia area, presided over his second Annual Conference session in South Georgia.
Meeting under the theme of “Sowing the Word,” this year’s Annual Conference session allowed attendees several opportunities to open the scriptures and share in the richness of God’s Word. Woven throughout the conference were testimonies that encouraged and exhorted members to sow the Word of God into their lives and into the lives of others.
Rev. Jim Cowart, pastor of Harvest Church, a United Methodist congregation in Houston County, set the tone for the conference during the worship service on Sunday evening. With a message titled, “What would Jesus say to the SGC (South Georgia Conference)?,” Rev. Cowart challenged worshippers to “refocus and turn our attention to Jesus,” saying that the byproduct of that refocusing will be church revitalization and health.
“Trying to save the United Methodist Church is not a worthy enough goal,” he said. “We have what a dying world needs; they don’t know it and we seem to have forgotten it … (but) we can recover our passion; we can recover our joy.”
With a focus on leadership within the church, Rev. Cowart admonished the crowd to “be busy at what is important,” and to ask themselves the question, “Is this program, event or sermon helping us win souls? Is it helping us fulfill the Great Commission? If not, don’t do it.”
“Our first love must be Jesus over everything else,” he said.
Monday morning began with separate clergy and laity sessions; afterwards everyone joined together for the Opening Worship Service of the 2010 Annual Conference.
Bishop James R. King, Jr. preached at the service and began his message with an Episcopal Address. He stated goals that emerged from his time of listening to laity and clergy in South Georgia, saying that the Conference is in need of better health, clearer goals and more disciples. He summarized some of the next steps that will be undertaken in the coming year to help accomplish those goals.
In his sermon, “soWhat?” Bishop King proclaimed that clergy and laity are to sow the Word of God to a world that is aching to hear the words of Life.
He read from the eighth chapter of Luke, specifically the parable of the sower.
“Positive persistence pays,” he said. “Growing God’s kingdom – sowing seeds – does not just happen; it’s not automatic. Every seed you sow will not bear fruit. But the ones that fall on a spiritually mature heart will. Be faithful; be encouraged. Sow the word of God.”
During the service, an offering was received to support the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). Each church in the South Georgia Conference was asked to take a special offering prior to Annual Conference. These individual congregational gifts, which totaled $43,187.93, were brought together in a single offering Monday morning, and South Georgia United Methodists now have the privilege of making a significant difference in the lives of those affected by disaster.
During the day’s business session, attendees heard the Lay Leader's Address, given by conference lay leader Roy Blackwood; recognized those clergy who faithfully serve beyond the local church in an extension ministry appointment; heard a presentation about the new conference center from the Conference Office Task Force; and heard the report of the Georgia United Methodist Foundation. The Foundation also presented Bishop King a $15,000 check for the new conference center.
Monday afternoon the Conference participated in a worship service to commission six for Ordination of Elders, one for Ordination of Deacons, and to recognize one as Associate Member of the Annual Conference.
To continue the theme of conference, members participated in a Sowing the Word Experience Monday afternoon. Led by Rev. Meg Procopio, associate pastor at Isle of Hope United Methodist Church, conference members were invited to share with each other how they have had the Word sown into their lives, and how they are sowing the Word into the lives of others.
To close Monday evening, attendees gathered for a service of The Order of Ordination for clergy entering the Order of Elders. Bishop Richard Looney, retired episcopal leader who served the South Georgia Conference, preached at the service.
“South Georgia has come a long way in 10 years,” Bishop Looney quipped. “You’ve gone from a Bishop Looney to a Bishop King.”
Bishop Looney challenged the six clergy being ordained as full elders to “shut off your computers and start knocking on doors.
“I don’t know how you pastor people you don’t know, and I don’t know how you know people you don’t visit,” he said.
“To be a good minister you have to nourish yourself and your congregation. Care for them like a parent cares for a child. Train yourself and be an example.”
Bishop King presided over the ordinal rites for the six Elders and was assisted by Bishop Looney. Roy Blackwood, Conference Lay Leader, represented the laity, and Dr. Ben Martin, Chair of the Board of Ordained Ministry, observed the ordinal rites.
Tuesday morning kicked off with a focus on health with “A Healthier Me: Body, Mind and Soul.” Annual Conference attendees ran and walked, participated in aerobics, body prayer, wellness workshops and health screens, all in an effort to enhance the well being of their lives.
Tuesday morning’s business session included the conference approving the report of the Conference Board of Pension and Benefits, approving a conference budget of $12,302,840 for 2011, and approving the discontinuance of four churches. During the afternoon business session, the conference celebrated various conference ministries, approved two standing rules changes, and celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the St. Marys Foundation.
As a part of the day’s business session, members celebrated and recognized 16 retiring clergy and 21 pastors who have served 50 years in ministry.
A memorial service to honor the faithful clergy and clergy spouses who have died since last year’s Annual Conference was held on Tuesday afternoon. In honoring them, Rev. C. Dick Reese said, “They heard the call, and they have served faithfully, and God has called them home.”
Prior to the reading of the names, he said, “Names are important. When we hear their names, we will remember all they have done for the Lord.”
Thinking about those who have gone home to be with the Lord in the past year should spur us on, Rev. Reese said. “Those who we remember today have left a legacy for us to follow.
“We as an Annual Conference will miss them because they made a difference in the life of the South Georgia Annual Conference.”
On both Tuesday and Wednesday, Bible scholar Bishop Richard Wilke, of Disciple Bible Study fame, led the members in a Bible study. He challenged them to live out Acts 2:42 in their lives: “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
“In the beginning, there were no church buildings, no creeds, no bishops,” he said. “They met together in each other’s homes. They shared life together.
“It’s Acts 2:42 that’s needed,” Bishop Wilke reminded the conference. “Acts 2:42 happens over and over again when people ponder the scriptures, live life together and break bread together.”
Bishop Wilke opened Wednesday morning’s proceedings with a Bible study focusing on “The Wesleyan Way,” from Acts 15:1-41.
“The Wesleyan way is to reach out. To reach out to people from other backgrounds. To reach out to people who speak different languages,” said Bishop Wilke. “To reach out to the unchurched. To reach out to the world. And to bring them to the foot of the cross.”
In speaking of Jesus’ inclusiveness and love for all, Bishop Richard Wilke said that we all need to say, to those on the fringes of society, “Y’all come and we’ll study Jesus and grow into His likeness.
“We want them to come,” Bishop Wilke said, “But we want them to grow Christlike.”
Rev. Dave Hanson shared three “John Wesley moments” throughout the Annual Conference session. These concise and powerful mini-sermons reminded attendees of their Wesleyan roots. In them, Rev. Hanson said that, if John Wesley were speaking, his primary concern would be the state of their souls, but his slight frame would tell United Methodists to take better care of themselves. Wesley’s most important question, however, would be, “Do you know Christ as your Savior?”
On Wednesday, the final day of conferencing, members heard from several speakers who illustrated effective approaches to “Sowing the Word.” They also showed appreciation for the hard work and gracious hospitality of the Tifton Local Arrangements Committee, the staff from the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center, and the Conference Worship Committee.
In the closing Service of Sending Forth, Bishop King challenged each person to “get better.”
“My charge to you – get better!” said Bishop King. “To you, individually, as a disciple of Jesus Christ – GET BETTER!!”
To get better, Bishop King shared, people need to: look to Jesus, His teachings and His ways; look to the disciples, the first disciples called the apostles; and look at the values of the faith.
Before reading the appointments, Bishop King said, “You are beautiful. You are wonderful. You are responding to God’s loving grace,” said Bishop King. “Thank you for being who you are and for making a difference. The light is shining brighter in the world because of you.”
Following his message, new appointments were read and it was announced that next year’s Annual Conference will again be held in Tifton, June 5-9, 2011.
--By Kara Witherow, South Georgia Advocate editor
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