By Rev. Abra Lattany-Reed
We often use sports metaphors to express transitional moments and collective efforts. When baseball players are hitting every pitched ball or quarterbacks are completing every pass, people say things like, “They’re in the zone.” Well, that statement expresses the ongoing work of Connectional Ministries. We are truly living in our spiritual zone. Currently, within our spiritual zone is the work of the Bishop’s Task Force on diversity, inclusion, and vitality.
This Task Force has been meeting since September 2022, and we have been in conversation about the South Georgia Conference’s opportunities to better connect with our communities. Many times, local churches can look around and realize that sometimes our communities do not reflect who is in our neighborhoods. The Task Force is creating strategies and building a contextual framework so that all our churches are strengthened. We are focusing on many dimensions of diversity, including race, age, and culture. Oftentimes, churches have a unique opportunity to help people find common ground around their shared faith.
We are nearing the end of our process, which included a goal-setting workshop, individual and group meetings, and praying for the South Georgia Conference. At the 2023 Annual Conference session, we will report on our shared goals and opportunities for South Georgia congregations where we see growth and where we have opportunities for further connection and conversation.
What’s happening, you ask? God is at work in South Georgia!
Rev. Abra Lattany-Reed is the Director of Diversity and Justice Ministries for the South Georgia Annual Conference. She can be reached at abra@sgaumc.com