Vol. 6 • No. 15
August 8, 2007
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In This Issue of The Link
Conference News
Last Minute Registrations Still Being Accepted - Register Today!
Day Long Workshop for Clergy Spouses
Assistance Needed in the Disaster Area of Americus
Hal Brady, Lewis & Jeannie Lowery and Jimmy McIlrath Receive Evangelism Awards
South GA Youth Helps Promote Nothing But Nets Campaign
New Web Address for Georgia's UM Commission on Higher Education
Don't forget to register!
Connection News
United Methodists Offer Prayers, Caring in Wake of Bridge Collapse
United Methodists seek change in tone at assembly
UMCOR Sager Brown in need of more flood buckets
General Conference Petitions Alert
Study: Clergy changes parallel membership decline
Fund invites congregations nationwide to apply for grants
Transgender issue on Judicial Council's fall docket
SEJ Multicultural Event at Lake Junaluska
Resources
Connecting Worship and Back-to-School
Get Ready to Run Your Very Own Amazing Bible Race!
Great Day of Methodist Singing
Copyright and Recording Violations
New UMCOR Bulletin Insert
Mark Your Calendar
All Upcoming Events
Safe Sanctuaries Training Dates
Employment
Society of St. Andrew seeks program coordinator for South Georgia
Oak Hill UMC has several job opportunities available
CONFERENCE NEWS
Last Minute Registrations Still Being Accepted - Register Today!
The registration deadline for the Pathways to a Healthy Church event is this Friday, August 10. After this date the registration fee goes up to $35. So hurry up and get your registration form or register online today! The Pathways event is scheduled for August 18 at Trinity UMC in Warner Robinsand. It is designed to assist churches struggling in a particular area of disciple-making, and for those who are new leaders to a specific ministry area. Click here for all the details, including a list of workshops and registration information. The cost of the event is $25. If you have questions call Kelly Roberson at the Connectional Ministries Office at 888-266-7642. Online registration is also available. Continuing education credit will be available for clergy.
Day Long Workshop for Clergy Spouses
"I Have Had Enough!" is the title of the all day workshop designed especially for clergy spouses. This workshop will be held during the Pathways to a Healthy Church August 18 at Trinity UMC in Warner Robins. Rev. Deborah Wight-Knight, Conference Pastoral, will lead the workshop and will address head-on some of these challenges of being a clergy spouse as well as offer healthy strategies for coping and overcoming. Click here to download a flyer about the workshop. Click here to register for the event.
Assistance Needed in the Disaster Area of Americus
Note from Jody Wade, Executive Director, Sumter Disaster Recovery, Inc.:
Sumter Disaster Recovery, Inc. has been the recipient of outstanding assistance from volunteers from all over the United States and even Australia. We greatly appreciate what has been done to make our recovery so fast. However, we do have twenty-eight major jobs remaining to be completed at this time. I anticipate that this recovery effort will extend into October or longer. The skills needed include demolition, installation of trusses/rafters, roofing, sheetrock ceilings and walls, carpentry, electrical and some plumbing. Final finish skills required include tape and texture of drywall, sanding, installation of insulation, painting, and cabinet installation, flooring either laminates or carpet. We will need on the lighter side cleaning, yard repair to fill holes left by stumps, and some sod lying. If you are able to assist, please contact me at 888-435-7191. Thanks in advance for your help.
Hal Brady, Lewis & Jeannie Lowery and Jimmy McIlrath Receive Evangelism Awards
Harry Denman Evangelism Award Winners
The South Georgia Conference Witness Team would like to congratulate Dr. Hal Brady as the winner of the 2007 Harry Denman Award for evangelism for clergy. Dr. Brady has served with distinction and has experienced tremendous growth throughout his career in the field of evangelism. Dr. Brady is in his 10th year as the senior pastor of the St. Luke United Methodist Church in Columbus. Dr. Brady has served in the North Georgia Conference as well as in Dallas, Texas. His staff writes, "While most pastors of a comparable age are looking at retirement, Hal Brady is looking for new possibilities in ministry for the St. Luke congregation." Tremendous new ministries have begun under Dr. Brady's leadership at the St. Luke church reaching out to the entire community in Columbus and the scope of ministry through the St. Luke church is growing day by day. Congratulations to Dr. Hal Brady!
The South Georgia Conference Witness Team would like to congratulate the winners of the 2007 Harry Denman award for Evangelism for laity. Lewis and Jeannie Lowery are members of the Christ United Methodist Church in Albany, Georgia. Lewis and Jeannie have been a vital part of their churches evangelism ministries wherever they have been. Always inviting - be it in the grocery store, their neighborhood, or elsewhere, their spirit is infectious and has affected the lives of many people for Christ. Their willingness to help, and to spread the Gospel is what makes the Lowery's wonderful recipients of the 2007 Denman Award for laity. Congratulations!
Carl & Ruth Looney Award
The Carl & Ruth Looney Award is given in memory of Bishop Richard Looney's parents. Each year, the award is given to a young clergy person who has shown great promise in the field of evangelism. This year, the award has been given to the Rev. Jimmy McIlrath, associate pastor of the St. Luke United Methodist Church in Columbus. The award includes a $1000 stipend for the recipient to use to further their education in the field of Evangelism. Congratulations to Rev. Jimmy McIlrath!
South GA Youth Helps Promote Nothing But Nets Campaign
Sixty youth recently gathered at The United Methodist Building to promote the Nothing But Nets Campaign. The building's parking lot was turned into a basketball court and those passing by were challenged to “take a shot” at defeating malaria. The day of witness and raising awareness on Capitol Hill was co-sponsored by the United Nations Foundation and the HOBY Foundation with the support of the United Methodist Church. HOBY brings young people from throughout the world together each summer for a week of learning and service.
Aaron Smith, son of Rev. Ron Smith - pastor of the Vienna-Shiloh Charge, represented the state of Georgia at this year's HOBY conference. “I really wanted to participate in the Nothing but Nets project because I knew the United Methodists were big supporters of this,” said Aaron. “It's important work. We really need to do something like this for the youth in our area, projects to get people involved so they can make a difference.”
New Web Address for Georgia's UM Commission on Higher Education
The Georgia United Methodist Commission on Higher Education and Campus Ministry has a new (and easy to remember) web address: www.gahied.com. Be sure to update your bookmarks. To access the monthly newsletter directly, go to http://gahied.com/NewsLetter.htm.
Don't forget to register!
Georgia PAUMCS Conference - August 9-12
Pathways to a Healthy Church - August 18
Sexual Ethics Course - September 6
KidzQuest - September 14-16
Safe Sanctuaries Training - September 22
Charles Wesley Festival - September 27-29
Safe Sanctuaries Training - October 13
Safe Sanctuaries Training - November 3
Discover God's Call Retreat - November 9-11
SEJ Multicultural Event - December 13-15
CONNECTION NEWS
United Methodists Offer Prayers, Caring in Wake of Bridge Collapse
(UMC) As search efforts continue to find those missing in the I35-W bridge collapse and investigators seek to determine the cause, the people of The United Methodist Church are offering prayers, compassion and coping resources to those affected by the Aug. 1 bridge disaster in Minnesota that left five people dead and eight others missing. A half-page advertisement appeared today in both the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The ad focuses on a visual of the collapsed bridge, with the headline, “For all the days that end in why.”
The copy of the ad reads: In memory of those whose lives were lost, / With compassion for those who lost loved ones, / In gratitude for those who risked their lives to rescue, recover, and give care, / The people of The United Methodist Church pray with their neighbors.
"As we mourn those whose lives were lost in this tragedy and share the anxiety of those who still do not know the fate of loved ones, please join me in prayer for all concerned. Please pray for those who were injured and their family and friends, those who are waiting to hear about missing loved ones, those who have lost loved ones to this disaster, and those engaged in rescue and recovery in many ways," said Bishop Dyck.
The annual conference is also providing worship and spiritual care resources to help those struggling to deal with the aftermath of the bridge disaster which are available at www.minnesotaumc.org.
United Methodists seek change in tone at assembly
(UMNS) United Methodists want to change the tone of conversation and debate at the church's top legislative assembly in 2008. Organizers of the denomination's General Conference, which meets April 23-May 2 in Fort Worth, Texas, have endorsed "Guidelines for Holy Conferencing - What God Expects of Us" as a blueprint for such conversation. The guidelines are in response to long-held concerns that the General Conference more resembles the style and conduct by secular political bodies than the higher expectations of a faith-focused group, according to Bishop Janice Riggle Huie, who leads the Houston Area and is president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops. The set of 10 principles focuses on respect, civility and mutual understanding, as well as ensuring that diverse voices are heard in the consideration of legislation and resolutions. More>>
UMCOR Sager Brown in need of more flood buckets
(UMCOR) The United Methodist Committee on Relief's Sager Brown Depot has nearly depleted its supply of flood buckets. The response effort to the recent Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma storm emergencies have severely taxed flood bucket stores. This low inventory is a serious concern especially when the Atlantic hurricane season is still uncertain. Over 3,800 flood buckets have been sent to Texas, Kansas and Oklahomo - over half the stock in the warehouse. This means there are fewer than 3,000 flood buckets in stock, and we're only halfway through the 2007 hurricane season. Now, increasing the stock of flood buckets has become the most recent emergency at the Depot, as Midwest communities continue the clean-up process.
How You Can Help
UMCOR needs your help to ensure this kind of support continues to be readily available. Congregations and individuals are invited to send bucket contents or a contribution to purchase supplies. A list of the contents can be found in the Relief Supply section of www.umcor.org, or you can give $45 towards the purchase of these items. Click here for more information.
General Conference Petitions Alert
Anyone who submitted a petition to the 2008 General Conference via e-mail to petitions@umpublishing.org prior to noon on July 27 will need to resubmit those petitions. Due to technical difficulties, those petitions were not delivered to the e-mail address. Petitions that were submitted by mail to the petitions secretary, as well as petitions submitted through the General Conference website, are not affected and need not be resubmitted. “I have been assured that the email address is now functioning properly and I regret the inconvenience that this situation has caused,” said the Rev. Fitzgerald Reist, Secretary of the General Conference. For future submissions, anyone who does not receive an acknowledgement of the receipt of a petition within three weeks should contact the office of the Petitions Secretary, Rev. Gary Graves at (270) 274-4590. Organizations, clergy members and lay members of The United Methodist Church may submit petitions to the General Conference, the denomination's top legislative body, which meets in Ft. Worth from April 23 to May 2 in Ft. Worth . The deadline for petitions is October 26. Detailed instructions for submitting petitions are available online.
Study: Clergy changes parallel membership decline
(UMNS) The number of elders in The United Methodist Church dropped 2.25 percent from 2000 to 2005, even as the number of local pastors and deacons increased, according to a new study by the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry. An analysis of church membership numbers and clergy data shows 754 fewer elders, while the number of deacons increased 28 percent from 964 to 1,237, and the number of local pastors rose 31 percent from 5,088 to 6,660. "The study shows the dramatic changes that have taken place in The United Methodist Church in its clergy leadership," said the Rev. Mary Ann Moman, an executive with the Division of Ordained Ministry of the Board of Higher Education and Ministry. More>>
Fund invites congregations nationwide to apply for grants
(UMNS) To help congregations identify and nurture the next generation of leaders for the church, The Fund for Theological Education (FTE) is offering competitive grants ranging from $5,000 to $12,000 for grassroots programs that cultivate a sense of Christian vocation and the call to ministry among youth. Church-related organizations are also eligible to apply if their project is focused on building a ‘culture of call' within congregations. FTE will award $200,000 in grants over three years and the next deadline for grant applications is Oct. 15. Click here for more information and to fill out at application. The grants are awarded through the Fund's Calling Congregations initiative, a national, ecumenical effort to encourage and equip churches to play a leading role in the vocational discernment of young men and women—and to increase the number of gifted young people considering ordained ministry as a profession. Lilly Endowment Inc. funds the initiative.
Transgender issue on Judicial Council's fall docket
(UMNS) The United Methodist Church's top judicial authority will again be considering questions about sexuality — including the case of a pastor who switched gender from female to male — when it tackles a full docket at its fall meeting. The Judicial Council, the top court for The United Methodist Church, is scheduled to meet Oct. 24-27 in San Francisco. More>>
SEJ Multicultural Event at Lake Junaluska
The United Methodist Church strives to be a Church for all of God's children. Many congregations struggle to be inclusive and welcoming to all. Leaders also frequently find themselves ill-equipped and unprepared to guide their congregation through a change for inclusiveness and to assure a diverse Church for all. The Southeastern Jurisdiction and Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center are pleased to present an innovative conference which will address these challenges. Designed to inspire and equip, the Transforming Lives by Embracing God's Diversity conference will show you how to be more ethnically inclusive through relevant and well researched techniques and methods. Not only will these skills help build diverse congregations, they can also be used to address other areas of conflict and differences within the church. This multicultural event is set for December 13-15, 2007, at Lake Junaluska. Click here for more information.
RESOURCES
Connecting Worship and Back-to-School
(GBOD) Here are some good resources for you to use in planning worship that pays attention to helping the congregation make the connection between worship and "back-to-school" time and to help the congregation pray for those who are returning to school this fall. Click here to check out the resources.
Get Ready to Run Your Very Own Amazing Bible Race!
(Cokesbury) The first leg of the Amazing Bible Race is now available at Cokesbury.com, at your local Christian bookstore or by calling 1-800-672-1789. To run the race you'll need the Director's Manual CD-ROM, which gives you access to exclusive content and tools at www.amazingbiblerace.com, and a Runner's Reader for each participant. When and how you run the Amazing Bible Race is up to you.
You can keep the race within the confines of your church, challenge another youth group in your area or a group from another state that you met on a summer trip, or participate in the official Abingdon Youth race. The official race begins on September 1, 2007 and continues (through all six legs) until September 30, 2009. The top 10 teams that complete the race in that time will win $500 for the mission or ministry of their choosing. And don't worry if you aren't ready to go by September 1. The Amazing Bible Race is designed to allow for flexibility and taking breaks, so you'll have plenty of time to catch up.
Great Day of Methodist Singing
(GBOD) A GREAT DAY OF SINGING was begun in the 20th century as an annual Sunday worship service set aside for the celebration of music and congregational singing. Though less used today than it once was, it remains an annual event in some churches. It was sometimes combined with fellowship and a meal and was called All-Day-Singing-and-Supper-on-the-Grounds, often with the singing and eating taking place outdoors or near a river. August, often the month of the year with the least activity in churches and the month for vacations, has always been a favorite time for such a worship service, but it is appropriate at any time of year. It might serve as a festive occasion for kicking off the new choir year. This service can be done with or without choir and with a minimum of preparation. Materials on the GBOD Web site include bulletin, promotional material, notes on the service, and link to additional resources. Everything is offered without charge. Click here to view.
Copyright and Recording Violations
By Dean McIntyre, The General Board of Discipleship, Nashville
I returned last week from the 2007 national convocation of The Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts. Among other things, I taught two classes on copyright and licensing for church musicians and pastors. One of the questions that always comes up in these classes is “Are they enforcing these laws? Is anyone being caught and going to jail?”
The answer to both questions is “Yes.” An Associated Press release in this morning's (8/1/07) Nashville newspaper, The Tennessean, (p.2E) reports that local authorities recently arrested a man who copied hundreds of CDs and DVDs and was selling them from the trunk of his car. He was sentenced in Federal Court this week to 10 months in prison for copyright violation. At the time of his arrest, authorities found more than 500 copied recordings and films in his car, along with recording equipment powered by his car battery, blank CDs and DVDs, some of which were still being shown in theaters, plus $11,000 worth of illegally recorded CDs and DVDs and $10,000 in cash. The copies will be destroyed and the cash paid to the victim industries as restitution.
The U.S. Attorney said, “Violations of intellectual property crimes and copyright laws such as this occupy a high priority with both the Department of Justice and this U.S. Attorney's office in particular….”
What does this mean for local churches? It means that if you are doing any of the following without the proper permissions or licenses, you're in danger:
Showing videos at your church youth group, child care, camps, retreats, or Sunday Schools, even if those videos are legally rented or purchased.
Showing film clips in worship as sermon illustrations.
Video recording your worship services, choir concerts, children's musicals, or anything else that contains copyrighted music.
Making audio recordings of services, concerts, musicals, or anything else that contains copyrighted music.
Making copies of original recordings of choir or solo music, accompaniment tracks, or by original artists, and giving or selling them to your choir members so that they can practice the music or learn their parts outside of rehearsal.
Selling or giving away audio or visual recordings containing copyrighted music, including to performers, parents, members, or shut-ins.
Making or allowing the making of audio or video recordings of weddings or funerals in your church that contain copyrighted music.
Radio broadcasting or TV telecasting, live or pre-recorded, of worship services containing copyrighted music.
Need help? Click here to find helpful information on the GBOD music website.
New UMCOR Bulletin Insert
(UMCOR) Learn how the United Methodist Committee on Relief helped the many who were left homeless by a powerful earthquake in Indonesia. While this disaster made relatively few headlines, UMCOR was there. Use this insert to learn more about how UMCOR is able to respond effectively to disasters that happen across our globe. Download and print the latest UMCOR church bulletin insert here.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
All Upcoming Events
Keep up with what's going on in the South Georgia Conference!
Georgia PAUMCS Conference - August 9-12
Pathways to a Healthy Church - August 18
Resolving Church Conflict Workshop - August 23
Waycross District Basic Lay Speaking Course - August 25
Sexual Ethics Course - September 6
Dublin District Lay Speaking Courses - September 7-8
KidzQuest - September 14-16
Safe Sanctuaries Training - September 22
Charles Wesley Festival - September 27-29
Safe Sanctuaries Training - October 13
Safe Sanctuaries Training - November 3
Discover God's Call Retreat - November 9-11
SEJ Multicultural Event - December 13-15
Safe Sanctuaries Trainings
The following Safe Sanctuaries training dates have been set. Click here for more information on Safe Sanctuaries.
Saturday, September 22, 2007at Pine Forest UMC in Dublin
Saturday, October 13, 2007 at Albany First UMC in Albany
Saturday, November 3, 2007 at Cordele UMC in Cordele
Saturday, January 26, 2008 at Pittman Park UMC in Statesboro
Saturday, February 16, 2008 at Waycross First UMC in Waycross
CLASSIFIEDS
PLEASE NOTE: A local church can send their job description to kelly@sgaumc.com and it will run one time in The Link. The "Employment" section of the conference website will continue to run your ad for as long as you need.
Society of St. Andrew seeks program coordinator for South Georgia
Society of St. Andrew, a national hunger relief organization, is seeking candidates for a position available in South Georgia. The South Georgia Program Coordinator is responsible for oversight of South GA Gleaning Network which coordinates volunteers from local churches and civic groups who go into fields and orchards to glean left over crops. This position requires a person of faith, who is a self-starter and able to travel and speak in public. Also, computer and typing skills are necessary. The office is located at First United Methodist Church in Tifton. A detailed job description is available. Resumes can be emailed to Rachel Radeline Gonia (sosaAL@endhunger.org).
Oak Hill UMC has several job opportunities available
Oak Hill United Methodist Church, a small growing congregation in Camden County, is seeking to fill several full and part-time positions. These positions are listed as follows:
Full Time/Part-time Minister of Music: Applicant must be able to read and play music. Must have the ability to play traditional style worship, non traditional and different styles of music. Responsibilities include some the following: directing adults, youth and children’s choirs. Conducting weekly choir rehearsals. A minimum of 20-30 hours per week. Experience preferred. Salary is negotiable.
Full-time/Part-time Children/Youth Minister: The church is seeking a full or part time children and youth minister. A minimum o f 20-30 hours per week. Responsibilities will include a full program for our children and youth during the school year and full time activities/recreation in the summer months.
Experience preferred. Salary is negotiable.
Part-Time Custodian: Must have two years of experience in custodial or related work. Responsibilities includes performing minor cleaning of building interior and exterior, minor repairs to equipment and fixtures. Ensures building security. High School Diploma or GED preferred. Salary is negotiable.
Please submit your resume by standard mail to: Denita Shiggs, P.O. Box 1027 Woodbine, GA 31569 or e-mail to dts31520@hotmail.com.