Vol. 6 • No. 20  
October 18, 2007
Return to Current Issue of the Link
Return to Archives Page

CONFERENCE NEWS

Faculty for Winter Camp Meeting Announced
The Board of Managers has announced plans for the 2008 Winter Camp Meeting to be held at Epworth By The Sea February 3-6, 2008. Bishop Mike Watson will preach on Sunday evening as Winter Camp Meeting begins.  Sharing together in both preaching and teaching will be Dr. Hal Brady and Rev. Joseph Roberson. Rev. Roberson is currently serving very effectively as the Senior Pastor of South Columbus UMC in Columbus.  Dr. Brady is the Senior Pastor of St. Luke UMC in Columbus and is known for his gifted leadership, preaching and teaching. Rev. Thad Haygood will return as the song leader.  Newly assigned as Senior Pastor of Crossroads UMC in Perry, Thad will also coordinate the special music for which Winter Camp Meeting is known.  Long-time favorites at Winter Camp Meeting, Russell and Jane Jacobs will be returning as organist and pianist respectively. Chairing the Winter Camp Meeting Board is the Rev. Alan Fennell, Associate Pastor of Vineville UMC in Macon. A brochure and registration information will be available on the conference website soon.

Housing Scholarships Available for SEJ Multi-cultural Event
The Southeastern Jurisdiction and Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center are hosting an innovative conference December 13-15, 2007 at Lake Junaluska. 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. In an effort to promote and encourage maximum participation of the South Georgia Annual Conference, The Ethnic Local Church Concerns Committee is offering housing scholarships for participants attending this event. Participants in need of housing assistance should contact Denise Walton, Associate Director of Connectional Ministries, at denise@sgaumc.com. The scholarships are open to lay and clergy. For more information on the conference itself, click here.

Applications being accepted for summer camp counselors
The summer break is too far away for most of us to think about, but plans are already underway for the South Georgia Conference Summer Camps at Epworth By The Sea. We are currently accepting applications for the 2008 Summer Leadership Team. Applications are available here. If you know someone who will have completed their freshman year of college by May 2008 and would make a great camp counselor please pass along the information.

Mark Your Calendar for the 2008 Older Adult Retreat
The 2008 Older Adult Retreat, “Just As I Am – Now!” is set for April 7-9, 2008, at Epworth By The Sea. This year's retreat promises to be a wonderful experience in fellowship, worship, and outreach and will explore the mystery of God's design to use us at every stage in life, including right now. The retreat speaker will the Reverend Don Kea and the Bible study leader will be Evelyn Laycock. The retreat will begin on Monday, April 7, at 1pm and will conclude Wednesday, April 9, at 1pm. An additional night's stay may be added to your retreat package for those who cannot get enough of beautiful St. Simons Island. For more information please contact Adam Ricker at the Connectional Ministries Office at (888) 266-7642.

Day of Love and Justice at the Capitol Building
“Stop the Cycle of Poverty NOW! Creating a new legacy for the next generation” will be the theme for the fourth annual Day of Love and Justice at the State Capitol Building in Atlanta February 11, 2008. Participants will gather at 10:00 a.m. A worship service will begin at 10:30 a.m. with a special ceremony at noon in the capitol rotunda. Bishops Watson and Davis will be the chaplains on this day of the senate and the house respectively. The focus of the day is to learn about and get involved in the legislative process concerning issues of love and justice, primarily with how this relates to children growing up in poverty. All Georgia United Methodists are encouraged to be a part of the day.

Statesboro District to host lay speakers training
The Statesboro District will host a Lay Speaking Ministries training November 3-4, 2007, at First United Methodist Church in Statesboro. A basic and an advanced course will be offered. Rev. Craig Hutto will lead the basic course, which will focus on learning effective witnessing and basic speaking skills. Rev. Jimmy Cason will lead the Advanced Course titled “You Can Lead in Evangelism.” Click here for more information and to download the registration form.

Update from the Georgia Florida United Methodist Credit Union
Help spread the word about the Georgia Florida United Methodist Federal Credit Union and you'll receive an additional bonus. Now until December 31, you'll receive a $10 deposit in your credit union savings account for referring a new member to us. Just think how appreciative they'll be when you introduce them to the credit union and all of our affordable financial services! Visit the Credit Union website for details.

Don't forget to register!
--Safe Sanctuaries Training - November 3
--Statesboro District Lay Speaking Ministries Training - November 3-4
--November Youth Celebration - November 30 - December 2
--SEJ Multicultural Event - December 13-15
--Warmth in Winter with Ed Kilbourne - January 14-16
--Safe Sanctuaries Training - January 26
--Safe Sanctuaries Training - February 16


CONNECTION NEWS

Board considers global aspect of United Methodism
(UMNS) One-third of the membership of The United Methodist Church now lives outside the United States. But the denomination's structure remains decidedly centered both in and on the United States itself. How to respond to the new global reality was the topic of a panel discussion during the Oct. 8-11 annual meeting of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. Scott Brewer, director of research for the denomination's General Council on Finance and Administration, reported that at end of 2005, the denomination had almost 13.8 million baptized and professing members, which includes children who have been baptized. While the U.S. baptized and professing membership stands at more than 8.9 million and continues to decline, "globally, the United Methodist Church is growing," with most of the growth in Africa, he said. More commonly, United Methodists cite the church's size in terms of professing membership, which stands at almost 11.5 million worldwide and almost 8 million in the United States, as of the end of 2005. More>>

Commentary: Church builds vision for addressing critical issues
(UMNS) The top staff executives — or general secretaries — of The United Methodist Church's boards and agencies have worked with other church leaders to develop four "areas of focus" for the denomination ' s ministries. In a commentary for United Methodist News Service, they say United Methodism is at a critical juncture in the life of the church and the world. "An exciting conversation has begun, and United Methodists are asking how we might recapture that early spirit of a transformational movement, thereby deepening our faith and strengthening the spiritual life of our community," the commentary says. "… We seek a way to take the best of what United Methodists do today and focus and grow that work so it becomes a source of inspiration and opportunity for discipleship for all United Methodists. That effort has led to the creation of four 'areas of focus' for the denomination" — developing new church leaders, creating and renewing congregations, engaging ministry with the poor, and stamping out killer diseases by improving health globally. Read the commentary here.

New leader shares vision for racial justice agency
(UMNS) The commission charged with "building a beloved community" must become the heart of The United Methodist Church, said Erin Hawkins, the newly installed top executive of the church's racial justice agency. "As the heart of the church, we will serve the primary function of pumping life into and throughout the body of United Methodism," she said. "The life of this church is the people who represent all colors, nationalities and languages." Hawkins, 31, became the head of the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race on Sept. 1. She was welcomed and installed as top executive during the Oct. 3-7 fall board meeting in Oklahoma City. More>>

Recent disasters drive UMCOR changes, new chief says
(UMNS) Recent major disasters — 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, the 2004 Asian tsunami — have led The United Methodist Church's relief organization "to rethink how we do everything," according to its new chief executive. The Rev. Sam Dixon, interim leader of the United Methodist Committee on Relief since Jan. 31, was elected permanently to the position Oct. 10. The election came during the annual meeting of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, UMCOR's parent agency. The 58-year-old pastor oversees the board's Health and Relief unit, which includes UMCOR and the health and welfare department, and he also leads the mission volunteers unit.

In an interview with United Methodist News Service, Dixon said the magnitude of recent disasters — along with the generous response by church members to fund relief efforts — has changed the way UMCOR operates. The changes include more participation by staff in other parts of the Board of Global Ministries; establishing relationships with new organizations in new areas, such as with Muslim Aid in Sri Lanka and Indonesia; and dealing with other development issues, such as microcredit, sanitation and health care. The biggest task, Dixon, added, "is just preparing for the next one." More>>

Bishop Felton E. May to Serve as Interim General Secretary of Mission Agency
(GBGM) Bishop Felton E. May (retired) will serve as interim general secretary of The United Methodist Church's international mission agency, the General Board of Global Ministries. Directors of the board, meeting in Stamford, elected the bishop after they confirmed a personnel committee report that did not renominate Rev. R. Randy Day as general secretary, a post he had held since 2002. The general secretary is the chief executive officer of the organization. "This action does not diminish our appreciation for the many talents and skills of Randy Day but indicates that directors are looking for a different style of administrative leadership to take us into the future," said Bishop Joel N. Martinez of San Antonio, president of the board. "Randy has made many new friends for mission and strengthened mission partnerships around the globe. We acknowledge his energetic service." More>>

United Methodists explore 'cyber safety' in ministry
(UMNS) The nebulous world of cyberspace is a huge mission field for the church. Such was the opening message at a United Methodist conference exploring topics dealing with "CyberSAFEty in Ministry." The Oct. 1-3 event was sponsored by the United Methodist Board of Discipleship. About 150 people from across the United States gathered in Nashville to share strategies and tools to harness the potential gift that technology promises in an environment of stewardship and safety. "I think it's important for churches to consider a presence in cyberspace because that is where the people are," said Paul O'Briant in his opening address. Director of technology for Currituck County Schools in North Carolina, O'Briant cited U.S. statistics that 143 million people use the Internet, and that two-thirds of Internet users have searched for spiritual topics online. "So much of the population uses cyberspace on a daily basis and searches for answers in that space, so we need to be there where they are," he said. Attending from the South Georgia Conference were Rev. Denise Walton, Mr. Adam Ricker, Mr. Patrick Witherow, and Rev. Deborah Wight-Knight. More>>

2008 Congress on Evangelism to be held in Savannah
The 2008 Congress on Evangelism will be held in Savannah January 2-5 at the Savannah Convention Center. This year's theme, “Spirit of Faith Come Down,” will honor Charles Wesley's birth and will be one of the largest United Methodist gatherings to focus on the historic recollection of this brother in Christ. Presenters for the event include Bishop James Swanson, Episcopal Leader of the Holston Conference, Dr. Robert Tuttle, Professor of Evangelism at Asbury Seminary - Florida Campus, Dr. Evelyn Laycock, retired Director of the Lay Ministry Center for Southeastern Jurisdictional Council, and Dr. Bill Bouknight, former pastor of Christ UMC in Memphis. Rev. Grace Imathiu, pastor, Bible teacher, and evangelist, will be the Bible Study Leader. For more information or to register, visit www.congressonevangelism.com/. This event is being sponsored by The Council on Evangelism and the General Board of Discipleship.

UMCOR approves $4 million tsunami recovery project
(UMNS) A $4 million project for continued tsunami recovery work in Indonesia has been approved by the United Methodist Committee on Relief. That and other actions came as UMCOR directors met during the Oct. 8-11 annual meeting of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, its parent agency. The "Reconstruction and Development for Aceh and Nias Project" is scheduled to begin in October and continue through March 31, 2010, in the Bireuen, Banda Aceh and Aceh Besar districts, Aceh Province and the South Nias district. UMCOR's $4 million funding, from the $42 million it raised for tsunami relief, will be combined with $1.37 million from the American Red Cross to complete the project. More>>

Young Theologians invited to participate in essay contest
(UMNS) Students of theology and young theologians are being invited by the World Council of Churches to bring new perspectives and contributions to the debate about the future of the ecumenical movement by participating in an essay competition to mark the council's 60th anniversary. Participants, both clergy and lay persons, are invited to address the theme "Making a Difference Together – Prospects for Ecumenism in the 21st Century." The six best essays will be presented by their authors at an international consultation on the same theme to be held in Bossey, Switzerland, in late 2008. The deadline is Feb. 28. Details are available at http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=contest.

Connection News in Korean
Click here.

Connection News in Spanish
Click here.


RESOURCES

Advent devotional guide available from Society of St. Andrew
(SoSA) The Society of St. Andrew, Advance for Christ and His Church #801600, invites you to participate in its 2007 Advent Devotions. This year's theme is God's Abundant Blessings, based on Matthew 2:11. Each day of the Advent Season you will experience the reflections and insights of a variety of people who have received the joy of God's abundant blessings and Christ's continual presence in their lives. It is the Society of St. Andrew's hope that their inspirational writings will move you to count your blessings and to recognize the abundance God has poured out for you. During the season of Advent, SoSA asks participants to prayerfully read and reflect on the scriptures and devotions in God's Abundant Blessings and then join in their hunger-relief work of feeding America's hungry by making a financial donation. Last year donations made through SoSA's Advent devotional program provided nearly 2.1 million servings of food to those who don't always get enough to eat. All materials are free from the Society of St. Andrew. For a sample kit, order online: www.endhunger.org/advent.htm or call 800-333-4597. More information about the Society of St. Andrew and its hunger-relief programs is available online at www.endhunger.org.

Charles Wesley's Life: A Timeline
(GBOD) In this 300th anniversary year of the birth of Charles Wesley, you may be able to use this timeline of Wesley's life: as a program insert, in a church worship bulletin or newsletter, or on the wall of the choir room. Click here to view the timeline.

Hymns for the Revised Common Lectionary 2008
(GBOD) Dean McIntyre collects hymn and song and scripture references into a single resource. Worship planners of all denominations, particularly United Methodists, will rely upon this invaluable and inclusive reference book that links hymns and songs with the scripture readings from the Revised Common Lectionary. Hymns for the Revised Common Lectionary 2008 is published by Discipleship Resources. McIntyre cross-references biblical text and hymn title in this workhorse text. Information is provided in a simple table format to make it easy to find hymns that support biblical texts for Sunday worship and special days in the Christian year. Find out more by clicking here.

Church Music vs. Church Muzak
(GBOD) Sometimes church musicians – particularly organists, pianists, and keyboardists – are called upon to provide solo music in worship. Sometimes this solo music might be service music, that is, music to perform a specific function or “service” within the service. And sometimes they are asked to provide incidental music, background music, traveling music, mood music…. Church Muzak. This article discusses Church Muzak and why some think it is necessary to worship. Click here to read.

Survey of Favorite and Least Favorite Hymns of United Methodists Ends Nov. 6
(GBOD) For several months GBOD has been surveying United Methodists' choices for their favorite and least favorite hymns and thousands have responded. The last day to participate in the survey will be Monday, November 6, when the survey will be removed from their website. If you have not yet completed the survey, you are invited to do so by telling them your ten favorite and ten least favorite hymns. You may choose any ten selections in any combination from The United Methodist Hymnal (1989) and/or The Faith We Sing (2000). The survey consists of the alphabetical listing of both books' contents and a check box for each title. This information will be used to help us plan for future resources in congregational singing and in identifying changes and trends in musical style. To take the survey, go to www.gbod.org/favoritehymns.html.

Shop and Share for SoSA
(SoSA) If you shop at Food Lion, you can register your MVP card to help raise funds for the Society of St. Andrew. Every time you shop at Food Lion and have your MVP card scanned, a portion of your total grocery purchase will be donated to them. The Society of St. Andrew can get up to $350 per quarter through this program.  To register your card, go to this web page and fill in the requested information. After you click the "Select Organization" button, select Virginia for the state and Big Island for the city. Then select Society of St. Andrew. After registering your card, make sure you have it scanned whenever buying at Food Lion, even if you are not buying a MVP product.

Search and Earn for SoSA
(SoSA) Every time you use the GoodSearch Internet search engine, their advertisers will contribute a penny to the Society of St. Andrew when you name them as your designated charity. You use GoodSearch (a free service) just like any other search engine. They are partnered with Yahoo! to give you great results. Learn more.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

All Upcoming Events
 --Andrew College Homecoming Weekend - October 19-21
--UMW Annual Meeting - October 20
--Vashti Sunday - October 21
--GSU Wesley Foundation Alumni Weekend - October 26-27
--Safe Sanctuaries Training - November 3
--Statesboro District Lay Speaking Ministries Training - November 3-4
--Discover God's Call Retreat - November 9-11
--Wesleyan College Sunday - November 11
--United Methodist Student Day - November 25
--November Youth Celebration - November 30 - December 2
--United Methodist Global AIDS Fund Sunday - December 2
--SEJ Multicultural Event - December 13-15
--Congress on Evangelism - January 2-5
--Ministry Exploration Event - January 4-6
--Warmth in Winter with Ed Kilbourne - January 14-16
--Safe Sanctuaries Training - January 26
--Peace Conference - January 31-February 2
--Winter Camp Meeting - February 3-6
--Confirmation Retreat 1 - February 8-9
--License to Preach School - February 8-15
--Day of Love and Justice at the Capitol - February 11
--Sexual Ethics Seminar - February 14
--Safe Sanctuaries Training - February 16
--Confirmation Retreat 2 - February 29 - March 2
--Spouses Retreat - March 13-15
--UMW Spiritual Growth Retreat - March 28-30
--UMM Spring Retreat - April 25-27

Safe Sanctuaries Trainings
The following Safe Sanctuaries training dates have been set. Click here for more information on Safe Sanctuaries.
--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