July 2018
A Message from Tim Connected Communion One strength of the United Methodist Church lies in its connection. As members of Germantown UMC, we are part of the worldwide UMC. When we support our local church, we also support the mission and ministries of our Conference and of Methodism worldwide. One connection the Memphis and Tennessee Annual Conferences have is in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Conferences are partnering with the East Congo Episcopal Area of The United Methodist Church for Congo Women Arise – an initiative to address the needs of rape survivors in a location often called the “rape capital of the world.” During 20 years of bloody conflict, more than any place on earth, the women of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have suffered rape, abandonment by their families and communities, and HIV/AIDS. Survivors of rape need resources to recover physically, emotionally and spiritually. Providing counseling, learning income producing skills, and receiving access to health and mental care will mean these women can rewrite their stories from victim to survivor. A women’s center is being provided where women can learn income-generating skills such as cooking, sewing, midwifery, and childcare to provide long-term sustainability. The Center is being called the Mama Lynn Center after Lynn McAlilly, the wife of our Bishop Bill McAlilly. At Annual Conference, a communion cloth made by the women of East Congo was purchased for the church by one of our delegates, Barbara Schanson, in support of the project. It has two symbols, the cross and flame of the UMC, and a heart with angel’s wings. We will use this cloth for the bread at July’s communion and in communions to come. As we do so, we will remember that we are in communion not only with God’s saints in glory, but also with those saints who are suffering in our world today. Visit www.congowomenarise.org for more details, resources and to donate.
Communion Cloth
Resolution for Intent to Form a New Conference Passes Bishop McAlilly has posted on his blog “Greater Things Are Yet to be Done” about the results of the vote to form a new Conference. I am pleased to announce that the Memphis and Tennessee Annual Conferences have voted, each by more than 87%, to endorse the intent to move forward with a plan to form a new conference! With this positive vote, the conferences have agreed to rely on God to show us the “new thing” that God is doing! (Isaiah 43:19) You can read more by visiting Bishop McAllily’s blog at bishopbillmcalilly.com.