July 2020 Clergy Connexion Newsletter

Clergy Services Connexion July 2020 Volume 2, Number 3

A Publication of the Office of Clergy Services of the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church

Table of Contents A Word from the Editor ............................................................................................................................. Rev. Terry Goodman

ARTICLES ON RESPONSE TO RACISM: •

Bishops Pledge More Effective Anti-Racism Campaign ........................................................ Jim Patterson (UMNS)

•

Renewed Vigor in the Fight Against Racism ......................................................................... Jim Patterson (UMNS)

•

Annual Conference Responds (to Racism) .......................................................................... Rev. Leah Burns

BACK TO CHURCH INFORMATION: •

COVID 19 Task Force-Back to Church Guidelines

•

Committing to a Hybrid Model of Ministry .......................................................................... Tom Berlin

•

Why Reopening a Church Is Different .................................................................................. Alex Shanks

MINISTRY MATTERS •

Changes to Local Pastors Licensing School ........................................................................... Rev. Terry Goodman

•

When Will Persons be Ordained and Commissioned? ......................................................... Rev. Terry Goodman

Annual Conference Wrap Up and Follow Up ............................................................................................. Rev. Terry Goodman From the District Superintendent’s Perspective ........................................................................................ Rev. Reed Shell TEOTWAWKI –The End of the World as We Know It ................................................................................. Infographic Where Does the Rapture Fit Into United Methodist Beliefs? .................................... Rev. Dan Benedict/Rev. Taylor Burton Edwards Spotlight on Finances– Holston Foundation .............................................................................................. Paul Bowman Sexual Ethics and Boundaries Task Force Unveils “Disturbing” Video at Annual Conference ................... Rev. Terry Goodman 5 Things Teenagers Need to Know About God During the Coronavirus Crisis .......................................... Andy Blanks Numinous-The Practice of Lament ............................................................................................................ Renni Morris 5 Ways to Reclaim Wesleyan Evangelism .................................................................................................. Heather Hahn (UMNS) 5 Discipleship Lessons During COVID-19 ................................................................................................... Rev. Susan Groseclose Camping and Recreational Ministries Update ........................................................................................... Rev. Terry Goodman The Power of Missional Hubs .................................................................................................................... Rev. Susan Groseclose A Different Perspective: Voices from Outside of Methodism

In many ways it sort of feels like the movie, Groundhog Day. I wake up and the day seems like a repeat of the day before. For me, at least, the structure of my week—getting up and going to the office has been replaced with getting up and going to my home office and sitting in front of the computer for yet another Zoom meeting. I no longer have the Sunday rhythm that you do. From what I have heard, though, your Sunday rhythms have also been disrupted.

How do you do church when you can’t be the church you are used to being? That is the question in front of us.

While Bishop Taylor and the COVID 19 Task Force have given us guidelines to gathering in our church buildings, it is not going to be the same. There will be no hugging, hand shaking, potluck dinners, passing of an offering plate—anything that gets us closer than our 6 foot social distancing circle—will be off limits.

Yet, is that the true nature of the church? I’d like to suggest that even without those things, the church has been doing a terrific job of sharing the love of Jesus Christ with its community. My challenge to you, is to learn from this time that your church may have been wandering in the wilderness and see what new ways of mission and ministry God may have revealed to you—even as you seek to get back to the old ways.

—Rev. Terry Goodman Publisher and Editor

A Word from the Editor

Bishops pledge more effective anti-racism campaign

By Jim Patterson June 19, 2020 | UM News

This time will be different, vowed United Methodist bishops participating in an online launch of a new anti-racism campaign on a day set apart for commemorating the end of slavery.

“I will not lead or participate in another effort full of ‘sound and fury, signifying nothing,’” said Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi of the Western Pennsylvania Conference during the announcement of the campaign on Juneteenth (June 19), a significant day in the history of slavery. The announcement was broadcast on UMC.org/EndRacism and Facebook.

“The lives of my people, of all people of color who have been systematically disrespected, disregarded and extinguished by the sin of racism are too important to settle for anything … less than uncompromising action in dismantling racism,” she said.

The new program, “Dismantling Racism: Pressing on to Freedom,” is a multi-agency effort that includes participation from the Commission on Religion and Race, the Council of Bishops, United Methodist Women, Discipleship Ministries, the Board of Church and Society and United Methodist Communications. Other agencies and many annual conferences are contributing.

“We come to you intentionally on this day, June 19, a day known to many as Juneteenth,” said Bishop Gregory V. Palmer of the Ohio West Conference.

On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger announced in Galveston, Texas, that the Civil War had ended and that those who had been enslaved were now free. It was 2½ years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

“Today, on this Juneteenth, 2020, we wanted to initiate another focal point for conversation,” Palmer said. “A conversation about the hope for the movement that is afoot in our midst. It is a conversation about the resolve necessary to make sure that this time it is different. And it is a conversation that says, with resolve, ‘Enough is enough.’ But it is a conversation that will not settle for mere words, for empty pious platitudes. For we believe that without works, faith is dead.”

Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton of the New York Conference, said the “Dismantling Racism: Pressing on to Freedom” campaign would be “an intentional spiritually guided journey from this Juneteenth to a gathering in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in late August-early September 2021.”

The top legislative assembly of The United Methodist Church, General Conference, is

scheduled to meet Aug. 31-Sept. 10, 2021, in Minneapolis. George Floyd died May 25 in that city after a police officer held his knee on Floyd’s neck for more than 8 minutes.

“We’re inviting you into a journey … that’s designed to stimulate you with frequent events — worship services, town halls, book studies, resources and honest conversations — that we believe can create a movement for lasting change,” Bickerton said.

The new movement should incorporate “deep and unwavering love for neighbor,” said Louisiana Conference Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey, president of the Council of Bishops.

“It’s the convergence of economic hardship, the lack of adequate health care, broken systems, antiquated structures, police brutality, the absence of accountability, the continuance of white privilege and power, all combining into a mass outpouring with one clear message: “Enough is enough.’”

Bishop Bruce R. Ough of the DakotasMinnesota Area, said real difference can occur when white people support Black Lives Matter and are willing to listen also to the voices of black, Asian, Native Americans and Latinx.

“It must be different this time and we together must make sure that the headline remains constant as we press on to freedom,” Ough said. “As people of faith we have to take the lead, carry the banner and keep pressing on to freedom.”

Patterson is a UM News reporter in Nashville, Tennessee. Contact him at 615-7425470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.

To read more United Methodist news, subscribe to the free Daily or Weekly Digests.

As found at https://www.umnews.org/en/news/bishops-pledge-more-effective-anti-racism-campaign on June 22, 2020.

Renewed vigor in the fight against racism

By Jim Patterson June 17, 2020 | UM News

United Methodists should focus on dismantling racism in the church as a step toward doing so in the entire world, said a bishop who is involved in a major new antiracism initiative by the church.

“We do live in hope,” said Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi of the Western Pennsylvania Conference. “We do believe that there will be a day when we will dismantle racism.”

The Social Principles of The United Methodist Church recognize racism as a sin and commit to challenging unjust systems of power and access.

The new program, “Dismantling Racism: Pressing on to Freedom,” launches this month. It is a multi-agency effort that includes participation from the Commission on Religion and Race, the Council of Bishops, United Methodist Women, Discipleship Ministries, the Board of Church and Society and United Methodist Communications. Other agencies and many annual conferences are contributing to the effort.

The campaign begins June 19, to coincide with Juneteenth, the commemoration of the end of slavery in the U.S. An announcement from members of the United Methodist Council of Bishops will be broadcast that day at 11 a.m. Central time on UMC.org/EndRacism and Facebook.

Louisiana Area Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey, president of the Council of Bishops and the first Hispanic woman to hold that post, will participate in that event with Moore-Koikoi and other bishops.

"Words are great, words are important — but action is really important," said Harvey. "Pick up your pen, pick up your voice, pick up your feet and do something."

The campaign will include local and national worship services, town hall meetings, online courses and other resources. A national advertising campaign on social media and news websites across the U.S. directs viewers to the UMC.org/EndRacism website for information and resources. The campaign, launched by United Methodist Communications, includes digital billboards in Atlanta, Minneapolis, Houston and Louisville.

Advocacy and worship resources will seek to equip leaders, members and the public to be a part of the campaign. Materials will be available in English, Korean, Spanish, French and Portuguese translations.

The Council of Bishops is asking United Methodists to read about antiracism and speak

with children, youth and adults about the subject. They also request that United Methodists join in prayer for at least 30 days at 8:46 a.m. and 8:46 p.m. for 8:46 minutes, the length of time a Minneapolis police officer held his knee on the neck of George Floyd, killing the 46-year-old African American.

The deaths of African Americans in police custody have sparked protests all over the U.S. and beyond, with some escalating to looting and riots. Floyd’s death on May 25 has in particular aroused dissent.

“When I first saw the video, a knot in the pit of my stomach, a feeling of dread came over me,” said Erin M. Hawkins, top executive of the Commission on Religion and Race. “It was just another link in a chain of violence against black people, and particularly black men. … The thing that that came to my mind was, ‘Oh no, not again.’”

Many people are upset at the abuses black people suffer but don’t know what to do about it, Moore-Koikoi said.

“Something stirs up in their spirit, but then they’re not sure what to do,” she said. “We’re going to provide folks with resources on an ongoing basis — not just a one-time worship of repentance so we feel good about ourselves.”

The participation of white people in some of the recent rallies and protests may present an opportunity for educational campaigns to be heard better this time, Hawkins said.

“I think that certainly there is a listening that is happening,” Hawkins said. “There is a leaning in to say, ‘We need to learn more … in a way that is broader and deeper than it has been in the past.’”

A virtual denominational town hall on July 1 might provide a space “where white folks can listen,” said Moore-Koikoi. More details about this event, including how to tune in, will be forthcoming.

“All we can do is offer it, provide the structure and platform and hope they will avail themselves,” she said. “Some people say they don’t have an opportunity to interact with people of color, especially black men. So this is one thing you can do. You can listen.”

A day of prayer and worship will take place on June 24, with an online denominational worship service to be broadcast at noon Central time on UMC.org/ EndRacism and Facebook. It is billed as “Dismantling Racism: A Service of Lament.”

“We know this (service) isn’t going to provide freedom, but it’s the signal that we in The United Methodist Church are going to be pressing on towards that,” Moore-Koikoi said.

It’s hoped that United Methodists in central conferences will also take note of the cam-

paign, Hawkins said.

The United Methodist Church has created an advertising campaign, #EndRacism, in an effort to actively engage in the ministry of dismantling racism and promoting racial justice. Logo courtesy of resourceumc.org.

“There will be an invitation to United Methodists that are outside of the United States,” Hawkins said. “They should be looking at their own expressions of colonialism, tribalism, white supremacy, colorism and the parallels to racism.

“So they’ll be doing some work in town hall meetings and worship about discrimina-

tion in those cultures as well.”

The denomination’s top legislative assembly, General Conference, is scheduled to meet Aug. 31-Sept. 10, 2021, in Minneapolis, where Floyd died.

“We are headed to Minneapolis as a denomination back to this place where the spark has been lit,” Hawkins said. “We have United Methodists whose hearts and minds and actions and words have been transformed because we’ve been intentionally addressing within ourselves, our churches and our communities of the sin of racism.

“It’s a journey to transformation, so when we go back to this place that is an inflection point that happened, we are a more faithful church, and we can be at the site of that pain and be a credible witness to the world.”

Patterson is a UM News reporter in Nashville, Tennessee. Contact him at 615-742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org. To read more United Methodist news, subscribe to the free Daily or Weekly Digests.

——————As found at https://www.umnews.org/en/news/renewed-vigor-in-the-fight-against-racism on June 22, 2020.

The following was found at Amazon.com:

“The New York Times best-selling book exploring the counterproductive reactions white people have when their assumptions about race are challenged, and how these reactions maintain racial inequality.

In this “vital, necessary, and beautiful book” (Michael Eric Dyson), antiracist educator Robin DiAngelo deftly illuminates the phenomenon of white fragility and “allows us to understand racism as a practice not restricted to ‘bad people’ (Claudia Rankine). Referring to the defensive moves that white people make when challenged racially, white fragility is characterized by emotions such as anger, fear, and guilt, and by behaviors including argumentation and silence.

These behaviors, in turn, function to reinstate white racial inequality, and what we can do to engage more constructively.”

Annual Conference Responds At our 2020 Annual Conference, the Rev. Leah Burns spoke about some of the actions Holston Annual Conference will be taking in light of the race issue facing our country. In her presentation she stated: “Bishop Taylor has also said enough is enough. Here are the steps that the Holston Conference has asked me to announce that they will be taking right away because enough is enough: 1.) Our leaders…our Bishop and the Extended Cabinet have committed themselves and their time to do their part to dismantle racist systems that are embedded in our structures

and in the way we do things. They are committed to studying and participating in several foundational workshops - to help them better understand how to do their part in dismantling racist systems. They’ve elected to begin with the workshop on Robin DiAngelo’s book White Fragility. This will be followed by a workshop on How to Be an Antiracist based on Ibram X. Kendi’ s work.

2.)Beginning in the fall, the Holston Conference Communications Team will convene moderated Zoom sessions – modeled after the GCORR Real Talk Conversations - where clergy and lay will respond and

discuss current events and what faithful Christians can do to dismantle systems and expressions of racism.

3.) There is a website that is under construction by the Holston Communications Team containing resources, videos, toolkits, news, events, preaching resources, and success stories from local churches all over the Conference. All with the goal to dismantle expressions of racism.

This is what transformation can look like. And this won’t happen overnight. It will take time. It takes work. It takes commitment. It is what we are called to do…what we must do.” “#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the National Book Award–winning author of Stamped from the Beginning comes a “groundbreaking” (Time) approach to understanding and uprooting racism and inequality in our society—and in ourselves.

“The most courageous book to date on the problem of race in the Western mind.”—The New York Times NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The New York Times Book Review • Time • NPR • The Washington Post • Shelf Awareness • Library Journal • Publishers Weekly • Kirkus Reviews Antiracism is a transformative concept that reorients and reenergizes the conversation about racism—and, even more fundamentally, points us toward liberating new ways of thinking about ourselves and each other. At its core, racism is a powerful system that creates false hierarchies of human value; its warped logic extends beyond race, from the way we regard people of different ethnicities or skin colors to the way we treat people of different sexes, gender identities, and body types. Racism intersects with class and culture and geography and even changes the way we see and value ourselves. In How to Be an Antiracist, Kendi takes readers through a widening circle of antiracist ideas—from the most basic concepts to visionary possibilities—that will help readers see all forms of racism clearly, understand their poisonous consequences, and work to oppose them in our systems and in ourselves.

Kendi weaves an electrifying combination of ethics, history, law, and science with his own personal story of awakening to antiracism. This is an essential work for anyone who wants to go beyond the awareness of racism to the next step: contributing to the formation of a just and equitable society.” (Review as found at Amazon.com)

PASTORS...you can read these books and, under CEU guidelines receive credits. This might be a great opportunity for all of us to begin getting on the same page. Let’s lay a common groundwork of terminology and understanding so that we can more freely converse on matters of racism in our country, our church, and in our own lives.

Churches have been given the green light to begin in person worship services. That does not mean, however, that things will be like they were before the pandemic hit. In reality, things will be quite different.

Written By: Rev. Terry Goodman

Bishop Taylor and the COVID-19 Task Force have drafted a document that explains what must be done before a church can resume in person worship activities. In case you have not seen it, the document can be found by clicking on the button below:

In the next few pages, I want to share various articles from some sources that I think may be helpful for you and your church leadership to consider as you begin the process of in person worship. Please note, that should anything in one of the articles run counter to our task force guidelines, that it is the task force guidelines that must be followed.

Committing to a Hybrid Model of Ministry

BY TOM BERLIN ON JUNE 10, 2020 AS FOUND AT https://www.churchleadership.com/leading-ideas/committing-to-a-hybrid-model-of-ministry/ on June 22, 2020.

Tom Berlin says churches will likely need a hybrid ministry model with a mix of in-person and online ministry for some time. He shares thoughts on how churches can embrace this approach and focus their efforts as they move forward.

Are you barraged by a cacophony of voices with conflicting advice on what your church should do next? Open immediately. Stay closed. Make it safe. Don’t wait too long. Get back to normal. Embrace the new normal. Consider present health risks and offer what you did in the past. And all of this as quickly as possible! It’s easy to feel like the double-minded person plagued by doubt and blown this way and that by conflicting opinions and the siren’s song of urgency. (James 1:8) You recognize that even as quarantine orders are lifted, the global pandemic is not going away. And a hybrid ministry with a mix of in-person and online offerings is likely to be in place for some time. So how can you help your congregation and leadership embrace this approach? And how best can you focus your limited time, energy, and resources in the midst of this sea of change?

1. State your values clearly.

Clearly stated, shared values serve us well in such a time. They serve as deep pilings to moor your ministry in a time of rough weather. When Floris United Methodist Church moved to online ministry, we stated that our decisions would flow out of three values: keep people (Continued on next page)

(Continued from Previous Page) Pathway Back To In-Person Worship

healthy; create vital community; and care for the vulnerable. Last week our Church Council (governing body) added a new value: continue to adapt and innovate ministry.

Clearly communicating these values has taken the pressure off reopening inperson worship, allowing us to focus our work on the needs of our community and church. These values reflect the sentiments of our members, but clearly articulating them gives members an anchor to hold to as they form their opinions. When we affirmed the additional value of continue to adapt and innovate ministry, it gave church staff and volunteers the green light to take risks, to be creative and innovative, within the bounds of the first value, keep people healthy.

2. Set a realistic timeframe.

When this started, I hoped it would last two to three months. I miss my naïve self. Last week our Church Council agreed that we would be in a hybrid form of ministry, fully sustaining online ministry for at least 18 months. We chose an 18-month timeframe because it is the most hopeful timeline for a vaccination to be delivered for the general public. (A congregational survey showed that 28 percent of those responding said they would not return to in-person worship until a vaccination was available.) But more importantly, many said that online worship was something they would do more of in the future. I hope it won’t be 18 months until a vaccine is available. But affirming this timeline allows us to commit fully to developing a hybrid approach. And the great news is that the online portion of this work engages the digital natives, the generations we so desperately need to reach.

3. Resume in-person ministry before in-person worship.

Think of a simple Venn diagram with two overlapping circles. The left circle represents “Safe In-Person Ministry” and the right “Vital Online Ministry.” In this unusual time, clergy and lay leaders should prioritize ministries in the area of overlap. Begin by asking what it means to return to in-person ministry. Notice that I did not say in-person worship. Although the talk of inperson worship overshadows every other ministry in the current debate, worship is not the first step.

Start small. How can you begin to improve pastoral care? One pastor is offering “front yard/local park visits” while wearing a mask. Another pastor talked on the phone to an older member sitting on the inside of a glass patio door. It was safe but felt more personal than a Zoom meeting. How could small groups meet outside? How could Alcoholics Anonymous safely

meet in a large room? What you learn from these gatherings will help you safely resume inperson worship when the time is right.

As you think through the left side of the diagram, consider broad areas of ministry like worship, discipleship, congregational care, and service to others, and ask: What forms of community service are the most important at this time? What ministries are easier to resume in-person and would be helpful to the emotional and spiritual health of your members? What safety boundaries must be maintained?

4. Make a long-term commitment to online ministry.

Online ministry may feel strange, frustrating, and alien to those who see it as a concession needed to survive the weird world of the COVID-19 quarantine. But in truth, many effective churches have offered online worship for years. And, if they are serious about their stated desire to share Christ with their community and minister to members, churches that have adopted online worship in this period should continue. Don’t avoid the important work of extending your online worship presence while pining to get everyone back inside a building as soon as possible.

Consider the Vital Online Ministry on the right side of your diagram. Start by asking what aspects you would continue if COVID-19 miraculously disappeared tomorrow. Churches of all sizes have rapidly and admirably offered basic online ministry. Children’s ministries have provided materials and activities so families can equip children in Christian discipleship.

Student ministry leaders are meeting with teenagers online, offering Bible studies and social activities. Virtual small groups are appealing to many. Pastors and musicians have gained new skills as they offer online worship, devotional resources, and concerts. Make a list of every aspect of your current online ministry and congratulate yourself! Then take stock of what you have learned. What has worked well? What can be improved or expanded? What should be dropped? And what further investments are needed?

This is Church!

When Floris UMC first offered online worship years ago, the associate pastor hosting the live chat went through a lengthy process to trademark her favorite statement — This is Church™.

It reminded her that online worship and ministry really was worship and really was church.

Your church has never been closed. But its ministry has been fundamentally changed. Now is the time to consider thoughtfully a hybrid approach to ministry for at least another 18 months, if not forever.

——Tom Berlin is senior pastor of Floris United Methodist Church in Herndon, Virginia. His books include Defying Gravity: Break Free from the Culture of More, The Generous Church: A Guide for Pastors, and Restored: Finding Redemption in Our Mess.

Why Reopening a Church is Different Written by Alex Shanks,

Pathway Back To In-Person Worship

Everywhere we turn, people are talking about reopening. Should churches simply follow the same guidelines regarding reopening as other institutions? I believe there are practical principles and theological reasons why reopening our church campuses requires a different kind of thinking. The church shouldn’t be looking to sidestep the guidelines. The church shouldn’t be simply reacting to what others are doing. The church should be leading the way by modeling a method of safety for others to follow.

Practical Principles: 1. Churches need to open their campuses faithfully, not just safely. Churches will need to consider how the changes required to reopen safely could adversely impact the nature and integrity of worship and ministry. Our expressions of church need to reflect the values and essence of who God has called the church to be. Churches should ask: What are the essential worship elements that express who we are and who we believe God to be, and how can we ensure those are done authentically in this new model? Figuring out how to faithfully do ministry in a world of social distancing while maintaining virtual church options for those who can’t attend in person, will require a new wave of ingenuity and adaptation. Some churches may choose to reopen their church campuses much later in order to open faithfully.

2. Churches are built primarily on trust. People don’t regularly attend a church where they don’t trust their leaders to make healthy and informed decisions. If you lose the trust of your congregation during a reopening of your campus, you lose an essential glue that holds the organizational life together. One can only imagine the impact of losing the trust of the general public by being the next tragic headline. You may be concerned about people going to the church next door who is opening sooner than you are. In the long run, people will attend churches based on trust and a feeling of safety, rather than when they reopened.

3. Church finances should not be a primary consideration in the timing of reopening. Reopening the church campus does not mean giving will increase. Giving may or may not increase. Churches are not like businesses that had no recent income. Many churches have gained new giving units through online sources. Be skeptical of those who think reopening a church building will solve financial issues. Giving levels may be more impacted by

the unemployment rates and the re-prioritization of family budgets in an uncertain time. If your church is fragile financially, reopening is not likely a solution – especially considering the costs related to reopening buildings safely. Giving will more likely increase as we make faithful decisions.

4. Reopening churches will require the building of a new culture. Churches are notoriously ineffective at getting people to follow new rules and guidelines. Even when we do, we always have an exception (picture the person in your family who continues to do things the way they have always done them despite all your efforts to change their habits!). Churches lack an enforcement mechanism and are often too kind for our own good. We need a new culture marked by a willingness to put the safety of others ahead of our personal preferences. We need people willing to call someone out in love when they see a new protocol slipping. The pastor cannot be expected to be the sole guardian of safety. Safely reopening will only be possible through a mass commitment to new norms and a culture that is constantly asking: “How can we help not make someone else sick?” Reopening will require training a cadre of leaders who will champion a new culture of doing church.

5. We can’t return to the church as it used to be. This is not possible. Nor is it responsible. To return to the exact same church we left mid-March would not honor the learnings we have gained and the ways we have adapted. Returning to the way things used to be would fly in the face of the Jesus who warned against pouring new wine into old wineskins. We are creatures of habit and averse to change, so we will have to make every effort to create a new model of church. How will we welcome and engage the new people with whom we have connected? How will we incorporate new technologies? Additionally, how will we honor and give space to express the incredible loss and grief experienced in this time? To return to church without acknowledging the grief and loss of this time would be the worst kind of denial in the very place that should be modeling healthy grief work. We all want to go back to church, but we cannot go back to the same church we left. Instead of returning to the same church, we should be relaunched as a new church!

THEOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS 1. A church is not primarily a building. The church is a people on mission together. Unlike others, churches have not been closed; rather we are preparing to reenter our buildings. In this time, we have been the church gathered virtually and distributed in service and mission. There is no theological congruence to the way God designed the church if our next steps to being the church are focused only on reopening our facilities. There are a variety of ways to connect to God and our neighbors prior to the reopening of our buildings. We should remain focused on being the church and not just having church worship and ministries on campus.

2. The body of Christ must honor the most vulnerable parts of the body as much as any other (1 Corinthians 12). In many ways, we are called to honor the vulnerable above all others. What does it say theologically about us if we open in a way that excludes the vulnerable? How do need to adapt when it is the clergyperson who is vulnerable? Didn’t we read somewhere about the first shall be last and the last shall be first? In this season, what does it mean to be, as Charles Wesley wrote in his hymn, “united by your grace”? Christ’s primary call is to serve others –

especially the vulnerable, the weak, and the poor. Our reopening plans are not about what is best for the management of our institution, but what is best for the common good and greater community. This is not a time to focus primarily on what we may be sacrificing by not gathering, but how we are serving and loving all our neighbors by not gathering too soon.

Pathway Back To In-Person Worship

So What Do We Do From Here?

Whatever we do, churches should seek to exceed the basic health guidelines. Churches are not the exception. By understanding all the ways the virus is still spreading, churches can take appropriate steps to mitigate risk. This includes following all the best guidance around limiting the size of gatherings, cleaning practices, social distancing, and the wearing of masks. The church will need to alter elements of worship like receiving communion, collecting the offering, the greeting time, and public singing. (Note: You can find the latest guidance on all the practical things to consider in reopening UMC campuses in Florida here). Any church, regardless of size and location, can reopen safely and faithfully if it will thoughtfully take its time, adapt and innovate.

Here are five things to keep in mind as you make your plans to reopen: 1. Build a healthy church team to do the careful work around reentering your

2.

3.

4.

5.

buildings and relaunching ministry and worship. Include people who will see your blind spots. Be sure the team addresses what you will do when people ignore the guidelines, or you learn of a possible infection in your faith community.

Learn as much as you can about the science of how the virus spreads. If all you read is the guidelines, that is all you will be able to follow. If you begin to understand the science, it will push you to exceed guidelines and see the dangers unique to your context. Continue to look for best practices that you can implement in your church setting.

Communicate clearly and often. Plan for the people and circumstances who will need you to communicate even more clearly and more often. Be prepared to clearly articulate the guidelines and answer the question of “why we are reopening our buildings at this time.” Use stories and visuals wherever possible. Helpful communication increases trust.

Go slow. This is not a race to reopen. Give space for thoughtful reflection on your values. Consider how much time it will really take to carefully prepare your space and train your team.

Keep the faith. You won’t think of everything. You can’t. But you do serve a God who is with you now and is calling you into this new reality with hope and confidence. Our ultimate faith is in a God who is able to do immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3). God will

guide us as we make space to truly hear, individually and corporately, from the God who is faithful – no matter when we are able to reopen.

As we reopen our buildings, may we seek to be in God’s time and not our own. We follow a God of hope and resurrection who knows all about making all things new (Isaiah 43:18). That is where our ultimate faith lies. Remember, the church has never closed. The church remains open, even as we don’t physically gather in our building. We do all of this so that we might fully love our neighbors as we love ourselves (Mark 12:31).

—————— Alex Shanks is the Executive Assistant to the Bishop of the Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.

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Discussion Questions: 1. As you read the practical questions, which one speaks most to your situation? Why does it speak more so than the others? Is this some idea that will require discussion among your leadership team? If so, then who will lead the discussion?

2. How well do the people of your church trust the leadership of the church? What is the level of trust within the wider community in regards to your church?

3. If things can’t be the way they used to be, then what does the new norm look like for your church? What will be done differently? What will no longer be done? What will the most difficult aspect of the new norm be?

4. As you read the theological consideration, which one speaks most to your situation? Why does it speak more so than the others? Is this some idea that will require discussion among your leadership team? If so, then who will lead the discussion?

5. What aspect of the last few months has taught you and your leadership team that the church is more than just a building?

6. Who are the most vulnerable persons within your congregation? Who will be the persons that will not return because they are afraid? What can you do to alleviate that fear?

7. Have you created a healthy church team? Did you try to include persons of varying viewpoints?

8. What communication avenues do you have open to share the message that the church will be re-opening? Print (newsletter); online (Facebook, email) Text; Phone trees; etc. Have you thought about how and which of these avenues of communication that you might utilize?

9. Who is writing the “script” for your return to in person worship? The pastor, the Board Chair, etc.? Is everyone on board with the script?

Changes to Local Pastors Licensing School

Coming Events July 13, 2020: Orientation –10:00 am —This Zoom meeting is for persons seeking provisional or associate membership in the annual conference. For more information contact Jodie Ihfe at Jodie.ihfe@gmail.com.

(Due to the uncertainty of future dates, no further dates for 2020 will be published in this edition. The dates above are subject to change.)

With the uncertainty that comes from the COVID 19 pandemic, the LPLS design team has decided to forgo an in person LPLS in favor of an online school. This is not our preferred method, but the only method that will insure that we can offer a licensing school this fall.

Candler School of Theology developed a GBHEM approved school this spring and any annual conference is able to utilize the curriculum/format for their LPLS. More information will be released once plans are finalized.

The Design Team (Kathie Wilson-Parker, Dean; Wayne Cook, Susan Arnold, and Terry Goodman) will meet on July 7th to discuss and finalize the plans for this important learning activity for those on the way towards becoming a Licensed Local Pastor for the first time.

The format will involve videos, readings, and assignments sent out on a weekly basis along with required online group interaction. That means that we may be calling on members of the Board of Ordained Ministry to step up and assist with some of the infrastructure to make this event happen. More information will be shared on that as well.

When Will Persons Be Ordained and Commissioned?

The answer to that question is we do not know for sure. There is discussion of conducting individual ordination/ commissioning at local churches as was done in years past. Then again we might try to design some sort of one spot worship event that would rotate Ordinands and their families in and out of the sanctuary. Our goal is to find some way of safely engaging in this event that protects the Bishop and worship team as well as those being ordained and commissioned.

MINISTRY MATTERS A look at ministry related concerns of the Annual Conference

What is important is to realize that this is a very important milestone in the lives of these men and women that have been studying and preparing for this day. We want to do something that is significant for them and also help our annual conference maintain its sense of connectedness to these men and women and their faith journeys.

So, as of now, we don’t have any plans, but we are thinking and trying to decide what is the best option for all involved.

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?

Isaiah 58:6 (NIV)

Annual Conference Wrap Up and Follow Up In case you haven’t heard by now, we had to conduct a virtual annual conference that did not allow us to debate or vote on any issues or reports. Some of you may be asking, “How is that possible?” It is possible because years ago, Holston Annual Conference added to its standing rules what we refer to as an “omnibus motion”. This motion allows the extended cabinet to make decisions on behalf of the annual conference between sessions of the annual conference. It also allows Chairpersons of groups, teams, board, committees, etc, to request that the extended cabinet decide on matters vital to our annual conference if they were not decided at annual conference.

Since we did not vote it means that no decisions were made. This means that the budget, the past service rate, the minimum salary levels etc. were not set for the upcoming year. That means that the chairs of these committees can now ask the extended cabinet to approve these items because they are vital to the functioning of our annual conference.

I will be the first to admit that this is not an elegant solution. I, along with Del Holley devised and perfected this plan, but it is far from perfect or ideal. It allows us to get things done, but at the cost of no debate or vote from the members of the annual conference.

Annual Conference is over and completed. In the next few days, I anticipate receiving requests from those groups that have business that must be decided by the annual conference. I will present these items as motions from the Secretary of the Annual Conference to the Extended Cabinet on Wednesday July 22, 2020 at a 1:00 pm Zoom Webinar. This webinar will be available for anyone that would like to observe what motions are being presented and the actions on those motions from the cabinet. More information about how to sign up to view this session will be presented as the date draws nearer.

As the Secretary of the Annual Conference, I want to thank all of you that attended the virtual session. Some have dismissed the session as irrelevant. I do not take that opinion. It was our annual conference session and it was conducted in the best manner possible under the conditions we currently find ourselves. I look forward next year for a face to face annual conference to which we are more accustomed.

Tis the season for Methodist pastors to be in transition. This year I am in a transition of role that doesn’t require a major move. In this transition the move was to a new office, without having to move household items. This transition is minor as far as a geographical location is concerned, but it does necessitate some change.

One aspect of the transition involves a loss. For the first time in over forty years, I won’t be moving to a congregation. There won’t be a church waiting to welcome its new pastor. As a Superintendent, I now have multiple churches with which to relate, but not a specific charge on which to focus my goals and energy. That loss, is something I will miss. In addition, my wife, Cathy, and I have been talking about how this transition will impact her relationship to the church. She won’t have a congregation to call home, at least not at first. Rather than being the pastor’s wife (even though she didn’t sing in the choir or play piano), she is the Superintendent’s wife. Neither of us are exactly sure what that means or exactly how to define it. Both of us are looking to understand a new identity, which we hope in time will become a realization.

Another aspect of the transition is a change in perspective. Instead of just thinking about one church or circuit, I will need to think of the Scenic South District as a whole. There are two different states and two different time zones to consider, in addition to other factors. The role of superintendent must also think of the annual conference as a whole. Likewise, the change involves being concerned with the concerns of pastors in addition to being concerned for the ministries of the churches in our area. I want to see pastors succeed in ministry, which involves more than just looking toward the next appointment opportunity. These are challenging times for those in ministry whether full time or part-time, elder or local pastor. Pastors need spiritual support as they seek to live out their calling and churches need encouragement for the challenges that lie ahead. I hope to be able to provide support and encouragement in the role of superintendent.

While it is true that we live in a strange time and many of the challenges that face the denomination are fringed with fear and anxiety, it is also a time of opportunity. I hope to explore this more in coming months, but I believe that there are opportunities that will yet be part of the future of Methodism. I am sure there were times in Israel’s history during which the people of God thought that all was lost. But the interesting thing about our God is in those moments, God showed up to show a new way. As a denomination, we have a firm foundation, a faithful message and a vital sense of mission, just to name a few of our assets. And as Wesley said, even as he lay dying, “the best of all is God is with us.”

Grace and peace, Reed Shell

From the District Superintendent’s Perspective By Rev. Reed Shell Scenic South

Thinking Theologically

One of my favorite reading past times is dystopian end of the world fiction. Some of it has a religious overtone, but most of it does not. One of the terms in this kind of literature is TEOTWAKI (The End of the World as We Know It). When I came across an infographic with that same title, I could not resist including it.

As Inforgraphics go, this one does a good job of outlining the major viewpoints. For those not into church end times prophecy, let’s just say there are some differing opinions on the matter. Just look at the infographic.

As I thought about it, I wondered what was the Methodist view of the end times. I came across the following article at the UM website: Ask the UMC and thought I would share it with you.

Where Does the Rapture Fit Into United Methodist Beliefs?

The short answer is, "It doesn't."

You will not find any teaching about the Rapture and its usually attendant beliefs about a "Great Tribulation" that will befall all those "left behind" for some period of time before the "Great White Throne Judgment" and/or "The Millennial Reign" among the doctrinal standards of The United Methodist Church.

Why is that?

Because all of these terms were invented in the nineteenth century, largely among other denominations or independent parachurch organizations sponsoring "prophecy conferences."

Though the person most widely credited for the development of this set of theological terms (along with another term, "premillennial dispensationalism"), John Nelson Darby, at one time a priest in the Church of England, left his priesthood to found his own prophesy-centered sect (The Plymouth Brethren). Influential though his teaching would become, it, as did he, became untethered

from established Christian doctrine and teaching grounded on Jesus's own and apparently repeated teaching that "No one knows the day nor the hour."

Wesley and his spiritual children pay attention to what Jesus said. We don't know, and cannot know, "the day nor the hour." Instead, we are called to "watch and pray" here and now, living and growing in love toward God and neighbor. Our doctrine, consistent with historical Christian doctrine, focuses not on the "order of things to come," but on the "order of salvation"--prevenient grace, justifying grace, sanctifying grace, and the assurance of salvation that God pours abroad in our hearts.

See our Our Doctrinal Standards and General Rules in the Book of Discipline. Go online and read the sermons of John Wesley. Read especially Wesley's sermons on the Great Assize (which is part of our doctrinal standards) and The New Creation (which is not). These two sermons will get you as close as John Wesley gets to this type of thinking.

But notice, even here, how thoroughly tethered to what the scriptures actually say he is, and how little of what he writes is based on anything more than a plain reading of the texts and logical reasoning from them. And notice too, even here, that, like almost all of his sermons, these ultimately have to do with how we live our lives now and how we accept the gift of salvation and live accountably in and under the grace we have received.

Rev. Dan Benedict and Rev. Taylor Burton-Edwards Dan and Taylor served as director of worship resources with Discipleship Ministries of The United Methodist Church from 1992-2018.

Have questions? Ask The UMC or talk with a pastor near you. And check out other recent Q&As. This content was produced by Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications.

As found at https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umcwhere-does-the-rapture-fit-into-united-methodists-beliefs on June 22, 2020

When COVID-19 struck the Holston area, I remember saying to a friend, “we will see what people are made of—the church will rise to the occasion and move beyond its walls to meet the needs of our communities and neighbors.”

Spotlight on Finances

I have been amazed at how United Methodists have responded to the unprecedented need and am proud that the Holston Foundation was able to support them in meeting those needs.

A few examples of churches utilizing the Foundation’s COVID-19 Emergency Response grants provided earlier this year: paying utility bills for workers laid off, providing groceries through food banks, community meals, medication assistance, backpacks with food for children, a freezer for expanded food donations, and so much more to meet the direct needs of communities.

Over 50 churches and organizations received grants—just an example of what is being done throughout the Holston Conference in the name of Christ in response to the crisis.

Support such as this is made possible by individuals who entrust the Foundation with their gifts.

One of my greatest pleasures serving the Holston Foundation is meeting generous people and having conversations about the ministries that mean so much to them. We serve as a conduit from generous people to the local church or ministry. And those connections and conversations are what I value the most in our ministry to the church. (Please click image below for a message from Rev. Richard Edwards, Director of Stewardship.)

If you know someone in your church who has expressed an interest in giving to the work of the kingdom, either as an outright gift or through their will, the Holston Foundation is here to assist. I know that often it can be an awkward conversation for a pastor to have with a church member.

However, that conversation is meaningful because I know that one day their support can do so much for others.

Paul Bowman Executive Director www.HolstonFoundation.org

“To change ourselves effectively, we first had to change our perceptions.” ― Stephen R. Covey

Sexual Ethics and Boundaries Task Force Unveils “Disturbing” Video at Annual Conference In case you missed it, the Sexual Ethics and Boundaries Task Force unveiled a video at Annual Conference that is disturbing in its nature. The video depicted male clergy of our annual conference reading to the camera statements that have been made to female clergy of the annual conference. If you have not seen this video, I invite you to view the video below:

5 Things Teenagers Need to Know About God During the Coronavirus Crisis

Written by Andy Blanks on March 23, 2020 As found at https://youthministry360.com/blogs/all/5-things-teenagers-need-to-know-about-god-during-the-coronavirus-crisis on June 22, 2020

Do you find yourself feeling like you're stuck in one of those post-apocalyptic zombie movies?

Yeah. Me too. I was talking to a youth pastor friend this weekend, and our conversation went like this: ————————————— MY FRIEND: Do you remember that movie "I Am Legend"?

ME: Yes. MY FRIEND: Doesn't this coronavirus stuff kind of remind you of that movie?

ME: [Giving him the side-eye] Yeah, don't use that in a sermon.

—————–———————If you've never seen the movie, Will Smith is the last human on earth, the rest of the population having been wiped out by a virus. Smith is a virologist who must now fight an army of nocturnal mutant zombies for survival. Maybe not the best movie analogy these days! Hahaha.

I believe deep down, many of our students struggle to process what's happening around them.

While it's OK (I think) to be lighthearted at times as a coping mechanism, we need to remember that in times of crisis like the one we find ourselves in, our students need to be reassured. They may not act like it. They may put on a chill, unconcerned vibe. But I believe deep down, many of them struggle to process what's happening around them. Especially through the lens of their faith.

Over the centuries, as crises have hit, the Church has turned to what they know to be true about God. We see the roots of this going back to the Israelites in the wilderness. When things got tough, they remembered who God was and how He had been faithful to them in the past.

I believe this is a meaningful practice for us to engage in, as well.

So as our teenagers navigate days of quarantine measures and infection counts (who would have ever thought!?), let's help them remember these five core truths about God.

First, God is in control.

We know that God is sovereign. What does this mean exactly? This means that God's rule is all -encompassing (there is nowhere He does not rule) and absolute (there is nothing that happens that He is not in control of). About Himself, the Lord says in Isaiah 46:10, "My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose." Psalm 103:19 says, "The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all." In Job 42:2, Job says that God can do all things and that no purpose of His can be thwarted. There is nothing that happens anywhere that God is not in control of. The Coronavirus didn't catch God off guard. If the Coronavirus exists, it's because God has allowed it to exist.

This may lead to the inevitable question, "If God is in control of all things, why did He allow this to happen"? This is a perfectly logical question and one that doesn't scare God (and shouldn't scare you). The way we process this question leads to the next truth we need to remember about God.

Second, God is good.

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like there are characteristics we have. The only difference with God is that He is perfect in all His attributes. So God is not only gracious, He's perfectly gracious. He's not only just, He's perfectly just. His mercy is perfect. His compassion is perfect. Even His anger is perfect! God is perfectly good. Psalm 119:68 says, "You are good and do good; teach me your statutes."

Psalm 145:9 says, "The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made."

Why does this matter? It matters a lot. If God was completely in control of all things but not perfectly good, we would be terrified. You would never know how God would use His power.

But God is good. Perfectly good. So we must remind students that His reign, His sovereignty, is good as well.

We don't know all the reasons why God allows things like Coronavirus to happen. We know that there is evil at work in the world, just as there is good at work. And God allows evil to exist. We don't have a perfect understanding of why that is the case. But one of the reasons why is that God is patient, wanting as many people to come to saving faith in Him before He returns to once and for all triumph over evil (2 Peter 3:9). While we will never know all of the reasons WHY God allows things like this to happen, we can fall back on the truths that He is in control and that He is good. His rule is good. His sovereignty over us and the world is good.

Third, God is constantly at work to bring about good.

We know Romans 8:28: "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." While this verse is often misapplied, the truth is an important one for our students: that no matter what the circumstances, God is working through evil to bring about good. It's in His nature. It's what He does. This is how Joseph, who was left for dead by his brothers, could look at them in forgiveness and say, "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good."

When students find themselves overwhelmed and anxious, fearful about the world around them, they can take heart, knowing that God is at work! They may not see it, but they can believe in it. But the cool thing is, once students know this truth, they can begin to LOOK for where God is at work. More importantly, our students can ask the question, "How can God work THROUGH me to bring about good in this time of trial"?

Fourth, God has seen us through this crisis. Already.

This is a super-deep, kind of wild concept that your students will love. Because God is eternal, and because He is omniscient (all-knowing), God has already seen us through this crisis. This is where if you were texting this, you'd insert the "mind blown" emoji. Lol. Our lives are on a linear timeline. We have a beginning (our birth) and an ending (our death). (Though, how beautiful it is that if you've entered into a saving faith relationship with Jesus, your death

begins a new, eternal life with Christ!) We can only see what lies directly in front of us. Our stories only move along one chapter at a time. But not God. You see, God isn't in our timeline. He's above it. He's outside of it. His existence isn't linear like ours. He doesn't have a beginning and an end. He has always been. And the Bible teaches us that He knows the story of humankind even up to the ending (that's what makes Revelations so cool). When we take all of this mind-blowing truth together, it leads us to understand that God knew Coronavirus was coming, knows how it will go, and has already seen us through the other side of it! How AMAZING is that?

When students are fearful, this truth in itself can comfort them. God goes before us. He has already gone before us through the end of this season of uncertainty.

Fifth, during this chaos, Jesus holds all things together.

When things get rough, and our students want to get down, or worried, or scared, there is a powerful truth they can cling to: Jesus holds all things together. Jesus is the force that binds the world together during chaos. He keeps things from spiraling out of control.

In his beautiful picture of Jesus in Colossians 1:15–17, Paul says this: "[15] He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. [16] For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. [17] And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." In Jesus, ALL THINGS HOLD TOGETHER! This truth drives out fear. It gives assurance. It gives confidence. It reminds us that no matter how bad it gets, it can never get so bad that it will fall apart because Jesus is at the center of it all holding it all together.

Our students need reassuring in times like this. But honestly, maybe we do too. Let these truths help lead you and your students to a place of peace and trust in the Lord.

—— ANDY BLANKS Andy Blanks is the Publisher and Co-Founder of YM360 and Iron Hill Press. A former Marine, Andy has spent the last 17 years working in youth ministry, mostly in the field of publishing. During that time, Andy has led the development of some of the most-used Bible study curriculum and discipleship resources in the country. He has authored numerous books, Bible studies, and articles, and regularly speaks at events and conferences, both for adults and teenagers. Andy and his wife, Brendt, were married in 2000. They have four children: three girls and one boy.

NUMINOUS

The Practice of Lament The last few months have been painful. We have experienced one challenging wave after another: COVID-19, loss of work, an economic downturn, depression, isolation, and racial division.

Our world has changed. Many of us are worn down and worn out. We want to move forward yet our pain is unfinished. What can we do?

We need to mourn what we have lost. We need to express our sorrow and regret. We need to lament.

What is lament?

Lament is a form of crisis language.1 It has also been described as a “prayer for help coming out of pain or a religious ouch.”2 Laments may be communal (typically regarding a national crisis as in Psalm 12) or they may be individual (isolated trouble as in Psalm 86). Whether a lament is communal or individual, it addresses loss, grief, a broken heart, helplessness, and/or repentance.

“having a strong religious or spiritual quality; indicating or suggesting the presence of divinity.”

Written by Renni Morris

A lament does not have to be beautiful or poetic, but it does have to be honest. It offers us a way to empty ourselves and let go so we can be filled with something new. It begins from a place of suffering and negativity, but it ultimately ends with faith and hope. The practice of lament helps us honor what we are feeling as we move into a renewed place of trust and growing confidence in the goodness of God.

The Shape of Lament A lament has several parts or phases3: Lament or complaint: A description of what has happened, what we are feeling, and a request for deliverance.

Invocation: We call on God. Confidence: We tell God we believe the circumstances can be made right.

Praise: We praise God for who God is to us.

Petition: We make our request(s) of God. N. T. Wright describes lament as a form of praise; proof of a relationship; a pathway to intimacy with God; a prayer for God to act;

and participation in the pain of others.4

Laments in Scripture Laments are found throughout Scripture (in both the Old and New Testaments) and at least a third of the Psalms are psalms of lament.

Psalm 102:1-2 (CEB) 1 Lord, hear my prayer!

Let my cry reach you!

2 Don’t hide your face from me in my time of trouble!

Listen to me!

Answer me quickly as I cry out!

Psalm 6:1-3 (CEB) 1 Please, Lord, don’t punish me when you are angry; don’t discipline me when you are furious.

2 Have mercy on me, Lord, because I’m frail.

Heal me, Lord, because my bones are shaking in terror!

3 My whole body[b] is completely terrified!

But you, Lord! How long will this last?

Psalm 71:3 (CEB) 1 I’ve taken refuge in you, Lord.

Don’t let me ever be put to shame!

2 Deliver me and rescue me by your righteousness!

Bend your ear toward me and save me!

3 Be my rock of refuge where I can always escape.

You commanded that my life be saved because you are my rock and my fortress.

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Matthew 27:46 (CEB) At about three Jesus cried out with a loud shout, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani,” which means, “My God, my God, why have you left me?

Lamentations 3:19-24 (CEB) 19

The memory of my suffering and homelessness is bitterness and poison.

I can’t help but remember and am depressed.

21 I call all this to mind—therefore, I will wait.

22 Certainly the faithful love of the Lord hasn’t ended;[b] certainly God’s compassion isn’t through!

23 They are renewed every morning. Great is your faithfulness.

24 I think: The Lord is my portion! Therefore, I’ll wait for him.

20

A Tested Practice Angela Johnson of Emory University, reminds us “we do indeed have permission to lament, crying out to God, questioning God, and even yelling at God.”5 When Walter Brueggemann describes psalms of lament, he refers to them as psalms of disorientation that address seasons of hurt, alienation, suffering, and death. They include the emotions of rage, resentment, self-pity, and hatred. We bring all our confusion and hurt to God.6 Martin Luther valued the psalms of lament, saying, “What is the greatest thing in the Psalter but this earnest speaking amid the storm winds of every kind? … Where do you find deeper, more sorrowful, more pitiful words of sadness than in the psalms of lamentation? There again you look into the hearts of the saints, as into death, yes, as into hell itself … . And that they speak these words to God and with God, this I repeat, is the best thing of all. This gives the words double earnestness and life.”7 In our uncertainty, division, and violence, we can choose to embrace lament as a form of healing both as a community and individually.

A Personal Note What can we do when words fail us … when we cannot even find the words to lament? The week of April 16, 2007, our daughter was a freshman at Virginia Tech. Our family was overwhelmed with the lives lost through a violent act. We still remember the lingering injuries to heart and mind each time another shooting occurs.

The shooting was on a Monday and by Friday I was filled with anger and grief. I had no words

left. I could not journal or articulate what I was feeling, but I had to let some of the pain go.

After a brisk walk. I came home and saw our row of boxwoods that had been frostbitten on Easter Sunday so I attacked them with the garden shears. As I embraced that physical labor, I realized it had become a form of lament for me. When words fail you, go for a run or a hike, work in the yard, purge a closet – do what is helpful to you. Above all, keep inviting God into your heart as He leads you from sorrow to joy.

References 1 https://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199783335.001.0001/ oxfordhb-9780199783335-e-007 2 https://www.franciscanmedia.org/biblical-laments-prayer-out-of-pain/ 3 https://www.explainingthebook.com/lament-psalm-structure/ 4 https://www.ntwrightonline.org/five-things-to-know-about-lament/ 5 https://www.umc.org/en/content/a-cry-of-lament 6 Praying the Psalms, Walter Brueggemann, Eugene: Cascade Books, 2007, p. undocumented 7 https://missionalhermeneutics.blogspot.com/2015/06/one-of-my-great-joys-as-reader-ofbible.html Additional Resources Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home, Richard J. Foster, HarperOne, 2009 (Chapter 4: The Prayer of Tears and Chapter 5: The Prayer of Relinquishment) 1

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?

How long will you hide your face from me?

2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?

How long will my enemy triumph over me?

3

Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, 4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

5

But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.

6 I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.

Psalm 13 (NIV) An Individual Lament

For many United Methodists, evangelism is an uneasy word.

It conjures images of someone on a busy street corner handing out Bible tracts or perhaps a missionary on the doorstep interrupting an already-hectic Saturday morning.

Neither situation is necessarily Wesleyan, explained the Rev. Heather Heinzman Lear, the director of evangelism ministries for the United Methodist Board of Discipleship. Lear has made it her mission to give United Methodists a new vantage point on evangelism — as an essential part of Christian discipleship.

Evangelism should not just be about providing a form of fire insurance “to keep people out of hell,” she said. “Jesus came to teach us how to live and to announce the Kingdom of God is at hand.”

To truly share and live out that good news, Lear said, requires developing relationships with people. That often requires more than handing out Bible tracts.

Lear said she wants to help United Methodists reclaim the definition of evangelism as communicating the good news of Christ’s life, death and resurrection — that in the words of the Gospel of John: “The Word became flesh and made his home among us.”

Lear was addressing more than 50 United Methodist lay people and clergy, including a district superintendent, from around the Memphis Annual (regional) Conference. They had given up a chunk of their Saturday, March 1, to attend Lear’s workshop “Reclaiming Evangelism” at Mullins United Methodist Church in Memphis.

She said she also wants United Methodists “to reclaim the centrality of evangelism in the life of our churches.”

A Wesleyan approach to evangelism, she said, should combine three aspects: • • •

Apologetics, teaching people Christian beliefs Personal transformation, helping people grow in their relationship with Christ Mission, enabling people to share Christ’s love with others How do churches go about integrating all three?

Lear drew on the book “Shift: Helping Congregations Back into the Game of Effective Ministry” by the Rev. Phil Maynard, a clergy coach who works with Path1, the United Methodist Board of Discipleship new church starts division.

She presented five changes the book recommends that will help congregations more effectively share the gospel and help develop more Christian disciples.

5 Ways to Reclaim Wesleyan Evangelism

By Heather Hahn March 3, 2014 | (UMNS)

From fellowship to hospitality “Are we friendly, or are we in the practice of making friends?” Lear asked. “There’s a huge difference.”

Congregations usually are great about sharing friendly fellowship among current members.

But at some churches, newcomers can feel like an outsider at a family reunion rather than a welcome addition to a community of faith, Lear and others at the workshop observed.

Many churches can seem to have assigned seating — with people insisting on sitting in the same place in the same pew every Sunday. But that tendency can also be an evangelism tool, Lear said.

She suggests telling congregants that their pews are their “mission field.” “You need to know the people who sit all around that pew,” she said. “You need to be aware who’s there and who’s not. When somebody new comes in, get their name.”

One man at the workshop said that when he visited a church, it was his pew neighbors who helped get him and his wife connected with the church choir and find a Sunday school class.

Because of them, he and his wife became members.

From worship as an event to worship as a lifestyle Lear challenged her listeners to think of how they can take their worship experience out into the world and help people “encounter the risen Lord” outside the church sanctuary.

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She quoted Louis Giglio, pastor of Passion City Church in Atlanta and author of “The Air I Breathe: Worship as a Way of Life.” “You are and always will be a worshiper,” Giglio wrote.

“It’s what you do. You can’t help it. You can’t stop it. But you can choose where you invest it.”

The Rev. Cynthia Davis, McKendree District superintendent in the Memphis Conference, said she urges churchgoers not to toss their worship bulletins into a recycling bin after service but instead give them away between Sundays.

“If you have Scriptures and prayers and liturgy, it might be helpful to someone else on their journey,” Davis said. “You never know who might need that word from the Lord.”

On the United Methodist Board of Discipleship website, Lear also offers invitations to discipleship that churches can use each week to help worshipers reflect more on the week’s Scripture reading and keep their focus on God during the week ahead.

From ‘serve us’ to service Even congregations with strong community outreach can struggle to help people make the connection between love of neighbor and the worship of God. “We have people who use our church gym every night who don’t know where the sanctuary is,” Carla Taylor, director of communications at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Memphis, said to those at the event. Taylor is also chair of the Memphis Conference Communications Action Team.

Lear suggested one way to bridge that gap is to help everyone in the church know that the task of sharing the Christian faith isn’t just the job of the pastor or the evangelism chair but a calling on every Christian.

“I would argue that everything that goes on in church buildings and with our church’s name on it should be about sharing the love of God with others and growing in the love of God ourselves,” she said. “Everything that our church is about should have an evangelistic lens.”

From a survival mentality to generosity Lear says she often receives calls from church leaders who say their church needs more people, otherwise the church can’t pay its bills.

“Money follows ministry,” Lear said. “People aren’t really excited about paying me or paying for the lights. But if we are doing significant ministry, it will make a difference.”

She also pointed out generosity includes far more than the dollars in the offering plate. After all, United Methodist membership vows call on people to pledge their time, talents and witness as well.

She suggested one way churches can publicly acknowledge the varied forms of generosity — and get away from the mentality of scarcity — is to get rid of that old bulletin standby of printing the total budget, year-to-date and the current deficit.

Instead, she said bulletins, church newsletters and even worship should include stories of how the church’s ministries are making differences in people’s lives. “If you tell the stories of people’s lives being changed, people want to be part of that.”

From membership to discipleship Membership focuses on what happens inside the church walls but discipleship transcends them and engages the world, Lear said.

But many people struggle with sharing their faith story, especially if they grew up in the church.

She suggested an exercise to overcome that discomfort. “Take a sheet of paper and draw a line across from birth to today and then draw the peaks and valleys of when did I feel God really present in my life and when did I feel really alone,” she said. That way when someone at work or in the neighborhood is struggling, United Methodists can share how God reached out to them during a low point.

“The good news is that we have a God who loves us so much that he decided to be in unity with us and join in the human experience even including his death on the Cross,” Lear said.

“That’s not something you find in other religions.”

And the news is so good, Christians have every reason to invite others to share in it.

Editor's Note: This story was first published on March 7, 2014. *Hahn is a multimedia news reporter for United Methodist News Service. Contact her at (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.

As found at https://www.umnews.org/en/news/5-ways-to-reclaim-wesleyan-evangelism on June 22, 2020

Evangelism Resources

Evangelism resources from the United Methodist Board of Discipleship • “Vital: Churches Changing Communities and the World” by Jorge Acevedo • “Shift: Helping Congregations Back into the Game of Effective Ministry” by Phil Maynard • “Real Life: A Christianity Worth Living Out” by James Choung • “Should We Change Our Game Plan? From Traditional or Contemporary to Missional and Strategic” by George G. Hunter III • “Nudge: Awakening Each Other to the God Who’s Already There” by Leonard Sweet

5 Discipleship Lessons During COVID-19 Discipleship Formation Power of Next Steps

As we have walked through these last several months, I have wondered what paradigm shifts are occurring.

How might our discipleship look different in the months and years to come? From my readings and ponderings, these are 5 discipleship lessons that I have discovered.

Reclaim Importance of Relationships – I was reading an article published by the Lewis Center for Church Leadership, Committing to a Hybrid Model of Ministry. It stated, “Began by asking what it means to return to in-person ministry. Notice that I did not say in -person worship.” In the article, Tom Berlin was stressing the importance of relationships before a focus on ministries. I was reminded that the foundation of our discipleship is a relationship with God and one another. In these days of social distancing, we long to renew relationships. We long to reconnect and to honor or celebrate what has happened over these past months. We long to connect with those who have been part of our virtual community but were not part of our in-person community. We commit to connecting with those who are unable to rejoin in-person or those who struggle to adhere to required guidelines. How can you and others in your congregation nurture relationships before and as ministries began again?

Art of Neighboring – I have been amazed at ways that we have connected to our neighbors over these last several months. We have experienced nightly walks waving or visiting with neighbors, participated in egg hunts and bear hunts, been serenaded through the music of talented neighbors, or attended neighborhood food truck gatherings. We have served our neighbors with drive-in food distributions and window visits at retirement centers. We have reached out to neighborhood families with Vacation Bible School. In our desire to connect with one another and to share God’s love, we have rediscovered our

neighbors even learning our neighbor’s names and stories. How can you and others in your congregation continue to strengthen these community relationships inviting and sharing your faith with others who long for a relationship with Jesus Christ?

Virtual Faith Formation – If our congregation didn’t have a virtual presence in the community, we have discovered new ways of being the church. We have also moved beyond being only a Sunday morning presence to offering virtual daily devotionals, weekly Bible studies, family story time, and even small group, faith forming gatherings throughout the week. What ways will you and others in your congregation continue to provide virtual faith forming opportunities? What new volunteers or staff are needed?

Family Centered Faith Formation – Each week, I have been meeting with children’s ministry leaders to support one another and to share ideas during this pandemic. We have rediscovered that our families are the primary center for faith formation. Even as we return to in -person worship our services will be family, multi-generational since there will be no children’s ministries at this time. What ways will you and others in your congregation continue to foster and enhance family, multi-generational ministries?

Recommitment to Dismantle Racism – In the recent weeks we have all experienced the resurgence and heard the pleas to dismantle the injustices of racism, violence, and systemic oppression. Many of us participated in a worship service of lament and healing. We have heard ways that our conference leadership will be leading us in dismantling racism.

Discipleship Ministries offers these resources at https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/articles/resources-for-responding-to-systemic-racism. What ways will you and others in your congregation commit to courageous conversations and actions that dismantle racism?

Please feel free to contact me at susangroseclose@holston.org to share other discipleship lessons you have discovered these past few months or to explore any of these lessons that I have identified.

Pilgrim along the journey, Susan Groseclose

Written by Terry Goodman

Camp and Retreat Ministries

Rev. Mary Thompson Executive Director of Camp & Retreat Ministries POB 850 Alcoa, TN 37701 (423) 667-8269 marythompson@holston.org

For more information about the Camping and Recreation Ministries of the Holston Annual Conference, please vist their web page. CLICK on the logo below.

Let me share with you what I have observed in the Camp and Retreat Ministries over the past few months. I do not speak for them and I may not have a full grasp of what they are going through but these are the words I would use to describe their journey: Anger –I know that is a harsh word to begin with, but I believe that there is anger at what Covid 19 has done to this vital ministry of our annual conference.

Disarray — What do you do with plans? In case you did not realize it, this group is active ALL YEAR long. They don’t just say, “Okay. Camp starts next week let’s get ready.” They are preparing and seeking to discern God’s plans for the things they will do. All those plans have to be put aside this year. All the hard work has been for naught.

Disappointed—It’s one thing for a church to have to refrain from in person gathering for a season.

Most have the online option of sharing their message. This group has had its entire opportunity to share the love of Christ with the children of Holston Conference taken away from them. Online was not an option. They are most assuredly a face to face kind of ministry.

Praying — I imagine that they have offered up a lot of prayers. I imagine, that they would covet our prayers.

Planning — As I said above, they work all year round to provide some of the best camping experiences in our nation for the children of Holston. Even now, they are planning on how to

grapple with the financial impact that losing a season of camping has had on their ministry.

Camping and Retreat Ministries Announces a Fund Drive to Get Them Ready for 2021 At the 2020 Annual Conference, the Rev. Mary Thompson, Director of Camping and Recreational Ministries announced the kick off of a campaign with at goal of raising $899,000 over the next year to help pull this ministry through the economic downturn of the lost camping season and to prepare for the 2021 season.

You and your churches are encouraged to be listening for opportunities to get involved in this effort to insure that the 2021 Camping season will be the best season ever and that kids will come to know Jesus Christ through the efforts of this vital ministry of our annual conference.

You can contact the Rev. Mary Thompson for more information.

Camping and Recreational Ministries Kicks of Campaign to Raise Funds to Underwrite Ministry Activities

Campaign Goal:

$899,000

A place where our churches connect, birth and nurture mission ideas, and engage in relationship-building ministries for the transformation of the community and the World. energized and learned new skills through Fresh Expression and other virtual webinars.

Power of Missional Hubs Thank you, Missional Hub leaders, for your tenacity, creativity, and collaboration!

Missional Hubs were created as a way for local churches to collaborate and work together to serve their communities. As we have pivoted our ministries over the last few months: •

Missional Hubs have discovered the power of collaborating and working together.

•

Missional Hubs have worked together to design creative online worship services.

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Missional Hubs have learned new technology and shared resources.

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Missional Hubs have creatively filmed and posted daily online devotions.

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Missional Hubs have shared in virtual Vacation Bible School experiences.

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Missional Hubs have served their communities with food distributions and to-go Dinner Church.

•

Missional Hub leaders have been

As this pandemic continues, we now face, with urgency, the call to dismantle racism and systemic oppression in our communities. Clair Sauer shared this story of one Missional Hub’s response to racism several years ago but still relevant for our churches and communities now.

Two years ago, the pastors of the South of the River Mission Network in the Scenic South District chose to do a study together about racism, implicit bias, and racial relations. The focus was on racial relations because at the time, the Mission Network covered an extremely large geographic area, and the clergy leadership felt this was a matter that was relevant across the network and in each of the communities where they had a local church presence around the downtown Chattanooga and Eastern Hamilton County areas. To guide the study, they used F. Willis Johnson's book, Holding Up Your Corner. Over the course of about six months, the pastors of the network read and studied together.

They "dove" deep in exploring their own experiences and truths and had wonderful

conversations every time they met. Several of the pastors also led this study with members of their congregations.

After concluding the study, the Mission Network pastors felt it was time to bring the laity of the churches together so they could begin getting to know each other as the Network began to really think about the missional work they might do together to serve their community. It was agreed the best way to do this was through worship. They planned a worship experience specifically designed to highlight their unity, and to celebrate diversity. Nearly every church in the network had a leadership role in the service. They gathered at Eastdale Community UMC, which hosted them well with a fried chicken luncheon prior to the service. The Choir of St. Elmo UMC, and the gospel praise band from Bethlehem-Wiley UMC (led by Willie Kitchens) shared amazing music. The Rev. Charlotte Williams of Eastdale brought a passionate and powerful message. They collected an offering to support the youth mission outreach work of Eastdale Community UMC and heard from a young girl about what that group has meant to her. Nearly all were moved to tears.

The power of the shared worship experience was best encapsulated in the words of a now retired clergy person who had been appointed at Eastdale in the 1970s. After trying unsuccessfully to "integrate" the church as the community around it changed in the 70s, he eventually left, frustrated. Following the "We Are One" City Worship Service in the Spring of 2019, this same pastor said, "This was what I always dreamed Eastdale would be." Indeed, the diversity of God's people came together as one to worship and praise our Lord.

I wonder‌how can your Missional Hub share resources and work together as we move forward in ministry in this COVID-19 world and in our mission to dismantle racism?

Editor’s Note: This photo was chosen by me for this spot in the magazine and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Missional Hubs.

-TDG

A Different Perspective: Voices from Outside Methodism

Editor’s Note: From time to time I like to share ideas from a different perspective. Dr. Thom Rainer comes from the Southern Baptist perspective. He has been a local church pastor and CEO of Lifeway (the Baptist publishing house). He currently is a consultant on matters of church growth. I have followed his writings and podcasts for several years. He offers sound advice that often, but not always, translates well to the Methodist way of thinking. —TDG

A Post-Quarantine Assessment: Is the Digital or Internet Church Really the Church?

It has received a lot of attention during the pandemic. It will receive more attention in the post-quarantine era.

Some call it the digital church.

Others call it the internet church.

In either case, it refers to people joining worship services, and even groups, virtually or digitally. They are not physically present.

I am watching this trend closely via hundreds of churches, and I am seeing more and more chatter and a lot more disagreements about the nature of the digital church. Let me share with you some of the major shifts taking place, especially since the pandemic hit. •

Any church can have digital worship services with technology today. There are many options for churches today, most of them free. Facebook Live is the most common option, and it is free for the churches that use it. Just a few years ago, only the large churches with greater resources could live stream their services. Now any church with an Internet connection can do so.

•

More church leaders are asking if the virtual or internet attendance should be counted. The question they are really asking is: Is a virtual attender the same as a physically present attender?

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The theological debates about the digital church are increasing. There are some really strong opinions being articulated. And since we Christians tend to love a good theological debate (fight?), I anticipate the discussion will grow more heated.

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Some churches are reporting a decline in physical attendance as they provide virtual attendance venues. There are church members who are beginning to view attending church virtually as just another option, much like they can choose among multiple worship services where they would be physically present.

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Churches are reporting mixed results about giving among virtual attenders. Though the information is anecdotal for now, church leaders report some pretty decent offerings among the virtual attenders if they give them the opportunity to give. But they are also reporting a decline in per capita giving when a member shifts from physical attendance to virtual.

•

This issue will be generational to some degree. Millennials and, even more so, Gen Z, see virtual communities as real communities. Some of them can’t understand why churches can’t have vibrant virtual communities in lieu of being physically present.

Though this issue is not new, it seems to be approaching a tipping point in the postquarantine era. I will continue to keep you updated on developments regarding the virtual church.

In the meantime, let me hear from you. I suspect some of you have a strong opinion or two.

This post originally appeared in January 2018. It has been updated to reflect changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

—————————————— This article was written by Thom S. Rainer Founder, CEO, & Lead Coach This article was found at https://churchanswers.com/blog/digital-internet-church-really-church/ as found there on June 29, 2020.

With nearly 40 years of ministry experience, Thom Rainer has spent a lifetime committed to the growth and health of local churches across North America.