February Circuit

FEBRUARY CIRCUIT PUBLISHED BY THE WEST VIRGINIA CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | Volume 1 / Number 4

Mission of Peace: China

By Rev. Dr. JF Lacaria Imagine yourself sitting in a congregation of 1000 voices singing “Come, Christians Join and Sing, Alleluia, Amen.” What a heavenly sound, now imagine that the lyrics are all in Mandarin and all your fellow worshippers are Chinese, gathered at Christ Church in Kunshan, China, just west of Shanghai. That would describe last Sunday for Madison Dean, Claire Hemme, Catherine Morris, and the 16 other members of the Mission of Peace as they journey throughout China.

Catherine comments that “being in China has been an amazing experience. The longer I stay, the more my love for the people grows.

I admire them and desire to imitate their spirit of Christlike service.”

We have all had our routines disrupted, if by nothing more than the 13 hour time zone adjustment, but more deeply by our surprise at how strong the Christian Churches are here.

“In a world polluted with comfort and familiarities, it is so wonderful to have this opportunity to be guided step by step out of my comfort zone. Thank you Mission of Peace for leading me closer to God, deeper into myself, and further into the world,” states Claire as she left Xian and Beijing behind and flew eastward to Nanjing, Suzhou and Shanghai.

Madison sums it up well as she shares, “the opportunity I received through the Mission of Peace and this pilgrimage to the People’s Republic of China has immersed me in a culture that I had little understanding of. Through this experience and these people I have become a different person, all through the grace of God and the friends I am making on this experience.”

The Mission of Peace is a transforming experience for all of us. We will return with eyes that are open, with ears that hear. God, who is greater than all that we have created, is doing a new thing. The Christians of China are a mighty witness of the coming of God’s kingdom.

FEBRUARY CIRCUIT February 2016

wvumc.org/events

CALENDAR Conference Event Highlights - The role of the Conference Calendar is to share the events and business of conference level agencies and ministries.

11

Reaching New People

19

Fresh Expressions Vision Day

Missouri Alice Smith Hardbarger, mother of Rev. Michael Hardbarger, (LP) Harrison Street UMC, Harrisville, passed away October 12.

Mary Lee Lambert, grandmother of Paul Mateer (FE) Earl Charge, Greenbrier District, passed away October 16.

Elton Clevenger, spouse of Joanne Clevenger (LP-R), passed away Sunday, October 18.

April 7 - 10

Spiritual Growth Retreat

16

Lay Servant Academy

22 - 23

John Wesley’s

Understanding Salvation 22 - 23

MonValley Lay Academy

23 - 30

Pastoral Ministry Licensing School

Tripp Rae Clark, great grandson of David and Vickie Bowen, assigned supply to the Hacker Valley Charge, passed away October 28.

Damon Hanshaw, assigned supply to the Earl Charge, passed away October 31.

Keith Brown, father of Dwayne Brown (PTLP), Walkersville Charge, Wesleyan District passed away on November 6.

Betty Criss, mother of David Merryman (LP), Marlinton/Edray Charge, Greenbrier District, passed away November 20.

May

General Conference

Edward J. Stout, (FE-R) passed away Monday November 30.

Linda Wharton Waide, mother of Michael Waide (FE) passed away on Tuesday December 8.

June 9 -12

Rev. Susan Rector, (FE) wife of Rev. Stephen Rector, passed away September 30.

Maman Mary Kasongo, wife of Michael Kasongo (FE-R, and a Kentucky State University-Professor), passed away.

March

10

WE REMEMBER

Annual Conference

View the conference calendar online at

Rev. William Gene Sullivan, (LP-R), member at First UMC in Elkins, passed away December 10, 2015.

Jack Sears, father of Rev. Scott Sears (FE) of First UMC, Princeton, passed away on December 15.

Rev. John D. Hicks, (LP-R) from Lewisburg, passed away December 20.

The Monthly Circuit P.O. Box 2313 Charleston, WV 25328

Resident Bishop: Sandra Steiner Ball

Voice: (304) 344-8331

Whitney Cherry Communications

Fax: (304) 344-2871

Contributors

Louise Zimmer, mother of Rev. Mary Zimmer (AM) Red Hill-Murphytown Charge, Little Kanawha District, passed away December 21.

Doris Jeanne Anderson, mother-in-law of Jim Short (PTLP), Glenville Charge, Wesleyan District, passed away December 17.

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FEBRUARY CIRCUIT The 2400 - Leadership Training with the Bishop

by Rev. Jonathan Nettles In the midst of a well-attended leadership training event with many worthwhile classes, Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball joined us and shared a message of encouragement.

She focused on our goal as a conference to have 2400 professions of faith in 2016, roughly double the usual number. This may seem like quite a jump, but I agree with her understanding that we have the potential to do this and far more. Her statement that “God wants us to be more than we have become” is something that rings true in my heart, and my hope and prayer is that we will heed this call.

Bishop Steiner Ball also shared much about what this would look like. She mentioned the need to build relationships with others in order to lead them into a relationship with Christ and help them grow into disciples.

This takes community, and consists of far more than introducing people to Christ. There are many who reject the faith community because they feel unworthy and fear that Christ has already rejected them. It’s up to us as the Church to be intentional about going out and helping people understand that God really loves them and wants them. If you aren’t sure where to start, there is help. There are numerous resources on the conference website, and two major training opportunities are coming up within the next few months.

Much of our Bishop’s message was based on the beatitudes, and drew heavily from John Wesley’s sermons on this text. She focused on many desirable characteristics such as humility, sharing, and focusing on others instead of

self. Self awareness and balance were mentioned as keys to giving thanks as we see God in all of life, which also leads us to love others as we are loved. We are to be patient and merciful, doing good to all, bringing the light and hope of Christ into the darkest situations. A statement which summed it up well was, “if you really are a follower of Christ, then there is absolutely no way you cannot put your love in action.”

Bishop Steiner Ball mentioned several other areas of growth. She encouraged us to be intentional in our walk with Christ, so that the sin that remains in our lives will no longer reign. We were called back to our roots, to the importance of meeting mid-week to examine our lives and encourage one another. She called us to look past our comfort levels and what keeps us healthy and happy, for the sake of those Rev. Dr. Ken Krimmel, Little Kanawha District we are called to reach. She reminded us that Superintendent the purpose of gathering and nurturing one another is to prepare ourselves to go out and accomplish God’s purposes. There is much promise in this call, for Wesley understood the holy life to be the happy life, and holiness has to do with how our lives impact others.

Our Bishop has challenged us to make some changes, to “be more than we have become.” Yet I don’t feel she is calling us to a new way, but rather calling us back to our true selves. It was easy to become something less in a time when we simply opened the doors and people came, and I’m thankful that cultural changes have forced us to remember who we are. I hope that we will heed the Bishop’s call to remember those who are missing from our church, perhaps roping off pews in the midst of the sanctuary as a reminder of those we are to reach. May we not only remember it all starts with prayer, but also pray for them. May God’s yearning for those who are missing burn within our hearts, stirring us to be intentional about making disciples, this year and every year.

Our Bishop also mentioned the importance of apportionments; which let the love, hope, and light of Christ be known by 1000’s of people here in our annual conference and around the world. Full apportionment payout means children have nutritious food, clothing, shelter, and people to love them. Adults receive food, medical care, and other essentials. Countless lives are saved, and countless people given a future, through our faithfulness.

Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball

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FEBRUARY CIRCUIT February 2016

A 4-G NETWORK FOR LIFE By: Rev. Dr. Ken A. Ramsey It was another new beginning.

He first came to worship at the invitation of a friend.

They had met at work and developed a solid friendship.

Eventually, an invitation for Robert to come to church with his colleague and stay for a special luncheon after church, was accepted. It was the start of a new journey for Robert.

As I also got to know him, I realized his story wasn’t unfamiliar to me. He had some church experience in his past but had drifted out of the habit many years ago. So many things about “organized religion” just seemed to be out of touch with who he was and where he was in life. As he says, his Saturdays were spent at football games, Sunday mornings spent recovering, and Sunday afternoon was filled with more football games.

Back to work on Monday. Repeat the week. This was the rhythm of life for him.

Robert starting attending regularly and he also found his way into other opportunities for mission and ministry. He connected and developed friendships with others in the church. He attended the spiritual growth services during Lent and he has been a part of a small group Sunday school class. He was rediscovering the faith into which he was baptized as a youth and eventually made the decision to profess his faith publicly and unite with the church. He was beginning to encounter a new rhythm for his life: a Christ-centered rhythm.

Helping persons to connect to the living God in Jesus Christ and to discover a new life pattern and purpose, is the single greatest privilege and joy that we have as the Body of Christ. To witness firsthand the cultivation of a relationship with Christ and to usher that person toward wholehearted commitment, in word and deed, to the mission of God in our world is a blessed calling. It is a calling that comes to every church and every believer.

In the time of visitation and orientation for persons interested in becoming members of the church I tell them three main things. 1. Prayer is the most important ministry of any believer. Cultivate a disciplined, active prayer life. Specific simple tools and guides are offered to help make this happen. 2. I am much more interested in your discipleship than your membership. I’m thankful you’re interested in “becoming a member” but it is our desire for you to become a faithful disciple. Ways of connecting to make this happen are highlighted by our “4-G Network” emphasis. Persons are encouraged and shown the way to consistently: Gather, Grow, Glorify, and Go. This is a pattern and model that leads to fruitful discipleship. 3. Faith sharing with others in an invitational and relational way is vital to who God wants you to be. A faith sharing New Testament is given as a part of new member orientation. It is given not as a token of membership, but it is given in order to be given away. The principles for sharing faith with others and inviting them are shared and highlighted. When (not if) the person develops a relationship with another and they think they could benefit from a New Testament, then they are asked to give away their Faith Sharing New Testament. I have hundreds in my office. They then come back and ask for another one because they gave one away to a friend or neighbor. The FRAN (Friends, Relatives, Acquaintances, and Neighbors) plan is used as an effective way to pray for and invite unchurched or inactive persons.

These are the basics of a model that, as it is practiced and repeated by persons, helps to actively seek and connect persons to a vital relationship with Christ and His church. Robert has been a part of this journey even though he says, “I never would have seen myself here five years ago.” It wasn’t but about a month or so after he became connected to our church that, as he was leaving worship, Robert introduced me to a friend of his from his fitness club. It’s the start of another new beginning.

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FEBRUARY CIRCUIT

Church Causes Donors to Lose IRS Charitable Deduction:

a statement that no goods or services were provided in exchange for the contributions.

Even though the couple had received a statement from the church that showed the dates and amounts of the gifts, their deduction was disallowed because it did not contain the necessary language that no goods or services were provided in exchange.

Are your donors at risk?

By Rev. Jeffrey A. Taylor, United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia, Inc.

The following information is extremely important for churches and donors. It is important for churches because they can mistakenly cause a committed donors’ deduction to be disallowed. It is important for donors because the IRS places on them the burden of making sure they receive a proper acknowledgement for gifts over $250.

A recent case involved a married couple who gave their church over $20,000 throughout the year. The church sent acknowledgements for the amount of their gifts, and the couple kept their canceled checks. When they prepared their income tax returns, they claimed the gifts as a charitable contribution deduction. Sounds reasonable, right?

The IRS denied their charitable deduction for the gifts to their church!

Why would the IRS do that? Because the couple did not receive from the church a proper acknowledgement of their contributions.

A proper acknowledgement (for gifts to charity over $250.00) must be issued contemporaneously and must contain the amount of the gift, the date of the gift, and

In an attempt to cure the defect in the acknowledgment, the church issued new acknowledgements including the language. The IRS still denied the deductions because they were not contemporaneous, that is, they were not issued on or before the filing due date, or the date that the filing is made.

The couple filed suit in Tax Court against the IRS arguing, among other things, that they “substantially complied” with the statutory acknowledgment requirements. They had received timely statements acknowledging the gifts from their church, along with canceled checks, and produced these as evidence. The court agreed with the IRS and refused to allow the deduction.

This seems like a harsh result, but the bottom line is this: if you want to claim your gifts to church as a charitable deduction, make sure you get an acknowledgement for your gifts to your church no later than January 31 of the year following the year the gifts were made, and that for any gift over $250.00, the acknowledgement has a statement that “no goods or services were received in exchange for this gift.” It is good practice to include this statement on all receipts and giving statements for charitable gifts.

Is your church in compliance?

THE WEST VIRGINIA CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | 5

A United Methodist Vocational Discernment Resource

Creating a

culture of call.

Called: One Word, Many Ways is a collection of educational curriculum for children and youth and worship resources that explore how to listen for God’s voice, discern what you’ve heard, and respond faithfully.

Resource collection includes: • Worship liturgy • Sermon helps • Children’s and Youth Curriculum • Youth group plans • Support graphics for curriculum and worship • Videos

The full resource is available free online.

Learn more and download resources at ExploreCalling.org/Called

FEBRUARY CIRCUIT

Radical Discipleship Academy of Appalachia July 24 - 29, 2016 Calling all students who are completing 8th – 11th grade in May/June 2016!

Are you a youth who has the desire to grow in your faith and connect to others who want the same?

Do you want to learn about your own gifts and where God might be leading you?

RDAA 2016 is the place for you.

The Radical Discipleship Academy of Appalachia is a 12-month process, that begins with a summer week at Spring Heights. This week is different than a typical week at camp. While there will be opportunities to participate in the usual camp fun, special time and attention will be given to worship experiences, learning new spiritual practices to help you connect with God, and theological formation (or in other words, learning ways to think and talk about God and our relationship to God).

Learn more and register for RDAA at SpringHeights.org/radical-discipleship.

An update from Rev. Shea James: Youth and Outdoor Ministries I have had the honor of serving as your Director of Youth and Outdoor Ministries for a month now. I am blown away by the passion, dedication, and warm welcome of everyone I meet. Lunch meetings, cups of coffee, and random encounters in the conference office have given me a glimpse into the life of the Conference. I have enjoyed learning about the camping ministries at Asbury Woods, Crossroads, and Spring Heights. I was excited to join the Radical Discipleship Academy of Appalachia for the mid-year gathering at Jackson’s Mill the weekend of January 15-17. January 22 and 23, I gathered with CCYM at Bridgeport UMC to pray, plan, and vision for this summer and beyond. My prayer is that we may be bold enough, and brave enough, to follow the Spirit’s leading as we seek to share the love of Christ throughout West Virginia and Garrett Co. Maryland.

Blessings, Rev. Shea James Director of Youth and Outdoor Ministries sjames@wvumc.org 304-344-8330 ext. 25 THE WEST VIRGINIA CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | 7

FEBRUARY CIRCUIT February 2016

From the Office of Communications It’s a new year! That means a fresh new start, and a great opportunity to improve communication in your churches. Here is a great article by United Methodist Communication’s Natalie Bannon, about increasing the communication flow with those right inside your church.

We often focus on communicating with those outside of the church, but it’s also important to take a look at how you communicate with those within your congregation, specifically church staff and volunteers. Keep the lines of internal communications open with these tips:

1. Guide When a staff person or volunteer takes on a new task, don’t assume that you’re all on the same page.

Consider the following: What is the ultimate goal? What is the best way to accomplish this goal? Clear communication will not only ensure success, but it will help prevent hurt feelings. Spend a little time to give guidance and don’t forget to….

2. Listen We know that communication is not a one-way street, but sometimes it’s easy to forget that listening is just as vital as interacting. Heed advice from staff and volunteers. They might be well-versed and experienced in the best ways to accomplish certain tasks more efficiently. Listening goes a long way in making people feel appreciated.

3. Simplify What is the best way to communicate? Meetings? Email? Phone? Text messaging? Social media? The good news is that there are more ways to communicate now than ever before. The bad news is that there are more ways to communicate now than ever before. Don’t assume that just because social media works best for you that it is the preferred option for everyone. Take a poll. Make sure you’re regularly communicating via the channels that your staff and volunteers prefer.

4. Plan We all lead busy lives. Make internal communications easy for everyone by planning ahead. Of course, there will be some tasks that spring up at the last minute, but for the most part, a calendar with clear assignments can keep things operating smoothly. Consider giving your staff and volunteers a United Methodist program calendar in their favorite format.

5. Review Quarterly, bi-annually or even annually, meet with your team to review the status of your internal communications strategy. Consider surveying the group and then hosting a discussion. When did a lack of communication prevent you from accomplishing a goal? What’s an example of when things went the right way? In which ways could internal communications improve? These are just a few questions to get your group discussion started. Don’t be accusatory. Use encouraging language that promotes an open and honest conversation.

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FEBRUARY CIRCUIT

National Marriage Week February 7 - 14, 2016 Dear West Virginia Friends, Over and over again I have heard testimonies to the importance of children and families in our region.

One way to build up our children and our families is to work on strengthening marriage relationships.

Creating a stronger and healthier marriage culture helps to create economic stability and strength, fights poverty, and helps to nurture and grow healthier children in body, mind, and spirit.

February 7 – 14, 2016 is national marriage week. Actually, National Marriage Week USA is part of International Marriage Week. Over twenty major countries around the world are in the process of calling together leaders and planning events to strengthen marriage in their in their countries. If you are in a marriage relationship, why not consider doing something or plan to do something to strengthen your marriage during national marriage week? Would your congregation consider doing something for your community that would work to strengthen the marriages of families in your area?

Shelia Weber, the executive director of national Marriage Week USA suggests that:

“NOW is the time to plan a celebration for February 7-14, 2016, OR if you have not started planning yet, use the February 7-14 dates to announce what you will offer in the year ahead.

• Form a committee • Order a workbook for a home group • Talk to your pastor about hosting an event or new marriage class at your church • Plan for a guest speaker, DVD showing, or Date Night event • Host a “How to Have a Better Marriage” talk at your local library or YMCA.” This might be your congregation’s opportunity to reach those who are not yet a part of your ministry or congregation with the good news of life, hope, joy, and peace. There are resources. www. nationamarriageweekusa.org is a web site that provides information and help. Our own Jane Ives, spouse of Bishop Cliff Ives, our United Methodist Marriage and Family Ministry Consultant also suggests that the following sites are helpful: www.marriagelovepower.net and click on Best Practices Articles and Recommended Resources and/or visit http://www.umcdiscipleship.org/leadership-resources/ intergenerational-family-ministries I hope that you and or you and your congregation will do something to strengthen marriages and thus strengthen the families and children of the West Virginia area this year. Healthy marriages create healthier families and children. Our future will be brighter when we intentionally work to make families stronger.

Grace and Peace in the New Year!

Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball

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FEBRUARY CIRCUIT February 2016

A Prayer for Palm Sunday

Alive Now Magazine O God, as your incarnate passion enters the city gates, riding on a colt, we halfheartedly join the parade.

Give us the passion to want to follow you even when no one else will.

As those who are waiting for a Savior clamor to shout hosanna, we go through the motions.

Give us the desire to believe even when others do not.

As the disciples draw near to hold on to their Jesus, we keep our distance, choosing the wilderness over a promised land.

Draw us in. Open our clenched hands and frozen hearts.

When the palms are stilled, when we leave the story because we do not want to hear the tale of betrayal, torture, and death, Hold us in the truth of your unending love.

Forgive us for our own acts of betrayal, and fill us with compassion to believe against all evidence: You are the one who turns mourning into dancing, death into life.

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FEBRUARY CIRCUIT

Churches unite across denominations for a healthier West Virginia By: Kate Long, Try This West Virginia West Virginians from 15 different denominations have joined hands in a healthy-faith network to help knock West Virginia off the top of the worst health lists. “This network has the potential to make a big difference, community by community, church by church,” said Rev. Jeff Allen, Executive Director of the West Virginia Council of Churches.

The new West Virginia Healthy Bodies Healthy Spirits network was launched at West Virginia Wesleyan in October. “We look forward to working to make this network a success,” said WVUMC Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball. “I am deeply concerned about moving our communities toward more healthy living.”

“West Virginia University studies tell us that almost one in four eleven-year-olds already has high blood pressure,” said Morgantown Nazarene pastor Lynn Keener, who chairs the

network’s steering committee. “There are many problems that we can’t change, but we can do something about this one.”

“Churches are a powerful social force in our communities,” said Catholic Charities West Virginia director, Mark Sliter, “and together, we can change our behaviors and habits by exercising and eating right.”

The network has convinced Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin to declare March Healthy Bodies Healthy Spirits month. The network is also partnering with Try This West Virginia, so churches can link to the extensive Try This “how to create healthy community projects” resources.

Healthy Bodies Healthy Spirits coordinator Josh Sowards, an American Baptist worship leader, urges interested people to sign up at www.wvhealthyfaith.com for one-stop shopping of healthy-church and healthy-Lent programs.

The network is already producing videos of outstanding West Virginia church programs, suitable for church group discussion. Workshops start next summer. “Sign up, get in the loop, and help the network grow,” Sowards said.

The West Virginia Conference is represented on the network steering committee by Rev. Jeff Allen, Rev. Alicia Rapking, Director of Buckhannon’s Upshur Parish House, and Rev. Timothy Allen, pastor of Morgantown’s Spruce Street United Methodist Church. The American Heart Association also supports the network, represented by Rev. Claire Butler, a Presbyterian pastor assigned to the Heart Association.

More information and signup at www.wvhealthyfaith.com.

About 100 West Virginians from 11 different denominations helped launch the WV Healthy Bodies Healthy Faith Network in October

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