E l e c t r o n i c N e w s l e t t e r o f T h e M e t r o D i s t r i c t o f t h e U M C
I n s id e t h i s i s su e :
Sp ec ia l Po in t o f
In t e rest :
Toward Annual
Conference 2014:
Note from Bishop
Goodpaster (page 6)
Clergy Appointment
Calendar
2
Holy Land Pilgrimage
Info Meeting
3
Susanne Wesley Award 4
Lay Servant Ministries 5
2014 WNCC Annual
Conference Info
6-9
Upcoming Events/
Activities
10-11
M A Y 1 9 , 20 14
V o l um e , I ssue
The Metro Messenger
RESURRECTION
One of the new shows premiering on TV recently has
caught my attention. I have watched every episode
with anticipation and curiosity. The name of the
show is.Resurrection. Evidently, by the surveys, it
has caught the attention of many as it is touted as
the number one show on TV. The story line isloved
ones who have died years ago are suddenly and
shockingly returning just as they were at the point
when they died. You can imagine the thrill and the
terror that the families are experiencing as some
believe and others do not.
Why has this show caught the attention of so many people? As Christians, we
believe we know why. Death is the great separator and divider of people. It rips
loved ones from each other, interrupts dreams and creates a grief which will not
go away. The only thought which eases the pain is that perhaps one day
somewherein another time and place we will see one another again and
resume our lives together. This hope is woven into the tapestry of our soul.it
is downloaded into our very being. Something within us screams: this is not the
end.there is more!!!
The resurrection of Jesus confirms our hope and assures us of the promise that
because I live, YOU TOO shall live. We WILL see our loved ones again and
finally behold the one who defeated death and the grave. The shadow of death,
with all of its pain and grief, will be swallowed up by the reality of life eternal,
with all of its joy and ecstasy. No wonder Paul wrote: Eye has not seen, nor
has ear heard, nor has entered into the imagination of mankind..the things
God has prepared for those who love Him. 1 Corinthians 2:9 There will be no
terror or suspicion or unbelief on that day.only thrill as we become lost is
wonder, love and praise.
The Lord is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
Gary Dr. Gary C. Royals
Metro District Superintendent
P a g e 2 T h e M e t r o M e s s e n g e r V o l u m e 3 , I s s u e 1 2
2014 WNCC UMC Clergy Appointment Calendar
May 4 Public Announcement of Appointments
May 22 Making a Good Move Seminar, Lake Junaluska
June 27 Moving pastors last Sunday in present appointment
June 30-July 3 Moving Days (parsonage must be cleaned and vacated by July 1
at noon)
July 6 Transition Sunday (neither departing pastor nor incoming pastor
will be in the pulpit)
July 13 First Sunday in pulpit for new appointments
History of Itinerancy
United Methodism has a unique system of deploying clergy which dates back to John Wesley and
which is different from any other denomination. The system by which pastors are appointed to their
charges by the bishops is called itinerancy. The present form of the itinerancy grew from the
practice of Methodist pastors traveling widely throughout the church on circuits. Assigned to service
by a bishop, clergy remain with one particular congregation for a limited length of time.
Holy Land Pilgrimage Information Meeting
For many years pastors and church members throughout the Western North Carolina Conference
have experienced dramatic and transformational experiences as our Conference bishops and other
leaders have led groups to the Holy Land. Once again, we will be able to experience the lands of the
Bible as we spend eleven days visiting sites that have been pivotal touchstones in our faith. We
invite you to travel with friends across the Western
North Carolina Conference, February 9-19, 2015, as
our leader, Bishop Larry Goodpaster, guides us and
helps scriptures weve known all our lives come alive
before us. Journey through the Bible will be a unique
and wonderful opportunity to enrich our faith. These
eleven days will take us to a host of places where many
of us have dreamed to travel: Jericho, Qumran, Bethlehem, the Dead Sea, Megiddo, Jerusalem, The
Galilee, Jordan River, Mount of Beatitudes, Caesarea Philippi, the Herodion, Mount Hermon, Cana,
Nazareth, Samaria, Mount Zion, the Garden of Gethsemane and many other locations. This is the
first time our WNC Conference has sponsored so extensive a trip to the Holy Land. Plan now to
participate and invite your friends from any denomination. For those who wish, extensions to other
sites in the region can also be arranged.
The all-inclusive price includes Basic Tour and guided sightseeing, roundtrip air fare from Charlotte,
Atlanta, Greensboro and Asheville, administrative fees, entrance fees, gratuities and program fees,
daily buffet breakfast and dinner, deluxe motor coaches, first class hotels and more! Prices are:
Charlotte, $2,998; Atlanta, $3,048; Greensboro; $3,098 and Asheville, $3,148.
Dr. Gary Royals, Metro District Superintendent, will hold an informational meeting regarding the
Journey Through the Bible on Thursday, May 29, 7:00 PM at the St. Andrews United Methodist
Church at 1900 Emerywood Dr., Charlotte, 28210. Even if you THINK you might be interested,
come and learn about this trip and how walking where Jesus walked will transform your life!
Dr. Royals may be reached at [email protected] or 704-525-3395.
An invitation for to participate in Courage to Lead: A Courage and Renewal Retreat Series.
This five-retreat seasonal program is intended to help those in serving professions clergy leaders, educational leaders, health care leaders, nonprofit leaders, foundation leaders, and others live and lead out of a deep sense of identity and integrity so that they can serve the world with courage. The leaders are Russ Moxley and Kathryn McElveen. As a recipient of a WNC Leadership Development Team grant, a limited amount of scholarship funds are available to reduce retreat costs for WNC clergy. More information and registration are available at this link:
http://www.couragerenewal.org/events/lead-series-moxley-mcelveen-1/ or at www.LEADwncc.org.
T h e M e t r o M e s s e n g e r V o l u m e 3 , I s s u e 1 2 P a g e 3
Susanne Wesley Award
Charlotte, N.C. - Ella Hand, a member of St Marks
United Methodist Church ranks among the first few
recipients to receive the newly created Susanna
Wesley Award. Hank Dozier, Western North Carolina
Conference President and Terrence Little, the local
fellowship president presented the award to Mrs. Hand.
Local church members, family and friends contributed
funds for the award that was presented during worship
service at St. Marks UMC on March 30, 2014.
For 40+ years, Mrs. Hand has been very instrumental in my life. She confirmed me into St. Marks United Methodist about 37 years ago and would later do the same for all of my children, says Terrence Little St Marks UMM local president. Her continued guidance and her passion for Christ has been a major influence in the life of St. Marks and many others throughout the community. She truly personifies everything that is expected of the perfect mother and
recipient of the Susanna Wesley award.
St. Marks pastor, Rev. Jessie Keaton states: Mrs. Ella Hand is a stellar recipient of the Susanna Wesley award. For over 40 years, she has taught United Methodist doctrine to hundreds of youth. She teaches
with such zeal and enthusiasm that former students (some, now grandparents) still recall fond memories
of Mrs. Hand's confirmation classes, competitions, cookouts, and of the many enriching
experiences, trips, and events that made learning Christian doctrine unforgettable! Mrs. Hand is also an
Advanced Lay Speaker, a District Lay Member to the Western NC Conference of The United Methodist
Church, and a dedicated leader of Communion Stewards. Above all, she is a Christian woman of faith,
grace, and excellence.
In our church, and to some churches in our district and conference, Mrs. Hand is known as person of authority as it pertains to her knowledge of Methodism, said Hank Dozier, WNCC UMM Conference President. Unlike Susanna Wesley, she was not the mother of 19 children but Mrs. Hand has served as a spiritual mother to countless numbers of youth through confirmation classes. She has
been a servant leader in our conference, district, local church and community.
Like Susanna Wesley, she has nurtured and encouraged the ministry of two of her children. Her daughter
Dawn Hand is a an Elder assigned to Foundry UMC in Washington, DC and her daughter-in-law Stephanie
Hand who serves as a deacon at Providence UMC in Charlotte, NC.
Mrs. Hand also serves on the Metro District Superintendency Committee.
T h e M e t r o M e s s e n g e r V o l u m e 3 , I s s u e 1 2 P a g e 4
Article excerpt from WNCC UMC News - April 3, 2014
Concord-Kannapolis Community Lay Servant Ministries Training
Thirty-seven eager students came to Central UMC, Concord, early on the morning of
April 5 and stayed late into the evening of April 6, to complete the ten hours of training required for
certification in the lay servant ministries program. No longer should we consider Lay Servant
Ministries, formerly known as Lay Speaking Ministry, as only a training for those who feel called to a
ministry of speaking or pulpit supply. Most participants consider these annual training opportunities
to be a means of leadership development, and a means of spiritual enrichment.
This years course offerings in Concord were the Basic Lay Servant Ministries course, taught by
Reverends Susannah Pittman and Wesley Smith, and an advanced course, The United Methodist
Way, Living our Beliefs, taught by Rev. Dr. Dana Bunn.
Three other trainings were offered in early 2014 across our Metro District, in geographic regions,
designed to allow everyone an opportunity to attend a training in their own community. The districts
four lay servant leaders coordinated these trainings.
If youd like to learn more about Lay Servant Ministries
visit http://www.gbod.org/lead-your-church/lay-servant-ministries
Article by Margaret Cox, Concord-Kannapolis Lay Servant Leader Coordinator
T h e M e t r o M e s s e n g e r V o l u m e 3 , I s s u e 1 2 P a g e 5
Toward Annual Conference, 2014
APRIL 30TH NOTE FROM BISHOP GOODPASTER
I am looking forward to welcoming the clergy and lay members of Annual
Conference to our 2014 session at Lake Junaluska, June 18-22. We
have some exciting plans made around our theme for this year:
Celebrating Generosity. Through Bible studies, worship services, and
various reports we will experience another characteristic of what it
means to be a vital church in the twenty-first century. This year marks the second of our four-year focus on increasing the number of vital
churches across Western North Carolina by paying attention to qualities
and characteristics of vital churches: missional, generous, evangelical,
and hospitable. In the coming weeks, I will be writing a series of brief
messages to help all of us prepare and anticipate our Annual
Conference gathering.
All of the offerings for the 2014 session will be designated for the Imagine No Malaria initiative of our United
Methodist Church. As a part of the denomination-wide Global Health Initiative goal of raising $75 million, our
gifts this year will go toward the movement toward providing mosquito nets and health supplies in the on-going
battle to eliminate malaria in many parts of the globe.
The Western North Carolina Conference has not kept pace with other annual conferences in this endeavor, so I
am challenging us to make a significant gift this year. There are resources and links to the Imagine No Malaria
campaign on our web site, and more will be coming in the next few weeks. The very modest goal we have
established for our Annual Conference offering this year is $100,000.
I am absolutely convinced that the people and the churches of our conference are most generous when it
comes to impacting the lives of children and impacting the diseases of poverty that exist across Africa and
other parts of the world. With gratitude, I know that many of you are already engaged in mission outreach to
various countries in Africa. I celebrate that and I celebrate your generosity. Now, I am inviting you to participate in this conference-wide special offering.
Heres the challenge as we move toward Annual Conference: On one Sunday between now and June 15 each
local church across Western North Carolina receive a special offering for Imagine No Malaria and the 2014
Annual Conference Offering. Then, the lay member or the clergy will bring a check from your church to
conference and offer it at one of our worship services. I believe that the more than 1100 churches and more
than 290,000 faithful disciples in our churches will exceed our goal and make a significant difference around
the world.
Annual Conference Updates/News
Stay tuned to http://ac2014.org/ac2014/
The Pre-Conference Briefing sessions will all be on video and will be embedded on the
Pre-Conference Briefing page
Until Conference begins with the clergy session on June 18, 2014, this section of the website will be your key
resource.
T h e M e t r o M e s s e n g e r V o l u m e 3 , I s s u e 1 2 P a g e 6
T h e M e t r o M e s s e n g e r V o l u m e 3 , I s s u e 1 2 P a g e 7
Western NC Annual Conference June 19-22, 2014, Lake Junaluska
Clergy Session: June 18th
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Opening Worship: June 19th at 10 am
Conference will adjourn at Noon on
Sunday.
More Annual Conference information/updates
at http://ac2014.org/
Lay Delegates to Annual Conference
If the principal lay member(s) of the 2014
Annual Conference elected by your charge
conference will not be attending conference
and will be replaced by someone else, pastors
need to be sure this change is made online in
the WNCC Admin. Services database or
contact the district office for assistance.
Remember, if someone other than the
principal or reserve(s) elected by charge
conference will be attending, your church
council, administrative council/board must
hold a meeting to elect that person.
Pastors please review the May 7th email
which pertains to your church/charge
delegation. Persons who have not been
certified to the Conference Secretary as
having been properly elected will experience
delays in the ability to register.
WNCC Annual Conference Important Information for
ALL clergy
All WNC deacons and elders in full connection,
provisional and associate members, and local pastors under appointment are expected to
attend. Clergy who cannot participate should
request an excused absence. Retired clergy
and those on leave of absence will be excused
if not present.
To request an excused absence, send a note to
Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster and send it to Rev.
Kim Ingram, Conference Secretary, at
[email protected] (preferred) or
PO Box 18005, Charlotte, NC 28218.
Programs and Reports Available
This years issue of Program and Reports is 92
pages. The Supplement to this
publication will be posted online
and distributed at registration at
annual conference. It will have
the information needed to
conduct business and to find
your way at conference. In addition, all of the
reports included in this publication will also be
printed in the annual Journal.
We anticipate that you will not need to print this
publication of the Program and Reports book,
however if you wish to do so for your own
convenience, it is formatted to print front and
back on 3-hole punch paper, and is available in
color (8.6MB) and grayscale (5MB).
Download 2014 Program and Reports- Grayscale
Download 2014 Program and Reports- Color
Visit AC 2014 at http://ac2014.org/ for
additional annual conference details and
updates from Bishop Goodpaster.
T h e M e t r o M e s s e n g e r V o l u m e 3 , I s s u e 1 2 P a g e 8
T h e M e t r o M e s s e n g e r V o l u m e 3 , I s s u e 1 2 P a g e 9
The C2LJ is a 3-day supported ride from Charlotte to Lake Junaluska
that takes place June 16-18, 2014. This is the first year for what will
be an annual event to bike to Lake Junaluska. This years route is
outstanding and our overnight hosts will be providing great food
& activities each evening. Details at http://www.c2lj.org/
V o l u m e , I s s u e P a g e 1 0
FIVE DAY ACADEMY OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION
The Spiritual Formation Task Force of the Western North Carolina Conference in
partnership with The Upper Room announces THE FIVE DAY ACADEMY for Spiritual
Formation for August 10-15, 2014 at Caraway Conference Center near Asheboro, NC.
The theme for the week is "The Way of Wisdom" and will feature guest leadership by Dr.
Elaine Heath of Perkins School of Theology and Rabbi Rami Shapiro of the One River
Wisdom School.
http://www.wnccumc.org/news/five-day-academy-spiritual-formation-scheduled-august-wncc
School of Congregational
Development August 14-17
Details and registration at:
http://scdnetwork.ning.com/
2014 Convocation and Pastors' School
Duke Divinity School
October 13, 2014 to October 14, 2014
Twenty-five years ago, Stanley Hauerwas and Will Willimon challenged the
Christian church to live as a vital embodiment of the Gospel, operating within
todays society but apart from its eroding values. The vision laid out in their book Resident Aliens still resonates with Christians today as we seek to be a
faithful witness to the world.
Join Hauerwas and Willimon as they join with sociologist James Davison Hunter, Bishops Hope Morgan Ward, and
Larry Goodpaster, and pastors throughout the country to examine the impact of this book on clergy,
congregations, and seminaries. Register at:
https://events.divinity.duke.edu/ei/getdemo.ei?id=372&s=_2JK10KJ6Q
Job Opportunity Cold Springs UMC, in Concord, NC is seeking a qualified Preschool Director for their half-day program,
ages 2,3,4. Interested applicants may inquire about the job opening and submit their resumes to Dr.
Tony Bell, [email protected].
P a g e 1 1
Mission U 2014 Theme: Learning Together for the Transformation of the World July 17-20, 2014 Pfeiffer University - Misenheimer, NC
Click here for information about Mission U!
or visit www.wnccumw.org
Registration is open May 1, 2014 thru June 25, 2014!
New in 2014...Full Time Youth Camp!
V o l u m e , I s s u e
Metro District Office of the Western NC Conference The Rev. Dr. Gary C. Royals, Metro District Superintendent
Location: 3400 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, NC 28215 (Metro District Office is located in the WNC Conference Center facility)
Mailing Address: PO Box 5622, Charlotte, NC 28299
Phone: 704-525-3395 Fax: 704-525-4238
Rev. Brenda Newman, Congregational Vitality Strategist, Metro and Uwharrie Districts
Administrative Assistants:
Ravonda Britt ([email protected]) Clergy Relations DeEtta Rivens ([email protected]) Church Relations
MAY 2014
11-16 Local Pastor Licensing School, Lake Junaluska
18-22 Local Pastor Licensing School, Lake Junaluska
22 Making a Good Move, Seminar for Moving Clergy, Lake Junaluska
26 Conference and District Office Closed-Memorial Day Observation
29 Holy Land Pilgrimage Information Meeting (page 3)
JUNE 2014
13-14 Spiritual Growth Retreat, Lake Junaluska (page 11)
15 Peace with Justice Sunday
18 Clergy Session of WNCC Annual Conference (page 7)
19-22 Western NC Annual Conference (pages 6-9)
27 Moving pastors last Sunday in present appointment
JULY 2014
1 Clergy Moving Day
6 Transition Sunday for Moving Pastors
13 First Sunday in Pulpit-new appointment
17-20 Mission U 2014, Pfeiffer University (page 11)
AUGUST 2014
10-15 5-Day Academy of Spiritual Formation, Asheboro, NC (page 10)
14-17 School of Congregational Development (page 10)
Learn about other upcoming events/opportunities in the Western NC Conference at:
http://www.wnccumc.org/news
http://www.wnccumc.org/events
M a r k Y o u r C a l e n d a r