Alive Together At The Table - Crises are Opportunities for Change - Northeast District
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Northeast District Office
P.O. Box 2054
Statesboro, GA 30459
Phone 912-871-3306
Fax 912-681-9739
northeastdistrict@sgaumc.com
David Graves – Resident Bishop Stephen B. Grantham - Superintendent www.northeastdistrict-umc.org
September 2021
Alive Together At The Table
Crises are Opportunities for Change
Rev. Stephen B. Grantham, District Superintendent
A crisis, by its very nature, is unsettling. It forces us to deal with realities we
have not been prepared to meet. It gets us out of the world of comfort and makes
us confront uncomfortable realities. It exercises muscles we need to use.
The crisis of Christians being systematically persecuted and killed in
Jerusalem, forced many to leave Jerusalem, their home, and to share the Gospel in
the Gentile world, thus fulfilling the Great Commission: “All authority in heaven and
on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and
teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I
am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18b-20)
To be honest with you, I do not like crises. I don’t like how they make me
feel; unsettled, nervous, not quite at peace. I have learned from life that they are
one of the most important teachers in life. They prepare us for doing the new
things we need to do for God.
Dealing with Covid is no different. It is tragic in the way it has affected
people’s lives. My Mother-in-Law died of Covid last October, after a careless care
giver brought it into her home. What did we learn?
Be careful. Ask questions. Clearly communicate our expectations. Take good
precautions. Be compassionate to everyone.
What implications does it have for our churches?
Sanitize well. Encourage folks to think more about their brothers and sisters in
Christ and their health. Figure out how to worship in ways that utilizes technology.
Pastors are having to learn to pastor more using email, text messages and
telephone. Some are doing front porch and doorstep visits. There is more than
one way to skin a cat. Do not give in. Be creative and remain effective. Remember,
he is with us to the end of the age.
Stephen
Important Dates to Remember
September 2nd Pointer Cluster @ Sardis UMC @ 10:00 am
September 2nd Sweet Onion Cluster @ Vidalia FUMC @ 11:00 am
September 3rd Between 2 Rivers Cluster @ Wall’s Diner @ 12:00 pm
September 6th Labor Day – District Office Closed
September 7th District Office Closed
September 7th Statesboro Cluster @ PPUMC @ 10:00 am
September 13th Long Road Cluster @ Louisville @ 6:00 pm
September 16th Crossroads Cluster @ Swainsboro @ 7:00 pm
September 22nd First Day of Fall
October 7th DCOM @ PPUMC - 8:00 am – 3:00 pm
November 15th & 16th Bishop Graves will meet with the Northeast District
December 11th District Christmas Party @ Pittman Park
Welcome, Bishop Graves September 1 officially begins Bishop David Graves’ episcopal leadership in the South Georgia Annual Conference. Bishop Graves currently serves as bishop of the Alabama-West Florida Conference. With the postponement of General and Jurisdictional Conferences, Bishop Graves will provide episcopal leadership to both the South Georgia and the Alabama-West Florida Conferences. Let’s extend a warm South Georgia welcome to Bishop Graves!
Kelly Roberson to assume interim role as
Connectional Ministries Team Leader
Last month, Allison Lindsey announced she will be stepping
down from her role as director of Connectional Ministries
effective Aug. 15. As a new grandmother, she now has the
opportunity to provide daily care for her grandson, Mac.
While we rejoice in this new role for Allison, we will miss her
leadership as Director of Connectional Ministries. Allison has
served South Georgia so effectively, both as a member of the
Connectional Ministries staff and as director of that ministry
for the past year. The good news is that Allison is willing to use
her experience and expertise to assist us with OnBoarding and other training
events in local churches, when her schedule is able to accommodate.
During this time, from now until the end of our conference year next June, it
is clear we need interim leadership, someone who knows the Connectional
Ministries staff well and has a history of working with them very effectively.
After a discussion with the Appointive Cabinet and other conference staff
including Human Resources Director Eleanor Dickson and Conference Personnel
Committee chairman Scott Tucker, I have decided to appoint Kelly Roberson as
Team Leader of Connectional Ministries for this interim period. She will continue
her role as Director of Communications. Read more
SEJ College of Bishops appoints Dr. Brad Brady as
SEJ Conference secretary
During their virtual meeting Thursday, Aug. 19, the Southeastern Jurisdiction’s
College of Bishops appointed Dr. Brad Brady to serve as the South-
eastern Jurisdiction Conference Secretary, effective upon current
secretary Anne Travis’ retirement Sept. 1. Read more
Charge Conference Forms The 2021 Charge Conference Forms are now live and may be found at www.sgaumc.org/onlineforms. In addition, the Extension Ministry dashboard is updated and ready as well at www.sgaumc.org/emdashboard. Section 1 requires the use of the church dashboard (Clergy Compensation Form for clergy serving a local church or extension ministry and the Local Church Leadership List). Please contact the district office if you need help with your username and password. Sections 2-4 contain fillable .pdf or Word documents, and Section 5 contains links provided by agencies/ministries of our Conference. If you have never completed charge conference forms or need a refresher, Dr. Derek McAleer has provided a Charge Conference Overview Webinar to assist you. There are several reminders and updates to note: Lay Leadership List As a reminder, the district and conference offices communicate with those persons holding various leadership positions of the local church throughout the year. This includes delegates to the Annual Conference session. It is vitally important that each required leadership position includes name AND email address. Clergy Compensation Form For clergy serving a local church the Compensation Form is accessed through the Church dashboard. For clergy serving in an extension ministry position the Compensation Form is accessed through the Extension Ministry dashboard. This year, the Compensation Form will be only one section. No need to go back later and do a second part anymore! Clergy will not be reporting their health insurance elections on the compensation form. Clergy will go ahead and complete their Compensation Form - including their pension elections - online and turn it in through the Charge Conference. After Open Enrollment has concluded, clergy will print out their health insurance/benefits elections confirmation form and give a copy to his or her Treasurer so that the Treasurer will know what to withhold from their paycheck beginning Jan 1. PLEASE NOTE: No one from the District or Conference offices will communicate your health elections to your local church treasurer. This is the responsibility of the clergy person. 2021 Charge Conference Form Timeline August 2 Charge Conference Forms Open Online (including compensation) November 3-18 Health Flex Open Enrollment November 19 Completed Equitable Compensation applications due to District Offices December 3 Clergy Compensation Forms Close Online
Charge Conference and Consultation Schedules
Sweet Onion Clergy Consultations – Vidalia FUMC September 13th
11:00 am Bill Baker 2:00 pm Brian Durden
12:00 pm Jim Smith 3:00 pm Michael Hammond
1:00 pm Arnie Raj 4:00 pm Patrick Brannen
Between 2 Rivers Clergy Consultations – Sylvania FUMC September 14th
10:00 am Carroll Gay 1:00 pm Karen Zeigler
11:00 am Dorsia Atkinson 2:00 pm Perry Medley
12:00 pm 3:00 pm Uley Robbins
6:00 pm Steve Sirmons
Between 2 Rivers Clergy Consultations – Sylvania FUMC September 15th
9:00 am Robert Poston 11:00 am Jeane Sturdivant
10:00 am Judson Barnes
Sweet Onion Charge Conference – Vidalia FUMC September 19th
8:30 am Mt. Vernon/Long Pond
11:00 am Ruth’s Chapel/Ailey (meal)
2:00 pm Alamo/Cedar Grove (refreshments)
4:00 pm Vidalia 1st (refreshments)
Altamaha Clergy Consultation – Lyons FUMC September 20th
11:00 am Bill Lee 2:00 pm Shareon Womack
12:00 pm Randall Smith 3:00 pm Ros Parker
1:00 pm Ron Womack 4:00 pm Ron Johnson
Sweet Onion Charge Conference –September 20th
6:00 pm Grace
Sweet Onion Charge Conference –September 21st
6:00 pm Nepsey-Warren/Ebenezer (refreshments)
Charge Conference and Consultation Schedules
Sweet Onion Charge Conference –September 22nd
6:00 pm Shiloh/Spring Hill
Between 2 Rivers Charge Conference – September 26th
9:00 am Oak Grove (light refreshments)
11:00am Rocky Ford/Goloid
2:00 pm St. Andrews/Horse Creek
5:00 pm Sylvania 1st (light Refreshments)
Statesboro Clergy Consultations– District Office September 27th
10:00 am Steve Brown 1:00 pm William Reaves
11:00 am Kenneth Griffin 2:00 pm Allen Cason
12:00 pm 3:00 pm Bill Bagwell
Between 2 Rivers Charge Conference – September 26th
6:00 pm Hiltonia
Statesboro Clergy Consultations– District Office September 28th
10:00 am Stephanie Smith and 1:00 pm Chip Strickland
Jonathan Smith
11:00 am Janet Odegaard 2:00 pm Ricky Varnell
12:00 pm 3:00 pm Scott Hagan
Between 2 Rivers Charge Conference –September 28th
6:00 pm McBride
Between 2 Rivers Charge Conference –September 29th
6:00 pm Buck Creek/Blue Springs/Harmony (meal @ Buck Creek)
Charge Conference and Consultation Schedules
Between 2 Rivers Charge Conference –September 30th
6:00 pm Newington (refreshments)
Between 2 Rivers Charge Conference –October 3rd
11:00 am Black Creek
Statesboro Charge Conference –October 3rd
4:00 pm Pittman Park
6:30 pm Charlestown/Mt. Zion/Springhead
Statesboro Charge Conference –October 4th
6:00 pm Statesboro 1st
District Office – October 5th
10:00 am Chad Watkins
Statesboro Charge Conference –October 5th
6:00 pm Brannen Chapel
Statesboro Charge Conference –October 6th
6:00 pm New Hope/Hubert (meal)
Statesboro Charge Conference –October 7th
6:00 pm LifeSpring
Statesboro Charge Conference –October 10th
8:30 am Brooklet (Meal)
11:00 am
2:00 pm Union (Bulloch)
4:00 pm Metter
Charge Conference and Consultation Schedules
Long Road Clergy Consultations– Louisville October 12th
9:00 am David Boggs 11:00 am Mike Collins
10:00 am Hugh Baxter 12:00 pm Chris Shoemaker
Long Road Clergy Consultations – Louisville October 13th
9:00 am Dan Underwood 11:00 am Ed Chance
10:00 am Faye Burgamy 12:00 pm
Altamaha Charge Conference –October 17th
8:30 am Harden’s Chapel
11:00 am Smyrna
2:00 pm Lyons’s 1st
Long Road Charge Conference –October 17th
6:00 pm Louisville
Fruitful Clergy Consultations– Louisville October 18th
9:00 am Thomas Kennison 1:00 pm David Donnan
10:00 am Rus Black 2:00 pm Scott Brenton
11:00 am Jesse France 3:00 pm Steve Posey
12:00 pm
Altamaha Charge Conference –October 20th
6:00 pm Center
Fruitful Clergy Consultations – Claxton October 20th
9:00 am Clay Loadman 11:00 am Mike Lyons
10:00 am Tammy Fincher 12:00 pm
Altamaha Charge Conference –October 20th
6:30 pm Uvalda/Alston/Charlotte
Charge Conference and Consultation Schedules
Altamaha Charge Conference –October 21st
6:00 pm Sharpes Chapel
Long Road Charge Conference –October 24th
8:30 am Waldens 2:00 pm Keysville
11:00 am Zoar 4:00 pm Wrens
Long Road Charge Conference –October 25th
6:00 pm Bartow
Long Road Charge Conference –October 26th
6:00 pm Vidette
Long Road Charge Conference –October 27th
6:00 pm Wadley 1st
Long Road Charge Conference –October 28th
6:00 pm St. John
Fruitful Charge Conference –October 31st
8:30 am Nevils 2:00 pm Union
10:30 am Reidsville 4:00 pm Daisy/Hagan
Fruitful Charge Conference –November 1st
6:00 pm Harmony
Pointer Clergy Consultations– Waynesboro November 2nd
9:00am Randy Carnley 12:00 pm
10:00 am Charles Way 1:00 pm Sonny Moon
11:00 am Jose Velasquez 2:00 pm Jerry Sharpe
Fruitful Charge Conference –November 2nd
6:00 pm BellvilleCharge Conference and Consultation Schedules
Fruitful Charge Conference –November 3rd
6:00 pm Glennville
Pointer Clergy Consultations– Waynesboro November 3rd
9:00 am Isaac Salgado 11:00 am John Drake
10:00 am Rene’ Enlund
2:00pm Brenda Johnson District Office
Fruitful Charge Conference –November 4th
6:00 pm Sikes Chapel
Crossroads Consultations– Swainsboro November 5th
9:00 am Chris Archambeault 12:00 pm
10:00 am Tom Tidwell 1:00 pm Tommy Veal
11:00 am Lee Pettis 2:00 pm David Unkles
Pointer Charge Conference –November 7th
8:30 am Union Grove/Midville (refreshments)
11:00 am Waynesboro 1st
Fruitful Charge Conference –November 7th
6:00 pm Claxton 1st
Pointer Charge Conference –November 8th
6:00 pm Sardis/Ellis Chapel (refreshments)
Pointer Charge Conference –November 9th
6:00 pm Millen
Pointer Charge Conference –November 10th
6:00 pm Fair Haven/Habersham (refreshments)
Pointer Charge Conference –November 11th
6:00 pm Green’s Cut/Friendship (Refreshments)Charge Conference and Consultation Schedules
Crossroads Consultations– Swainsboro November 12th
9:00 am Chris Holt 12:00 pm
10:00 am Mark Miller 1:00 pm Kevin Palmore
11:00 am Bryan Price 2:00 pm Mark Hardin
Pointer Charge Conference –November 14th
9:00 am Oak Grove/Nannie Williams
11:00 am Asbury/Haven Munnerlyn
2:00 pm Bethany/Bethesda
Crossroads Charge Conference– Swainsboro November 17th
6:00 pm Adrian/Poplar Springs/Keas
Crossroads Charge Conference– Swainsboro November 18th
6:00 pm Cobbtown/Ebenezer
Crossroads Charge Conference–November 21st
9:00 am Calvary
11:00 am Swainsboro 1st
2:00 pm Twin City
4:00 pm Portal/Oak Park/Payne’s Chapel
Crossroads Charge Conference–November 22nd
6:00 pm Chris Holt
Crossroads Charge Conference–November 23rd
6:00 pm Garfield/New Beulah
Crossroads Charge Conference–November 28th
2:00 pm Lothair
5:00 pm Soperton/Landsburg/GlenwoodThe Conference Hosts a Farewell Reception A farewell reception was held for Bishop R. Lawson Bryan and Mrs. Sherrill Bryan at Vineville United Methodist Church on Sunday, August 15th after 46 years of ministry. We wish them well in their retirement.
When Tropical Storm Fred passed through South Georgia last week it sprouted
a tornado in Americus leaving significant damage to over a mile and a half of
residential neighborhoods. On Friday, August 20, team leader Chris Hughes,
from the South Central District-South Georgia UMC, and Bob Grieco, assistant
conference disaster response coordinator, collaborated for a quick response to
the call from Sumter County's Emergency Management Director for an early
response team (ERT) with chainsaw capabilities. Five ERT from the Northwest
District joined on Saturday. The team is being augmented by a skid steer,
operated by one of our ERT members, Dan Henderson. Additional teams will
be responding over the next few weeks to help affected residents. South
Georgia ERTs willing to help can contact Bob at 478-335-0092.
UMCOR Issues First Haiti Grants
In response to the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that rocked Haiti on Aug. 14,
the United Methodist Committee on Relief is working with partners to provide
urgently needed medical supplies to Haitian hospitals. Two grants — one to the
Église Méthodiste d’Haiti (Methodist Church of Haiti), in coordination with local
doctors and nurses, and the other to Service Chrétien d’Haiti — will enable the
procurement of bandages, gauze, IV fluids, antibiotics and personal protective
equipment at Les Cayes General Hospital and two clinics. Read storyHurricane Ida Update: Wait, Pray, Give, and Prepare
We watched and prayed as the powerful Hurricane Ida made landfall Sunday. Our
best response today is to pray, wait, actively communicate, and prepare. We'll
have more news later from this developing situation as we coordinate with
UMCOR & partners in the affected areas to add action to our prayers. Read more
2021 Dates for Lay Ministries (LSM and CLM)
The 2021 dates for Lay Ministries - Lay Servant Training and Certified Lay Ministry -
have been posted on the conference website. The time is right for churches to take
advantage of these leadership development opportunities.
More than ever, we need well trained leaders in our local churches. For more
information, contact Anne Bosarge, Associate Director, Office of Congregational
Development, at anne@thechapelministries.com or 912-262-1331.
It’s a Block Party
St. Andrews United Methodist Church in Sylvania will be hosting a Block Party
on Saturday, September 4th from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. There will be live music,
family fun, bounce house, face painting and food!
If you are interested in providing a booth, there is a $25 booth fee.
Contact Myrtis Roberts @ (912) 425-0981 or Sopia Medley @ (912) 412-3214.
Everyone is welcome! Please come and enjoy the fun and fellowship!Pastors Due for Sexual Ethics Workshop
Before Annual Conference 2022
Bill Bagwell David Boggs Steve Brown
Faye Burgamy Allen Cason David Donnan
George Durham Rene’ Enlund Tammy Fincher
Carroll Gay Chris Holt Bill Lee
Clay Loadman Perry Medley Mark Miller
Ros Parker Steve Posey Uley Robbins
Isaac Salgado Jerry Sharpe Steve Sirmons
Stephanie Smith Chip Strickland Jeane Sturdivant
Ricky Varnell Tommy Veal
Everyone on the lists will get emails from the Conference in August
with the pre-video dates and the dates and locations for the 2.5-hour
discussions. This information is scheduled for September, February,
and April.
For more information contact Kate Tyler at cpcassistant@sgaumc.com
Georgia United Methodist Foundation Newsletter
Check out the latest edition.
Sign up at www.gumf.org/stay-connected to have
Growing Generosity delivered right to your inbox.
For more information, please contact GUMF at
770-449-6726, 877-220-5664 or info@gumf.orgEpworth By The Sea Epworth By The Sea will reopen to the public this fall. Epworth By The Sea, which has been closed to the public since Sept. 22, 2020, plans to reopen to the public in late fall 2021. When Epworth By The Sea reopens, guests are invited to experience Epworth’s peace, connection, and beauty, said Executive Vice President Rev. Wayne Racz. The campus has undergone significant improvements including cabins enlarged and upgraded with central heat and air, larger bathrooms, and tankless gas water heaters; lodge room interiors remodeled and updated; and construction of a picnic pavilion and amphitheater under the oaks will begin this fall. Food service has also expanded and improved. “Epworth is eager to resume normal activities and welcome guests back,” Rev. Racz said. “You have been missed along with the ministry that happens. We have missed our churches, children and youth groups, camps, law enforcement, military, families, and individual guests. We yearn to see our campus full of guests and activities once again.” Video about Epworth reopening Registration Open for Fall Children's and Youth Retreats Registration is now open for KidzQuest, the Conference's annual fall children’s retreat for students in third through sixth grades, and Encounter, the Conference's annual youth retreat for students in sixth through twelfth grades. KidzQuest is scheduled for October 15-17, 2021, at Camp Jekyll 4-H Center on Jekyll Island, Georgia for 3rd-6th grade students and is limited to 250 participants. Information I Register Encounter Youth Retreat, for 6th-12th grade students, will take place November 19-21, 2021, at Epworth By The Sea on St. Simons Island. Information I Register www.sgaumc.org/kidzquest www.sgaumc.org/encounter
1st David Boggs 4th Joanna Underwood
5th Sunshine Bird 5th Chip & Tris Strickland
6th Keta Hardin 9th Chris Archambeault
9th Kevin & Alivia Palmore 12th Sam Wilder
13th Uley & Ruthie Robbins 14th Brian Durden
18th Tammy Fincher 18th Kevin Palmore
19th Ed & Jane Chance 19th Chris Shoemaker
22nd Christa Archambeault 23rd Steve Posey
23rd Jan Smith 24th Joni Durden
25th Steve Brown 30th Kevin Rountree
30th Jeane Sturdivant
Cares and Concerns
Please be in prayer Rev. Ros Parker (Sharpes Chapel) home recovering from
surgery.
Please be in prayer for the Family of Mrs. Marty Durham (wife of Rev. George
Durham) who passed away Tuesday, August 17, 2021.
Jimmy Sturdivant (husband of Jeanne Sturdivant).The Methodist Home for Children and Youth
Sunday, September 19, 2021, is Workday/The Methodist Home
Offering Sunday. Your support to The Methodist Home is a blessing and
makes our mission of restoring childhoods and strengthening families
possible.You can also read
