Columbus District OfficeThe United Methodist Church1022B - Second AvenueColumbus, Georgia 31901Phone 706-561-4541

James R. King, Jr. BishopEdwin M. (Buddy) Cooper, Jr.Superintendent

Volume 24 July 2013 Number 7

Awards Presented to Columbus District Churches, Clergy, and Laity at Annual Conference

CARRUTH MISSION AWARDS

Highest Total Given to Missions: St. Luke UMC

WESLEY GLEN

Top Churches in Giving: St. Paul UMC, Wynnton UMC

Church of the Year: St. Paul UMC

Servant Leadership Award: Rev. Dr. Buddy Cooper

OPEN DOOR COMMUNITY HOUSE

The Mrs. Butch Deaton “Living the Vision” Award: Mr. John Martin

Outstanding Financial Stewardship in Charitable Contributions: St. Luke UMC (highest giving) and Midway UMC (highestgiving per capita)

MAGNOLIA MANOR

Top 10 Supporting Churches: St. Paul UMC, St. Luke UMC

SOUTH GEORGIA BLACK METHODIST CHURCH RENEWAL DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS

Harry Hoosier Award Winner: Rev. Earl James

Rev. Joseph Roberson Advocacy Award: Mr. Clemon DeRamus, South Columbus UMC

FIVE STAR PASTORS

Rev. Robert Beckum

Rev. Loretta Dunbar

Rev. Cindy Garrard

Rev. Brett Maddocks

Rev. Lynn Meadows-White

Rev. Dr. Ivelisse Quinones

Rev. Howard White

Rev. Reggie Williams

Birthdays 2-Jimmy McIlrath

9-Gaston Pollock

11-Stephanie Caldwell

14-Donna Hunt

21-Emily Brinkman

21-Emory Gilbert

23-Norman Dunlap

25-Lynn Willis

Anniversaries 6-Sharon and Martin Loyley

22-Emily and Stephen Brinkman

District Cares and ConcernsPlease continue to keep in your prayers:Sandi and Bill Hortman, Mildred and MikeMcAfee, Hugh Shirah, and Andrew Barrett.

Page 2 July 2013

Note from Ronnie Culpepper“As many of you know, I was not present at therecent Annual Conference session due to weeksof pain in my right hip and down my right leg. On Tuesday morning of conference I had anappointment with the doctor at 8:00 a.m. forreports on several MRIs. It was decided Ineeded surgery on my back. On Monday, June10, 2013, the doctor performed a laminectomyand a discectomy. The next day I was able towalk without the pain in my right hip and myright leg. I came home on Wednesday and Ihave spent the last week slowly recovering athome. I am now walking without a cane or anyother aid and am pain free. I look forward to afull recovery. Praise God for prayer and themiracle of modern medicine.” —Ronnie Culpepper

South Georgia Advocate

On Friday, May 31, UMR Communications andthe United Methodist Reporter, the publisherand printer of the South Georgia Advocate

newspaper, ceased operations due to financialpressures. With UMR Communications’ (UMRC)closure, the May 17 issue of the Advocate was the lastprinted edition. The South Georgia Advocate willcontinue twice-monthly online. The August 24Advocate can be read on the conference website. Ifyou have questions please contact Kara Witherow,Advocate editor, kara@sgaumc.or or 912-279-0851.

Black Clergy Women Conference

August 5-8, 2013

Westin Hotel

Dallas-Fort Worth AirportPartial scholarships available

Contact Rev. Abra Lattany-Reed for more details(abra@sgaumc.com)

Hosted by the UMW. . .

South Georgia’s Mission UTheme: “Learning Together for the

Transformation of the World”

July 18 - July 21, 2013

Epworth By The Sea

2013 UM Georgia Pastors’ School

July 22-25

Epworth By The Sea

Preaching: Different Voices, Common Word

Preacher: Bishop Violet Fisher

Faculty: Rev. Dr. James Howell

Adjunct professor of preaching Duke DivinitySchool & pastor Myers Park UMC, Charlotte, NC

Rev. Dr. Ellsworth Kallas

Preacher in Residence Asbury TheologicalSeminary

Pastors may earn up to 2 CEUs

visit www.georgiapastorsschool.org

DISCIPLE l, ll, lll, lV,

Christian Believer, and

Jesus in the Gospels

Bible Study Leader TrainingJuly 27, 8:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Northside UMC, AtlantaLeaders: Flo Martin, Bob Winstead,

Phil Schroeder, and Kim Reindle

Cost: $20 (or $12 enrolled Course of StudyStudents)

Register:http://www/ngumc.org/events/detail/7008

July 2013 Page 3

Wesley GlenEstate and Rummage Sale

August 24, 2013 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Life Skills Center 4580 N. Mumford Road, Macon

The event will feature: • independent sellers • local vendors • snack bar, etc.

Donations are needed for the estate sale and booths are available for lease to showcase your

treasurers. To make a donation, schedule delivery/pick-up or to lease a booth, please contact

René Proctor or Anna Stefaniw at 478-471-3711

EBTS 1st Annual

Southern Gospel Music

Celebration

August 31 - September 1

Epworth By The SeaHeadliners: The Dixie Melody Boys

•The Jonesmen Quartet •Harmony Sisters

•Sound of Grace •The Undone Quartet

•God’s Own

Concert Schedule on line:

epworthbythesea.org or call 912-638-8688

Adventures Autumn “Curtain Call-Encore! Encore!”

An Event for Older Adults

September 23-26, EBTS epworthbythesea.org or call 912-638-8688

KidZQuestSeptember 27, 2013

Epworth By The SeaDesigned for third — sixth graders

•Learning •Worship •FunVisit www.sgaumc.org for more information

Page 4 July 2013

PATHWAYS TO DISCIPLESHIPConnectional Ministries s eeks to resource local churches andstrengthen connections among local churches, clusters, districts,ministries and the local church for making disciples. We believethat churches who seek to fulfill this mission and live the visionGod has given us to grow a more Christlike world are on their wayto spiritual health and congregational vitality.

AD1-Youth Leaders’ Roundtable —-This will be a time ofnetworking and sharing resources that will enhance the discipleformation efforts of youth leaders and volunteers from acrossSouth Georgia. Led by Jared Middleton.

AD2-When in our Music God is Glorified —This workshopis for paid and volunteer choir directors. Participants willexperience various musical selections you can use with smallerand medium sized choirs as well as techniques that will elevateyour congregation’s praise of God. Led by Jane Kimbrel.

AD3-Financia l Leadership in the Church —This all dayworkshop will explore ways local church leaders can shift thefocus away from scarcity in order to make mission mindeddecisions about the use of financial resources. Tools will be sharedthat are proven to help grow the stewardship response of thecongregation. Led by Wayne Racz.

Schedule of the Day

9:30 am - 10:15 am Registration

10:15 am - 10:30 am Move to Pathway A

1030am - 11:45 am Pathway A

11:45 am - 12:45 pm Lunch

12:45 pm - 2:00 p m Pathway B

2:00 pm - 2:15 pm Move to Pathway C

2:15 pm - 3:30 pm Pathway C

Registration Deadline is August 7. Registration Fee: $20.00. Registration postmarked after August 7 $30.00. A boxed lunchfrom Chick-fil-A is included.

Questions: Office of Connectional Ministries 888-266-7642

Evelyn Laycock Bible Study Series

“Beginning . . . and Beginning Again:

Studies In Genesis and Acts”

Epworth By The Sea

October 13-16, 2013

Dr, Evelyn Laycock will host Bishop Will Willion ofthe North Alabama Conference and Rev. GinaCampbell of the National Cathedral in Washington,D.C. as preachers and Dr. Ellsworth Kalas fromAsbury Seminary as the Bible Study teacher. Thiswill be one of the finest gatherings Epworth has everheld and worthy of our strongest support.

1.1 CEU credits available for clergy.

www.epworthbythesea.org or 912-638-8688

Advent Retreat“Come Away . . . A Time for Comfort, A Time for Joy”

A Three Day Retreat for Mothers Who Grieve

Epworth By The Sea

November 15-17, 2013Retreat Leader: Marcia Gaddis

An Atlanta speaker, retreat leader, and author of theaward-winning book, When God Comes Near

Approaching the Christmas season is painful afterthe loss of a loved one. Come away and rediscoverpeace and joy in your sorrow. Give yourself thesedays to remember, reflect and restore your heart. Using teaching, group discussion, and Bible Studypartic ipants will renew their Advent hope who isJesus Christ.

www,epworthbythesea.org or 912-638-8688

July 2013 Page 5

Bishop King unveils 2013 strategy and Executive Transition TeamIn response to the 2013 South Georgia Annual Conference’s vote to reduce the number of Conference districts fromnone to six, Bishop James R. King, Jr. has deemed 2013 the year to “Rethink, Revisit and Revise.”

To guide the Conference through the myriad of changes that will take effect at the June 2014 Annual Conferencesession, he has formed an Executive Transition Team consisting of clergy and laity.

Bishop King will serve as the team’s co-chairman with Conference Lay Leader Gloria Morgan. These carefullyselected men and women will work in consultation with the Appointive Cabinet, the Extended Cabinet, theLeadership Forum, the District Chairs of Trustees, District Lay Leaders, representatives from South Georgia’sUMMen and UMWomen, and the Conference “Google Group” (Enhanced Technology Team). Feedback submittedvia the Conference website (www.sgaumc.org) will also be included and considered by the Executive TransitionTeam.

While the Annual Conference set the number of districts, Bishop King, in consultation with the Cabinet andExecutive Transition Team, will determine how the six districts are formed.

The members of the Executive Transition Team will hold its first meeting July 31-August 1 at EBTS. During thistime, team members will meet with the appointive cabinet.

“A change in our district structure will introduce us to new opportunities,” Bishop King said. “These changes willchallenge everyone to consider more creative ways to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of theworld. Growing a Christlike world by developing a disciple plan for yourself and your congregation is still ourprimary goal as believers of Jesus Christ.”

Bishop King encourages clergy, laity and congregations to be in prayer about the transition and for those makingdecisions, and urges everyone to regularly visit the Conference website for updates. A dedicated page,www.sgaumc.org/transitionteam has been created for individuals to submit ideas, comments and questions they’dlike the Executive Transition Team to consider.

Executive Transition Team members

Bishop James R. King, Jr., co-chair

Gloria Morgan, co-chair and Conference Lay LeaderEric Mathews, Executive Assistant to the BishopRev. Karen Prevatt, Executive Transition Team Secretary and Director of Living Tall Ministries

Clergy

Rev. Jimmy Cason, Council on Finance and Administration (CFA) chairmanDr. Nita Crump, Hawkinsville First UMC Rev. Jason Dickerson, Antioch UMCRev. Denise Walton, Assistant to the Bishop for Connectional MinistriesDr. Rick Lanford, President, The Foundation of The Methodist Home

LaityMiriam Hagan, Conference Director of AdministrationSheila Moland, member of Bemiss UMCLynn Walker, member of Brooklet UMCRichard Shinhoster, member of Speedwell UMC

—From The Link July 3, 2013