SOUTHWEST DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

October-2015

1602 Goff Circle, Cordele, GA 31015

229-273-3119

Dr. Nita M. Crump Bishop James R. King, Jr

District Superintendent Resident Bishop

nitac@sgaumc.com

OCTOBER IS:

“ PASTORS’ APPRECIATION MONTH”

Please take the time to give your pastor a special “thank you” for his devotion to God and to your church. Send a card, say thank you, or plan a small reception. Your pastor plays an important part in the structure, religious growth and provides guidance of his church

in God’s name.

BISHOP’S DAY IN THE SW DISTRICT

On Thursday, October 22, Bishop King will be in our District. The Clergy Coordinators will gather at

noon for lunch in Camilla. From 2pm to 3pm, a reception will be held for clergy and laity to visit with

the Bishop.

At 7pm, there will be a district-wide worship service at Colquitt UMC. Please encourage as many people

as possible to attend. This will be the last official visit for Bishop King as our Bishop. The Kolomoki

Cluster will be hosting a reception after the worship service. Even if you are not in the Kolomoki Cluster

and would like to help please contact Rev. Rebecca Duke-Barton at Colquitt UMC.

OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS

Oct 12 Ronnie Boyd- Recovery Jim Houseal- Tyson Memorial Oct 14 Rebecca Duke-Barton- Colquitt UMC Jean Watson- Morningside (Thomasville) Oct 18 Ruth Whittaker-spouse of Duane Whittaker – Trinity (Albany) Oct 20 Andy Frazier- Meigs/Ochlocknee Wayne McDonald- Calvary/Bethel/Centennial Oct 23 Frank Danner- Boston/Oak Grove Oct 25 Martin Loyley- Ft. Gaines/New Lowell/Wesley Chapel Oct 28 Debbie Cone- Avalon Oct 31 Marilyn Lewis- spouse of Al Lewis- Norman Park

OCTOBER CALENDAR

Oct 4 World Communion Sunday Oct 12 Columbus Day- God Bless America

Oct 13 District Finance Committee Meeting- 6pm- Camilla UMC Oct 15 District Board of Missions Meeting- 7pm- Camilla UMC Oct 18 Laity Sunday Oct 22 Bishop’s Day in the District Oct 26-29 SEJ Clergywoman’s Consultations

Charge Conference Preparation Meetings For Pastors and District Superintendent

Date Cluster Location Time

October 5 Cornerstone Cluster Providence TBA

October 12 Ochlocknee Cluster Morningside (Thomasville) TBA

October 19 Sowega Flint Cluster Reynolds Chapel TBA

November 2 Flint River Flock Cluster Hand Memorial TBA

November 9 Kolomoki Cluster Westview TBA

November 16 Albany Cluster Christ UMC TBA

** Meetings with pastors will be scheduled individually on the Monday before charge conference. You should have

received an email with your scheduled time to meet with Nita **

Charge Conference By Clusters

Date Cluster Location Time

October 4 WoCo Cluster Moultrie FUMC 3:00pm

October 11 Cornerstone Cluster Quitman 3:00pm

October 18 Ochlocknee Cluster Cairo FUMC 3:00pm

October 25 Sowega Flint Cluster Bainbridge FUMC 3:00pm

November 8 Flint River Cluster Camilla UMC 3:00pm

November 15 Kolomoki Cluster Colquitt UMC 3:00pm

November 22 Albany Cluster Avalon 3:00pm

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O Lord My God, You Are Very Great

Preparation of Charge Conference Materials

Please have all forms signed prior to the Monday that you meet with Nita. Please mark all the forms that need her signature so that you can through the packets quickly.

Please do not put the forms for the office in a booklet. Please leave these forms loose and place in a file folder.

Please prepare a booklet for your people to have at Charge Conference: 1) for the pastor; 2) for church records; and 3) for the Charge Conference Secretary.

Please put the forms in the following order. Forms with an asterisk(*) require the approval of the Charge Conference.

Pastor’s Report Celebration of Congregational Ministries prepared by the Lay Leader Discipleship Plan- signed by the Pastor, the Chair of the Administrative Council, and the Lay Leader * Leadership List (Nomination Report) * Pastor’s Compensation Form * Accountable Reimbursement Policy Resolution * Housing Allowance Resolution Finance Committee Report- can be budgeted for the next year or a year-to-date budget report for the current year Plan to move to 100% payment of apportionments (if did not do so last year) * Lay Speaker(s) Forms- Lay Speaker Training must be current * Candidates for Ministry to be approved Retired Clergy Report to Charge Conference Safe Sanctuaries Report Trustees Report Accessibility Report (Per Paragraph 2433)- this can be a copy of last year’s report with a note that says there have been no changes Parsonage Report Higher Education Report

For Clergy

2015-2016 Schedule

January 21,2016- Thursday: Tifton FUMC- Tifton, GA – 10:00am-4:00pm

February 25, 2016- Thursday: Epworth By The Sea- Nalls Building- 10:00am- 4:00pm

April 26, 2016- Tuesday: Vineville UMC- Macon, GA- 10:00am-4:00pm

This workshop is REQUIRED EVERY THREE (3) YEARS for any person serving under appointment by the bishop (clergy, local pastors, extension ministers, appointed lay speakers).

Cost: $35 collected at the door- lunch included

Please make checks payable to the South Georgia Confernce

To register, email: cpcassistant@sgaumc.com

SEXUAL ETHICS IN THE MINISTRY

Pastors Due for Sexual Ethics by Annual Conference 2016

Southwest District

Kirk Beckham

Susan Beverly

Charlie Boyd

Joey Cannon, Sr.

Jeff Cook

Garth Duke-Barton

Tammy Fincannon

Keith Goodlett

John Harrington

Nate Lehman

Martin Loyley

Gary Morris

Carrie Myers

Ken Myers

Linda Osborne

Lee Smith

David Thompson

Jean Watson

Duane Whitaker

We thank thee O Lord for the beauty of the earth and for the beauty of

the sky !!!

Mission Trip To Nicaragua

This is one of the homes in the community we served. It’s a one room home with no

running water, no indoor toilets, and no indoor kitchen.

We take so many things for granted. We have homes with multiple rooms. We turn on a faucet and water comes out.

We can choose whether to cook with gas or with electricity and our kitchens are have far more pieces of equipment than we

truly need. We have bathrooms in our homes, usually more than one.

Recently the District sponsored a mission trip to Nicaragua. Some in the group worked to dig a well. Others taught the

ladies and children hygiene classes and shared Bible stories and faith stories. The small community where we worked had

been praying for three years for a constant source of fresh, safe water. When we left, they had answered prayers and fresh

water.

The first water from the well.

Thank you to all the churches who supported the trip

financially, with your prayers, and with your comments

as you saw the pictures on facebook. Thank you to

Hugh and Stephanie Marchant, Beabea Hurt, Chris

McKee, Paula Lewis, and Pam Peacock, who

represented our district on the trip. Folks are drinking

cool fresh water today because of your support. And

they know that God answers prayers.

The team with the folks from the community.

I know that some folks question why we would go to Nicaragua when there are so many needs here. Yes, there are

many needs here and we should be working to meet those needs every day that the sun rises. I encourage all the churches in

the district to look outside the four walls of the building and find ways to serve the people who live right around the church.

As we serve our neighbors, whether near or far, we’re serving Christ.

Thank you again to all those who gave time and money so that these precious neighbors can have clean water to drink.

Nita

OUT OF EVERY DOLLAR GIVEN TO A SOUTH GEORGIA CONFERENCE UM CHURCH IN 2014

$ 0.800 went to Conference Apportionments $ 0.014 went to District Apportionments $ 0.006 went to Conference/General Advance mission specials chosen by the church $ 0.900 stayed in that local church

$ 116,401,162 Total reported given to all SGA UMC’s in 2014 $ 11,035,304 Total SGC Budget in 2014 $ 9,740,503 Total paid on SGC Apportionments in 2014 $ 1,373,359 Total paid on District Apportionments in 2014 $ 684,594 Total paid on General and Conference Advance Specials 2014 Out of every dollar spent on SGC apportionments in 2013 $ 0.43 was spent on some form of clergy support $ 0.46 was spent on monthly mission (some overhead) $ 0.11 was spent mainly on overhead and administration

Lay Servant Training

Southwest District: Advanced Training: Oct. 3rd, Thomasville FUMC- 10am-3pm North Central District: Basic /Advanced: Jan 22- 6-9pm, Vineville UMC, Macon, GA- Jan 23- 9am-4pm

South Central District: Oct 10th, Park Ave UMC, Valdosta, GA -9am-3pm Coastal District- Advanced Training- Oct 3rd & Oct 24th- College Park UMC, Brunswick, Ga- 9am-3pm

Ashburn FUMC is looking for a Part Time Youth Director !

This person will be working with a small group of youth from 6th to 12th grade. The Youth Director will be responsible for planning Sunday evening Methodist

Youth Fellowship programs and activities. This includes off campus activities once a quarter and participation in local mission projects. The goal of the youth program is

to provide opportunities for spiritual formation as they become fully engaged followers of Jesus Christ.

The position requires 12-15 hours per week with flexibility for special events within the church. This would include Youth Sunday, Confirmation and mission outreach.

Salary is $12 per hour. For more information please send a letter and/or resume to:

Ashburn First UMC P. O. Box 69 Ashburn, GA 31714

Southwest District Christmas Brunch for Pastors and Spouses

December 12, 2015 at Thomasville FUMC

10am-12 noon

Please mark your calendars and it’s not too early to call the District Office 229-273-

3119 to let Martha know who will be attending.

This is for pastors and spouses only.