Dear Friends, I'm just back from our Annual Conference. On the whole, it was a dismal affair and I left feeling rather sad. Naturally, it was great to see friends, colleagues, and former parishioners. And at the Ministers Mates' Lunch it was fun to connect with old friends and meet some new folks.
But as far as the business is concerned, the news was not so good. And we are a growing conference. We did elect delegates to General and Jurisdictional Conferences, and some of them will represent us well. But the politics of getting elected far overshadowed who was elected. On the lay side, the delegates were largely folks with experience with at least one young adult, who also happens to be a clergy spouse. On the clergy side, the young women clergy came in very organized and pretty much had their way. All that is fine, but with one or two exceptions the clergy delegation is totally inexperienced. And there were no delegates over 50, save one, who was our bishop candidate last time around. No DSs or conference staff were elected. I'm not sure what that says about our current leadership.
Perhaps this bodes well for the church. But I believe we are still too focused on what is politically correct. Guess I also feel a little passed over too. Still no sour grapes. It is God's church after all and God has a plan. I just wish I could feel better about the whole thing.
Grace, Kathy
June 17, 2011
June 7, 2011
Is General Conference Important?
Dear Friends, I guess many of you have heard that this next General Conference in Spring, 2012, may be the most important Conference we've had as a church since we became The United Methodist Church in 1968. All kinds of things might happen. For example, pastors may lose their guaranteed appointments, the general boards and agencies may be eliminated or, at least, merged.
But I am also aware that my local church doesn't know anything about General Conference and probably cares less.
How is it where you are. What issues do you see as important? I would really like to know your opinion.
Thanks for your help,
Kathy
But I am also aware that my local church doesn't know anything about General Conference and probably cares less.
How is it where you are. What issues do you see as important? I would really like to know your opinion.
Thanks for your help,
Kathy
June 5, 2011
How Connected Do We Need to Be?
So how many friends do you have on Facebook? LinkedIn? MySpace? Just how many friends do we need anyway?
Just saw a review of a new book by Robin Dunbar, How Many Friends Does One Person Need? Dunbar’s Number and Other Evolutionary Quirks(Harvard University Press, 2010. 312 pp.). I was feeling pretty bad about myself. However it seems that I'm pretty much like most everyone else. According to Dunbar, the most close friends we can stand is 3-4. Yes, stand. Dunbar gives reasons based on evolutionary psychology. My thinking is based only on my experience--3 or 4 is all I possibly have time for.
In these times, with family, work, church, community activities, I really don't have time to be as good a friend as I want to be to anyone. Just today, I decided to turn over a new leaf and stop complaining that I have too little time, so I called a friend and set up a dinner for next week.
Yesterday, I attended a wedding and was amazed that the newlyweds had both grown up in the same city and will continue to live here. Both families are respected in our community and are known by lots of people here. I have to admit, I was a little envious. We've lived in lots of places and our daughters made friends all over, but I always feared that they would not have a sense of rootedness.
Moving also effected my efforts to stay in close touch with good friends over the years. We all have good intentions, but long-distance friendships are tough to maintain. So I hope you take advantage of social networks, blogs, as well as opportunities even at Annual Conference.
Have about you? How connected to friends are you and how connected do you need to be?
Grace, Kathy
Clarksville, TN
Just saw a review of a new book by Robin Dunbar, How Many Friends Does One Person Need? Dunbar’s Number and Other Evolutionary Quirks(Harvard University Press, 2010. 312 pp.). I was feeling pretty bad about myself. However it seems that I'm pretty much like most everyone else. According to Dunbar, the most close friends we can stand is 3-4. Yes, stand. Dunbar gives reasons based on evolutionary psychology. My thinking is based only on my experience--3 or 4 is all I possibly have time for.
In these times, with family, work, church, community activities, I really don't have time to be as good a friend as I want to be to anyone. Just today, I decided to turn over a new leaf and stop complaining that I have too little time, so I called a friend and set up a dinner for next week.
Yesterday, I attended a wedding and was amazed that the newlyweds had both grown up in the same city and will continue to live here. Both families are respected in our community and are known by lots of people here. I have to admit, I was a little envious. We've lived in lots of places and our daughters made friends all over, but I always feared that they would not have a sense of rootedness.
Moving also effected my efforts to stay in close touch with good friends over the years. We all have good intentions, but long-distance friendships are tough to maintain. So I hope you take advantage of social networks, blogs, as well as opportunities even at Annual Conference.
Have about you? How connected to friends are you and how connected do you need to be?
Grace, Kathy
Clarksville, TN
June 2, 2011
Passing the Stole
My husband, Mike's, last Sunday before retirement is June 26th. The next Sunday, July 3, he and the new pastor will participate in a unique ritual. Mike, at each of the four services, will "pass a stole" to the two new pastors. The church owns a set of green stoles, so Mike, to symbolize the change in leadership, will place a stole on the shoulders of each pastor.
Usually such an exchange is not possible because the old pastor has moved on to a new church in a new town. The congregation, will witness Mike's blessing of the new ministers coming to care for the flock whom he loved so dearly for fifteen years.
God, thank you for the cooperative way that change can occur in your name. Bless all of those who are moving to serve new churches. Guide those who are retiring or taking a leave of absence. Thank you for the opportunity that all of us have to care for those in the kingdom.
Jacquie Reed
Fishers, Indiana
Usually such an exchange is not possible because the old pastor has moved on to a new church in a new town. The congregation, will witness Mike's blessing of the new ministers coming to care for the flock whom he loved so dearly for fifteen years.
God, thank you for the cooperative way that change can occur in your name. Bless all of those who are moving to serve new churches. Guide those who are retiring or taking a leave of absence. Thank you for the opportunity that all of us have to care for those in the kingdom.
Jacquie Reed
Fishers, Indiana
May 31, 2011
God Sees Our Potential
Recently, our 26 year old daughter, Anna, who lives and works in Portland, Oregon, realized a couple of dreams. First, she was able to move from her tiny studio apartment to a one bedroom apartment. She is delighted with the extra space and now as she says, "I can have friends over," something she hasn't been able to do for over two years. Second, she purchased a cat. Anna has wanted a cat for a long time, but didn't feel that she had enough room in her studio apartment for a little friend.
Anna told me how she went to the humane society in Portland, looked at a few cats before she finally chose, Edie. Anna said that one little cat came to her immediately, so friendly, licking her face, ready to cuddle. Edie however, was somewhat distant, not eager for any type of interaction. Anna selected Edie over the other cat because, "I saw potential in Edie to become cuddly and ready to play."
I realized that God has the same perspective for each one of us as Anna had choosing Edie. God sees and knows the potential each one of us has to live, grow and serve in God's kingdom. Receiving God's love energizes our efforts to fully become who God created us.
God, thank you for pouring unlimited potential into each of us, your children. As we seek you daily, give us confidence in your presence to realize the potential to become who you wanted us to be. Amen.
Jacquie Reed,
Fishers, Indiana
Anna told me how she went to the humane society in Portland, looked at a few cats before she finally chose, Edie. Anna said that one little cat came to her immediately, so friendly, licking her face, ready to cuddle. Edie however, was somewhat distant, not eager for any type of interaction. Anna selected Edie over the other cat because, "I saw potential in Edie to become cuddly and ready to play."
I realized that God has the same perspective for each one of us as Anna had choosing Edie. God sees and knows the potential each one of us has to live, grow and serve in God's kingdom. Receiving God's love energizes our efforts to fully become who God created us.
God, thank you for pouring unlimited potential into each of us, your children. As we seek you daily, give us confidence in your presence to realize the potential to become who you wanted us to be. Amen.
Jacquie Reed,
Fishers, Indiana
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