Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Today my husband was putting our three year old grandson into his car seat. They have a ritual as
they pull the last strap until it ‘clicks’. But today, the little fellow comes out with, “I appreciate it!”
We are surprised and amused when such grown-up things come out of his mouth. He repeats eve-
rything he hears!! We have to be much more careful these days about what those ears hear...more
careful about what comes out of our mouths! A three year old learns to speak what they overhear.
They imitate those they are around.
The scripture in one of Paul’s letters tells us to be “imitators of Christ Jesus”. I yearn to be as much
of a sponge as I relate to Jesus’ life and teaching as my grandson Jordan is to his family. I want to
see people through the eyes of Jesus. I want to forgive as he forgives. I want to sit at Jesus’ feet as
Mary did and soak up his words and have my heart formed by his loving Spirit. You know, I have
to be careful what comes out of my life: words, behaviors, attitudes. If I proclaim Jesus and call
myself Christian - do I appear to be imitating Jesus?
We churched people come under much fire these days for our failure to be “imitators of Jesus.” I
am convicted by the following quote from Rabbi Jonathan Sacks in Not in God’s Name: “Too often
in the history of religion, people have killed in the name of the God of peace, hated in the name of
the God of love, and practiced cruelty in the name of the God of compassion.”
Every day we live as a building block of a future. We help create a culture that will out-live us.
We represent Christ by bearing his name. I want to be a sponge as I follow Him. I want my legacy
to leave no doubt about who formed my heart.
Blessings,
Brenda
TRAIN YOUR LEADER!
UNITED METHODIST VOLUNTEERS
IN MISSION (UMVIM)
TEAM LEADER TRAINING
Nationally known United Methodist author, coach and speaker, Kay Kotan will be leading the
conference to help participants discover their story, prepare them to share their stories outside
the church, and ready your church to receive and retain guests
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDARS & HANDBOOK/DIRECTORIES celebrates the training of 46 Lay
servants representing six of nine
DEADLINE EXTENDED TO
districts in the Holston Confer-
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13!! ence on August 25, 2018.
Order form can be found online at: Seven Certified Lay Speakers and
http://printedmaterials.holston.org three Certified Lay Ministers received
- Cost per calendar: $9.00 their certificates of completion at the District Conference.
- Cost per Handbook/Directory: $15.00
DELIVER TO THE DISTRICT OFFICE BY 9/13 I had previously said we would have another Lay Servant
Training this year. I am sorry to report we will not have
———–—————- another training in 2018. There are several factors that led
HOLSTON CONFERENCE JOURNALS to this difficult decision. We will have another training
event in January or February 2019.
Orders are NOW being taken for the 2017 Holston
I will share any correspondence we receive from other dis-
Conference Journal. Place your order online at:
tricts that might have training sessions in October and No-
https://holston.org/store/sell/2017-printed-journal-
vember.
order/
Thank you for your understanding!
Orders for the 2018 Holston Conference Journal Blessings,
will be taken at a later date. Bobby Stair
___________________________________________ District Director of Lay Servant Ministries
All Charge Conference forms can be found online at ccpacket.holston.org or by contacting the district office.
Completed Charge Conference Packets are due in the District Office on the Monday before your scheduled Charge Conference.
The Rev. Wil Cantrell joined Goddard at the front of Powell's sanctuary. To-
gether, they are two of 16 Holston delegates traveling to St. Louis, Missouri,
for a special session of General Conference on Feb. 23-26, 2019. The 16-
member Holston delegation includes 12 voting members and four alternates.
“It’s important to have these conversations,” Cantrell said, preparing the Powell crowd for a subject he acknowledged is sensitive and diffi-
cult for many. “We can have them prayerfully in the sanctuary or emotionally in the parking lot.”
Following up on a promise made earlier this year – and following the lead of delegations and bishops in other annual conferences – the Hol-
ston delegation has scheduled discussions in each of Holston’s nine districts, including 11 in the New River District of southwest Virginia
where Goddard serves as superintendent.
The next discussion is scheduled for the Smoky Mountain District at 3 p.m. on Sept. 16 at First United Methodist Church in Maryville. The
discussions will continue throughout Holston until the final gathering on Nov. 12, when the Clinch Mountain District meets at 7 p.m. at State
Street United Methodist Church in Bristol. (See schedule on page 11 of this newsletter)
TUG OF WAR
Speaking at Powell United Methodist, Cantrell provided a quick background and historical context behind the United Methodist tug of war
that has occurred since 1972, when the General Conference added this statement to the Book of Discipline: “The United Methodist Church
does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching.”
Cantrell is associate pastor at Concord United Methodist Church in Knoxville and author of the book, “Unafraid and Unashamed: Facing the
Future of United Methodism,” which explains in detail the denominational struggle and what’s at stake if disagreements cause formal schism
during or after General Conference 2019.
Goddard explained the “One Church Plan” and the “Connectional Conference Plan” for restructuring the denomination’s future. Cantrell ex-
plained the “Traditional Plan.” The three plans, crafted by the Commission on a Way Forward, are expected to be considered at General Con-
ference in February but could be amended, altered or discarded altogether, Goddard said.
(For more explanation on the plans, see "Plans prayerfully pondered by United Methodists.")
Goddard and Cantrell’s presentations were followed by a question-and-answer session. Church leaders queried the two delegates on whether
local churches will have opportunities to vote their preferences; if the delegation will vote uniformly or individually; scheduling of additional
district discussions; scriptural basis for the “One Church Plan”; if other groups throughout the U.S. are having similar discussions; clarifica-
tion on church property ownership if any of the three plans are approved; and protection for clergy refusing to officiate same-sex marriages.
On the latter, Goddard pointed out that no matter what plan is approved or rejected, pastors will not be required to perform same-sex mar-
riages. “We don’t have to marry anybody now,” she said. “We’re not agents of the state so clergy would certainly be protected [if they re-
fuse to marry any couple].”
In pleading with her audience to “hold steady,” Goddard reminded them that on the first Sunday after General Conference 2019, regardless
of the meeting’s outcome, United Methodists will return to their local churches to worship and carry on the Lord’s work.
“There are going to be people who still need the love of Christ, no matter what,” she said.
Goddard also reminded her listeners to visit UMCprays.org and sign up for guides to pray for the church’s future between now and February
2019.
____________________________
2018 marks the 50-year anniversary of the vote by the UM General Conference of 1968 to begin the unification
process creating the United Methodist Church. Quite a bold claim it was at that time to state that one equitable
and inclusive church could be created from such disparate parts-many of which were separated by and because of
race. Attainment of this goal remains elusive even today…50 years later.
Recalling the words of Rev. Antoine “Tony” Love, BMCR vice chair at a recent gathering: "We give thanks for the past
50 years … but God is declaring there is a next level in our future…" What is that next level for black churches and
black people in the Holston Annual Conference?
In this workshop, we will take an honest look at this question for ourselves as we delve into the origins and structures
of the Methodist denominations of our past. We also will confront the current realities of black churches and black
people in the United Methodist Church. And we will be in dialogue about ways to address the challenging work yet
undone to create that “one equitable and inclusive church” called for by the General Conference in 1968.
Registration forms are available from the district office or by email at BMCRHolston@gmail.com
Coffee
Seasoned Souls is an event sponsored by the
Tennessee Valley and Smoky Mountain districts of Holston Conference.
UMC.org
Information on the 2019 Special Session of General www.umc.org/topics/general-
Conference and the Final Report from The Commis- conference-2019-special-
sion on a Way Forward session The Holston Conference delegation
invites church members to share
United Methodist News Service their questions and concerns by
www.umnews.org/en/news/
Plans prayerfully pondered by United Methodists emailing delegation@holston.org
plans-prayerfully-pondered-by-
united-methodists
You are invited to pause and pray
UMCprays.org for your Holston Delegation
Join the prayer community for the United Methodist www.umcprays.org to General Conference between
Church 2:23-2:26 a.m. or p.m. each day
between now and the
Holston.org Special Session of the
http://holston.org/about/ General Conference
Holston Conference delegation prepares for General communications/the-call/
Conference February 23-26, 2019
volE18/num12/delegates-
St. Louis, Missouri.
prepare-for-special-session-
2019/
SEPTEMBER 2018
13 DEADLINE EXTENDED TO ORDER 2019 CALENDARS & 2018-19 HANDBOOK/DIRECTORY
13 DISTRICT CLERGY MEETING, 10:00am, First UMC Oak Ridge
13 DISTRICT MEETING FOR BI-VOCATIONAL CLERGY, 6:30pm, District Office
17 DISTRICT MISSIONAL STRATEGY & REVITALIZATION COMMITTEE, 6:30pm, District Office
15-16 UMW ANNUAL MEETING & OFFICER TRAINING, Meadowview Conference Center, Kingsport
20-21 HOLSTON ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS CONFERENCE & RETREAT, Pigeon Forge, TN
OCTOBER 2018
1 DISTRICT RETIREE FELLOWSHIP, 10:30am, Fountain City UMC
1 DISTRICT TRUSTEES/COMMITTEE ON BUILDING & LOCATION, 6:30pm, District Office
5-6 HOLSTON BMCR FALL GATHERING, Lennon-Seney UMC
13 DISTRICT YOUTH EVENT with SHINE EFFECT, 6:00pm, Kern Memorial UMC
14 NORTH KNOX/FOUNTAIN CITY CHARGE CONFERENCE, 3:00pm, Bookwalter UMC
16 WESLEY HOUSE FUNDRAISER, EVENING WITH BISHOP KEN CARDER, 6:00pm, Concord UMC
21 POWELL/KARNS/CLINTON CHARGE CONFERENCE, 3:00pm, Beaver Ridge UMC
28 NORTHEAST CHARGE CONFERENCE, 3:00pm, Jacksboro UMC
NOVEMBER 2018
1 SEASONED SOULS SENIOR ADULT EVENT, 9:00am, Concord UMC
3 HOLSTON EVANGELISM CONFERENCE, 9:00am-2:00pm, Keith Memorial UMC, Athens, TN
4 CITY CHARGE CONFERENCE, 3:00pm, Trinity UMC
8 REGIONAL DISCUSSION ON GENERAL CONFERENCE, 7:00pm, Kodak UMC
11 WEST KNOX/OAK RIDGE CHARGE CONFERENCE, 3:00pm, First Farragut UMC
11 DISTRICT YOUTH FESTIVAL OF GIFTS & TALENTS, 7:00pm, Concord UMC
17 DISTRICT UMW GENERAL MEETING, TBA
18 ROANE COUNTY/NORTHWEST CHARGE CONFERENCE, 3:00pm, Kingston UMC
22-23 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY