30 Wednesday May 2007
Posted in Uncategorized
On the sixth clergy ballot no clergy were elected.
On the sixth laity ballot the following were elected as lay delegates to General Conference:
1. Judy Benson
2. Frank Denny
3. Bill Junk
4. Donna Roberts
5. Bob Anthony
6. Harold Wright
30 Wednesday May 2007
Posted in Uncategorized
On the fifth clergy ballot the following were elected as clergy delegates to General Conference:
1. Robert Long
2. Guy Ames III
3. Brian T. Bakeman
4. Margaret Ball
5. Linda Harker
6. Frankye Johnson
7. Darrell Cates
8. Mouzon Biggs
9. Joseph Harris
On the fifth laity ballot no new laity were elected.
30 Wednesday May 2007
Posted in Uncategorized
On the fourth clergy ballot no new clergy delegates were elected.
On the fourth laity ballot the following were elected as lay delegates to General Conference:
1. Judy Benson
2. Frank Denny
3. Bill Junk
4. Donna Roberts
5. Bob Anthony
30 Wednesday May 2007
Posted in Uncategorized
There were no clergy or laity elected in the 3rd ballot.
29 Tuesday May 2007
Posted in Uncategorized
On the second clergy ballot the following were elected as clergy delegates to General Conference:
1. Robert Long
2. Guy Ames III
3. Brian T. Bakeman
4. Margaret Ball
5. Linda Harker
6. Frankye Johnson
7. Darrell Cates
On the second lay ballot the following were elected as lay delegates to General Conference:
1. Judy Benson
2. Frank Denny
3. Bill Junk
29 Tuesday May 2007
Posted in Uncategorized
On the first clergy ballot the following was elected as a General Conference Delegate:
1. Robert Long
On the first laity ballot the following was elected as a General Conference Delegate:
1. Judy Benson
29 Tuesday May 2007
Posted in Uncategorized
It is interesting being at Annual Conference and not being able to vote on General Conference delegates. This issue had not previously occurred to me, because I hadn’t thought about it. But now that I am here, it is a weird feeling. In case you don’t know what I am talking about, every four years annual conferences throughout Methodism elect lay and clergy delegates to represent their conference at General Conference, which is the official voice of the United Methodist Church. Lay members of Annual Conference vote for lay delegates. Clergy members of Annual Conference vote for clergy delegates. The catch is that probationary members and local pastors are not members of Annual Conference. Therefore, they have no voice in who represents the church and they also cannot be elected to go to General Conference.
Why can’t people who are pastoring churches vote on General Conference delegates? We are the only group of people who officially have no say in the future of the church, at least for the next 4 years. This year it has really felt like probationers and local pastors are second class citizens. It it hard for me to understand why retired ministers have more of a say in the future of the church than do the pastors who are struggling along the road to ordination and are literally the future of the church.
I would love to hear your thoughts about this or your explanation of why this is an important policy.
28 Monday May 2007
Posted in Book Review
I have found Restoring Methodism to be an important read. The authors (James B. Scott, and Molly Davis Scott) present 10 Decisions that they believe United Methodists in America should make in order to restore the UMC. I found the discussion in Decision # 9 to be particularly thought provoking.
Here are some excerpts from the chapter:
In the 1940 the average age of a Methodist was approximately thirty; in 2000 it was approximately sixty (25).
The Scotts highlight that W.E. Sangster as long ago as 1938 highlighted four essential characteristics of Methodism which he proclaimed were already lost in 1938: fellowship, assurance, holiness, and personal evangelism (27).
They also include this powerful quote from Dr. Albert Outler: One of the rarest things one runs across nowadays is a Christian layman who can give an articulate, comprehensive, self-tested account of the Christian faith that is in him (30).
The Scott’s argue that the importance of Wesley for American United Methodism is because: To experience Mr. Wesley and the saints of early Methodism is to be directed to travel with light speed back into the New Testament and the early Church and into the tradition of the historical Church, where we will find the passion and the power of the Trinity. That is where our future is waiting for us (33).
The contemporary UMC would do well to focus on what the essentials are that God wants us to pour our energy into. The four essentials that W.E. Sangster argued for provide a good starting point. Methodism would be strengthened by improving in any of those four areas. In our current context, fellowship has become a fairly watered-down word, so I would argue for changing that word to accountability.
Which of those four characteristics do you think would be most important to the renewal of the church? Or what other area do you think needs to be strengthened?
24 Thursday May 2007
Posted in Book Review
I have been reading so much for the sermon series on Family Matters that I haven’t been able to read as much outside of those specific topics. I am looking forward to reading a bit more broadly after this week’s sermon is in the books.
I did read the first few pages of Restoring Methodism: 10 Decisions for United Methodist Churches in America this morning. It looks like it is going to be a very interesting, worthwhile read. The list of recommendations is certainly interesting and impressive with 5 bishops, Dr. Lovett Weems Jr., Dr. William J. Abraham, Adam Hamilton, and others.
Here is the quote that grabbed my attention, and convinced me to read the entire book:
John Wesley can continue to change your life for the better.
It is not that Wesley himself changes us; it is that he continually points away from himself to the Trinity… Wesley is not the answer, but he takes us to the answers.
The Wesleyan doctrine (teaching) and discipline (rules and forms of ministry) create the vehicle to take us, individually and corporately, to the life and power that is promised in the faith (xiii).
I am planning on blogging my way through this book. Have you read it already, or heard anything about it? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
23 Wednesday May 2007
Posted in Uncategorized
The latest sermon in the “Family Matters” sermon series is now online. You can find it by clicking on the deeply committed sermons link on the right side of this page, or you can click here to go directly to the podcast.
Also, a few folks have mentioned some problems with hearing the podcast. When you go to the podcast page, the latest sermon may automatically begin playing. If you are wanting to listen to an older sermon, click the pause button under the heading “revkevinwatson’s podcast.” Then scroll down and find the sermon you want to listen to, and click the green play button. A new window should open and begin playing the sermon. If you still have problems, please post a comment or email me.
As always, this sermon will soon be on the lamontumc.org page soon as well.
Kevin M. Watson 