Turn the World Upside Down Reclaim the Flame Covenant Community LETTER from the EDITOR
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JULY 2017 Turn the World Upside Down Reclaim the Flame Covenant Community LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Fun at Conference y advice to United Methodist men going When I first braided my beard, a friend asked M to Annual Conference in 2018: stop if I could get away with looking like that at shaving this fall. By next June you should work. I scoffed, and explained that United have enough facial hair for beard braids and a Methodists are very accepting people. I could handlebar moustache. It’s a great ice-breaker get a large neck tattoo, and would probably get for your fellow Methodist friends whom you bonus points on my performance appraisal for haven’t seen in a while. taking a bold initiative to connect with people Fred Koenig, Editor You can use the No-Shave November outside the church walls. (Movember) movement that raises awareness of So Annual Conference was a lot of fun for men’s health issues as an excuse to get started, me. But you don’t really have to do strange Published by then just continue not shaving. I find it pretty things to your facial hair. Annual Conference The Missouri Conference of easy to make a practice of not doing something. looked like it was fun for everyone, from the the United Reactions to my braids varied. Southeast people who had to plan and run the whole Methodist Church 3601 Amron Court District Superintendent Fred Leist asked if my thing, to the first timers who just showed Columbia, MO 65202 braids were some variation on being Hasidic. up and tried to figure out what exactly an The ever-kind Bishop Fritz Mutti politely Phone: 573-441-1770 Annual Conference Session is. I hope the observed, “I think you’re doing something fun of the meeting, the great information For inquiries different with your beard since I saw you shared and words of wisdom conveyed regarding content: fkoenig@ last.” Our accounts payable staffer Erin Ellen, comes through in this issue of The Missouri moumethodist.org with perhaps the most astute and direct, Methodists. I try to get a mix of content in For inquiries albeit somewhat cruel, commentary, asked if every other issue of the magazine, but the July regarding circulation: I had lost a bet. Rev. Jim Voigt of Hallsville edition is pure Annual Conference Session, lsanders@ offered to help me seek vengeance on whoever with everything in its pages occurring during moumethodist.org had done this to me. Rev. Willis Johnson of the conference in Springfield. Ferguson had to show me to Rev. Emanuel With one exception – a sharp eye will spot Cleaver III of St. James and ask him if he’d the photo on page 35 as being Fake News, ABOUT THE COVER Rev. Junius Dotson, seen Rudy’s cousin. and actually being shot in Conference Room General Secretary of He was referring to Rev. Rudy Rasmus, B, just down the hall from my desk, not in Discipleship Ministries, pastor of St. John’s UMC Houston, Texas. preaches during Sunday Springfield. morning worship at Annual Rudy owns the beard braids. Although I’m not The reason is Annual Conference wasn’t Conference Session. See directly trying to emulate him, he’s someone fun for Karen Hayden. Appendicitis took story on page 18. Photo by Eric Mattson. I’m honored to be compared to, even if it is her out as things got started. Director of just based on facial hair. Director of Pastoral Financial Ministries Nate Berneking did a Excellence Karen Hayden shared with me that bang-up job of giving her report, and I got Rudy once explained his beard braids were a a good picture of him doing it. If you really way to gauge how truly open minded someone want it I can email it to you. But I just didn’t is, because if they could take him seriously feel right about running a picture of Nate looking like that they weren’t likely to be too reporting on Karen’s office, so I snapped this judgmental. picture of Karen back on the job with her The handle-bar moustache is also key, as Crossroads interns, right before this magazine it gives the impression of me being cheerful. went to press. Regardless of my actual mood, the ‘stache Don’t worry about your favorite, reoccurring is doing all the heavy lifting by giving the features missing – they will be back next appearance of a smile. It’s the exact opposite of month. For now – enjoy the Annual a full beard, which hides my emotional state Conference issue. entirely. Our star volunteer photographer Rev. Eric Mattson told me at first he thought it was Rollie Fingers sitting up on the front row at Annual Conference. Not being a baseball Fred Koenig, Editor historian, I had to go to Google that one. Missouri Conference Publications 2 JULY 2017 | The Missouri Methodists JULY 2017 4 Presiding Bishop Bob Farr EDITOR 6 Reclaim the Flame Fred Koenig 8 State of the Conference 12 Covenant Community WRITERS 16 Next Level Discipleship Joan Deboe 18 Turn the World Upside Down Sarah Dumas 20 Beginnings & Endings 22 Retirees Honored for Faithful Service Pam Ekey 24 Practical Divinity Lydia Istomina 26 Eldest Jennifer Simms 28 Cheerleader, Coach & Critic Susan Sneed 29 Global Connect Facilitates Mission Involvement 30 Mozambique Initiative Celebrates New & Existing Relationships PHOTOGRAPHY 31 Inspiring God’s Children Fred Koenig 32 Camps at Conference Eric Mattson 34 Pathways in Ministry 36 Conference Finances Solid 38 Foundation Celebrates 50 Years 39 New Laity Connect 40 Nurture the Faith of Others 41 CMU Alive & Well 42 Making Disciples the Wesleyan Way 43 Leading in MIssion 44 10 Steps to Growth 46 Strengthening the Black Church 47 Seven Ways to share Faith 48 Preparation & High Quality Worship Help Build the Congregation 49 Small Church Mission 50 Making the Ask 51 Reaching Students with Bright Futures 55 Offering Totals 56 2017 Missouri Conference Appointments 63 Calendar of Events www.moumethodist.org 3 Bishop Bob Farr & Susan Farr Kevin McBeth David Steward 4 JULY 2017 | The Missouri Methodists BY SUSAN SNEED he Wesley Brass of Springfield, Bishop Farr with the Shepherd’s Crook, under the direction of the traditional symbol of the Bishop’s T Manchester UMC/GC music office. Mr. David Steward, a member director Kevin McBeth, opened Annual of Salem UMC in Ladue, prayed over Conference Session on the morning of the Bishop Farr and his wife, Susan June 9. McBeth serves as the Worship as they took their place as Missouri’s Curator for the Annual Conference. Bishop and Mrs. Farr as a partner in This year’s theme, Remarkable: that ministry. Identified as Extraordinary highlighted the five traits Methodists identify as “I’m not Robert Schnase and this Remarkable: Conference may not go as in years past,” 1. The way we love God said Bishop Farr. “We were so excited 2. Rejoice in God after my election as Bishop to be coming 3. Give thanks home. It is my intent in this year’s 4. Pray constantly Conference to lead you with as has 5. Love others much grace as I can find, to use all that I know, to help the people in Missouri Amy Thompson, Conference Lay to grow in Jesus and to fix a world that Leader, welcomed all to the Conference is growing more broken every day. We and introduced Bishop Robert Farr, can show the whole United Methodist the new Missouri Bishop. A video Church how to move forward in the was shared to better acquaint the 21st century”. He admitted that in Conference with him, which Brian more than 40 years he has never stayed Hammons, chair of the Episcopacy through entirely every session of annual Committee, expanded upon. Rev. Cody conference, so this year was a tough test, Collier, Special Assistant to the Bishop/ but he is proud and humbled to be the Leadership Development, presented Conference’s new shepherd. www.moumethodist.org 5 6 JULY 2017 | The Missouri Methodists reclaim the BY PAM EKEY ev. Charity Goodwin called overwhelmed by her gifts of love on the Missouri Annual and hospitality. RConference to reclaim the power Goodwin said she recognized of the Holy Spirit during the herself in Martha. “For too long I flameopening worship service June 9. thought that doing more was the “We need to reclaim the flame so way to do hospitality and I was that we are emotionally mature overwhelmed,” she said. A friend as well as spiritually mature,” she helped her to understand love as said. “We need to reclaim the a gift of prevenient grace, offered flame so we quit talking about without asking or earning it. what we cannot do but focus on Mary sits at the feet of Jesus. She what we can do.” surrenders who she is at the feet of Goodwin used the story of Jesus. She chose to respond with Mary, Martha and Jesus in Luke her heart, to absorb Jesus’ grace. 10 as a guide for how to United Growing in grace is like sitting Methodists need to incorporate at a reflecting pool. As we grow, mind, hands and spirit or heart in we begin to see how we look like theology and ministry. Especially, Jesus. We need to learn to balance we need to reclaim the Holy Spirit. the gifts of hands, mind, and spirit. “We were the original holy rollers,” Mary was with Jesus. Martha was she said, “Let’s reclaim that.” for Jesus, Goodwin said. Mary and Martha embodies the ministry Martha are often pitted against of hospitality, Goodwin said.