Summer 2016 Archived at www.memphis-umc.org • FREE to print in any quantity ‘Offering Christ: One Neighborhood at a Time’ was theme of 2016 Memphis Annual Conference By Lane Gardner Camp, Memphis Conference Director of Communications [First published on website 7/5/2016] “Offering Christ: One Neigh- ing the global United Methodist Of the 19 who were borhood at a Time” was the Church. remembered, she said, theme for the 2016 Memphis McAlilly stated he is looking “Each caught a glimpse Annual Conference of The for “people who will see what of God’s world made United Methodist Church that is possible, not impossible,” and real here on earth.” took place June 19-22 in Jackson, added, “In the next four years, Those remembered in- Tennessee, with Bishop William we are going to build on the cluded Monta Ann Bled- T. (Bill) McAlilly presiding. work God is doing.” soe, Dorothy S. “Scot- McAlilly is the resident His message included several tie” Wilson Brafford, bishop for the Nashville examples of churches doing Richard Taylor Carruth, Episcopal Area of The United work that speak of a “thriving Jerry F. Corlew, Norman Methodist Church that includes church,” not the “dying church” L. Crittenden, Martin N. the Memphis (West Tennessee that receives so much attention. Crockett, Sr., Earl C. Da- and Western Kentucky) and McAlilly reminded delegates, vid, William E. Elkins, Tennessee (Middle Tennessee) “Your church is a mission Mary Jane Granberry, Conferences. station. You need to take the William H. Granberry, emphasis off missionprojects .” Larry B. Jarvis, Wil- To engage the mission field, he liam R. McClarin, W.A. said, “Turn missional gestures Nance, Alma C. Napier, into missional encounters.” Owen Everett Roseber- “We’ve never done it that ry, William B. Springer, A group of 17 college-age young adults way” is a phrase churches must Charles E. Stewart, Lena serving as summer interns with Project eliminate to be agile and cre- Gail Haley Stewart and Transformation Memphis were com- ative for the future, he said. William M. Vaughn, Jr. missioned during the June 19 opening “How am I going to give love A group of 17 college- worship service of the 2016 Memphis away in my neighborhood?” age young adults serv- Annual Conference at Northside United was a question McAlilly asked ing as summer interns Methodist Church in Jackson, Tennessee. all Memphis Conference clergy with Project Transfor- Bishop William T. (Bill) McAlilly, top and laity to contemplate. mation Memphis were right, addressed the group. (Photo by Lane Worship Services commissioned during Gardner Camp). the Opening Worship Memphis Conference clergy on Sunday evening. “You cannot say what God is and clergy spouses who died In response to one of its four up to if you stay inside the walls in the previous year – 19 in areas of focus to “invest in of your church,” said McAlilly. New Location all – were memorialized in a young people,” the Memphis Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey, For the first time ever, North- Sunday afternoon Service of Conference is partnering for resident bishop of the Louisiana side United Methodist Church Remembering. the first time this summer with Conference of The United Meth- hosted the conference. Dele- Retiring pastor Rev. Emily S. Project Transformation. By liv- odist Church, was the preacher gates, along with family, friends Matheny, associate pastor and ing in intentional community for Monday evening’s Service of and special guests, gathered to executive director of congre- and building relationships with Commissioning and Ordination worship, learn, conduct business gational care at Christ United children and youth from low- of Deacons and Elders, with and celebrate accomplishments. Methodist Church in Mem- income communities, the interns Licensing of Local Pastors. phis, Tennessee, delivered the State-of-the-Church are exploring a call to ministry “Know Who You Are” was sermon, “Common Bonds of Address and service. the title of Harvey’s sermon Remembering.” “Change is here, friends,” “One Neighborhood at a that she began by saying to the Matheny reminded attendees said Bishop McAlilly during Time” was the title of Bishop group being ordained, com- that annual conference is about his Monday state-of-the church McAlilly’s sermon that un- missioned and licensed, “You building and sustaining rela- address. packed the questions: “Who are at an incredible threshold… tionships. “By recalling the lives He used the acronym VUCA are my neighbors?” and “Do I It’s not an easy path, but it is a of colleagues and friends, we to describe a world that is know them?” and “Who should privileged path. You will never honor their faithful work. …We volatile, uncertain, complex and I love?” be the same.” keep our conferencing in holy ambiguous and is greatly affect- perspective,” she said. Continued on page 6 Page 2 / Summer 2016 ‘Coupled in Christ’ Sunday Amanda Crice is new Memphis School class at Christ Conference coordinator of youth ministries UMC in Memphis serves [First published on website 6/13/2016] breakfast to area police Amanda Crice assum- Geary, is another way ed the duties of Memphis the Memphis Conference [First published on website 7/18/2016] Conference coordinator is living into its mission On Friday, July 15, members of the “Coupled in of youth ministries, effec- with a focus (one of four) Christ” Sunday School class at Christ United Methodist tive July 1. of “investing in young Church in Memphis, Tennessee, spread out across Mem- The announcement people.” phis, Germantown, Collierville and Bartlett to serve came from Dr. Joe Geary, Born and raised in breakfast to more than 600 police officers. director of Memphis McLeansboro, Illinois, An article in the July 18 eNews from the church Conference Connectional Crice graduated from described the police as those “who put their lives on the Ministries. Murray State University line to protect us every single day.” Crice, a 2016 graduate in Murray, Kentucky, The article of the Candler School in 2006 with a degree in said, “We are of Theology at Emory middle school educa- so thankful for University in Atlanta, tion. There she served in each of you Georgia, is taking her ministry leadership roles and pray- first appointment with with the Wesley Founda- ing over you the Wesley Foundation tion. (campus ministry) at the “It was the Wesley today!” Beginning July 1, Amanda Local busi- University of Tennessee Foundation that brought at Martin, Tennessee, me to the United Meth- Crice is new Memphis nesses donated Conference coordinator of food. V that also began July 1, ac- odist Church,” said cording to appointments Crice, “and first opened youth ministries, in addi- announced by Bishop Bill my ears to hear the call tion to her appointment McAlilly. to ministry that God had to the Wesley Foundation In addition to her work placed on my life.” (campus ministry) at the with the Wesley Foun- Over the next ten years University of Tennessee at dation in Martin, Crice Crice had employment Martin. (Submitted photo) will give extra hours of that gave her “oppor- those who feel excluded leadership and focus to tunities to work with or disenfranchised by the » This quarterly publication is distributed electronically Memphis Conference people of all ages and in church,” said Crice. to print and email in any quantity at user’s cost. No youth ministries as an all stages of their faith Seminary helped Crice permissions are needed to redistribute in any form. This adjunct member of the development.” learn she is “particu- revised publication now includes only articles about Connectional Ministries After three years of larly passionate about mission, ministry and transformation inside the Memphis team, said Geary. teaching seventh grade empowering youth and Conference of The United Methodist Church which in- cludes West Tennessee and Western Kentucky. Hard news Crice replaces Rev. and four years of full- young adults to claim the and upcoming events are communicated via the Memphis Kristofer (and wife time youth ministry, gifts God has given them Conference website at www.memphis-umc.org, the Alyssa) Roof of Peace she said she knew her for their ministry in the conference’s free weekly eNews and social media. Tree United Methodist next step was to go to world and creating space » MISSION of the Memphis Conference is to discover, Church in Collierville, seminary and begin the in the church to foster equip, connect and send lay and clergy leaders who shape Tennessee, whose term ordination process. those gifts.” congregations that offer Jesus Christ to a hurting world, ended June 30. “God had made it clear Crice and husband one neighborhood at a time. » VALUES include unrelenting love for all people, integrity, The youth ministries to me that I have a call on Justin have relocated to excellence, faithfulness & fruitfulness, innovation. position, explained my life to minister with Martin. V Editor: Lane Gardner Camp, Director of Communications Layout: Lisa (Ogle) Smithey Contributing Writers this issue: Lane Gardner Camp, ‘Peace with Justice – Memphis Kathryn Crawford, Bobbie Mays, Kristi Henson Owens, Ruth Ann Ray, Casey Northcutt Watson, Amanda Wiley Conference’ is new Facebook page To submit news or ask questions about content: Email [email protected] with resources and event info Call 731-664-8480 Fax 731-660-5712 [First published on website 7/19/2016] Write Communications, Memphis Conference, 24 Corporate Blvd., Jackson, TN 38305 "Peace with Justice - Find the Facebook Other FREE Memphis Conference news sources: Memphis Conference" is page and “like” it at • Website: www.memphis-umc.org the name of a new Face- www.facebook.com/ • Mobile App: m.memphis-umc.org book page launched this PeaceWithJusticeMem- • Bishop’s Blog: bishopbillmcalilly.com summer by Rev. Larry phisConference. • Talking Tech Blog: memphis-umc.org/talkingtech Chitwood, the Memphis The purpose of the • eNews (weekly): Sign up on the Website or email [email protected] Conference’s new Peace page, according to • Facebook: facebook.com/memphisumc with Justice advocate.