Today’s Faithfulness, Tomorrow’s Abundance
“’Master,’ Simon replied, ‘we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing.
But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.’
And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear!” Luke 5:5-6
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ ~
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Wednesday of this past week, I concluded my six weeks of serving at First UMC of Fort Pierce in what continues to be a hard and sad season following the death of their pastor and four weeks earlier, a beloved ministry staff team member. Being present with this Body of Christ has woven them into my heart. I admire their faithfulness, love, and courage and am confident in God’s good plan as they continue even when it’s beyond difficult. They are living the title of the book our pastors are currently reading, Tempered Resilience:
“When the Scriptures speak of resilience, the words they most often use are endurance and perseverance ...
[It means] to persevere in faith and faithfulness amid the trials of this world,
heaping the highest praise on those who do” (75 Bolsinger).
It’s been that kind of season, hasn’t it? Earlier this week, I was on a Zoom meeting with 27 pastors from Florida listening to how they define church vitality. And while we named the difficulty in readjusting to this new reality of lower attendance, decreased giving, and reluctant volunteering, we all agreed that new ways of engagement are what determines vitality. It means following Simon Peter’s lead, listening to Jesus, doing something different, and casting our nets on the other side. What does “casting nets on the other side” look like for you and your church?
As we move into October and I visit with your church leadership during our annual charge conference season, I hope we will be reinvigorated and encouraged in hearing how vital ministry is happening across the Atlantic Central District. Together, we will trust that our faithfulness today will be tomorrow’s abundance. May God bless you +
Grace and peace ~
Dionne
Reverend Dionne C. Hammond,
Atlantic Central District Superintendent
October is Pastor Appreciation Month
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October is Pastor Appreciation Month!
During the month of October, we invite you to show your pastor how much they are
appreciated, especially for the work they do behind the scenes that few people see.
Charge Conferences l In-Person l Masks Required
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This year, charge conferences will be held in-person in small groups of churches. For the date, time, and location of your church's charge conference, please contact your local church office.
COVID protocols: For these in-person charge conferences, masks are required and social distancing is requested at all locations. Each individual church should be prepared to provide masks for those attending from their church.
Charge Conference Forms are available on the FLUMC website by clicking here. If you have any questions about the forms, please contact the AC District Office. Please read all instructions carefully.
"Thrive!" AC District Leadership Day
SAVE THE DATE!
"Thrive!" AC District Leadership Day
Saturday, January 22, 2022
Speaker: Rev. Matthew Hartsfield, Bay Hope Church (UMC) Tampa
This event is for laity and clergy. Details soon!
Awakening Hope Church Beyond the Line of Color
Lay Servant Ministry Training Opportunities
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Lay Servant Ministry Course are being offered this Fall. For more information about these courses and to register, please visit our website at:
https://www.flumc.org/aclayservantministry
Contact:
Kathy Megerle, AC District Lay Servant Ministry Director
772-708-0026
kathrynmegerle.lsm.acd@gmail.com
United Methodist Church of the Palm Beaches
- November 5 and 6, 2021
- Basic Lay Servant Ministry Course
- Advanced Course: Leading Public Prayer
- Cost: $25.00 - Lunch Provided on Saturday
Online Courses are available by visiting BeAdisciple.com
Guidance Related to Renewing BSA Chartering Agreements
On August 16, 2021, an email was sent from Bishop Carter, the Conference Chancellor, and the Conference Treasurer recommending to churches who host Boy Scout Troops that if they are asked to re-charter prior to January 1, 2022, that they do not sign a chartering agreement, but instead sign the Facilities Use Agreement that was attached. It was recommended that churches limit the duration of the agreement to no later than December 31, 2021. The Facility Use Agreement was developed by an ad hoc committee comprised of the General Counsel for the General Council on Finance and Administration, a number of Conference Chancellors and leaders from the General Council of United Methodist Men.
Since that August 16 email was sent out, there has been some confusion caused by some churches being presented a different Facilities Use Agreement by their local Boy Scout Council that came from the Boy Scouts of America and correspondence from the Boy Scouts earlier this month again encouraging churches to renew their charters.
The Facilities Use Agreement proposed by local Boy Scout Councils is not the agreement that was sent in the above referenced email from the Bishop, Conference Chancellor, and Conference Treasurer. We do not recommend that you sign a Facilities Use Agreement presented to you by the Boy Scouts of America but you instead use the Facilities Use Agreement that was sent to you on August 16 and is again attached here. We also continue to recommend that local churches not enter into new chartering agreements at this time.
Attachment: Facilities Use Agreement
Contact Us
Atlantic Central District
Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
PO Box 1898 l Melbourne, FL 32902
772-299-0255
www.flumc.org/atlanticcentral
Rev. Dionne C. Hammond - District Superintendent
Paula McDonald - Senior Administrative Assistant l flumc-ac@flumc.org
Marilyn Waldis - Administrative Assistant l flumc-ac4@flumc.org
Bruce Kitson - Church Health Advocate l bkitson@flumc.org