Friends,
When I was a pastor I wanted to know that the offering taken at Annual Conference would be given to something important and something that we could all celebrate. This year the Conference Offering will be collected during The Florida Annual Conference session in June and will support two important ministries. I invite you to receive this offering in your local church on Pentecost Sunday, May 28 to honor the coming of the Holy Spirit to the first disciples following the ascension of Christ. Our offering will be divided equally between the following:
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| Rev. Geraldine McClellan |
Rev. Geraldine Williams McClellan Endowment Scholarship at Gammon Theological Seminary, honoring the life and legacy of Rev. GeraldineMcClellan. In 2021, the Florida Conference set a $100,000 goal and collected $54,000. Our Conference can finish the good work that we began and help students prepare for ministry. This scholarship supports students attending Gammon Theological Seminary who will provide future pastoral leadership in The Florida Conference. Gammon is a historically Black seminary whose students will benefit greatly from your support. Like many historic Black colleges, universities and seminaries, Gammon does not have the large endowment enjoyed by other United Methodist seminaries that is used to provide scholarship assistance to students. As we give to this scholarship, we honor Rev. McClellan, who, in 1982, became the first woman of color ordained in The Florida Conference. We help strengthen the Black churches in our Conference as well as all churches these clergy will serve in the future.
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The Warren Willis Camp and Conference Center is celebrating its 75th year of ministry. There is no better time to invest in the transformation of young people than now. The camp provides a safe place for children and youth to be introduced to a relationship with Christ and grow deeper in their faith. Every summer hundreds of campers attend Warren Willis and their lives are transformed. The conference center is a sacred space for people of all ages and is used throughout the year. This year’s offering will help the camp upgrade their programs, expand their reach and provide scholarships to students who may not be able to attend on their own resources.
On the day of Pentecost, Peter quoted the prophet Joel: "In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young will see visions. Your elders will dream dreams." (Acts 2:17, CEB)
Pentecost Sunday, the birthday of the church, is a great day to make the Annual Conference Offering available to your congregation. It will enable us to nurture the lifelong work of God's grace in a person's life, from their earliest years at camp into the maturity of their calling, which may include seminary.
For so long we have been feeling the impact of being apart from one another. As we come together for Annual Conference let’s share an offering that will be a blessing to our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ and transform the world.
In Christ,
Bishop Tom Berlin