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June, 2023
Dear South East District Friends,
I have delayed in writing this last email to you as it weighs a bit heavy on my heart. It has been such a privilege to serve as your district superintendent over these last eight years. The memories are too many to recount of times I have spent with you in worship, prayer, events, meetings, outreach projects and on Zoom calls! It has been an extraordinary time in our church and it has been a joy to walk alongside you in these years. I could not be more pleased that the Rev. Dr. Simon Osunlana is coming to serve with you. It will be a gift for me to continue to work with him in this new capacity.
As you may know, I have been appointed to serve as Assistant to the Bishop for Congregational Mission for the next year. I will work remotely from Miami while Mariana finishes high school. My work will be throughout the conference and will involve some continued work with churches in the South East District. However, I will gladly give space for you to begin your next chapter of ministry with your new superintendent. Please pray for me in this new ministry setting and I will continue to pray for you and all of the ways you love and serve your communities.
To the clergy in particular I want to thank you for the farewell lunch on May 18 at Plantation. It was such a joy to share that day with you and my heart is full from the laughter, food, music and tears. You all are very special to me and always will be.
This prayer has been a powerful one for me as I have served in ministry settings for the last twenty-five years. I would like to close with it today:
Friends, I will always be grateful that we have lived and served in the same village. I will commit to praying for God’s blessing over you and our village for many years to come.
Grace and peace,
Cynthia D. Weems
Bishop Berlin and the appointive cabinet of The Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church, in consultation with the clergy and authorized lay leaders of the local churches, announce the following projected appointment changes, to take effect July 1, 2023. Click HERE for the complete list of Full-Time appointments.
We are grateful for the clergy who will be transitioning to other appointments this year. Thank you to Kerry Foote, Bridget Thornton, Josh Beaty, Wilma Reyes, Diane Gutierrez and Edwin Cotto for serving among us. We wish you all the best in your new endeavors!
We welcome the following clergy to new appointments in the South East District:
| District Superintendent | Simon Osunlana |
| Burton Memorial, Tavernier | David Charlton |
| Christ, Fort Lauderdale associate | Peytyn Tobin |
| Cokesbury, Margate | Lucas Bonates |
| Epworth, Pembroke Pines | Rose Manning |
| First, Coral Gables associate | Jess Williams |
| Key West | Madeline Baum |
| Killian Pines, Miami | Inez Robinson |
| Poinciana, Miami Springs | Emilio Chaviano |
| Tamiami, Miami | Eliezer Cortes |
| University of Miami/FIU Wesley Director | Paola Bustillos |
Click HERE for the AC2023 webpage and do not forget to download the Whova app. Annual Conference is free and open to all. However, only clergy and lay members to annual conference who are present may vote. All the information you need is on the webpage!
Tweet with #flumc23 to join the conversation!
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The Annual Charge Conference Forms will be available online on Monday, July 17. These forms are to be completed annually by each local church in accordance with the District Superintendent’s annual charge conference directions. The District will be working on the charge/church conference schedule for this year and will send specifics as soon as they become available to be shared.
- The following reports are to be emailed to Norma Sayago at least one week prior to your CC: SED Voting Matters Agenda, 2023 Clergy Compensation form(s), Housing Resolution(s), and Accountable Reimbursement Policy(ies). Signatures are not required at this time. Click HERE for Norma's email address.
- Deacons beyond the local church and Extension Minister's Annual Reports are NOT part of Charge Conference forms. Their Annual Reports are due December 31 of each year. Click HERE for the Office of Clergy Excellence page with those details.
- Clergy who do have reports due to be turned into their Charge Conference for the Fall Annual Charge Conference are:
- Report of the Retired Clergy
- Report of Clergy on Honorable Location
- Report of Clergy on Voluntary Leave of Absence
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The Disaster Recovery Ministry is excited to announce that the Church Disaster Plan Dashboard is now available.
Each church should develop or review the disaster plan for your local church and put together a team who can react. The plan is not only for hurricanes. There are many types of disasters that can cause major damage. i.e., fires, tornadoes, etc.
Be ready! Youth 2023 is happening in July in Daytona Beach. For more information, please go to the link below or contact Rev. Kathy Nolasco at knolasco@plantationumc.org
https://www.umcyoungpeople.org/youth2023
Missional Vital Signs (MVS) for the local church - It important to remember that these numbers represent people and the vitality of the local church. They are indicators of the behaviors that produce them, and this tool can be used to discern the health of the church – what works, what does not, where should we make changes, and most importantly, how can we bring more disciples to Christ? The local church should continuously be aware of their MVS’s so that they may evaluate and make adjustments. Healthy churches are aware of their stats and can quickly adapt.
This information is gathered weekly and may be reported weekly or monthly through the church dashboard online by the “MVS Reporter” designated by the church and updated in the church dashboard. There is now the ability to enter missing data over the previous two years.
If your church receives funding (equitable compensation) that is contingent on turning in your data by the 10th of the month.
Please click here for a helpful video overview and guide sheet of the New MVS Weekly Reporting site.
Other resources:
Explanation of MVS’s
MVS data gathering sheet (PDF)
MVS Weekly Reporting Guide Sheet (PDF)
Tracking Online Video Views (PDF)
The conference and district offices will be closed the following days.
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June 19 |
Juneteenth Independence Day |
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July 4 |
Independence Day |
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September 4 |
Labor Day |
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November 10 |
Veteran's Day observed |
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November 23 |
Thanksgiving Day |
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November 24 |
Thanksgiving holiday |
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December 25 |
Christmas |
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December 26 |
Christmas holiday |
June 19 - Juneteenth Independence Day Holiday
July 4 - Independence Day Holiday