Mark Your Calendars

Retired Clergy Luncheon

Noon Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Complementary meal at Gardendale/Mt. Vernon UMC

Gathering to encourage new fellowship groups for retired clergy and spouses!

Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett and Rev. Lee Padgett will attend.

All retired Clergy and spouses are encouraged to attend.

Please notify Betty Gunn at 205-940-9392 or bgunn66@charter.net or Joree Vance at 205-824-8184 if you plan to attend.

In June, our North Alabama Annual Conference will elect delegates to the 2016 General Conference and the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference.   In the past, Annual Conferences elected delegates to General and Jurisdictional Conference at the Annual Conference session held the calendar year preceding General Conference. However, in 2012, our North Alabama Conference delegation to General Conference proposed legislation, which was adopted by the General Conference, to allow Annual Conferences to elect delegates two annual conference sessions before the General Conference session. (2012 Book of Discipline ¶ 502.3)  Last June, at the 2013 North Alabama Conference we voted to hold our delegate elections at the 2014 Annual Conference session.

North Alabama has a system of self-nomination for laypersons interested in serving on the delegation. I encourage you to read the information below and then complete your online nomination form by February 1, 2014.  Also, please share this information with other North Alabama United Methodist laity who may feel called to serve in this capacity.

isn’t taking care of the children what Jesus Christ calls all of us adults to be about?  In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus takes a little child and says to his disciples, “Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me.  Whoever welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me.  Whoever is least among you all is the greatest.”  So, why do so many adults in Alabama, and in the U.S., have so much trouble remembering what it means to welcome a child, to care for a child, even if that child is not their own flesh and blood?

Does your worship service include a small amount of time when the children come forward for a “children’s message?” Have you ever felt like that sermon was better than the one delivered by your pastor? Perhaps your place of worship has a separate service designed for the children? Have you ever attended that service and felt the presence of God more than you did in the “adult” worship service?  

Thanks to each of the hundreds of North Alabama United Methodist clergy and laity who participated in the Fall District Listening Sessions over the past three months. Since our Ministry Action Plan will continue to be shaped and revised throughout the Spring, we will have additional Listening Sessions during the first quarter of the new year. Our hope is that after nine months of listening, dialoguing and revising, we will be ready at Annual Conference 2014 to adopt a Ministry Action Plan that clearly states North Alabama Methodism’s vision, mission, values, principles and priorities. This will set the focus for our ministry together over the next several years.

There is a whole lot of Bible study and "Biblespeak" that goes on in the South. Frankly, it is intimidating to anyone not brought up in this culture, and too often it is used as a weapon to browbeat people. Disciple Bible Study was a godsend to me almost 27 years ago.

As I have been reflecting on the whole Civil Rights Movement,  I have wondered many times why slavery and segregation  were accepted by so many otherwise "good Christian people."  How had they (we) missed the most basic teachings of the Bible,  and  let the dominant culture prevail without question? 

December is a special month for United Methodists in Alabama. It is the month The United Methodist Children’s Home has their annual “White Christmas” fundraiser to the support the ministries and programs of the Children’s Home throughout the North Alabama and the Alabama-West Florida Conferences.

Yesterday, the state of Alabama settled with plaintiffs effectively gutting the immigration law.  Basically all of the provisions that we fought against have been permanently blocked.  I am proud of the work United Methodist clergy and laity did opposing this law, and I am happy that the injustices of this law will never be implemented in Alabama again.  However, the fact that this law is now, for all practical purposes, gutted, nothing can undo the pain caused by HB 56 these last two years. 

The Christ-Centered Woman provides not only sound theological teaching for a women's study group, but also draws group members closer to one another.

ARMS Annual Meeting at Camp Sumatanga

Steve west began our meeting with old familiar hymns sung to other tunes than we are most familial with. It didn’t take long for those gathered to get into the rhythm of this new way.

President Herb Williamson recognized those who have been a part of the retired community and attending this function for the longest time. Woodfin and Dot Groves were present and have been attending for more than thirty years. He also recognized that Bishop Wallace Padgett and most of the cabinet were in attendance.

Superannuate Homes Update

Don Neal then brought us greetings and welcomed us with an update on the Superannuate Homes program. He began by saying that “despite what you have heard from the grapevine, Superannuate Homes is here to stay.” He did say, however, that a team has been formed to evaluate the program and would make recommendations at the next board meeting.

We currently have 127 homes and two are for sale.

Our treasury balance is $2,290.61 and we voted to sent $1,500 to UMCOR.

2014 Officers

The nominations committee recommended that we keep the current officers for another year. The by-laws call for election of new officers every two years, so in order to approve this recommendation, the by-laws had to be suspended in this matter. These matters were approved and the 2014 officers are as follows: President, Herb Williamson; Vice President, Ted Leach; Secretary, Sue Saxon; Treasurer, Jim Knapp; and Communications, Jesse Shaddix.

Spring Meeting

Betty Gunn is part of a team of ARMS who are trying to figure more ways for retirees to interact with one another. She reported that most of the retirees they have spoken with would like opportunities to meet and eat. There are some clusters who meet regularly for this purpose. One such group meets weekly each Thursday evening at 5:00 pm. at Blackburn Court for a night out together. It is made up primarily of the residents of the court, but anyone is invited to join them. Another group meets in Birmingham every first Tuesday, and there are other groups in Huntsville and Decatur.

However, this team thinks that since there are only two meeting opportunities, there should be another; therefore, on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at noon we will gather at Gardendale-Mt. Vernon UMC for a meet, greet and eat. The meal will be complimentary, so the only cost is transportation and your time. The purpose of this gathering is to encourage new fellowship groups and to promote existing groups for retired clergy and spouses. Bishop Wallace-Padgett and her husband, Rev. Lee Padgett will be present for this gathering. Details regarding registration will follow at t later date, but mark your 2014 calendar now and plan to be with us. If you need transportation, contact someone in your area to bring you, or if you know someone who needs transportation, contact them and make arrangements to pick them up.

Memorial Prayer

Vice President, Ted Leach, offered prayer for the needs of the community and in memory of those who have died since our last gathering at Annual Conference. Those who have claimed their heavenly reward since May are: Rev. Thomas Betts; Rev. Robert (Bob) Archibald, Jr.; Mrs. Lois M. Barr; Rev. Julius (Jay) Goodine; Mrs. Betty Ann Duncan; Rev. Larry Stephens; Rev. Lawrence Harbin; Mrs. Billie Doris Fetner; Rev. Norman Westbrook; Mrs. Dorothy Pickard; Rev. Albert Satcher; Mrs. Ann Friday; and Rev. Carolyn Pitts.

Featured Speaker

Interim Camp Director Jan Thomas brought a report on camping ministries and the repairs to the camp after the storms. A national survey of Christians reports that 70% made their profession of faith prior to 19 years and that 50% of those were made during a camp experience. Camp Sumatanga has had a long history of encouraging children and youth in the service to God in the local church. In fact, the camping ministry is designed to equip children and youth for service to the local church and community.

As to storm damage repairs, the Nina Reeves Chapel, which was totally destroyed, has been rebuilt, insurance has paid to have roofs replaced and the Sumatanga Cross on Chandler Mountain has once again lit up the night sky.

Bishop’s Message

Bishop Wallace-Padgett has been meeting with her process team for several months. They have been discussing Deep Change and trying to discern ways to incorporate deep change into the North Alabama Conference and its local churches. They believe that the first assumption is that Deep Change is here to stay. In fact, that is what living the Christian life is all about. The next assumption is that Methodism at its best is a Movement, not an institution. It began that way and in order to be effective, it must continue that way. Everything we do must be geared toward the people and not toward an institution. The next assumption is that deep change must begin with the individual. As change takes place in our lives, we begin to transform the world. In order to accomplish this change we must become servant leaders.

There are three aspects to this process: Loving, Learning and Leading. The objectives for this change are: Developing Spiritual Leaders who model community that learns and leady together, Creating Environments that foster transformation, and Establishing Processes that produce fruit.

Spiritual leaders empowering life-giving congregations to transform the world.

Mission

Discover, Develop and Deploy Spiritual Leaders to make Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World.

Values

•  Oriented to the Kingdom
• Grounded in Scripture
• Show Honesty and Transparency
• Centered in Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God
• Loving God & Others
• Doing Christ's Work

North Alabama Principles

•  Making Disciples of Jesus Christ is why we exist
•  We will focus on Personal and Social Holiness; not either/or
• Triunal doctrine matters
• Team matters
•  We will create clarity around, communicate clearly and do things the North Alabama Way
• We honor the integrity of all levels of the system

Conference Priorities

What do I do next?

1.  Pray that the churches of our Annual Conference will grow in health and impact on their communities.
2. Pray that we will reach more persons for Christ, helping them to become disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
3. Give feedback of suggested revisions you suggest for our Ministry Action Plan.
4. If interested in being a part of a team, talk to your District Superintendent.

Understanding the Affordable Care Act

Last week the health exchanges of the Affordable Care Act (better known as Obamacare) opened for people to begin shopping.  We’ve discussed healthcare in this blog that generated some good conversation online and in some of our churches.  However, one thing that seems to be a constant both for supporters and opponents of the law is that few people seem to understand what the law actually does.  Therefore, in this blog post, rather than arguing for or against Obamacare, we simply want to provide some information about how you or someone you know can begin researching and sign up for the health exchanges.  Attached are a bulletin insert and a flyer from Alabama ARISE that you can share at your church to simply help educate people about the process of signing up for the exchanges.  In addition, this link to an article from the Montgomery Advertiser does a great job of explaining how the Affordable Care Act affects Alabamians.  We hope this is a helpful resource for you regardless of how you feel about the Affordable Care Act.

Download Bulletin Insert (PDF)

Download Flyer (PDF) 

Tropical Storm Karen Update 2

After the Conference call with Alabama V.O.A.D. here is the latest information:  At the current time it is anticipated that this will be primarily a rain event.  Winds are anticipated to be at tropical storm strength when it makes landfall.  Churches with Early Response Teams may be needed for clean up and flooding damage, but remember that we will only respond if we receive an invitation from the Alabama West Florida Conference.  Should that invitation be extended we will promptly send out the invitation.  From Mobile and Baldwin County agencies, they report they have a well stocked supply of water and food at the time.  If there are others needs we will post it as soon as they become available.

We also have this word from the Disaster Response Warehouse in Decatur.  They currently have a good supply of Cleaning Buckets (30 Sept. 2013 inventory count is 1,730 verified buckets), but if anyone wants to provide more, the Warehouse has empty buckets and insect repellant on hand, reducing the cost of the buckets to about $40, meaning you could do more buckets for the same amount of money.  Contact the Warehouse at:  (256) 341-9961.  If you or a group would like to volunteer to serve at the Warehouse, call this same number to arrange a time.  A special thanks to the Disaster Warehouse Team for their due diligence and service.

The biggest need currently is the health/hygiene kits.  Kits may be dropped off at the Disaster Warehouse (call before going to insure someone will be there) or if it is closer, you may bring them to the United Methodist Center on the campus of Birmingham Southern College Monday through Thursday.  Here are the directions for the Health Kits.  Please follow the instructions completely.

Health Kits

Value: $ 12

• 1 hand towel 15” x 25” to 17”x 27” (kitchen, cleaning and microfiber towels not acceptable)
• 1 washcloth
• 1 comb (comb needs to be sturdy and at least 8” long; no pocket combs or picks please; rattail combs and combs without handles are acceptable)
• 1 metal nail file or clipper (no emery boards or toenail clippers please)
• 1 bath size soap (3 oz. and larger sizes only; all brands are acceptable; do not remove from original packaging)
• 1 toothbrush (adult size only; do not remove from original packaging)
• 6 adhesive bandages, ¾” to 1 “ size (common household band aids)
• 1 one gallon size sealable bags only
• $1 to purchase toothpaste

Assembly Directions

Set the $1.00 for toothpaste aside to be included in a separate envelope. Lay out the hand towe lflat on a table.  Lay the washcloth flat in the center of the hand towel.  Place all remaining items on top of the wash cloth.  Fold over the sides of the hand towel to cover all of the items.  Fold over one end of the hand towel so that it covers all of the items.

Grasp the bundle of items tightly and roll over the remainder of the hand towel tightly.  Place the tightly rolled bundle in the plastic bag.  Remove as much air as possible and seal the bag.  One kit is distributed for each member of a family (family of 2 receives 2, family of 4 receives 4, etc.)

Important Notes

• All items must be new.
• Do not wash any of the items as they will be considered used.
• Please remove all packaging except where indicated to keep the original packaging.
• All emergency kits are carefully planned to make them usable in the greatest number of situations.  Since strict rules often govern product entry into international countries, it is important that kits contain only the requested items – nothing more.
• DO NOT include any personal notes, money or additional material in the kits.  These things must be painstakingly removed and will delay the shipment.  UMCOR is now purchasing toothpaste in bulk to be added to health kits before shipping to ensure that the product does not expire before they are sent. 
• Do not put single dollar bills in each kit.  Collect all monies for toothpaste and shipping (an additional $1 per kit, $1.50 for cleaning buckets) place it in a separate envelope and send along with the kits.

In His Grace,
Randy Burbank
Disaster Response Coordinator
North Alabama Annual Conference United Methodist Church
Disaster Recovery Special Projects Director
Email: rburbank@umcna.org
Office:  205.226.7980
Fax: 205.226.7945
Cell:205.907.2657

This is some information that I have gleaned from District Newsletters that may be of interest to our retired Clergy community. Some of you will have already seen it, but since we are free to cross District lines, I submit it to all retirees.

Listening Sessions with Bishop Wallace - Padgett

Please join the Northeast District in welcoming Bishop Wallace - Padgett for 3 Listening Sessions on Monday, October 21st, 2013.

Everyone is welcome! 

10:00 - 11:30 am at Madison UMC - 127 Church Street

3:00 - 4:30 pm at Epworth UMC - 2102 Epworth Drive

6:00 -  7:30 pm at Aldersgate UMC - 12901 Bailey Cove Road

If you have any questions please call the NE District Office at 256-536-9451 or email Karen Long atklong@umcna.org

Opportunity for Service

I Kings 19 tell the story of Elijah passing on his mantle to Elisha so that his ministry continued beyond his being taken up into heaven. One of my prayers for all of our churches when they reach the end of their lifecycle is that they will be able to pass on their mantle to new ministries. I was able to see that prayer answered this past June when Carpenter UMC in Anniston closed and their building and all of their resources were passed on to Community Enabler, Inc., a non-profit organization with United Methodist roots and support which provides food, clothing and utility assistance to the newly unemployed as well as to the chronically poor. Carpenter’s gift will allow Community Enabler to expand their ministries to include, among other services, ministry to our struggling veterans.

Now Community Enabler needs help in renovating the Carpenter campus for its new purposes. We’d like to invite your church or youth group or Boy Scout troop, or SundaySchool Class to help make this happen. There are currently several opportunities for service in the coming month:

·   Week of October 7^th – painters are needed

·   October 12^th Workday

For more information, contact Bill Bunn at bbunn4@bellsouth.net.

ERT Training

Oxford FUMC will host a Disaster Early Response Team training event on October 19, 2013. Those who are interested in becoming a disaster relief volunteer are required to have this training. This training event is sponsored by the North Alabama Conference and the Cheaha District.

Reservations for the class must be made no later than October 14, 2013. In order to reserve a spot in the class please call or email the Oxford UMC office.

Call 256-831-3221or email at office@oxfumc.org

Registration begins at 7:30 AM

Training begins at 8:00 AM and will conclude at 5:00 PM

Lunch will be provided.

We look forward to seeing you there,

Chuck Worley

Imagine No Malaria

Below is a schedule of training events for the Imagine No Malaria initiative of the North Alabama Annual Conference. I have listed from each district so that you may choose the one most convenient to you.

Thank you for all that you are doing and will continue to do in the effort to save 100,000 lives through Imagine No Malaria

• October 6, 2013- Birmingham area at the Conference Center @ 4:00 pm- Charlie.
• October 6, 2013 Mountain Lakes- 4:00 pm- Adlene
• October 13, 2013- Cheaha @ Pell City First- 4:00 pm- Adlene
• October 20, 2013-Northwest @ Florence First- 4:00 pm- Adlene

Local church members are welcome to come to the district training, this will also save time in doing local church training. District team volunteers will serve as ambassadors for local churches.

Tropical Storm Karen

Tropical Storm Karen is forming in the Gulf of Mexico.  A hurricane watch extends from Grand Isle eastward to Panama City Beach.  I want to encourage everyone to begin planning for our response as an Annual Conference.  Your Disaster Response Office will be notifying you of any needs that may be presented as a result of this weather event.  If you or your congregation would like to volunteer in any way, email this office with what you or your congregation can do as soon as possible.  I would like to remind you of just a few things:

1. Pray for the affected areas.
    
2. Remember that we do NOT send Early Response Teams to other Conferences without their invitation.  Typically there is a large response to a “new” disaster but as soon as the news cameras leave, so do many volunteers.  You will still have opportunities to serve and represent Jesus.
    
3. If there is storm related damage within your district, you do not need to wait for an invitation, rather respond as quickly and safely as you can.
    
4. If relief supplies are needed WAIT for a list of what is needed.  Too many of the wrong supplies causes delays and added stress to relief operations.
    
5. Do NOT send any used clothing at all.  Other organizations offer victims new and like new clothing.
    
6. Talk with your families about developing your own Family Disaster Preparedness Plan, then talk with your local church about developing a Church Disaster Preparedness Plan.
    
7. If you feel the need to offer something now, tarps of all sizes are always needed as well as cleaning buckets.  Directions for the cleaning buckets and other UMCOR kits can be found on our Conference Website. 

Unless something changes, I will not be in the Office on Friday, but if you need to contact me feel free to call my cell phone.  There will be a Conference Call on Friday with the Alabama V.O.A.D. and as more information becomes available, I will pass the information along.

In His Grace

Randy Burbank
Disaster Response Coordinator
North Alabama Annual Conference United Methodist Church
Disaster Recovery Special Projects Director
Email: rburbank@umcna.org
Office:  205.226.7980
Fax: 205.226.7945
Cell:205.907.2657

Camp has been such a staple in the Christian life of North Alabama Methodists that we have become complacent and have taken Camp for granted for far too long. Kind of like the bridges we travel on and our highways - county, state and federal - that we take for granted and never give a thought of how old they are and the condition of the base or the supports.

We know that this proposal will cut $40,000,000,000 (i.e., $40 BILLION) from the "food stamps program," so I did a little math. Assuming that there are 350,000 congregations, that means that every single one of them will need to increase their mission budget $114,285.72 just to maintain the current level of food assistance.

Below is the request for Early Response Teams for the Rocky Mountain Conference due to the recent flooding in Colorado.   Please read carefully and schedule any teams through their Coordinator.  PLEASE do not respond without first contacting their Disaster Response Team.

From UMVIM SEJ:

The invitation for Emergency Response Teams has been extended by Rev. Gary Haddock, the Disaster Response Coordinator for the Rocky Mountain Conference, in response to the damaging floods in Colorado.

Team leaders should email RMCResponse@rmc.org and put "Attn Nancy" as the subject line to signal interest with their availability to serve. The team leader will then receive a confirmation call or email from the volunteer coordinator. Team leaders should also email their Volunteers in Mission Conference Coordinator to make them aware of all plans for serving.

In His Grace
Randy Burbank
Disaster Response Coordinator
North Alabama Annual Conference United Methodist Church
Disaster Recovery Special Projects Director
Email: rburbank@umcna.org
Office:  205.226.7980
Cell:205.907.2657

Over ½ of the recipients of SNAP are the most vulnerable in society – children and the elderly.  In fact, 84% of all food stamp recipients are in a family with children, the elderly, or the disabled.

In the course of many Safe Sanctuary training sessions the question has been raised, “Given the 2 NON-RELATED adult rule, should husbands and wives serve together?”  My answer to that question is a resounding YES!  Not only are men of God needed as role models for our children, but godly marriages need to be observed by our children.  According to scripture (and Safe Sanctuary policy) married couples are counted as ONE person.  Applying the two adult rule means you must add a third body or employ a floater. But by all means, pair husbands and wives together as often as possible!

I recently witnessed this plan in action at my own church...