The Strategic Direction is alive in the Central East District
By Rev. Sharon Ragland
In planning for this article, I sent an email to pastors in the Central East District with the subject line “Help for Article!” I said we were trying to tell about the ways that churches are living into the Conference Strategic Direction. I asked, “What are the stories about creating a culture of social holiness, leadership development, and starting new churches and faith communities?” This article contains clips from those stories. I’m grateful to the churches and pastors who contributed.
One church provided a creative way for the congregation to learn about and connect the Conference Strategic Direction with its own mission. As a way of learning about the Conference Strategic Direction and planning for ways to implement it in their own church, in the fall of 2008, Payson UMC offered SOULintentions, a day long mini version of SOULfiesta. Rev. David Rennick is the pastor at Payson UMC.
Other churches shared information and stories about specific areas of the Strategic Direction. Around “Creating a culture of social holiness”, Rev. Mike Kerr-Osman, the pastor of the UMC of Casa Grande, reports that the church is pursuing a prison ministry. With a major prison system in Florence, located east of Casa Grande, this is an important way of reaching “the least of these.”
Grace UMC, Mesa, has worked toward integrating social holiness into the ethos of the church by intentional reading and discussion of “Three Simple Rules” by Rueben Job. The entire congregation received copies of the book and it was lifted up in worship, classes, committees, and conversation. The leaders embraced this as a way of integrating their experiences at Soul Fiesta at Gold Canyon, Tending the Soul in Casa Grande and Imaginative Leaping.
First UMC, Tempe, has expanded their ministry to the homeless by being open 30 hours a week for direct services, including an evening drop-in center (called Potter’s House) where 50-100 persons come each night for food, hospitality, and spiritual care. First Tempe has also just decided to join Valley Interfaith Project so they can more effectively work on the underlying conditions and justice issues that move people into poverty and keep them there.
White Mountain UMC, Show Low, has a team of four-eight persons that serves lunch at Love Kitchen in Pinetop every Tuesday. “The Love Kitchen has said that the good folks of White Mountain are their most consistent supporter,” reports Rev. Michael Higgs. To support this ministry, the Youth Group of White Mountain serves breakfast the first Saturday of each month. The congregation comes and eats and donates toward the Love Kitchen ministry.
The Arizona State University Wesley Foundation students and alumni initiated an interfaith group that provides scholarships to undocumented ASU students who graduated from Arizona high schools. These students do not have access to in state tuition or any other sources of public funding. This year, in cooperation with two other faith communities, students have been awarded $4,500 in scholarships.
Also, one of the freshmen in the ASU Wesley Foundation has taken the lead in starting an Open Table. Wesley Foundation Director, Rev. Rob Rynders says, “The table will be made up of ASU students from different faith backgrounds and they will be seeking to help bring a person or a family with an ASU connection out of poverty. They hope this table will launch in August and hope it will be the first of many to come at ASU.”
We know that the three priorities of the Strategic Direction overlap and dovetail with each other. Some of the above stories tell about a culture of social holiness and lead us into the priority of “Creating a culture of leadership development.”
The last Sunday in January is Youth Sunday at Dayspring UMC, Tempe. The youth pick the theme for that Sunday, and plan and lead worship for both services, including providing leadership for the music and message. Rev. George Smoot, who works with the youth at Dayspring says, “Through this the youth learn and grow and pastors hear comments like, ‘You have to do this every week? How do you do it?’” While past years have seen high school seniors as speakers, this year three freshmen and two seniors were the speakers. Through this, the youth grow into leaders, and the congregation grows in its appreciation of the youth as thoughtful disciples and leaders. This year the children’s choirs also sang in the service, so it was a children & youth Sunday.
Part of leadership development calls for the sharing of resources. Shepherd of the Pines in Overgaard purchased and used the resource, “Seeing Gray in a World of Black & White” by Adam Hamilton. Through the weekly E-Notes, Shepherd indicated a willingness to share this resource, which is now being used by Cross in the Desert UMC in Phoenix, and will then be shared with Grace UMC in Mesa.
Shepherd of the Pines, located in an area of many summer residents and fewer winter, found a creative way to develop musical leaders. When the paid pianist left, they recruited a summer resident who had assisted in the past and cultivated another summer resident with a long church music background.
When both went south for the winter, four members who played for their own enjoyment but could not commit to regular service each agreed to play for a few Sundays at a time. “This has worked out well for them and for the congregation,” reports Pastor Noni Dye.
Shepherd of the Pines also cultivates leaders through pastoral care. Like some other churches in Arizona, about half of the members are seasonal residents. At least once during their season off the mountain, a fellowship event is held in the Phoenix area which is attended by the pastor. In addition, two dedicated leaders make regular contacts and visits in Phoenix on behalf of Shepherd of the Pines. This provides good pastoral care, cultivates leaders, and helps people stay connected. to life in the congregation.
Rev. Jonathan Arnpriester, pastor of Grace UMC, Mesa, says, “Our work in filling out and working through the Ministry Bridge has clarified the purpose of the church from beginning to end and allowed every committee, agency and person active in the life of the church to see their place in relationship to the larger picture.
First UMC in Tempe, also uses a tool to help people understand their gifts and passions. First UMC, where Rev. David Summers and Rev. Valerie Fairchild are the pastors, offers a spiritual gifts class four-five times per year to encourage reflection and understanding on people’s gifts and passions and where they might serve in leadership within the church’s ministries.
The student leadership team has been established at the Arizona State University Wesley Foundation and holding their first leadership retreat February 27-March 1, 2009. The leadership team is involved in planning and leading Wesley activities and programs. Materials and programs are also being used to help develop the students’ leadership skills for use in the church. The Wesley Foundation also has an internship program where students work and train in the areas of development/fundraising, administration, and worship and music.
Finally, Rev. Laura O’Neil, pastor of Desert Mission UMC, says, “I will share the story of Julian, an 8 year old boy. He is the younger sibling of two older sisters. Each sister had served as liturgist during worship. I found out from his mom, that Julian wanted to be a liturgist too. I had used children before as liturgists and it had always worked out, but Julian was very shy and quiet. I had some reservations. However, the date was set and the bulletin with all the readings was delivered well in advance so he could practice. And the Sunday came.
Although short in statue, Julian's conduct made him look twice his size. He read clearly and moved about exactly as he should with grace and poise. He held the cup during Communion and did not shake a bit as the congregation came up. He acted as though he had been doing it for years. Julian was beaming at the end of the service. He knew he had done well. So did his parents. So did the congregation. As a pastor, I have had many opportunities to bring children and youth into the service by being part of the liturgy. Julian's proud face reminds me of why it is so worth doing.”
The third priority of the Conference Strategic Direction is “Creating a culture of starting new churches and faith communities.” What follows are a few short descriptions of the many ways churches are living into this priority.
Grace UMC, Mesa, began the “Gathering” on Sundays mornings after worship. This is targeted toward new persons and gives them an opportunity to learn about basics of the church and faith, and experience the hospitality of church members. Grace is also embracing, strategizing and leaning into bringing Sidewalk Sunday School to their church, with the assistance of Rev. Rosemary Anderson.
Rev. Rosemary Anderson serves in a pastoral role at Primera Iglesia Metodista Unida, Phoenix, which goes into the community every Sunday with Sidewalk ministries, and held a Fat Tuesday party on February 24, inviting the community to share food and fellowship.
The AZ Korean United Methodist Fellowship, Phoenix, brought the Dream Singers from Korea for a concert on February 21. The entire Phoenix Korean community was invited to this amazing event, which featured outstanding music.
At First UMC, Tempe, they are committed to launching one new group in spiritual formation each year that includes new leadership. This has been done with book clubs/reading groups, Living the Questions/Saving Jesus group, and Companions in Christ, to name a few.
For several months, Aldersgate UMC, Phoenix, held a Sunday evening worship service for the Hispanic persons in their community. They are now looking at a comprehensive way to reach Hispanic persons in their area.
Song of Life, Queen Creek, recently launched a new traditional worship service. With this service, along with their long-standing contemporary service, they are able to reach new segments of their community.
Sun Lakes UMC, did the work to become a designated “welcoming congregation” through Igniting Ministries, and will need to continue to work hard on hospitality and welcoming in order to continue to receive that designation.
The list and stories of churches beginning new faith communities could be an article in itself. Again, I thank all those who offered stories and information about the ways churches in the Central East District are living into the Conference Strategic Direction. I know that these stories give just a small picture of the ways that God’s people are seeking to be faithful in reaching out to the poor, developing leaders, and creating new places for new people. Thanks be to God for being with us in all of this.