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South Central Jurisdictional Conference elects bishops, celebrates and looks forward

By Lisa Elliott Diehl
Marketing and Communications director
The South Central Jurisdiction elected three bishops, celebrated the ministries of two retiring and three deceased bishops and looked forward to a future that includes the loss of one episcopal area as it met July 16-19 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas. At opening worship, the lives of three bishops were remembered by Bishop Alfred Norris, resident bishop of the North Texas Conference. Norris served as bishop of the North Texas Conference following the death of Bishop Rhymes Moncure Jr. in August 2006. Elected from the former Missouri East Conference, Moncure served the Nebraska and Dallas areas as bishop. Bishop Benjamin Ray Oliphint died in July 2007. Elected from the North Texas Conference, he served the Kansas and Houston areas as bishop. Bishop Paul William Milhouse was a bishop in the Evangelical United Brethren Church (EUB), serving in Kansas. Following the 1968 merger of the EUB Church and Methodist denominations, he was assigned to the Oklahoma Area. He was the last remaining bishop elected by the former EUB church. He died in March 2005. The ministries of Bishop Ben Chamness, Central Texas Conference, and Bishop Joel Martinez, Northwest Texas and New Mexico conferences, were celebrated in a retirement service July 18. Chamness was elected in 2000, and Martinez was elected in 1992. Together, the men were in ministry for 97 years. New bishops elected
Three new bishops were elected—Rev. W. Earl Bledsoe of the Texas Conference, Rev. J. Michael Lowry of the Southwest Texas Conference and Rev. James Dorff of the North Texas Conference. Bledsoe was elected July 17 on the third ballot, Lowry was elected July 18 on the 11th ballot and Dorff was elected July 18 on the 23rd ballot after being gridlocked for 12 ballots with Rev. Cheryl Bell of the Kansas West Conference. Plan to reduce episcopal areas
Bishop Charles Crutchfield, Arkansas Area, unveiled the plan the South Central College of Bishops plan to follow in reducing the number of episcopal areas in 2012. The college is responsible for determining how the South Central Jurisdiction will eliminate one bishop in 2012 following action by the General Conference earlier this year. Four of the five U.S. jurisdictions will lose a bishop in 2012. Only the South East Jurisdiction, which is already operating with one less bishop than it is entitled to, will not lose an episcopal leader. It is the responsibility of the General Conference to set the number of bishops and the boundaries of the jurisdictions. Annual conference boundaries are set by the jurisdictional conferences. The College of Bishops then is responsible for determining how the annual conferences will be served by episcopal leadership by determining the boundaries of episcopal areas. To make that determination, the College of Bishops plans to conduct a two-year process, beginning with listening events and a survey of the jurisdictional conference delegates. The process will end with a decision by the college in early 2010. Crutchfield said the four guiding principles the college will follow are mission, a stronger United Methodist presence and witness, prayer and discernment undergirding the process and listening to all who are affected. Bishop assignments announced
Assignments for the 11 South Central bishops were announced July 19. The bishops’ assignments will run through Aug. 31, 2012.  Bishop Scott Jones has been assigned to serve the Kansas Area for another four years. Bishop Robert Hayes Jr. remains in the Oklahoma Area. Bishop Charles Crutchfield returns as episcopal leader of the Arkansas Area.  Bishop William Hutchinson will continue for a third term in the Louisiana Area.  Bishop Robert Schnase remains in the Missouri Area.  Bishop Ann Sherer remains in the Nebraska Area.  Bishop Janice Riggle Huie returns to the Houston Area.  Bishop D. Max Whitfield continues for a third term in the Northwest Texas-New Mexico Area.  Newly elected bishop Earl Bledsoe will serve the Dallas Area in the North Texas Conference. New bishop James “Jim” Dorff is assigned to the San Antonio Area in the Rio Grande and Southwest Texas conferences. Newly elected bishop J. Michael Lowry will serve in the Fort Worth Area in the Central Texas Conference.  

Experience with three bishops provides model for Dorff

By Lisa Elliott Diehl
Area communications director Newly-elected Bishop James Dorff has worked closely with three bishops as a district superintendent and area provost for the Dallas Area. With their different styles, Bishop William B. Oden, the late Bishop Rhymes H. Moncure Jr. and Bishop Alfred L. Norris, have given Dorff an idea of what qualities are important in a bishop. As a member of Oden’s cabinet, Dorff said he liked to watch the bishop think because he was a thinker and strategist. “I really enjoyed watching him and learning how he thought,” Dorff said. Moncure was a people’s bishop, who focused on building relationships. Those relationships enabled the bishop to have tough conversations with people, often giving messages they didn’t want to hear in ways that they were able to hear. Norris’ style was a combination of the two. “I’ve learned that it is important for a bishop to be thoughtful, strategic in thinking about both the present and the future, and be in relationship and involved directly with people,” Dorff said. Dorff, 61, has most recently served as area provost, sharing an office with first Moncure and then Norris. In his position he had the opportunity to be involved in the everyday decision-making in the Episcopal office. His passion for ministry is youth, young adult and campus ministries. “We have to be about starting new churches,” Dorff said. “But we have trouble doing so without quality leadership. We need strong youth, young adult and campus ministries. That’s where the leaders of tomorrow come from.” He said he feels strongly the denomination needs to be starting new churches, and doing so strategically, being good stewards of the available resources. His third passion is increased clergy effectiveness, moving toward excellence in all the clergy. “Those are areas I would focus on in any area to which I am assigned,” Dorff said. Dorff and his wife, Barbara, have two grown sons who work for the government and live in Washington, D.C. Barbara Dorff was named Texas Teacher of the Year in 2002. Learn more about Bishop Dorff on the UMC.org website.  

Lowry rollercoaster ends with election

By Lisa Elliott Diehl
Area communications director

Bledsoe fulfills father’s dream

By Lisa Elliott Diehl
Area communications director Every time newly elected Bishop Earl Bledsoe visits his father in the nursing home, he’s asked the same question, “Earl, are you a bishop yet?” Next time he visits his father, he’ll be able to say, “Yes.” “My father always knew I would be a bishop,” he said. His father, a retired United Methodist pastor, now has Alzheimer’s disease. After his election, Bledsoe called his mother. She promised to go and tell his father the good news. Bledsoe and his wife, Leslie, have six children and 11 grandchildren. Their youngest daughter will start college at the University of Texas at Arlington this fall. “We are very surprised and very nervous,” Bledsoe told a group of conference communicators nearly 30 minutes after his election. “I feel like a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.” Bledsoe said he and his wife prayed Wednesday night for God’s will to be done. “Our hope has always been in Christ,” he said. Leslie Bledsoe lost her sight six years ago, but it has not stopped her from being his partner in ministry.\ “She speaks from the heart. She has a concern for the homeless,” Bledsoe said. He said he received his call to ministry much earlier than he answered it. Because he grew up in parsonages, he perceived that you had to starve yourself to be in ministry. It was hard work, and he felt it was more important to provide a good living for his family. He became a program director for YMCA and eventually began serving churches part time. In 1976 or 1977, he was preaching a sermon on stepping out in faith when he felt God asking him, “When are you going to let go of that job and go into the ministry?” In 1980, he finally did. Bledsoe said he sees a number of signs of hope in the United Methodist Church. One is our connection to each other through our structure. Second is the diversity of theological thought in the denomination. Third is that there are differences of opinion, which Bledsoe said he sees as healthy for a church. “My philosophy is the church is either growing or dying. If the church is standing still, it’s dying,” he said. He has spent his ministry working for church growth and evangelism, banners he plans to carry on into the episcopacy. Learn more about Bledsoe on the UMC.org website.
 

UPCOMING EVENTS

UMW KEC Spiritual Retreat
8/9/2008
The theme is "There's Something About That Name - Jesus" and it will be led by Rev. Peggy Hillmon.  The retreat is from 9:30 am - 3:00 pm with fellowship beginning at 9:00.  Lunch is included in the $5.00 registration fee and you can find the registration form and information flyer HERE or by contacting Teresa Tuchscherer at tesak@cox.net. Child care is available. Please bring your bible and invite a friend to come with you. Registration deadline is August 1.    

CONAM
8/16/2008
 

Topeka District Clergy Picnic
This is event is hosted by the:
Topeka District district
8/17/2008

KEC Committees/Board Chairperson Training
8/23/2008

Sermon Planning Retreat
8/24/2008
Are you tired of preaching week-to-week? Need some time away from your normal routine to do some longer-range planning? You are invited to a Sermon Planning Retreat, from Aug. 24 at 8:30 pm to Aug. 27 at 3pm, at Mount St. Scholastica monastery in Atchison, KS (female and male). This will be a self-directed planning session with opportunities to share ideas, pray and relax together, and to discern future preaching texts. Wireless internet is available. You are welcome to come for all or any part of this retreat time. A pottery session is available on Monday night. Costs Lodging, $35 per night Daily use fee $5 Meals, $20 for each set of 3 meals (BLD) Pottery, $40 Please send a deposit equaling 1/2 of your total estimated costs by Aug. 15 (payable to Sophia Center) to Sermon Planning Retreat, c/o Nancy Kollhoff, 612 Poyntz, Manhattan KS 66502. Arrangements can be made for massage and spiritual direction ($45 and $40, respectively). If you have questions or need more information, contact Nancy Kollhoff (785-213-3265 or revnan@gmail.com) or Trudy Kenyon Anderson (620-714-1498 or revtrudy@gmail.com).  

Safe and Sacred Spaces Worker Training
8/27/2008
Call church to register.

Aging in the 21st Century and Beyond
9/1/2008
SCJ Senior Adult Leadership Training

Hispanic/Latino Outreach workshop
9/6/2008
The keynote speaker will be Rev. Pamela Clark at this outreach workshop on how Anglo churches can do ministry with Hispanic/Latino people.  Download a brochure for more information about the speaker, a schedule  of the day and directions.    

New Church Development
9/10/2008

Flint Hills DCOS
This is event is hosted by the:
Flint Hills District district
9/11/2008
Meeting at Olpe Chicken House.

South Central Jurisdiction Immigration Workshop
9/11/2008
Bishop Minerva Carcaño of the Desert Southwest Conference of The United Methodist Church will be a featured speaker at “Welcoming the Sojourner — Finding the Church’s Voice on Immigration.” The event will be Thursday to Saturday, Sept. 11-13, at Hendrix College in Conway, Ark.  Carcaño is chair of the United Methodist Council of Bishops committee on immigration. She also heads an interagency task force of the denomination that targets reform of U.S. immigration laws. “Welcoming the Sojourner” is co-sponsored by the Arkansas Conference and the United Methodist Board of Church & Society. Other featured speakers include Bishop Charles Crutchfield of the Arkansas Conference; the Rev. Mark Sills, executive director of FaithAction International House, Greensboro, N.C., an interfaith, interracial non-profit organization working to form a united community of many cultures; and Bill Mefford, director of the Civil and Human Rights program at the Board of Church & Society Workshops at “Welcoming the Sojourner” will include: • The Bible and Immigration • Root Causes of Immigration • Organizing United Methodists for Comprehensive Immigration Reform • The Local Church as a Place of Outreach and Ministry, and • Immigration and Racism. A Continuing Education Credit will be awarded for the event. Registration fee is $50. To register online, go to www.umc-gbcs.org/scjimmigration. For more information, contact the Rev. Steve Copley, Arkansas Justice for Our Neighbors, at (501) 374-3811.  

UMW KEC Annual Meeting
9/13/2008

"The Choir Rehearsal"
9/13/2008
A comedy by Roosevelt Write, Jr., presented by The Performing Arts Ministry of Asbury Mt. Olive UMC.  Call the phone number for more information and to purchase tickets. Click HERE to download a publicity flyer. Click HERE to print a ticket order form.

2008 Large Church Initiative Senior Pastors' Retreat
9/14/2008
  Make plans to attend the 2008 Large Church Initiative Senior Pastor's Retreat, September 14 – 19, 2008 at Deer Valley Ranch in Nathrop, Colorado (near Buena Vista). Jim Powell and Don Cummings invite you to Colorado in September for a unique and powerful week of retreat and renewal co-sponsored by the Large Church Initiative and the General Board of Discipleship. For more information you can view the flyer here: www.leadershipnexus.net/2008RetreatPromo.pdf

Extended Cabinet Retreat
9/15/2008

Topeka District Leadership Development
This is event is hosted by the:
Topeka District district
9/20/2008
Fourth in a series of Conversations about Fruitful Practices. Saturday, September 20, 2008 Countryside UMC, 3221 SW Burlingame, Topeka, Kansas 10:00 a.m. - noon. Rev. Kevass Harding, senior pastor at Dellrose UMC in Wichita, will speak on "Risk Taking Mission and Service." Contact Marie in the District Office to register.  785-272-9111 or topdist@kansaseast.org.  

Camp Chippewa 50th Anniversary
9/27/2008
 

Area Wide Mates in Ministry
10/10/2008

2008 VIM Mission Trip, Chincha, Peru
10/11/2008
Join a VIM Mission Team to Chincha, Peru October 11th - October 21st, 2008.  Due to transportation issues the trip is limited to 12 persons.  Cost per person is estimated to be $1,750.  Full payment is due by September 10th.  Trip is sponsored by Wesley UMC of Fostoria, Ohio and the West Ohio Conference.  Georgia Hale, Team Leader, is from Kansas East Conference.  

Our Journey of Hope cancer ministry training
10/11/2008
Today, almost everyone knows someone with cancer--a family member, friend, coworker or neighbor. Ministry to cancer patients and their families is critical to their health, well being, support and recovery. what a person’s really going through who’s received that diagnosis. They don’t really understand what cancer is, the causes, the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual battles that a person is undergoing nor what is needed to impart hope and encouragement at this time. This training is relevant to anyone who knows someone with cancer, but is especially important for parish nurses, Stephen’s ministers, or anyone who does visitation.  Documentation will be provided to apply for CEU. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. Register by calling 785-266-7541 or e-mailing  Elaine@countrysideumc.org before Sept. 9.  There is no charge for the workshop, but for the workshop to be presented there must be at least 50 registrants by Sept. 9.  Lunch will be available for a donation. This program is being offered by the pastoral care department of Cancer Treatment Centers of America.

Cat/Hawk Challenge
10/18/2008
Second Annual Cat/Hawk Challenge fund raiser for campus ministries at the University of Kansas and Kansas State University. Use the attached flier to promote this event to members of your congregation.

HOLA (Hispanic Team)
10/23/2008

People of Faith Gathering to Explore Children in Poverty
10/25/2008
Kansas Ecumenical Ministries presents a people-of-faith gathering to explore "Children in Poverty.” The program will feature Dr. Pamela Couture, St. Paul's Seminary, Kansas City.  Her latest book is "Child Poverty:  Love, Justice, & Social Responsibility" Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. Lunch will include a presentation and dialogue with a representative from SRS.  This will be followed by 3 workshops. The cost is $20 for the first person and $15 for any additional registrations included in the same envelope. Download a registration flier.

Topeka District Leadership Development
This is event is hosted by the:
Topeka District district
10/26/2008
Fifth and last in a series of Conversations about Fruitful Practices Sunday, October 26, 2008 Hiawatha:  First UMC, 410 Hiawatha 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Lee Sankey, Director of Stewardship Services, Kansaas Area UM Foundation will speak on "Extravagant Generosity". Contact Marie in the District Office to register. 785-272-9111 or topdist@kansaseast.org.  

Round Up for Hunger
11/15/2008

BISHOP'S COLUMN

UMC is an institution and a movement
PUBLISHED: 7/28/2008

In a moving speech to the Council of Bishops when she was council president, Bishop Janice Riggle Huie suggested that the United Methodist Church needed to become a movement once again. Her suggestion was widely acclaimed among those who heard it. We bishops long to lead a dynamic, nimble, mission-focused movement serving the cause of Christ.

My own study of Methodism’s beginnings in England in the 1700s feeds that same sentiment within me. Part of me longs for the “good old days,” when John and Charles Wesley, along with their closest associates, were inventing the characteristic ministries of the Wesleyan movement—class meetings, field preaching, constant communion, love feasts, hymns like “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,” Christian conference, schools, books and newspapers. Meth-odism in the 1760s was growing rapidly by inviting the poor and working classes to know Christ and form new communities of faith.

When I first started studying United Methodist history, I was at-tracted to the 1700s and not so interested in the institutionalization of the 1800s.

It was in the 1800s that Methodism grew its institutional framework. We established many new conferences. General Conference became delegated with restrictive rules. We established hundreds of colleges. This trend continued into the 20th century with the establishment of even more churches, schools and hospitals. By 1960, Methodism was a powerful institution with loyal members, strong bishops and a clear sense of purpose.

A similar story can be told on a smaller scale for the Evangelical Association and the United Brethren in Christ. Colleges, seminaries, camps and other institutional expressions fueled their mission of making disciples and transforming the world.

Then came the 1960s and the baby boomers. We believed that institutions were bad, that no one older than 30 could be trusted and that our ancestors had left us with a terrible legacy. We wanted fresh, innovative ideas and movements. We neglected our institutions and looked for something different.

Now that I am older than 30 and have had more time to think about such matters, I am convinced that Christ needs an institutionalized movement or a moving institution.

Institutions can be defined as patterns of relationship among people including common mission and mutual accountability with the gathering of resources to accomplish the organization’s purposes. Seen in this light, every new movement inevitably becomes institutionalized as it faces challenges, develops solutions and then makes those solutions routine through repetition or rules. Christianity could not have survived the apostles unless it became an institution—hence the apostles appointed bishops, elders and deacons to carry on the work.

Yet, we must acknowledge that when the church gets bogged down in its institutional nature, it sometimes loses sight of its mission.

Clarity of purpose and focused attention on how best to achieve it are necessary to a moving institution. Nimbleness of action is necessary to an institutionalized movement.

I hope United Methodism is both a movement and an institution.
 

BISHOP'S BLOG

Follow the Leader

Yesterday, I preached at an Ecumenical Worship Service in Topeka. It included Lowman UMC and several other congregations in their neighborhood and focused on a blessing of the palms. It was a powerful way to begin Holy Week!

My message focused on following the leader. Holy Week is a time of recommitting ourselves to the triune God as the leader for our lives. Who you follow does make a difference. Many in modern society are practical atheists—they follow their own desires or thoughts. Others follow false gods of various sorts.

Christians are by definition those who acknowledge God the father and seek to be obedient to his will. They are disciples of Jesus who wish to serve others. It is of deep significance that Christ calls us to follow him, and his path was one of sacrificial service for the good of others. We are also empowered by the Holy Spirit whose work of inclusive love and inspirational evangelism leads all of us to change lives and transform communities.

May this Holy Week help all of us to recommit to following the leader revealed in the Bible.