March 10, 2022
Friends,
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Covid has kept us apart the past two years. A great deal is transpiring in our beloved denomination. We need to gather together as sisters and brothers in Christ in the midst of profound differences and significant anxiety to pray, reflect and talk about how we are going to move into the future. This is why I will be holding in-person meetings in each district with the clergy of the Arkansas Conference March 28-31.
I expect all clergy serving full-time to be in attendance, but sincerely hope that part-time local pastors, lay supply and those of you not serving in retirement will attend as well. If you absolutely cannot attend, let your District Administrator know why. You are welcome to attend another district’s meeting. Each meeting will last no longer than an hour-and-a-half. The schedule is as follows:
March 28, 2022 – 9:30am Central District Meeting at St. James UMC
2:30pm Southeast District Meeting at Stuttgart FUMC
March 29, 2022 – 10:00am Northeast District Meeting at Batesville FUMC
March 30, 2022 – 10:00am Northwest District Meeting at St. Paul UMC, Ft. Smith
March 31, 2022 – 10:00am Southwest District Meeting at Malvern FUMC
Additionally, I will be holding similar meetings via zoom with only lay persons in leadership positions. The schedule is as follows:
March 28, 2022, 6:00 pm – CE District Laity
March 29, 2022, 6:00 pm – SE District Laity
March 30, 2022, 6:00 pm – NE District Laity
March 31, 2022, 6:00 pm – NW District Laity
April 4, 2022, 6 pm – SW District Laity
I continue to be grateful for the outstanding leadership you are offering in very challenging times. While I know it is a difficult season that too often is filled with pain, I also believe God has called you for such a time as this. As always, I continue to hold you in my heart of prayer.
Grace and peace,
Gary E. Mueller
Bishop