Daily Digest – June 19, 2024

ARUMC Finds Home at 2024 Annual Conference

Like the bits and pieces of rags carefully cultivated to sew into the fabric of a colorful quilt that provides warmth, security, and history for generations, the saints of the Arkansas United Methodist Conference came together to provide the same at the 2024 Annual Conference.

Opening the conference was the clergy session and laity session at 9 a.m. in the Hot Springs Convention Center on Wed., June 19. The agenda for the rest of the first day included:

1. Delegation panel discussions – 11 a.m.
2. Opening business session – 1:30 p.m.
3. Episcopal address – 2 p.m.
4. Business session – 2:30 p.m.
5. Opening worship – 4 p.m.

Special events for the first day of the conference included:

• United Women in Faith – 12 p.m.
• Arkansas Black Methodists for Church Renewal – 6 p.m.
• SMU Perkins School of Theology Alumni, Students, and Friends – 6:30 p.m.
• Young Adult Gathering for Clergy and Laity – 8 p.m.

Bradford’s Quilts Serve as Theme for 2024 Annual Conference

 This year’s theme, “Finding Hope,” is based on art created by Kerri Bradford. She says, “I worked with the folks at ARUMC on the graphics for Annual Conference this year. In ‘Finding Home,’ we embrace the metaphor of a quilt. I hoped to create the feeling of different fabrics – a warm flannel, a sturdy denim worn for work, a playful polka dot that might’ve been from a child’s Easter dress, etc. – to evoke the feeling of a quilt being stitched from many different materials that all get new life when they are remade and joined together, much like the body of Christ or a church family being more than the sum of its parts. Four separate blocks are combined with a border of a leaf green cross in the center.”

She goes on to explain, “The upper left quadrant is a variation of the traditional log cabin quilt block. In oral tradition, during the time of the Underground Railroad, this quilt pattern symbolized shelter and safety, and a quilt with this pattern would be displayed to indicate a safe stop for those seeking freedom. Other times it is described as a hearth, a place where people gather for warmth.

“The upper right quadrant features stylized grain or wheat on a background with blue waves, calling out memories of fertile harvests and tables full of literal and spiritual sustenance: bread and living water. The lower left block continues the themes of water and seeds while featuring a quilted sparrow in song. The sparrow, of course, is spoken of in the Bible to remind us of God’s unfailing care for even the smallest creatures. I chose to incorporate the hand-stitched song extending beyond the border of the quilt to remind us that our witness to that love should be shared out into the world.

“The lower right quadrant is another traditional quilt block – it is sometimes called the Arkansas Traveler, which seems quite fitting for a group of Arkansas United Methodists. My grandmother, who was a quilter and a longtime member of Leslie United Methodist Church, however, would’ve called this block a pinwheel. Pinwheels, of course, allow us to see the moving evidence of wind, and wind often represents the voice of God and the Holy Spirit.”

Please take time to view the stunning quilts hung next to Gates 4 and 7 in the arena during your time at the conference.

Arkansas Lay Servant Ministries Grows, Serves Statewide

During the opening session on Wednesday, the Arkansas Laity reported great strides in the number of laity joining their ranks as well as the things they are doing in their community to show God’s love to their neighbors.

In the past year, there have been 24 laity classes taught, 178 lay servants trained, and multiple academies held to certify new laity to serve in our communities. These churches helped in this effort:

1. Bentonville First United Methodist Church
2. Cabot United Methodist Church
3. Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville
4. Central United Methodist Church in Rogers
5. Hazel Edwards Memorial United Methodist Church in Newark
6. Jacksonville First United Methodist Church
7. Saint Paul United Methodist Church in Fort Smith

Five people will be presented as certified lay ministers this year. The new certified lay ministers will be:

• Teresa Bolin
• Amy Ezell
• Brenda Gullett
• James Sawyer 
• Jim Silvi

From food pantries and innovative feeding programs to pickleball courts to rock’n’roll mobile laundries and music camps for children, the laity throughout Arkansas are serving their communities in unique ways. There were 30 reports from the floor that educated fellow laity on the ways they may serve the neighborhoods in which they worship.

Wear Black on Thursday

According to the World Council of Churches, in every country, gender-based violence is a tragic reality. This violence is frequently hidden, and victims are often silent, fearing stigma and further violence. The Thursdays in Black campaign brings awareness to the goal of a world without rape and violence. This Thursday, June 20, we ask those attending this year’s annual conference to wear black to show your support of this campaign.

We all have a responsibility to speak out against violence, to ensure that women and men, boys and girls, are safe from rape and violence in homes, schools, work, streets – in all places in our societies.

This campaign is simple but profound: wear black on Thursdays to declare you are part of the global movement resisting attitudes and practices that permit rape and violence. Show your respect for women who are resilient in the face of injustice and violence. Encourage others to join you.

General Conference Delegation Panel Presentation Provides Review of 2024 Event

The second session of the morning included a panel presentation by conference delegates. The panel was comprised of Karon Mann, CE lead lay delegate; Rev. Mark Norman, CE lead clergy delegate; Todd Burris, CE lay delegate; Rev. Lynn Kilbourne, CE clergy delegate; Regina Norwood, CE lay delegate; Rev. Natasha Murray, CE clergy delegate; Dr. Sarah Argue, CE lay reserve delegate; Rev. Dr. Hammett Evans, CE clergy reserve delegate; Brandon Bates, NW lay reserve delegate; Rev. Katie Pearce, NE clergy delegate; Amy Forbus, CE lay reserve delegate; Rev. Pam Estes, CE clergy reserve delegate; and Rev. Lauren DeLano, CE clergy delegate.

The session began with a video from the United Methodist News Service on General Conference 2024, which took place in Charlotte, NC, in April-May. The theme, “And Know My Name is God,” underscored the conference and was grounded in prayer and worship. Questions asked included, “Are we ready to be the people God needs us to be?”

The General Conference is the prime decision-making body of the United Methodist Church Conference. It offers the opportunity to build strength of witness through our United Methodist congregation. 

Rev. Mark Norman opened the panel discussion with prayer, and Regina Norwood, Rev. Natasha Murray, and Rev. Lynn Kilbourne spoke about the three Rs – regionalization, restrictive language removal, and revised social principles.

“It is our diversity and unique context which is where regionalization comes in,” said Norwood. “The connectional table (CT) stewards the ministry and mission of the church. Since 2013, CT has been in collaboration with the conference, Wespath, legal counsel, council of bishops and directors of ministry, and a U.S. regional conference surrounds CT. The goal of regionalization is to allow adaptability, and it will be created in two stages.”

Rev. Mark Norman explained there are now two additional bishops in Africa while the number of bishops in the United States was reduced from 39 to 32.

Dr. Sarah Argue shared information about the General Conference’s budget while Todd Burris introduced the pension plan from General Conference. Argue noted, “It’s important to remember our tithes in the Arkansas Conference are not a church tax. These are a reflection of our worldwide Wesleyan connection, which makes a significant impact worldwide.”

Rev. Lauren DeLano presented information about the approval of sacramental authority by Deacons, Rev. Mark Norman reported on the number of Bishops, and Rev. Dr. Hammet Evans shared some critical amendments passed at General Conference. 

Brandon Bates shared what full communion with the Episcopal Church means, while Rev. Katie Pearce shared about electing the judicial council. Bill Waddell of Arkansas was elected to this council. Amy Forbus introduced the creation care elements approved by General Conference, and Rev. Pam Estes spoke more about creation care in the local church. You can learn more at ResourceUMC.org and select the “Creation Care” section. Rev. Mark Norman and Karon Mann spoke on questions that had been sent to the delegation from the body.

Rev. Natasha Norman reported on a “super team” which has developed around the United Methodist Church globally. She states, “This work began in 2012, and it led us to be able to revise and pass the new Social Principles. Our mission is to protect and care for all of God’s creation.”

Afternoon Business Session Welcomes Attendees for Three Days of Voting

Rev. Dr. Sara Bayles Charlton acknowledged that today is Juneteenth and provided the opening prayer to the session. Bishop Laura Merrill called the afternoon business session to order. She recognized Rev. Dan Read, pastor of Salem United Methodist Church and chair of the Committee on Native American Ministry. He asks those attending to join him in the committee’s important work.

Bishop Merrill introduced those on the platform, including Rev. Jim Polk, assistant to the Bishop; Mr. Chuck Colver, conference parliamentarian; and Rev. Dr. Candace Baron, conference secretary. The clergy in Hot Springs welcomed everyone to their city. Bishop Merrill also recognized those who were in attendance for the first time.

Rev. Dr. Candace Barron presented session rules, which were unanimously approved. 

Rev. Dr. Katie Pearce presented the nominations report, which will be voted on tomorrow, Thurs., June 20. Find the complete report to prepare for tomorrow’s vote here.

Rev. Sara Bayles-Charlton reported on the committee on the status and role of women in the church. On Thurs., June 20, all are invited to wear black to support Thursdays in Black, a campaign by the World Council of Churches.

Rev. Brittany Richardson Watson and the conference council on finance and administration presented its report, noted on page 14 of the pre-conference journal. Major changes have been made at a speed that is uncomfortable, according to Rev. Watson. However, the changes have been prayerfully and carefully made. The spending plan is on pages 26 and 27 of the Pre-Conference Journal.

Karon Mann and Rev. Mark Norman reiterated what was discussed during the panel discussion on the 2024 General Conference, which was given this morning. The South Central Jurisdictional Conference will be held July 10-12 and hosted by Central United Methodist Church in Rogers. At this meeting, there will be nominations for memberships on boards and agencies.

Tricia Manns, Global Ministries Community Service Worker,  encouraged those attending to purchase an Arkansas United Methodist pin at the conference registration table. Proceeds will benefit scholarships for age-level camps and events. You also may purchase one here. Select “ARUMC Pins” in the drop-down box.

Rev. LaNita Daniels presented a resolution to create a substance abuse ministry to address overdoses and have NARCAN available on church premises to address overdoses.

Rev. Betsy Singleton-Snyder reminds those attending about a resolution to ask every church to create a green team. She requests those attending to take a survey, which will be available tomorrow via QR code on the screens in the conference.

Harold Hughes introduced a resolution on the new revised social principles. LGBTQIA adults are twice as likely, and youth are four times more likely to commit suicide. Hughes requested a conference-level committee be created to collect and share resources for the LGBTQIA community.

“Finding Home” Theme for Episcopal Address

In the Episcopal address, Bishop Laura Merrill offered relatable examples of “home” and also shared, “I am tired of being flung away from other people… Love in the economy of God is more important than perspective.” 

The script to the address may be found here.

Afternoon Worship with Bishop Delores J. Williamston, Louisiana Episcopal Area

Bishop Delores J. Williamston, a Kansas Army National Guard veteran, serves as bishop of the Louisiana Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. She was assigned to the Louisiana Conference at the South Central Jurisdictional meeting in Houston on November 3, 2022.

Early Life: Bishop Williamston was a 22-year veteran of the Kansas Army National Guard, where she served as a technician and eventually became chief supervisor of the account and finance operations at the U.S. Property and Fiscal Office in Topeka. Her rank upon retirement from the National Guard was sergeant first class.

Education: Bishop Williamston left high school before graduation, only to return for her GED. Her education continued, and she later received a bachelor’s degree in management, a Master of Divinity, and a Doctor of Ministry degree in 2023.

Previous Ministry: Bishop Williamston was ordained as an elder in 2010 and previously served in the Great Plains Conference as the superintendent for the Hays, Hutchinson, and Salina Districts. She also served as Director of Clergy Excellence and Assistant to the Bishop.

Prior to beginning her service with the Great Plains Conference, Williamston served churches in Independence, Salina, Mentor, and Topeka in Kansas.

Ordination: Bishop Williamston earned her Master of Divinity from Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri, with a specialty in Black Church ministries and evangelism. In 2023, she obtained her Doctorate of Ministry from Philips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Fun Facts: Bishop Williamston, a breast cancer survivor, has one son, seven grandchildren, and one pet, Shih Tzu, named Oden Oldie Buster Inky-Do Slick-Rick Houdini Fluffy-Pants Mister Williamston. She loves to watch birds fly and nest but has no idea what kinds of birds she’s watching. For relaxation, Bishop Williamston likes to bike ride and complete paint-by-numbers panels.

Juneteenth in Review from United Methodist Communications

On June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, Union Army General Gordon Granger read General Order Number 3 declaring, “The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free” and “the connection (between former master and slave) becomes that between employer and hired labor.”

The enslaved African Americans in West Texas were the last to learn of their freedom as granted in the Emancipation Proclamation two and a half years earlier.

Celebrations of Juneteenth—also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day—began a year later in Texas and quickly spread to surrounding states. Commemorations waned during the Jim Crow era but resumed in the Civil Rights era of the 1950s and 1960s. The number of celebrations, which have been increasing recently, often include calls and actions to end racism.

LEARN MORE

• Juneteenth observance, UMC Religion and Race
• Juneteenth, UMC Discipleship Ministries
• Celebrating Juneteenth, United Methodist Women
• What is Juneteenth?, Wesley Brothers

The District of Columbia and 47 states recognize Juneteenth, although few designate it as a legal holiday. Increasingly, businesses are closing on Juneteenth.

Over the years, celebrations have included parades, picnics, dancing, sporting events, music, plays, recounting of stories by former slaves, inspirational speeches, reading of the Emancipation Proclamation and prayer services. Churches have long been in the forefront of celebrating Juneteenth for a day, a week or the entire month.

In its origin, Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation more than 150 years ago for those who had been enslaved in the United States. The event, however, has become a day for all people to recommit ourselves to the work of antiracism.

News to Know and Share

• Convention Center Wi-Fi is ARUMC24, password arumc2024.

• Prayer stations, which the Annual Conference Worship Team provides, are available in the Concourse area near the registration tables throughout Annual Conference. Take time during the conference to stop by and pray.

• Order 2024 Annual Conference t-shirts here.

• Join Arkansas’s United Women in Faith at Mission U on July 17-20 at Hendrix College. Register at: ARMissionU.Weebly.com.

• Young Adult Book Club This Fall! Email Rev. Lauren Delano at Lauren.DeLano@ARUMC.org to sign up and receive a free copy of the book, “Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World” by Katharine Hayhoe.

• Join the Summer Reading Club on Mondays, July 15, 22, and 29 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. via Zoom with host Amy Ezell and Mary Lewis Dassinger. More information can be found here.

• Join Small Church Gathering: A Big Event for Resourcing Small Churches on September 21, 2024, at Branson United Methodist Church. This event is designed with the small church in mind, and presenters include Charity Goodwin, Teresa Stewart, Kay Kotan, and Blake Bradford. Visit SmallChurchGathering.org for information.

• Submit locations for photography of stained glass to support The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas and Ozark Mission Project.

• Fall Boundaries Training will be held Friday, October 18, OR Saturday, October 19. Registration will open on July 2. First United Methodist Churches in North Little Rock, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, Magnolia, and Monticello will discuss boundaries in ministry and the importance of self-care.

• Since its founding in 1789, Cokesbury has been in the business of providing Christian resources for churches, pastors, and those they serve. For over 200 years, it has been a trusted source of thousands of unique products including Bibles, books, and church studies, as well as church resources and church supplies. It serves Methodists worldwide as well as a broad ecumenical audience representing numerous denominations and independent churches. Visit Cokesbury.com to order or for more information.

• The Central District of ARUMC is moving in August! The new location is with the Conference offices at Philander Smith University, 800 W. Daisy Bates Dr., Little Rock, AR 72202.

• Find out how your church can be more accessible to all. Visit ARUMC.org/Our-Ministries/Disability-Ministries.

• Follow ARUMC on Facebook and Instagram!

• Mount Eagle Retreat Center is in the middle of nature, yet close to everything you need. More information and to register your group can be found here.

• BeADisciple.com has provided quality online educational experiences with roots in Wesleyan theology since 2006. It offers online studies, workshops, and courses on a variety of ministry, formation, and leadership topics. All courses offer CEU credits, and BeADisciple’s goal is to make rich learning experiences accessible to church leaders and laity, no matter their location or life situation.

• The BeADisciple Study App is your digital home for small-group Christian study. It is now seeking small-group leaders to launch Disciple Fast Track 24-week Bible studies. Additional six-week studies are coming this fall. Visit BeADiscipleApp.com for more information.

• Disciple is the beloved Bible study that has transformed millions of lives. Now revised, updated, and reimagined for the way we live our lives, all Disciple curriculum is accessible on any digital device with 24/7 connectivity wherever you are. Visit Cokesbury.com for resources.

• Keep up with what’s happening at the 2024 Annual Conference at ARUMC.org.

• 200K More Reasons asks churches to add poverty alleviation strategies to their ministries with hungry children. Specifically, it focuses on literacy and promoting healthy, stable families as means of hope, assistance, and the opportunity for families to move out of poverty. The mission remains the same: 100% of Arkansas United Methodist churches will participate in an initiative to significantly reduce childhood hunger through feeding ministries, public witness, and education for long-term stability. 200,000 MORE Reasons expands the understanding of education and long-term stability, believing that in working to alleviate poverty, we have the best opportunity for ending childhood hunger in Arkansas.

• Purchase an Arkansas United Methodist pin at the conference registration table. Proceeds will benefit scholarships for age-level camps and events.

• The Arkansas Annual Conference is a supporter of the Africa University Fund, which brings hope, nurtures healers, makes disciples, and transforms lives. More information can be found here.

• ResourceUMC.org offers church leaders a central online destination for comprehensive information from across the United Methodist Church’s worldwide connection: timely content, practical ministry tools, agency updates, and more.

• United Methodist Communications (UMCom) is available to help you build vital ministries with the power to transform the world. Access communication best practices, customizable outreach tools, denominational FAQs, online training courses, local church marketing services, and more. Visit ResourceUMC.org/Market/MyChurch for more information.

• To watch yesterday’s live stream of Annual Conference, you can visit our YouTube channel. Both morning and afternoon sessions are available.