It is Charge Conference season around the church which doesn’t really mean much to you but requires the office and the leadership to do a lot of extra work. We have specific forms that need to be filled out and the clergy need to receive their annual review. Our Leadership Team decided to tackle this by asking each clergy person to meet with one member of the LT to help fill out the forms. Then the LT had a meeting with everyone around the table to discuss each question and evaluate how our pastoral staff are doing. Then they invited each of the pastors in to the room to discuss their responses that are to be submitted to the District Superintendent and the Bishop’s Cabinet. I am happy to say that our Leadership Team has decided to ask to keep each of our current pastors here at Faith.
Their request will be considered by the Cabinet and hopefully, none of us will be moving. I honestly don’t think that they will mess with us because we have so many new and wonderful things happening right now. Sherri keeps trying to get a rise out of me by saying about once a week that she is quitting. But I told her she is not allowed to do that and that she is not funny. Good news is that our District Superintendent has agreed to pay for a Clergy Coach who specializes in new church plants to resource Sherri and support her. She has moved from a volunteer, to part time staff to full time church planter in the last year. It is a lot! And Pastor Seungrok is being asked every year by the Korean church if he would like to be a Senior Pastor in one of their churches. I am so thankful that he has resisted and asked to stay at Faith with us. We are so blessed by the talented team of clergy and staff that we have at Faith.
We are inviting you to a pre-conference meeting on Sunday Nov. 1st at 2 pm in the Chapel. This will be the place where we will vote on the pastors and their salaries. We will also celebrate Patty who is our clergy candidate for ministry. Included in this gathering will be reports from each of the Lay Servant’s and Lay Speaker’s on their ministries and training. The church is being asked to affirm them and the good work that they have done. Finally, we will present the slate of new leaders that have said yes to serving on our Leadership Team and Nominations team. At the Pre-Conference gathering, you are able to ask questions and give feedback. Those who hold membership in the congregation will be allowed to vote. After we have completed that meeting, everything that we have voted on will be presented to the Charge Conference where our District Superintendent will be presiding. His expectation is that this will be a swift vote because we have worked out the details at the pre-conference gathering. We will be hosting Southern Hills UMC for their Charge Conference as well. That Charge Conference will be on Thursday Nov. 19th at 6 pm and everyone is invited. Those who hold membership in the congregation will be allowed to vote. I know that none of this seems very exciting but it is good for us to evaluate and to dream about what is next with the District Superintendent. He says good things about our church and who we are in the community. As much as I dread this time of year, I am always thankful when it is done. I also am thankful that you want me to continue being your pastor.
Grace and peace,
