(corrected) From the Heart of Iowa

(Bill Poland's email was incorrect in the previous email)

January 2, 2017

Happy New Year! As 2018 begins with bitter cold affecting Iowa as well as many other parts of the country, our hearts are warmed, knowing that the new year brings new and renewed opportunities to make a difference in the lives of others by our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness.

Strategic Priorities

One of the most important tasks of conference leadership this year is aligning our resources and staffing with our mission, vision, WIG (Wildly Important Goal), and strategic priorities. We will offer regular updates on our progress.

Vision: God’s hope for the world made real through faithful leaders, fruitful communities, and fire-filled people

Mission: Inspire, equip, and connect communities of faith to cultivate world-changing disciples of Jesus Christ

WIG: Every church in the Iowa Annual Conference will develop a process for intentionally forming disciples of Jesus Christ by the year 2020

Strategic Priorities:

Creating World-Transforming Communities of Faith
Equipping Ourselves and Others as Transformational Leaders
Directing Our Resources to Our Common Goals

2018 Annual Conference: June 9-11, 2018 (Clergy and Laity session on June 8, 2018)

We have finalized our speakers for annual conference, where our theme is Difference Makers – Developing New Faith Communities .

Bishop Laurie: Saturday morning Episcopal Address and Sunday Orders Service
Rev. Christian Coon, founding pastor and lead pastor of Urban Village in Chicago: Saturday afternoon teacher, followed by break-out sessions
Rev. LaTonya Calderon, pastor of Stuart-Mt. Vernon UMC: Saturday Retirement Service
Bishop Bruce Ough: Sunday Memorial Service

A highlight of annual conference will be the introduction of a new conference-wide Mental/Behavioral Health Initiative.

Conference Staff Changes

On January 1, Rev. Bill Poland, who has served as our Assistant to the Bishop for the last 4 1/2 years, is assuming the position of Director of New Faith Communities. Bill brings much experience and great passion around the development of new faith communities and is eager to consult with your congregation. Bill’s new email address is: bpoland@iaumc.org .

Rev. Bob Burkhart, former Assistant to the Bishop, will be serving as our interim ATB from January through June, 2018, when Rev. Harlan Gillespie, current DS of the North Central District, will become our new Assistant to the Bishop. Bob’s email address is: BBurkhart@iaumc.org.

Commission on a Way Forward

The Commission continues it work toward its goal of preparing a proposal(s) for the Council of Bishops that would seek to preserve the unity of the church in the midst of our differences around human sexuality. The Council of Bishops has scheduled an extra meeting from February 25-28 in Dallas to engage in prayer and dialogue around the proposal(s) and will ultimately make a recommendation to a special session of General Conference in February, 2019.

I will be traveling throughout the conference in March and April to meet with clergy and laity in district gatherings and engage in holy conferencing around the work of the Commission. Please continue to pray for members of the Commission as well as for the Council of Bishops as we engage in this holy work.

Bishop Laurie’s January schedule

I will be meeting with our General and Jurisdictional Conference delegation on Saturday, January 6, to dialogue around the work of the Commission on a Way Forward.
My husband Gary and I will be leading a pilgrimage to the Holy Land from January 9-19. Over a hundred people, including some of our newly ordained clergy, will be traveling with us. We ask for your prayers for safety as well as for personal spiritual transformation as we “walk where Jesus walked.”
In late January, I will be meeting with the North Central College of Bishops in Chicago, after which I will travel to Michigan to speak at a 50^th year celebration of the Grand Rapids District. All districts in Michigan will be realigned as the West Michigan and Detroit Conferences formally become one Michigan Conference in 2018.

May God bless each one of you in this new year as we become living examples of the hope, grace, and peace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Blessings,

Bishop Laurie