March 1, 2018

A few days ago, an announcement was sent out to clergy and laity regarding a new Staffing Alignment for the Iowa Annual Conference. You can find the announcement here . I am very excited about the potential for greater fruitfulness in ministry as we make these transitions.

Some of you have been asking what the financial implications will be from this new alignment. I can assure you that July 1st staffing changes will not increase the approved 2018 budget, and a small decrease in the overall staffing cost through December 31st is expected. The newly aligned structure reflects an Iowa Annual Conference committed to the faithful stewardship of our resources and a focus on our strategic priorities. Salary and benefit projections for future years indicate greater savings after the new structure is fully implemented. 
 
UMCOR Sunday: March 11
March 11 is a crucial Sunday in The United Methodist Church because it is the day when we all come together to empower the disaster relief arm of Global Ministries, UMCOR, for an entire year. Do you remember?
  • When hurricanes Harvey, Maria and Irma slammed Texas, Louisiana, Florida and Puerto Rico in 2017, UMCOR was there.
  • When wildfires ravaged thousands of homes in the West and Southeast,
  • UMCOR was there.
  • When refugees and migrants around the world needed help, UMCOR was there.
  • When a mudslide in Sierra Leone killed more than 500 people and destroyed 2,000 homes, UMCOR was there.
UMCOR was there because every year all of our churches take an offering that cares for the overhead costs of the United Methodist Committee on Relief. This means that every dollar that you give to a specific disaster or project goes entirely to that cause. You can find worship resources for UMCOR Sunday here .
      
Commission on a Way Forward District Gatherings
Our first district gathering for the Commission on a Way Forward is this Sunday from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Garner UMC in the North Central District. I encourage all clergy and laity to attend one of these sessions as we dialogue around possible proposals for our denominational impasses around human sexuality. I will be at each session, along with members of the Iowa General and Jurisdictional Conference delegation.

March 4 - North Central - Garner - 2:30 to 5:00 pm      
March 10 - South Central - Chariton, First - 9:30 am to noon
March 11 - Southwest - Atlantic, First - 2:00 to 4:30 pm
April 7 - East Central and Southeast - Iowa City, St. Mark’s - 2:00 to 4:30 pm
April 15 - Central - Des Moines, New Hope - 2:00 to 4:30 pm
April 21 - Northwest - Cherokee, St. Paul’s - 9:30 am to noon
April 22 - Northeast - Cedar Falls, First - 2:30 to 5:00 pm

Bishop Laurie’s March schedule
After two months of frequent travel outside the state, I will spend most of the weekends in March and April traveling to each of the districts, preaching on Sunday morning and leading gatherings around the Commission on a Way Forward. In addition, I will be preaching at the School for Practical Ministry on March 2, will be with clergy serving our larger churches on March 8, and will spend seven days in appointment-making with the cabinet. I also hope to carve out 3-4 writing days when I can focus solely on upcoming sermons.

I thank God for our conference staff, who do excellent ministry on our behalf, for our cabinet as they make appointments, and for our clergy and local churches who are experiencing a transition in the coming months. Most of all, I am grateful for the thousands of United Methodists across the state of Iowa who are making a difference every day by putting their faith in action.

May God bless you during this sacred Lenten season.

Blessings,

Bishop Laurie