February 1, 2018

Grace and peace! During the cold, dark months of winter, may the light and love of Christ warm your hearts and give you peace.

The Cabinet
The appointive cabinet has begun its work, discerning appointments for clergy and congregations. Our three new district superintendents, Paul Wilcox (Northeast District), Ron Carlson (Northwest District), and Carol Kress (North Central District) joined us this week for the first time as observers and will be attending cabinet meetings as they are able before their appointments officially begin on July 1. Thank you for your prayers as we seek to fulfill our conference mission to inspire, equip, and connect communities of faith to cultivate world-changing disciples of Jesus Christ.

Lenten Devotions
Once again, clergy and laity from the Iowa Annual Conference will be sharing daily devotions during the season of Lent. Lent is a time to deepen our faith as we journey with Jesus to the cross and share in his resurrection. If you would like to have the devotions send to your computer inbox every morning, please subscribe here . You may also access the daily Lenten devotions on the conference website.

Commission on a Way Forward Conversations
I will be present in all of the districts during March and April to facilitate conversation around the Commission on a Way Forward. As you are aware, this commission was formed at the 2016 General Conference to help our denomination discern a way to remain united in the midst of our differences around human sexuality. I highly encourage you to attend one of the following seven gatherings and invite others from your church to come with you. The sessions will include a devotion from me, a video dialogue by two of our clergy who have differing views, and opportunities for table conversations and questions.          
  • March 4: North Central at Garner from 2:30 to 5:00 pm          
  • March 10: South Central at Chariton First from 9:30 am to noon
  • March 11: Southwest, time and place TBD
  • April 7: East Central & Southeast at Iowa City, St. Mark’s from 2:00 to 4:30 pm
  • April 15: Central at Des Moines, New Hope from 2:00 to 4:30 pm
  • April 21: Northwest at Cherokee, St. Paul’s from 9:30 am to noon
  • April 22: Northeast at Cedar Falls, First from 2:30 to 5:00 pm

Alignment Process
A task force has been working diligently over the past three months to develop a plan for greater alignment of our staff and processes around our conference strategic priorities as well as our new Mission, Vision, and WIG. Click here to view these foundational statements. At the same time, we understand the necessity of rightsizing the conference budget to reflect our current reality. As decisions are made in the near future, I will be communicating them to you.

Bishop Laurie’s Schedule
Much of my travel this year has been front-loaded in January and February. Last week I attended the College of Bishops meeting in Chicago, followed by a speaking engagement in Michigan.

On Sunday, I fly to Dallas, where I will chair the denomination’s Ministry Study Commission. From there, I will travel to Cote d’Ivoire in Africa, where I will be part of several groups that will work on drafting a new “General Book of Discipline.” If approved at the 2020 General Conference, the “General Book of Discipline” will allow the Central Conferences (the United Methodist Church outside the United States) to adapt certain portions of the Book of Discipline to more directly address religious practices, cultural differences, and governmental regulations and laws that are applicable to other countries. Bob Burkhart, our interim Clergy Assistant to the Bishop, will also be present at that meeting.

Later in February, I will preach in Orlando at the national workshop for the new Eight Year Assessment process that was approved by the 2016 General Conference and is now mandated for all clergy. After that, the Council of Bishops is holding a special meeting in Dallas to consider the work of the Commission on a Way Forward as proposals are developed for a special called session of General Conference in February 2019.

May God bless you in the month ahead as you let your light shine and make a difference wherever God leads you on your Lenten journey.

Blessings,

Bishop Laurie