PASTOR APPRECIATION
By Superintendent Amelia Cleveland-Traylor
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The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.” 1 Timothy 5:17 NIV
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Remarkably, I began my pastoral ministry as a church planter in a small city southeast of Cleveland, Ohio. My husband and I were both practicing medicine full time when we began the church plant. We were also raising young children that we took to every meeting, service, or visit that we made. In retrospect, I can see the folly of expecting to live well while literally burning both ends of the candle of my life at the same time. My understanding of pastoral leadership was definitely skewed. You see, most pastors that I knew were bi-vocational men that devoted most of their “free” time to ministry. Whenever they were not at their (tent making) jobs, they were giving everything to the church. They tirelessly gave of themselves day after day. They were faithful servants.
There is a slogan that says the Peace Corps is the “toughest job you will ever love.” I have not served in the Peace Corps, but I suspect that parenting is the toughest job that I have ever loved. Though most view pastoral leadership as a calling, there is a chance that pastoral ministry also falls into this category of tough jobs that we love. After all, the work of pastoral ministry has significance both now and eternally. Pastors teach and share the Word of God. They provide comfort and guidance in times of need (deaths, divorces, personal crises, and natural disasters). They provide counsel prior to marriage, perform wedding ceremonies, and baptize children. They encourage us to offer care and concern for others. They are generally respected.
Despite this, pastors are often subjected to sharp criticism. The messages are too long, too short, too pointed, too dry, confusing, condemning, lifeless, etc. The pastor’s children are behaving poorly. The pastor’s spouse is disconnected. Furthermore, pastors are often subjected to recurrent intrusions into their personal spaces and their private times. Many in the church recognize no boundaries as they seek the attention of their pastoral leader. Consequently, the pastor misses many family gatherings, children’s sporting events, recitals, etc. They answer phone calls that come at random times day or night. They receive unexpected visitors. They listen patiently to their critics.
I need not tell you this, but I will state it anyway. Pastors are human and they have feelings too. They grow weary and tired. They do not have an answer to all your questions and doubts. They sometimes lose sleep thinking of ways they will minister to others and manage conflicts. They enjoy meals with their families. They would like to take time to be alone with their thoughts, drink coffee, or simply enjoy God’s creation.
October is pastor appreciation month. This was either unknown or overlooked through most of the years I served in pastoral leadership. I pray that those of you reading this article will not make a mistake by missing this moment. Instead, I hope that you will consider the ways that you can encourage and support your pastor today. Send a handwritten thank you note. Offer a genuine smile with no strings attached. Treat him/her with a gift card, candy, coffee, or dessert. Share your concerns after carefully considering your words. Advocate for higher pay. Share the responsibilities and the burdens. Do something fun. Love your pastor. After all, October is only one month, and your pastor is worthy of your appreciation all year long.
Pastors, you are a genuine blessing to the local church, the conference, and the kingdom. We (the River Conference Superintendents, Administrative Staff, and District Leaders) offer our sincere thanks to all of you. You deserve it.
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ARE YOU NEIGHBORING WELL? DON'T FORGET THAT WE ARE ALL CALLED TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR TO THE ONES GOD PUTS IN OUR PATH.
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Those of you who attended the Leadership Summit this past summer, saw the video that Bishop Whitehead presented on The FM Way. (click here to view). In the next five months, we will highlight one of the values that shape our identity. The information comes from the Free Methodist Way brochure and is available from FMC if you would like to include it in your New Member packets.
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Free Methodists are first and foremost a Kingdom people. Yet throughout church history God has raised up distinct movements like ours to enrich the larger body of Christ. Building on the legacies o John Wesley and B.T. Roberts, but always discerning where God is moving today, our identity is shaped by values that are both historical and aspirational. Of the many values we hold dear, these five lie at the heart of our movement. We view them as a whole, each one bringing necessary balance to the others. In a time of rising polarization in our nation, e resist the pull toward both fundamentalism and theological liberalism, - not out of a spirit of compromise, but from a radical commitment to what Wesley called "the middle way." It is a path that takes the whole gospel seriously and continually calls us to "both/and" convictions in an "either/or" world. We call it The Free Methodist Way.
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GOD'S CALL TO HOLINESS was never meant to be a burden, but a gift that liberates us for life that is truly life by delivering us from the destructive power of sin.
All who are born again are made right with God by the finished work of Jesus Christ and called to experience the fullness of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Forgiven and filled, we approach life with confidence that we are acceptable to God even as He continues to transform our character and behavior to become more and more like Jesus. Life-giving holiness, then, is the fruit of full surrender to the loving reign of God over every aspect of our lives, establishing within us love that is truly love.
Leaving behind the legalism that once hindered our movement, The Free Methodist Way invites every believer to embrace the transforming work of the Holy Spirit that empowers us to love and serve God and others in joyful obedience.
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LIFE-GIVING HOLINESS
District Leader Mark W Douglas, MDiv
"But just as he who called you is holy,
so be holy in all you do; for it is written:
‘Be holy, because I am holy’
(1 Peter 1:15–16, quoting three occurrences in Leviticus).
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I often talk to folks about “living into holiness”. Notice that I said living into holiness. For far too long, we believed that when we come into a relationship with Jesus, we “have arrived.” I would offer an alternative.
To be a follower of Jesus is to live into holiness. It is a journey that only ends when our time on earth comes to an end. As the Board of Bishop’s have suggested, it is not a burden. Instead, it is what draws us into a deeper relationship with the person to whom we have surrendered our life - JESUS.
Take a look at the disciples with whom Jesus invested 3-3 1/2 years. They did not “arrive” when Jesus asked them to follow him. Instead, they were on a journey - literally and figuratively. From scripture, it was not a burden on those disciples. They freely embarked on the journey. Did they have their moments? Of course - Peter denies Jesus not once but three times. That was not the end of Peter’s journey. Instead, he became the leader of the movement after Jesus ascended. He was living into holiness. His life became more aligned with the Kingdom.
As a follower of Jesus, we are forgiven and have the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The more we live into the Kingdom ethic individually and collectively the more we embrace holiness. This is not a legalistic or rule-based journey. Instead, it is a continuing surrender to the way of Jesus and the Kingdom.
Let us refocus our life on the journey of holiness. This will allow us to move from a guilt-based and legalistic faith to one that is life-giving and free. We will be free to live out the kingdom ethic of - Loving God and Loving Our Neighbor.
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Rev Mark W Douglas, MDiv is District Leader (CO, NM, SD) in the River Conference. Mark has planted and pastored churches in Colorado and Ohio. He also is an adjunct professor at Colorado State University Pueblo (teaching Ethics, Philosophy, Logic, Islam and Non-Western Religions). In addition to Colorado State University (Mark teaches at Pueblo Community College in the area of Ethics, Philosophy, and Comparative Religions) and at Central Ohio Technical College (teaching Cultural Diversity, Ethics, and Philosophy). Mark and his wife Judy live in Pueblo CO. They previously lived in OH and WV. (mark.theriverconference.org)
Mark’s recent article on Christ-Compelled Multiplication, in Light + Life, “Learning to Multiply” CLICK HERE to read more.
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Refugees from Afghanistan
Impact Middle East is partnering with the Free Methodist Church USA to prepare for an anticipated influx of refugees fleeing Afghanistan. Impact Middle East has well-established refugee ministries in countries where fleeing Afghans have arrived or will arrive in the coming days and weeks.
Those who would like to help Impact Middle East assist these refugees may give to Impact Middle East's Refugee Ministry or through FMC's Operation Hope.
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TRC COVID-19 State Resources
Below are the websites for all the states in The River Conference that have current information on COVID-19. Stay informed. These websites have the most current information for each state. Simply click on the state and it will take you to the corresponding website.
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ONLINE COURSES AVAILABLE IN AFRICAN LANGUAGES |
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The NY/NJ Metro Ministry Training Center is pleased to begin a new online cohort for theological and pastoral formation that will be taught directly in Swahili (and other African languages as needed) via Zoom. The tentative course schedule and enrollment form is attached below.
Cost:
Recommended tuition for each student is $65 per credit hour. A minimum of 8 students per cohort is ideal. When this is not possible, churches and/or conferences are encouraged to give an additional Love Offering to help compensate the instructor.
Vision:
The influx of African Immigrant Kingdom leaders into the USA is a great opportunity for the FMCUSA to advance the Kingdom of Jesus. However, a robust theological and pastoral formation program that is directly taught in native African languages is largely missing. In response to this opportunity and challenge, we seek to multiply the African teaching ministry of the NY/NJ Metro Training Center into Annual Conferences across the USA. As we launch this initiative, we seek to raise $75,000 over the next three years to mentor a next generation of instructors—"reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Tim 2:2). We invite you to join us in carrying this vision, raising support, and identifying potential candidates whom God is calling to equip the saints through the spiritual gift of teaching.
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TRC signed up to take advantage of Amazon.com's "give back" campaign. Amazon Smile is a program where you can designate a charity to receive a percentage of any purchase made on Amazon.com.
If you buy things off Amazon, please consider designating TRC as your charity. How to get started:
www.smile.amazon.com - find The River Conference of the Free Methodist Church, Lakewood, CO on the charity list, select it. Now every time you order something from Amazon, you must enter through the smile.amazon.com website, you'll see what charity you're supporting in red letters. Then start shopping. Amazon will automatically deposit donations into our checking account.
If you buy things off Amazon, please consider designating TRC as your charity.
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TRC DISTRICT LEADERS
ARIZONA
BOISE
COLORADO/NEW MEXICO/SOUTH DAKOTA
NORTH TEXAS
SOUTH TEXAS
SPOKANE
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Upcoming TRC Committee Meetings
Tuesday, November 2, 2021
MAC Monthly Video Conference
Thursday, November 4, 2021
MEG Monthly Video Conference
Thursday, November 11, 2021
Property Team Monthly Video Conference
Tuesday, November 16, 2021
Finance Team Monthly Video Conference
Thursday, November 18, 2021
Board of Directors Monthly Video Conference
Tuesday, November 30, 2021
District Leaders Monthly Video Conference
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HEY Free Methodist Youth Workers! |
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I hope you’ve heard, FMYC 2022 is happening! We’ll gather on the campus of Colorado State University in Ft. Collins, Colorado June 27-July 1, 2022.
FMYC (Free Methodist Youth Conference) is a week-long event designed for your high school students. (Bringing Middle School students is up to the discretion of the Youth Worker. But again – please know that the event is programmed with high school students in mind.)
The Scriptures tell us that followers of Jesus are “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession…” (1 Peter 2:9). We are Marked. Our identity is in Jesus. This next Summer we’ll spend a week together in Colorado, looking at what this means!
On our website you’ll find:
* Promotional material
* Program information
* FAQ & Contact information
We've also encouraged each conference to help with the transportation costs for groups attending FMYC’22. Make sure you contact your local Superintendent for more information!
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Click HERE to hear a message from the Bishops regarding the upcoming conference
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Wesleyan Holiness Women Clergy is made up of a group of likeminded denominations who ordain women and promote a biblically-based theology and practice of women in ministry. WHWC’s biennial conference, called E2022, is being held March 10-12, 2022 in Grapevine, Texas. Women who are elders, CMC’s, leading laypersons, students or others exploring a call to ministry or seeking to understand our position on the role of women in the church are encouraged to attend. Men are also welcome—whether husbands, colleagues, superintendents or others looking for an uplifting event featuring excellent women preachers, workshops and fellowship.
AND… “WELL2022” is a Free Methodist women-only event on the day before the conference at the same location. This all-expenses-paid event begins at 1 PM on March 9 and ends at noon on March 10. Women will spend time getting to know other Free Methodist women in ministry and celebrating what God is doing in our denomination—for instance, we now have 571 ordained women, two female superintendents, a female bishop and hundreds of women serving in denominational or conference leadership positions. At this pre-conference event, we will also have time to explore concerns that can be heard together and communicated to denominational leaders to address our acknowledged “room for improvement” reality.
For both WELL and E2022:
If you have already registered for E2022, you can still add on WELL to your registration. Don't use the links above, just email or call Callie Darling, our event services manager
phone 972 724 5184.
P.S. If you are a pastor’s husband or a man in leadership who plans to attend WHWC and would be interested in a gathering of FM men during WELL, contact Soo Ji Alvarez.
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Find out what is happening around the Free Methodist Church. Click below to view the respective newsletters |
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