SPIRIT-FUELED MOVEMENTS
By Superintendent Michael Traylor
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The Jesus Movement: Following Jesus into loving, liberating, life-giving relationship with God, with each other, and with creation.”
Anglican Bishop Michael Curry in Following The Way Of Jesus
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"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV
Over the past two years, the Free Methodist Board of Bishops has been leading the Superintendent Leadership Team through a discernment process to help us clarify and define the mission of conferences, in respect to the local church. This has been particularly difficult because it requires an assessment of what local churches deem valuable. As you can imagine, churches are incredibly diverse in mission, make-up, and ministry contexts. This diversity is reflected in a broad spectrum of local church priorities. Practically speaking, what is helpful for some churches is completely irrelevant to others. So, the task was to develop an approach or a paradigm to bless all churches, understanding that each church will have distinctly different priorities.
Free Methodist Conferences are seeking “to ignite spirit-fueled movements that catalyze the multiplication of leaders and churches.”
The use of the term “movement” is intentional. Jesus did not create an institution, but a movement. A movement is collective, organized, and sustained challenge to the status quo. Status quo is expressed in prevailing cultures, beliefs, and practices. A movement never preserves but is always seeking change. Jesus sought to change life through reconciliation with God and one another. This movement, although initiated with Jesus, was carried out through the early church, led by the Holy Spirit. Church history is replete with periods of movement and institutionalization. Mobilization leads to organization otherwise change is temporary. Organization leads to the development of institutions who exist to preserve culture and practices. Institutions in themselves are not wrong but are often more concerned with their own preservation over and against the expansion of loving, liberating and life-giving movement that is Jesus’ mission.
We are sensing that many of our churches in the Free Methodist Churches have been more of an institution than a movement. Even more sobering for most conferences is that we have spent most of our resources helping churches become effective institutions, but not resourcing our communities toward becoming transformational agents of change in their contexts.
Authentic movements of God are Holy Spirit led. Strategies, marketing, and programs are helpful but cannot do the work of the Holy Spirit. God’s spirit is constantly moving, and its activity is both inside outside the institution of the church. By seeking to “ignite” Spirit-fueled movement, we are really stating that we are fanning the flame that already exists.
Missiologist Alan Hirsch (Permanent Revolution, 2012) explains the development of movements like this:
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Movements happen when the church manages to shake off its collective fears and plunges into the mission of God in the world, where, while experiencing risk and disorientation, they also get to encounter God and each other in a new way.
Collective fears abound in the Church. Fear often reveals itself in timidity and inaction. Safety and security in what is known is strongly preferred over the dangerous and often disorienting process of becoming the sign and symbol of the kingdom. Without regard to God’s authority and revelation that defines us and directs us, we simply do not know who we are, or what we were designed to do. The transition from institutional based church to movement is often led by Spirit initiated prophetic leadership. Prophetic leaders communicate current reality, the need for change, and a vision of hope. To speak the reality of dying with an eye of new life often feels idealistic. However, the conversion from institution to movement occurs when the church understands its agency and power in God’s story. It is said that “the well adjusted make poor prophets” because the prophet sees the need for change and movements are all about change. Those leaders who simply seek to preserve, often lack the vision to inspire and lead a movement.
The key to mobilizing a community is not only focusing on the need to change but communicating hope.
“Those who would transform a nation, or the world cannot do so by breeding and captaining discontent or by demonstrating the reasonableness and desirability of the intended changes or by coercing people into a new way of life. They must know how to kindle and fan an extravagant hope.” (Hoffer, The True Believer, 1971)
Where is the Spirit moving in your church? Where is the Spirit moving in your community? Are you ready to become a movement that changes your community, region, state, or nation?
I pray that you understand the authority and mission of Jesus and the love that emanates from him. I pray that you get tired of church that is decent, but no longer dynamic. I pray that you allow God to break your heart for a broken world, that leads you to rebel against status quo. I pray that you get swept up in the love filled radical movement called the kingdom of God and participate in God’s mission to restore and reconcile all creation to Godself!
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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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LOVE IS THE WAY WE DEMONSTRATE GOD'S HEART FOR JUSTICE by valuing the image of God in all men, women, and children, acting with compassion toward the oppressed, resisting oppression, and stewarding Creation.
We devote ourselves to our founders’ deep convictions around matters of injustice as they took their stand against the evils of slavery, the oppression of the poor, the marginalization of women, and the abuse of power in the church. Our heart for justice continues and expands today, fueled by God’s holy love for the unborn, the vulnerable, oppressed, marginalized, and people of all races and ethnicities.
The Free Methodist Way is not only to realize a better society, but that all may be reconciled to God and one another in ways that reflect God’s just character.
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Cutoff Dates for Receiving 2021 Donations |
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For Individual donors, to be included as a 2021 gift the check must be dated in 2021 and postmarked no later than December 31, 2021. Online gifts must be made no later than December 31, 2021.
Church checks that qualify as 2021 missions giving must be dated in 2021 and postmarked no later than January 7, 2022. Online gifts must be made no later than December 31, 2021.
Conference EPP postmarked by January 7, 2022, and clearly marked as 2021 EPP will be counted toward the prior year assessed amount. Electronic transfers must be initiated by January 6, 2022. Please contact Debra Hancock, 800-342-5531 ext. 232 to make arrangements to send funds electronically.
The annual giving statements for donors will be processed and sent by January 31, 2022, for 2021 gifts.
We praise God for his generous provision.
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ONE VOICE OFFERING RESOURSES |
Greetings in Jesus matchless name! I am praying for you that the coming Thanksgiving and Advent season will be filled with moments of His hope and peace.
I had written you previously about the One Voice Offering. We are inviting you to join us as we join in God’s mission to change the world. Here are our deepest hopes for this offering:
- Every FMCUSA church globally engaged
- Fully fund our national workers in every field
Realistically, it make take a couple of years to reach full engagement in this level of global partnership. Still, we are full of expectancy this year at the prospect of drawing other local churches into world missions. And, as you know, we are convinced that participation in the worldwide mission will reinforce local mission and open the doors for our Father’s blessing.
To make it easier for you to join us, I’ve attached an e-mail you might edit and send to your pastors. It references the website which has a brand new video and other resources that could help a local pastor with an end of year offering.
May the Spirit of God grant you wisdom these days as you continue in the midst of great challenges and opportunities. Don’t hesitate to call on us at FMWM if we can support you in any way.
Blessings,
Gerald W. Coates – “Gerry”
Director of Global Engagement
Free Methodist World Missions - FMCUSA
W 800-342-5531 x 234
W 317-616-4734 Direct
C 217-413-0965
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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
THERE ARE NO COMMITTEE MEETINGS IN DECEMBER
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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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