General Board Business Item No. GB

General Board
Business Item No. GB-2015
Title: Report of The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Georgia
Origin: Denise Bell, Regional Minister
Information to the General Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
Regional Staff:
Denise Bell, Regional Minister
Betty Brewer-Calvert, Director of Women’s Ministries
(Position financed by above-giving by women)
Terressa Ewing, Director of Camping Programs
(Position financed by the camping program)
Katie Gibson, Co-Director of Youth Ministries
(Position financed by annual Youth Assembly)
Stephen Westbrook, Co-Director of Youth Ministries
(Position financed by annual Youth Assembly)
Tommy Freeman, Camp Manager
(Position financed by Camp usage)
Pam Van Dusen, Administrative Assistant
F Full Time
F PT Contracted
F PT Contracted
F PT Contracted
M PT Contracted
M PT
F 2/3 Time
Number of Congregations: 61
Members: Total 15,800, participating 10,780 and AWA 4,540
States included in the Region: Georgia
In 1947 Edward Moseley authored a paper, “History of Disciples of Christ in Georgia,” in which
he wrote:
“This religious heritage has many inspiring things about it. Certainly Georgia
Disciples may well lift up their heads and rejoice in a noble heritage. Let it be
carefully preserved and used as a sacred trust. The past and the present are
inseparably linked together. The past can instruct, but never let it fetter the
creative, living present. For this generation is making its contribution to the
glorious heritage that is even now being transmitted for those who shall come
into this spiritual relationship during years ahead.”
As Christians of this generation, we have been given this sacred trust to live the story of the
Christ, the cross, and the creation of God's beloved community. It is not a community built on
our agreements or uniformity but, rather, it is a community built on our common and constant
need of God's love. For it is God's love that forms and fashions us into the likeness of Christ,
not because we deserve it or earn but because of God's grace. God's grace compels us to
seek to new practices of grace and love, reaching out across differences to become God’s
beloved community.
The Christian Church in Georgia has set its face toward building healthy and Christ centered
clergy, lay leaders and congregations to transform congregations, lives, and communities.
2015 our Regional Board along with the Georgia clergy worked hard to develop six priorities to
assist us in developing our collective efforts in leading, living, and lifting the gospel of Jesus
Christ. Our efforts in accomplishing our priorities are driven through collaboration, caring, and
commitment. This annual report entails the priorities and a few activities and events that
occurred as a result.
2015-2018 Ministry Priorities
Vision Creation: Ezekiel 37:1-10
O
ur efforts involve: clusters and retreats to dialogue and pray about what God is doing,
and needs that we see in our community and world that we cannot do alone;
recognition and pursuit of a Beloved Community where we advocate and lead in social
justice, empowerment and unity; and seeking diverse and gifted volunteers leading and
serving the region and congregations. We are a vast army for God's glory!
New beginnings are exciting but not without challenge. Laying the ground work for vision
creation cannot happen without cultivating relationships. We are committed to engage in
corporate dialogue and action in creating a beloved community that celebrates differences in
race, culture, and demographics, and identifies and strengthens our common resolve to spread
the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We celebrate the active commitments of many of our Atlanta and other area churches who
hosted and participated in meaningful gatherings to pastor the community and church around
issues of race and social justice. Several churches attended a showing of the movie Selma
and shared lunch and discussion afterwards. Additionally in the aftermath of the killings in
Charleston, SC, we hosted a prayer vigil at Peachtree Christian Church in Atlanta.
Leadership Development and Nurture for Clergy: John 21:15-17
P
astors (Senior and staff), chaplains, commissioned ministers and religious
educators all make up the clergy community of leaders set aside to provide
leadership, care and nurture for the community of faith and the community at large.
Health and vibrancy of clergy is a major
commitment of your region.
Cultivating pastors to lead, live and lift the gospel
involves support and accountability in mentoring,
ordaining, installing and creating learning
opportunities. We ordained seven clergy
persons, three by transfer, all who remained in
Georgia serving congregations. We were able to
fill three pulpits of congregations who were
involved in a pastoral search, and we celebrated
the ministry of two pastors who left Georgia to serve congregations in other regions.
Fifteen new candidates entered into Care and Nurture under the Commission of Ministry
(COM). Additionally 50 clergy attended a leadership development pre-assemble session
with Rev. Dr. Frank Thomas. Our district clergy groups still meet providing fellowship,
support, and learning opportunities on issues that impact the church.
Vision Stewardship and Resource Development: Matthew 25:14-23
S
tewardship is a life giving and hope filled expression of our faith & ministry. Our
collective ministry as a region is to cultivate strong and faithful lay leaders,
congregations, mission and ministry to impact and transform local districts,
communities, and the state of Georgia for the glory for God.
We started a task force on resource management and development to help the region manage
resources and look for new streams of income. We received an Oreon Scott grant of $15K to
promote leadership development for clergy and clergy candidates for a three year period
adding yearly components to address leadership development needs in congregational leaders
as well. Maintaining and developing
stable resources are a challenge for our
region and many of our congregations.
Our efforts of development is a long
stretch and must include learning
opportunities and new ways of
presenting stewardship beyond the
annual budget. We sponsored a
Stewardship workshop during our
regional assembly and presented a
narrative budget for regional ministries
at our 165th Regional Assembly. We
have a long way to go but with support
from General Church Treasury who
provides needed accounting services and faithful congregations and individuals we will
accomplish great things. We did end 2015 in the black and started 2016 with a little buffer.
Congregational Vitality and Development: Ephesians 3:7-12
T
he church is God's instrument to reveal
God's great love for humanity. Each local
congregation is a gift to its community. Our
mission is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ,
serve and bring hope to our communities.
Changing communities and congregations invite
new opportunities for leadership and ministry.
We seek to be vibrant and sustaining
congregations serving unto the glory of God!
Tony Rodriquez
More than half of our congregations worship
under 50 people. We felt a need to host a
conference designed to recharge, improve and
renew our efforts to reinvigorate our congregations.
We called it (LIFT) --Loving, Impactful, Faithful, and
Transforming. LIFT presented proven church
renewal leaders to share with us their successful
practices for church revitalization. Our presenters
were Rev. Dr. Gilberto Collazo, President of Hope
Partnership for Missional Transformation, Rev.
George Cotto and Tony Rodriquez from Central
Christian Church, Coral Gables FL. The conference was a great success in that 100 people
attended and four churches decided to enter into the New Beginnings program with Hope
Partnership. LIFT will be an annual conference for congregational transformation.
While we are yet working to revitalize congregations, we lost two congregations in 2015. They
were Auburn Centre Evangelique La Pierre Angulaire and Centro de Adoracion Renacer. We
celebrate these communities of faith and pray that the seeds planted by their ministry bore
good and lasting fruit.
Vision Communication Strategy: Acts 2:11, 12
C
ommunication is essential in getting God's story out-the message, getting it
right, and compelling others to invest and participate in kingdom building work.
We must embrace many avenues of communication so that every generation,
culture, and congregation’s story is told and included. We endeavor to create a more
user friendly web page, increase social media, and help congregations to create a
virtual presence, bi-lingual. Create virtual conversations for young adults and youth.
Organize intentional plans for congregations and clergy who do not have access to
technology.
Social media exposes second by second accounts of world occurrences available 24
hours a day. It is interactive and provides immediate satisfaction for those who thirst
after information and wanting to be in the know. This a generation who will not wait for
antiquated modes of communication to catch up, they will create their own avenues of
networking, values, and means of relationship building. Communication is
technological, dialogical, and psychological across generations, culture, races,
gender, and family life styles. We have increased our usage of Facebook, video and
teleconferencing. We hosted a workshop on how to navigate the close the
generational divide through engaging in various modes of communication.
Vision Focused Mission, Ministry and Programs: Ephesians 4:1-16
O
ur region is filled with life and diverse people, gifts and passions. Preparation for
ministry and mission will help to accomplish God's purposes. The gifts and talents
of every member will strengthen our work together and our local ministries. Efforts
are directed toward developing networks and schools of learning through leadership
development events and mission. Design program measurements for regional events.
Redevelop Camp Christian Camp.
We began the year’s activity for our Men’s ministry in January, 2015 at Guyton,
Georgia, recognizing our newest Layman of the Year for 2014, Laverne
Cavanah. He is a member of the Guyton Christian Church. Two other
gatherings followed to engage men in conversations about the church and
future vitality. We installed a new slate of regional leaders and affirmed the
ministry concern and passion about the church. Every session fanned the flame
of commitment for camp, inclusion for men across the region that embraces
race, culture, congregational demographics and generation.
T
he GA Disciple Women sponsored five gathering that
captured opportunities for mission, service, fellowship
and learning together. Koinonia Farm in Americus GA,
gave us a day of mission, learning, and
fellowship. Four of the gatherings were
conferences where we discussed “The Women at
the Tomb” using the Disciples Women Bible
Study from Just Women. Workshops, included:
Seeing the Invisible Women of the World, Aging as a Holy
Pilgrimage, Finding Power and Promise in Living Single,
Hoping and Helping: Caring for the Caregiver Within and Next
Door, Breaking the Chains of Human Trafficking, Creating the
Beloved Community: A Sacred Conversation about Race, Hope
in the Face of
Marilyn Williams, Pres. of IDWM
Chronic Illness,
and The Prayer
Box. Women brought a vanload of household
items, cleaning supplies, diapers, and other
items for the women’s shelters of the
Partnership Against Domestic Violence.
Several pounds of pop tabs for Ronald
McDonald Houses and 352 pillowcases for the
Sweetdreams Pillowcase Ministry (Scottish Rite
Children’s Hospital) were donated as well. 200
of the pillowcases were made by Charlotte
Curry of Warner Robins First Christian.
Fabulous!! Blessing Box offerings were
$5472.51.
T
he regional youth ministry starts
every year at Epworth in St Simmons
Island GA. More than 200 Disciple
youth gather for a time with God and
friends in a setting away from technology,
social media, peer pressure and even
family demands and
expectation. Youth
ranging in grades
from 6th-12th
experience God and
faith development in
their own space and
context. The level of
energy and excitement is fueled by youth representing the full diversity of the regional
church in culture, demographics, geography, church size and style. The theme for 2015
was Reflect, Refresh, Rejoice. Kyle Renfro and Sarah Brown were our keynoters. The
event is their vision of a group of teens coming together from different congregations to
form one community of faith.
I
n 1960, C.O. McAfee donated approximately
384 to the Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ) in Georgia to establish a central
location for a regional camp
facility. It was eventually
named Camp Christian Camp
and Conference Center. While this is the camp’s formal name, it has
been called “heaven on earth for kids, an oasis……Camp Christian is
not only a place for kids but it is also a peaceful and refreshing place to hear God speak
life into church life, family life, and personal life. The camp is also open to serve
congregations, families, community agencies, who are not connected to The Christian
Church.
In 2015 the camp hosted more 250 kids, 20 churches, one run, and numerous women’s
retreats from other denominations. Our camp manager is Tommy Freeman who with the
help of two work days and our fundraising Gala keeps the camp in tip top shape.
T
he 166th Regional Assembly was held at First Christian Church Atlanta in Tucker
Nov 2015. We had the highest number of registrants in recent history. The theme for
the gathering was
“Becoming God’s
Beloved
Community”. It is
our belief that
every time we
gather in this
manner it is a sign
that God is still invested in our
community of faith. We are 61 faithful
congregations, and we are moving
Rev. Dr. Frank A. Thomas
forward to claim God’s power, love, and
revelation that will empower our witness
as a beloved community of faithful servants. We are on a journey together to witness to
the world that the love of Christ transforms our circle of exclusion to a broader circle of
inclusion that embraces unity, social justice, and the proclamation of the gospel.
Our Moderator
Rev. Jabari Butler
reminded us that
communities have
a “common” “unity”
that binds each
member together. Our common bond is
our belief in Jesus the Christ. In Luke
4:16-21, Jesus informs his audience that
he has been anointed to preach good
news to the poor, to proclaim freedom for
the prisoners, to recover sight to the blind
and he has come to set the oppressed
free. In this passage, Jesus sets before us a model of taking care of others. He sets before
us an example of what it means to be up close and personal with those in the community.
Taking on such tasks do require initiative, courage and love; and by God’s grace, there
have been many churches who have followed Jesus’ example and are thus enjoying the
fruits of their labor. In 2015 it was a joy to hear the various stories of people in this region
being saved, being healed and finding new spiritual homes where they can mature and
strengthen their faith.
Rev. June Boutwell, UCC Conference Min.
Rev. Dr. Dietra Wise-Baker, Liberation
Christian Church, St. Louis Missouri