The Beacon - Districts

The
Beacon
VOL. LXXXXIX NO. 3 THE MISSISSIPPII CONFERENCE UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
AUGUST 2015
Call to the Twenty-Seventh Annual Meeting
Reaching Out Across the Street or Around the World
So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. -Galatians 6:9
United Methodist Women of the Mississippi Conference are called to gather Friday, October 2, at 7:00
p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church in Louisville, Mississippi, for a service of praise and worship.
The Starkville District is hosting this year’s annual meeting, and it promises to be a beautiful and
memorable event.
Following Friday’s worship service, we will reconvene at Lake Tiak-O’Khata, located just a few minutes
from the church, for special group activities including a session for women 40 and under led by Courtney Layson of Jackson titled “Our Identity As Young Women in the Church.” A session about establishing an on-line circle will be led by UMW web master Cheryl Farr, and Mary Simpson will lead us as we
plan the 150th anniversary of Methodist Women.
Last year’s UMW choir was amazing, and Ginger Grissom has agreed to lead the choir again for Friday
evening’s worship. Lake Tiak-O’Khata has given us a deadline of August 1 to reserve rooms for our
meeting. If you haven’t reserved your room, PLEASE CALL TODAY 662-773-7853.
The verse in Galatians, “So let us not grow weary in doing what is right,” reminds United Methodist
Women that there is always work to do, whether it be across the street or around the world. May this
annual meeting bring us together in the fellowship of Christ as we gather at this lovely lakeside retreat.
PLEASE NOTE: REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR LAKE TIAK-O’KHATA HOTEL
IS SEPTEMBER 1
CALL 662-773-7853
Room costs: $72—single or double
Efficiencies: $135 ( 4—6 people) Hotel can give more information about this option.
(Note: If Tiak-O’Khata has no more rooms, call Quality Inn at 662-773-9090)
2
REGISTRATION FORM
Twenty-Seventh Annual Meeting of United Methodist Women
Friday and Saturday October 2-3, 2015
Wesley United Methodist Church and Lake Tiak-O’Khata, Louisville, Mississippi
Registration: Lake Tiak O’Khata Friday 3:00p.m. -6:45 p.m.; Saturday 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Mail Form with check to: Annie Cassidy, 3163 Love Road, Lexington, MS 39095
Registration Deadline: September 11, 2015
Name: _____________________________________________________________________________
Address:____________________________________________________________________________
District:_____________________________________ Church: _____________________________
Check as many of the following as applicable:
____Local officer: Name of office _________________________________________________________
____District officer: Name of Office _______________________________________________________
____Conference Officer: Name of office ____________________________________________________
____Member Conference Leadership Team
____Past Conference president of UMW, WSCS, or Guild
____Voting Delegate (See Standing Rule A 1, Page 65)
Friday night Praise and Worship Service – Wesley United Methodist Church, 507South Jones Ave.,
Louisville, MS 39339 (Transportation available from Tiak-O’Khata);
All Saturday Activities will be at Lake Tiak-O’Khata
REMEMBER: YOU MUST PREREGISTER FOR THE WORKSHOPS
Three workshops will be presented at Lake Tiak-O’Khata following the Praise and Worship Service at
Wesley on Friday evening. They are:
150th Anniversary Scrapbooking led by Mary Simpson, UMW Program Advisory Group
_____Check here if you plan to attend
Organizing an Online Circle led by Cheryl Farr, UMW Webmaster
_____Check here if you plan to attend
Our Identity as Young Women in the Church presented by Courtney Layson,
Director of Restoration Ministry, Christ United Methodist Church
(THIS WORKSHOP FOR WOMEN UNDER 40!!)
_____Check here if you plan to attend
You are invited to sing in the UMW choir, directed by Ginger Grissom
_____I plan to be a part of the Choir (Practice – 4 p.m. Friday at Tiak-O’Khata)
Check one of the following (Make checks payable to Mississippi Conference UMW).
______Enclosed is a check for $30 for the registration fee and lunch on Saturday
______Enclosed is a check for $20 for registration only
3
ANNUAL MEETING SCHEDULE
WESLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
AND
LAKE TIAK O’KHATA
LOUISVILLE, MISSISSIPPI
OCTOBER 2-3, 2015
Friday, October 2
AT LAKE TIAK O’KHATA
3-6:45 p.m.
4 p.m.
4-5 p.m.
Registration
Choir Practice
Book Room Open
Exhibits
AT WESLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
507 South Jones Avenue, Louisville, MS 39339
7 p.m.
AT LAKE TIAK O’KHATA
Following Praise and Worship
Praise and Worship Service
Reception – Hosted by Starkville District
Workshops (Remember to Preregister)
Saturday, October 3
ALL ACTIVITIES AT TIAK O’KHATA
7:30 – 8:30 a.m.
Registration
Bookroom open
Exhibits
8:30 a.m.
9:00 a.m.
Gathering Music
Saturday Morning Plenary
Business Session
12:30 p.m.
LUNCH
SENDING FORTH
4
Report of the Committee on Nominations
The Committee on Nominations of the Mississippi Conference United Methodist Women is pleased to
submit the following officers for election for the term 2016—2017.
President
Vice President
Secretary
Dorothy Carter
Teresa Bankston
Diane Reynolds
1st Term
1st Term
1st Term
Mission Coordinators:
Communications
Membership Nurture and Outreach
Spiritual Growth
Education and Interpretation
Cynthia Diann Willis
Linda Stepko
Janice Stenmark
Suzanne Guthrie
1st Term
1st Term
1st Term
2nd Term
Committee on Nominations
Chairperson
Class of 2016
Class of 2017
Class of 2019
Cindy Mason
Helen Goldman
Brenda Pickering, Brenda Pendleton
Lorine Harrington, Rachel Cowling
Charter for Racial Justice
Automatic: President, Chairperson of Nominating Committee, Language Coordinator
1 District President: Kathleen Smith (1)
1 Member Leadership Team: Dorothy Portis (2)
1 Member with special expertise: Jackie Pennington (1)
Members at Large: Sallie Rule (1), Gwen Coffey (1)
Delegates for 2016 Jurisdictional Quadrennial Meeting
Dorothy Carter, Linda Stepko, Dorothy Portis, Cindy Mason - alternate
Board of Directors of United Methodist Women (national board)
Sarah Sanders, Jean Ricks
Program Advisory Group of United Methodist Women (national organization)
Mary Simpson, Kay Barksdale, Jennette Moore
Mission u
The following list of officers for 2016 was elected by the School Committee Feb.7, 2015.
Dean
Frances Gail Jones
Assistant Dean
Cecelia Davis
Secretary
Diane Reynolda
Registrar
Mary Dalton
Business Manager Annie Cassidy
Respectfully Submitted, Virginia Spitzkeit, Chairperson; Sallie Rule, Gwen Coffey, Brenda Pickering,
Kay Risher, Janice Stenmark, Juanita Thomas, Toya Allen, Patricia Roberts, Cindy Mason, Diane Reynolds
5
MISSISSIPPI CONFERENCE UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
DISTRICT OFFICERS’ TRAINING/UPATE
Saturday, November 7, 2015 – Parkway Heights United Methodist Church
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Saturday, November 14, 2015 – Batesville United Methodist Church
Batesville, Mississippi
Two opportunities for training and updating the work of each UMW officer will be offered again this
year. You may attend either. When your Conference counterpart contacts you, let her know which you
will attend. These sessions are VERY important as we begin to put new ideas into place to update
the work of United Methodist Women. Those who are continuing in their positions should make an
extra effort to attend to update the work they are already doing.
All District Officers, whether new or continuing, should take advantage of this opportunity to learn
about the responsibilities of your position, to receive information to use in training your local
organization officers, and to interact with your District counterparts.
Your Conference officers will be prepared to assist you in any way they can. They will share information
with you about the responsibilities of your office. You will have an opportunity to tell what you are
doing in your District and to share your successes and concerns.
Registration is at 9 a.m. with the opening session beginning at 9:30. The meeting will conclude by noon.
DISTRICT OFFICERS –WE WILL SEE YOU EITHER IN HATTIESBURG OR BATESVILLE!
PROPOSED CHANGES TO STANDING RULES FOR 2016
Page 66. B.4.a. The Committee of Nominations shall be composed of eleven members in four classes.
Delete “eleven” and replace with “nine” to read: The Committee on Nominations shall be composed of
nine members in four classes.
Important Notice
Everyone please be aware that your lists of local officers for 2016 must be submitted to your
District Secretary by November 1. This is required to prepare the Directory/Handbook and the mailing list for the Beacon. Many local organizations do not meet during the summer, so please elect your
officers and submit this information as quickly as possible in September or October.
Alice Moreland
Conference Secretary
6
A special event at Annual Meeting
For young women ages 40 & under
Following the worship service at Annual Meeting Friday
evening, Oct. 2, young women ages 40 and under are invited to a special gathering just for them!
Courtney Gray Layson, Director of Restoration Ministry at
Christ United Methodist Church, will lead a discussion of
“Our Identity As Young Women in the Church.”
COURTNEY GRAY LAYSON
Mrs. Layson, a licensed professional counselor, is a graduate of Mississippi College, where she earned a bachelor’s
degree in psychology, and Asbury Theological Seminary,
where she completed her master’s degree in counseling.
She and her husband Steve are the parents of three children. Welcome, Courtney!
UMW Tee Shirts still available!
Our pink UMW tee shirts turned out so well, we are offering them for sale again at Annual Meeting. The
cost is $12. You may pre-order to reserve your shirt or shirts by sending your check to Mary Dalton by
September 15. You may pick them up at Annual Meeting in Louisville on October 2nd or 3rd.
Indicate size and quantity.
Small___
Med___
Large____
Extra Large______
Your Name____________________________________________
Your Email_____________________________________________
Your Address____________________________________________
Amount enclosed________________
Make checks payable to MS Conference UMW
Send check to:
Mary Dalton
9520 Attala Road 4167
Sallis, MS 39160
2x Large____
3x Large____
7
Frances Perry Scholarship — A Brief History
The Frances Perry Scholarship is a scholarship fund of the United Methodist Women in Mississippi.
The fund was set up in 1978 by Mr. E.V. Perry to honor his late wife, Mrs. Frances Perry of Rolling
Fork, Mississippi, a past president of the former Mississippi Conference. It was originally set up for
women going into the mission field of the Methodist Church. The program has evolved through the
years with donations from United Methodist Women across the state. Scholarships up to $1,500 are
now available for women and men in the junior, senior and graduate years of college who are interested in working in projects or institutions of the United Methodist Church. It is renewable for three
additional years if a grade point average of 3.0 is maintained at an approved institution. The chairperson and members of the Frances Perry Scholarship Committee are appointed by the UMW Conference President.
The United Methodist Women of Mississippi are asked to donate at least $4 per member to keep the
scholarship program going beyond the original amount donated. The disbursement for this year is
$13,500 in this 37th year of the scholarship.
FRANCES PERRY SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS FOR 2015-16
Recipient
Theological School
Home Church
Amber Gray
Candler School of Theology
Southaven First UMC
Joshua Gray
Asbury Theological Seminary
Ocean Springs St. Paul UMC
Chelsey O. Hedglin
Vanderbilt Divinity School
Oxford-University UMC
Wayne Hill
Memphis Theological Seminary
Senatobia First UMC
Caleb Holder
Memphis Theological Seminary
Cleveland First UMC
Trey Skaggs
Asbury Theological Seminary
Columbus First UMC
Calvin Triplett
Memphis Theological Seminary
Bay Springs Charge
Morgan Tubbs
Iliff School of Theology
Cleveland First UMC
Jeffrey Paul Walton Asbury Theological Seminary
Louisville First UMC
2015 Mission Project supports Mississippi University for Women
In keeping with our emphasis on supporting the Wesley Foundation programs in community colleges and universities, the 2015 mission project will support the Wesley Foundation
at Mississippi University for Women, located in our Starkville District. UMW groups are
encouraged to bring $10 Walmart gift cards to help further this important ministry to students. Last year our gifts raised more than $2,000 for Gulf Coast students!
Receptacles for the gift cards will be located at the registration desk
8
Securing the UMW Legacy from Mississippi
United Methodist Women!
Just a few short years from now we will celebrate our 150th anniversary. The first women’s missionary
society was formed in 1869, and this is an opportunity for United Methodist Women to celebrate, marvel
at what has been accomplished, and to make new commitments for the work ahead. Join me after the
worship service at our 2015 Annual Meeting to learn more about ways we plan to celebrate this 150th
anniversary.
Our predecessors established a strong, vital mission organization and left that legacy for us. During the
150th anniversary era, our challenge is to leave our legacy for this organization we love and the United
Methodist Women who come after us. We want to make sure that the direct service, advocacy, education
and leadership development of our first 150 years continue for the next 150.
The Legacy Fund is a permanent endowment to undergird future generations of United Methodist
Women as they serve the women, children and youth of their day.
The Legacy Fund’s income will insure a regular source of support for the core expenses of mission. It
will provide for administration of UMW grants, scholarships, mission personnel, membership nurture,
leadership development and updates of data and communications of United Methodist Women to raise
Mission Giving dollars that will connect more directly with women, children and youth.
Throughout the five-year celebration, every United Methodist Woman is invited to contribute to The
Legacy Fund. While any amount is welcome, members are asked to consider commemorating the year
we first organized for mission with gifts in increments of 1869 -- $18.69, 186.90, 1,869.00, etc., or honoring United Methodist Women’s years of service with gifts in increments of 150 _ $15, 150, 1,500.
Members are also invited to name the Legacy Fund in their will or as a beneficiary of an insurance policy
or pension.
Each district is encouraged to start a scrap book committee. Hopefully, at the 2016 Annual Meeting we
will have a hands-on project, where scrap books will be shared. By 2017 we hope to complete the scrap
books and start preparations for a video scrap book to be finalized by 2019.
Please share this letter with your local organizations and invite them to start selecting a member to be
part of the District Scrap Book Committee. Let’s get the excitement started! We will show how United
Methodist Women from Mississippi turn Faith, Hope and Love into action.
See you soon!
150th Anniversary/Legacy Fund Committee:
Mary Simpson, Chairperson
Barbara Adams
Kay Barksdale
Betty Jane Chatham
Sarah Sanders
9
Mission u 2015
Start with a group of
happy women and add great leadership, a schedule filled with lots
of activities, good food, meaningful
worship, extraordinary study leaders, interesting subject matter,
beautiful music, hot weather, cool
classrooms, PINK tee shirts, golf
cart transportation, new and renewed friendships, and you will
have a glimpse of the 2015
Mission u. Add to all this a visit
from 12 of our Hispanic friends
who held a Bible study on Saturday, and you have the makings of a
successful school to prepare
leaders for our UMW studies.
10
Arlean Hall Retreat Center, Inc.
2015 Mission Grants Awarded
The mission grants are available to Mississippi United Methodist Churches and agencies. Each applicant
must demonstrate a project or need for ministry for women, children and families.
The grants are awarded based on the interest of a short term account at the Methodist Foundation from
proceeds received from the insurance on the building. The 2014 closing principal balance is
$939,062.04 and interest is $18,729.61.
Awarded grants ranged from $400.00 to $2,500.00
Brookhaven District
Bethel United Methodist Women
Little Dresses for Africa
East Jackson District
McLaurin Heights United Methodist Church
Backpack Ministry
Crossgates United Methodist Church
Upward Basketball
Brandon First United Methodist Church
Delta Grace
Greenwood District
Union Memorial United Methodist Women
The Heaven’s on Earth Organization
Meridian District
Philadelphia First United Methodist Church
God’s Closet
New Albany District
New Albany First United Methodist Church
Camp Smiles
Senatobia District
Batesville First United Methodist Church
FUMC Children and Youth Campership
Starkville District
Starkville First United Methodist Church
Starkville FUMC Backpack Meals Program
First Unity United Methodist Church
Senior Brunch
Military United Methodist Church
Youth Discipleship
West Jackson District
Seven Springs United Methodist Church
Backpack Blessings
11
12
1209 Lyncrest Ave. Jackson, MS 39202
Who Receives The Beacon
A Conference Newsletter, The Beacon, to be published at least three times annually (February, April and August, or 30 days prior to a major event) shall be
sent free of charge to the entire Conference Leadership Team; all district officers; all local presidents; all local treasurers; the Arlean Hall Board of Directors;
Conference Committee on Nominations; the Frances Perry Scholarship Committee; the Standing Rules Committee; the Committee on Racial Justice Policies; all
past Conference Presidents of United Methodist Women and predecessor
groups; National UMW General Secretary/CEO; President of the SEJ Leadership
Team; District Superintendents; officers of Mission u; the Executive Directors of
Bethlehem Center, Choctaw United Methodist Mission, Gulfside Assembly,
Moore Community House, and Wesley House Community Center; and the President of Rust College. Other persons may receive The Beacon for a donation of
$5 per year which must be received by January 1 by the Conference Treasurer.
Non Profit Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Jackson, MS
Permit # 549