General Board of Evangelism: Rev. Kevin Cain
Department of Stewardship: Mr. Henry (Butch) Hayes
From the Desk of Rev. Max Edwards, IGS Our 33rd General Conference concluded in July and all of the folks elected are working on their transitions into office. The members of the General Boards, Committees, Auxiliaries and Departments assume office immediately after General Conference. (EMC Discipline ¶628) We owe a very sincere “THANK YOU” to all of you who have served on these teams for the past 4 years!! God Bless you! And we extend a warm welcome to all of you who have agreed to serve in these roles for the next quadrennium!
The exact makeup of the Council is specified in Discipline ¶606. It is a broad representative body made up of local church people serving in the specific roles listed above, along with the elected Superintendents. By its nature and function, it exists to safeguard the denomination by providing accountability and oversight to every elected officer and agency, thereby preserving Biblical integrity, while protecting the interests of our local churches. Our Discipline is clear that “All Boards, Committees, and Departments are amenable and accountable to the General Conference and between General Conference sessions, to the General Council,” (Discipline ¶1102.1) and, “The General Council acts on behalf of the General Conference between sessions …” (Discipline ¶610) But the Discipline also sets appropriate limitations for the Council which include prohibiting the reversal of explicit General Conference action. (See Discipline ¶610)
6. Approving EMC Home Mission Churches and ministries
7. Reviewing and maintaining operational rules and procedures for the Boards, Committees, Departments, and the Cabinet of Superintendents. These rules are “binding for all above mentioned entities.”
General Conference Lay Leader: Mr. Dennis Nail These folks all deeply covet your prayers. In addition to their functional area of service, the Board Chairs, Auxiliary Presidents, and the Conference Lay Leader all serve on the General Council, which provides key leadership between General Conferences.
Department of Publications: Rev. Brian Hammond
* Multicultural Ministries: The DMM is now integrated into the Board of World Missions. Rev. Lisa Walker has been elected as co-chair of that board. Bill and Lisa will, together, occupy one seat on the General Council.
3. Implementing and coordinating General Conference legislation and programs
5. Ensuring that our local churches receive minutes of the Council meetings
Existing Chairpersons continuing in that role:
Auxiliary Presidents: Evangelical Methodist Women: Mrs. Kenda Calkins
1. Giving direction to the church by presenting creative and practical programs to the General Conference
New Board Chairpersons: General Board of Christian Education: Dr. Joshua Strunk
Some have asked about the responsibilities of the Council. Discipline ¶608 describes its scope and authority:
General Board of Finance: Dr. Fred Guidi General Board of Ministerial Relations: Rev. John Phillips, III General Board of World Missions: Rev. Bill Walker*
2. Filling vacancies in the General Conference during the quadrennium
General Board of Discipline Revision: Rev. Sean Scribner
General Board of Ministerial Education: Rev. Troy Gentry
Evangelical Methodist Men: Rev. Mark Quiroz
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Department of Prayer: Mrs. Judy Edwards
The time frame is different for the offices of the International General Superintendent, The General Secretary, and the USA Conference Superintendents. The Discipline specifies a 90-day transition period from the date of the conclusion of the General Conference, at which time the newly elected persons take office. (EMC Discipline ¶621)
General Board of Trustees: Mr. Henry (Butch) Hayes
Department Leaders: Department of Chaplains: Rev. Marc Massie
Gen Board of Youth/Children’s Ministry: Rev. Brian Gordon
Kerusso (Greek): “To publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done.”
4. Performing all the normative duties of an executive body
10/30 Sun AM Little Orleans, MD (First) Denver, NC (Thompson Memorial)
10/30 Sun PM Randleman, NC (Whitehall)
12/4 Sun AM Portland, IN San Diego, CA (FFA) Sweetwater, TX (First)
10/16 Sun AM Reedsville, WV (Victory) Eugene, OR (Gilham Community)
10/18 Tues PM Scio, NY (Knight’s Creek)
12/4 Sun PM Wilson/Slaton, TX (Faith / Chapel Min.)
1/15. Sun PM Salem, VA (Riverside) Grove, OK (COS)
11/06 Sun PM Oakwood, IL (First) Haltom City, TX (Grace) Sullivan, IN (Emmanuel)
11/27 Sun AM Keysville, Marshfield,VAMO (Crossroads) East Bend, NC
12/18 Sun AM Gonzales, LA (The Circuit) CHRISTMAS BREAK 2023
10/23 Sun AM Little Hocking, OH (First) Parkersburg, WV (Gihon Tabernacle) Moses Lake, WA (Peninsula) Statesville, NC (Mt. Sinai)
12/11 Sun AM Covington, KY (First) Avondale, AZ (Hamblen Chapel) Venice, FL (Whole New Life)
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10/9 Sun AM Marietta, GA (Gospel Light)
10/12 Wed PM Stockton, CA (Journey)
10/15 Sat PM New Castle, PA (The Table)
11/16 Wed PM Elizabeth City, NC
1/22 Sun AM Westover, WV (Kingdom) Gibsonville, NC (Living Hope)
2/5 Sun PM Copperas Cove, TX (Refuge 8 Campuses)
To Be Determined: Coos Bay, OR (Connections) Woodruff, SC (Walk by Faith) West Monroe, LA (The Fellowship) Ruston, LA (House Church)
11/19 Sat PM New Castle, PA (Faith Country Chapel)
2022 10/2 Sun AM Calhoun, LA (Beulah)
11/09 Wed PM Shelbyville, IN (First)
10/14 Fri PM Mt. Shasta, CA (Hope Community)
10/2 Sun PM West Monroe, LA (Faith)
THANKSGIVING WEEK
The Superintendents have been in contact with pastors and leaders to finalize the calendar of Annual Church Conference meetings. This schedule will also be emailed to each church pastor and board of stewards chairperson. Thank you all for working with the new Cabinet of Superintendents. They try very hard to keep the dates of ACC’s as consistent as possible, but some need to shift when new Superintendents are elected. Kerusso (Greek): “To publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done.”
10/26 Wed Prairie City, OR (Grace Chapel)
12/11 Sun PM Eloy, AZ (Toltec)
1/8 Sun AM Memphis, TN (Grace Community) Eloy, AZ (Estrella)
1/22 Sun PM Tobaccoville, NC (Old Richmond)
11/15 Tues PM Chesapeake, VA (Christ Church)
1/8 Sun PM Arizona City, AZ 1/15 Sun AM Raeford, NC
11/13 Sun AM Morgantown, WV (Covenant) Port Townsend, WA (Evangelical Bible) Linville, NC
10/16 Sun PM Black Lick, PA (Chapel of Hope)
10/23 Sun PM Julian, NC (Welker’s Crossroads)
11/13 Sun PM Rutherford College, NC (Crosslink)
1/21 Sat PM Nampa / Caldwell, ID (Crossroads)
11/20 Sun AM Jane Lew, WV (Harvest) Lake Elsinore, CA (Lakeview Chapel) Thomasville, NC (Community)
11/20 Sun PM Glendora, CA (Gladstone) Kannapolis, NC (First)
EMC Annual Church Conference Schedule - 2022/2023
11/06 Sun AM Flora, IL (Emory Street) Red Oak, TX (LifePoint Community) Martinsville, IN (First)
Irvington, AL (Bayou La Batre)
1/29 Sun AM Burlington, NC (Shamrock)
Annual Church Conference Schedule
1/29 Sun PM Reidsville, NC (Cornerstone Community)
10/19 Wed PM Apollo, PA (Pine Run)
11/27 Sun PM Ringgold, VA (Lakewood)
Dr. Bill and Diane Ury served as host speakers. They both challenged our hearts as pastors and leaders about our continued commitment to the call of God and the call to Holiness. They spoke with such humility and passion. Pastor Donna Lucas attended and graciously led our hearts in a time of worship. We greatly appreciated our speakers and worship leader. Our EMC pastoral couples are so giving to their congregations. The superintendents wanted to show appreciation and give encouragement with a time of sharing and fellowship. They even prepared and served one of the main meals.
Clergy & Spouse Retreat - submitted by Rev. Kevin Brouillette
It is always such a joyful time to be together with God’s chosen servants. We are so blessed to be a part of such a wonderful family called the Evangelical Methodist Church. We are planning to host another Pastoral Retreat in 2024. us. I promise you will leave blessed!
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“To
Kerusso (Greek): publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done.”
The USA Conference Superintendents hosted a Clergy & Spouse Retreat in Gatlinburg, Tennessee over the first weekend of June. Forty-three of us joined together from across the conference at Wayfloy Retreat Center for a wonderful time of renewal, rest and refreshing.
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Southwest Family Camp - June 12-16
submitted by Rev. Debbie Miller, Pastor Estrella Community Church, Eloy, AZ
The family camp was a great success as reported by the campers that were in attendance. This year Superintendent Wes Mackey spoke for 3 nights encouraging those in attendance to be strong in their faith and to leave all their burdens behind. There were commitments from the campers to follow Jesus and to be more active in church and youth group. During the camp we had activities of competition between the 4 groups and Bible studies (Thank you, Brian Gordon for your hard work on the studies). We went to the lake for kayaking and swimming which is always a good time. Everyone enjoyed the much cooler weather. When we left our area it was 111 degrees but in the mountains, it stayed at a nice 85 degrees in the day and 50 degrees at night. We are all looking forward to our next camp adventure. Kerusso (Greek): “To publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done.”
Woods Canyon Lake area on the Mogollon Rim
UPCOMING
Thanks for reading! Lord Numbers 6:24
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bless you and keep you . . .”
Please use the following link for more information and/or to sign up:
“May the
Kerusso (Greek): “To publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done.”
Medical, Evangelistic, Dental, Surgical - MEDS Jun and Marlene Mateo are making advance preparations for MEDS 2023. You can pray and give, but you can also go! You don’t have to be a medical professional! There are plenty of ways for non-medical people to help. Reserve these dates: January 25February 9, 2023. I promise you will be jet-lagged, run-ragged, inspired, heart-broken, and sweaty. You will laugh and cry. You will have late nights and early mornings. You will experience an incredibly beautiful country and be loved and appreciated by even more beautiful people. You will eat rice—lots of rice, and you will eat some of the best fruit you have ever tasted. You might just learn a few phrases in Tagalog. Beyond all that, your participation in 6 MEDS locations over 16 days will help open new areas where the EMC is not yet established. You will help pave the way for the Gospel of Salvation and the message of Scriptural holiness by selflessly loving as Jesus loved. The cost for 16 days in-country is $2,500 (meals, lodging, travel) plus the cost of airfare. Most US participants will fly together from a west coast airport; those arrangements will be made by Jun Mateo. So, the total trip cost will be approximately $4,000 to $4,500. There is an option to shorten your involvement if you are unable to commit that many days; this will also lower your in-country expense. For more information, or to reserve your spot, contact Jun Mateo at junmateo@yahoo.com (916-224-3783) or me, Bill Walker, at billwalkeremc@gmail.com (706-255-3450). If this trip is not for you, please mark your calendar anyway, and set reminders to spend time each of these 16 days in prayer for MEDS 2023! If you’d like to contribute to help with supplies and medication, designate your gift as “MEDS 2023” and send it to EMC Headquarters, PO Box 17070, Indianapolis, IN 46217.
EVENTS:Young Adult Camp - Brownwood, Texas Refuge Ministries in Copperas Cove, TX is offering this special opportunity for young adults ages 18-30ish. The camp is taking place in Brownwood, TX and the cost is $130 on October 28-30, 2022.
Young Adult Camp