Archive for From the District Superintendent

Charge Conference 2011 – Something New

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For the past several years cluster Charge Conferences have been held in the North District. To those of you new to the North District, I have conducted the annual charge/church conferences in groups of three, six or even eight churches. My first year as the North District Superintendent I was skeptical of this process, but soon learned the value of peer learning and holy conferencing as we were inspired by each other’s stories.

This year the North District will pioneer a new thing by holding Quadrant Charge Conferences on the weekend of November 12 and 13, 2011. We will gather in Mount Pleasant, Longview, Texarkana and Marshall. The added presence of our Bishop Janice Riggle Huie will enhance our experience together.

Prior to your scheduled charge conference you will need to work through your committees and Board to elect all officers (including the Lay Leadership Committee), approve your 2012 budget and Clergy Compensation Package for 2012. There will be two blanket motions taken at the Quadrant Charge Conferences. The first vote will be to elect new officers for 2012 and the second motion will be to accept the recommended clergy compensation package for 2012. This will apply to all churches attending the Joint Charge Conference. A list of Certified Lay Speakers and candidates to be certified for candidacy will be displayed and approved as well. If there is any business your church needs to conduct requiring my attention, contact me ahead of time and I will arrange time during the fall to meet with your church.

This year all the charge conference reports will be available online in the DOVE system at https://dove.ytscorp.com. Log on with your username and password. Click the Organization Records button at the top of the screen, then My Org, then Files and Notes on the left and you will find the table of contents of all the forms. Keep in mind your Audit Report is for the previous year (2010) and your Financial Statement is up to the current month. All charge conference reports and forms should be mailed to the Texarkana Office by November 1. Please call if you have any questions at 903.7946231.

I look forward to being with each of you and celebrating this past year in ministry with you and your church as we also hear a word from Bishop Huie. God bless you and thank you for your faithfulness and dedication in helping to extend the reign of God.

Grace and Peace,

Bill

Charge Conference Letter

Charge Conference Quad Chart

Charge Conference Checklist

Advantages Added to TAC Group Health Plan

Pastors

If you are having a procedure please email Lydia (fay1@methodists.net) the following information.

Name of employee.

Name of the individual having the procedure.

Name of Hospital.

Date for the service.

This will help in providing ETMC the information and also our participants can get the benefits TAC and ETMC have agreed on.

Thank you,

Lydia

ETMC Participating Facilities

TAC Group Health Plan

DeSobe Group

Do you want to spend some time with neat people? Read thought-provoking books that are relevant to ministry and discuss them with other great minds?

Do you like to “get out of town” once a month or so, even for just a couple of hours? Have a chance to eat lunch in places that are not Dairy Queen?

Would you like to do these things with a person of wit, skill and experience working with clergy because he is one himself?

And do you have a pressing need to get started on those continuing education hours for 2010?

Then we have a deal for you!

Dr. Jerry DeSobe, Director of the Krist Samaritan Center in Clear Lake, will be convening a Clergy Study Group on Wednesday, February 24 from 10:00 to 12:00 a.m. at Marvin UMC in Tyler.

The group will meet monthly for conversation and study, at a time to be determined.

This is a group organized specifically by and for the North and Northwest Districts. It can be claimed as continuing education credits.

For more information, or to register, or to express interest even though you can’t make the first session, contact Dr. Jerry DeSobe at one of the following:

Office phone 281-480-7554, ext. 24

Email gdesobe@samaritanhouston.org

You’ll be glad you did!

From The District Superintendent: Church Fires

As many of you know, last Thursday, Russell Memorial UMC in Wills Point, Texas, had a devastating fire. In East Texas, since January 1, 2010 there have been nine church fires and fear that an arsonist is burning churches. Although arson has not been proven in the Wills Point fire the ATF and others are leaning in that direction. There was a small fire at Texarkana , Texas, First United Methodist Church last Thursday evening but fire officials do not believe arson was involved. There was little damage and the fire was quickly controlled. Several have asked me what defensive measures can be taken.

My suggestion is:

· Be vigilant.

· Review all insurance and make sure policies are up to date and in force.

· Back up all computer data and keep in a safe place off of church property.

My colleague in the Northwest District, Reverend Sandy Smith, has informed me that the ATF is doing undercover work with churches in the whole area. If you have members patrolling your property please make them aware of the possibility of ATF presence. The last thing we want is an altercation between church members and the ATF. If you see suspicious activity do not intervene but call your local police and fire departments.