Extension Ministry Forms for the Reporting Period of January 1, 2012 – December 31, 2012 are due Jan. 31. Forms and instructions are located on the Bishop’s webpage under Extension Ministry at Extension ministry report and for Deacons at deacon report. Note: All new provisional or full deacons appointed to extension ministry must submit the extension ministry report as well as the Deacon Annual Report required by the GBHEM (see below).

You must complete this form using your nccumc.org address. If you have problems logging in to your nccumc.org address, please contact Linda Smith at: lsmith@nccumc.org or 800-849-4433, Ext. 238.

The Deacons Annual Report Form is required by GBHEM (applies to all Full and Provisional Deacons regardless of appointment). For a fill-in form of the Annual Report, go to Deacon report form and scroll to the bottom of the page.

Bishop Gwinn has issued responses to questions from Chris Humphreys and Bill Simpson presented at the 2012 Annual Conference.

To read the full text of his responses, go to Rulings.

Gray Southern

The Rev. Dr. Gray Southern, currently serving as district superintendent of the Corridor District, has been appointed as senior pastor of Apex United Methodist Church in the Fairway District, Bishop Alfred Wesley Gwinn, Jr. has announced on July 31.

“Apex is leading the way in ‘cutting edge’ ministry,” Bishop Gwinn said.  “A gifted leader is needed at Apex and Gray’s skill sets and his gifts enable him to be the person to lead this congregation into an exciting future.” The appointment is effective Sept. 1.

Donna Banks

Three other appointments related to the new appointment of Rev. Southern to Apex were also announced.

The Rev. Donna Banks will move from the Heritage District to the Corridor District where Southern was previously assigned.

Randy Innes

The Rev. Randy Innes, pastor of Pine Valley UMC in Wilmington, will become the Heritage District superintendent. Both appointments are effective Aug. 1.

Timothy Reaves

Moving to Pine Valley as senior pastor will be the Rev. Dr. Tim Reaves who is in his 16th year as pastor of the Bladen Charge (Bethlehem, Live Oak, and Winsor Churches). During his tenure there, average worship attendance has more than tripled. Staff has increased, including a full-time secretary and a part-time associate. The charge has become known for its teaching in small church revitalization.  Both charges, Pine Valley and Bladen, are in the Harbor District.

Several other appointment changes will be announced at a later date.

November 10, 2011

Dear United Methodist Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

Grace and peace to you from Jesus Christ who calls us to faithfulness during a time of great and unsettling change around the world that God loves so deeply and also within the Body of Christ where Jesus is both head and redeemer.

We give thanks for each one of you as you seek to be faithful witnesses and fruitful disciples wherever God has called you to live and share the grace that offers salvation to the world. Your faithfulness brings encouragement, inspiration and hope to us and to all who live in the influence of your witness.

In a time when the world seems to be torn apart with division, inequality, injustice, hatred and violence, as Christians we bear responsibility to give witness to “a more excellent way” (1Corinthians 12:31). The church is not exempt from struggles. We are not the first to experience upheaval in culture and church and we are not the first to have serious and deep disagreements about issues of great importance.

One of the deep disagreements and divisions within the church is over the practice of homosexuality, recently heightened by a group of clergy who have declared that they will perform holy unions in opposition to the Book of Discipline. This has caused different experiences of deep pain throughout the church. As the bishops of the church, we commit ourselves to be in prayer for the whole church and for the brokenness our communities experience. Furthermore, we “implore families and churches not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends. We commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all persons” (par. 161F). We will continue to offer grace upon grace to all in the name of Christ.

At times like these we call upon each other to remember and renew our covenant with God and with one another as United Methodist Christians. As bishops chosen, consecrated and assigned by the Church, we declare once again our commitment to be faithful to this covenant we have made.  As the Council of Bishops we will uphold the Book of Discipline as established by General Conference.

Even in the midst of our differences, we believe that we can together be about our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.  We invite all United Methodists, lay and clergy, to join us in strengthening our congregations unto greater vitality for the sake of our mission.

To that end, may we continue to live together in the spirit of Philippians 2:1-5:

Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort in love, any sharing in the Spirit, any sympathy, complete my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, being united and agreeing with each other. Don’t do anything for selfish purposes but with humility think of others as better than yourselves. Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others. Adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 2:1-5).

Your brothers and sisters in Christ,
The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church

FROM THE COUNCIL OF BISHOPS OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
A SUMMARY REPORT OF THE NOVEMBER, 2011 MEETING OF THE COUNCIL

To our sisters and brothers, disciples of Jesus Christ and members of The United Methodist Church around the world: Grace and peace to you, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

More than 110 active and retired members of the Council of Bishops gathered at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina from Sunday, October 30 through Friday, November 4. The week was centered on our life together and our council leadership for the mission of the church, to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. “Ecclesiology” was a theme that ran through much of the week as the bishops entered into conversation about the theology, nature, mission, and character of the church for the twenty-first century.

As is our custom, we began our week together with an inspiring service of worship at the First United Methodist Church in Waynesville, NC, remembering two bishops (Abel Muzorewa and Monk Bryan) and two spouses of bishops (Marion Clark and Milah McDavid) who have entered the Church Triumphant. The Memorial Service sets a holy context for a week of meetings and decision-making on behalf of the mission of the church. The Council always frames its work with worship and prayer, as we begin each day with prayer, praise, preaching, Scripture, Holy Communion, and covenant groups. Throughout each day there were moments of prayer as we lived out our role as spiritual and temporal leaders within the church and practiced worshipful work.

The primary agenda item for most of the first three days focused on the report and proposals of the Call to Action Interim Operations Team. Following a report from the team, members of the Council engaged in deep conversations about the proposed reconfiguring of the church in order to direct the flow of attention, energy and resources toward developing vital congregations. Concerns were expressed and questions raised and the dialog was frank and honest. The Council voted overwhelming, with only two negative votes, to affirm and embrace the recommendations from the Interim Operations Team.

In other actions and work of the week, the members of the Council:

• Were inspired and deeply moved by the personal faith stories and journeys from four bishops (Kammerer, Kulah, Job, and Sano) shared at two of our community dinners.
• After a process of spiritual discernment, elected the leadership team that will guide the Council into the next quadrennium: Bishops Rosemarie Wenner (President), Warner Brown (President-Designate), Robert Hayes (Secretary), Peter Weaver (Executive Secretary), and Mary Ann Swenson (Ecumenical Officer). The transition to this new leadership team will begin at the site of General Conference in April, 2012.
• Received consultant Fred Miller on Tuesday morning and were challenged by him to think about leadership for transformation.
• Decided to appoint a task force to bring a proposal for a new way of working together as a Council, in response to a healthy conversation, facilitated by Gil Rendle, regarding the roles and responsibilities of the active and retired bishops who make up the membership of the Council.
• Developed a pastoral response to the concerns raised by many people across the church in the United States related to same-sex unions, definitions of marriage, and covenant leadership. View the response now.
• Celebrated the work of the Four Areas of Focus with positive and exciting reports on progress in the fund raising efforts of the Global Health Initiative, leadership with and among young adults, ministry with the poor, particularly among the Roma people and communities in Slovakia, and the number of new church plants around the world.
• Heard a report from the General Committee on Faith and Order (The Book of Discipline, Paragraphs 1907-1912), with presentations by Drs. Russell Richey and Randy Maddox and documents being developed around United Methodist ecclesiology.
• Received and responded to a draft of the Episcopal Address to be presented by Bishop Peter Weaver at the 2012 General Conference.

By the end of the week, and the closing worship service on Friday morning, the bishops were confident and hopeful about the future of the church under the guidance and empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. The bishops returned to their assignments renewed in their commitment to serve Christ and guide the church toward achieving the mission. The Council will next gather a few days before the start of the 2012 General Conference in Tampa, Florida, and will remain in prayer and fasting for the General Conference and for the many delegates and visitors who will make their journey to that gathering.

Leonard Fairley

Two current district superintendents in their sixth and seventh years of appointment will continue in the same positions for an additional year, Bishop Al Gwinn has announced.

After consultation with the cabinet and appropriate district committees on superintendency, Leonard Fairly will serve another year as Rockingham District superintendent and Bill Gattis will serve another year as Burlington District superintendent.

Bill Gattis

The normal term for a district superintendent is six years. The appointment can be extended up to two more years at the discretion of the bishop. Fairley is serving his sixth year as a superintendent and Gattis is in his seventh.

Following the death of Rocky Mount District Superintendent Mack McMillian in October 2010 and the consultation process, Bishop Gwinn announced that Tim Russell, assistant to the bishop, would also serve as the interim Rocky Mount District superintendent. A new superintendent, yet to be named, will begin in the district on July 1.