Bishop Ward gives thanks for the eight district superintendents serving the North Carolina Conference and tells about their role as the chief mission strategist for their district.
Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ.
As you receive this video, the district superintendents across the Southeast Jurisdiction are gathered at Epworth by the Sea, St. Simons, GA. I am with them as the preacher for the week. Dean Elaine Heath of Duke Divinity School is the teacher for the week. I invite your prayers for this very significant gathering.
The district superintendent is described by the Discipline of our church as the chief mission strategist in the district. Together, the eight superintendents and I work to configure ministry in ways that are life-giving. We give thanks for the ways that you engage with your district superintendent to create ministry within each of the eight districts. Mission and ministry extending out into the world blesses the lives of many – in Hurricane Matthew response, in ministry with children and with youth, in ministry with older persons, in ministry with those who are gathered into our congregations as we grow in our faith, worship and pray together and as we serve in our communities with our neighbors. This mission extends around the world through the global connection of The United Methodist Church.
Each of us are called to bear the light of Christ into the world. Thank you for your witness and for your leadership as the mission strategy of your local church continues to grow and become even more focused and effective.
Today we pray for the eight district superintendents here in The North Carolina Annual Conference. How thankful we are to God for these eight faithful servants.