Hear how White Plains UMC (Capital District) became a Lighthouse Congregation.
To learn more about Lighthouse Congregations, visit nccumc.org/lighthouse.
Stories
XRoads 2023: “A Glimpse of God’s Kingdom on Earth”
In 2018, the XRoads Planning team launched its first XRoads event at Franklinton Center at Bricks with the vision of inspiring and equipping clergy and laity in the work of prophetic teaching, preaching, and living. Each event has provided that opportunity, and this year’s event, “XRoads 2023: Practicing Resurrection,” did not disappoint! As several participants said, “it felt like a glimpse of God’s kingdom on earth.”
Led by Rev. Janet Wolf, Mr. Eric Alexander, and Mr. Rahim Buford, participants from a variety of cultures and social locations came together to form an interactive learning community focused on scripture and prophetic living in a broken world. We wrestled with how to put flesh on faith and how to practice resurrection together.
XRoads featured worship music with three musicians from Juarez, Mexico, Raquel Vega, Berenice Belmontes, and Lawrence Edwards. We sang hymns together, took Communion together, and shared meals together of delicious Southern food cooked by the staff at the Franklinton Center at Bricks. Rev. Ellie Mendez educated us about the history of the land where we sat. What was once a breaking plantation where enslaved people were sent to be “broken,” Franklinton Center at Bricks became a school to educate people freed from slavery. The site continues to liberate through education today. In addition to hosting events like XRoads that educate about a Biblical faith that liberates, they also provided a space for public school children to access the Internet while the schools were closed during the COVID quarantine.
During our Bible studies, we engaged in Biblical animation that placed us inside the Scripture from our own social location. We studied the story of the Canaanite women in Matthew 15 and considered how the church ignores the pleas of cultures we believe to be unfamiliar outsiders. We studied the story of the healing of the demon-possessed man in Mark 5 and wondered if the church is willing to listen to those who have been liberated. We studied the story of the rich man in Mark 10 through the lens of Sabbath economics and imagined what it would look like to exchange an economy that thrives on power for one based on love.
We engaged in an exercise where various participants had to fill a jar of water using increasingly disadvantaged tools and resources. How long did it take before others stepped in to help those with fewer resources? What were their motivations? What enabled or prevented them from changing the system?
We were inspired and challenged by our retreat leaders. Toward the end of our time together, we dreamed about putting what we had learned about our faith and injustice into action. We left more equipped and inspired for the work before us. We left with full hearts. And we left committed to holding each other accountable and holding each other in support and love.
Story by XRoads participants Laura Dallas, Marketing & Resource Coordinator for the NC Conference, and Rev. Tuck Taylor, Pastor of Louisburg United Methodist Church and Member of the XRoads Planning Team.
Connect Your Story
What is your church doing to put prophetic faith into action? How is your church working to address injustice in our world? We want to hear your story and connect with you so that we can continue this kin-dom work together.
When the Lights Went Out: Disaster Response in Moore County
In December 2022, a reportedly intentional act of vandalism cut electrical power to thousands of households in Moore County within the Fairway District of the North Carolina Conference. Disaster Ministries worked with churches in the area and delivered generators, solar power disaster response trailers, and other equipment.
Thanks to the generosity of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and gifts from churches, Disaster Ministries provided grants to three churches in Moore County to help the community recover following the power outage.
Larry Vacek, a member at Vass UMC, said the church contributed to the Vass Lions Christmas Food Drive and the Vass Community Food Pantry, helping them provide food for families throughout the community. The church also helped five church members replace lost groceries from the power outage.
Thank you to UMCOR and all who helped the Moore County community. Contact disaster@nccumc.org or 888-440-9167 to learn how you and your church can become involved in disaster response.
Living Into God’s Future at Jarvis Memorial UMC: A Documentary
As we continue to navigate this particular season in our North Carolina Conference, we want to share this story of one church’s journey through the disaffiliation process.
If you are wondering about disaffiliation; if your church is discerning next steps in regard to disaffiliation; if your church has a church conference vote coming up soon; or if your church has already voted, this video is for you.
“Living Into God’s Future” is a series of interviews conducted at Jarvis Memorial UMC in Greenville, NC. During the 2022 disaffiliations, Jarvis’ church council voted to call a church conference for a disaffiliation vote. The subsequent vote did not achieve the required two-thirds majority, and Jarvis stayed a United Methodist congregation. The margin of that vote, however, was very close.
In the aftermath of that process and the vote, several church members made the decision to leave Jarvis. You can imagine how difficult this has been. As you will hear in these interviews, there are no “winners” or “losers” in this situation. Make no mistake – there is pain and hurt on both sides of this decision.
Now, Jarvis Memorial UMC is faced with the task of picking up the pieces and continuing to “live into God’s future.” In the midst of brokenness, there is hope. In the midst of pain, there is healing. And in the midst of uncertainty, there is the assurance that God continues to redeem, lead, and guide.
An Encouragement for March
The Center for Leadership Excellence, in partnership with COSROW, is pleased to lift up the voices of women in ministry encouraging fellow women in ministry. Please enjoy this month’s Encouragement from Bishop Connie Shelton. Anyone can sign up to receive these monthly emails here.
Upon my departure from Mississippi, a lovely friend/clergy sister/colleague, Rev. Barbara (isn’t it interesting how one person can play many roles in our lives!) gave me a gift bag with a coffee mug displaying Rosie the Riveter. Rosie’s arm is bent with muscle flexed, declaring, “We Can Do It!”
Primarily a fictitious character, Rosie became one of the most successful recruitment tools in American history, and the most iconic image of working women in the World War II era. It was not lost on me that the women standing in the gap for the workforce during World War II had never faced the challenge before them. And my friend Rev. Barbara knew I had not yet faced the challenge of serving as a bishop.
Read 1 John 4:4 (The Message):
“…for the Spirit in you is far stronger than anything in the world.”
Reflect: Today, I trust you sense the strength of the Spirit in you. No challenge can overtake you (or me) because God’s dreams are being realized by the Spirit in us. During Women’s History Month, let’s name that history is unfolding today. As soon as this moment passes, it is now history. The Spirit in you is changing history!
Upon reflection of the strength of women stepping into the workforce during World War II as men were deployed for war, I read the historical “retelling“ of the Rosie the Riveter narrative. Some historians call the campaign that beckoned women to “serve their country” as inspiration. Still other historians name the Rosie the Riveter campaign propaganda to serve those in power.
Inspiration or propaganda? The United Methodist Church is certainly facing an internal war. Women are at the forefront of this war. Women are facing resistance to their leadership in ways not seen in 30 to 40 years. The political wars of our day have bled into our beloved United Methodist Church. Nostalgia for glory days dulls the memory. The “glory days” for some people were the “oppressive days” for other people.
Take Action: Tell someone your story of rising to the occasion because you have been inspired “for such a time as this“! Or share when you have been exploited and chose to step in and the Spirit changed history.
In 2022, the United Methodist Church elected EIGHT female bishops! (Watch this 1-minute celebratory video.) We are living women’s history in the making! “We Can Do It!” for the Spirit in you is far stronger than anything in the world!
In partnership,
Center for Leadership Excellence and the Commission on the Status and Role of Women
International Women’s Day: Rev. Laure Kalau
International Women’s Day is March 8, 2023. Join us as we celebrate the ministry of Rev. Laure Kalau at Haw River UMC.
We invite you to share this video with your church as we celebrate International Women’s Day, embrace equity, and empower clergy sisters and laity across the globe.