Commission on Way Forward Final Report

July 31, 2018  – WASHINGTON, D.C. – The final report of the Commission on a Way Forward has been released in all four official languages of the General Conference: English, French, Portuguese and Swahili. The report will be presented to the 2019 Special Session of General Conference. Subject to final copy editing, the report will be printed in the Advance Daily Christian Advocate (ADCA) in November. Here is a statement from the moderators of the Commission and the President of the Council of Bishops on the release of the report:  “To the People of The United Methodist Church,

“We offer the final report of the Commission on a Way Forward, translated in the four official languages of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church: English, French, Portuguese and Swahili. In the Nicene Creed, we are taught the marks of the church—one, holy, catholic and apostolic. We are catholic in that we care not only for the parts of the church, but more significantly for the whole. We have refrained from commenting about the plans contained in this report until the time when our sisters and brothers could read this in their own first language. With this distribution, we give thanks that this work can now begin, and we can have a conversation that represents our global and catholic nature—more fully who we are as The United Methodist Church.”

Bishops Sandra Steiner Ball and David Yemba
Moderators, Commission on a Way Forward

Bishop Ken Carter
President, Council of Bishops

Go to the link below to read the final report that outlines the 3 plans:

Read Final Report

I scream, you scream, we all scream for Epworth ice cream!

There are many ways to support Epworth, including the following:

• District Clergy Gathering – Sept. 11, Tuesday, 11:30am-1:00pm, Epworth – Trenholm Road Campus, “The Changing Face of Epworth” – Rev. John Holler will give us a tour of the new campus, we’ll hear about Epworth’s future, and eat Ice Cream! Park in back of Trenholm Road UMC, and enter through back road, Maiden Lane.
• September 9, Epworth Work Day Offering
• October 2, Food Truck Rodeo – A fun fundraiser!  Bring your church family.

Epworth Food Truck Rodeo

• Want to buy the new flavors of Epworth Ice Cream?  Here’s the info on Facebook:

Epworth Ice Cream Facebook

Church Administration Seminar, Aug. 14

In an effort to strengthen your pastoral ministry, you are invited to attend a free church administration seminar AUGUST 14, TUESDAY, 9:00-12:00, including a FREE LUNCH for fellowship and question/answer time at the Methodist Center, upstairs Conference room.  While this will be open to all pastors, it will be required for all pastors who are in their first or second appointment. 

Rev. Robert Cox, who recently retired from the Greenville District and has a background in accounting/business, will lead the seminar.  He has done this seminar with great success in many districts.  It will cover the basics in the records that we need to keep for Membership, Giving, Finances, Personnel, and Legal.

Sign up by AUGUST 10 at this link: https://goo.gl/forms/20viZdyJZd95EyNI3

Hand y Mano: Columbia District Day Camp for Refugee Children

WHAT:  A Columbia District ministry outreach to refugee children

WHEN:  August 6-10, 8:30am – 1:00pm

WHERE:  Hosted at Grace UMC, 410 Harbison Blvd

WHAT WE NEED:  We need your help! – Volunteers, Financial contributions, School supplies, Your talents— music talent, art talent; are you a dentist, or dental hygienist, or a nurse or doctor who can give your time to share with the kids and their families

To donate or to serve, or for more information, contact Martha Thompson: tmartha931@aol.com. Thank you!

Watch this video! Hand y Mano

 

Lay Servant Ministries Fall Session

We are now offering Lay Servant Ministries Fall Training School in addition to our annual  Spring Training School.  Please notice that we have online registration for Fall Training School.  Feel free to share this info with others in your congregations who may be interested in being a part of Lay Servant Ministries.  We encourage the Youth of our churches to become Lay Servants, too.  (Pastor recommendation and approval required for anyone who wants to join lay servant ministries.)  There is much work to be done. Spread the news!

Columbia District Lay Servant Ministries School – Fall Session

Date:     September 28 – 29, 2018

Time:     6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. 9/28/18

9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 9/29/18

REGISTER ONLINE:  http://www.umcsc.org/data/codistlsmreg.php

Registration Deadline:  September 15, 2018

Location:  Mt. Hebron United Methodist Church, 3050 Leaphart Road, West Columbia, SC

 Contact:  Debbie Watford, Director,  Email:  debbiewatford1@gmail.com                             Phone: 803-673-4930

Course Offering:  All classes are $25.  Each participant is to purchase his/her own books ahead of time.

1. Lay Servant Ministries (The Basic Course) , by Sandy Zeigler Jackson and Brian Jackson;  Participant’s Book – DR626 – 978-0-88177-626-3 ($11.00)

2.  Living Our Beliefs: The United Methodist Way (United Methodist Heritage), by Kenneth L. Carder / George Hovaness Donigian;  Participant’s Book – DR571 – 978-0-88177-571-6 ($13.00)

3.  Each One a Minister (Discovering your spiritual gifts), by William J. Carter; Participant’s Book – DR375 – 978-0-88177-375-0 ($14.00)

4.  Grief Rite: Moving From Mourning to Ministering, by Kathryn McColskey PhD; Participant’s Book – 978-0982395912 (Amazon – $7.95 paperback)

 

Set-Up Meeting & Gathering 2018

District Set-Up Meeting & Gathering

Thursday, August 2, 2018
at
Epworth Children’s Home
(2900 Millwood Ave, Columbia, SC 29205)

• 6:00pm — Worship in the Sanctuary
• 6:45pm — Dinner in the Dining Hall
• Clergy meeting and Spouse’s
  gathering to follow dinner.
• Register by: Friday, July 27, 2018

 

Appointed clergy are expected to attend this gathering for introductions, fellowship, and vital information regarding our ministry together in the Columbia District. All others are invited and children are welcome.

Please submit registration online link https://goo.gl/forms/9wS4WiWianC5l7l33

Columbia District Achievements Recognized at Annual Conference

The Columbia District was well-represented at 2018 Annual Conference with the following mile-stones and awards.  Please share and celebrate in your local church.

Retired:  David Anderson (Conf. Benefits Director);  Alice Deal (Fairfield Circuit); Mary Johnson (College Place)

Commissioned as Provisional Elders: Hillary Taylor (Shandon UMC);  Tammy Grey (Virginia Wingard UMC)

Licensed as Local Pastors:  Jim Rogers (Trinity UMC, Blythewood, to serve Fairfield Circuit); Daniel Ra (transfer from N. Illinois, to serve Columbia Korean UMC);  Scott Matthews (Trenholm Road UMC, to serve Zion, Blythewood); Will Altman (transfer from Anderson District, to serve Beulah-Oak Grove)

Ordained Full Elder:  Jon Hoin (Jon serves in Orangeburg, but grew up at Trinity UMC, Blythewood)

Joseph Benjamin Bethea Distinguished Service Award: Clergy: The Rev. Dr. Mike Smith | Trenholm Road UMC-Columbia

Harry Denman Evangelism Award: Lay: L.W. Smith III | Rehoboth UMC-Columbia.

Students in Mission

Sonna Boothroyd, a student at the University of South Carolina who will serve at Rural Mission Inc. on Johns Island.
Natalie Hungate, a student at the University of South Carolina who will serve at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in North Charleston.
Abigail Smith, a student at the University of South Carolina who will serve at Rural Mission Inc. on Johns Island.

Annual Conference Seminary Student Scholarships

Carsten Aubrey Bryant, a seminary student at Duke Divinity School. (home church – Mt. Horeb)
Zachary Dollard deMoya, a seminary student at Duke Divinity School (home church – Mt. Horeb)

Dennie Smith Scholarship: Alston Flynn Lippert, a student at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. (home church – NEUMC;  Assoc. Pastor – Washington St.)

Bishop’s Five Star Award

Chapin UMC, where the Rev. Jody Flowers is pastor.
Fair Lawn UMC in Columbia, where the Rev. Scott Bratton is pastor.

Bishop’s Award of Excellence:  Red Bank UMC in Lexington, where the Rev. Dr. Robert Dunn is pastor and Robin Smith is scouting ministry coordinator.