January 22, 2024
On August 10, 2023, the Alabama-West Florida Conference announced updated priorities to guide our ministry work for the coming year. These four priorities were launched out of dedicated work, conversations, and prayer about how the conference collaborates to fulfill its mission in the coming months to revive us again. This work came after a year where disaffiliations and town halls consumed many leaders and local churches.
The current priorities state that the Alabama-West Florida Conference leadership, including staff, cabinet and others serving in conference leadership positions, will:
- Define a strategy for open itineracy by reclaiming who we are as United Methodists.
- Implement a program for churches to develop a process of spiritual formation through tools such as Disciple Bible Study.
- Develop practices for healthy clergy and healthy congregations.
- Support the AWF New Ministry Strategy team and its work.
As we begin 2024, significant progress has been made on each of these goals, as indicated below from conference staff and cabinet members who are leading these efforts.
Define a strategy for open itineracy by reclaiming who we are as United Methodists
(Dr. Jeff Wilson, dean of the cabinet) - Ministry in the United Methodist Church is a connectional partnership between laity and clergy, and this is certainly true in the calling, training, and deployment of appointed clergy. As the AWF cabinet members have reflected upon the priority of a renewed commitment to the Wesleyan practice of open itinerancy across our annual conference, they have focused their work on concrete ways to “identify, train, and support congregations to receive clergy of color and female clergy as their Senior Pastor.” The cabinet members are educating themselves on best practices, resources materials, and the experiences of clergy in our annual conference around this priority. Their work has included the following:
- The cabinet has met with the General Secretaries (and staff members) of both the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women and the General Commission on Religion and Race. They are also reviewing material that these Commissions have produced to be used in the local church, including Investing Well in Cross-Racial/Cross-Cultural Ministry: Laity & Clergy, Women Called To Serve, and Welcoming a Woman Pastor.
- Two focus groups were held in early January with clergy from AWF. One group consisted of female clergy currently serving in senior pastor positions in our annual conference, and the second was with pastors who are or have served in Cross-Cultural, Cross-Racial appointments. The report from these groups will be shared with the cabinet in the coming days.
- Cabinet members will gather with an ad hoc advisory group later this month to include District Lay Leaders as well as representatives from the annual conference Committee on Status and Role of Women and the conference Committee on Ethnic Local Church Concerns. The group will be asked to reflect and give guidance on ways that laity can lead their churches in this important work.
Implement a program for churches to develop a process of spiritual formation through tools such as Disciple Bible Study
(Rev. Ashley Davis, director of connectional ministries) - Many clergy and laity in our conference can testify to their experience that Disciple Bible Study is a proven tool for spiritual transformation in individuals and congregations. The AWF Board of Discipleship and individuals with experience and passion for Disciple Bible study have been exploring ways to encourage and equip churches to utilize this resource as we seek to become more scripturally literate, develop deeper connections with God and one another, and help people know their gifts and use them to live out their calling.
- To assist local churches in using Disciple Bible Study, the Board of Discipleship will offer an online Disciple I Fast Track Bible Study class that will train clergy and laity to teach the course in the future. This class will begin in August of 2024, is offered at no cost, and will be led by members of the Board of Discipleship and will feature sessions led by Rev. Dr. Jason Borders, Professor of Religion at Huntingdon College and ordained elder in the Alabama-West Florida Conference. CEUs will be made available for clergy (and laity upon request). Those who complete the class will be given a free Disciple I Fast Track Bible Study starter kit for use in the local church. If you are interested in participating, please fill out an interest form available at this link.
- For those already engaged in Disciple Bible Study, an app is available to further your engagement and aid in the growth of your faith. Visit https://beadiscipleapp.com/ to learn more about many discipleship resources and to get the app.
- In addition, the Board of Discipleship is working to provide training for local churches around intentional discipleship processes. If you or your church would like to learn more about these trainings, please contact Rev. Ashley Davis, ashley@awfumc.org.
Develop practices for healthy clergy and healthy congregations
(Rev. Robin Wilson, director of healthy clergy and congregations) – Ministry of the clergy and the laity is a joyful responsibility of all Christians, as we live the mission of The United Methodist Church: to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Multiple ministries in our connectional system already exist to help clergy and congregations grow in health, and those have renewed emphasis on our Website and conference communications. In the last five months, over 60 clergy have contacted the Office of Healthy Clergy Leading Healthy Congregations and have been directly connected with existing resources. Additional emphasis has been placed creating new pathways for physical, spiritual, mental, financial, vocational, and relationship health in the following areas:
- A clergy coaching grant system was developed and made available for clergy.
- Gathering the Order of Elders in “Halftime Huddles” for conversations about ministry into the future, under the leadership of Dr. John Dew and Dr. Brian Miller, took place in the fall.
- The operations team, cabinet, and BOM staff have been engaged in making health a priority that is woven into many decisions, initiatives and events, with special emphasis on the benefits of our EAP and the formation of a future Clergy Care team.
- “Restore Renew Rejoice,” a day of worship and friendship for all Alabama-West Florida Clergy will be Feb 12, 2024. Additionally, the Alabama-West Florida United Methodist Foundation and Wespath will be there to consult with pastors about personal or congregational financial health. Click here to learn more.
- Other events to come include a Webinar focusing on trauma and healing from Center for Sacred Space and a “Leading God’s People with Resilience and Hope” retreat for July 28-31 at Blue Lake.
Support the AWF New Ministry Strategy team and its work
(Rev. Jean Tippit, director of new ministry strategies) - The New Ministry Strategies team has been working with existing and new churches in many ways.
- Over 25 clergy and laity from existing churches have attended training events through Discipleship Ministries and Fresh Expressions. In addition, NMS have hosted training opportunities for large church pastors from the AWF and North Alabama Conferences and for the new church pastors.
- The cultivators have guided several churches, in listening sessions designed to help these churches determine what God is calling them to specifically do to reach their communities. Several new ministries and new outreach opportunities have started throughout the conference through the work of the local churches.
- The AWF Conference has eleven new churches/faith communities at varying stages of becoming chartered churches. Each church faces unique challenges, and our cultivators help them along the way. The clergy gather regularly for New Pastor Cohort meetings which offers training and support. To support and encourage this work with the help, we have begun publishing articles that highlight each new church plant.
- Most recently, through the work of New Ministry Strategies, one new church has opened in the Pike Road area, Three Rivers UMC in Grand Ridge, FL, held their soft-opening and Restoration UMC, kicked off 2024 with a Celebrate Recovery Program for their community.
All of these new churches aim to establish ministries and reach out to their communities.
For more information on these conference priorities, you may reach out to Rev. Ashley Davis or any of the leaders mentioned. Join us in prayer that the conference resources clergy and churches to fulfill our mission of making disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
