In a bold step toward long-term sustainability and renewed mission focus, Bishop Jonathan Holston has announced the formation of two strategic task forces for the Alabama-West Florida Conference: The Project Manna Task Force and the Task Force on Black Church Renewal.
At the joint request of the Chairs of the AWF Conference Board of Trustees, the Council on Finance and Administration, and the Board of Pension and Health, Bishop Holston has convened the Project Manna Task Force. This group will guide a comprehensive assessment of conference resources and make proposals for the realignment of some financial and physical assets to meet the current mission of the conference.
Inspired by God’s sustaining presence with the Israelites in the wilderness, Project Manna is a call for the conference to embrace what Bishop Holston describes as “a movement from a mindset of scarcity to one of abundance.”
“We’re no longer operating in the same environment we were ten years ago,” Rev. Angie Long, AWF Treasurer, said. “This task force will offer us proposals to faithfully reshape our financial structure for the mission field that is before us.”
In a parallel effort, and also at the request of the Conference Board of Trustees, Bishop Holston is launching the Task Force on Black Church Renewal. This group will analyze the current state of the Black Church in the Alabama-West Florida Conference, identify available and needed resources, develop a strategic plan to support their vitality and growth, and create a vision for planting new Black churches.
“These task forces are about far more than budgets or buildings,” Bishop Holston added. “They are about mission, renewal, and hope. They reflect our deep belief that, through wise stewardship and courageous action, God will continue to provide 'every blessing in abundance’ so that we may share abundantly in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8).”
Both task forces will meet in the coming weeks to begin their work and updates will be communicated as the work progresses.
Project Manna Task Force Members
John Dew, Facilitator
Council on Finance and Administration, Southeast District
Board of Trustees
Rev. Emily Kincaid, Chair, Panhandle District
Pam Percy, Panhandle District
Memphis Vaughan, Southeast District
Board of Pensions and Health Benefits
Rev. Allison Posell, Chair, West Central District
Lewis Bevill, Southwest District
Council on Finance and Administration
Mark Davidson, Southwest District
Dr. David Saliba, Southeast District
Board of Laity
Frank Jenkins, Conference Lay Leader, West Central District
Staff Liaisons
Rev. Angie Long, Treasurer and Director of Administrative Services
Mary Catherine Phillips, Director of Communications
Dr. Jeff Wilson, Assistant to the Bishop and Director of Ministerial Services
Task Force on Black Church Renewal Members
Rev. Sheila Bates, Facilitator
Clara Ester, Advisor
Panhandle District
Rev. Dan Baughman
Pat Luna
Jenn Lusher
Southeast District
Rev. Kelli Hitchman-Craig
Southwest District
Andy Childs
Rev. Bill Curtain
Celeste Eubanks
Katy Wrona
West Central District
Dr. Jay Cooper
Rev. Jeffery Postell
Rev. Bria Rochelle-Stephens
Rev. Richard Williams
Staff Liaisons
Rev. Ashley Davis, Assistant to the Bishop and Director of Connectional Ministries
Mary Catherine Phillips, Director of Communications
Rev. Jackie Slaughter, Director of Diversity and Justice
Rev. Jean Tippit, Director of New Ministry Strategies