On December 8th, the Indiana East District met to have its first Charge Conference at the Compass Church in Selma. The evening opened with prayer by Pastor Dan Vore and a worship service led by Corinth Church in Muncie. Presiding Elder Jason Rice discussed some of the ways the new GMC was different from what had been done in the UMC and conducted the limited amount of business that was required by law. Pastor Charles of the Selma Christ & New Burlington Churches gave a short message from John 6:59-69 discussing the dangers of being offended when God was doing something new. The service ended with Pastor Jeanne from Grace Methodist and Pastor John from Trinity Church Hartford City leading in Communion, then a prayer of Commission by Pastor Damon of Center Chapel.
Pastor Jason asked all churches to encourage their pastor
to attend the first General Conference of the Global Methodist Church in Costa
Rica in September 2024. The location is outside the USA thus emphasizing the global
reach of the GMC and making it easier for those traveling from many areas of
the world to get visas, therefore being able to participate.
One of the more radical concepts in the GMC is that
long-term pastorates were going to be encouraged and no guaranteed appointments
for elders. Church leadership and the pastor can request reassignment but other
than church discipline the church and pastor will stay working in ministry
together. For more information on what Pastor Jason discussed, you can reach
out to him at The Compass Church.
As a reminder, the first Convening Conference of the Great
Lakes Region of the GMC is less than a week away. Continue to pray for all
those who attend and that we will continue to follow the Great Shepard, Jesus
Christ.
No comments:
Post a Comment