Men's Events are scheduled throughout the year all over the Southeast. Click for a link to a list of wonderful upcoming events designed to enhance Men's walk with Jesus Christ. Events are listed in chronological order.
You might notice articles about our active Men's Fellowships in the Southeast. We are always pleased to share news from all the conferences, districts and local churches. Keep in touch and let us hear from you, too.
Send your news and photos to mensnews@sejumm.org
For the latest news on Oklahoma Tornado response and recovery visit the OK Conference Disaster Page
Certified Early Respone Teams (ERT) are needed now.
A statement from the General Commission on United Methodist Men following the decision by the annual meeting of the Boy Scouts of America
The action taken today by voting delegates to the annual membership meeting of the Boy Scouts of America is the result of a requested rule change by BSA executives.
The United Methodist Church, and specifically the General Commission on United Methodist Men, did not have a vote in this matter, nor did other faith groups that serve as chartering organizations of the Boy Scouts of America. The change in membership standards was initiated by BSA.
It is our hope and prayer that future membership-standard considerations will begin with BSA’s Religious Relationship Task Force, a committee composed of representatives from various faith groups that represent 70 percent of BSA’s units and 62 percent of its membership.
The Commission will continue to support various ministries to young people through local congregations, including BSA, Girl Scouts of the USA, Camp Fire USA, 4-H and Big Brothers Big Sisters. All of these civic youth-serving agencies provide enrichment experiences and opportunities for leadership development. Through these ministries, local United Methodist churches are able to welcome families into their buildings and their ministries.
The Commission will continue to support scouting and other civic youth-serving organizations, and staff and board members will make every effort to encourage executives of these agencies to include faith communities in their decision making processes.
Larry W. Coppock, CFRE
Your Association of Conference Presidents met in
Nashville, Feb. 28-Mar 3, 2013
The National Association of Conference Presidents, United Methodist Men Foundation, Conference Prayer Advocates and Certified Men's Ministry Specialists gathered in Nashville, TN on February 28-March 3, 2013. Keep your UMMen leadership in prayer as they seek to serve the Lord with men of the SEJ.
From left - Row 1: John Dowell, Rodney Ackers, Daniel Dietze, Paul Wilson, Ken Sawyer, William Bowen Sr., and Hank Dozier. Row 2: Johnny Hemingway; Don Hyler; Larry Price, Jim Green, Church Christian, and Charlie Gray. Row 3: Ed Shytle, Timothy Mcray, James Frazier, Charles Gilliland, Cary Loesing, Jeff Hall, Bob Cate, Herman Lightsey and Eric Knoeffel
11th Annual UMM National Gathering
The online registration and website for the 11th National Gathering is up and running, This amazing event promises to be a Spiritual refueling station for men that will bless and inspire men 'from the inside out".
Just go to http://ummgathering.org and get the registration info and information for this event
The Passing of the Torch
Observations on the direction of UMMen
By Bishop James E. Swanson, Sr.
I am saddened to hear of the passing of William Earl “Bud” Sears, III, president of UM Men of the North Georgia Conference. Bud’s passing in January was the third active UMM conference president to die since November, 2012.
The other two presidents were Bill Cook, of the Oregon Idaho Conference and Gene Winland of the Florida Conference.
These three men were committed to helping men know Christ and grow in Christ so that other men might know Christ. Their passing leaves a void in our already thinning leadership ranks. It is obvious from reading their obituaries they understood that a man’s life is truly enriched by his relationship with Christ.
Even as I salute these men, I have already begun to pray for those to whom the torch of leadership will be passed. Gene, Bill and Bud have finished their course in faith and served their age. Now, we need others to sing that verse “…to serve the present age my calling to fulfill…”
United Methodists understand we must prepare for the day when those who are currently in leadership positions will move on to other endeavors or to their heavenly reward as these three have done.
I am sure that these three episcopal areas will find ways to remember the service of Bill, Bud and Gene.
I would hope we will remember them by preparing new leaders to pick up the torch of challenging men to walk with Jesus.
Let us allow the Holy Spirit to stir up the gifts within us for service in this movement on God’s behalf.
You may ask, “Why did these three men give themselves in service to the United Methodist Men?” Well, I guess if they were here to tell their stories they would all give varying accounts with many more details than I could ever provide.
However, allow me to conjecture that maybe they did what they did because they found in the United Methodist Men’s ministry something that was greater than themselves.
Maybe they found in the United Methodist Men’s ministry something that brought out the best in them.
Maybe they found in the United Methodist Men’s ministry a place they could hang their hats that would far out last them.
And maybe they discovered that this was a way to answer a voice that was sometimes whispering and sometimes screaming, “Do something beyond yourself!”
Now that they have finished their time here maybe––just maybe––they are hoping that some other man will look around and see a torch lying on the ground that needs to be picked up and carried.
Maybe you are that man.
Bishop James E. Swanson,Sr.
President of the General Commission on UM Men
bishop@mississippi-umc.org
UMMen suffer another sad loss
The Conference President of North Georgia UMMen, Bud Sears, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 20th. Please be in prayer for the family and the UMMen of North Georgia.
Cary Loesing has been named to fill the unexprired term as conference president. |
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We are saddened to share that William E. 'Bud' Sears, Conference President, United Methodist Men, North Georgia Conference, went to be with the Lord on Sunday January 20th.
He served as conference president since July 2012. Previously he served as Vice President of Local Missions and Chairman of the Retreats Committee, at the conference level. Bud was one of the first persons from the North Georgia Conference to complete the Men's Ministry Specialist certification program of the General Commission on United Methodist Men, and had recently completed train-the-trainer training to lead the Understanding Men's Ministry course. He led the effort in developing and implementing the Strategic Ministry Plan with the leadership teams of the conference and district United Methodist Men.
Bud has served in various positions in his local church, Suwanee United Methodist Church, including president of the Men's Ministry group.
Please lift up his wife Beverly, his two daughters and their families during this difficult time.
Bud will lie in state at Flanigan Funneral Home in Buford, GA on Wednesday January 23. Visitation is from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Funeral Service at Flanigan Funneral Home on Thursday January 24 at 1:00 PM. Flaningan Funneral Home is located at 4400 South Lee St., Buford, GA 30518; Phone (770) 932-1133.
Please contact the United Methodist Men at ummen@ngcumm.org with questions or comments of appreciation.
from Cary Loesing of NGUMM
UMMen of Florida sustain a great loss
It is with sadness that we report the recent passing of Gene Windland, Florida Conference President. The following note by Chuck Jones shares his sotry and the arrangements for his service.. |
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It is with heavy heart and great sadness that I share with you that our friend and colleague Gene Winland passed away on Saturday, January 12th in St. Petersburg, FL.
Gene was deeply committed to Scouting Ministry. He served as the Florida Conference and Southeastern Jurisdictional Scouting Coordinator. Just recently he was serving as Conference President of the Florida United Methodist Men.
Gene was a Life Member of NAUMS and President of the Central Florida Chapter. He was beginning his fourth term on the NAUMS Board of Directors and has served as Board Vice President and Secretary. Currently he was Chair of the Nominating Committee.
Memorial Services for Gene will be Friday, January 18th at 2:00 pm at Riviera United Methodist Church (175 62nd Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33702). Anderson McQueen Funeral home is handling arrangements.
http://www.andersonmcqueen.com
Cards and condolences may be sent to his surviving spouse, Martha Winland at 733 Capitva Court NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33702 or to mgwinland@aol.com.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Gene’s memory may be given:
Florida Conference United Methodist Men
c/o Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church
450 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.
Lakeland, FL 33815
Boy Scouts of America, West Central Florida Council
11046 Johnson Boulevard,
Seminole, FL 33772
American Diabetes Association
1511 N Westshore Blvd
Suite 980
Tampa, FL 33607
Please keep Martha and Family in your prayers.
Response to SuperStorm Sandy
UMMen of the SEJ have an opportunity to reach out in service to our borthers and sisters on the East Coast after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy.
The recovery efforts will take years. Your help is needed to step up for our brothers and sisters in the Northeast.
For complete information on connecting and volunteering to help those in recovery go to the UMCOR web site and the UMVIM SEJ web site.
The Southeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church Elects Bishops for the next Quadrennium
After the conclusion of the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference, Episcopal assignments for the Annual Conferences have been made.
To see a complete list click here.
Alabama-West Florida UMMen at Work Continues
It’s Number 73 and Number 1 When the men of UMM at Andalusia FUMC in south Alabama needed to build a wheelchair ramp for a disabled friend, they turned to the Brewton FUMC, whose UMM group specializes in wheelchair ramps. The ramp that the two UMM units built together was number 73 for Brewton and number 1 for Andalusia.
Kneeling on the new ramp is Durwood Mantel of Brewton, who supervised the work. Standing, from the left, are Harold Burnham of Andalusia; Jessie Jenkins, the proud new owner of the ramp; Terrence Breckenridge of Brewton, Mike Edwards of Brewton, and Guy Wyche of Andalusia.
AWFC unit landscapes conference assembly grounds
Eleven men from the Fairhope, Alabama, UMC did more than plant a seed: they planted 80 ornamental shrubs at the Alabama-West Florida Conference’s campground, Blue Lake. The men spent November 29th planting and mulching camellias, magnolias, sweet olives, Indian hawthorn, encore azaleas and Scarlet’s peak hollies in highly visible spots around the assembly’s three campground areas.
The work is part of the conference UMM’s 100 under 100 Project—an ongoing ministry to maintain and beautify the Blue Lake grounds. Other UMM units have updated lighting in campers’ cabins, covered windows with screens, built wheelchair ramps, recovered gables, installed benches at a vesper point for physically challenged campers, maintained individual cabins, replaced and repaired doors, and aided Blue Lake workers in rehabbing a wing of rooms and the camp’s largest kitchen.
In addition to serving Blue Lake, the men of the Fairhope UMC also sponsor an annual softball tourney to support the conference’s United Methodist Children’s Home.
Share your men's activities and events with us - mensnews@sejumm.org
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