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THINK-TANK4
THE FOURTH CLERGY THINK-TANK HAD A SPECIAL
FOCUS AND THE AWARD WINNING PASTORS
WERE AS CREATIVE
Six Pastors who received the G. Ross
Freeman Leadership Award in 2005 upon the nominations
of their local men and endorsed by the annual
conference gathered at the Hinton Rural Life
Center January 24-26, 2006 .
Roy Lifsey, President of the G. Ross Freeman
Foundation, Inc., welcomed them to the fourth
SEJ Clergy Think-Tank and presented Dr. George
Freeman, facilitator for the event and educational
director of the Foundation.
For the first time the design included an overall
theme, Committed Men Can Help the Pastor, and
a scriptural text to focus creativity. A
verse from First Chronicles 12:22 fed the imaginations. “Day
after day men came to help David, until he had
a great and mighty army.”
John Dowell, President of the Southeastern
Jurisdiction United Methodist Men, talked about
the ministries of UMM at the national and jurisdictional
level in the first session. William C. “Bill” Smith,
president of the South Carolina UMM and secretary
of the SEJ Association participated in the event.
In addition, four members of the Foundation Board
of Directors were able to be involved.
Rev. Rex Odom, pastor of the unique Heritage
United Methodist Parish in Macon , GA made the
first major Presentation on EQUIP ASSISTANTS – Multiply
Your Hands to Serve the Congregation.
The second major Presentation was made by the
Rev. Daniel M. Hayes, Sr., pastor of the Gordon
Memorial United Methodist Church in Nashville
, TN. He developed the topic, EQUIP LAY
MISSIONERS – Men Have Access
to the Power Structures of the Community, with
an impressive packet of material.
The next major Presentation and demonstration
was given by Lamar Beard, Vice President for
National Missions, North Georgia Conference UMM,
on the massive efforts of United Methodist Men
in RESPONSE TO THE HURRICANES.
He told about the teams of men going to help
people in Mississippi where Fema and other agencies
are so slow getting to them. He then demonstrated
the way he is teaching the men to repair roofs
and hang sheetrock to enable families to get
back into their homes.
The fourth major Presentation was made by Rev.
Douglas Zipperer, pastor of First United Methodist
Church in Brooksville , FL , showing how pastors
and men benefit when pastors go with their men
and labor beside them on Mission Trips. In his
power-point presentation, he shared seven ways
he prepares men to GO ON MISSION TRIPS.
As a pastor models this service, the men are
assured by his presence and come back full of
joy and inspiration. A trip like this builds
a lot of trust and opens doors for ministry when
they return.
The Rev. William “Billy” Jarrett,
pastor of Flat Springs United Methodist Church
in Asheboro , NC , used a well-organized and
thoughtful power-point Presentation to show the
advantages of SELECTING COMMITTED MEN TO
ADVISE THE PASTOR. Three, four, five,
seven, twelve chosen to provide multi-generationally
and multi-culturally points of view to help the
pastor think through issues facing him/her and
the congregation.
What a team of thoughtful, brilliant pastors
piloted the process for this fourth Clergy Think-Tank!
But the keenest insights grew out of the collection
of ideas around four projects which they chose
by Brainstorming the Theme. This led them to
select TEN WAYS MEN CAN HELP THE PASTOR.
Each of the pastors led a period of worship
in the Hinton Chapel. They were filled with such
spiritual power that after one or two of them,
nobody wanted to leave. We sat in the holy hush
of being in God’s presence which climaxed
in a service of holy communion. After that, no
one wanted to leave the holy mountain.
The entire report is now posted on this site. Go to The
SEJ Clergy Think-Tank Report # 4.
THE BIBLE STUDY,‘LEADING UP
TO PENTECOST,’ WILL BLESS
YOU FROM EASTER TO PENTECOST
Here are three suggestions for getting the
most out of this spiritual discipline for the
seven weeks from Easter to Pentecost.
The booklet grew out of the devotional Bible
study when the SEJ Conference Presidents of United
Methodist Men met at the Hinton Rural Life Center
for Exploration Experience # 1, May 13-15, 2005
.
The Conference Presidents were so excited about
what happened in May that when they met at Junaluska
in November, they requested that the study by
printed for use by men and congregations across
the jurisdiction.
They are now available by contacting Walter
L. Johnson, Vice President and Treasurer, the
G. Ross Freeman Foundation, Inc., P,O, Box 949
, Tucker, GA 30085. wljbigtrain@bellsouth.net
See which plan would be good for your group.
- Individual Study. Those who cannot
be in a group can set aside an hour each day
to read the lesson for the week. Read it slowly
and prayerfully each day. Don’t run ahead.
Be faithful one week at a time. Keep you appointment
for one hour each day. Write what comes to
your mind as you think about the Points
for Reflection at the end of each section.
God may grant you discernment.
- Small Groups (12 preferred). Ask
around and find those who can meet at the same
time each week to support one another in the
discipline. Each person commits to read the
lesson for the week each day, and pray for
discernment. Prepare topics for the discussion
of the group.
- Church-wide Study. Seek the guidance
of the pastor. Ask the Church Council to approve.
Announce a sign-up plan. You may use a Sunday
night or a Wednesday night. Ask each individual
to set aside an hour a day to read the lesson
for the week each day and to write thoughts
about the Topics for Reflection. The
leader or someone assigned by him will read
the scripture and lesson slowly to the entire
group. Ask the group to meet with five or six
around a table to discuss various points.
To get the most out of this discipline ,
follow these seven steps each week.
- Set aside the hour. Keep the appointment
faithfully.
- Begin each session with silence as you center
on what God wants to give you.
- Read the Bible selection aloud together.
Offer inviting prayers for the Holy Spirit
to open your understanding of the scripture.
- Read the lesson slowly and prayerfully,
seeking to understand it.
- Use the Topics for Reflection – but
do not be limited to them – to stimulate
discussion and thought.
- Close with a circle of affirmation prayer
for each other.
- Be faithful in keeping your appointment
with God next week.
The discipline can be followed at other times
during the year, but there is special power to
be found in using these Seven Weeks Leading up
to Pentecost.
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