|
 Report
on the
159th Regional Assembly
Christian Church (DOC) in Georgia
November 14-16, 2008
SEE ALL THE PHOTOS FROM THE ASSEMBLY HERE
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Friday Night
Growing in Wisdom, from the Wisdom of the Shemah to Jesus
Wisdom as a child in the Temple, was the theme of the 159th Regional
Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Georgia held
on St. Simons Island, November 14-16, 2009.
 Friday
evening began, as all of our sessions did, with music shared by Chuck
Jones from Sandy Springs Christian Church. After Regional
Moderator Milton West opened the Assembly and Courtney Chandler gave an
invocation and Psalm 104 was the Scripture.
Dennis L. Landon,
president of Higher Education and Leadership Ministries
of the Christian Church brought a short greeting and message from Higher
Education and Leadership Ministries (also known as HELM).
Regional Minister Rev. Dr. Ray Miles recognized clergy new and relocated
in the Region. Ray also handed out awards recognizing churches for
Achievement of Congregation Status and Achievement in Growth.
See the full list of Church Recognitions
HERE.
 The reading of Deuteronomy 6:4-9
led the Assembly into Dennis
Landon's first Keynote address. Dennis pointed out
that "The world wants us to forget that we come from the mystery that is
God." The world lures us away from that mystery with modern
technology and solutions. In the church sometimes we tend to
explain away the mystery and forget who we work for. Dennis said
that Jesus never forgot the central truth that he worked for God - he
was on a "mission from God" through all his trials and challenges.
But all work in the church, Dennis said, must begin with the question
"What does God want us to do." Dennis encouraged us to "never
forget the central truth that we work for the Mystery - God!"
Following Dennis' keynote, Dr. Bob Harris brought a
message from the
Christian College of Georgia.
 Bringing
an inspiring evening to a close,
Rev.
Sekinah Hamlin, SERF Minister For Anti-Racism And Reconciliation for
the Southeastern U.S. issued a call to reconciliation and explained her
work in the regions in which she works.
Saturday Morning
Saturday morning dawned early but a bit rainy - but only
in weather, never in spirit. The Women gathered to hear Rev.
Sekinah Hamlin speak from Exodus 1:8-22 about the power of those Hebrew
women who, because they feared God, disobeyed Pharaoh. "God needs
people," she pointed out, "who are willing to work and step out."
 The
men gathered to hear James M. (Sonny) Wray, Jr., Vice President for
Advancement of Lexington Theological
Seminary talk about the visioning and strategic planning process
going on at LTS and seek the Men's input into that process as the first
of a series of meetings with church groups around the U.S.
The Plenary Session opened at 9am in the Jones Auditorium
with singing and then a report to the entire group from Sonny Wray on
the Missions work being done by students and faculty of Lexington
Theological Seminary.
Sonny was followed by Rev. John Novikoff, president of
The
Mission for Biblical Literacy who described the work the
organization is doing in Russia, Armenia, Nicaragua and Haiti.
Next Rev. Leland C.
 Collins, Executive
Director of the Georgia Christian Council explained the work of
the Christian Council and thanked the Region of Georgia for their
participation.
One of the highlights of the morning was the Bible
Lecture by Kris Culp, Dean of Disciples
Divinity House at the University of. Chicago. Kris taught from
Luke 2:41-52, the story of Jesus as a boy, who stays behind in the
temple to talk with the Teachers. She used art from the middle
ages to help us understand the wisdom that the young Jesus was
reflecting. "Wisdom is not something we can grow in a weekend."
Morning workshops were well attended and included
sessions in:
- Financial Planning and Budgeting for
Christians Led by Tana Glassford, a member of Ray of Hope
Christian Church where the group discussed how Christians should be
good stewards not only of the tithe that is due to God, but also the
rest of their resources.
-
 Hide
It under a Bushel? No! Marketing the Local Church Perhaps
the best attended workshop of the retreat, Rev. Chuck Jones explored
simple communications methods your local church can use to identify
and reach out to prospective members in your community.
- Campus Ministry Roundtable Led by Rev.
Dr.Bob Harris discussed opportunities for ministry on campus and
discussed some models of effective campus ministry.
-
 Darkness
to Light’s Stewards of Children. Rev.Debi Acree gave an overview
of a program that calls participants into personal responsibility
for the safety of children.
- “Who has been called? Led by Rev. Patrick
Chandler discussed the inclusion of gay, lesbian, and transgendered
peoples within the ordained ministry of the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) in Georgia.
Saturday Afternoon
 Following
lunch, the Assembly reconvened for the annual business session of the
Region. Moderator Milton West called the assembly to order and the
minutes of the previous meeting were approved. Staff reports
included Rev. Betty Brewer Calvert presenting Women's programs in the
Region in photos and Rev. Michael Weeks discussing the work of the
Transformation Commission in the Region.
The distribution of Disciples Mission Funds was voted
on and approved. The 2009 budgets for the Region and for the Camp
Christian Conference Center were discussed and approved. Ray Miles
pointed out that these budgets have been "cut to the bone" but are in
the black. Copies of the Budgets can be found on the
REPORTS PAGE.
The following were elected to positions on the
Regional Board:
Gladys Stephenson, Credentials Committee
Ray Austin, Nominating Committee
Jim Brooks, Board Secretary
Darlene Reynolds, Tom Stephenson, Regional Board.
Ray Miles called congregational representatives
forward to receive awards for Top Giving to Disciples Outreach,
Top Giving Per Capita and Leading Contributors to Disciples
Mission Fund. See the full list of Church
Recognitions HERE.
  Ray
also recognized Lanie Jenkins and Sam Nichols for their long service to
the board.
Ray then gave his "State of the
Church" address.
"The Region is in better shape now than several years ago despite the
current financial crisis in the U.S." However, Ray points out that
15 congregations will face their continued existence over the next few
years and 15 more need revitalization. The region must have at
least 10% growth just to maintain its current levels of membership and
congregations. Ray also pointed out that the face of the region is
becoming more diverse in culture and race and to be faithful to our
mission as Disciples we must continue to make disciples of all the
world. The region currently has six new church starts and two new
congregations were just accepted into the Region at this assembly.
The region is making strides in transformation with new trained leaders
and continues to move ahead as an anti-racist, pro-reconciliation
region.
For a list of all Business Items, Staff, Commission
and other Reports presented to the Assembly
CLICK HERE.
Following the business session, the afternoon
workshops included:
-
 Greening of the Church Led by Rev. Doug
Job, discussed ways the church can be more
environmentally responsible in its stewardship and use of the church.
- Marriage Enrichment Led by Rev. Jack and Lana Snellgrove
gave their experience with and introduction to a
marriage enrichment process which can be offered in congregations.
-
 Anti-racism in the church Led by
Rev. Sekinah Hamlin focused on ways to continue the work of combating racism as
a church.
- Search And Call For Those Who Aren’t Searching
Led by Rev. Dr. Ray Miles helped attendees understand how the system works in
Georgia.
- “Global Ministries in Congregations” Rev. Bob Shebeck of Global Ministries
explained how to become a Global
Mission Church and other opportunities with Global Ministries.
Saturday Evening
Evening worship was opened with song followed by a
very moving version of Psalm 51 in scripture and song.
 Dick
Savage, with the Disciples Benevolent
Association (formerly the NBA) discussed the associations shift in
mission from providing residential facilities to seeking to establish
partnerships to help meet local and community social services needs.
Their first effort has been a chaplaincy care program in some of the
former NBA facilities.
Rev. Erin Reed Cooper then read our scripture from
Jeremiah 31:31-35.
 Dennis
Landon delivered the Sermon. He said that the language of the
Bible is really a language of faith, a language of poetry.
Because, he said, any language about the mystery of God requires a lot
of conversation; it can not be taken literally. He explained that
HELM had created the Disciples Leadership Institute to pull the church
together by understanding our differences in language, faith, beliefs
and worship styles. Rather than focus on our differences, we must,
Dennis said, learn to talk to each other about what really matters - our
belief in Jesus Christ.
Following a hymn, Bob Shebeck talked to the assembly
about the work of Global Ministries.
 While
the Regional Assembly Ensemble sang "In Water We Grow", each member of
the assembly was invited to come forward and take a Paperwhite Narcissus bulb
and small planter to take home and
grow as a reminder of our charge to Grow in Wisdom through our
baptism in water with the Lord.
Following an offering, Reeda Allen offered a prayer of
thanksgiving, Betty Brewer-Calvert reminded us of the Fruits of Women's
Ministries in the Region and then Katie Hayes sent us to our lodging for
the evening with a benediction.
Sunday Morning
 Kris
Culp continued her Bible lecture from Saturday Morning by delving into
Deut. 6:4-9 and considering the Shema - "love the Lord your God with all
your heart . . ." To find wisdom we must have the teachings of God
inscribed on our innermost hearts and from the top of our head to the
end of our outstretched hands.
Following Bible study, the Assembly began its closing
worship. Ray Miles showed a
video from
Sharon Watkins, General Minister and President on the upcoming Christmas
Offering. Ray explained the importance of the Christmas offering
to the Region and that this video was available to congregations to show
to their members.
 After
an opening hymn and invocation by Vinetta Golphin-Wilkerson, Luke
2:41-52 was read.
Dennis Landon then brought is final message of the
Assembly. Dennis said that in his home church, a seminarian had
just finished a sermon on Luke 7:35-50, the story of the woman who
washed Jesus feet with her hair and is forgiven despite the scorn of the
Pharisee. In the scripture, God forgives all. A woman in the
pew behind Dennis, following the sermon asks him "What kind of Church IS
this!" She wasn't asking if the church is protestant - she was
asking "What kind of Church is this that forgives anyone?" God,
Dennis pointed out, accepts any who reach out to him, no matter who or
what they have been. Dennis encouraged us to always be ready to
explain "What kind of Church IS this!" - a Church that worship's God and
accepts everyone.
Revs Miles, Weeks and Brewer-Calvert led the Assembly
in Communion together, and following the hymn "In the Bulb there is a
Flower", Moderator Milton West sent us forth with a benediction.
SEE ALL THE PHOTOS FROM THE ASSEMBLY HERE | 
