When was the last time your church re-calibrated your compass?
It reminds me of a tragedy that occurred in 1914 (the same year the Titanic sank) off the coast of Virginia. In January of that year, in thick fog off the Virginia coast, the steamship Monroe was rammed by the merchant vessel Nantucket and eventually sank. Forty-one sailors lost their lives in the frigid winter waters of the Atlantic. While it was Osmyn Berry, captain of the Nantucket who was arraigned on charges, in the course of the trial Captain Edward Johnson was grilled on the stand for over five hours. As James Smith notes, “During cross-examination it was learned, as the New York Times reported, that Captain Johnson “navigated the Monroe with a steering compass that deviated as much as two degrees from the standard magnetic compass. He said the instrument was sufficiently true to run the ship, and that it was the custom of masters in the coastwise trade to use such compasses. His steering compass had never been adjusted in the one year he was master of the Monroe.”
Our Annual Conference consists of approximately 800 congregations, in a variety of locations, each with unique gifts and strengths, opportunities and challenges. We are linked together not only in name, but most importantly in our common mission. The Sound District is one of eight districts across the eastern half of our state. Our vision is to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. Our mission is to work together in ways that promote healthy congregations and effective leaders in every place, making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The following points are like those on a compass, intended to help each local congregation to be aligned in mission with the other United Methodist congregations in our conference as we follow Jesus. At your next leadership team gathering take a few minutes to assess how your church is currently aligned with these points on the compass of our shared mission. Which ones are you most aligned with? Which are you least aligned with? What opportunities exist in your church to strengthen one of these in 2021? What are the specific ways you will embrace that particular point in 2021?
1. Healthy Congregations – A healthy Church in the NC Conference is centered in Christ and shows evidence of making disciples of Jesus Christ, practicing focused spiritual formation, and engaging in risk-taking mission and ministry in the world.
2. Effective Leaders – are recognized as those who demonstrate: • Faith in and commitment to Christ: A clear devotion to Christ and Christ’s teachings in all circumstances. • Practice of spiritual disciplines: Regular intentional practice of the disciplines for deepening of the spiritual life. • Evidence of fruit of the Spirit: Outward expression of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. • Commitment to highest ideals of living the Christian life.
3. C4C – Congregations For Children (C4C) is a statewide initiative of The United Methodist Church focused on reflecting the love of Christ to our neighbors by helping children in public schools who are living in poverty. C4C’s areas of focus include:
- Helping to improve K-3 Literacy rates (volunteer tutors, collecting/donating books, after-school tutoring programs, summer reading camps, etc.)
- Helping to meet the Basic Needs of students (food, clothing, school supplies, etc.)
- Helping to increase Parental Involvement and Interactions with Positive Adult Role Models (lunch buddies, morning greeters, etc.)
To learn more go to: https://nccumc.org/leadership/c4c/
A Team of three leads our efforts in this arena: Gayle Midyette – gayle.midyette@gmail.com,
Peggy Stolzenberg c4c@swansoroumc.org and Tiffany Vincent , tiffanyvincent1@hotmail.com
4. Anti-Racism. “Then Peter started speaking: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism in dealing with people,” Acts 10:34 If God shows no favoritism in dealing with the diversity of people who occupy planet earth – neither does God’s Church, which is Christ’s Body. In our Baptismal vows we renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent ( turn away from) our sin. Racism ( the belief that one race is inherently superior to others), is to be turned away from, as is all sin. Disciples of Jesus Christ accept the freedom and power God gives us to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves. Rev. Sunny Limm Chairs our Dismantling Racism Team. For more information and guidance you may reach him at: slimm@nccumc.org
5. Unity – How do we embody unity in a world that is often fractured and divided? We begin with Jesus’ prayer ( John 17) – “18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. 20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
Still In ONE Peace,
Jon ( the Methodist)
If you would like to view past editions of How Sweet the Sound, follow this link: https://sounddistrictnc.org/category/from-the-ds/