Jurisdictional Conference Is Completed

It was an incredible week of ministry. A long one, days that lasted 14-16 hours, but after it was all said and done, Jurisdictional Conference was a time of blessing for me and I know many. To see and meet new people of our common faith and tradition was overwhelmingly affirming.

Sharing time with sisters and brothers from our Annual Conference was some of the greatest experiences! I now know that Eric Park can dance! I was blessed to share a room with Larry Beatty, Director at Jumonville and I got so many opportunities to sit next to Louise Patterson, CCN chair of our Annual Conference. Louise is a sweet spirited woman of faith. I could go on about so many from our Annual Conference and just who they are and what they mean to me know that I shared this intimate and profound week with them. I thank them for being so warm, loving and kind; in our deliberations, meals, meetings and even in the elevator!

We all thought for sure Bishop Tom and Sally would be moving on. When it was announced that they were coming back for four more years, our concerns were suddenly replaced with great peace and joy. Following the announcement, each delegation had the opportunity to meet with their new bishop. When Bishop Tom came into the room, we were filled with smiles and tears. The Northeast Jurisdictional Episcopacy Committee (the ones who make the assignments of Bishops) met until a little after 5 a.m. that morning. We prayed heavily for them as they had such hard and long work to do. I thank God for Pat Morris and Joel Garrett, who represented our Annual Conference on the Episcopacy Committee. They worked diligently along with so many others through the night and into the early morning hours.

Joel Garrett, our clergy rep for the committee spoke of the strongest Holy Spirit moment he ever had was at 4:00 a.m. that morning in the meeting. He shared the Spirit's prompting led him to confirm that the Holy Spirit is going to lead our Annual Conference like never before. As I heard this, I was brought to tears and I experienced the Holy Spirit's confirmation in his speaking. It is one time I will never forget. I sensed God speaking to me in that particular moment saying that what is in store for our Annual Conference over the next four years with Bishop Bickerton's leadership will be one like we never have experienced before. Joel's talk was profound as we are in need of great renewal in the church and I believe this is the time to move forward, to Rise Up, Encounter God and Engage the World.

Consecration of Bishops - July 21, 2012 NEJ Conference

Moment of Announcement when Martin McLee became Bishop

Bishop-Elect Mark Webb giving his first few words as Bishop

My great friend Allan, lead pastor at Baldwin Community was there to be with his best friend William Meekins Jr. who was an Episcopal Candidate. 

A gift by our Annual Conference to Bishop Bickerton. (Picture of Pittsburgh)

A Dear Sister in Christ, Joan Reasinger

Our newly elected Bishops, (Ball, McLee and Webb)

Bishop Bashore was there too! 

Bishops Peggy Johnson and Tom Bickerton in the Processional

A Continuation of the Procession into St. Mark's UMC, Charleston, WV

So... hold on to your seat church. We our looking forward to "the Journey Continues" with Bishop Tom! Be blessed!

The Connection at Work

Making ballot history today! The record number of ballots for the Northeastern Jurisdiction was 29. Today it took 35 ballots to reach our third and final Bishop. We welcome Bishop Steiner-Ball, Bishop McLee and Bishop Webb. May the Lord bless each of them and our current College of Bishops as tonight they anticipate receiving their Episcopal assignments tomorrow morning. (Photos by Jackie Campbell, WPA Conference Staff)

Bishop-Elect McLee

WPA Delegation

My good brother in Christ, John Ciampa, Bishop-Elect Webb and Me Moments After His Election

I thank God for our WPA Delegation as they have been so hard at work throughout this process.

Marathon Interviewing

I've been in a relay for a marathon before. To get ready takes great preparation. To race takes great determination, stamina and courage not to fail.

Yesterday, was a marathon. 19 interviews for Episcopal candidate. I had the pleasure of meeting some of the most dynamic people in our jurisdiction who have been called, nominated and endorsed to hold the Episcopal office. It was a Spirit-filled day. The passion of some of the candidates blessed me and reignited a flame in my soul.

I thank God for the opportunity to meet with these individuals, and to be in a time of discernment with newly-found colleagues in ministry from throughout the Northeast.

The marathon was long, but in the end, accomplished much. Please keep these 19 candidates in prayer as well as their families and the congregations/districts/conference they serve as this truly is a time of Holy Conferencing for the greater good of The United Methodist Church.

Not So Ordinary...

To follow is an underestimated form of leadership... Derrick Sivers shared this on the video we watched yesterday in worship. Here is the link in case you missed it. How to Start a Movement

Jesus was walking along the lake when he invited Peter and Andrew to drop their nets and follow Him. They did and followed Christ, becoming more than just followers. They became great leaders. By taking the risk to follow, they showed that it takes courage to take that initial risk and follow.

The challenge in worship yesterday was to look internally at yourself as a follower of Jesus Christ. Are you willing to "drop your nets" or are you willing to "deny self, take up your cross" and follow? It requires us as individuals and as the church to get out of our comfort zones and to break the potentially lethargic mindset of "that's what I've always done" or "that's what we have always done."

We enjoyed a great weekend of togetherness! Saturday morning into the afternoon a great group of church family came out to work on the church grounds! These are some of the pictures that Aaron St. Clair took on Saturday. Thank you church for your hard work!

We enjoyed Saturday evening a great night at David and Debbie Melders house as they hosted a youth group summer party and cookout! Thanks Melders for your hospitality!

Yesterday in worship we had the opportunity at Traditional worship to hear the Men's Quartet sing during the special music time. Thank you men for sharing! Davie Melder put together a video sharing Bikes to Hope. (It's also on our church website www.christcommunityumc.org) Here is the link:
Bikes to Hope 2012 at Christ Community

I am in West Virginia now as I get ready for Jurisdictional Conference. I will be here through Friday. Please keep the Conference in your prayers this week as new episcopal leaders will be elected as well current Bishops will receive their new assignments. I am praying that God's will be done here as we discern what God desires for the church. May it truly be a time of Holy Conferencing.

Have a blessed week Church and I look forward to sharing the weekend with you!

Praying for Jurisdictional Conference

Here's a link to begin praying for the discernment, actions and ministry before, during and after this year's 2012 Jurisdictional Conference. May the Lord speak His words of wisdom to all who are invested in this time of the church and world.

Prayers for Jurisdictional Conference

Northeast Jurisdictional Conference Webpage

Change is Constant

I've seen change all weekend long! Friday, I celebrated my 20th high school reunion. Amazingly, many of my high school friends have not changed much over these years! A few have changed drastically and I am ever so thankful there were name tags to show me what their names were! Saturday, I had my first Board of Ordained Ministry meeting. I found it odd that just a few short years ago, I was on the opposite end, being interviewed by members of BOOM for my ordination. Now, I sit on the interviewing side! Sunday, I celebrated that Addison Kate Bechtold was baptized! Life has certainly been changing for her lately! Sunday evening I was at my parents house to pick up our kids since Jenn worked all weekend and I had meetings. Dad's health continues to change in a way that has prevented him from being mobile. He has truly struggled in the midst of life changes here recently and I ask you continue to pray for him as he tries to find relief from this dreaded disease. Today, you see change to my weekly E-News. Apple has made some major changes with it's Mobile Me site and I am no longer able to publish my weekly E-News to the web via that site. So you get to see my "old" blog site. It's being resurrecting again.

It was a beautiful day of worship at both services! We welcomed Rev. Dean Ziegler, Butler District Superintendent, along with his wife, Linda to our church yesterday for a visit. We also celebrated in a baptism at the traditional service and got to hear special music from Ken and Ann Killby. Our praise band rocked out our 9:26 worship with a newer song, "I am Free." It was a wonderful day to praise God!

Sunday in worship we centered on surrendering our "self" to Christ Jesus. In surrender or you might say, "emptying" we then are filled with God's Holy Spirit. When we surrender and then are filled, God equips us with the necessary tools to fill ourselves and fill others. God's Spirit equips us with  Character, Confidence, Courage, Compassion and Companionship. As I shared in worship, from the Secret Millionare, Steve Kaplan emptied himself of his "life" so that he could gain more in life. As he let go of his "life" he was able to see life from the eyes of someone living on the south side of Chicago. In living that "life" Steve found generosity and compassion to be more prevalent in his life from then on. Our passage came from Mark 6:1-13.

I had in the bulletin a sheet titled, "Letters to God" As the Letters to God station is being utilized in the lobby, we can take this sheet home with us, bring back to church or hold dear to us. This sheet can be used as a tool to "surrender" to God so that we may be filled more with the Holy Spirit.

Have a blessed week church and know it is an honor to serve and lead as your pastor.

Moments to Remember

There are certain things in life where you capture a "picture" in your mind. The birth of a child, your bride walking down the aisle, going on your first date, the moment when you accepted Jesus; these are all those "special" moments in life. Last night was, for me a special night.

Most boys and some girls dream of going to play at the major league ball park. I sure did. I always dreamed what it would be like to play at Three Rivers Stadium or what it would be like to play at PNC Park. Our daughter, Alayna, had that chance last night!

What a night. Alayna got a hit everytime she batted, hit in and scored the first two runs of the game after it was scoreless for half the game and watched as a team of 12 and under girls played so strong together as a team, pulling out a victory in extra innings, 5-4.

Alayna's coach, Bridget is a class act. Throughout the season, I watched a coach teach when the girls needed taught, encouraged when the girls got down on themselves, motivated when the girls got slow in the summertime heat and most importantly, loved each one of them as her own. I say, "Thanks", Coach Bridget for modeling a way of coaching that every coach should exemplify.

I didn't sleep much last night, partly because the "little boy" in me kept seeing "big league" visions of my daughter swinging and hitting a ball in a major league ballpark with her name on the jumbotron.

Makes me thank God for the gift of being a father. God, you're awesome. Thanks for giving Jennifer and I three awesome children and for blessing us with family and church family. We are surrounded by people we love.