November 2007 - Volume V - the Methodist Church - LID

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Methodist Link Page 2 Methodist Link Page 7 THE METHODIST LINK Is a Quarterly Publication of the Methodist Church, Leeward Islands District Conference Publisher Leeward Islands District Resources Centre General Editor Rev. Franklyn E. Manners Editorial Assistant Mr. Frank A. Arnell Manager Rev. Franklyn E. Manners Circulation Mr. Frank A. Arnell Address Philipsburg Methodist Church Complex, Back Street 91, P.O. Box 19 Philipsburg, St. Maarten Netherlands Antilles Tel: (599) 542-1348 Fax: (599) 542-1349 E-mail: methodistlidrc@hotmail Website: www.mcca-lid.org The month of October is observed as AIDS AWARENESS MONTH The Flame of hope Anniversary greetings to the Freetown Methodist Church From L.I. District President — I welcome this opportunity to greet you, the Pastor, Officers and Members of the Freetown Methodist Church on the occasion o f the celebration of your 125th Anniversary. As you celebrate, it must give you a sense of pride and satisfaction in knowing that though you are a relatively small congregation you have made your mark in history and continue to do so now. As the name of your church and community implies you no doubt played a significant part in offering care and harnessing souls for God’s Kingdom in the aftermath of Emancipation, and undoubtedly, many freed slaves found a place in the Methodist fellowship and witness. But you also continued to make your mark today. The sons and daughters whom you have given to the ministry of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas bear testimony to this. As you celebrate, we offer thanks to God for the witness of Rev. Acelyn Williams (now gone to his reward); Rev. Neville Brodie, (a supernumerary minister residing in Florida); and for the Reverends Relis Martin-Riley and Carlwyn Greenaway who are still in the active ministry. Each of these ministers has given sterling service to the church and this must be attributed to the solid moral and spiritual foundation they received in the Freetown congregation. However, as the witness of the church is a dynamic and on-going reality, I urge you not to rest on your laurels. Rather let this week of celebration also be a time of reflection and self examination as you endeavour to prepare yourself to be a more effective instrument of witness in the context of time. I take the liberty to suggest a few areas which you may wish to consider: Outreach to our youth who increasingly feel alienated and lost in our communities, and a health approach to the resolution of conflicts whether at home or in the wider community. These are but two examples of some of the areas in need of urgent attention in our contemporary society. Regretfully, these social problems are emerging at a time when we are also experiencing a decline in the level and quality of care being offered in many of the organizations of our church. May I suggest therefore that this 125th Anniversary celebration be also seen as a God-given opportunity to revue and revitalize the organisations of the church to effectively carry out its mission in the community today. On behalf of the entire District, I offer you heartiest congratulations and best wishes in your celebration. Yours sincerely, District President Rev. Franklyn E. Manners The Local Presbyter continues in his/her regular job and serves one or two congregations in the Circuit to which he/ she belongs. There are 116 Itinerant Presbyters and 41 Supernumerary Presbyters who were itinerant within the MCCA. The Itinerant presbyters include Probationer ministers. A Minister is a Minister of the church for life. When a minister is no longer in the active work or “travelling” as we say, he or she is a Supernumerary. It literally means that he or she becomes part of that number which is over (super) the number (numerary) of those who are in active work. There are 33 Local Presbyter( including Probationer Local Presbyters) and 2 Supernumerary Local Presbyters within the MCCA. DEACONS Those who are called as Deacons are responsible for leading and equipping the Church for its servant-hood role in the community. Their watchword is “Service.” Deacons may offer different kinds of Christian service which equips individuals and congregations to fulfill its role of ministering to those who most needs the Church, especially those who would not have a friend but for the Deacon. There are 26 Deacons (including those who are Probationers) and 8 Supernumerary Deacons in the MCCA. The Ministers and Deacons serve 89 Circuits in the 8 Districts of the MCCA. MINISTERS IN THE MCCA Ministers in the Methodist Church are therefore servants of Christ, stewards in the household of faith, and evangelists. Persons who feel that God has called them to become ministers in Christ's Church offer themselves as candidates for the ministry. After testing, acceptance and training, they serve a probationary period in a Circuit. After further examination, they are received into Full Connexion and ordained by the imposition of hands as expressive of the Church's recognition of the Minister's personal call. (See Constitution and Discipline, p. 40). Ministers are appointed and stationed by the Conference, and are required to loyally carry out the decisions of the Conference, and to act, at all times, in a manner which befits their calling. The two words which sum up the true character of a Methodist Minister are "Faithful" and "Obedient". If any minister comes to the decision that he or she can no longer preach the doctrines of the Church, or accept and administer the discipline, that minister is pledged to leave quietly. LAY MINISTRIES While the MCCA emphasises the functional nature of the ministry, it also recognises its symbolic character. We recognize a functional difference between ministers and the lay Ministries Month - (Continued from page 1) persons, but we reject completely the notion that there is any "essential difference" between them. Ministers and laity are together the people of God. The Constitution and discipline of the Church reads: Christ's ministers in the Church are Stewards in the household of God and the Shepherds of His flock. Some are called and ordained to this, occupation and have a principal and directing part in these great duties, but they hold no priesthood differing in kind from that which is common to the Lord's people..... (Constitution and Discipline, p. 40). Lay Ministries is a crucial part of church ministry. Without ministries coming out of the local body, the body would be lifeless or dead. Every part of our church intricately works together to form the whole body of Christ! (1Cor. 12) Lay Ministries are vital to the working body of Christ. We pray for our Preachers, Visitors, Teachers, Leaders, Counsellors, Officers, Commissioned Lay Workers, Music and all others who bear responsibilities among us on a regular basis. We continue to invite those who feel called by God to obey his call and to exercise a ministry for which, if necessary, the training will be given Each of us is engaged in ministry. Each of us will have to give account. Make full use of your Ministry. WHAT CAN YOU DO? (1) Pray: (i) For Ministers and Ministries including the one to which God has called you. (ii) Pray for Ministers in Training and for the Tutors at the Seminary. Especially remember Revd. Dr. Oral Thomas who has just taken up responsibilities as a tutor. (iii) Pray for persons who have heard the call for fulltime ministry. Especially Bro. Michael Charles and his wife. (iv) Pray for Supernumeraries and especially those who did not finish their normal ministry because of health issues. (v) The Ministers who serve your Circuit and Congregations. (2) Support: (3) Offer: It costs over US$10,000.00 per year to train each minister. The grants received from Britain are almost at an end. We need to find the way to pay the cost of training persons for ministry. Seriously think of supporting our ordained ministry with your gifts. Offer your ministry as a reasonable sacrifice to God and offer encouragement to others as they offer ministry to you. Offer yourself in ministry to others.
Methodist Link Page 6 tion he remarked: From the President’s Desk (Continues from page 1) ―Though I neither fear God nor regard man, yet, because this widow bothers me, I will vindicate her, or she will wear me out by her continual coming.‖ (vs. 5) This Parable, unlike many of the others told by Jesus is not meant to tell us what God or the kingdom of God is like. It is intended rather, to show how different God is, from this unjust Judge. The moral of the story can be summed up as follows: ―If an unjust judge can help a poor widow (albeit to get her off his back), how much more will God, our heavenly Father, meet the needs of His children.‖ We can take the poor widow in our story to represent the exploited in our world who are crying out for vindication against those who exploit them. In the early church, this was taken to mean Christians who were subjected to the most cruel and inhumane persecution, and the rhetorical question in verses 7-8: ―And will not God grant justice to His chosen ones who cry to Him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them?‖ Is an affirmation that God is concerned with justice and that when Christ the righteous judge is revealed the poor and the needy will be vindicated and treated with dignity. But the parable also raises the prospect that by the time Christ eventually appears many Christians will already have been massacred or would, out of fear, have lapsed from the faith, hence the question: ―When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?‖ (vs.8) This is a question which may well be asked again in our time. When one considers the barrage of questionable material with which we are bombarded daily on the internet and the constant threat of terrorism fueled largely by religious conflict. The Christian community increasing seems less and less like a mighty conquering army and more and more like a people under siege. ―But will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to Him day and night?‖ Jesus, St. Luke tells us, told the parable of the Unjust Judge to impress upon his hearers their need to pray always and not to lose heart. (vs.!) The message of the parable therefore, is a challenge to us to stand fast in the faith. Whatever the odds, however adverse the circumstances, we are called to bear our witness faithfully. We pray therefore for power, so to live and witness that at our journey's end we can say like St. Paul: ―I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.‖ ( 2Tim.4:7) A grateful Church and Community pays glowing tribute to Rev. & Mrs. Selwyn Vanterpool hroughout the period June – August 2007, the opportu- T nity was taken to express thanks and appreciation to Rev. Selwyn L. Vanterpool, M.B.E, M.A, M.P.S., L.Th, Immediate Past District President & General Superintendent; his wife Brenda, an ardent Church Lay Worker; and their daughter Karen, for their faithful, invaluable and selfless service to Christ, the Church and the Community. Each function was unique and meaningful, focusing on specific accomplishments, results obtained and problems solved. Highlights of the aforementioned functions were: The Appreciation & Retirement Banquet held at Wyndham Sugar Bay Hotel on June 29, 2007 at 7:00 pm. The Appreciation & Farewell Service held at Christchurch Methodist Church on August 12, 2007 at 5:00 p.m. The Banquet and the Farewell Service were well attended. Those present included friends and family members who came from St. Maarten, St. Croix, U.S.A, and the British Virgin Islands. Here is a birdseye view of both events. The Banquet was an elegant affair sponsored by the Christchurch Methodist Education & Outreach Services (CMEOS) Banquet Committee. Greetings and Remarks were given by the Immediate Former Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Dr. Charles Wesley Turnbull. After a sumptuous meal, the Rev. Bernice E. Madden of the Saint Philip AME Church in Atlanta, USA delivered an inspiring thought provoking keynote address. Other speakers and participants included the Rev. Canon Julian Clarke, President of the Christian Council, Rev. Joseph R. Lloyd, a former District Chairman, Attorney Iver Stridiron, the Circuit Ministers, Mrs. Bernice Turnbull and Mrs. Priscilla Stridiron of the CMEOS Board. Numerous fittingly chosen and excellently presented selections were rendered by the Philipsburg Methodist Women’s Association, Mr. James Hamilton of the St. Croix Circuit, the St. Thomas/St. John Circuit Choir and various musical groups, choirs and vocalists. The Appreciation and Farewell Service was organized by the Circuit Staff. This was another well planned and impressive event. The large congregation included civic and ecclesiastic dignitaries and representatives; officers and members of the Congregations, the Circuit, District and Connexion. Persons who expressed words of appreciation included the Circuit Stewards, a Congregational Steward from each of the Congregations; Mr. Theodore Fahie, Connexional Treasurer, Mrs. Muriel Smith, District Treasurer and Bishop Ambrose Gumbs of the Episcopal Diocese of the Virgin Islands. Delightful musical choral selections were rendered by the Christchurch Youth Steel Orchestra, the Circuit Choir, Mr. John Daniels, The Gospelaires Band and Christchurch Women’s League. The musical sections concluded with a trio “We’ve Come This Far by Faith”, rendered by Ms. Cheryl Huyghue, Mrs. Diana Hedrington & Mrs. Joyce Wilkins. (Continued on page 8) Methodist Link Page 3 By Rev. Otto Wade Connexional Conference Secretary MCCA Conference Centre Scotts Hill Antigua Dear Brothers and Sisters, I greet you in the name of Christ- Head of the Church and in the name of the Revd Dr. George Mulrain- our Connexional President. The observance of Connexional Lord’s Day on Sunday reminded us that we must turn our attention to the challenges of the connexional year that is now before us. I request your prayers for some of our brothers and sisters as well as their families. 1. Supernumeraries: The Revd Dr. Philip A. Potter (1947) of the Jamaica District, and residing in Germany has completed 60 years of travel. The Revd Jennings Martin (1952) who resides in St. Croix Circuit, Leeward Islands District has completed 55 years of travel. The Revd Desmond Mason (1952) who resides in the St. Lucia Circuit, South Caribbean District has completed 55 years of travel. The Revd Cecil O. A. Weekes (1957) who resides in the Anguilla Circuit, Leeward Islands District has completed 50 years of travel. The Revd Julia Davis (1957) who resides in the East Kingston Circuit, Jamaica District has completed 50 years of travel. 2. Superannuation: Letter from the Connexional Conference (In full context) Rev. Otto Wade Permission to become supernumeraries was granted to the following ministers on the grounds of age and/or travel; 1970 P Revd Selwyn L. Vanterpool - Leeward Islands; 1997 LP Revd M. Rosalind Morgan - Leeward Islands; 1960 P Revd Dr. Kenneth Huggins - Bahamas/TCI; 2000 LP Revd Stanley Record - Panamá/Costa Rica; 1995 P Revd Murtene Dennis - South Caribbean; 1963 D Revd Elizabeth Andrew-Felix - South Caribbean. We record our thanks for the contribution made by each minister to the life and witness of the MCCA and, with the exception of the Revd Morgan, their spouses: Mrs Brenda Vanterpool, Mrs. Vivienne Huggins, Mrs. Inez Record, the late Frederick Dennis and Mr. Simon Felix. We look forward to the contribution they will continue to make to our Church and communities. Your continued prayers are asked for them and for their spouses. The Revd James C. Richardson was superannuated on the grounds of ill health. He is residing in the St. Kitts Circuit. Please give him your prayerful support. 3. Forty Years in Ministry The Revd Dr. Clifton Niles (1967), Superintendent of the Anguilla Circuit has completed 40 years in ministry. Please remember him and his wife Ruth, in your prayers. 4. Those taking up their first appointments: Revd Careen White – Anguilla Circuit - Leeward Islands District; Revd Pauline McCatty- Watsonville Circuit - Jamaica District; Revd Racquel Clemming- Western St. Andrew Circuit- Jamaica District; Revd N. Veronie Irons- Frankfield Circuit- Jamaica District. The Revd Dr. Wycherley V. Gumbs and his wife Edwina have moved to the St. Kitts Circuit where he is the Superintendent. The Revd Yvonne Nibbs-Flores resumed her travel on 01 September, 2007. She is serving as a Deacon in the BVI Circuit where she and her husband reside. The Revd Antonio Migar Trottman and his wife Zulena have moved to the Utila/North Coast Circuit of the Belize Honduras District. He resigned in 2003 and is in the process of rejoining the Connexion. We ask your prayers for them as we welcome them back to the itinerant ministry. 5. Those who were Transferred: BAHAMAS/TCI HAITI Revd Mark S. Christmas and Revd Stacia M. Williams- Christmas to the Andros Circuit. Revd Jean-Lesly and Mrs. Maude Dorcély to the Jeremie Circuit; Revd Chrisnel and Mrs. Emanette Lelièvre to the Cap Haitian Circuit; Revd Jn. J. Ralph and Mrs. Johane Denizard to the Petit Goave Circuit; Revd Marco Jr. and Mrs. Ruth Depestre to the Cayes Circuit; Revd Jean Ablamy and Mrs. Donnette Lataillade to the Carrefour Circuit. JAMAICA Revd Dr. Garnet and Mrs. Doreth Brown to the Portmore Circuit; Revd Duane and Mrs. Evelyn Samm to the Beechamville/Bensonton Circuit; Revd Jacqueline Liddell to the Lyndhurst Circuit. Revd Serge Brevert to the Manchioneal Circuit; (Continued on page 4)
Page 1: Methodist Link Page 8 Church, The U

November 2007 - Volume V - the Methodist Church - LID

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?