Lay Leader's Corner : A Change in Leadership

Jane Finley

Having completed the work of the various committees of the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference and heard reports, voted on restructure, approved the budget, and accepted the nominating committee’s report of delegates selected to serve on various boards and agencies representing SEJC; Friday evening’s program was filled with anticipation and excitement. In contrast to the Catholic tradition of white smoke from the chimney proclaiming a new pope elected, Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference had elected a new bishop on Thursday and moved on to the assignment of bishops which was the highlight yet to be seen and heard. We had a lively preliminary celebration which began with a performance by the energetic and talented VOY, “Voices of Youth” from the Virginia Conference followed by the world-renown Junaluska Singers.After much wonderful music and entertainment, the Stuart Auditorium fell silent as the Episcopacy Committee Chair Joe Whittemore read the bishops’ assignments.

With that, suspense was put to rest though the memory lingers of the many preemptive conversations and suppositions of who ~ but who ~ would be the new bishop. To our delight in North Georgia, we will have the great opportunity to be in ministry and get to know and love Bishop Michael Watson and his lovely wife, Margaret. At the reception on Friday evening, district lay leaders and district superintendents presented the Watsons with meaningful gifts significant of the area they represent. It was a great time of “meet and greet” for the new Episcopal family with the North Georgia delegation, friends and guests. As Bishop Watson assumes his assignment on September 1st, the family will settle into the new Episcopal residence in the Roswell area which will be only a short commute to the Methodist Center at Simpsonwood.

During this same timeframe, the North Georgia Conference Board of Laity will have transitioned with new leadership for the quadrennium. I, along with the four associate conference lay leaders, (Ron Davis, Mathew Pinson, Dianne Spencer and Dianne Traynham) am ramping up for exciting new ministry. The four Board of Laity sponsored programs will serve as our springboard and we are seeking persons to train and promote for district and conference leadership roles. We will rely heavily upon our four at-large members of the Board representing the Asian, Hispanic and African-American communities to assist in this effort to equip persons for servant leadership.

I invite you to visit our Board of Laity web pages on the North Georgia Conference web site: www.ngumc.org. There are many opportunities for emerging leaders to become knowledgeable of Methodist tradition and polity, group dynamics and opportunities for ministry through Leadership UMC; for persons with a call for lay ministry/mission and need to discern answers for the where and what questions, there is Lay Missionary Training; to enhance one’s personal skills and knowledge in speaking and serving in ministry through storytelling, bible study and other outreach, there is Lay Speaking Ministry; and through the utilization of one’s acquired skills, we assist churches in image, finance, music, evangelism and other areas of concern through Lay Revitalization Ministry. Seminars are forming now for this fall, so additional information is available through your district or associate conference lay leader, district office or on the web. All contact information is available through the web site or contact me at mjfarms100@aol.com or 706-886-4039.

Jane Finley is the North Georgia Conference Lay Leader.