Bishop Keaton recovering steadily, should be back to work soon

Earlier this summer Michigan Area Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton announced he was going to undergo "major surgery" and he asked for prayers and support.

Today, the Michigan Area Episcopal Office announce Keaton's recovery is progressing well and he should be back to work in less than two weeks.

"Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton continues to recover at home following major surgery in July," a press release from the office stated. "Bishop and Mrs. Keaton appreciate everyone’s prayers and understanding during this convalescent portion of his healing process. They are especially grateful for the many acts of kindness which have been shown them.

Bishop Keaton will begin working from home on August 22 and will resume a full schedule in the office September 6th following Labor Day. Persons who have business with the Bishop are encouraged to contact Diane Allarding, executive assistant to Bishop Keaton at (517) 347-4030 or by e-mail: dallarding@miareaumc.org.

Read More

Bishop's Column: Making our walking our preaching

A number of months ago, I asked both Extended Cabinets to go out and preach on the Mission of the Church — knowing it was probably out of their comfort zone to do so.

Weren’t there more exciting and/or relevant things to do than to focus on making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world?

Budgets had to be raised. Apportionments had to be paid. Petitions for General Conference had to be crafted.

But they went and preached enhancing the churches knowledge or understanding of the Great Commission. They planted seeds for the kingdom with their lips and lives. St. Francis of Assisi put it this way “Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”

Notice how they used words.

“Like Andrew and Philip, we are called to be bringers,” said one district superintendent. “Most people came to church because a friend invited, drove or carried them to church.”

Another opined that we are called to make “disciples everywhere” and he has done so in Detroit and Liberia.

Still another declared that, “healthy churches have set aside old wineskins for the new by welcoming people of every race, clime and condition has energized congregational life.”

Another district superintendent utilized demographic data to share the same message. Not just decreases in membership were highlighted, but the disappearance of certain age groups. As a result, God “is leading us to step outside our comfort zone” to reclaim them, that DS told me.

Comfort wasn’t the tone of one other missional thrust. It was challenge.

The sermon focused on “Four Tough Words” about the mission of the church. “It’s Not About You” because you are the Church. And the Church is meant to rescue and disciple “others,” not just us.

St Francis of Assisi offers a telling insight about this perspective. “It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.” God-centered and other-centeredness work is our way to witness.

Two churches raised their apportionment giving as a result of preaching on the mission of the church. A “portion meant for others” resonated with the missional spirit of both local churches and their pastors.

One church paid 100 percent of their 2010 apportionments, while another congregation increased their 2011 pledges by 11 percent.

After preaching on how to “keep open house,” one preacher shared in a meal after service. Then, he stayed and had conversation with folks on developing a healthy and vital congregation.

During one service, a congregation raised $500 for the Haiti Hot Lunch program.

Another district superintendent has his district in a twitter about a High Five Program. They are now seeking a five percent increase in membership, attendance, stewardship and prayer life. That DS said people were hope filled, attentive and excited.

One of our leaders encountered a tearful parishioner after church. Personal problems had taken its toll. 

So he offered pastoral care to a person whom he knew not may have been at his best.

Another district superintendent said after the sermon, “a man reported that he had recommitted himself to the work of the church as a man and a father.”

Finally, one pastor rejoiced over the impact and response of an eight-year old in worship. “I love Jesus,” she said.

Her spontaneous testimony touched adults in the congregation. Even a little child shall lead them.

Our founder John Wesley changed his way of doing ministry and he admitted this in several references. 

On March 31, 1739, Wesley wrote, "In the evening, I reached Bristol, and met Mr. Whitefield there. I could scare reconcile myself at first to this strange way of preaching in the fields, of which he set an example on Sunday evening; having been all my life (till very lately) so tenacious of every point relating to decency and order, that I should have thought the saving of souls almost a sin, if it had not been done in a church."

A few days later, a bodacious spirit possessed him. Wesley preached outside to a crowd of roughly 3,000 people declaring, “The spirit of the Lord is upon me for he hath anointed me to preach good news to the poor.”

Wesley no longer believed he could grow the church by staying in the church. All I am doing Church, is reminding you of the same.

“Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”

Read More

Michigan Area Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton announces he is having 'major surgery' this summer

• By RJ Walters, Editor •

The following statement regarding an impending hospitalization of Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton was released by the Michigan Area Bishop earlier today:

"A routine visit to my family doctor and other physicians in late May revealed that I need major surgery. Although surgery has not been scheduled, it will most likely take place in late June or early July. Beverly, the rest of the family and I gratefully solicit your prayers."

Check the Detroit Conference or West Michigan Conference website for future updates and look for more information in the next edition of the Michigan Area Reporter.

Read More

Live from Detroit Annual Conference 2011: The Bishop's craving for chocolate enhances Haiti Task Force's pitch for aid

• By RJ Walters, Editor •

Evidently tempting Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton with chocolate is one way to make a point at Detroit Annual Conference.

Encouraging the Michigan Area Bishop to come visit the Michigan Area Haiti Task Force table at Friday evening’s Ministry Fair, the Rev. Don Gotham waved a bag of chocolates in front of the Bishop as he took the podium at Dawson Auditorium.

“If you would like to have one of these fine chocolates Bishop, I would urge you to come enjoy one with others at our table,” he said.

The Bishop smiled and inquired about having one immediately, but Gotham came back with a prudent response.

“But Bishop, good things come to those who wait,” he said.

Out came Keaton’s wallet and a five-dollar bill, earmarked for the conference’s Haiti Hot Lunch program.

The wait was over.

After showing a video that urged people to stop making excuses of why they can’t or won’t go on a mission to Haiti, Gotham issued the Michigan Area a challenge.

“We want there to be at least one clergy or laity from each congregation to go on a VIM mission to Haiti in the next five years,” he said.

More information about the Michigan Area Task Force, the programs it supports and how to donate is available at www.stovern.net/haiti.

Gotham said a brand new web site would be unveiled at www.mahtf.org in the near future.

Read More

Live from Detroit Annual Conference 2011: Bishop Keaton on the 'house of bread', from Bethlehem to Detroit

• By RJ Walters, Editor •

Preaching from a pulpit in the north part of the country still often referred to as “The World’s Bread Basket” the Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton cried out for United Methodists to remember the “House of Bread” in the Bible and in their local churches and communities on Thursday.

At opening worship for the 2011 Detroit Annual Conference at Adrian College Keaton preached a message titled “Bethlehem Revisited,” focusing on how the gospel of Matthew and land of Bethlehem relates to nourishing the souls and bodies of the hungry and poor.

The Hebrew meaning of Bethlehem is translated as “house of bread” and a deeper look at the root origin of the word reveals “bread” stood for “the kneading of the dough,” a phrase often associated with struggles or strife in Biblical times.

“Bethlehem is world famous as Jesus’ birthplace, however it has a history that stretches out 800 or 900 years before Christ and it lives on after Christ,” Keaton said, noting that King David was also born in Bethlehem and he too was a shepherd of the people.

“Bethlehem was a ‘house of bread’ to feed the human belly and to feed kids and also the ‘house of bread’ to feed the spiritual hunger and desire of the people.”

Keaton said that history shows that while there was plenty of food to go around in ancient Bethlehem, the deacons of the city had to help many people gain access to it due to political and demographical impediments.

He said it’s comparable to the malnutrition epidemic continuing in many parts of the country and world today.

“Our country has produced enough food each year the last 40-50 years to feed the entire world…but then also, a recent CBS News report showed that (more than 40 million) people are on food stamps in the U.S.” he said. “There’s a devastating famine in the land of Detroit, much like there has been in Bethlehem.”

Keaton said just as the deacons in Bethlehem had to help distribute the food to those on the fringe of society, churches and Christians need to become more informed about the social structures and historic roadblocks that are stifling their communities, in order to create plans of action.

He said common reasons that people are poor include economic systems that control resources, consequences of military action in oppressive countries, natural disasters and simply being born into a lineage that has had a tough time making ends meet and may be uneducated.

“It is important to learn about the history of your town and understand what it means, to see it in a new light, to know its needs,” he said. “You don’t have to go 800 miles — sometimes it’s two miles, it’s right where you are.”

Keaton said his experience in sharing resources with those in need is that God will often provide an abundance and new opportunities will arise through faith.

Annual conference attendees shared resources on Thursday, through a special offering that will go toward The Advance’s Hot Lunch Program in Haiti and a safe haven known as the Bishop Judith Craig Children’s Village in Liberia.

Read More

Imaging a greater future, instead of settling for the status quo in the local church

• By RJ Walters, Editor •

No one was seen jumping off cliffs at Bishop’s Day 2011 at Grand Rapids FUMC, but hundreds of attendees were encouraged “to learn how to dance in dangerous places,” including stepping over the proverbial cliff’s edge in imagining what church can be.

The theme “Imagine” was communicated through everything from video clips of a couple dancing gracefully on the side of a mountain to contemplation of the simple power of a blank sheet of paper and economy writing instrument in the timeless kids book Harold and the Purple Crayon.

Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton enlivened the crowd in the morning with a stirring rendition of Jesus the Light of the World on the piano, following a proclamation that the church is alive and well with a significant amount of dreamers leading it into the future.

“Ever since I’ve been in the (United) Methodist Church it seems people have told me the church is dying or it is going to die and I said, well, I’m not going to believe in that,” he said. “I’m going to spend my time believing the church is going to grow and the church is going to develop because even the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church!”

Keynote speaker the Rev. Bobbi Kaye Jones, the district superintendent of the Austin District in Texas — who filled in admirably when an emergency arose for scheduled speaker Bishop Thomas Bickerton —invoked a series of questions for lay members and clergy when she approached the pulpit.

“When you imagined Bishop’s Day, did you imagine that in our global context people all over the world in country after country would be putting their lives at risk for liberty and freedom and that many of them would be succeeding, but some would not and they would be getting shot and strafed by their own government?” she said. “Did you imagine that when you imagined this event?”

“Did you imagine the budget woes sweeping our nation would bring teachers out of the school house and into the state house?”

“When you imagined this day, did you imagine the United Methodist Church would still be in our, let’s call it a downward trend, and that all of us would be asking the question, ‘What do we do?’ in looking toward a faithful future?”

She then paused, allowing the levity of her questions to sink in.

“This morning from Japan to Haiti we can literally hear the craving of all creation for compassion and community and I believe the United Methodist Church brings a world of hope.”

As an active proponent of denomination-wide initiative Imagine No Malaria, Jones said raising $75 million to eliminate deaths caused by malaria in sub-Saharan Africa is a substantial example of how bold imaginations can bring the church closer together.

“I have never experienced anything like this program. This program has just popped churches open. When neighbors found out about it (in the Austin District), even if they didn’t go to the church, they wanted to know how they could help,” she said. “Imagine No Malaria will expand the capacity of your congregation to have compassion. And as it says in Ephesians, ‘God can accomplish more than any of us can imagine.’”

It is estimated that a child in Africa dies of malaria every 45 seconds and Imagine No Malaria’s goal is to eradicate the suffering and disease by 2015.

Jones said the project reverberates within the walls of UMC’s because people “badly want to be connected” and to “feel vital.”

People can donate money to Imagine No Malaria or learn more about the project at www.imaginenomalaria.org.

Donations of $10 can also be made via cell-phone by texting “Malaria” to 27722.

Read More

The Bishop's Column: How Bishop's Day is teaching us how to be children of God

• By Michigan Area Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton •

As I write this reflection Bishop’s Day 2011 is almost over.

Nine of the 13 Districts have conducted their events and so far 2,615 clergy and laity have attended.

Our major focus for 2011 emphasized “Engaging in Ministry with the Poor.” Over and over, I have emphasized Bishop’s Day as a Continuing Education Event, as it’s another way to position the Michigan Area for growth.

Read 1 Corinthians 3. When the apostle Paul talks about factions in the church that belong to him or Apollos, he offers this description of their work. “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.”

Here’s my point.

Bishop’s Day Attendees in every district have worshipped, prayed, discussed and laughed, learned and fellowshipped under the leadership of 13 District Superintendents.

They have planted and they have watered. And God will provide growth — in His own time. Evidence of this watering and planting has appeared in the excitement created, convictions restored and new ideas accepted for making disciples of Jesus Christ at the local church. Laity and clergy in Michigan want to live into the Great Commission. And so we’ve focused our attention and learning about the “least of these” and reminded ourselves of our responsibility to care for the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and the imprisoned.

Still, “engaging in ministry with the poor” has proved sobering. Ministry to the poor focused on circumstances some of us knew years ago, never knew or don’t want to know. In every society, the poor are a permanent class.

My pastoral letter and YouTube video Bethlehem’s Got a Hold on Me says as much, especially the last two paragraphs.

Is the essence of our mission making disciples of Jesus Christ centered on “the least of these” for the transformation of the world? Excerpts of a prayer used in the worship service for Detroit East District Bishop’s Day has the answer.

“We pretend not to hear your children crying out for food. We choose not to see our homeless neighbors in our communities, in our nation and around the world. Forgive us too, for ignoring those who struggle to stay warm in the winters, who are left orphaned because of disease or war, and who are persecuted because of race or ethnicity. Guide us to reach out to the most vulnerable, sharing the gifts of your creation and wrapping them in your protective love. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.”

Not seeing hunger, homelessness and destruction, in Japan became impossible on March 11; the same for Haiti on January 12, 2010, or Louisiana and Mississippi on August 23, 2005 when earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, and flooding ravaged through these areas.

Poverty, human squalor, disease, sadness, hunger and homelessness became their life circumstance in the twinkle of an eye. Have mercy, Lord!

Muse on this March 13 Yahoo.com headline; “Japan’s death toll estimated as over 10,000.” It suggests this glaring fact of life: All of us are one paycheck, one catastrophic illness, one hurricane, one flood, one tsunami, one tornado, one earthquake, one nuclear meltdown or one act of violence from poverty.

Ask Job, Joseph or Japan. What keeps hope alive when such things come is God and the children of God. For we teach and train ourselves with acts of kindness and mercy which our Lord inaugurates with a vision statement during a teaching moment in the synagogue in Nazareth; namely “the spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:17-19)

And so must we, so must we.

Read More

New DS for Metro Detroit is a diverse woman ready to embark on a multi-cultural mission

• By RJ Walters, Editor •

From being part of a family that adopted a young boy from Guatemala when she was still a child, to spending some of her college years in Spain and Costa Rica, the Rev. Melanie Carey has always embraced multiculturalism without regard for borders.

Rev. Melanie Carey

Now Carey hopes to tear down cultural divides and barriers standing in the way of progress in Detroit area as the district superintendent for the new Metro Detroit district, effective July 1.

Carey has flourished as the lead pastor of Ypsilanti: First UMC for the past 12 years, starting a weekly Spanish language worship service and shepherding a pair of Kingdom Assignments (www.kingdomassignment.org) that have provided grant money to help more than 20 Detroit Conference churches start their own Kingdom Assignment projects.

The Kingdom Assignment utilizes $100 gifts within congregations with a focus on growing that money for whatever type of ministry is near and dear to a recipient’s heart.

Carey’s penchant for local-church missions and meeting the needs of others caught the attention of Michigan Area Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton.

“Melanie combines fruitful pastoral ministry, a wide variety of conference responsibilities done well, and a passion for social justice," Keaton said. "Whenever and whatever she has been asked to do has been done with excellence, enthusiasm and attention to detail, and I am confident that she will bring those same attributes to her work as superintendent for this new district in the Detroit metropolitan area.”

Carey said she feels privileged to be part of “building God’s kingdom in the city and suburbs with everyone together” and she feels like her background fits the calling appropriately.

“I guess my story would be that Bishop Keaton asked me to serve this particular district because it’s a very diverse district in terms of every way you can think of — not just racial, ethnic diversity, but there’s economic diversity, there’s a lot of diversity in the sizes of churches — basically any way you define diversity, the new metro area is that,” she said.

She grew up in Chelsea, Mich., which she admits, “was not a very diverse place.” However, during her childhood, her parents hosted seven international exchange students for a year at a time.

In 1978 her parents adopted her younger brother from Guatemala, where the family spent weeks waiting for his paperwork to come through.

“That greatly influenced me, so I kind of grew up where multiculturalism was normal,” she said. “It was weird for me to just be around people who were exactly like me so I’ve always been kind of attracted to that.”

Carey has been actively involved in helping create Hispanic/Latino ministries in the conference. She is also a member of the regional advisory board for Justice for Our Neighbors Southeast Michigan, a program that provides free legal immigration services, education and advocacy.

Since 1994, Carey has served as a national facilitator with the General Board of Global Ministries' National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry.

She acknowledges that being a vital part of a new district is one of the largest challenges she has taken on, but she said she will lean on the local churches and leaders of Detroit to “help create and cast a new vision.”

“Having churches and ministry sites work together, there all sorts of wonderful possibilities,” she said. “Plus we have such rich resources in the district in its people, who bring amazing gifts, so I think that’s another way sitting down and talking about what people can bring to the table will help.”

Carey calls her leadership style “very collegial.”

Some of her mentors include the Rev. Saul Trinidad, a National Hispanic Plan missionary who helped Carey practice her Spanish-speaking skills after college when he was serving at El Buen Pastor UMC in Detroit; FUMC of Birmingham pastor, the Rev. Jack Harnish, the first person to really encourage Carey to consider the ministry when she was younger; and the Rev. Jerry Parker, the pastor at Chelsea FUMC during Carey’s childhood.

Carey said she cannot wait to do ministry in new ways with new people in Detroit, but she is reminding people to be patient as fresh ideas and many years of history come together.

“I would to say that whenever we form something new there’s a lot anxiety about what it’s going to be. It’s important that we all give each other extra, what I call, ‘Space for grace,’” she said. “I would connect it to, you do a lot of wandering in the wilderness when you first start something brand new, but it’s also a very exciting time because things pop up that weren’t possible before because you did something a certain way.”

Read More

Video: Bishop's Day 2011 address by Bishop Jonathan Keaton

The continuing education tool Bishop's Day has been inspiring Michigan Area pastors and congregants the past two weekends and more events are planned for March 19 and March 26. Check out the remaining schedule of events in the West Michigan Conference and the Detroit Conference.

In the meantime check out this video of Michigan Area Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton sharing his passion and wisdom with people in the Port Huron District on March 5.

Read More

Statement from the Bishop on the devastation in Japan

A statement from Michigan Area Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton:

I don’t need to explain what has happened in the nation of Japan since they were hammered by two major earthquakes and a devastating tsunami.

The pictures displayed on television and the Internet are worth a million words.
But I will ask that Michigan United Methodists participate in more than one World Day of Prayer for the living and the dead. Pray daily for them.

As with the 2010 earthquake in Haiti and the 2005 hurricane Katrina in the U.S., recovery takes years not months. Also, make a donation to feed the hungry, shelter thousands of homeless, protect the citizens from a potential nuclear meltdown, etc.

I have written a check to UMCOR joining others in emergency relief for our brothers and sisters. Please pray and give what you can “to make the wounded whole” and “keep hope alive.” God bless you.

Donations may be made through your conference treasurer. Please use Pacific Emergency, UMCOR Advance #3021317.

Read More

Bishop Keaton urges participation in immigration reform campaign

By Paul Thomas, Detroit Conference Director of Communications

Michigan Area Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton is inviting United Methodists in the Michigan Area to join him in participating in the New Year's Resolution Campaign for human immigration reform, sponsored by the Interfaith Immigration Coalition.

Endorsed by the Council of Bishops, the New Year's Resolution Campaign is a way to inspire, be inspired, renew commitments to building more welcoming communities and advocate for humane immigration policies in 2011.

Keaton, along with leaders from the Detroit and West Michigan Conferences are urging United Methodists in Michigan to stand with immigrants, mobilize their faith communities, and call upon Congress to make it's own New Year's Resolution to enact immigration reform. The Immigration Task Force is made up of 13 individuals from the Michigan Area, whose names are provided at www.detroitconference.org.

There are six ways the Bishop is urging congregations to participate in the campaign:

Education
Have five conversations with friends or community members who may have reservations about immigration issues with hopes of deepening their understanding of the need for immigration reform.
Organize and invite community members to an event or movie screening and discussion.

Friendship
Invite an immigrant family to your home for dinner once a month.
Identify local faith groups that offer ESL (English as a second language) classes, legal clinics, and other direct services for immigrants, and work with your community to discuss assisting with these ministries.
Public Witness/Lobbying
Call members of Congress once a week, asking them to support reforms that reunite families and allow undocumented immigrants to earn their legal status - or better yet, try to meet with them in person.
(Note: the main switchboard number for Congress is 202-224-3121 - ask for your senators or congressperson)
Write a letter to the editor, call into radio shows, and/or respond to negative comments about immigrants, in order to bring tolerance, respect, and a call for humanity to the discussion.

Read More

Addition by Subtraction: Detroit Conference begins process of making itself the 'right size' for 21st century ministry

By RJ Walters, Editor

One era is coming to a close and another is preparing for liftoff in the Detroit Annual Conference.

Michigan Area Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton officially announced on Jan. 12 that the conference will be reduced from seven districts to six on July 1 in an attempt to save money and re-fashion itself for ministry in the 21st century.

Keaton relied heavily on the recommendations of a 16-member Redistricting Task Force he put together after legislation was passed at annual conference on May 22 to reduce the number of districts.

“After consulting with the cabinet according to paragraph 415.4 of the 2008 (United Methodist) Book of Discipline, I have determined the boundaries of the new districts,” he said. “Most of the churches in Detroit East and West Districts will become a part of a Detroit Metropolitan District. Other districts will undergo minor changes, with one exception, namely Ann Arbor."

The new districts are based on slight modifications to the “conservative model” presented to Keaton by the Redistricting Task Force in December.

The other model presented was further reaching in changes to current district boundaries.

Three districts — Ann Arbor, Flint, and Saginaw Bay — will see increases in their number of churches, while the Marquette and Port Huron Districts will see a slight reduction in the number of churches.

The Conference Leadership Team will go through the process or renaming the districts in the next few months.

The biggest geographic shift will be seven churches leaving the Detroit West District for the Ann Arbor District.

Detroit Conference Director of Connectional Ministries Jerry Devine sees the fusion of the two

Detroit districts into one as a wonderful opportunity for new growth and partnership.

“I really believe at this time it’s beneficial to bring together Detroit as an entity…because re-thinking and re-birthing Detroit is going to take everybody,” he said. “The church is a part of resurrection — that’s our theology — so as we look at the future of Detroit and its surrounding communities and people, the church needs to come together as one body to really collaborate on a new level.”

Read More

Breaking News: Carey named superintendent for new Detroit Metropolitan Area District

By Paul Thomas, Detroit Conference Director of Communications

Michigan Area Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton has announced that the Rev. Melanie L. Carey, lead pastor at Ypsilanti: First United Methodist Church, has been appointed to serve as a district superintendent in the Detroit Conference. Carey will be assigned to the newly formed district in the Metro Detroit area as of July 1, 2011.

“Melanie combines fruitful pastoral ministry, a wide variety of conference responsibilities done well, and a passion for social justice," Keaton said. "Whenever and whatever she has been asked to do has been done with excellence, enthusiasm and attention to detail, and I am confident that she will bring those same attributes to her work as superintendent for this new district in the Detroit metropolitan area. As a bilingual member of cabinet, she will broaden our collective experience and add to the depth of our discerning conversations.”

Ordained an elder in 1993, Carey has served three churches during her 20-year ministry. Carey led Hudson: First UMC from 1991-93 before being appointed as the associate pastor at Livonia: Newburg UMC, where she served for seven years (1993-2000).

In 2000, Carey was named to her current position at Ypsilanti: First UMC and is currently in her 11th year of ministry to that congregation. Ypsilanti: First UMC is one of the churches in the Detroit Conference that offers Hispanic/Latino ministries, including a weekly Spanish language worship service.

The congregation has also conducted a pair of Kingdom Assignment (kingdomassignment.org) programs, and has been able to grant money to over 20 churches within the conference to lead their own Kingdom Assignment campaigns.

"I am very humbled by this appointment," Carey said. "With this new district, there is an opportunity to create a new identity for The United Methodist Church in the Metro Detroit area. At this particular time in the history of our state, it is very critical that we bring the good news of Christ to the City of Detroit, to the suburbs and to our state. I look forward to the opportunity for us to do this work together."

Read More

Breaking News: Bishop names Anita Hahn as next district superintendent of Grand Traverse District

By Mark Doyal, West Michigan Conference Director of Communications

Michigan Area Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton today announced the appointment of the Rev. Anita K. Hahn as Superintendent of the Grand Traverse District effective July 1, 2011.

Hahn’s appointment follows the completion of the 6-year appointment of current Grand Traverse District by Superintendent, Dr. Robert J. Mayo.

“Reverend Hahn is a welcome addition to the Cabinet team for West Michigan. She brings gifts for preaching, teaching, pastoral care and administration along with a history of fruitful ministry in the local church, service as Chairperson of the District Committee on Ordained Ministry and more than 10 years of experience as a teacher of the hearing impaired," Keaton said. "As a bi-lingual member of cabinet, she will broaden our collective experience and add to the depth of our
conversations.”

Hahn is currently the pastor of New Life UMC in Six Lakes, Mich.

She has led the church since 2006, previously serving at Whitehall/Claybanks UMC where she left in 1998.

She holds a Master’s of Divinity from United Theological Seminary, a Bachelor’s of Science in Special Education Centering with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and a Master’s in Early Childhood Education from Grand Valley State University.

Hahn and her husband Kevin have three children.

Read More

Bishop’s Advent Offering aims to touch young hearts in Russia

By RJ Walters, Editor

Bishop Jonathan Keaton’s aspiration is to have the light of advent shine half way around the globe, and through the annual Bishop’s Advent Offering at local churches in November and December the Michigan Area is responding to the hungry bellies and often, starving souls, of social orphans in Russia.

Social orphans are children who have parents, but live in crisis conditions due to poverty, alcoholism, drug addictions, etc. There are approximately 270,000 orphans living in Russian “orphan houses”, of which around 7,000 are adopted annually, according to Grace United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Grace UMC is not a congregation that just acknowledges the epidemic though — they are diligent Methodists who have worked to attenuate the crisis conditions of children all over St. Petersburg through the United Methodist Children’s Center, which it opened in 2002.

Thanks to donations from all over the globe — include funding from The Advance — the Center is able to provide social orphans from “at-risk families” with hot meals, clothes, medicines, education programs, camps and a chance to hear the message of Jesus Christ.

The well-traveled Bishop Keaton said he has much heart for providing young people with hope and necessities and he was led to reach out to the Children’s Center by a few people who support the seminary in Russia.

“One of the best things we can do with our young people here and around the world is to do everything we can to enhance their quality of life number one,” he said. “And to do everything we can to help them to live a life that won’t put them in a position where they will injure their bodies, find themselves incarcerated and/or find themselves on the outs with society and/or their family and extended family.”

According to the Center’s website, www.churchgrace.org, there are only two churches that serve nearly half a million people in the Primorsky district of St. Petersburg.

Read More

Burning Questions with Bill Volume 1: Clergy Assistant to Bishop responds to unanswered queries

By Bill Dobbs, Clergy Assistant to the Bishop

While attending this past summer’s School for Pastoral Ministry, I had the opportunity to participate in a question and answer session with both Deans of Cabinet and myself. During that session, more questions were asked than we had time to answer.

Utilizing the Michigan Area Reporter I would like to share my responses to the unanswered questions, from my perspective as Clergy Assistant to Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton.

Along the way, we may even discuss a couple of questions you wanted to ask, but didn’t.

If you would like to submit a question, please write me: bdobbs@miareaumc.org. Thanks for letting me share this time with you.

Question: How are you advising pastors who might itinerate in the next year regarding the housing issue?
Dobbs: As I hear this question, I think that there are several implied unspoken questions attached. In general, we are advising pastors who are itinerate — all elders are, in theory, itinerate, but that’s another question — to go very slowly if they are thinking about getting out of the parsonage system. It is no secret that the Michigan housing market is not in very robust shape at this moment in time, nor is it likely to return to good health in the near future. For pastors and parsonage families who already own homes, my advice would be to consider finding a good property manager and renting your house to help with mortgage payments if you can. When I came to my present position, I chose to rent an apartment in the city of Lansing so that I would not have to make a 150-mile round-trip commute every day to our home in Mt. Pleasant.
My wife and I did not want to try and sell our home given the current market, so we have someone renting our house while we are in this job, and we will return “home” when the job has ended.
I realize that everyone’s situation is different, but if someone had advised my to keep the home we owned before going into the ministry some 38 years ago, and I had taken their advice, we would have owned it by now and retirement would look very different. No pastor should expect that the Bishop and cabinet will make appointment decisions based solely on the location of a home that they own. It may be a factor taken into consideration, but it would only be one among many. If location is a primary factor for parsonage families, and it very well may be, then it is possible that no appointment will be available in a given year or the appointment might look quite different from a pastor’s previous appointments; e.g. part-time or much lower salary etc.

Question: How does an elder move and live into a call that is outside pastoral ministry?
Dobbs: The short answer is — pray! The longer answer would begin at the same place. Just as you did when you first heard the call to pastoral ministry, spend a good deal of time in prayer and meditation. And talk your sense of call over with trusted friends or, perhaps, a career counselor to get a better idea of what it is that you feel called to. I believe that it should be a calling “to” something and not just an overpowering weariness with what you have been doing. Two of the people that I hope you will include in this testing-your-call time are your D.S. and someone from the Board of Ordained Ministry. I know all about the “stories” that have circulated among clergy; stories of abuse and neglect by uncaring superintendents or Board Members who only want to say “no.” But my personal experience with the people who sit on cabinet or with the Board of Ordained Ministry is that they genuinely care about clergy and clergy families and want to help them achieve what is best for them – even if that is in a career that is not pastoral ministry. The process itself is stated in the Book of Discipline, beginning with paragraph ¶353 and following, but the answer to the question is found in the faith that God will lead us, with the support of friends and counselors to guide us along the way.

Next month we will discuss two more questions: 1. “Who is the pastor to pastors? Will the conference ever consider having someone to confide in that doesn‘t have connection to (the) appointment process?” And, 2.“How can Bishop Keaton’s pastors express both their support and affection for him without appearing to simply be currying favor (sucking up)?”

Read More

Proud, passionate — Protestant: UMC helps celebrate 200 years of Protestantism in Michigan

By RJ Walters, Editor

In 1804 travelling clergyman Nathan Bangs arrived in Detroit, only to abruptly leave “shaking the dust off his feet in testament against (the people),” as he wrote in his journal.

Protestantism had not yet found a home in Michigan.

On Sunday Oct. 3, Central United Methodist Church in Detroit celebrated what happened just six years later, when the historic church and the FUMC of Dearborn became the first protestant churches in the state.

“In 1804 circuit riders (travelling clergy) came to this “Wild West town,” but they weren’t warmly received so they left,” Dr. James N. Bull said. “Two-hundred years ago, in 1810, Rev. William Mitchell formed the first Methodist Society of seven people and that is what we celebrate today.”

It was fitting that a service celebrating peace and justice of the protestant church in contemporary and historical fashions was held in a sanctuary where Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke on several occasions, including just two weeks before his assassination.

Seven different protestant denominations were officially represented and dozens of singers from choirs around the state joined their voices to commemorate 200 years of shared history in the state.

A celebratory mood was struck early on with the spirited music and rhythm of African drummers and dancers dressed in bright native clothes and on several occasions the choir, which circled the upper balcony, had the entire crowd on its feet clapping and rejoicing.

It was a day of reflection as well as encouragement for moving forward. Central UMC senior pastor Rev. Edwin Rowe reminded the audience of how the protestant church has come so far.

“We have a shared history that has been lifted up by many giants of the faith…each denomination has brought great gifts to our collective protestant history over the years,” he said.

He talked about lifting others up to “help future generations see over the crowd” as he remembered those who have paved the way for two centuries. He also admitted the protestant church still has plenty of issues to address and a foundation that is complete only when focused on being the hands of God.

Read More

Saginaw Bay celebrates new District Superintendent

By Michael Desotell, Correspondent

Pastors and parishioners of the Saginaw Bay District, along with the friends and family of the Rev. Dr. Jeffery Maxwell gathered at Christ United Methodist Church in Bay City to celebrate the installation of Maxwell as District Superintendent.

The worship service highlighted the creativity and passion of the district, featuring the Trash Can Band from St. Luke’s UMC and the young streamer dancers from Faith Way Church.

Bishop Jonathan Keaton was on hand to offer words of encouragement to both Rev. Maxwell and the Saginaw Bay District. Keaton also explained to those in attendance how God led him to call Rev. Maxwell into this new ministry.

“Every now and then in this work of responsibility I have the privilege of extending personal calls myself. I do that when I look out and hear the words of superintendents and hear the words of laypersons and hear the words of these district committees on superintendency and what they need when I have to select a new superintendent,” he said.

“And in the midst of all of that information that came to me and looking out at the universe of people in the Detroit Annual Conference, the name by word, by deed, by prayer that came to me was Dr. Jeffery Maxwell.”

Keaton called attention to the many ministry areas in which Rev. Maxwell has served during his tenure and how they will enhance his service as a district superintendent. The Bishop also acknowledged the difficulty of making it through the trials of ministry alone and extended his thanks to God for the wonderful partner that Rev. Maxwell has in his wife, Jan.

Keaton also offered a few words of comfort and encouragement to Rev. Maxwell for those difficult times that may lie ahead, saying, “It’s going to be alright! Not because I am with you, but because God is with you!”

Rev. Maxwell brought the celebration to a crescendo with a message from 1 Corinthians 12. He emphasized the diversity of the district and how important that diversity is to fulfilling their mission of making disciples for the transformation of the world. Those in attendance laughed in approval as Maxwell engaged Keaton to represent the Body of Christ as represented in the scripture that was read.

The congregation was privileged to witness, for the first time, Rev. Maxwell actually “bending” the ear of the Bishop.

On a serious note, Rev. Maxwell included three promises to his new district.

“As I stand before you I am going to make you three promises. Promise number one: I promise to strive to grow in grace and knowledge. Oh Boy! Now is not the time to stop learning. Now is not the time to stop growing,” he said.

“My understanding and experience of the ways and will of God and even of God need to deepen and expand…”

His second promise was geared directly at the unique gifts possessed by each pastor.

“You all have your own personality and preference and gifts package; you have your own unique experiences, and I want to know you. I want to know who you are and the uniqueness that God has invested in you,” he said.

His final promise was focused on building personal relationships with all churches.

“Just as each person is unique, so too is each church. Each church has a culture,” he said. “Each church has unique offerings to the kingdom. I want to know each church.”

Maxwell explained that as the district holds him accountable to these promises he will be able to more effectively utilize the gifts and graces and passion that God has given him.

Read More

Re-districting Task Force begins work for Detroit Conference

By Paul Thomas, Detroit Conference Director of Communications

The Redistricting Task Force met recently, with the group choosing a working model to begin formulating a six-district plan for the Detroit Conference.

The conference is reducing a district to comply with action taken by the 2010 annual conference session, which instructed the resident bishop, Michigan Area Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton, to determine the boundaries of the new districts, and for the Conference Leadership Team to name them by no later than July 1, 2011.

Although not instructed to do so, Keaton named a task force to assist him in the reduction effort. After the task force was convened in late June, the task force's leadership presented two models for the group to spend the summer praying and discerning over. From those two models, a third emerged at the meeting and it was unanimously adopted by the group as a starting point to create the new districts.

"It was a movement of the Holy Spirit that brought us to the model that was adopted by the entire task force," said Paul Thomas, the task force's chairperson. "As we spent time discussing the two models that had been distributed, it became clear that there were two pressing issues that needed to be cared for in whatever model we chose. The first was dealing with the Metro Detroit area, and the second was addressing the geography of the northern part of the conference, including the U.P. In the end, the model the group chose to begin to work with addresses both issues. While the rationale for introducing the legislation at annual conference was to reduce districts in order to save money, the task force is seeing this reduction as an opportunity to create more dynamic and fruitful ministry."

Details of the working model were not made public. The model will be fully developed in advance of the task force's next meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 12. The task force expects to finalize the model at its next meeting, and make the model public after consulting with Bishop Keaton and the appointive cabinet.

The task force is set to complete its work and make its recommendations to Bishop Keaton and the appointive cabinet by January 2011.

The task force also underwent a few changes in membership over the summer to achieve a greater degree of diversity.

For a complete list of the 16 members providing input on the task force check out the Detroit Conference website at www.detroitconference.org.

Read More

Spaw's installation as Ann Arbor District Superintendent Celebrated

By RJ Walters, Editor

Crowns weren’t handed out and there was no punch bowl in need of constant refills, but it was a homecoming celebrating of sorts for Rev. Mark Spaw on Sept. 26.

The revered United Methodist leader had his speech well prepared and the crowd gave him an abundance of love, as Spaw was officially installed as the new Ann Arbor District Superintendent at Brighton FUMC — just miles from where he spent 16 years of his ministry as pastor of Hartland UMC.

He helped grow Hartland UMC from 33 members to over 300 while he was there and more than 300 members have joined Trenton: Faith UMC since he was appointed there in 1999.

That aptitude, as well as Michigan Area Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton’s conviction that Spaw was just the man of God the Ann Arbor District needed, landed Spaw the position he started July 1.

“He brings energy, passion, knowledge, experience, a dash of humor and a servant’s commitment to the seat of district superintendent,” he said. “I am convinced the only reason I’ve called Mark Spaw to be the District Superintendent for Ann Arbor in this time is not because I just happened to choose him, but because God chose to use me as an instrument to do the calling.”

With a host of family members and lay members from his previous ministry stops crowding the pews, Spaw delivered a sermon reminding people that Jesus was the ultimate shepherd in his time on earth. Spaw said people can learn a lot from John 10:11-16 where Jesus speaks of knowing all of his sheep and being willing to lay down his life for them.

“My friend, a sheep who is trapped in the bramble may squeal and be resistant to the shepherd’s rescue because of the pain, but a good shepherd will ignore the squealing and save the sheep,” he said.

Spaw has shown deep commitment to neighboring communities during his career in ministry. He is the chaplain for the Trenton High School football team and Trenton City Fired Department and he has a longstanding history of working with everyone from non-profit organizations to local school districts to the Boy Scouts of America.

Read More