Conversation with Sharon Watkins
In September 2008, Glenn Carson, President of the Historical Society, sat down for a conversation with Sharon Watkins, General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
In the hour-long audio dialogue that is broken up into eleven segments, Watkins speaks on several topics including being the eldest of five siblings, growing up in a Disciples congregation, her call to ministry, shares thoughts on her faith pilgrimage and her vision for churches in the 21st century.
Click here to listen to the conversation.
2008 Christmas Offering
The 2008 Christmas Offering gives us an opportunity to celebrate what GREAT things God has done in our lives and to respond by “giving back” to the ministry we share. Thanks to your generous donations last year, the Christmas offering in the Soutwest Region has enabled certification, credentialing and licensing of 1250 clergy and the ordinations of almost 50 new pastors! In addition, we have supported the ministry of our eight geographic Areas; provided Regional programming for Disciples Youth, Disciples Men and Disciples Women; led seminars/workshops for clergy and congregations; offered counsel in moments of conflict and important decisions; coordinated the biennial Regional Assembly with its outstanding speakers, workshops, worship and conversation time together!
Click here for more information and resources for the 2008 Christmas Offering.
Administrative Committee Hears Report On New Approach for General Assembly Action
Disciples may have new ways of expressing their views on important moral, ethical or religious issues at General Assembly meetings as part of a report discussed at the Oct. 31-Nov. 1 Administrative Committee.
The report recommends combining three categories of General Assembly business (Sense of the Assembly Resolutions, Study Documents, and Items for Research and Reflection) into a new category – Call of the Assembly to the Church for Study, Reflection and Action.
Click here for details.
Corporate Update Plan
In the past several months, we have discovered difficulties in a variety of congregations as they were working on real estate issues, tax issues, and even issues of liability for employees and for accidents on the premises. What we have discovered is that many of our congregations do not have the congregation’s corporate charter up-to-date. It is important that every congregation have an up-to-date non-profit corporation.
We are pleased to offer you a “Corporate Update Plan” through a special arrangement with the Region's attorney to offer a low fixed price for a corporate check up and update service for congregations in the Region.
Click here for details about the plan.
Regional Assembly Evaluation Form is Online!
If you attended any portion of our 2008 Regional Assembly in Ft. Worth Oct.16-19, please fill out our evaluation form for the event. We would like to get your opinions and feedback. The evaluation form is now online and can be easily completed and submitted in just a few minutes. Your opinion is important and we would like to hear from you.
Click here to register with your name and e-mail address and then complete the form.
A Congo Diary - A Brief Account of the Trip to the Democratic Republic of the Congo
General Minister and President Sharon E. Watkins spent 10 days in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in the Republic of Congo earlier this year.
Sharon shares with readers in an online diary many of her experiences while traveling in the area as part of the Indiana Regional Church delegation and describes the extravagant hospitality extended to the group by our partners in those countries.
Click here to read Sharon's diary.
Thanksgiving Offering 2008!
Don’t forget the special Thanksgiving offering on Sunday, November 16th and 23rd to benefit the training of Disciples of Christ emerging leaders.
For two centuries, Disciples colleges and universities have trained Disciples leaders to think clearly and rationally and to minister to the world around them. While those first instructors and students might not recognize modern campuses, those classic values live on in the 21st Century.
Click here for details.
Mike’s Kids Kickoff at Area Men’s Breakfast
The next North Texas Area Men’s Breakfast will be the 2008 kickoff of Mike’s Kids, a major outreach program of the North Texas Area each Christmas season. The breakfast will take place at First Christian Church of Carrollton on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008 beginning at 8:30 a.m. The speaker will be Mark Slaight, who is the current head of this ministry that supports abandoned children and families that have been forced out of their homeland to a new country. As Christmas approaches, the North Texas Area Disciples of Christ Christian Churches begin filling banana boxes with new and gently used clothes and toys to be delivered to Southwest Good Samaritan Ministry in Los Fresnos. Reverend Feliberto Pereira oversees the distribution to "the poorest of the poor" in the area and to an orphanage just across the border in Mexico. Further information about Mike’s Kids can be found at http://www.mikeskids.org/. Further information about Southwest Good Samaritan Ministry can be found at http://www.swgsm.org/.
Sharon Watkins' Pastoral Letter of October 9, 2008
General Minister and President Sharon E. Watkins has issued a pastoral letter that asks Disciples to remain faithful during the tough economic times facing our country and many parts of the world. Watkins also encourages Disciples to be in a time of prayer for those who are most adversely affected by the downturn in financial markets and find ways to reach out to our neighbors.
Many of you may be wondering about the state of our Disciples financial ministries at this time.
Click here to read the full pastoral letter and the comments of three of the presidents of our Disciples financial ministries.
New Executive Director for Week of Compassion
The Rev. Amy Gopp will draw on her experiences as a missionary, preacher, global activist and peacemaker in her newest position as executive director of Week of Compassion (WOC). Gopp was called to the position earlier this week after a nation-wide search. She had previously served three years as associate director of WOC.
“I am thrilled to be able to serve the Church in this new way,” said Gopp. “This ministry allows me to do all that I love and all that I feel God calls me to do. I am able to preach, connect with congregations, and accompany people that we are serving around the world.”
Click here for details.
Southwest Region Churches Struggle to Recover From Ike
From Disciples News Service: Disciples are responding to the devastation brought on by Hurricane Ike in communities around the country. Week of Compassion has sent grants to several churches in Texas and Louisiana that took the brunt of Ike's fury. Last week, a $3,500 grant was issued to First Christian Church in Orange, Texas, and a $5,000 grant to First Christian Church in Lake Charles, La. More help will be needed.
"The damage from Ike will equal or exceed that of Katrina and Rita," said Dani Loving Cartwright, regional minister and president of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Southwest. "Many members of affected churches lost everything. We need your help."
In addition, Fredrick Nixon, pastor of Community of Faith Church in Houston, Texas, is requesting prayers and thoughtful petitions of courage and strength for the following: his church, the Coastal Plains Area of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Houston Association of the United Church of Christ, the La Amistad Love and Learning Academy and the Houston-Galveston community.
Regional Assembly, Oct. 16-19
Regional Assembly will be held Oct.16 - 19, 2008 at University Christian Church in Fort Worth, Texas.
Rev. Johnny Wray will be the keynote speaker on Saturday night. Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins, general minister and president of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), will preach our Celebration worship service on Sunday morning at Ed Landreth Auditorium on the TCU campus.
On Thursday night, you can catch the TCU vs. BYU football game ($20 discount tickets are available), and there will be a golf tournament on Friday at Hawks’ Creek Golf Club.
Click here for more information and registration forms.
2008 Reconciliation Ministry Special Offering Sept. 28th and Oct. 5th
The table is a central image to our understanding of ourselves as Disciples. The table is the place where we are drawn together as invited guests. The table is a place of invitation, conversation, and transformation. The table is where we are called to become the gift of reconciliation!
Your gift to the Reconciliation Ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will empower others to come to the table and become the gift of reconciliation.
Offering dates are Sept. 28th and Oct.5th.
Click here for more information or to make an online gift.
General Minister & President Calls Pastors Together
Dr. Sharon E. Watkins, general minister and president of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), is calling all Disciples clergy to come together for a time of rest, renewal, and rejuvenation Sept. 8-10, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. The theme for this gathering is “Wholeness in a Fragmented World: Body, Mind & Spirit.” The pastor’s conference will feature noted preachers Dr. Floyd Flake and Bishop William Willimon.
Click here for more information.
Click here to go to Dr. Watkin's pastor's conference Web page.
Northeast Area Assembly and Leadership Event
The Northeast Area will be conducting their Area Assembly and Leadership Event Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008 at First Christian Church of Longview.
The keynote speaker will be Dr. Bill McConnell, lead pastor of Legacy Christian Church in Harrison, Ohio, and the author of a newly published book, Renew Your Congregation: Healing the Sick, Raising the Dead, published by Chalice Press. Bill has successfully led his congregation through transformation, and he will be sharing with us his experiences through that process. A minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for thirty-five years, he is currently the chair of the National Evangelism Association. Dr. McConnell has authored several books and articles, as well as a popular political and humor column for the Harrison Press.
Click here for more information.
