I continue to offer this simple phrase, the motto of the Theological School of Drew University, as my personal mission statement. As a person called by God and ordained an elder in The United Methodist Church, I am privileged to employ my gifts among the Methodists of Nashville, North Carolina.

I invited us a year ago to take a moment’s breath as we were launching a process that involved building a 14,500 square foot addition and renovating another 16,000 square feet. We now desire to move now into the sanctuary to renovate that space in a manner that is compatible with its great history. Our sanctuary is well-prayed and well-worshipped space and our mothers and fathers call us to finish the work. I pray that our sanctuary team will be able to help us discern a common vision for preparing that space for another century of service on behalf of God’s soon-coming kingdom.

A year later I confess to being short of breath. I find myself in the middle of wrestling with a new manner of working among the saints and sinners of this church. I am committed to setting us free for ministry in this place. As I seek to know Jesus more and the details of the church’s life less I find the journey difficult, but I find strength in the apostle Paul’s willingness “to become all things to all people so that by all means some might be saved” (1 Cor. 9:22). I commend Ann Collier for being willing to lead a new adventure of all our church leaders meeting to discuss the work of the church, breaking into teams and committees for continued work, and returning to say “amen” together – the trick is that we hope to do all of this in one night a month. I lift prayers of thanksgiving for Ann, Gary Helms, Matt Brown, Lynn & Ellen Ward, Cindy Pike, and Rita Bennett as they work to flesh out how we can grow and function as the body of Christ in ministry together.

I reviewed again the words of Albert Outler in Evangelism & Theology in the Wesleyan Spirit (1996). Our lay leadership development team comes to you offering a simpler slate of officers – a chance for God to breathe fresh air into our predictability. This model of calling, equipping, and sending setting the tempo for our life continues to be a struggle – the work of putting this building is place has been all-consuming. Albert Outler noted that our task is always three-fold (see pp. 65-66): (1) announcing the coming of Christ (see Mark 16:15), (2) witnessing by our actions and words to God’s love (see Acts 1:8), and (3) living as servants together (see John 13). The problem for Outler’s day and our own is that living together – not calling, equipping, and sending saints into ministry – is often all we are willing to do in response to God’s great love for us. Rich Mullins reminds us that “faith without works is a song you can’t sing … it’s about as useless as a screen door on a submarine.” Let us never lose our resolve to reach out to the “Lost in America” beginning with the 15,000 persons in the 27856 zip code (see Tom Clegg, Lost in America, 2001).

Within the Methodist connection I continue in service as the Chairperson of our Conference’s Commission on Congregational Development. I finished a two year term of leadership in the Residency In Ordained Ministry program and I give thanks for the seven sisters and brothers who are now elders in full connection within The United Methodist Church.

I cannot finish without saying a word of gratitude to Scott Smallwood, Cindy Pike, Tom Parker, and now Rita Bennett, Jim Boehm, and Joanna Mercer. They keep my humble with their comments and with their willingness to serve Christ in this place. For Denise Calloway and Jenna Rae Migdon I give thanks as they continue to build a stronger day care ministry for pre-school and after school children in this place. To Becky Lockwood and Tara Williams in our office I also give thanks. To their names, I add the great blessing I receive from retired colleagues Lester and Henrietta Jackson and Sidney and Katherine Boone. I give God thanks for Cindy, Ann and William – they are God’s breath of fresh air every day of my life. Finally, I am truly blessed to live and work among the saints and sinners of Nashville United Methodist Church and the community we serve.

I continue to offer this simple phrase, the motto of the Theological School of Drew University, as my personal mission statement. As a person called by God and ordained an elder in The United Methodist Church, I am privileged to employ my gifts among the Methodists of Nashville, North Carolina.

I have been reviewing several texts from my library over the last few weeks. The concise words of Albert Outler in Evangelism & Theology in the Wesleyan Spirit (1996) have been especially informative. His 1971 Denman Lectures in Evangelism, which constitute the first portion of this book, are as apt a description of the church and our cultural milieu as any contemporary work (even post-September11, 2001). As we stand literally poised to build a 14,500 square foot – if can you call that an “addition” – and renovate another 16,000 square feet, I think we need to pause for a moment’s breath.

Once again, our lay leadership team comes to you offering a simpler slate of officers – a chance for God to breath fresh air into our predictability. This model of nurture, outreach, and witness setting the tempo for our life rather than finances and building policies will continue to be a struggle. Albert Outler noted that the church’s task is always three-fold (see pp. 65-66): (1) announcing the coming of Christ (see Mark 16:15 – go therefore into all of the world and preach (herald) the gospel to every creature), (2) witnessing by our actions and words to God’s love (see Acts 1:8 – you shall (must) be my martyrs (witnesses) – in Jerusalem and in all Judeo and away to the ends of the earth), and (3) live as servants together (see John 13 – If I, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example; you are to do as I have done for you). This is probably the best scriptural grounding for the nurture, outreach, and witness model of ministry. The problem for Outler’s church and our own is that nurturing one another is often as far as we are willing to go in responding to God. Living as servants of the living God is difficult and yet Rich Mullins reminds us that “faith without works is a song you can’t sing … its about as useless as a screen door on a submarine.”

Another breath that I am seeking in this moment is the Spirit’s breath. That breath comes when we ask not what are we doing, but rather ponder what is God doing and how can we become part of that movement. For me the moment of the Spirit’s renewal came as I reread the gospel account of the bent-over woman that Jesus heals on the Sabbath … in the synagogue … with everybody watching … and dares to call a “daughter of Abraham” … (see Luke 13:10-17). Jesus reminded me that I am called to preach good news – news that says that bent-over folk can stand stall when healing comes and we call them by their name – sons and daughters of Abraham, brother and sister of Christ, children of God. I find myself needing to revamp what I am doing in ministry and so I asked our District Superintendent Charles M. Smith if I could start my six-year tenure now, as we break ground for the future.

Within the Methodist connection I continue in service on the Conference Commission on Congregational Development. I also host a group of probationary members of our annual conference in the Residency In Ordained Ministry program. The past year’s journey with the company of fresh-thinking sisters and brothers in the Reynolds program in church leadership will bear continuing fruit in ministry.

I cannot finish without saying a word of gratitude to Scott Smallwood, Cindy Pike, and now Tom Parker. They keep my humble with their comments and with their willingness to serve Christ in this place. For Denise Calloway and Debbie Pridgen I give thanks as they have forged a stronger day care ministry in this place. To Becky Lockwood and Tara Williams, partners in crime in our church office, I give thanks. Their work in moving us across the street to the Cockrell House is a work of wonder. To their names, I add the great blessing I receive from retired colleagues Lester and Henrietta Jackson and Sidney and Katherine Boone. I give God thanks for Cindy, Ann and William – they are God’s breath of fresh air every day of my life. Finally, I am truly blessed to live and work among the saints and sinners of Nashville United Methodist Church and the community we serve.

This is the motto of the Theological School of Drew University. A year ago I offered this as my personal mission statement. As a person called by God and ordained an elder in The United Methodist Church, I am privileged to employ my gifts among a people growing in faith, in fellowship, in service, and in Christ.

This year I offer the following statement from Paul as a tentative new direction for the life of this church. Paul writes to Christians of Ephesus: “The gifts [Jesus] gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12). The insight that haunts my prayers of late is that the leaders of the church (me) are called to equip the saints (us) for the work of ministry. Since Paul used the greeting saints to greet Christian communities throughout his ministry we know in the core of our being that we are each called to a particular ministry in God’s soon-coming kingdom. In addition, I must, as the pastor of this church, recommit myself to the work of teaching and equipping God’s people for ministry. For all of us this is a journey out of the safe territory of playing church to being the church.

What will this look like? I do not know specifically. I asked the Nominations and Personnel committee to appoint many of you to the administrative board as at-large members. Why? The first reason is simple; it will be easier for me to ask you to find a specific ministry on your own rather than to choose one for you. Working with a particular ministry, within or without the walls of the church, will be an expectation for members of our administrative board. The second reason is that many of us need to dream, pray, envision and together carefully discern God’s future in this community. Mike Slaughter challenged us on Monday to be able to answer three questions: 1) What is our business, 2) who is our customer, and 3) what does our customer consider of value? Tonight we must confess that we do not have corporate answers for these questions – our future depends on what we wrestle with God as we seek to answer these questions.

We proclaim two important victories for our congregation for this past year. Tara Williams has reported on the heroic effort to help almost 50 families recover from the flooding associated with Hurricane Floyd. Secondly, our NEW BEGINNINGS worship celebration is launched with an average attendance of 115 after six months. Our traditional service is being rethought in these months and we anticipate growth in both celebrations in the coming year. Our current average worship attendance is 224 for the year and 248 for the fall quarter. Our goal is a worship attendance averaging at least 278 for the coming year. This will put on track with those who twenty years ago created the educational space for a growing faith community.

Within the Methodist connection I serve on the Conference Commission on Congregational Development. I worked with Steve Compton, Branson Sheets, and RockFish < to host a conference on starting new worship services. With Jim Boehm and Anne King, I taught DISCIPLE I Bible Study at Fountain Correctional Institute this past year. I will serve as the spiritual director for a Chrysalis flight in January. I especially look forward to my work in the Reynolds program in church leadership in the coming year.

We welcomed Scott Smallwood home this year and I pray for the moments – maybe only fifteen months from now – when Scott will stand as a full-time colleague in ministry. I count it a blessing to have Scott share in the leaning into the yoke of obedience that is our mutual calling from God. Cindy Pike brings energy and almost reckless abandonment to her work as minister of youth and education. Joan Pate is making headway as she tackles two issues – gaining strength in the traditional musical arts while learning on the fly the multi-disciplinary tasks of leading our worship life.

Cindy, Ann, William and I are blessed to serve in ministry with Scott, Kathy, Andy, and Katie Smallwood, Cindy, Bob, Casey, Bryce, and Aaron Pike and Joan, Bob, Rob, and Sara Pate. To their names, I add the great blessing I receive from retired colleagues Lester and Henrietta Jackson and Sidney and Katherine Boone.

I am truly blessed to live and work among the saints and sinners of Nashville United Methodist Church and the community we serve.

dorean elabote, dorean dote. Given Gifts – Give Gifts. (Matthew 10:8b).

The above quote in Greek is the motto of the Theological School of Drew University. Our hymnal translates Jesus’ teaching as “freely you have received, freely give” (The United Methodist Hymnal: 1988, #389). Dr. Robert Bull, my advisor and Patristics professor, intimidated us by translating the motto “those to whom much is given, even more will be expected.” I am most comfortable with a reading offered by the late Dr. Jack Beaudean and Dean Thomas Ogletree: “given gifts – give gifts.” Most importantly for this meeting tonight, I offer you what is my statement of mission at NUMC. As a person gifted for ordained ministry, I am privileged to work among a people who are growing in faith, in fellowship, in service, and in Christ. One of my discoveries in four months of ministry is that we are indeed “blessed to be a blessing.”

In the four months since I arrived in Nashville I have visited in over 65 homes, have made numerous other pastoral visits, presided at two weddings, a funeral, and one raucous baptism. Our worship life is enhanced by a gracious people and a bevy of gifted musicians – organists, pianists, and choir members. Our growth in faith is enhanced by a strong Sunday School program. I am excited to have 30 people in Cokesbury’s new Christian Believer program. The Wednesday night meals is providing a needed place for folks to fellowship together and help our children and youth mature in the Christian life. Missions and community outreach make a distinctive mark for NUMC. Whether we are welcoming children from Belarussia, hosting folks overnight with the Interfaith Hospitality Network, or responding to the victims of Hurricane Floyd, we see our church growing in our love for neighbor. Our witness team is following up with first time visitors and I am beginning to make headway with this list as well. Look for some fresh ideas in advertising to come into view in the coming weeks as we lead to our special Advent and Christmas services. I do not have to mention our youth program – you know of its strength.

Growth also brings many challenges to us. The finance committee is in the midst of making a difficult journey as we make a transition to Bradley and Berry, P.A. as our treasurer and financial secretary. I celebrate Raymond Batchelor’s careful stewardship of our resources. You will begin to discover in the coming weeks how careful he was as the Trustees lead us in considering the cash purchase of the Van Dorp and Davis properties on the other side of Hilliard Street. Our building committee is making headway on a facility that allows us to grow into the next millennia. We anticipate that many will challenge us to make our new fellowship hall, child day-care space, kitchen, and administrative areas something that enhances the “streetscape” of Washington Street. Finally, we will be beginning a new worship service in the coming year and we need the gifts of many of NUMC’s saints to launch this new ministry.

Within the Methodist connection I serve as a member of the Conference Commission on Congregational Development. With Jim Boehm and Anne King (First UMC, Rocky Mount), I teach DISCIPLE I Bible Study at Fountain Correctional Institute for Women. I also serve as the spiritual director for the Heart of Carolina Chysalis Community, was the spiritual director for a Chrysalis flight in July, and anticipate serving as an assistant spiritual director for the Heart of Carolina Walk to Emmaus in the coming year.

I am blessed to join in service in this community with a minister of youth and education who is growing in her calling to the ordained ministry. If the equation E=mc² is true then she is the speed of light squared that balances my mass. Cindy Pike is pure contagious energy. Our raiding party to First UMC (Rocky Mount) found success when we met Adonna Dickerson. She brings a marvelous gift and tremendous passion for excellence to our music program. Cindy, Ann, William, and I are blessed to serve in ministry with Cindy, Bob, Casey, Bryce, and Aaron Pike and Adonna, Den, and Taylor Dickerson. To their names, I add the great blessing I receive from retired colleagues Lester and Henrietta Jackson and Sidney and Katherine Boone. We also continue to pray for Scott Smallwood and his family as they serve the Red Oak UMC.

I am truly blessed to live among the saints and sinners of Nashville United Methodist Church.