April 2018
Happy Easter! What a glorious day Sunday was, as we celebrated the resurrection of our Lord and renewed our own commitment to share the good news of Jesus Christ to a world yearning for new life, hope, and peace.
Laity Day
I am looking forward to seeing you at Laity Day on Saturday, April 14. We’ll be at Aldersgate UMC in Urbandale from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. In the morning, I’ll be sharing a Bible study called, “Running Away with Jonah.” In the afternoon, we’ll have a question and answer session and then celebrate the sacrament of holy communion together.
Click here to see the agenda and register
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All laity are encouraged to attend. It will be a great day, with good fellowship, great presentations, and a wonderful lunch. See you there!
Commission on a Way Forward Gatherings
We have four remaining district gatherings where we will dialogue together around the work of the Commission on a Way Forward in preparation for a special called session of General Conference in February 2019. You are welcome to attend any event that is convenient for you.
• Sat. April 7 -
Southeast and East Central Districts
• Sun. April 15 -
Central District
• Sat. April 21 -
Northwest District
• Sun. April 22 -
Northeast District
Preaching Schedule
I am scheduled to preach in the following churches during April. I have made a commitment to preach in every district in the course of the year.
• Sun. April 1
• Sun. April 8
• Sun. April 15
• Sun. April 22
Staff Realignment
Leaders in our Iowa Annual Conference have been working on a staff realignment for many months. This alignment will better enable us to fulfill our new mission, vision, WIG (wildly important goal), and strategic priorities. In February, we gave you an update on our progress and began advertising for a new Director of Congregational Excellence and a new Director of Clergy and Leadership Excellence.
In mid-March, we announced that Rev. Dr. Jaye Johnson will be appointed as the Director of Congregational Excellence, and Rev. Dr. Lanette Plambeck will be appointed as the Director of Clergy and Leadership Excellence, both as of July 1, 2018. They will work closely with Rev. William Poland, who was appointed to be our Director of New Faith Communities on January 1, 2018.
Field Outreach Ministers (Phil Carver, Rev. Ryan Christensen, Rev. Melissa Drake, and Naomi Sea Young Wittstruck) will serve as interim Associates of Congregational Excellence over the course of the next year as we determine what the job description of the Associate Directors will look like. We are so excited about the direction we are headed in equipping our clergy and congregations to share the love of Jesus and be difference makers in their communities and around the world.
Council of Bishops
The Council of Bishops will be meeting in Chicago, beginning Sunday, April 29. Please pray for wisdom and discernment for our episcopal leaders as we receive the final report of the Commission on a Way Forward and formulate a proposal for the special session of General Conference in February 2019.
Have a wonderful month of April as spring arrives in all its beauty and the earth comes back to life!
Blessings,
Bishop Laurie