The United Methodist Church - Tidings from Thomas

Dear Friends, 

The United Methodist Church has been much in the news over the last few months and there have been new developments in South Carolina.  I, as well as Meg and Ann, feel it is important for us to be transparent with you and share our understanding of the situation. 

It is helpful to review how we got to this point.  The story starts at General Conference, the world-wide gathering of United Methodists which meets every four years. Only the General Conference can speak for the entire United Methodist Church and only the General Conference can change our Book of Discipline. Think of the Book of Discipline as the UMC’s rule book. In 2019, there was a special session of General Conference to deal with issues related to human sexuality. The 2019 General Conference also created an avenue by which congregations could separate from the UMC. It was assumed that at the next regular General Conference, which would have been held in 2020, that some congregations, who felt they could not remain in the UMC with potential changes to the Book of Discipline, would choose to leave the denomination. Like many things set to take place in 2020, General Conference was rescheduled multiple times. It was decided to suspend meeting until the next regularly scheduled General Conference in 2024. Rather than wait until 2024, those working to form a new expression of Methodism responded by proceeding with the launch of the Global Methodist Church on May 1st, 2022.  In response to pressure related to the launch of the new denomination, the South Carolina Conference Board of Trustees, near the end of 2022, released a process by which local congregations can disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church and seek affiliation with another expression of Methodism.  In other words, congregations have a process by which to join the newly formed denomination or affiliate with another form of Methodism. 

Although a process now exists, we your pastors are certain that now is not the time for Central to consider disaffiliation from the United Methodist Church.  Other congregations have entered the discernment process, but we are not at that point.  From a purely financial standpoint, the process is prohibitively expensive.  From the standpoint of polity, the United Methodist position on human sexuality has not changed.  Congregations who are disaffiliating are doing so based on what they think may happen at General Conference in 2024.  Until we know what changes may or may not come out of General Conference 2024, I firmly believe that any decision for Central to disaffiliate would be premature. In addition to the enormous financial burden disaffiliation would place on Central, we would be making a decision before having all factors known.  

You may hear about United Methodist congregations in South Carolina who have begun the discernment process, but we should only be influenced by what is right for Central.  We cannot allow ourselves to be manipulated by people who do not know our church and are not familiar with our ministry context.  We must do what is right for Central.  Most of all we must focus on the mission and ministry God had given us.  Now is the time for us not to focus on division but to focus on unity and our mission to follow Jesus by loving God and loving our neighbors.  God has given us a mission and ministry and we must not allow ourselves to be distracted from the work God entrusts to us. 

Here is the disaffiliation discernment process in summary: 

• A congregation’s Church Council can vote to initiate a season of discernment lasting a minimum of 30 days.   

• At the end of this discernment period, a Church Conference would be convened at which every professing member of a congregation is eligible to vote.   

• A resolution to disaffiliate must be approved by at least a two thirds majority. 

Additionally, disaffiliating congregations would also have to pay the Conference: 

• 10% of the appraised value of all church property and liquid assets 

• All unpaid apportionment giving for the prior year 

• Apportionment giving for the year of closure up to the date of the Annual Conference vote to close the church 

• An additional 12 months of apportionment giving 

• All unpaid salary and benefits due to clergy appointed to the church 

• A withdrawal liability equal to the church’s proportional share of any unfunded pension obligations 

You can view details the full details of the discernment process here: https://www.umcsc.org/discern/ 

I will make a presentation to our Church Council at its February 28th meeting about this process as it relates to Central.  Rev. Ann Kovan, Rev. Meg Jiunnies, and I will also be holding a video question and answer session.  You can submit your questions through this link https://centralumcflorence.wufoo.com/forms/k1ylhji31rcvm5e/ or by the paper forms located in The Commons and Well greeter tables.  

Back in May of 2022, I shared a quote with you from John Wesley.  “For opinions, or terms, let us not ‘destroy the work of God.’ Dost thou love and serve God? It is enough. I give thee the right hand of fellowship.” Wesley’s antiquated language reminds us that we do not have to agree on everything.  People can disagree on important issues and still love one another.  Let us commit ourselves to love and serve God together and to love one another. God calls us to be one in Jesus Christ, even when we disagree on important issues.   

Most of all, let us pray.  Please pray for Central and her leaders and please pray that God keep us faithful to the mission God has entrusted to us. 

Yours in Christ, 

 Thomas Smith, Senior Pastor

Merry Christmas! | Tidings from Thomas | December 25, 2022

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.  - John 1:14 

Merry Christmas! 

In and amongst the scattered wrapping paper and the dinner preparations, let us not lose sight of today’s true meaning.  God became a human being and entered the world.  Heaven touched earth and God took up residence among God’s people.  Christmas is not about presents, but it is about presence.  The primary message of Christmas is that God is with us.   

It is important that we take time in the busyness of the day to know that God is with us.  Noted author and speaker Brene Brown introduced me to the concept of mindfulness.  One way to think of mindfulness is the practice fully experiencing the present moment.  A simple mindfulness exercise is to pause in whatever you are doing and pay attention to your senses.  What do you see?  What do you hear?  What do you smell, or feel, or taste?  Linger with those sensations, focus on the experience, and simply appreciate them.  Now, add another level to that lingering.  As yourself, “Where is God in this?  What does this experience tell me about God?”  God is with you this day and every day.  Exercise mindfulness and pause to notice God’s presence. 

May God bless and once again, Merry Christmas! 

Yours in Christ, 

 Thomas Smith

Tidings from Thomas - Central's Commitment Sunday

Dear Friends,

Central’s Commitment Sunday on October 16th is just around the corner. Our stewardship team is hard at work making this Commitment Sunday a wonderful celebration of our shared mission to follow Jesus by loving God and loving our neighbors. There will be one special service at 10:00 AM that day followed by a fellowship meal in the Davis Christian Life Center. Please RSVP today using the below link so we can plan accordingly.

Click here to RSVP for our Commitment Celebration Luncheon

Many of you have requested the data Dr. Ben King shared with us this past Sunday on Central’s giving patterns. The below step chart contains that data.

Click here to view Central's giving patterns

Thank you for the many ways you serve God through Central and may God richly bless you!

Yours in Christ,

Tidings from Thomas

Dear Friends,

You may have noticed the United Methodist Church in the news recently. News coverage has revolved around the May 1st launch of the Global Methodist Church, also known as the GMC. The GMC has been in development for many years as a result of some United Methodists’ desire to form a new expression of Methodism. It is worth noting that the news media generally do not understand how churches work. They especially seldom understand how the United Methodist Church works. In other words, if you see something in the press that does not sound quite right, it is probably incorrect. Without going into minute details or doing a side-by-side analysis of the UMC and the GMC, it is helpful to review how we got to this point.

The story starts at General Conference, the world-wide gathering of United Methodists which meets every four years. Only the General Conference can speak for the entire United Methodist Church and only the General Conference can change our Book of Discipline. Think of the Book of Discipline as the UMC’s rule book. In 2019, there was a called General Conference to deal with issues related to human sexuality. The 2019 General Conference also created an avenue by which congregations could separate from the UMC. It was assumed that at the next regular General Conference, which would have been held in 2020, some sort of denominational separation would take place. Like many things set to take place in 2020, General Conference was rescheduled multiple times. It was decided to suspend meeting until the next regularly scheduled General Conference in 2024. Rather than wait until 2024, those working to form a new expression of Methodism responded by proceeding with the launch of the GMC on May 1st, 2022.

This is not a time for panic. Neither is there a need for Central to begin discussion of our denominational future. We are a United Methodist congregation served by clergy who are committed to the United Methodist Church. So, what should we be doing?

First, we should pray. When we pray, we bring God’s grace to bear on the lives of those we pray for as well as for ourselves. Prayer grounds us in God’s love and grace and inclines our hearts to those for whom we pray. Let us therefore pray for the church, the church’s leaders, and all those who are part of the church.

Second, let us commit ourselves to Central’s mission to follow Jesus by loving God and loving our neighbors. God has a mission for Central United Methodist Church and for the entire United Methodist Church. Grounding our shared work in prayer, let us follow God in God’s will and God’s way. In so doing, everything we do should advance the mission to impact our community in the name of Jesus.

Third, let us love. John Wesley once wrote, “For opinions, or terms, let us not ‘destroy the work of God.’ Dost thou love and serve God? It is enough. I give thee the right hand of fellowship.” In his stilted eighteenth-century language, Wesley offers us an insight in this moment. We do not have to agree on everything. But, if we can commit ourselves to love one another and love and serve God together, we can continue to be church together. If we can agree to love God and neighbor, we can disagree on very important things but still be brothers and sisters in Christ. God calls us to be one in Jesus Christ, even when we disagree on important issues.

We have work to do. If we pray, commit ourselves to our mission, and resolve to live in love with one another, God will continue to use us mightily for God’s purposes. Rather than worry and waste energy on what may or may not happen at future General Conferences, let us focus our energy on living into God’s mission for Central here and now. Please do not hesitate to be in touch with me if you would like to talk in more detail.

Yours in Christ,

Thomas Smith

Announcement from Today's Worship

Dear Friends, 

It was announced today in worship that our associate pastor, Rev. Derrick Cattenhead, is being appointed to serve another church.  His last Sunday with us will be June 19, 2022.  For six years, Central has been blessed by Derrick and his ministry.  Derrick, Chasie, and their sons are part of the Central family and we will miss them. 

Clergy are itinerate in the United Methodist system, meaning they are appointed by our bishop to serve churches one year at a time.  Each year the bishop and his cabinet, comprised of the district superintendents, go through an intentional process of prayerfully considering each pastor’s gifts and needs and each church’s gifts and needs.  This annual process usually results in pastors being appointed to continue serving their current appointments.  Sometimes the result is a pastor being appointed to serve a new church.  For Derrick, this annual process means a move to North Orangeburg United Methodist Church this summer.  Though we will miss Derrick, Chasie, Tyler, and Chase, this is a good move for Derrick and his family.  Between now and June, let us show Derrick and his family our love and appreciation for all they mean to our church and our community and let us send them forth with our blessing. 

On a personal note, I have been blessed to serve alongside Derrick as a colleague and as a friend.  I have seen first-hand his dedication to Central’s mission and ministry, the depth of his faith, and his passion for the Gospel.  Like you, I will miss Derrick.  Regardless, I look forward to seeing the powerful ways God will continue to use Derrick to advance God’s kingdom. 

Beginning June 29th, Central will have a new associate pastor, Rev. Ann Kovan.  Ann comes to us with a wealth of experience and the gifts and graces necessary join Central in mission and ministry.  Let us welcome Ann, her husband Andy, and their daughters Gabrielle and Claire in the loving Central spirit for which we are known. 

Over these next few months, let us pray or Derrick and the Catthenhead family, for Ann and the Kovan family, and for Central.  May God guide and bless these ministers, their families, and Central United Methodist Church as we follow God into new avenues of mission and ministry. 

Yours in Christ, 

Thomas Smith