A monthly publication of

The SouthWest District of The United Methodist Church

Rev. Susan Landry

District Superintendent June 2021

A Goodbye Filled with Gratitude

We extend a hearty “Thank You!” to the following pastors for their service in the SouthWest
District as they leave their current appointments for new opportunities:

Frank Dean (Hartford) - Retiring

Lisa Dempsey (Cokes Chapel) - Retiring
Brett Mathews (Franklin) - Retiring
Lonnie Thornton (Rust Chapel) - Retiring
Bob Tobias (Carmel) - Retiring
David Ahearn (Mountville/Big Springs)
Harvey Bane (Hillcrest)
Tim Dees (Pleasant Grove)
Brandon Fletcher (Burks Chapel)
Maria Bowers Gardiner (Sunny Side/Searcy)
Tommy Ross (Inman)
Chris Shurtz (Jackson)
Charlie Starr (Hanleiter)
John Tomlin (North Fayette)
Garrett Wallace (Bethany)

**In the July newsletter, we will recognize those pastors who will be accepting new
appointments within the District and Conference. Please be in prayer for all moving pastors,
their families and churches, and speak an encouraging word of thanks when you can.
Moving Pastor Schedule:
Moving Clergy's Last Sunday
Sunday, June 27, 2021

Move Day
Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Sunday Off (churches receiving a new pastor will fill this Sunday with a guest preacher)
Sunday, July 4

Moving Clergy's First Day at New Appointment

Monday, July 5, 2021

Moving Clergy's First Sunday

July 11, 2021

This schedule has been created by the Center for Clergy Excellence in consultation with a diverse group of clergy
and with the approval of the 2019 Annual Conference Clergy Executive Session .

Annual Conference
2021

Thursday, June 3 – Clergy Executive Session, 10:00am – 12:30pm

Friday, June 4 – Business Session
Saturday, June 5 – Ordination Service, 10:00
Missionary & Deaconess Commissioning Videos, 1:00
Memorial Service, 3:00

Delegates must pre-register to participate virtually in the events on Thursday and Friday. Anyone may
view the special services on Saturday through a link on the Annual Conference page of the conference
website.

The Special Offering is the Ministerial Education Fund, which provides scholarships to seminary and
undergraduate students, course-of-study for local pastors, and license to preach school. Churches are
encouraged to take a special offering and forward to the Conference Treasurer.

For more information on Annual Conference, visit www.ngumc.org/AC2021 .

 GA Pastors School
July 15

The Georgia Pastors' School Board is excited to announce that, while we cannot meet in person at
Epworth this year, we will be holding a virtual Pastors' School event. We are still finalizing all of the
details but will have more information about the specific content very soon. We are working on
providing some practical content for how we can lead well post shut down, and are very excited about
it!

Georgia Pastors' School Virtual Event

Thursday, July 15
10am-3pm (with an hour lunch break)
More details coming soon!
(.5 CEU available for attending. Opportunities for an extra 1.5 CEUs are available.)

Good news everyone…Vital Signs is becoming an ‘in house’ metric for North Georgia. In the past, Vital
Signs have been reported to a UM Denomination Platform, but as things transition (due a lot to
pandemic and conference staff shifts) the conference is developing a Vital Signs reporting system in the
conference database through Data Services. It will be complete by July 1. There will be an instruction
video with simple ‘how to’ enter a four question vital sign report. The video will be available for viewing
no later than June 15 so that everyone can begin the new conference year in good fashion. This new
system should be very helpful and easy to complete.

Part Time Moving Pastor Meeting

All part time moving pastors in the SouthWest District are invited to participate in a virtual meeting on
Tuesday, June 8 at 5:30pm. SPR Chairs, Finance Chair, and Treasurers of the affected churches are also
invited to participate. Required paperwork will be discussed as well as other important information for
those moving to new appointments. If you have not received the Zoom link by email on Monday, June
7, please contact Denise in the District Office.
 SouthWest District Set Up Meeting
Sunday, August 15, 3:00pm @ Thomaston First UMC
OR
Thursday, August 19, 10:00am @ Fayetteville First UMC

Details to follow. Pastors, mark your calendar!

Samuel J. Martinez
Assistant Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid
Emory University’s Candler School of Theology
1531 Dickey Drive | Suite 301| Atlanta, GA 30322
404-727-6326
samuel.j.martinez@emory.edu
June 3 – Annual Conference, Clergy Executive Session
June 4 – Annual Conference, Business Meeting
June 5 – Annual Conference, Ordination Service (10am), Memorial Services (3pm)
June 8 – Part Time Moving Pastors’ Meeting, Zoom, 5:30pm
June 15 – Provisional Preparation Seminar, 11am (Register at:
https://form.jotform.com/201196566326054 )
June 29 – DS available for informal meetings with pastors, District Office 1:00-4:30, (Call Denise to
schedule an appointment)

Happy Birthday to the following pastors in the District celebrating

birthdays in the month of June:

2 - Charles Robinson 13 – Lenton Snow

4 - Oliver Wood 15 – Elaine Gilbert
Maria Bowers Gardiner 17 – Billy Beard
5 - Cindy Harrison Chris Shurtz
11 – John Mattox 25 – Pamela Johnston