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Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference
11/28/2021
Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett shares a video message for the beginning of Advent. She notes, “Advent is the time in the Christian year when we particularly watch and wait for God to break into our lives.” Click image above to play message or visit https://youtu.be/PSVl6ex7Q1Y.
11/18/2021
Dear Friends, II Corinthians 5:17 is one of my life verses. “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new.” The Greek word Paul chose for new in this verse is kainos referencing a new creation that has not existed previously. This has greater implications than if Paul had instead used neos, meaning new in an already established category. The biblical concept of kainos new is a pillar of Christian doctrine. Since God is about ...
11/1/2021
Dear Friends, My husband Lee and I were in our early forties when first offered the opportunity to travel to the Holy Land. Our bishop at the time, North Alabamian Robert C. Morgan, extended the invitation to all of the persons he had ordained during his eight years as the episcopal leader in Kentucky. Though Lee and my lives were crazy busy with our respective ministries and young family, we said yes to journeying to Jesus’ homeland. We expected that this trip would change how we read ...
10/5/2021
Dear Friends, October is recognized as Pastor Appreciation Month by many denominations, including the United Methodist Church. As such, this is the perfect time for churches and community leaders to express their gratitude to the clergy in their lives. This is particularly true in 2021 as during the last two years clergy have faced increasing levels of stress due to COVID-19, racial injustices, political divisions and denominational conflict. Indeed, results of a recent Clergy Well-being Survey ...
9/11/2021
A Prayer in Remembrance of the Twenty-Year Anniversary of 9/11 Triune God, We pause today to remember what happened on 9/11/01. Etched in the minds of many of us is the sight of the planes hitting the twin towers in New York City. Some of us can recall specifically where we were and who was with us. We were shocked, frightened and grief-stricken by the lives lost, the events which took place and the way the world changed that day. We ask You to heal our memories, Great Physician. Liberating God,...
8/24/2021
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Dear Friends, I love the rhythm and variety of the four seasons that we experience in North Alabama weather. Fall brings the beauty of turning leaves. Winter’s crisp air and occasional snow cleanses the earth and atmosphere. Spring bursts on the scene with budding branches, blooming flowers and fresh rains. And then there are the long, warm days and the renewing change of pace that come with summer....
8/6/2021
Looking for Advent resources? Bishop Wallace-Padgett has written a resource! Pre-order at 20% discount by August 18 at marketsquarebooks.com (Discount code GBTAC). About God Broke Through at Christmas God Broke Through at Christmas is a resource to assist both individuals and small groups in spiritual preparation through the Advent season. Each chapter begins with a meditation and study session guide, followed by daily devotionals for the week. The book focuses on four different aspects of life...
7/27/2021
Dear Friends, I am grateful for how United Methodist churches and leaders in the North Alabama Conference have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. Much ministry has been accomplished even as we have practiced Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines to help mitigate the spread of the virus. One of the North Alabama Conference’s guiding principles throughout the pandemic has been the first of Methodism’s three General Rules “Do No Harm.” Indeed, this is the title of the ...
6/15/2021
Dear Friends, When elected as a bishop in 2012, the possibility did not occur to me of a 2020 and 2021 global pandemic that would result in virtual Annual Conference sessions. Yet, that is exactly what happened! Though the length of time, amount of debate and sidebar conversations are different in a virtual than an in-person Annual Conference, a lot was accomplished! Some highlights from the 2021 virtual North Alabama Conference are listed below. Many thanks to Bishop Michael Watson, Dr. Bill ...
5/21/2021
Dear Friends, By now many of you have heard that I am one of four bishops in the Southeastern Jurisdiction who will be covering an additional Conference until elections and assignments of new bishops take place during the next regular session of the Jurisdictional Conference (Nov. 2-4, 2022). This coverage situation is a result of Bishop Lawson Bryan, Bishop Paul Leeland, Bishop Hope Morgan Ward and Bishop Mary Virginia Taylor requesting to retire effective Sept. 1, 2021, under paragraph 408.2 ...
