Message from Bishop Wallace-Padgett: Ethnic Ministries

Dear Friends,

Many of you are very familiar with the North Alabama Conference vision, mission and priorities.  This blog particularly focuses on ethnic ministries, one of our four priorities.

Ethnic ministry is a key opportunity for Conference growth and renewal because:

• The North Alabama context is more ethnically diverse than our Conference demographics.
   
• We have the opportunity to learn from the clergy and lay leaders of the 27 ethnic churches in North Alabama that are growing in average worship attendance, membership and ministry.
   
• The New Church Team, in conjunction with District Superintendents, has identified prime locations for 9 new ethnic and/or multi-cultural faith communities that we plan to launch by 2017.
   
• Several members of the Ethnic Ministries team, including Executive Director of Ethnic Ministries Dr. Clinton Hubbard, Jr., have grown ethnic churches in North Alabama.

Our success in strengthening our ethnic churches will require that we become increasingly effective in discovering, developing and deploying ethnic lay and clergy spiritual leaders. The Ethnic Ministries Team will particularly emphasize the discovery phase of our mission during the coming year, including quarterly events such as “Ignite” - offered 10 a.m. – noon on Saturday, December 19.  Rodney Parker, Director of Children and Youth Ministry at Center Grove UMC, will facilitate the December 19th event which is designed to help church leaders discover the gifts of the young adults in their churches.

Your ideas and participation are essential for our success in expanding ethnic ministries in our Annual Conference.  For more information about how you can be a part of this important work, contact a member of the Ethnic Ministries Team or Executive Director Clinton Hubbard, Jr. at chubbard@umcna.org.  Ethnic Ministries Team members are:  Jeanet Berruecos, Charles Calhoun, Dedric Cowser, Sonia Gallimore, Randy Kelley, Tiwirai Kufarimai, Claudia Lewis, Gloria Moore, Thomas Muhomba, Doris McCullers and Rodney Parker.

As always it is a privilege to serve as your bishop.

Blessings,
Debra Wallace-Padgett
Resident Bishop
North Alabama Conference