FLUMC Lay Leader Update

May 20-22, 2022

Alice Williams and I were talking this week about all things laity. As we were finishing up our call, I told her my plan for this week’s update and the theme I would use for this note. She affirmed my direction, and added “let’s not forget about the shooting in Buffalo.” And I responded, “Yes! You are so right. I’ll tie that in for sure!” I was determined to do this, but every time I thought about Buffalo I got stuck. An hour later, I was sitting in front of my laptop preparing to write this note. And I just could not find words. I decided to stop and come back to it. Two hours later, I still could not find the words. In fact, I am posting this week’s update super late into the weekend because I struggled for almost 24 hours to find the words to write. It took me till about noon on Saturday to figure out what was the cause of my writer’s block - it was unacknowledged sadness. 

Sadness is not an emotion I often express in public. I am much more likely to display feelings of joy or anger. I would even admit that I can hold multiple and seemingly opposing emotions at the same time. But for whatever reason, admitting and revealing my own sadness often feels inappropriate. (Don’t worry - my therapy sessions are helping with this!) I am still learning the role of lament in the life of faith. So today, I sat with my sadness, and realized that the cause of my empty page and this delayed update was simply because my sadness needed to be heard. As I began to name the lamentations of my heart, I confessed I was sad (among many emotions) about Buffalo and the continued struggle we have around race in this country. Then came the mourning about the shooting in Dallas and Laguna Woods, CA. Pretty quickly the list of lamentations began to flow freely: 

  • I am sad about violence of all types around the world, especially in Ukraine and Israel/Palestine.

  • I am sad about the murder of a clergywoman in the North Georgia Conference.

  • I am sad about the reality of congregations disaffiliating from the UMC.

  • I am sad for young adults who are struggling with their mental health.

Of many things I am this weekend, I am sad. So I spent time this afternoon holding space for my own sadness. Doing this gave me the words I needed to write this note. And doing this reminded me of how necessary it is for me as a leader to model what it means to be a person of faith who grieves and echoes the Psalmist in praying “How long, oh Lord!” Being sad about the brokenness and dysfunction in our church, our communities and in our world is reasonable, and we as leaders can hold space for those honest responses even as we remain hopeful that God will, through Christ, work all things for our good. 

This kind of leadership is not just for the clergy; its for the laity as well. In some respects, a key part of the lay leader’s role is to notice and name the sadness in our congregations and communities so that space can be held, prayers can be lifted, and mercy can be offered. As Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn…” Yes, there’s an end to that sentence, and we get there by entering into the space of sadness. This is part of what it means to lead with courage in a season of uncertainty. So I invite you - the laity of the Florida Conference - to be brave enough to reveal the full range of emotions as we labor together for the Gospel. Let us mourn, weep, lament, and acknowledge our own sadness even as we declare through tears that best and most of all - God is with us. Blessed are those who mourn.

Derrick Scott III - Co-Lay Leader of the Florida Conference

Annual Conference 2022

Lay Members to AC22 Registration Info
Check in for lay [voting] members to Annual Conference will take place at Florida Southern College. For more info on times and the general schedule, click here.

Greeters and Ushers Needed for Annual Conference 2022
Annual Conference is almost here! We need smiling faces to help our guests have a wonderful experience! Greeters and Ushers are an integral part of that experience. Click here for more information.

News from the FLUMC and beyond

From UM News: Ruling opens door for bishop elections in 2022
The United Methodist Church’s top court says that the Council of Bishops can call jurisdictional conferences to elect and assign new U.S. bishops. Read Decision 1445 from the Judicial Council and the article from Heather Hahn here.

FLUMC Public Policy & Witness Anti-Racism Team Training
The Public Policy and Witness Antiracism Team is hosting three 50-minute training sessions to equip people for building relationships with their elected leaders. They will all be held virtually on Zoom. The next session is May 23 at 12:00pm. Click here to register.

From UM News: Church court: Conferences can’t exit unilaterally
U.S. annual conferences have no authority under current church law to withdraw from The United Methodist Church, the denomination’s top court ruled. Read the full May 10 article here.

From UM News: Black leaders discuss church future
Speakers at the 55th General Meeting of Black Methodists for Church Renewal were leery of what a possible splintering of The United Methodist Church will mean for Black churches, based partially on the results of past mergers and splits. Read the May 6 UM News article here.

From Ministry Matters: Things are going to get messy,: New Rituals can help
Rev. Nelson Cowan, pastor of Christ United Methodist Church in Neptune Beach (North East District) shares, "As United Methodists, we are in a season where we need ritual moments (rites) that frame important and/or contentious conversations.” Read more here.