Florida United Methodist Review Online

Celebrate Jesus inspires giving, growth

     Members and pastors of 26 Lakeland District United Methodist churches and nearly 300 missionaries from across the United States and England spent a week sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with people throughout the district during the recent Celebrate Jesus Mission July 27-Aug. 3.
     Celebrate Jesus is a weeklong evangelistic effort in which local churches decide how they will reach out to their community. They set their own goals, design their campaigns and recruit members to participate. A visiting team of laity and clergy coordinated by Celebrate Jesus organizers helps members of the local church with their mission projects. Full Story

Clergy appreciate care amidst ministry struggles, stress

     The Florida Conference's clergy believe they and their families are well cared for by the Florida Conference, according to a recent survey of 286 clergy and spouses by Healing House task force. That care comes amid concerns about the stress of ministry, issues related to parsonages and the itinerant system, and a desire for more support in dealing with those issues.
      The survey was part of the Healing House task force's program of evaluating the care currently provided for clergy and their families. Melba Whitaker developed the idea for the Healing House ministry and is spearheading the effort. Full Story

Churches invite, join communities for commemorations

    Many of the Florida Conference United Methodist churches planning services or activities to commemorate the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania are working with their communities to make these events inclusive of all people.
      Several churches will hold their memorial services Sunday, Sept. 8, the date set aside by Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker at the 2002 Florida Annual Conference Event for remembering last year's events. Others are choosing to remember the events on the day they happened, and some are commemorating the exact minute. Full Story

Historic church awarded grant for restoration

     A Seminole Heights United Methodist Church here is the second most important historic building in the Seminole Heights neighborhood of Tampa and the most important church in the area, according to the National Register Historic Designation Report. Because of its importance, the church recently received a $237,000 grant from the State of Florida to help fund efforts to preserve the structure.
     The church was built in 1927 and is an example of Gothic Revival architecture. The church, however, has been showing its age. Water seeping in through the exterior brick and mortar caused major interior damage. The grant will be used to repair the church's façade and will save the church money in the long run by reducing maintenance costs.   Full Story

Churches shift giving to required funds

     Florida Conference churches are slightly ahead of last year's connectional giving during the first six months of this year, according to Dr. Randy Casey-Rutland, conference treasurer. At the same time churches are more than $31,000 behind last year in their giving to the General Church.
     The decrease in giving to the connection is caused by a shift in giving to funds that are required to be paid in full by the United Methodist Book of Discipline or the Florida Conference by-laws.   Full Story

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In Brief

Bishops appeal for people of southern Africa

Camp Boosters gather for pep rally

Tampa Bay-area districts awarded second grant

Opportunities

Institute offers program in spiritual direction

FaithQuest holds Florida training

“The Rock and the Rabbi” to benefit Florida Southern

Short Bites

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