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Cuba/Florida Covenant continues to make strides
 As
Methodism makes deeper inroads into the nation of Cuba,
Florida Conference churches are being urged to keep pace and
continue linking spiritual and physical arms with their Cuban
brothers and sisters.
During the 2003 Cuba Methodist Annual Conference 196 churches
were represented, with each church sporting between six to 10
house-church missions that hope to eventually become
individual charges. A total of 21 new churches were appointed
between the 2002 and 2003 Cuba Methodist Annual Conferences.
Florida Conference churches have covenant sister relationships
with two-thirds of the Cuban congregations.
"Florida district coordinators are laboring in the love of
Christ to get 100 percent coverage of sister churches," said
Renee Kincaid, secretary of the conference's Cuba/Florida
Covenant Task Force. "The Cuba/Florida Covenant is more than a
third-world country mission. It is a love commitment with
sisters and brothers in Cuba who, until 1968, shared the same
annual conference."
Full Story
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Financial situation forces conference to cut staff
The Florida Conference Disaster Response Committee is reorganizing
after a prolonged financial deficit forced the dissolution of the
conference's full-time disaster response coordinators, the Rev. Bill
and Lisa Rhan. Their positions will end Dec. 31.
Even though the conference will no longer have full-time disaster
response coordinators, it does not mean the conference will lose its
focus on disaster preparedness or response, according to the Rev.
David Harris, chairman of the Quick Response Team, a task force that
operates within the disaster response committee.
 "Disaster
relief is mandated by the 'Book of Discipline,' " said Harris,
pastor of Mims United Methodist Church in the Melbourne District.
"Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker is committed to disaster relief, and we
will in no way allow this to slow down or hinder this ministry…"
In order to maintain focus Harris said district disaster relief
coordinators, pastors and conference staff will have increased
duties in the event of a disaster.
Full Story
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Conference Table examines cooperative ministry
 Florida
Conference Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker said elders of the United
Methodist Church are ordained for "delivering the word, sacrament
and order," and as such they are prepared to assist the church as it
moves in the direction of cooperative parish ministry.
Whitaker spoke at the most recent gathering of the Conference Table
at St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Ocala Nov. 12. The featured
topic was cooperative parish ministry and the impact it could have
in the Florida Conference.
Cooperative parish ministry involves two or more churches working
together in a formal arrangement, strengthening the ministry of the
participating churches.
Whitaker said the model is good for financially struggling churches
and pastors, and it might enable some churches to take on a new way
of meeting the needs of their communities.
Full Story
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Clergy couples experience joys, challenges in shared ministry
On an increasing basis in the Florida Conference both partners in
a ministry family are sensing a call to the pulpit. The result seems
to be twice as much blessing and fruit.
Four conference clergy couples interviewed by the Florida Conference
Edition of the United Methodist Review discussed the joys and
challenges of serving in full-time ministry together, whether at
different churches or the same one.
Their observations and experiences have much to teach those couples
currently wrestling with whether Rev. His and Rev. Her is the best
fit for their families.
Full Story
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New ministry takes followers to higher spiritual level
The Rev. Brian Wilcox was searching for a deeper level of
spirituality, and he found it in contemplative prayer. Now, he's
introducing it to the congregation he serves and hoping it can be a
model for other conference clergy and congregations.
"We are trained to address God as this other entity outside of
ourselves," said Wilcox, pastor of Southwest United Methodist Church
in Gainesville. "Contemplative prayer is a maturation of a deeper
intensity where we realize we are in unity with God…"
The church now has a Monday night contemplative prayer group where
members sit in silent prayer with one another and a Sunday night
service where people worship without music. Wilcox says it's
strengthening people's relationship with God.
Full Story
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