videos from our congregational Meeting
If you were unable to join us for our all-church meeting on Sunday, March 24th, you may catch up on what you missed by watching the following videos, which were recorded during that Sunday's event.
(The sound quality as picked up by the video camera microphone is not ideal. If you enlarge the video player for whatever videos you watch, you may find that the clearer view will help you understand more clearly what is being said.)
(The sound quality as picked up by the video camera microphone is not ideal. If you enlarge the video player for whatever videos you watch, you may find that the clearer view will help you understand more clearly what is being said.)
|
|
|
|
1. Introductions and Devotions
Mitch Farra, chair of our Leadership Board, welcomed the congregation and introduced the members of our Board. Then Pastor David led a brief devotional based on 1 Corinthians 1 and the divisions in the Corinthian church.
|
2. Denomination and General Conference
Pastor David offered some background information about the history and structure of our denomination, the ongoing debate about human sexuality, and what occurred at the 2019 General Conference.
|
|
|
|
|
3. Color Commentary
Pastor David offered some personal observations about what took place at General Conference and speculated about what might happen in the denomination going forward.
|
4. Corrections and Clarifications
Pastor David offered some clarification about what the General Conference decisions mean for local United Methodist Churches, as well as individual members of the United Methodist Church.
|
|
5. Should First Church Leave The UMC?
The future of our denomination is still somewhat uncertain. It is neither the recommendation of the Board nor of Pastor David that First Church leave the United Methodist Church at this time.
|
6. Should Individuals Leave First Church?
The surveys reflected a good deal of unhappiness with the denomination. Pastor David urges the members of our church family, however, to remain committed to this congregation.
|
|
7. Will First Church Welcome Everyone?
Pastor David observed that real welcome is not about an issue, it's about people, and it's not about one group of people but all sorts of people. Our endeavor as Christians is to welcome everyone well.
|
8. A Concluding, Personal Word
Pastor David shared his frustration with the past few years of uncertainty, as well as his eagerness to move full speed ahead with a great future for First Church. In May, he will be asking us to renew our commitment to this church.
|
Follow-up Study
On Thursday evening, April 4th, Pastor David led a follow-up study to respond to many of the questions and comments he had received from the congregation about homosexuality. The event was video-recorded, and that recording will be made available here on this page soon.
Congregational Meeting
Sunday, March 24th
As promised, our church family will have a chance to come together for a follow-up meeting in the wake of our denomination's special General Conference.
On Sunday, March 24th, we'll gather for a single worship service in the Sanctuary at 10:00 AM. Then we'll allow ourselves a break for refreshments and fellowship before returning to the Sanctuary for our Congregational Meeting.
Here is a link to a chart that briefly summarizes the four major plans considered at the General Conference. In the end, the Traditional Plan was the one that received majority support.
In preparation for our Congregational Meeting, we invited the members of our church family to share their questions, concerns, and insights with Pastor David and our Leadership Board. That online survey is closed now so that we can tally and process the results.
We thank all those members of the church family who participated in the survey. And we trust that their many voices and varied perspectives will speak for those who did not.
We look forward to being together on March 24th!
On Sunday, March 24th, we'll gather for a single worship service in the Sanctuary at 10:00 AM. Then we'll allow ourselves a break for refreshments and fellowship before returning to the Sanctuary for our Congregational Meeting.
Here is a link to a chart that briefly summarizes the four major plans considered at the General Conference. In the end, the Traditional Plan was the one that received majority support.
In preparation for our Congregational Meeting, we invited the members of our church family to share their questions, concerns, and insights with Pastor David and our Leadership Board. That online survey is closed now so that we can tally and process the results.
We thank all those members of the church family who participated in the survey. And we trust that their many voices and varied perspectives will speak for those who did not.
We look forward to being together on March 24th!
Pastor David's Latest InvitationPastor David's Original Invitation |
All Church MeetingSunday, October 14th
4:00 - 7:00 PM The Swan Club |