Dear Bearcreekians,

Two things related to each other (sort of):

  1. Terri Stewart is our homilist this Sunday. Terri has been wonderfully active at Bear Creek for a long time and is now pursuing her call to pastoral ministry. This is her first sermon before her home congregation. She is a little nervous (after 30 years of doing it I am a little nervous each week), but I promised her you would not treat her like Jesus’ home congregation treated him after his first sermon (they tried to throw him over a cliff). But, most importantly, I am praying that you will come, hear what I think is a sermon well worth hearing, and pray for Terri’s guidance toward ministry.
  2. Next Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. (come at 6:00 if you would like to share in our midweek meal together) is our semi annual All Church Conference. We will receive reports from our program committees and there are two major action items: the election of officers and a vote on whether we as a congregation would recommend Terri Stewart’s continuation toward ordination.

Terri is taking the necessary steps toward a vocation in pastoral ministry. She has completed the first phase of being an Exploring Candidate and is ending the second phase of being a Declared Candidate. She is moving toward the next phase of being a Certified Candidate. Currently, she is in the Masters of Divinity program at Seattle University. To continue in the credentialling process, she needs the recommendation of the All-Church (or Charge) Conference of her congregation. Staff Parish Relations Committee (who is assigned this responsibility by the Book of Discipline) has met with Terri twice, asked her both personal and theological questions, and has voted to request that the All-Church Conference recommend Terri to the District Committee on Ordained Ministry for certification as a candidate for ordained ministery. This is one of the very important decisions a congregation can make for Terri and for the health of the United Methodist Church. Please bring prayerful discernment with you.

Shalom
Dave O