Why and How we Make Appointments Characteristics of A Successful Appointment
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Appointments for the week of February 25, 2008
Wesley Freedom UMC is located on the corner of Johnsville Road and Route 26 in Eldersburg. The original church, Wesley Chapel, was built in 1822 and is in the historical registry. Wesley Freedom's cornerstone was laid in 1869. In 1991, a new sanctuary was built and as recent as 2007, a building expansion program was completed. Both traditional and contemporary worship services and Sunday School are offered at 9 and 10:30 a.m. Average weekly attendance is 450, with Sunday School enrollment averaging 350. The youth program is very active with a membership in both Junior and Senior UMYF averaging 60 to 70 members. Fifty of its youth attended "Rock 2008." The church paid 47 percent of its apportionments last year, but is on track to pay the full amount (100 percent) within the next three years. Its missions/outreach program is very active with VIM trips, outreach at Springfield Hospital, Transition Care Nursing Home, Hearts Place, Angel Tree, ESCAPE, Thanksgiving Baskets, and its own soup kitchen, "Feed My Sheep." It has a very active Stephen Ministry program since 1999 and has ministered to more than 60 care receivers. Wesley Freedom's United Methodist Women and United Methodist Men is very active. Its mission is to "invite, receive, nurture, challenge and send forth committed Christian disciples."
Randy Reid has served at the Wolfsville Charge (Salem and Garfield UMC) in Myersville, for the past 12 years, starting in 1996. Prior to his call to ministry, he was in the engineering and sales field in the automotive industry. Reid served as an associate at Harmony UMC, Marlowe, W.Va. for five years, working with youth and music programs. He also is serving with the Board of Child Care as a chaplain at their Falling Waters, West Virginia site. Randy is a graduate of Wesley seminary. He is gifted in preaching, encouraging others, and helping others to find joy and fun in serving the Lord. Emmanuel United Methodist Church, located in Hagerstown, is a family of disciples devoted to loving and serving Jesus. Some of the many ways this mission is fulfilled include: weekly worship and Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, a spiritual book group, Habitat for Humanity volunteerism, Mother's Day Out program, a parish nurse program, as well as a variety of neighborhood outreach opportunities. It has an average worship attendance of 135, received six people by professions of faith and paid 100 percent of its apportionment in 2007. A recent Volunteers in Mission effort had 15 people serve the greater New Orleans area with re-construction after hurricane Katrina. It is a contributor to The Hope Fund, Faith Promise Giving and a number of other charitable and missionary efforts.
Ray Roberson has served as a pastor under appointment for 26 years in Kentucky, West Virginia and Maryland. In the Baltimore-Washington Conference his appointments have included Harmony in Marlowe, W.Va.; Otterbein in Martinsburg, W.Va.; Jarrettsville, in Maryland.; and Trinity in Martinsburg, W.Va. An ordained elder, Roberson has served within the conference as a consultant to local churches in the areas of strategic planning and conflict management. He received his M.Div. from Vanderbilt University School of Divinity in 1984, and his Doctor of Ministry from Wesley Theological Seminary in 1991. He has an interest in biblical storytelling and is currently enrolled in a certification program through the Academy of Biblical Storytelling. Roberson's particular gifts and graces include preaching – including multi-sensory experiences through the use of multimedia, teaching and biblical storytelling. Roberson is committed to journeying with people who are interested in growing and deepening in their discipleship, or to put it in Wesleyan terms "going on to perfection." According to Roberson, his sense of calling is encapsulated in Ephesians 4:12-14: "to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ." Havre de Grace UMC is an Acts 2 congregation that averages more than 280 worshippers per weekend, received 28 persons on profession of Christian faith in 2006, and paid 100 percent of its apportionments in 2007. The congregation has strong Christian education and mission programs, and is known for its ministries on the local, regional and global scale. Notable is the church's ongoing mission work in Harford County through Grace Place, and in Estonia as a partner with a Methodist congregation in that country. The church continues to sponsor several Volunteer in Ministry teams each year. The congregation is in the beginning phases of a building expansion program, and looks forward to continuing to expand its ministries as the communities surrounding the church continue to experience rapid growth.
Gary Sheffield-James has served under appointment for 25 years including the Bethesda-Bethel Charge, Stone Chapel-St. James Charge, New Market-Mt. Carmel Charge, Salem Charge, and Arnolia Charge. He is a 1979 graduate of Shepherd College, with a BS in Sociology and received his MDiv. from Wesley Seminary in 1984. He was ordained a Deacon in 1983 and an Elder in 1986. Sheffield-James is known as a teacher and a preacher, using various styles of worship that connect the Scriptures to contemporary life. He sees himself as a continual learner, valuing the mutual ministry of clergy and lay leadership. He may occasionally be found joining the praise team on the electric or acoustical guitar. Hunt's Memorial UMC, located in Riderwood, is a congregation with a rich history. Its gray stone building has been designated as an historical landmark and is home to one of the oldest Methodist Societies in the country. Hunt's is a mission-minded church, consistently involved in supporting foreign endeavors as well as local missions such as Carpenter's Kitchen and Camp Hope. Just this year, the church opened a pre-school. There are 460 members with an average attendance of 127; the church received seven professions of faith and paid 100 percent of its apportionments.
John M. Wunderlich has served under appointment for 16 years. His appointments have included: Christ-Ballenger Creek in Frederick; Wesley Freedom UMC in Eldersburg; and the St James/Stone Chapel Charge in Westminster. He has served on the following organizations within the conference: Committee on Retreat and Camping Ministry, Committee on Religion and Race, Moving Committee, Board of Ordained Ministry, Frederick District Committee on Church Location and Building, and Frederick District Committee on Ordained Ministry. Wunderlich is a graduate of Central Baptist Theological Seminary, receving his M. Div. in 1992. He was ordained an Elder in 1994. He has a passion for Bible study and small groups, camping ministry, music/drama ministries, youth ministry, and recreational ministry. He has led workshops on curriculum development, youth leader training, confirmation, pastoral leadership, staff development, and Sunday school teacher training. First Saints Covenant Community UMC, located in Leonardtown, is a multi-site ministry that includes three ministry centers: First Friendship, St. George Island, and St. Paul's. First Saints is a discipling community with more than 20 active small groups. It is extremely active in the local community with numerous ministries that feed the hungry, comfort the sick, and embrace children in impoverished environments. The church also reaches beyond the local community through mission trips to Tennessee, Appalachia, and Honduras; and work in Zimbabwe through UMCOR. First Saints has a worshipping community of 420, received 31 people by profession of faith in the last year, and paid 100 percent of its apportionment. It is a contributor to the Hope Fund.
Glen Arnold has served under appointment since 1989 at Sandy Mount UMC in Finksburg; Glenn Dale UMC in Glenn Dale; and Waters Memorial UMC in St. Leonard. An ordained Elder, Arnold has served within the conference as a member of the Board of Evangelization. He received a M.Div. from Wesley Theological Seminary in 1989. Appointed to Sandy Mount UMC in 2002, Arnold shares that it has been a very successful nearly six years as the church has built a new building and paid it off, grown numerically by about 15-20 percent, taken in more than 100 new members, gone to two worship services every Sunday -- one contemporary and one traditional, became a Global Mission Partner Church, and developed many other programs and ministries to help people grow spiritually. Arnold describes himself as hardworking and effective in the areas of worship leading, preaching, teaching, administration, and pastoral care.
Appointments for the week of February 18, 2008 Rodney T. Smothers has served under appointment as a United Methodist pastor for 27 years, leading congregations in small towns, the inner city, and suburban areas. He has served in the following appointments in the Baltimore-Washington Conference: Discipleship Adventure Guide, Annapolis Southern Region; Associate Council Director for Congregational Life; Senior Pastor, First UMC, Hyattsville, MD; Church Planter, Covenant Point UMC, Waldorf, MD; and Senior Pastor, Gibbons-Resurrection UMC, Brandywine, MD. Prior to transferring to the Baltimore-Washington Conference, he served several congregations in the North Georgia Conference and served as director of evangelism and revitalization ministries at the General Board of Discipleship. He has taught as an Adjunct Professor at Interdenominational Theological Center and Seminar Leader at Candler School of Theology. Smothers is a graduate of Gammon Seminary (M. Div. 1982) and Interdenominational Theological Center (D. Min. 1993). He was ordained as an Elder in 1981. He is gifted as a consultant in the areas of discipleship development, Christian education ministries, congregational development, core values assessment, spiritual discernment, stewardship, visioning, evangelistic witness, and prophetic engagement. His passion is coaching and mentoring Next Generation Leaders to develop leadership skills for effective ministry. St. Paul UMC, located in Oxon Hill, is a leading African-American congregation that is engaged in several important community ministries, including: Warm Nights, the SHARE program, and the Tanner Community Center which houses St. Paul’s Food Pantry and Computer Laboratory. St. Paul has a worshipping congregation of 225 and received nine people by professions of faith last year and paid 58 percent of its apportionment. It has supported rebuilding in the Gulf Coast and Zimbabwe. It is a contributor to the Hope Fund. St. Paul is located near the new National Harbor Project and looks forward to the opportunity to grow with its community.
Stan Cardwell has served under appointment since 1992 at First Saints Community Church (UMC), Leonardtown, St. Paul’s UMC, Leonardtown; and Christ UMC, Cumberland. Prior to ministry he was a mechanical engineer with the Naval Air Development Center. An ordained elder, he has served within the conference as a member of the Board of Congregational Life, with particular focus on helping to shape several new church initiatives within the conference. He received an M.Div. from Asbury Theological Seminary and was a post-graduate fellow for one year at the Beeson Center for Pastoral Leadership and Biblical Preaching in Wilmore, Ky. Cardwell describes his gifts as catalytic, lay empowering, and apostolic with particular emphasis on leadership development and teaching. These gifts have been evident in the significant growth experienced at two churches in two different settings where he has served as pastor. Cardwell is called to, passionate about new church development, and looks forward to the opportunities that the launch of the Bel Air-Off-Site Ministry will afford for him to utilize his significant gifts to make new disciples of Jesus Christ. The Bel Air Off-Site Ministry is a new congregation initiative of the Baltimore-Washington Conference in partnership with Bel Air UMC. Bel Air UMC in Bel Air, is an Acts 2 congregation that averages more than 700 worshippers per weekend, received 67 persons on profession of faith in 2006, and paid 100 percent of its apportionments in 2007. The congregation is a leading contributor to the Hope Fund. The church is involved in mission and ministry with all ages - on the local, national and global levels. Notable is the church’s ongoing mission work in Harford County and Baltimore City, and well as the establishment of a hospital in Zimbabwe. As the parent congregation in the launch of the Bel Air Off-Site Ministry, the church sees this as another opportunity to realize its ongoing vision of reaching people for Jesus Christ.
Wade Martin has served under appointment at Trinity UMC in Emmitsburg. Prior to ministry he was in the US Navy and worked as a consultant in the non-profit sector, training and supporting managers and leaders. He has served within the conference as the community developer laying the ground work for the new congregation, now called Faith Point. He received an M.Div. from Wesley Theological seminary and has completed a D.Min. program there in Church Leadership Excellence. He expects to be ordained elder in May. Martin is gifted in working with groups, leading them in vision and mission, and building relationships in the congregation and community. Montgomery United Methodist Church, located near Damascus, is a congregation that has several important ministries in the community. They include an active Children's Center (preschool), a contemporary Seeker Service, and strong family ministries such as family movie nights and weekly dinners where the congregation engages in Faithful Connection. It has a worshipping congregation of 200, received nine by profession of faith in the last year and paid 100 percent of its apportionment. It has sent six teams on Volunteer on Mission Trips to Guatemala over the last six years, ministering with over 600 children there.
Pat Dols has served under appointment since 2001 at Faith UMC in Rockville and the Ridgeley Charge. Prior to her call to ministry, she worked for 22 years for the Department of Health and Human Services as well as spending some time owning and operating her own business. An Elder, she has served on the Cumberland-Hagerstown District Committee on Ordained Ministry. She is also the vice president of the Volunteer Chaplains at the Western Maryland Health System and is a member of the Community Education Outreach Service in Mineral County, which is sponsored by West Virginia University. She also was a member of the Worship Committee for last year’s annual conference. Dols received her M. Div. from Wesley Theological Seminary. She describes her gifts as a compassionate, encouraging, empowering pastor who equips laity to serve alongside clergy. Greenmount UMC is located just north of Hampstead on Route 30. It is an historic church that has been at the same location in various buildings since the early 1800s. Today, it is a growing church that has ministries for all ages, including weekday Bible Studies, Outreach, Vacation Bible School, and an exciting youth program. Last year Greenmount UMC received 13 members on Profession of faith, attendance averaged 180 and the church has paid 100 percent of its apportionments for the past six years. They also sent 32 youth to “Rock 2008.” The members are enthusiastic, motivated people who are hungry to know more about and to share the Word of God.
Kenneth Hawes has served under appointment for five years at Emmanuel UMC in Hagerstown. For nine years prior to that he served in the New York Conference. Before entering the ordained ministry, Hawes was a freelance musician and employed by United Artists Theatres. He serves as a candidacy and clergy mentor in the conference and is a member of the Methodist Federation for Social Action national board, as well as being the co-convener of the local MFSA chapter. He has served on the Worship Team for the 2007 Annual Conference, as well as the Drugs and Violence Task Force. He attended Wesley Theological Seminary, graduating with an MDiv. in 1994. He also holds degrees from the Manhattan School of Music and State University of New York at Purchase. Hawes was ordained deacon in 1994 and elder in 1997. His passions in ministry include preaching, helping congregations and disciples grow in their faith, call and vision, and being an advocate for justice in God's world. Hughes UMC, located in Wheaton, is active in the community, reaching out through El Buen Samaritano, a faith community that worships every Sunday afternoon in the Hughes Chapel and through English language tutoring for the growing Hispanic/Latino population in the area. Hughes also cooperates with the community and County government to offer Hughes Neighborhood Housing, low-income housing for people with mental illness, mental retardation and physical disabilities. Hughes is also works with the Samaritan’s Table, Silver Spring Interfaith Housing Coalition, Meals on Wheels and other community ministries. It has a worshipping congregation of 150, and received five by profession of faith in the last year.
Bruce Jones has served under appointment for 27 years in five churches, including, Concord-St. Andrews inBethesda, Faith UMC in Rockville, Frances Asbury UMC in Rockville, Lakeside UMC in Waldorf, and Trinity UMC in Germantown. He has served on the following organizations within the conference: Conference Arrangements Committee, Conference Sessions Committee, Conference Commission on Communications, Conference Personnel and Personnel Policy Committee, and the Washington West District Committee on Ordained Ministry. He is a graduate of The Methodist Theological School in Ohio (M. Div. 1980) and Wesley Theological Seminary (D. Min 2006). He was ordained an Elder in 1981. Jones is principally known as a "church growth" pastor. He has a reputation for communication skills and has led workshops, planning sessions, and church growth seminars for local churches, districts, and the conference. His greatest strengths are in administration and leadership. His other strengths are in teaching and giving. La Plata UMC located in La Plata, MD, is a congregation that has several important community ministries. They include: Blessed Lambs Preschool, Safe Nights, Good News Prison Ministry, and Habitat for Humanity. La Plata has a worshipping congregation of 201, received 21 persons by professions of faith in the last year, and paid 100 percent of its apportionment. It is a contributor to the Hope Fund. Amy P. McCullough from attending school to Glenelg UMC, Glenelg, MD. Amy Peed McCullough served under appointment at Metropolitan Memorial UMC in Washington, D.C. Prior to ordained ministry, she served with the General Board of Global Ministries in the mission intern program in Johannesburg, South Africa and in Providence, R.I. Most recently, Amy has completed the course work and comprehensive exams for her Ph.D. in Homiletics and Liturgics at Vanderbilt University. She received an M.Div. from Duke Divinity School in 1996 and was ordained an elder in 2000. McCullough has experience in community development, developing congregational small group ministries, and also brings gifts in administration and preaching. Glenelg UMC, located in Glenelg, is a congregation that has a strong Sunday school reaching nearly 100 children and youth weekly, and in addition, offers a daily nursery school for families in the community. It has a worshipping congregation averaging just over 100, has received 18 by profession of faith in the last year, and paid 100 percent of its apportionment. A few of the mission/outreach ministries of the congregation include: providing monthly meals to a local Grass Roots family shelter, an annual vacation bible school that is attended by more than 200 community children and youth, and a cares and concerns committee that has provided help to those in crisis that is often extended to those in need who are only affiliated with a member of the congregation. |
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William (Bill) Garrett Brown from Epworth UMC Cockeysville, Md to Wesley Freedom, Eldersburg, Md.
Philip Ray Roberson Harmony UMC, Marlowe, W.Va. to Havre de Grace UMC, Havre de Grace, Md.
Gary Sheffield-James from Arnolia UMC, Joppa, Md. to Hunt's Memorial UMC, Riderwood, Md.
Glen L. Arnold from Sandy Mount UMC, Finksburg, Md. to Jarrettsville UMC, Jarrettsville, Md
Rodney Thomas Smothers from Discipleship Adventure Guide on the Annapolis Southern Region to St. Paul UMC, Oxon Hill, MD
Stan Cardwell from First Saints Community Church (UMC), Leonardtown, MD to Bel Air Associate-Off Site Ministry, Bel Air, MD.
Wade Martin from Trinity UMC in Emmitsburg, MD to Montgomery UMC in Damascus, MD.
Patricia C. Dols from the Ridgeley Charge, Ridgeley, WV to Greenmount UMC, Hampstead, MD.
Kenneth Hawes from Emmanuel UMC, Hagerstown, MD to Hughes UMC, Wheaton, MD.
Bruce Jones from senior pastor, Concord-St. Andrews UMC, Bethesda, MD to senior pastor, La Plata UMC, La Plata, MD