Bishop McKee Provides Clarity on One Church Resolution

On Tuesday, June 4, voting members of the North Texas Annual Conference approved a One Church Resolution by a vote of 591 to 144.

The One Church Resolution as approved states, “Therefore be it resolved that as a people of the North Texas Conference we aspire to behave as One Church Congregations and Conference. Be it further resolved that: we will pray for one another; we will allow for contextual ministry and pastoral care and not impede the work of others in ministry; we will seek to find common ground and actively be in ministry with people who are different from us; we will not speak ill of one another and we will model that all people are of sacred worth.”

The key word in this resolution is “aspire.” To aspire to something is to direct one’s hopes and actions today toward achieving something tomorrow. Passage of this resolution signals that the vast majority of lay and clergy members of the North Texas Annual Conference hope for and intend to work toward the day when the North Texas Conference and the wider United Methodist Church becomes a Church in which pastors and churches are granted the flexibility to reach their unique missional contexts. At the same time, they are afforded protections to not act contrary to their convictions. The affirmation of this resolution is a statement by the lay and clergy members of the North Texas Annual Conference that they desire space for traditionalists to continue to offer ministry as they have in the past, space for progressives to exercise a more complete ministry with LGBTQ persons, and space for all United Methodists to remain connected. This resolution is about what the North Texas Annual Conference hopes to become in the future.

The One Church Resolution also calls on the clergy and laity of the North Texas Annual Conference to live into an important aspect of the scriptural vision for the Church. The Book of James commands us to “not speak evil against one another” (4:11) and to “pray for one another” (5:6). In these days, as we continue in ministry together despite our disagreements on various matters, including ministry with LGBTQ persons, these timeless words of wisdom are critical for all of us.

The One Church Resolution did not change our current Book of Discipline. Only the General Conference can do that. The future of our conference is yet to be. For today, I, as your bishop, the cabinet, clergy and churches still live and do ministry in light of the current Book of Discipline.

My hope, as captured in some of my favorite verses in the scriptures, is that we live and do ministry together “with all humility and gentleness … making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:2-3).

Peace,
Michael McKee
Resident Bishop

 

Weekly Schedule

Thursday, 13th
6:30 PM ReFit-CC
Friday, 14th
Flag Day
Saturday, 15th
9:00 AM C.O.D.A.-202EB
Sunday, 16th
Trinity Sunday
Father’s Day
9:00 AM Sunday School for All Ages
10:30 AM WORSHIP SERVICE
12:00 PM Celebration for Rev. Bill Mauldin-CC

Sunday Highlights – June 16, Trinity Sunday, Father’s Day

Acolyte:
Ashton Schaffer-Martinez

Ushers:
Stuart and Stephanie Bayley

A/V:
Ted Ditty

Counters:
Rodney Stewart and Randall Richter

 

This Week’s Highlights:
Town Hall Meeting
Sunday, June 16
9:00 am in the sanctuary
Learn what changes have taken place at the Conference level, participate in an assessment of Holy Conversations, and hear about the plan moving forward.

Celebration for Rev. Bill Mauldin
Sunday, June 16
12:00 pm in the Covenant Center
Stop by and congratulate Pastor Bill on his ordination as a Deacon in Full Connection!

Fan Drive
Advocates for Justice and Peace will be collecting fans or donations for fans for Senior Citizens and others in need through June 23rd. Please drop off your fans in the Narthex. We will transport the fans to Metrocrest Services who will distribute fans to those who need them. In the past the recipients have expressed sincere appreciation and talked about how much of a difference it made for them. If you do not have time to go out and purchase a fan, we will be happy to do so for you. For $20 we can purchase a new Box Fan or a Standing Oscillating Fan, so just note that your donation is for “Fans.” Thank you, Holy Covenant, for again helping to meet the needs in our community.

 

Coming Soon!
Blood Drive
Sunday, June 30
8:30 am to 12:30 pm in the Covenant Center

Advocates’ 5th Sunday Presentation
Sunday, June 30th
9:00 am in the sanctuary
Guest speaker Rev. Andy Lewis discusses the organizational structure of the United Methodist Church.

Sack Summer Hunger
Saturdays, June 8 – August 3
9 am to noon
During the school year, many of the children in our community benefit from the free/reduced lunch program which provides them with breakfast and lunch for free or at a reduced cost. However, when school is out for the summer, the program is not available. We partner with Metrocrest (Social Services) to bridge this gap with the Sack Summer Hunger program. The program provides breakfast, lunch and snacks for school-aged children throughout the summer. The families receive a sack of food for each school-aged child in their household. Each Saturday during the summer, they can either pick up the bags from the church or have them delivered to their homes. Volunteers are needed to help make this program successful. There are sign-up sheets in the Narthex for delivery drivers, distribution at church, and to help pick up the food from Metrocrest. The biggest need right now is the delivery drivers and produce pick-up from Metrocrest. You do not have to commit to do every Saturday. You just sign up for the Saturdays that you are available. Please help us to continue our mission to serve the kids in our community. If you have questions, please contact Ashley Norris [email protected].

Vacation Bible School: Roar!
Sunday, July 7 – Thursday, July 11
5:30 to 8:30 pm
Life is wild. God is good. This epic adventure engages the whole herd. At Roar!, kids explore God’s goodness and celebrate a ferocious faith that powers them through this wild life.
We’ll meet together and share a light meal at 5:30 pm each night. Then, everyone’s adventure will begin. Our preschooler VBS will end at 7:30 pm and the elementary aged children will be done at 8:30 pm. Register your child here.

 

2019: A Year in the Bible
Feel like you’ve missed the boat on reading the Bible in chronological order? Don’t! You can jump right in in any of the following ways:
1. Download the free Bible app by You Version. This link should take you to the group from Holy Covenant that are doing this reading together: Invitation.
2. You can use the link above on-line as well. If you don’t want to be connected to others you can just go to bible.com. Go to plans and search The One Year Chronological Bible.
3. You can listen to The One Year Chronological Bible through Audible.com at Audiobook or you can download the app and listen to it on your phone.
4. You can buy a The One Year Chronological Bible in book form through Amazon or download it to your Kindle or E-Reader.
5. You can use any Bible you want and follow this print out that tells you what scriptures to read each day: Reading Plan.

Support Holy Covenant While You Shop
You can support Holy Covenant while you shop. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to your favorite charitable organization. To shop at AmazonSmile simply go to smile.amazon.com from the web browser on your computer or mobile device. You may also want to add a bookmark to smile.amazon.com to make it even easier to return and start your shopping at AmazonSmile. Select Holy Covenant United Methodist Church to receive donations from eligible purchases before you begin shopping. Amazon will remember your selection, and then every eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result in a donation.

 

Highlights Outside Holy Covenant:
Earthkeepers

Global Ministries EarthKeepers trains United Methodists in the United States to start and grow environmental projects. EarthKeepers trainings equip participants to develop projects that address environmental concerns in their churches and communities. Every project plan is shaped by training in the following topics:
-Eco-theology
-Anti-racism
-Strategies for social change
-United Methodist resources

Is EarthKeepers right for you? Do you…
• Recognize the urgency of the environmental crisis;
• Feel a deep sense of God’s call to take bold action;
• Need to strengthen your organizing skills and deepen your theological resources;
• Want to join a broader community of United Methodists who are engaged in environmental ministries;
• Have some previous experience with environmental issues and/or ministry?

Commitment
Participants must complete five hours of homework in the month prior to training. They should plan to commit 10 hours/month to their projects for at least six months following the training. Participants may join or help form a regional or online cohort group following the program.

Benefits
Following training, EarthKeepers will receive access to an online networking and resource platform and can apply for small grants to support their projects.

Cost and Logistics
Training, food and lodging expenses during the training are paid for by Global Ministries.

Participants must pay their own travel expenses to and from the training as well as hotel incidental and parking (if used) expenses during the training. Local participants may commute to the training during the day and sleep at home at night.

Location-specific details
Each training will take place at a United Methodist Church with lodging at a nearby hotel. When needed, transportation will be provided between the training site and the hotel.

Philadelphia, PA
Application Deadline: July 1, 2019
Training Dates: August 8-11, 2019
Training Site: Arch Street United Methodist Church
Lodging: TBD
Special Focus: Sustainable urban gardening (in partnership with Arch Street UMC)

Austin, TX
Application Deadline: August 19, 2019
Training Dates: September 26-29, 2019
Training Site: First United Methodist Church of Austin
Lodging: TBD
Special Focus: Climate and migration (in partnership with San Antonio Region Justice For Our Neighbors)

Chicago, IL
Application Deadline: September 16, 2019
Training Dates: October 24-27, 2019
Training Site: Euclid Avenue United Methodist Church
Lodging: TBD
Special Focus: Environmental justice (In partnership with Faith in Place)