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North Coast District United Methodist Church

North Coast Crossings

District Newsletter

To view or print the entire newsletter - please go over to the left hand column - PRINTABLE VIEW and click the desired Month.

A newsletter published monthly except January and July 
by the North Coast District Communications Commission.

Frederica Curley, Chair
North Coast District Communications Commission

Mission Statement:
To inform local church leadership of district activities and local church events as they relate to the district, with an emphasis on our spirituality and United Methodist connectionalism.

God is Calling Us to Move
Ahead to the Future

Dear Friends in the North Coast District,

 “I do not consider that I have made it my own; but one thing do,  (remembering) what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14 (The Message)

   It has been a great term for me as a Superintendent in the East Ohio Conference for the last six years. Assigned as the last superintendent of the Cleveland District (for  two years) and the first superintendent of the North Coast District, I have been deeply honored to serve both of the Bishops, the churches and the clergy, to the best of my ability.

   I take great comfort, strength and hope in this passage from Philippians. Paul encourages us to forget what lies behind, so that we can press on ahead. I would choose to remember what lies behind so that we can honor it.

   I honor our history as churches and a movement of United Methodism in the greater Cleveland area.

   I am deeply grateful not only for our history, but also for our relationships, as we have worked together over the years on the tasks we have undertaken.

   But I am also more committed to the goal of the “kingdom work” for Jesus Christ. As much as we enjoy talking about the past, we must move ahead to the future God is calling us to, and it is not the same as our past. Read the Bible, study church history – God always calls the people forward to a new, untried, sometimes scary future.
            “Stick with me friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for the same goal.”
            Philippians 3:17 (The Message)

   In the past few months several persons have said that they are sorry that I, as superintendent, will not be going to the new future with them. My response has been that I will be praying and cheering for you from Chardon, or wherever else God may lead me to. Paul suggests that we should stick together as long as we are headed to the same goal. I can’t say it better; when it comes to “kingdom work” I will always be interested in the churches and the people of the North Coast District. Although I will no longer serve as your superintendent, I will continue to serve as your “prayer partner,” “your cheerleader,” and your “kingdom” friend. I want us to continue to do well for Jesus Christ and his kingdom here in Northern Ohio.

Be a Blessing to Someone,

2010 Benevolent Block Grant Funding

    Did you request 2010 Benevolent Block Grant Funding for your  project idea? The following is a reminder of the North Coast District’s role in the Benevolent Block Grand Funding process.

   The conference ministries and mission funding is a part of the Fund I, “World Service and Conference Ministries and Mission,” Shared Ministry apportionment monies given by local churches to be used for mission and ministry within the East Ohio Conference as outreach that leads people to the acceptance of Jesus Christ. The conference Mission and Ministries Funding Committee is responsible for oversight of the East Ohio Conference Ministries and Mission Budget. The Ministries and Mission Funding Committee suggests policies to help the Conference accomplish effective and responsible ministries and mission funding, serves as a channel for all funding requests, and protects against overlap of programs and abuse.

   The North Coast District Mission Committee makes block grant funding recommendations to the conference committee based on requests submitted to the District. The District Mission submitted all required material and recommendations for 2010 Benevolent Block Grant Funding to the East Ohio Conference by the required March 15, 2009 deadline. The final step in this process.

   The Conference Ministries and Mission funding will be recommended by the Conference Council on Ministries and the Conference Council on Finance and Administration at the 2009 Annual Conference for review and approval. The payout percentage rate for Ministries and Mission grants is set annually by the Conference Council on Finance and Administration based on expected income rates. So, if you have not received notification that your 2010 Benevolent Block Grant request was not recommended for funding by the District Mission Committee, your project was recommended for funding.

   As a District, we are mindful that the Conference is moving us towards more equity in funding across all Districts of the EOC. The Conference remains hopeful that overtime benevolent funds will become “seed money” for many projects rather than long-term support.  This enriched focus on stewardship begins with the 2010 funding cycle.

Yvonne 
 

Theme-oriented articles are welcome for publication (200 words max) along with other items which may be of interest to local church leadership (80 words). Submit material as text only format on e-mail. We reserve the right to edit all submissions.

Send to: Frederica Curley, Chair - North Coast District Communications Commission
E-mail: ncdistrict@ncdistrictumc.org
Deadline: 10th of month preceding issue date.

An annual subscription to North Coast Crossings, mailed to your address, is available for $10. Send requests with payment to North Coast District UMC, 5246 Broadway Ave., Suite 300, Cleveland, OH 44127. Churches are permitted to reprint unlimited copies of North Coast Crossings in its entirety, or in excerpts with credit line: Reprinted with permission from North Coast Crossings, North Coast District UMC.