Joint Called Clergy Session receives positive feedback

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More than 250 surveys were returned from the 750 attendees of the Nebraska-Kansas Episcopal Areas Joint Called Clergy Session held in Topeka, Kan., Jan. 17-19. “Hope in the Face of Change 2012” was a success according to the evaluations submitted. Overall, the feedback was positive. Clergy enjoyed getting to spend time with friends and colleagues, getting to know pastors from different conferences, learning what the three conferences have in common and sharing stories with other pastors. As with other events, every question of the survey met with some room for improvement and comments were sprinkled with remarks and suggestions from those who responded negatively to portions of the event.

The Rev. Dr. Carol Roettmer Brewer, the Rev. Shelly Petz and the Rev. Michael Tomson-DeGreeff, planners of the event issued this statement, “We are thrilled to report that 10 percent of the income from Soul Desires bookstore sales at the session will be split in half and put towards UMCOR Haiti and the Imagine No Malaria Nothing But Nets fund.”

The planners learned some things from the survey to apply to the planning of next year’s session in Kearney, Neb. In a debriefing conference call, the three planners agreed that the conference had gone well.

Speaker Brian McLaren was received positively by most attendees. He was less popular with those who had extensively read his books or had heard him speak before. For those familiar with McLaren’s work, there was a desire for more practical guidance on how to do ministry differently.

Worship and music received many good comments. Drumming, used as both a call to worship and gathering device, was liked by many.

Comments were favorable about the mission project where small groups of clergy assembled tricycles in preparation for giving to the children and families from the Topeka Head Start program. In the end, about 80 trikes were given away. Head Start families were invited to come to receive the trikes. Some families came with their children, others did not, all were pleased to be a part of the project.

Below is a sampling of some of the comments.

• “It was great getting to know UM clergy from the two other conferences. They are not that different from us. I was very interested in what they had to say about their own conferences and their hopes and fears in regard to the Great Plains Conference.”
• “It was very spirit-filled event. Kudos to the planners.”
• “I loved the theme. I am so glad to be offered "hope" in these trying times.”
• “Wow! Amazing! I was anticipating great things based on my previous reading of Brian’s books but it was even better! … A very good job was done by the people who set up the session and those who picked McLaren.”
• “These kids and their (facial) features while riding the recently constructed trikes were unforgettable!”
• “Best 10 bucks I ever spent! Seeing the smiling faces of the kids was awesome.”
• “I thank God for the worship team and the awesome nature of the services! I serve a small traditional style church and this was one of the greatest gifts of the event. Wish I could rate it higher!”
• “Great energy, great preaching, good leadership”

About a quarter of the survey respondents wanted more detail from the Nebraska Kansas Episcopal Area Transition Team, characterized by this comment, “Not as helpful as I'd hoped. With few exceptions it is all ‘out there.’”

Critical responses to Transition Team survey questions indicated a desire for more in-depth discussions around everything from conferences’ theological differences to how small churches can thrive in a one-conference configuration; and from technical questions about General Conference representation to questions about how to be a part of and to hear more from dream teams.

Those who responded more favorably to the Transition Team report can be summed up by this comment, “… yes and no, waiting for more substance, already heard the sales pitch, ‘you had me at hello.’"

The vote to become one new annual conference will be taken at each conference’s annual session in the spring. The result of the vote will be jointly announced to all three annual conferences on June 9.

The 2013 Joint Called Clergy Session is scheduled for Jan. 15-17, at the Younes Conference Center, in Kearney, Neb.

Photo: Nebraska and Kansas Area clergy collaborate on a trycycle building project at the 2012 Joint Called Clergy Session, held in Topeka, Kan., Jan 17-19.