Learning More About the EMC
By: Max Edwards
The Cabinet of Superintendents has been working to both enhance and expand the introductory course required of everyone coming into ministry in the EMC. In the Haggard School of Ministry curriculum, it is HI-101 “This is the EMC.”
Students enrolled in the Haggard School are required to complete this course, as well as every person achieving credentials or transferring into the EMC, but you may be surprised to know that anyone across the denomination who wishes to take it (adults or older teens) may attend Contact the headquarters office to register or for more information about the class.
We have made two somewhat significant alterations from its previous version. The first is that we will be teaching it live, face-to-face for most everyone taking it. During the middle years of the four-year quadrennium, “This is the EMC” will be offered as a full-day, in-person class on the Wednesdays prior to Journey meetings across the country in at least a couple of different locations. This will hopefully afford clergy and lay persons alike to attend at a regionally located site accessible to their home and home church. However, we are aware that there are situations and work schedules that make attending a day-long class in the middle of the week a true impossibility. For that reason, we will be looking at the possibility of offering it on a Saturday at one of the Journey locations, starting in 2027, AND we will offer it once a year via electronic meeting (ZOOM) for those who can give explanation or evidence that a live class would be a true hardship for them.
The second major change is a greatly expanded content. We have enhanced the material to flow in harmony with our overall vision, comprising these categories: Worship, Discipleship, Holiness, and Evangelism. Since 2026 is a General Conference year, and there will be no Journey meetings, we will indeed be offering the class live in Indianapolis on a date yet to be determined, as well as once online. The live class will be one full day, while the online class will span two days in 4-hour blocks. We will keep you informed when the actual dates are set.
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT NOVEMBER IS A MONTH FOR MAKING A UNIQUE GLOBAL IMPACT.
Our annual November Missions Offering promotion is in full swing, and I want to strongly encourage each EMC church across the US Conference to receive a Thanksgiving Missions Offering to be sent to the Missions Board at headquarters.
Great things are happening in our Global Conferences - - New believers are being baptized; Churches are being planted; Domestic Missionaries are being sent; and Compassionate Care is being offered to the poor and needy. PLEASE MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO EMPHASIZE AND RECEIVE THIS OFFERING IN EVERY LOCAL CHURCH.
You can contribute to the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through this one simple act. Souls will be forever changed!
Kerusso (Greek): “To publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done.”
From the Desk of the General Secretary/Treasurer
Rev. Brian Hammond
End of Year Reportng
As we approach the end of the calendar year, I would like to remind you once again of the end -of-year report requirement for all EMC credental holders and churches. You can fnd the link to the report form as well as instructons on completng it on our website here: Credental/Church Reports - The Evangelical Methodist Church
Statstcal and Financial Report Forms
Many of you use the Finance Report (F900) we provide for you. If you use the Excel sheets each month, they will help you at the end of the year to easily and accurately complete the fnancial and statstcal porton of the church report. You can check them out here: Church Forms and Downloads - The Evangelical Methodist Church
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Online Giving Through ‘Planning Center
It should come as no surprise to hear me menton that we have started using Planning Center Giving. We have been writng about it extensively for the last several months. If you would like to start using online giving instead of sending a writen check, you can begin by checking out the links on our website here:
Online Giving - The Evangelical Methodist Church
Retrement and Housing Allowance
One of the things I notced while serving as a Superintendent was that many ministers were not taking full advantage of the housing allowance beneft. This is a beneft the IRS provides to the clergy that can help you save on tax dollars. Now is the tme for ministers and churches to review housing allowances and, if necessary, adjust them at the beginning of next year. It is also a good tme to look at your retrement savings. Unfortunately, I know many clergy who have reac hed the point of needing retrement, but because they haven’t prepared by saving early, they do not have even enough to meet their basic needs. You can also save on your taxes if the church enrolls you in a 403 (b) plan. We can help with that if you need it
Resources
The last thing I would like to do is make a few recommendatons to you. I have mentoned some of these in the past.
Pastor’s Wallet – Great website to fnd tools to answer your clergy and church fnancial questons. The Pastor's Wallet - Equipping pastors to master their personal fnances
Church Compensaton: From Strategic Plan to Completon , by Elaine Sommerville. A book that every church and or/pastor should have on their shelf. $39.95 on Amazon.
Church Finance: The Church Leader’s Guide to Financial Operatons, by Michael Bats. Another great book to have on your shelf. $34.95 on Amazon.
November Missions Offering
Bill Walker, GBWM, Co-Chair
Thanks & Giving: Extending Grace Around the Globe
It’s November, and it’s time for the annual November Missions Offering, sponsored by the EMC Board of World Missions!
Recent issues of the Kerusso and IN THE KNOW have shared some success stories about how your gifts have been used in the Global Conferences of the EMC. If you missed these, you can read them online at The Kerusso Newsletter.
Our Global Conferences use these funds in many ways to advance the Kingdom of God in their respective countries: youth camps, missionary outreach, church planting, pastors’ retreats, theological and ministry training of both clergy and laity, and much more.
We share what you give evenly with our Global Conferences, allowing their leaders to determine how to use the money best and they often share with us how your generosity has benefited them.
Please give generously to this effort. You may give through your local church, online at November Mission Offering or by mail using the address below.
If sending a check, please make it payable to “Evangelical Methodist Church” and designate your gift for the “November Missions Offering.”
Evangelical Methodist Church Headquarters PO Box 17070
Indianapolis, IN 46217
Sean Scribner – North Carolina
Excerpts from Pastor Sean’s 2024 Ministry Report
As I reflect on 2024, one resounding thought dominates my mind: Elizabeth City is our home; EMC is our family. We are nothing but grateful that Jesus has placed us here and that our lives have intersected and become so intertwined with yours. My work with the Infused Student Ministry continues to be a source of great blessing. We have the largest group of teens this year I have seen in my 11 years, which presents an incredible opportunity to impact the next generation for Christ.
In June we took a great group of leaders and teens to Indian Cave Youth Camp. In total, the church sent 24 campers and 7 adults. Camp continues to play a crucial role in the identity and spiritual formation of our student ministry. I was honored to preach the evening camp services from the book of Ephesians. Special thanks to the church for the outpouring of funds at the Infused Bake Sale to lessen the financial burden on our students’ families. In September, the youth led the Sunday morning worship service. It was amazing to see these young men and women stepping up into leadership roles. We will continue to make that type of discipleship an emphasis in the coming year.
I want to express how proud I am that in 2024 our church has met its Conference Support obligation as per the requirements of the Discipline. I know this represents a significant portion of our budget, but that is our church’s tithe, and it is right for us to make good on our agreement with the denomination. Thank you, church, for your faithfulness in sacrificial giving that makes all of the ministry work here at EMC possible!
In the fall, Pastor Jeff and I coached youth soccer together for the Pasquotank County Rec League. We were unable to offer a soccer camp this year, but we continue to make connections in the hopes of bringing people to our church. Vacation Bible School continues to be tremendously fruitful in outreach. Nearly 100 kids attended, and the Thursday night program had 191 in attendance. Special thanks to Jeff & Chelsea Wortman and all the VBS volunteers. [Other outreach opportunities involve] our Missions Committee in leading our missions program, our Benevolence Committee with disbursements following the principles of “Helping Without Hurting in Church Benevolence” and our EMC Preschool. Our church continues to be friendly and supportive to several outside parachurch ministries, including Kairos, Kairos Outside, Emmaus, the Albemarle Homeschool Support League, the Albemarle Pregnancy Resource Center and Clinic, SOULs, Hopeline, and others.
The social media team has elevated our church’s social media presence to new heights. Through Facebook, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and our website, our service videos and sermon podcasts are accessible on multiple platforms. We continue to livestream every Sunday service and Wednesday night Bible study, thanks to our dedicated A/V team who faithfully serve!
Brian Gordon – Virginia Excerpts from Pastor Brian’s 2024 Ministry Report
“Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” Psalm 34:8 I still find it difficult to believe at times that God allows me to do what I love to do. It is such a joy to be the pastor of the wonderful congregation that is Riverside, and to work with our great staff and leaders. We are unified and work hard to guide our church to fulfill our mission to be a church where everyone knows they have value, a place, and a purpose. Our congregation is welcoming and exemplifies Christ in love and compassion. We are an outward focused church. We give to missions (foreign and local). Many individuals give above their tithe to support outreach ministries and many of our small groups participate in some kind of outreach. Through November we have raised or allocated nearly $55,000 to various outreach ministries, not including our denominational support, a portion of which also supports missions and church planting. That equates to nearly 15% of our total income! Praise the Lord! This past year we moved back to two Sunday morning services to accommodate our increasing attendance. I am so thankful for our leaders, praise team, and all our volunteers, who helped make the transition. Since moving back to two services we have seen a steady increase in attendance, I don’t know we would have seen if we had not made the change.
As we grow, we must continue to evaluate how well we engage with visitors and our effectiveness in helping new attendees get connected. This is especially vital with two services, where not everyone will know everyone. I am looking forward to a sermon series/church campaign called B.L.E.S.S. The series is centered around God’s desire for us to bless our neighbors. Jesus challenged us to “love our neighbor,” and in this series we will talk about strategies for doing just that. We encourage everyone to get involved as we challenge one another to reach our communities for Christ.