Wesley seminar could help solve budget problems, director says
By Annette Bender
The conference doesn't have a problem with the budget, says Caryl Griffin. The problem is that church members lack commitment.
“When we foster true discipleship and stewardship, we won't have a budget problem,” says the new director of the conference's continuing education arm. A Wesley Institute seminar scheduled in October, says Griffin, could be a remedy for ailing discipleship and the budget crunch in Holston:
“It sets the stage for what we need to do about apportionments in this conference.” “Wesley & the Poor,” a three-day convocation held at Tennessee Wesleyan College Oct. 6-8, is the conference's third in a series of Wesley-focused seminars. In fall 2001, the institute held a “Wesley & the Bible” seminar. In 2002, the topic was “Wesley & Anglicanism.”
This fall's seminar features speakers who are “the best in the world in terms of speaking,” says Griffin, “and in terms of knowledge of Wesley and the ability to inspire.”
Speakers include Richard Heitzenrater, professor of church history and Wesley studies at Duke Divinity School; Kenneth Carder, resident bishop of the Mississippi Conference; and Phil Ott, who most recently served as provost and academic dean of Tennessee Wesleyan College.
Griffin hopes that churches will send groups to the seminar, especially chairs of stewardship, missions, and social concern committees as well as lay leaders and youth. In the past, 40-50 Holston members attended Wesley seminars. Griffin is shooting for 200 in October.
“Especially in the year of Wesley's 300th anniversary, this seminar gets to the root of our Wesleyan theology in a wonderful way,” she said. “We're so iso- lated from the poor that we don't really understand their needs. When we do see them firsthand, then we are filled with compassion, just as Christ was filled with compassion. We're called to be Christ to one another.”
William McDonald, chaplain at Ten- nessee Wesleyan College in Athens, said the seminar helps tie the confer- ence and college together and also exposes students to Wesleyan theology. “We talk about John Wesley in class and this is a chance for them to hear about him from other folks,” he said. “It¡òs a golden opportunity for all of us: clergy, academics, laity. We¡òre glad the Wesley Institute has been so supportive of the whole endeavor. We¡òre glad to be a part of it.”
Full participation in the seminar earns 1.5 Continuing Education Credits Registration fee is $40. Accommoda- tions and meals are extra. Lectures take place at Trinity UMC, adjacent to campus. Registration begins at noon on Monday, Oct. 6. The seminar concludes with worship at 11 a.m. on Oct. 8.
Download a brochure or, contact Caryl Griffin by email or (423) 928-2156.
For a related story on Caryl Griffin and the Wesley Institute, see “Who are These People?” on pages 4-5.
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