Wesleyan Covenant Association
02/05/2021
Dr Chet Harris, Director East Ohio WCA wants to offer all interested Pastors and Church Leadership the opportunity to participate in the Nehemiah Journey. Please read the overview and complete and send the application below.
OVERVIEW FOR PARTICIPATING CHURCHES
You’re invited to enter into the Nehemiah Journey, a ministry of the Wesleyan Covenant Association, starting January 15, 2021.
Nehemiah is the central figure of the Book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament. The book describes his work in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem during the Second Temple period. Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the king. After Nehemiah learned that there was a remnant of Jews in Judah who were in distress and that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down, he asked the king for permission to return and rebuild the walls. Artaxerxes sent Nehemiah to Judah as the governor of the province with a mission to rebuild the walls. He also gave him the necessary letters explaining his support for the venture, and provision for timber from the king's forest. Once there, Nehemiah defied the opposition of Judah's enemies on all sides, and rebuilt the walls within 52 days.
We are a remnant people in this time of deep division, transition, and a new reality
emerging, feeling called to build a new expression of the “people called Methodists” in a
territory that feels very hostile. Globally, secularization is increasing. Our experience
may be similar to the citizens of Jerusalem in Nehemiah’s time – discouragement in the
midst of devastation. The “Protocol” offers hope for a new future, but there is still a lot of work to be accomplished. Like Nehemiah’s project to rebuild the walls, there will be
many “bricks” or aspects in building the “new.”
We are starting where we are, but we are moving into a time of rebuilding a movement
to spread scriptural holiness across our world. While every journey has a destination,
we know there is a time of planning, preparation, and identifying one’s resources. We
also know journeys are most enjoyable when done with others. You are not alone.
There will be multiple stages in this journey. In January and through the first quarter the
focus will be two-fold:
Firming up the prayer support and ministry of the local church.
Helping to equip the Lead pastor through a Covenant Group process.
In the second quarter, lay and clergy leadership of the local congregation will engage in
a process of shared learning as they prepare themselves and the church for the
transition into God’s next season.
In order for a church to participate, the following two commitments must be made:
1. The pastor must commit to be part of the pilot program, support the church’s participation in the pilot program, and are personally committed to aligning with the new denomination should that become possible.
2. The primary leadership body of the church commits to the church’s participation in the pilot program and affirms that it is the intent of the lay leadership of the church to encourage the church to align with the new denomination should that become possible.
Please complete the attached information form below and return it to Rev. Dr. Leah Hidde-Gregory so that we will have some basic information about your church as you begin this journey. Dr. Hidde-Gregory’s email is leahhiddegregory@gmail.com or C/O First United Methodist Church 1300 Austin Avenue, Waco, Texas 76102.
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