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Adams, L. Cecile
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extracted text
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Cecile Adams named to
council director pos
!.2./~lt:t ~
L. Cecile Adams will become
the first lay person , the first
woman, and the first diaconal
minister to fill the council director's position in the Detroit
Conference.
She will assume that position
Jan . 1 if the Conference Council
on Ministries approves the Personnel Committee's recommendation at its Dec. 11 meeting . The
Personnel Committee interviewed
six candidates before arriving at
its unanimous decision .
CECILE PRESENTLY is serving as Associate Council Director
on the conference staff with portfolio in Christian Education and
consultant to local congregations.
She has been in her present position since June 1991. Prior to that
date she had serv~d for ten years
on the staff of the General Board
of Discipleship in Nashville, Tenn .
She also has served on the
North Mississippi Annual Conference staff and, in the mid-70s,
was director of Christian education at Trinity UMC, Greenville,
Miss.
"Most importantly, she brings
experience and ski~ls a.nd .~ colleagial spirit to th1s s1gmflcant
leadership position in the conference; · said Georg e Berquist,
chairperson of the Personnel
Committee.
IN ADDITION to serving on the
staffs of a general board , an annual conference, and a local
Cecile Adams
church, Cecile has written articles
and curriculum materials for
Graded Press, Discipleship
Resources, Circuit Rider, The Upper Room, and Friendship Press.
In responding to her nomination , Bishop Ott stated:
"I am very pleased to affirm the
selection of Cecile Adams as
nominee for Detroit Conference
Council Director.
"She has a demonstrated
record of service in all the dimensions and expressions of United
Methodism. Cecile has a strong
desire to aid our conference
boards and staff to move into new
ministry expressions.
"Ms. Adams' extensive work in
resourcing congregations of all
kinds will help the purpose of the
Conference to be fulfilled - 'to
make disciples for Jesus Christ
by equipping ... local churches
for ministry and by providing a
con nection for ministry beyond
the local church .. .'
" Cecile Adams has been widely and warmly received during her
brief two years in Michigan . Her
faith in Christ and commitment to
mission will now be expressed in
this key leadership position ."
CECILE IS the mother of two
young adults: Alicia, who is entering Duke Divinity School in January with the intention of moving
toward consecration as a
diaconal minister; and Alan , a
free-lance artist.
The position of council di[ector
became open when Ted Doane
died suddenly last July 23. 0
Council Director's report 'God's word spoken and lived'
"/ ;q) 9:F
KATHY GOOLIAN
MCA staff reporter
ADRIAN (MCA) - C ecile
Adams, Detroit Conference
Council Director, shaped her
June 6 report around examples
of how World Service and Conference Benevolences from
1994, in the amount of
Cecile Adams gave the Council
Director's report, calling on
members of the house at Dawson Auditorium to share ways
in which apportionment
funds are translated into ministry.-mca pltoco/Erik A lsgaard
$3,110, 586, were transformed
into ministry. Mike in hand,
she visited " representatives" on
the conference floor.
Erik Alsgaard, editor of
the Michigan Christian Advocate, said the Advocate puts out
26 issues a year of local, area,
state and worldwide United
Methodist news.
Helen Jeanne Doane,
Conference Secretary of Global Ministries, cited the Flint
Hispanic Ministry, the School
of Christian Mission, the Indian Workers Conference, cooperative ministries, church redevelopment and new church
development, urban community youth outreach, and more.
Katherine Fleming spoke
on Higher Education/Campus
Ministries. Coverage includes
local ministries, Wesley Foun-·
dations and scholarships.
Charles Boayue, urban
missioner, described funding
for the Commission on Religion and Race, which includes
caucus support and Project
Equality.
Laurie de Ia Garza highlighted a few things the Marquette District has done. This
includes sending members to
St. Louis to train for Stephen
Ministry leadership.
Pam Mathieu, highlighted
the Board of Christian Educacion's work, from Lab School
to refugee camps.
Jack Harnish of the General Board of Global Ministries
staff spoke on scholarship h elp
for clergy both here and overseas.
Presenters noted that the
bottom line for the World Service/Conference Benevolences
budget in 1996 is the same as
that for 1995, with sacrifices
being made.
For the future, Adams said,
the CCOM and its agencies
will begin
e paying more attention to
what congregations are doing;
e listening more intently to
what people are saying;
e offering greater support
and direction for hands-on discipleship;
e utilizing current and
emerging technology for ministry;
e making decisions through
a discernment or consensusbuilding process;
e recognizing and telling
the story of God at work
among us in more powerful
ways;
e focusing more on what
God is providing for u s now
than longing for what we do
not have; and
e trusting in God's promises enough to risk being both
more creative and more relevant in the ministries we offer.
At the en<\ of her report
Adams presented Bishop Donaid Ott with aT-shirt for the
Conference Council on Ministries Fair to be held the next
day.
t
Council Director report
highlights tninistry
to// to/9~ointed
to generate a United
Methodist presence in four
locations in the Detroit Conference," reported Arnold.
Cecile Adams, Detroit ConAt the 1996 Annual Conferference Council DirectOr; and
Charles Arnold, chair of the
ence, Doug McMunn, pastor 1
Conference Council on M inof Arise and Duane Miller,
. istries invited their audience to
pastor of Macomb Communidream for the future with
ty Church were recognized
them. Adams would like to see
after six months of service to
"movement from a ' poor us'
their new communities. In the.
last few months, new members
theology to a theology of abunhave been received and bapdance," so that we might
tisms have taken place. " We
become aware of what God is
continue to celebrate the presdoing for us here and now.
ence and the promise of these
Other areas of forward
new church starts," said
motion offered by Adams and
Adams.
Arnold illcluded moving from
"Now we have two more
congregations working ill isolapastors appointed to new
tion, to working with others ill
church starts ," reported
cooperative effort, and illstead
Arnold. "Mike Norton to the
of rearrangillg the institutional
Canton Township United
systems, we might try freeing
Methodist ChuTch• and Berpersons for ministry. The duo
nardine Daniels to a new
suggested moving towards a
church start in the city of
passionate prayer life, a worDetroit."
ship setting where clergy and
"A total of $444, 516 had
laity work together, and h avillg
b een expended on New
a ·conference where telling the
Church Starts," Adams said.
story about how our money
Arnold and Adams ackhas been used invites the givnowledged the help and supillg to continue.
port of a host of people that
The Conference Council
have made dreams and proDirector's report told the story
jects and new starts a reality. In
of the Pass It On campaign,
addition, Bill Verhelst was preand that story h as many happy
sented a plaque of appreciation
endillgs. With the campaign at
for his ten years of service as
its end, " over $4,046,960 h as
Associate Council Director.
been received to date and only
The work of other associate
about one percent of the total
council directors was recoganticipated receipts remaillillg
nized as "moving in some n ew
to b e received," said Arnold.
directions to benefit local conR enovations have b ee n
gregations," said Adams. For
made at Bay Shore C amp in
Sebewaing, Camp Michiexample, Associate Council
gamme in the Upper PeninsuDirector, Terry Gladstone has
established a youth newsletter,
la, and Judson Collins Camp
a Youth Web Site and has been
near Onsted. Various facilities
instrum ental in ren ewing the
on those camps h ave b een
conference's h u mar~ . -·-. - T;ty
painted, renovated, winterized
program.
or rebui lt. As of April 30,
Charles Boayu e has
$6 23,534 has been spent on
working with the Divisi· or
behalf of the camps.
"In the last 18 months, four · Stewardship of the Confe, .. .lee
Board of Discipleship. The
pastors. have been appointed to
result is a Financial Stewardwh at we are calling New
ship Team that will ·resource
Church Starts. That means
the local church.
t
four pastors h ave be en apKAREN KNIGHT
MCA correspondent
Council director
'1. ts up' C
erence
leaders w·t
a loons
KATHY GOOLIAN
MCA staff reporter
I -
J; 7}
(,pi '
7; 9b
With a flotilla of colored
helium balloons overhead,
Detroit Conference Council
director Cecile Adams and
president!'hyllis Martz did
their report in dialogue on the
Dawson Auditorium stage
June 6.
They cited the two new
church starts within the past
year. Macomb Community
Church, under the pastorship
of Duane Miller; and Arise: a
United Methodist Church in
the Hamburg-Pinckney area,
pastored by Doug McMunn.
The two speakers asked all
those in the auditorium who
were involved in the planning
and implementation or who
had contributed through the
Pass It On campaign to the
new church starts to stand .
Nearly everyone got to their
feet.
Martz noted that approximately half the funding goal of
the Pass It On Campaign was
reached.
The speakers cited improvements to Conference camps.
The dorm at Judson Collins
Camp was renovated. The old
Inpost Ca,bihs there have been
rebuilt. Gifts in ~emory of
William A. Ritter, Jr., and in
honor of William Peiper are
being used to complete the
"ridge cabins" there. Work on a
ne~ . ~:Herrick Lodge" at Judson ·collins will begin later this
summer, undergirded by Herrick Foundation and Pass It
On funds .
As to the · Lake Huron
Camp, Adams .sal.d? the kind of
retreat center envisioned at the
beginning of the ·Pass It On
Campaign will not be' possible.
The possibility of constructing
two buildings, each housing
30-40 beds, is b eing discussed .
Also being looked at are renovation of the Kresge Dining
Hall and chapel.
Camp registrations were up
to 2,073 as of May 15 this
year, compared to 882 registrations at the same time in 1986.
In the last two years the
Conference Council on Ministries has entered the Quest
for Quality movement. The ·
CCOM is developing strategies to "move us all closer to
the vision of vital faithful congregations of the connection,"
Adams said.
Change in what we do and
how we work is the keynote of
the future , Martz said. "The
General Conference has approved more flexibility in
structuring congregations and
conferences."
CCOM staff has been
streamlined by 37% or sjx
fewer than in Jan. 1994, in an
effort to trim the budget.
"Associate Council Directors have shifted their direct
involvement with CCOM
agencies . to more direct resourcing of congregations,"
Martz said. Now Terry Gladstone will be a leader in confli c t r e s o 1u t i o n; C h a rl e s
Boayue in financial campaigns
and stewardship; and Bill Verhelst in evangelism.
The ministry of several
CCOM staff was celebrated:
Duane Miller, who served as
Associate Council Director for ·
ten years; Sharyn Osmond,
who served as support staff
until March; Sam Fry, who
completes a four-year tenure as
Associate Council Director;
and Harriett Fry, support staff,
who is retiring June 28, after
31 years of service to the Conference.
After lifting up people who
have led in special ways,
Adams celebrated Martz for
her leadership of the CCOM
in !f!e last eight years as vicechair and chair. Martz also
served eight years as a member
of CCOM before that.
The last of the flotilla of balloons, which had diminished as
leaders were honored, went to
Phyllis Martz.
t
l
l
L. Cecile Adams makes her final report to the Detroit
Annual Conference. (See story below. ) -:-mJ:. photoll)rik Alsgaa rd
~I [)l;;z. I.99"
L. Cecile Adams gives
council director report
L. Cecile Adams, council
director, made her final report
to the Detroit Annual Conference. "We are now in a
momentum of change," she
said. "And we resist the rapidity" of that change. Some of the
change that is required of us,
she continued, is inside of us.
First, we need a change of
mind. The challenge is to gain
insights from stories about
people and to be willing to
explore those stories.
Second, Adams suggested
the need for a change of heart.
"Our attitude must change
about children and the poor,"
she said. Let us be clear about
what we value and then support each other. If not, we continue in the same manner as
always, we become stuck,
diz~:--~~t_ ~f.~:l~~~;:~-~~~~~
"focus on the common interest
rather than position."
A change in lifestyle was her
third suggestion. That means
our behavior, she said, " to
believe in and experience daily
the power of God's spirit."
When acted out that causes us
to welcome, receive and stand
up for children, she added.
Finally, a change of culture
is called for. "If we always do
the same thing, we continue to
get the same results," explained Adams. She suggested
trying new ways of doing
things for the church culture such as the new budget.
"Harmonic convergences
will happen from time to
time," (making the pandemonium worthwhile). "Be in the
flow of what God wants
changed," encouraged Adams.
DAC· Council Director to resign June 30
ERIK ALSGAARD
MCA editor
.
.
cJ-/'f/78'
The Detroit Conference
Council Director, L. Cecile
Adams, has announced her
intention to resign from the
office, effective June 30, 1998.
The resignation came in a
letter Adams wrote to the
Detroit Conference Council
on Ministries Personnel Committee, dated Jan. 28, and
obtained by the Advocate Jan.
30.
Adams, who has been
Council Director since Jan. 1,
1994, is a diaconal minister.
She transferred to the Detroit
Conference as Associate
Council Director in 1991, after
serving ten years on the General Board of Discipleship.
In the letter, Adams says
that the decision to resign is
due to God's leading in her
life.
"God is working something
new in me," she wrote, "and
that cannot be ignored. For
more than a year, I have been
struggling with the placement
and nature of my mmtstry.
While that is not yet fully
L. Cecile Adams
understood, I do have enough
clarity to realize that continuing as Council Director .. . is
not an option. Were the choice
completely mine, I would serve
an eight-year term."
Adams also writes that, "For
the first time in my life, I do
not have a specific ministry
placement waiting for me. That
might be unsettling were it not
for the synchronicities (or harmony with God's timing)
which are occurring as I say
'yes' daily to God's leading."
With Adams' resignation,
both Council Director posi-
tions in the Michigan Area will
see new personnel. The Rev.
David Nelson of the West
Michigan Conference is retiring from his position June 30,
1998 (MCA Dec. 1, 1997). His
successor has already been
named - the Rev. John Ross
Thompson, currently the pastor of the Grandville UMC
(MCA Jan. 26).
Details of the search process
for a new Detroit Conference
Council Director were not
immediately available.
t
DAC Council D irector assesses
years in office, looks ahead
KATHY GOOLIAN
M CA staff reporter
(
/
0 I 'fJI
ADRIAN (MCA) - Cecile
A dams, D etroit Conference
Council Director since Jan .
1994, will be stepping down
from this p osition on July 1.
Before that, Ad am s served as
Associate Council Director fo r
C hr istian E ducation fro m
199 1-93. T h e
Ad v o c at e
i nte r v i ewe d
A d a m s
recently to get
her views on
p a st and future directions
for the Confe r e n c e, a s
we ll a s t h e
path her career life will
likely fo llow. Sh e in clud es a
few welcoming words to her
successor, the Rev. Jeff Regan,
presently Saginaw Bay D istrict
Superintendent, who will take
his place as C ouncil D irector
July 1.
Adam s sees as m ileston es
" struggles in CCOM arou nd
budgeting . We took som e
major steps in 1995 . We spen t
two yea rs without increas ing
tl1e budget. That involved hard
choices, including an increase
in our reserves." Again, " the
budget was a driving force as
the staff reconfigured in 1996.
"The D etroit C onference is
poised on the verge of moving
into the next century," sh e
said. " It will require a new way
of being that will be different.
All m ainline denom inations
are exp eriencing declining
m embersh ip an d less fun ding
available."
Yet, " th ere is an obviou s
spiritua l hunger to live a life
which is in tune with God. This
includes chu rched and unchurched people."
After a big lull the Conference started fo ur n ew churches
in two years - Arise UMC in
Pinckney, McComb Community Church, C an ton Friendship, and Exou sia Church in
D etroit (see p age 14) .
"I'm glad to work with p eople who are ready, willing and
able to h ear God's word in a
fresh way today and to move
into the future in faithful
response to that word," the
Council Director said.
I t was good " to tr avel to
Burundi, Brazil and Haiti and
see th e church alive in those
p laces. I am grateful for the
witness they m ake in the midst
of what we would call poverty.
T hey h ave the fer vor and zeal
for the faith which our abundance keep s us from h aving.
T he ch urch gives th em hope,"
Ad ams said , "and sus ta ins
them ."
H ere are wh at sh e sees as
issues con fronting the D etroit
Conference now for the future:
1) Lead ership - "We m ust
mentor the yo unger generations fo r lead ership and give
them the opportunity to serve.
We need to step out of the way
and let them lead ."
2) C risis in p riorities "What must we be about? T he
Conference has shied away
from prior itizing. We need to
move away from institu tional
m aintenance and m ove in to
the commu nity that's outsid e
our door."
3) "How are we going to
organize for ministry and u se
the resources of God to serve
G od? H ow many people can
we free up to be in ministry to plan for ministry?"
Asked for words to her successor, Adam s said "Jeff brings
a lot of creativity and energy,
and a lo t of strength in the
faith. T h e days ahead should
b e excitin g, cha llen ging and
rewar ding. Jeff knows where
the resistance is and what the
d angers are. The rest of the
CCOM staff know that as well.
I t's an excellent ream of people
- staff and volunteers."
As to h er own fu ture,
Adams is takin g it " one step at
a time . I really like a p osition
workin g directly with people,"
sh e said, " in creative ways to
enrich the Jives of others."
Adams has d on e administra tive work since 1977, an d
sees h er life leading in a new
direction. She h as retired her
credentials as a diaconal minister because she feels "a gr owing awareness of my caJJ to lay
ministry and a recommitm ent
to it. I am interested in the
whole aren a of non -pr ofi t
organizations, community orientation and direc t service ."
She feels a need to be "more in
the world .
" I am li terally waiting for
word from G od on where I am
to be next," Adams said, "the
next step in m y faith journey.
I'm very grateful for the opportuni ty to serve the Detroit
Annual Conference. I have
com e to know and appreciate
the p eop le in the pews and
their d esign ated leaders. My
experien ces h ave b een God's
gifts."
t
Adams, L. Cecile