Hi there, friends.
I’m Dianna Bass, your new chairperson of Church Council.
John Wesley challenged Christians to ask each other, "How does your soul prosper?" I like the old language here, but in more contemporary terms, we can ask, "How is it with your soul?" or “How is your life with God?” As we begin 2023, I pray that my soul will prosper and grow in Christ. That is also my prayer for our church family.
Our church will vote on whether to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church in a few weeks. I believe God is calling us to take that step. (Here is a summary of “How I got here.") Many have worked hard for fifty years to lead our denomination to be a more Biblical, Wesleyan expression, specifically regarding the centrality of Christ and the accountability of bishops and clergy. Yet the division seems to grow. As Rev. Mark Sorensen, senior pastor of The Woodlands Methodist, said after their church recently voted to disaffiliate, “We are ready to move on past the division and the differences that have been an ongoing distraction in our denomination for far too long."
This is a pivotal point in the life of our church. Will you join me in praying for our church, especially this month? On January 15, we will have time as a congregation to learn about the procedural aspect of the vote and have a general time of questions and discussion. Please be there for the vote on January 22, as well. You are important; your vote is important.
In the meantime, if you have questions or would like to talk, reach out to me, the church office, or one of the other people listed here for individual or small-group discussion.
Dianna Bass
Chair Church Council 2023
First Methodist Carrollton
