Sutton Installed as Crossroads District Superintendent

  On a beautiful fall afternoon nearly 300 United Methodists gathered together at Clarkston United Methodist Church for the welcome and installation of Rev. Dr. Tara Sutton as the new Crossroads District Superintendent.   Over the course of the worship service, many gifts of the congregations comprising the Crossroads District were on display as praise bands and choirs from Seymour Lake, Laingsburg, Flushing, Flint: Bethel, and Clarkston all took part in helping lead worship. In...

Keaton announces retirement of Rev. Dr. Eugene Blair

  The Rev. Dr. Eugene Blair, who has served as the superintendent of the Crossroads District since July 1, 2009, has retired effective immediately according to a statement released today (April 2, 2012) from Michigan Area Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton.   "After consultation with the bishop, the cabinet, and the executive committee of the Board of Ordained Ministry, Rev. Blair is retiring April 1, 2012," Keaton said in his statement. "A new district superintendent will be...

DS Loses His Head for Bishop Keaton

  The Flint District had Bishop's Day this past Saturday (March 19), "Part Two - ReThink Bishops Day, ReThink Church." We wanted to move out of the classroom and into the streets. We gathered at the Fenton UMC for prayer, instructions, and work site assignments. About 150 people set out for about 10 different work sites and evangelism ministries. About 300 people participated in both parts of Bishop's Day, including free car washes, free hot dogs, coins for laundry, free coffee...

The East Africa Annual Conference - A Pearl in Africa

  I have spent a good of my life in East Africa as a missionary, consultant and mission interpreter. At the request of Bishop Daniel Wandabula, I recently returned in February 2011 for a two week training tour of three countries to train district superintendents.  Few people know much about the East Africa Annaul Conference or the work of the UMC in east Africa. It is an exciting and dynamic place for ministry and it is growing everyday.   For the most part, the United...

Flint District Creates New District Leadership Team

  The Flint District Council on Ministries has announced that it is moving to an alternative new structure for the leadership of the district. The district has moved from a Council on Ministries model and created a Flint District Leadership Team, which is allowed by the Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church. The leadership team, which includes about 20 people, is far less than the 50-person Council on Ministries and mirrors the new Detroit Conference Leadership Team model,...

Flint District To Offer Lewis Pastoral Leadership Inventory For Pastors

  The Flint District Committee on Ordained Ministry and the Rev. Dr. Eugene Blair, Flint District superintendent, are offering pastors in the district and conference the Lewis Pastoral Leadership Inventory (LPLI) - a resource to help pastors grow as leaders and improve the effectiveness of their ministry. An orientation for the LPLI will be conducted by the Rev. Dr. Lovett Weems, executive director of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary, on Saturday, Oct....