Beyond Retirement: Upper Midwest Senior Clergy Forms the Jethro Project Ministry
Early in the life of the Global Methodist Church, the word “retired” was replaced with “senior members” to describe senior status clergy who are past the season of pastoring a church, but offer other gifts and insights. Ministry never concludes, it matures and the Lord guides us to new paths. For many senior members in the Upper Midwest Annual Conference, this path is known as the Jethro Project.
Jethro, though not a prominent figure in Scripture, blessed God’s people through his seasoned experience and insight. As the Upper Midwest Annual Conference grows for Kingdom-building work, structural assistance is offered by the senior members of the conference. These men and women labored for decades in the church and movements that birthed the Global Methodist Church. Their passion for Christ, expertise and experience in ministry is valuable in these fledgling moments of our denomination.
One of the Jethro Project’s early challenges is connecting senior members to each other. The Upper Midwest Conference encompasses a large area of the United States, which can make relationship building difficult. With early adoption from individuals living in areas across the conference map, the Jethro Project builds community and encourages sharing within the conference.
The Jethro Project is heartily affirmed and supported by the Upper Midwest Conference and aims itself at the following ministries:
The pastor and congregation prayer project pairs a senior member with a district to pray daily for every pastor and congregation in their assigned district and directly contact each pastor periodically to listen, encourage and pray with them. 15 of the 18 districts in the conference are being ministered to in this way.
Let’s be Methodist Together, a conference retreat, has been constructed for the purposes of worship, connecting clergy and encouraging pastors to imbed Methodism in the DNA of their congregations. By October, eleven districts will have experienced the retreat.
The Jethro Program made in-person seminary visits at Indiana Wesleyan University, United Theological Seminary, Asbury Theological Seminary and Wesley Biblical Seminary to build relationships with students and staff, and recruit new pastors to the Upper Midwest Annual Conference.
As God grows the Upper Midwest Annual Conference, the need for spirit-filled pastors is evident. The Jethro Project passionately advocates for clergy of different cultures and ethnicities to come join us in life and ministry.
This leads to the Jethro Project’s newest ministry, cross cultural coaching. Cross cultural coaching guides congregations through the benefits, opportunities and possible obstacles of employing and being spiritually led by a person of a different culture, ethnicity, or both. In addition, pastors are coached on similar topics as they prepare to lead a congregation from the majority culture.
Deploying their experience and wisdom, the Jethros individually counsel, encourage and coach pastors and ministries. Jethros are in conversation with churches considering joining the Global Methodist church, and fill pulpits, lead revivals and write articles to resource the annual conference.
If you are a senior member and want to know more about the Jethro project email Mike Morgan wesleyclubiowa@gamil.com