At 89, I do a good bit of reflecting. Since Christ Church is a part of that, I want to share some with you.

What an exciting privilege to spend the last years of ministry in a congregation of the Global Methodist Church.

I received what was called a local preacher’s license in 1952 when I was only 17 years old. That means I have been in this business of preaching for more than 70 years. I have been the pastor of nine local churches. I planted and was the organizing pastor of three of those nine churches. 

These congregations were rural, urban, and suburban. In addition to my work as a pastor and my leadership of The Upper Room and Asbury Theological Seminary, I can’t imagine anyone having a richer, more rewarding ministry.

And now, climaxing that surprising, unplanned for life, I am again privileged to be pastorally connected with you here at Christ Church again. You who have been around may remember I came to be your Senior Minister in 1983 and served for 12 years. I could not be happier.

I hope you know it is especially rewarding because Christ Church is now a congregation of the new denomination: theGlobal Methodist Church. I shared in bringing this new denomination to life. 

The Local Preacher’s License I received in l952 was in the Methodist Church. In 1968, the Methodist Church united with the Evangelical United Brethren Church to form the United Methodist Church. It was out of that denomination and many of its leaders that the Global Methodist Church was born. It was a long, prayerful process leading to division. I believe the division was essential and that it will be redemptive.

As a large congregation that has proven herself faithful and effective, Christ Church has the opportunity and obligation to share in shaping the Global Methodist Church. Our exciting history and the redemptive ministries we are presently engaged in will be a rich resource in shaping this new denomination.

Forty years ago, when Christ Church lay persons were considering me as their Senior Minister, I was impressed by what was obvious prayerful seriousness. They were excited about their ministry in Memphis but glowed when they talked about the church’s support of a missionary in Africa. That spirit is vividly alive today. The name of our new denomination underscores our understanding of church: GLOBAL METHODIST.

Our Senior Minister, Brother Paul, is committed and intimately involved in the development of our new denomination. His excitement and humble spirit are contagious. Though it is in a very limited way that I am seeking to serve you, maybe I’ll just be a cheerleader for Brother Paul, the staff, and you as you share in giving shape to our new denomination…The Global Methodist Church.