Bishop Bobby R. Best of the 9th Episcopal District and Southern California Region of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (CME) will convene the 31st Session of the Southern California Regional Conference on Sunday, August 7, at Phillips Temple CME Church, 971 E. 43rd Street in Los Angeles.
“The Investment Factor: Tapping into our Millennials to Help Grow and Plant Churches in a Multicultural Society,” is the current theme of the Ninth District.
“CMES are marking their 106th year of witness in California and this year’s conference will place emphasis on millennials’ role in growing churches and reaching a multicultural population with the gospel of Christ,” said Bishop Best.
The four-day confab continues through Wednesday, August 10. Pastor Bernard M. Jackson and the members of Phillips Temple CME is the host.
Worship experiences begin nightly at 7 p.m. and are open to the public. Bishop Henry M. Williamson, Sr., of the CME 1st District, will preach at Holy Communion Service on August 7; Pastor André C. Loyd of Westside Community CME in Atlanta on the Lay and Ministry to Men Service on August 8; and Bishop Teresa Snorton of the 5th District at Women’s Missionary Service on August 9. On August 10, Pastor James Markham of Emmanuel Temple in Victorville will preach the closing message and Bishop Best will announce the pastoral appointments for 2016-2017.
Training sessions also are open to the public. Dr. Carmichael Crutchfield, general secretary of the Department of Christian Education, will lead “Tapping into Our Millennials to Help Grow Our Churches in a Multicultural Society” and Bishop Best will lead “Planting Churches in a Multicultural Society.” CME General Counsel Attorney Ouida Brown will conduct a “Sexual Harassment Seminar” and the Rev. John Deron Johnson, pastor of Calvary CME in Pasadena, will facilitate “Growing our Churches through Hospitality and Community Outreach.”
Both Los Angeles District Presiding Elder Rev. Mark A. Hardin and Los Angeles-San Diego District Elder Rev. Willie Boyd, Jr., will provide reports on the state of their respective districts in business sessions. A future national CME Unity Summit and Connectional Lay Institute in the 9th District will be discussed as well.
