Talk

I stood in the little hole-in-the-wall savoring the aromas that wafted their way through the damp air of Athens, Georgia in June.

“Fried” flavors of all kinds mingled with down-home treasures: turnip greens, black-eyed peas, cornbread, peach cobbler, mashed potatoes, green beans, macaroni-and-cheese (of course declared a vegetable in the South).

It was my first time in the one-room establishment, though it certainly has not been my last. Since it was my first, I didn’t know what the regulars already knew and anticipated with some zeal…a rather odd initiation was about to take place.

As my turn came to advance to the counter for placement of my order, I prepared myself to say with all soul-food credibility, “friend chicken, cornbread, double-greens.”

I never got the chance. Before I could speak, the mountain of a man standing behind the counter looked at me with an expression that I read as a curious mixture of boredom and hostility.

He opened his mouth and bellowed: COE-MYOON-UH-KAY-SHUN!!!!!

No one had ever yelled, “communication” toward my general person before, so I didn’t really have a good construct to apply as I feebly grasped for an appropriate response.

A regular behind me took pity on my plight. “Tell him what you want,” he said.

“Uh…fried chicken, cornbread, black-eyed peas (I thought the extra credibility was needed at this point), double greens and sweet tea.”

His response?

“AUTOMATIC!”

…And with that, I perceived that I had been dismissed.

Surely enough, my food came up “automatic,” as it appeared in a window adjoining the counter. I paid, and jockeyed against 30 other patrons for one of about 24 seats in the house.

As I ate the truly incredible food (crispy on the outside, moist on the inside) and talked with friends about the history of the place (which I already knew a little something about), the Communication/Automatic dialogue began to come more clear (sort of).

You see, those two words are Weaver D’s trademarks.

Weaver D’s has become an institution in Athens. Famous diners sustained by his deeply southern cooking have included the B-52’s, R.E.M., and Widespread Panic.

Being a true aficionado of both R.E.M. and friend chicken, Weaver D’s and Adam Roberts was a match made in heaven.

The deal was sealed for me when I saw Weaver’s motto on the sign out front.

“Automatic for the People.”

“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” I thought.

You R.E.M. fans out there know this was the catchphrase the band took for one of its greatest and most famous albums. Affixed to the wall inside Weaver’s still humble facility was a huge picture of the restaurateur and his mother, taken at the Grammy’s, the night that “Automatic for the People” won Album of the Year.

How cool is that? Pretty stinking cool.

It was hilarious to watch the line of people approach the counter, each welcomed with the loud request for “COE-MYOON-UH-KAY-SHUN!!!”

Well…he does make a pretty valid point, you know. All good things, even fried chicken at Weaver D’s, do have to begin with communication.

That's what my all day meeting on Tuesday was all about.

You see, once a year, a series of meetings takes place around the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church. They’re called the “Clergy Days Apart.” Pools of about 200 clergy at a time meet together for the day. Our Bishop is there, as are many District Superintendents and other leaders of our Conference.

Always, there is an inspirational speaker, and the aim of the day is continued spiritual and professional growth. 200 people who do COE-MYOON-UH-KAY-SHUN for a living, and this year, we were invited to think about that very topic.

“Today,” our guest leader began, “we will engage in some counter-cultural activity.”

I was intrigued.

“We’re going to speak to each other from our hearts, but even more importantly…we’re going to really listen to each other.”

I know. There is inherently a “groan” factor for most people in this kind of thing, yours truly included. It’s all a little touchy-feely, isn’t it?

That’s exactly why it’s counter-cultural. It's hard work that most folks don't want to do.

The issues for the day were fascinating. We were to “communicate” with each other about the things we pastors usually leave for discussion only amongst our closest friends.

“What has your experience of this Annual Conference been?”

“What do you think of our appointive process?”

“What could be done to increase trust among the clergy of our conference?”

“What will you do to open lines of communication with your colleagues and build trust this year?”

If you don’t know what those questions mean, let me give you a lesson in Methodese (that’s the native language of United Methodists) 101.

Imagine that all of the accountants --- that is to say the licensed, accredited CPA’s from Augusta, westward to Lagrange, and north to Tennessee lived in the same, big professional pond.

What I mean is, imagine that those CPA’s are employed in a closed system. There are 1000 CPA’s and 1000 CPA positions. There is really no leaving that system, and entry from outsiders is somewhat suspect.

All 1000 positions are placed by a group of 12 Super-CPA’s with final authority resting in the hands of one Super-Super-CPA (and, I need to be nice, because that Super-Super CPA, if he existed, just hypothetically, I mean --- maybe reads this blog).

Those 1000 positions range dramatically in terms of community context, “standard of living,” and pay-level. Oh yeah, and all 1000 people know what the other 999 get paid.

How would that work out?

There could be issues of trust, to say the least. There could be some politics…some attempts to manipulate the system. There could be some bitterness when folks don’t get what they want, or what they think they deserve. There could be some hurt.

Welcome to the clergy life of the North Georgia (and every other) United Methodist Conference.

Now don’t get me wrong…I’m not so cynical as to think that my clergy colleagues only care about what they get paid, where they live and what prestige their churches can generate. Without a doubt, some care more than others. Some do attempt to manipulate the system. All of us are vulnerable to those temptations when we believe that our lives, and our families’ lives are on the line.

We really do trust those making the decisions to do so prayerfully, earnestly and honestly. We believe that they do, and we even go so far as to say that God ultimately gets us all where we need to be. But we don't talk about it. It's uncomfortable to acknowledge the tension, the mistrust, the difficulty.

That’s why communication is counter-cultural.

That’s why getting invited to really, really communicate ---- about hard, uncomfortable things, just sort of takes one aback.

It’s like getting yelled at by a large man who stands behind the counter, bored yet aggressive.

COE-MYOON-UH-KAY-SHUN!!!!

We need to talk. And listen. Nobody does that nowadays. We’re the church…we could be the first.

By the end of that day, a day when I’d rather have been busy doing the things I “needed” to do, I’d met 6 colleagues I didn’t previously know…and now I do. Not only that, I know their stories, and as was said at the seminar, “you can’t be afraid of someone if you know their story.”

Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up,building up faith as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.”

Let’s talk in a way that builds up. There is need, and we’ve got the time. Giving grace is what Life at SOTH is all about.

Grace & Peace Everybody ---
Adam

LIFE AT SOTH:

Land Acquisition Update: We’ll talk about the property that we’re proposing for purchase, this Sunday morning between worship services: 10:15 AM in the worship space. Our Church Conference vote is planned for next Sunday, February 18th, with one worship service only --- 10:00 AM.

“Bib” Overall Sunday at SOTH: This Sunday is also “bib” Sunday in honor of our own overall-wearing icon, Wendell Felch. It’s Wendell’s birthday, so wear ‘em if you’ve got ‘em in honor of Wendell! Yep, Wendell even gave Adam his very first pair of “Liberty’s,” and he’ll be wearing ‘em in fine style.

2006 New Members: Well, we’ve just passed the end of January, the time of year when all United Methodist Churches have to submit their “year end” reports. We wanted to share with you the impressive list of those who have joined the SOTH family this year, 59 altogether!

Baptisms:
02/26: Kasey Brelsford
02/26: Leah Brelsford
03/05: Cierra Fountain
03/05: Brina Davis
03/19: Shane Meador
03/19: Tammy Meador
03/19: Erin Meador
03/19: Luke Meador
04/23: Faith Wyche
05/14: Tyler Rahn
05/14: Sam Rahn
05/14: James Rahn
06/18: Kenneth James Price (KJ)
06/18: Jorden Ethan Murphy
06/18: Tristen Ryann Murphy
09/10: Kurt Meador
11/19: Jenny Archer
11/19: Aaron Vantrees
11/19: Bobby Cook
11/19: Jessica Murfree
12/10: Malachi Lightcap

New Members (By Transfer)
01/08 – Kevin Wall
01/08 – Denise Wall
01/08 – David Vaughn
01/08 – Dianne Vaughn
03/19 - David Pearson
03/19 - Ashley Bedosky
03/19 – Mike Bedosky
07/23 – Rocky Barnes
07/23 - Susan Barnes
08/06 – Virgil (Ike) Eisenmann
08/06 – Liz Eisenmann
08/20 – Patricia Perry
08/20 – Amanda Bunday
08/20 – Phyllis Bunday
08/20 – Maria Davis
08/20 – Sharon Hudson
08/27 – Joshua Taylor
08/27 – Jennifer Taylor
09/24 - Karen Suttles Hubbard
09/24 - Mike Hubbard
11/19 – Joel Kilthau
11/19 – Lisa Kilthau
12/24 – Chuck Leake
12/24 – Joy Leake
12/24 – Randy Leake
12/24 – Ryan Leake (Midway UMC)

New Members (By Confession of Faith)
01/15 – Monica Ellis-Witt
01/15 – Tony Ellis-Witt
01/15 - Devin Ellis
01/15 – Cameron Witt
02/26 – Brian Brelsford
02/26 – Ginger Brelsford
03/19 – Tammy Meador
03/19 - Shane Meador
03/05 – Cierra Fountain
03/05 - Brina Davis
04/16 – Lynn Cook
04/16 – Wendell Felch
05/14 – Tyler Rahn
05/23 - Faith Wyche
06/18 – Angela Price
06/18 – Kenneth James Price
08/20 – Harry Shore
08/20 – Angie Shore
08/20 – Samantha Smith
08/20 – Sara Loehne
10/08 – Brandy Murphy
11/19 – Jennifer Archer (Confirmation)
11/19 – Bobby Cooke (Confirmation)
11/19 – Briana Fountain (Confimation)
11/19 – Derrick Fountain, Jr. (Confimation)
11/19 – Katelyn Price Gibson (Confirmation)
11/19 – Joshua Henry Kilthau (Confimration)
11/19 – Erin Lena Meador (Confirmation)
11/19 – Jessica Rachel Murfree (Confimation)
11/19 – Audrey Leigh Reid (Confirmation)
11/19 – Kelsie Ann Seymour (Confimation)
11/19 – Aaron Jamal Vantrees (Confirmation)

Preparatory Members
Trey Bedosky
Steven Bedosky
Madeline Wall
Sam Wall
Kasey Brelsford
Leah Brelsford
Luke Meador
Jorden Murphy
Tristen Murphy
Martha Jo Barnes
Sam Rahn
James Rahn
Tyler Shore
Brandon Shore
Chelsea Shore
Angel Shore
Jessica Suttles
Jake Suttles

New members for January, 2007 include Anna Garner, Joyce Pierson and Alex, Angie and Grey Walker.

Thanks be to God for his great work in our community in the last 12 months!

Prayer Concern for Honduras Outreach, Inc:
Many of you know that I have traveled multiple times in mission to Honduras with a wonderful organization, HOI, Inc. My heart, along with thousands throughout North Georgia and Honduras, has been broken this week by the news of the loss of three missionaries in an accident while working in a remote village.

In addition, my wonderful friend Lucas, who was here in Douglasville and visiting briefly in our home over Christmas, was injured badly as well. Lucas has suffered severe leg injuries and is currently hospitalized in Tegucigalpa. Our prayers are with all who have been involved, for the people of San Esteban and Olancho province Honduras and for all the leadership and volunteers of HOI.

These have been dark days for those of us who know and love that ministry and those it serves. May God’s presence be known in that ministry, now even more than ever. Thanks to all of you for supporting HOI with your prayers, and for lifting prayers for Lucas.

Grace & Peace,
Adam