SW District FL Conference UMC

09/04/2026

Fall activity is definitely in full swing across the South West District! 🍂🙌 This week brought two days each in Fort Myers and Sarasota—and plenty happening in between!

I took Monday off for a special family milestone: moving our oldest son to Orlando for an internship. ❤️

⛪ I was grateful to begin the week worshiping with Cypress Lake UMC, where we welcomed Rev. Andy Whitaker-Smith to our district!

On Wednesday, it was back to Fort Myers for our District Committee on Ordained Ministry meeting, hosted by Faith UMC. We welcomed Rev. Morgan Whitaker-Smith, who serves in extension ministry, and Rev. Beth Demme to the team. We also had the privilege of interviewing provisional candidates for ministry, including two who will be applying to the Board of Ordained Ministry next month! A special thank you to our District Lay Leader, Nancy Metz, for providing wonderful hospitality for our candidates. 💙

The rest of the week included meeting with a potential new candidate for ministry, onboarding debriefs with several of our new clergy facilitated by Lynn Ball, Annual Conference planning, and some exciting dreaming with collaborative partners about new possibilities for ministry throughout our district and conference.

And somewhere in there, I finalized details for next week’s District Clergy Gathering and continued preparing my workshops for Rooted! later this month. 🌱

The calendar is filling up, the connection is moving, and there’s a lot to look forward to this fall! 🙌

09/03/2026

✨ Calling all Young Professionals in the South West District!

Looking for community, connection, and a place to grow in your faith? The South West District Young Professionals group is bringing young adults together from across our connection!

Hosted in collaboration by Harvest United Methodist Church and Trinity United Methodist Church in Bradenton, this growing ministry is a great example of what can happen when our United Methodist churches work together. ❤️

The group meets twice a month—once for a fun social night like trivia, bowling, and more, and once for Bible study and meaningful conversation. This fall, they’re kicking off a new study based on The Chosen!

Young professionals from across the South West District are welcome—you don’t have to attend Harvest or Trinity to join in!

📲 Interested in getting connected? Check out their Linktree for more info!

https://linktr.ee/swflumcyoungprofessionals

09/02/2026

GRANTS ARE NOW OPEN!

Three grant opportunities are available for Florida United Methodist churches and ministries.

Don’t wait—apply today!

Questions? Contact [email protected]

https://www.flumc.org/grants

09/01/2026

The SW District Newsletter for September is available...

09/01/2026

Do no harm. Do good. And above all, stay in love with God. ❤️

John Wesley’s final General Rule reminds us that our faith isn’t just about what we do—it’s about staying connected to the One who shapes everything we do.

Keep praying. Keep worshiping. Keep seeking. Keep falling deeper in love with God. 🙌

08/28/2026

Another full and meaningful week around the South West District! 💙

⛪ Sunday, the “Welcome the New Pastors Worship Tour” continued at Lighthouse UMC in Boca Grande with Rev. Beth Demme! Grateful for her message reminding us that we are called out of fear and into compassion, rooted in our belovedness as God’s people.

💻 Tuesday, I led an online Board of Ordained Ministry training before heading to Trinity UMC in Bradenton for some filming. A big thank you to Samantha Mosher, who serves on staff at Trinity and helps keep our district socials looking great!

🍽️ Wednesday, I had the chance to catch up over lunch with one of our new clergy, Rev. Jennifer Ahrens-Sims.

I’m especially grateful for the incredible leadership across our South West District and for time this week with both our District Operations Team and District Mission & Vision Team. There are so many good things happening throughout our connection!

The rest of the week included time with my spiritual director, a Board of Pension and Health Benefits meeting, connecting with a pastor interested in transferring to our Conference, and meeting with a team passionate about cultivating a culture of calling in our congregations.

A full week—and lots to be thankful for! 🙌

08/27/2026

Do no harm. Do good. ❤️

John Wesley’s General Rules may be simple, but they still challenge us today: How are we avoiding harm and actively choosing to do good in the lives of those around us?

May our faith be seen not just in what we believe, but in how we live. 🙌

08/21/2026

This week was a great reminder of how much God is at work across our district!

It was wonderful to be back and begin the week in worship at Rogers Community UMC in Bradenton, where I had the joy of welcoming their new pastor, Rev. Lavinia Marshall.

Monday through Wednesday were spent in Lakeland for Cabinet meetings at the Conference Office, while our District Administrative Assistants gathered for training. It was a meaningful few days of planning, collaboration, and looking ahead to all God has in store. I even managed to sneak in a few evening walks around Lake Wire and Lake Hollingsworth!

Thursday brought me back to the District Office for a full day of Zoom meetings, including a conference-wide DCOM training attended by more than 100 participants. It's exciting to see so many leaders investing in the future of our churches.

And yes... I'm still making my way through the 1,500+ emails that piled up while I was on leave. 😅 Thank you all for your patience and grace!

08/21/2026

Are you a Certified Lay Servant looking for a hard-to-find class?

If a course isn’t offered in the SW District, you may be able to take it through another Florida Conference district or even through an approved program outside Florida.

Your SW District Co-Directors of Lay Servant Ministries, Bobbi Bellardine and Ken DeWalt, are here to help you find courses, answer questions, and keep you moving toward your goals.

Don’t let one missing class hold you back. Reach out and let us help!

Visit the SW District Lay Servant Ministries website for more information and available courses.

Lay Servant Ministries equips and empowers laity to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ and to serve more confidently through caring, communication, leadership, and other forms of ministry.