Coordinator of Applied Mission
I’m Rev. Carol Blair Bouse, I currently serve as the Coordinator of Applied Mission here in the East Winds District. I also serve the pastor at Millington United Methodist Church; I am an Elder in the Michigan Annual Conference having been ordained in 1995 as a Deacon and 1997 as an Elder (back when we had a two-step ordination process). I have served churches from Owendale in the now expanded East Winds district down to Dearborn Mt. Olivet, which closed some years ago. My home church is Fairgrove UMC, right here in the East Winds District. I have been married to Allen for almost 24 years and have two boys, Jacob is 20 and Andrew, who is days from being 16. We live in an unused parsonage in Flushing due to my husband’s mobility issues. We also have a very rambunctious 2 ½ year old golden retriever named Daphne.
Having been in ministry for close to 30 years it is amazing to see all the ways we continue to grow and change. The role that I play in the district is unique, you might see me do any or all of the following: offer pastoral care to a pastor who is in need; creating programs for pastors in the wake of the disaffiliation process to process feelings and help move forward; mentor and coach new DSAs and part-time Licensed Local Pastors; preside over Church/Charge conferences; administer Local Church Assessments; be the certified Simplified Accountable Structure coach for any churches in our district, if desired (extra cost); arranging district wide day or overnight mission trips; connect with each of our district Engage projects – serving as a board member if asked and possible; help to create district missional focus; connect with the Emergency Response Team when needed and other things as needed.
I love the diversity of the work that I do, some days the task list is long, other days it is not. I enjoy working with the diverse people of our East Winds district. I continue to serve the local church as well in Millington. My free time is taken up with helping my kids. Andrew (16) is very active in the Flint School of Performing Arts including the Flint Youth Orchestra, a string quartet, while also being a junior at Flushing HS in the Marching Band, orchestra, and the student assistant for the elementary orchestras. To say I’m a music mom is an understatement. When I’m not working or helping my kids I love to do jigsaw puzzles and engage with music. One of the bonus questions everyone is answering is “what is your favorite Bible verse?” For me I often connect it back to music I have sung. I was a vocal performance major, many moons ago, so music connected to scripture resonates deep within my soul. I was thinking about Craig Courntey’s Be Not Afraid, it is based on Isaiah 43:1-4. It was sung at my deacon ordination service in 1995 and I have sung it many times since while singing in the conference choir. The idea of being called by name, knowing God is with me through all the trials of ministry has helped me through countless times.
Some fun facts about me…. I love chocolate, I love to find chocolate stores when I travel. Because I love chocolate so much, you will not be surprised to know that my favorite drink is a really good quality cup of hot chocolate. I’m not much of a movie watch, many because I’m not good at sitting still, but for the past 20 years most of my watching has been Disney cartoons. So I must admit I do really love me some Disney Toy Story! A fun fact about myself is that I am a trained Intentional Interim Ministry Specialist within the United Methodist Church. Which means I am trained to help churches that have been through a trauma, had a long-term pastor who has left, or just need to make a transition. It was an interesting training course to take, it was filled with lots of family-systems theory work.