Annual conferences focus on igniting their ministries
7/3/2001 News media contact: Tim Tanton · (615) 742-5470 · Nashville, Tenn. NOTE: This story is based on reports filed by individuals in each annual conference. It is intended to be illustrative of conference actions and activities, not an exhaustive report. Individual reports may be found at http://umns.umc.org/acreports/index.html. Reports from central conferences outside the United States, meeting throughout the year, will be posted on the Web site as available. For related coverage, see UMNS stories #306 and #307. Photos are available. A UMNS News Feature By Tim Tanton* Gathering at their U.S. annual conference sessions, United Methodists seemed more interested in ministering to a world in need and less on the church politics that drew so much energy last year.
Last year's annual conference sessions fell between two heavily political events - the
General Conference, the top legislative assembly of the church, and the jurisdictional conferences, where bishops are elected. This year's annual conference sessions, the first of the 2001-2004 quadrennium, were not overshadowed by those two events. In contrast, the conferences seemed to focus more on worship, spirituality, discipleship and responding to issues on which most members agree, such as children's concerns, violence, racism and gambling.
Bishop Neil L. Irons of Central Pennsylvania made an eloquent appeal for the church to be active in the world around it. "The church is a mission, not a library," he said. "We need to get the truth out there, not wait for folks to come and get it."
"There are persons who are broken in your neighborhood," said Bishop Violet Fisher of North Central New York. "Somebody's crying out there." She challenged conference members to go into the world and share the Good News.
This year's 65 annual conference gatherings began with the Red Bird Missionary Conference, May 18-19, and ended with the Virginia and Kentucky conferences, June 21-24.
Many conferences had a celebratory tone as they welcomed new bishops into leadership. United Methodists shuffled their bishops at last July's jurisdictional conferences and a special called session of the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference in February. The denomination has 14 new U.S. bishops since last summer, plus several more in the central conferences.
All of the conferences shared at least one common item of business this year: voting on proposed amendments to the denomination's constitution regarding language on baptism and membership, racial justice and inclusiveness. The amendments seemed to pass by wide margins, but the United Methodist Council of Bishops will announce the final votes this fall. In Kentucky, United Methodists decided to involve their entire conference in a yearlong study of the meaning of baptism and membership.
In another universal move, the conference bishops declared September "Open House Month." United Methodists will throw open the doors of their churches, in concert with the launch of the nationwide advertising campaign, Igniting Ministry. The $20 million national TV ad effort will be accompanied by local and regional marketing in print and broadcast media. For example, the North Texas and Central Texas conferences are planning a $134,000 TV ad campaign in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Many conferences held workshops to help members prepare for the influx of visitors, and North Indiana approved establishing a conference coordinator for Igniting Ministry.
Racism
Keying off of the General Conference's repentance for racism last May, several annual conferences held services of repentance, including Central Texas, Little Rock, Missouri West, Mississippi, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Georgia and Western North Carolina. Others, including Desert Southwest, New England, North Central New York and Southwest Texas, are looking at holding such services next year.
To prepare for their service, North Central New York members participated in a program called "Healing Brokenness: Methodism and Racism," led by a pastor who taught African-American studies for many years. New England and Peninsula-Delaware launched yearlong educational efforts on repentance, while Mississippi called for programs to help members recognize racism.
In North Carolina, Bishop Cecil Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church was the conference speaker. The night before the conference began, North Carolina members joined members of the African Methodist Episcopal, AMEZ and Christian Methodist Episcopal churches for a pan-Methodist celebration of shared heritage and unity.
Federal Judge Julie Robinson of Kansas City, Kan., an African American, led Kansas East members through dialogues on repentance and reconciliation. In neighboring Kansas West, former Kansas City mayor Emmanuel Cleaver, also an African American, spoke to conference members about racism and invited them to be cleansed of their sins against other races.
A number of conferences emphasized efforts to dismantle racism from their boards and congregations. Those included Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and North Texas. South Indiana passed a recommendation establishing an oversight committee to ensure that racial healing is being pursued in the conference. West Michigan decided to require all clergy members to participate in racial diversity education and to urge all elected lay people to do so also.
Racial injustices were top of mind in West Ohio, too, where members apologized for past wrongs to Native Americans and decided to follow up with a related liturgical observance next year.
Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference members approved a resolution calling on all United Methodists to work for the rights of Native Americans. They also called for the church to develop materials and resources to meet the needs of Indian children in the conference as part of the Council of Bishops' Initiative on Children and Poverty.
Violence
In one of the most dramatic moments during an annual conference, Bishop Felton Edwin May of Baltimore-Washington announced the formation of a "larger parish" consisting of all of the city's United Methodist churches, and an emphasis on reclaiming the streets from drugs and violence.
"I am not starting a war against drug dealers, but I am calling us to love the hell out of people," May told conference members. The conference also passed a resolution creating nonviolence action teams in each local church and district.
Central Pennsylvania adopted resolutions encouraging local congregations to oppose bullying and to promote peace and nonviolence. Southwest Texas adopted a resolution supporting an appeal by Nobel peace laureates to make 2001-2010 a decade of nonviolence for children.
Oregon-Idaho and Detroit were among the conferences acting in support of gun controls.
Death penalty
The June 11 execution of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh put the death penalty issue front and center at many annual conferences. Bishops reminded their conferences that the United Methodist Church officially opposes capital punishment, and they requested prayers for the people involved, including McVeigh himself. "God's inclusiveness is extended even to him," Bishop Alfred Johnson told the Greater New Jersey members.
Several conferences passed resolutions opposing capital punishment, but not without debate. In Florida, supporters of the resolution cited the denomination's stand against executions and the biblical standard of not repaying evil with evil, while death penalty proponents called capital punishment a necessary evil. Other conferences opposing the death penalty or calling for a moratorium included North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon-Idaho, Peninsula-Delaware, Rio Grande, South Carolina, Virginia, Western Pennsylvania and Wyoming.
Homosexuality
The perennial struggle at annual conferences over inclusiveness for practicing homosexuals was not as salient this year. However, in the Pacific Northwest Conference, three self-avowed homosexual pastors expressed a desire to receive appointments to congregations. One of the three remains on disability leave, and the other two were placed under the direction of the Seattle District superintendent. The conference is requesting a declaratory decision from the Judicial Council, the denomination's supreme court, over two relevant passages in the church's Book of Discipline. One forbids the ordination and appointment of self-avowed practicing homosexuals, while the other requires that all clergy members in good standing receive appointments. The council meets in October.
In California-Nevada, the conference adopted a resolution asking all of its churches to reflect on and discuss the "We Will Not Be Silent" statement adopted by the Western Jurisdiction last summer. The statement calls on the denomination to remove its strictures against full inclusion of practicing homosexuals in the life of the church. Rocky Mountain and Oregon-Idaho also endorsed the statement. California-Pacific members requested further conversation regarding the document, and asked the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops to address diversity in the church, possibly through a special session of the jurisdictional conference.
Desert Southwest members affirmed by a 191-137 vote the "We Will Not Be Silent" resolution. The resolution prompted a question concerning church law, and Bishop William Dew ruled that the resolution was not in violation of the Book of Discipline. His decision will be forwarded to the Judicial Council for a ruling - standard procedure for all bishops' rulings from annual conference sessions.
During the New England Conference's ordination service, about 60 clergy members removed their stoles and placed them along the communion table. Each stole represented someone who was denied clergy status in the denomination or has left the ministry because of his or her sexual orientation. On the conference's final night, two pastors from opposite sides of the issue expressed their feelings about the demonstration.
North Carolina members approved a resolution calling for evangelizing gay and lesbian people. Virginia endorsed the "Christian Declaration on Marriage," which holds that marriage is a covenant that should be shared between a man and a woman.
Alabama-West Florida approved a petition calling on United Methodist-related Emory University in Atlanta to uphold the denomination's policies opposing same-sex unions.
West Michigan members adopted a resolution encouraging conference churches to use a document called "The Church Studies Homosexuality" to get a better understanding of the views held by United Methodists. New York members adopted a resolution affirming that all people, regardless of sexual orientation or other status, are welcome in the local church.
Gambling
A host of annual conferences took action opposing gambling. They included Florida, Holston, Memphis, North Carolina, North Georgia, North Indiana, South Carolina, South Indiana, Tennessee, West Ohio, Western Pennsylvania and Wyoming.
South Carolina members approved creating a permanent Task Force Against Legalized Gambling and declared a statewide day of penance for evils related to the vice.
Memphis and Tennessee members designated "Gambling Awareness Sunday" observances in October and September, respectively.
South Indiana members renewed their commitment to work for eliminating legalized gambling in Indiana. They approved $14,500 for a gambling recovery ministry and another $14,500 for lobbying against the spread of gambling in their state.
Annual conferences typically address a wide range of issues. A sample of the other concerns:
· Abortion: North Georgia and Missouri West adopted resolutions asking the Board of Church and Society and the Women's Division of the Board of Global Ministries to withdraw from the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice because the group doesn't share the denomination's opposition to late-term abortions. A similar resolution in Virginia failed.
· Sanctions: Oregon-Idaho called for lifting the U.S. embargo against Cuba; Detroit urged the lifting of sanctions against Iraq.
· Faith-based initiatives: New York members called on President Bush and their members of Congress to ensure that charitable-choice legislation contains safeguards to prevent goverment funds from being used for proselytizing and discrimination in hiring, and to ensure that faith-based efforts won't become a substitute for government programs in social service areas.
· Farmers: Several conferences expressed support for the nation's struggling farmers.
· Korea: California-Pacific, which has 30 Korean churches, adopted a resolution asking the Bush administration to resume peace talks with North Korea.
· National Missile Defense System: Wisconsin opposed the proposed weapons plan.
· Religious persecution: Virginia, Detroit and other conferences expressed support for people around the world who are persecuted for their religious beliefs.
Discipleship
Kansas West members approved holding a special session this fall to explore disciple making. North Alabama members participated in workshops called "Doorways to Discipleship," through which some traveled to a Third World-style camp, some toured the Civil Rights Museum and Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., and some received information about the Igniting Ministry campaign.
Wisconsin set a goal of recruiting 5,000 "New Faith Builders" to support congregation development. West Ohio heard a call from Bishop Bruce Ough for a 2 percent "new start" rate annually, which would mean 25 new ministries a year.
Besides drawing more people to Christ, United Methodists also acknowledged the need to develop more pastors. In a report to Yellowstone members, the Rev. Timothy Hathaway, outgoing dean of the bishop's cabinet, hit on what he sees as a clergy shortage. "We are not raising up pastors and leaders from within our own ranks."
Several conferences recognized the need to increase ministries to the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population: Hispanics. Tennessee members brought more than $16,000 in seed grant money for emerging Hispanic ministries within their conference. South Indiana estabished a conference Hispanic ministries committee, and North Indiana members learned of the creation of a position for a coordinator of Hispanic ministries.
South Georgia will check with the Board of Global Ministries about getting an Hispanic missionary to the conference. Southwest Texas committed to developing a response to the National Plan for Hispanic Ministries. Louisiana is continuing its support of such ministries.
As part of its goal to establish 20 new congregations in the next eight years, Central Texas wants at least one Hispanic missionary in each district. The conference also affirmed two new missionaries under the denomination's National Plan for Hispanic Ministries.
Money matters
Many conferences celebrated their success in paying apportionments to support conference and churchwide programs and needs. Desert Southwest celebrated its "Bold in Christ" campaign, which raised more than $10 million in cash and pledges to establish new churches, revitalize current churches, and improve camp facilities and outdoor retreat ministries.
Wisconsin members voted to recommend that conference staff developing a giving campaign called "Taxes for Christ," in which church members would be encouraged to give a portion of their tax refunds. The money would be split between the local churches and the conference. Louisiana members applauded a proposal that church members tithe any tax rebate they receive.
Kansas West members asked their board of equitable compensation to address salary inequity between the genders. The conference also started a fund for victim-survivors of sexual abuse within the church.
Conference structure
A team studying union of the Little Rock and North Arkansas conferences reported on listening sessions that have been held in 12 districts. A proposed merger document is expected for the 2002 Little Rock Conference. That will be followed by more listening sessions and consideration by the 2000 area delegation to General and jurisdictional conferences. A special joint session of Little Rock and North Arkansas is planned for late 2002.
California-Pacific adopted a new organizational plan based on team leadership. Western Pennsylvania decided to realign the conference structure into teams focusing on nurture, outreach, spiritual leadership, witness and supportive ministries, all of which will work with the conference council.
Teamwork also is emphasized in a new organizational model for the Dakotas, where the conference will go from five districts and five full-time district superintendents to 18 smaller districts, led by pastors serving as part-time district superintendents. The clergy in each district will work together as a team and determine the programs and training events needed in their area.
In Alabama-West Florida, delegates participated in a special visioning session, assessing the areas of conference ministry that are "living, dying or just existing." Western New York affirmed the work of a task force that produced a new vision and mission statement for the conference, a call to change, and recommendations on four critical areas: connection, leadership, unity in diversity and evangelism. Holston is sending a design plan to Judicial Council this fall.
Greater New Jersey created a commission on inclusive ministries.
Several conferences heard reports or took action regarding their office centers. The Illinois Great Rivers Conference is working on a $7.7 million center that will provide a central place for training and other activities. North Carolina members authorized trustees to move ahead with relocation planning, but a conference vote is required before action can be taken. Virginia has secured a site for its new headquarters, which will be built next year. New York is rehabilitating a building for its conference center, which will be ready this fall. Texas members learned that they had passed their $5 million goal of raising funds for improvements to their center.
Membership and attendance
An unofficial tally of membership figures in the United States indicates that the denomination has again lost membership, continuing a trend that has been under way since before the 1968 formation of the United Methodist Church. Just how much the total number of members dropped in 2000 will not be known until statistical reports are tabulated and announced this fall by the churchwide Council on Finance and Administration.
Of the 61 U.S. conferences reporting their membership figures to United Methodist News Service, 16 had increases: Alabama-West Florida (306), Alaska Missionary (149), Central Texas (2,625), Louisiana (345), Mississippi (19), North Carolina (1,884), North Georgia (6,523), North Texas (1,818), Red Bird Missionary (34), Rio Grande (66), South Carolina (526), South Georgia (72), Southwest Texas (1,122), Tennessee (783), Texas (3,226), Western North Carolina (1,440). Twenty-five reported increases in average weekly worship attendance.
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*Tanton is news editor for United Methodist News Service.
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