Highlights - Wednesday, June 17
Annual 5K Road RaceSome 119 North Georgia United Methodists were up bright and early this morning to run the Annual Conference 5K from Washington St. through downtown and along Oconee River Parkway. All proceeds from the race benefit the Hope for Africa Children's Choir.
Morning Devotion
Members of the most recent graduating class of Leadership UMC led morning devotion and music.
Business Session
In the morning business service, members of Annual Conference:
- Voted on 32 Amendments to the Constitution of the United Methodist Church
- Viewed a video about the Central Conference Pension Initiative
- Heard a report that $10,500 was raised Tuesday afternoon in the spontaneous offering for the Hope for Africa Children's Choir. A second offering will be taken Wednesday night for the choir.
- Tuesday evening offering raised almost $6000 for the expenses of Annual Conference.
- Heard the report from the Housing and Homeless Council. The top giving churches to the Homeless Offering in 2008: Griffin First UMC, Johns Creek, Peachtree City, Athens First, Hickory Flat, Roswell, Cascade, Hillside.
- Heard a report from the Conference Young Adults. Jasmine Smothers and Margaret Freeman reported that 80 young adults gathered before Annual Conference at the 2 Story Coffee House for fellowship and discussion. Smothers and Freeman encouraged congregations to send young adults to conference as well as nurture young adult clergy. Click here to connect with conference young adults.
- A motion to continue the work of the Young Adult Task Force for another three years was approved.
- Viewed a video on the Global Health Initiative and heard from a representative. We have an opportunity to literally cover the conference of Sierra Leone with bed nets.
Recognition of Retiring Clergy
Annual Conference recognized 19 retiring clergy who together represent 514 years of service:
James Lawrence Lockett, Jr.
E. Parks Davis
Ronnie O'Neil Flowers
Edward Jackson Best, Jr.
James Burton Drew, Sr.
Thomas Alfred Kerr
Martha Evelyn Randall
Norris Franklin Long, Jr.
Larry Harold Woodall
Cornelius Ebenezer Minor
James F. Shumake
Terry Lavern Thompkins
Otis Odell Pickett, Jr.
Sandra Peeler Fendley
Sandra Smith Franklin
Elizabeth Moore Caine
Bettye Jean Holland
Larry Gray Naylor
Henry Richard Campbell
Memorial Service
The Conference memorialized many faithful servants who passed away May 1, 2008, through May 1, 2009. Rev. Al Turnell delivered the sermon. Those being remembered included:
Deceased Clergy
F. Lamar Cherry
Luther E. Cooper
J. Douglas Gibson
Harvey C. Holland
Ted G. Langford
James W. McAlister
Alton H. McEachern
J. Carlisle Phillips
Clyde R. Smith
Carl A. Standard
Gilbert Steadham
Donald J. Welch
Charles R. Williams
Deceased Clergy Spouses
Helen Alderman
Valeria Bridges
Mary Laird Crandall
Gussie Farmer
Joyce Floyd
Dora Lawton
Carolyn Luke
Rachel McDougal
Eather Melson
Marion Mitcham
Gladys Standard
Florence Watkins
Deceased Laity
Helen West Hoard
Margaret Ramsey
Ruth Schnatmier
Frances Sowers
Lucille Walker
Eleanor Willingham
Business Session Three
In the afternoon business session members:
- Saw a video "A Day in the Life of the Conference Communications Staff"
- Heard from Sarah Wilke, CEO of the United Methodist Reporter, about the new partnership with the North Georgia Advocate and the Reporter, the national United Methodist Church newspaper. To subscribe to the North Georgia Advocate, visit www.ngumc.org/advocate and signup by mail, phone or online.
- Larry Hollin, General Secretary of United Methodist Communication, brought an ad from the new United Methodist Church Rethink Church campaign. Through this campaign we invite seekers to reconsider church and to ask our churches to rethink church as a call to action instead of a building. Hollin encouraged local churches to visit www.rethinkchurch.org to download resources or www.10thousanddoors.org to see the website seekers are directed to visit.
Conference Treasurer's report from Keith Cox included:
- Membership is 354,094, a gain of 4,007 over last year.
- Profession of Faith are 6,670 (+186)
- Average Worship Attendance was 130,870 (-2,304)
- Church School Membership is 18,447 (+3,747)
- Gainesville District paid 100% of its apportionments for the 9th year!
- North Georgia was again the highest payer of General church apportionments.
Conference received a report from Finance and Administration given by Hank Huckaby, chair, and Rev. Steve Wood, vice chair. The conference:
- Approved a revised spending plan for 2009 with a reduction of $1,023,000.
- Approved a 2010 budget of $25,910,000. This reflects a decrease of 1.3 percent over 2009 approved budget. Total decrease is $342,000.
- Approved a recommendation to add a special offering Sunday for Action Ministries.
- Approved the addition of a $30 registration fee for Annual Conference members.
Mission Worship Service
Nebaza: Thank you Jesus. The children of the Hope for Africa Children's Choir brought members of Annual Conference to their feet as they performed for the second time this week. Bishop Daniel Wandabula preached at the service on the topic, "Called to be Faithful," and the scripture Matthew 28:18.
He encouraged conference members to intentionally live out the Lord's Prayer, to forgive as people who are forgiven, not to label with our own names what God has given us to share.
"God calls us through the power of the Holy Spirit to mission," said Bishop Wandabala.
The service concluded with another performance by the children.
Offerings from local churches for the Central Conference Pension Initiative were collected. As members left, a second offering was received for the ministry of the Hope for Africa Children's Choir.