Bethel United Methodist Church in Wildwood
Making disciples of Jesus * Leaving no one behind * Inviting you for the journey
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Bethel United Methodist Church in Wildwood Making disciples of Jesus * Leaving no one behind * Inviting you for the journey
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SUMMARY OF THE 2006 MISSOURI ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
General The Fourth Session of the Missouri Annual Conference was held at Springfield, Missouri June 8-12, 2006. ► It was attended by about 1,500 voting members equally divided between lay and clergy. ► Offerings for the weekend were valued at more than $55,000, excluding 1,000 volunteer in-mission hours worked by conference members on Saturday. ► Springfield churches played a major role in welcoming and preparing for conference members. Individuals from several churches worked as greeters throughout the weekend and others did advance work for the mission projects. Hotel staff called the greeters “a model from which other groups should learn.”
Mission/Vision/Priorities ► The five marks of a healthy congregation are: radical hospitality, passionate worship, intentional faith development, risk-taking mission/service, and extravagant generosity. ► The five behavioral expectations we have for each other are: Christ-centered, fruitful, accountability, excellence, and collaboration. ► The mission of the Missouri Conference is: “Leading congregations to lead people to actively follow Jesus Christ.” ► The vision of the Missouri Conference is: “Growing, vibrant, fruitful congregations changing lives through Jesus Christ.”
Ministry ► Bishop Schnase reported that the Pathways Task Force will be looking at every aspect of ministry in the annual conference in the coming year with an eye to aligning mission, ministry, and money. ► Bishop Schnase challenged the conference to have an increase of 5,000 in average worship attendance within the next six years. Several persons came to the microphone to formally accept the challenge for their own congregations. Lay Leader Larry Fagan passed out forms on Monday that encouraged congregations to set their own goals for growth in attendance. ► The Conference Council has prepared a ministry audit and survey to be used in congregations. The audit and survey are designed to help congregations learn their ministry strengths and weaknesses and make plans to improve. ► Conference members built 8 accessibility ramps and did fix-up and repair at three other ministry sites on Saturday afternoon in spite of blistering heat. They offered more than 1,000 volunteers hours of work. ► Conference members heard that Missouri United Methodists made gifts of cash, time, and in-kind articles totaling more than $4,000,000 to various missions during 2005. This is beyond-the-budget giving and represents only what is reported through the annual conference. It does not take into account the many ministries taking place in local congregations. ► The Missouri Conference has received a $500,000 grant from UMCOR to provide assistance to last year’s hurricane victims that are now living in Missouri. ► The Missouri United Methodist Disaster Response Team is known as one of the premier response organizations in the state, according to Dante Glinecki, former volunteer response coordinator for the state of Missouri, who has now taken the job of administering the $500,000 grant.
Offerings ► Offerings from conference members and their congregations totaled ► $10,713.54 toward ministries in Mozambique plus pledges for much more; ► $6,093.17 to assist women entering ministry; ► $3,093.17 to help young people attend events that help them consider their call to ministry; ► 1,437 personal hygiene kits valued at $25,866 (32 of which were supplied by Bethel); ► 183 clean-up buckets valued at $8,235; ► 100 baby blankets; ► $3,142.57 for shipping kits and buckets or for the Bishops’ Appeal for churches affected by last year’s hurricanes; ► The total value of all offerings exceeds $55,000.
Administration ► Chancellor Larry Tucker reported that the Norris case has been settled for $1.475 million. The settlement ends all appeals. Insurance will cover $300,000 of the costs, and other annual conferences are contributing $100,000—including a $15,000 offer from hurricane ravaged Louisiana This is half of what they offered in assistance. Missouri Conference funds will come from 2005 and 2006 contributions to the Legal Contingency Fund by Missouri congregations. It is vital that this year’s apportionment be fully paid. ► The covenant accountability task force reported that it has reviewed and assisted in revising several policies and procedures related to clergy sexual ethics. Their report included the work of the clergy sexual ethics policy, procedures of the Board of Ordained Ministry, and the Safe Sanctuaries Certification Authority. ► The disability program for clergy will be billed directly to congregations beginning in 2007 rather than being apportioned. That means congregations will pay the direct costs associated with their pastoral leadership. ► The 2007 conference budget will be about $1.5 million less than the 2006 budget. Two primary factors for the decrease are the decision to direct bill disability premiums and the removal of the Legal Contingency Fund. ► Churches are now expected to purchase property insurance through UM PACT. Most are expected to experience a savings in premiums with an increase in coverage. Insurance is to be purchased as previous contracts expire.
Worship ► The six worship services varied in purpose and focus. They included ► An opening celebration in which Bishop Schnase preached; ► A service celebrating the life and ministry of clergy and spouses of clergy who have died in the past year; ► A service that combined the celebration of retirement with the celebration of commissioning for those who enter probationary membership as United Methodist clergy; ► A service celebrating 50 years of full ordination rights for women. The service was highlighted by a processional of women, active and retired, who serve as clergy in Missouri United Methodism; ► A service of ordination for four new clergy and the recognition of elders orders for another that included a stirring sermon by Bishop Sally Dyck; ► A service of sending forth that included the fixing of appointments for the coming year.
Learning ► Conference members were able to choose among 25 workshops, conversations, or seminars from which to learn; ► They shared three study times together on topics ranging from the need for the church to adjust to a world that has changed, to a strategy for offering risk-taking service in local congregations, to the viewpoint of younger generations.
Petitions ► Two petitions referring to personnel issues were referred, one to the Personnel Committee and the other to the Pathways Task Force. ► Two petitions related to abortion concerns were turned down by conference members ► A camping fee petition was turned down. ► A petition regarding a house bill focused on voluntary prayer and religious symbols in public settings was indefinitely postponed. ► The rural life Sunday offering has been moved from June to August.
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