2013 Conference Journal Vol. 1
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MISSISSIPPI CONFERENCE THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 2013 OFFICIAL JOURNAL AND YEARBooK Volume 1 The POWER of We 2013 JOURNAL MISSISSIPPI CONFERENCE of THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Uniting THE MISSISSIPPI CONFERENCE (1972) and THE NORTH MISSISSIPPI CONFERENCE (1973) TWENTY FIftH SESSION held in Jackson, MS at Jackson Convention Complex June 7-9, 2013 Journal Editor — Garry Ruff Conference Secretary — Trey Harper Assistants — Leslie Bounds and Hope Cooley Statistician — Rex Wilburn All photos courtesy of the Mississippi United Methodist Communications TABLE OF CONTENTS Welcome from Bishop James E. Swanson, Sr. ................................................................................................4 Welcome from Dr. Dora Washington, Annual Conference Chair ..............................................................5 Welcome from Rev. Trey Harper, Annual Conference Secretary ................................................................6 Section I - Administration A. Annual Conference Officers .........................................................................................................7 B. Conference Leadership Council ......................................................................................................8 C. Annual Conference Leadership Groups ...................................................................................... 11 D. Institution Trustees and Directors ................................................................................................ 15 E. District Boards and Committees ................................................................................................... 30 F. Tellers ............................................................................................................................................. 36 Section II - Business of the Annual Conference A. Minutes of the Daily Proceedings ................................................................................................. 37 B. Condensed Minutes ...................................................................................................................... 53 C. Appointments ................................................................................................................................ 73 Section III - Financial and Administrative Ministries A. Council on Finance and Administration ..................................................................................... 87 B. 2013 and 2014 Apportioned Mission Shares Budget .................................................................. 95 C. Board of Trustees ......................................................................................................................... 110 D. Board of Pensions ........................................................................................................................ 111 E. Board of Medical Benefits ........................................................................................................... 121 Section IV - Ministry and Agency Updates A. Connectional Ministries Reports ............................................................................................... 123 B. Clergy and Ministerial Services ................................................................................................. 135 C. Other Reports .............................................................................................................................. 139 Section V - Historical A. Memoirs ....................................................................................................................................... 149 B. Rolls .............................................................................................................................................. 167 C. Historical Table............................................................................................................................ 179 Section VI - 2013 Mississippi United Methodist Annual Conference A. Special Guests .............................................................................................................................. 181 B. 2013 Mission Offering ................................................................................................................. 183 C. “Power of We” ............................................................................................................................. 184 D. 25th Anniversary of the Merger of the Annual Conference ................................................... 186 E. Emma Elzy Award and the Recognition of the Born of Conviction Signers .......................... 190 F. Awards and Recognitions............................................................................................................ 192 Section VII - Resolutions A. Constitutional Amendments ...................................................................................................... 195 B. Regular ......................................................................................................................................... 197 C. Property ........................................................................................................................................ 201 Section VIII - Conference Directory and Rolls A. Clergy Directory and Service Records ....................................................................................... 211 B. Diaconal Ministers, Deaconesses and Lay Members of the Annual Conference.................... 289 Section IX - Rules and Policies A. Standing Rules of the Annual Conference ............................................................................... 301 B. Clergy Behavioral Policy ............................................................................................................. 306 C. Parsonage Guidelines .................................................................................................................. 308 D. Clergy Vacation and Days Off Policy ......................................................................................... 311 E. Safe Sanctuaries Policy ............................................................................................................... 311 4 THE MISSISSIPPI CONFERENCE (SEJ) — 2013 WELCOME TO THE 2013 MISSISSIPPI ANNUAL CONFERENCE JOURNAL I welcome you to this 25th edition of the Journal of the Mississippi Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. This Journal is the recording of the proceedings, minutes, accountings and records of the 2013 Annual Conference Session held June 6-9, 2013 at the Jackson Convention Complex in Jackson, Mississippi. Our theme for the Annual Conference was “The POWER of We” based on this scriptural passage: “Those who accepted Peter’s message were baptized. God brought about three thou- sand people into the community on that day. The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers. A sense of awe came over everyone. God performed many wonders and signs through the apostles. All the believers were united and shared everything. They would sell pieces of property and posses- sions and distribute the proceeds to everyone who needed them. Every day, they met together in the temple and ate in their homes. They shared food with gladness and simplicity. They praised God and demonstrated God’s goodness to everyone. The Lord added daily to the community those who were being saved.” – ActS 2:41-47 THE COMMON ENGLISH BIBLE It is our hope that as you read the pages of this journal you will sense the excitement in the Jackson Convention Complex that was generated by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. This was evi- dent when we worshipped together, held holy conferencing, reviewed our faithfulness to God, sought to hold each other accountable to God’s desire for the Church, fellowshipped with our sisters and brothers and received prayers from the 450 plus youth that gathered for NEXUS (our youth annual conference). The Holy Spirit was also present when we gave of our financial gifts, witnessed the ordering of ministry, gave thanks to faithful ministers and laity that are now with Christ, celebrated with our retirees, fixed the appointments of pastors, and then witnessed as persons were born anew to the Christian community. You may ask, “Did we do all that?” Yes, we did. We did it all through “The POWER of We.” Blessings, BISHOP JAMES E. SWANSON, SR. Resident Bishop, The Mississippi Conference of The United Methodist Church THE MISSISSIPPI CONFERENCE (SEJ) — 2013 5 PRE-CONFERENCE LEttER FROM DR. DORA S. WASHINGTON, CHAIRPERSON Dear Clergy and Lay Members of the Mississippi Annual Conference, In a few days you will be arriving in Jackson for the twenty-fifth session of the Mississippi Annual Conference. Our Conference Planning Committee has been busily working to enable all of you to come together to cel- ebrate “THE POWER OF WE” through holy conferencing. Our gathering will take place at the Jackson Convention Complex June 6-9 with a full day of pre-conference work- shops on Thursday for both lay and clergy members. Do go online to register for the workshops of your choice. Although registration information is enclosed in your pre-conference packet, please note that early registration will be available at the convention complex beginning at 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 5. Parking spaces are located adjacent to the complex. Opening worship and Holy Communion will begin at 9:30 a. m.,