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Table of Contents 2008 Annual Conference Session Handbook

Report Numbers marked with an asterisk (*) are on the Consent Agenda unless removed on Wednesday, June 18, during Session Four. The Consent Agenda is listed on page 9.

Session Information Theme and Logo – The Heart of the Matter: Do No Harm, Do Good, And Stay In Love With God...... 1 ’s Welcome ...... 2 Host Committee Welcome...... 3 Agenda……...... 4 Consent Agenda ...... 9 Registration and Assistance ...... 10 Information for Conference Members and Visitors...... 12 Parking Permit...... 17 Maps: Downtown Athens ...... 19 Classic Center ...... 20 Room Directory...... 21 Meals: Schedule & Location...... 22 Responsibilities of Conference Members Lay...... 24 Diaconal...... 25 Clergy...... 25 Parliamentary Guidelines...... 26 Monitoring Ministry...... 27 Great Days of Service ...... 29 Worship Leaders ...... 31 Jurisdictional/Joint Agencies *100. Candler School of Theology ...... 36 *101. Georgia-Florida UM Credit Union ...... 37 101a. Chairman’s Report ...... 37 101b. Credit Union-2007 Financials ...... 37 *102. Higher Education and Campus Ministry, Commission on...... 39 *103. Southeastern Jurisdiction Connectional Table...... 40 *104. Wesleyan Christian Advocate...... 42 ii

Administrative Agencies 200. Board of Church Development ...... 44 200a. Committee on Black Church Development ...... 45 200b. Committee on Hispanic Church Development...... 46 200c. Committee on Korean Church Development...... 47 200d. Committee on Multi-Ethnic Church Development ...... 48 200e. Small Membership Church, Commission on...... 49 201. Council on Finance and Administration ...... 49 201a. 2009 Recommendations...... 50 201b. Treasurer/Director of Administrative Services...... 52 201c. Schedule of Investments ...... 54 201d. How the 2009 Recommended Budget was Developed ...... 55 201e. 2009 Budget Executive Summary ...... 57 201f. Summary Budget Proposal...... 58 201g. Graphs ...... 59 201h. Interpretation of Recommended 2009 Budget...... 64 201i. How are Apportionments Computed?...... 69 201j. Conference Restructuring ...... 70 201k. CFA-Investment Policy...... 71 202. Commission on Equitable Compensation Guidelines ...... 73 202a. Conference Standards for Pastoral Support ...... 74 202b. Minimum Cash Compensation ...... 75 202c. Vacation Recommendation...... 76 202d. 2009 Equitable Compensation...... 76 202e. Equitable Compensation Fund...... 76 202f. Guidelines for Housing Allowance & Parsonage ...... 78 202g. Churches Receiving Equitable Comp in 2007...... 79 202h. Clergy Receiving Equitable Comp in 2007...... 80 202i. Cabinet-Level Housing Allowance Task Force ...... 80 *203. Conference Statistician Team – 2007 ...... 81 *204. Conference Housing and Homeless Council ...... 82 *205. Conference Communications Office ...... 85 206. Board of Ordained Ministry-Clergy Sexual Abuse Hotline ...... 86 207. Board of Pension and Health Benefits...... 87 207a. Pension Section ...... 87 207b. Funding Plan ...... 89 207c. 2009 Recommendations...... 91 207d. Health Insurance Committee ...... 94 207e. Health Risk Quotient/ProCheck Health Screening...... 95 iii

208. Episcopacy and Episcopal Residence...... 96 *209. Conference Trustees...... 97 Connectional Ministries 300. Office of Connectional Ministries ...... 98 301. Advocacy Team ...... 99 301a. Disability Concerns...... 99 301b. Ethnic Local Church Concerns (ELCC) ...... 100 301c. Native American Concerns ...... 101 301d. Religion and Race...... 102 301e. Committee on the Status and Role of Women...... 103 302. Nurture Team ...... 104 302a. Adult Ministries ...... 105 302b. Children’s Ministry...... 105 302c. Young Adult Ministry Task Force...... 106 302d. Youth, Ministries with...... 107 303. Outreach Team...... 108 303a. Conference Secretaries for Global Ministries...... 109 303b. Resettlement Task Force...... 110 304. Witness Team...... 111 304a. Archives and History Committee...... 112 304b. Evangelism Committee...... 112 304c. Vocations and Career-Life Planning...... 113 304d. Worship Committee...... 113 Conference Related Agencies 400. Action Ministries, Inc...... 115 400a. *ADVANCE Mission Specials 2008 -2009 ...... 116 400b. *Service Statistics for 2007 ...... 117 *401. Aldersgate Homes, Inc...... 118 *402. Camp Glisson...... 119 *403. Capital and Fund Raising Needs for Camp Wesley, Report ...... of the Task Force on ...... 120 *404. Interfaith Airport Chaplaincy, Inc...... 121 *405. The Methodist Foundation for Retired Ministers ...... 122 405a. Statement of Activities...... 122 405b. Graphs ...... 124 *406. Murphy-Harpst Children’s Homes ...... 125 *407. North Georgia United Methodist Foundation, Inc...... 125 407a. Graphs ...... 127 iv

*408. United Methodist Children’s Home, Inc...... 128 *409. Wesley Community Centers, Inc...... 129 *410. Wesley Woods ...... 130 Ministry of the Laity 500. Conference Board of Laity...... 131 501. United Methodist Men ...... 133 502. United Methodist Women...... 133 Other Reports *600. Drew University Theological School ...... 135 601. Districts and Conference Staffing, Study Committee on ...... 136 *602. Gammon Theological Seminary ...... 140 *603. Georgia Christian Council ...... 141 604. Joint Conference Lines Task Force ...... 142 *605. Journal and Handbook Committee ...... 144 *606. Sierra Leone – The Child Rescue Centre...... 144 *607. United Methodist Association ...... 146 Resolutions 700. Resolutions...... 148 701. Resolution by the Delegation Regarding the Selection of an Episcopal Nominee by Future Delegations ...... 148 702. Resolution from Disaster Response...... 149 703. Resolution Relating to Rental/Housing Allowances for Retired or Disabled Clergypersons of the N.Ga. Annual Conf...... 151 704. Resolution to Amend Meeting Days of the Annual Conference..... 152 705. Resolution to Increase Participation of Young Adults as Voting Members of the Annual Conference...... 153 Standing Rules 800. Standing Rules’ Amendments ...... 155 800a. Amendment to Vision and Planning Connectional Table . 155 800b. Amendment to Standing Rule Number Ten ...... 160 800c. Amendment to Standing Rule Number 17...... 160 801. Standing Rules ...... 161 1

01 2008 North Georgia Conference 02 The United Methodist Church 03 June 17 – 20, 2008 04 The Classic Center – Athens GA 05 Bishop G. Lindsey Davis, presiding 06 “The heart of the matter: do no harm, do good, 07 and stay in love with God” 08 Drive through most rural areas of North Georgia and you’re sure 09 to see Folk Art. In fact, pieces from this artistic genre have become 10 so popular that you’ll see them hanging in urban and suburban 11 galleries, too. The straightforward colors and uncomplicated style make it easily 12 recognizable. Historically, Folk Art has reflected the traditions and social values of groups or populations of people—whether socioeconomic, religious, geographical, race or gender 13 related. Interestingly, these pieces are generally produced by people who have little or no 14 academic artistic training. For these, it has, and continues to be, an authentic representation 15 of the life and times of regular ordinary people just like you and me. At further investigation 16 into the meaning of Folk Art, one might find that its simplistic nature doesn’t really have a 17 subjective quality to it—it truly gets straight to the point of what it is trying to communicate. 18 The meaning is usually authentic and genuine. Some might say that it goes right to “the heart 19 of the matter.” 20 , father of the Methodist movement, wasn’t a folk artist, but he may have 21 had the spirit of one. Wesley’s passionate beliefs on religion, the Church, and reaching the 22 un-churched were authentic and genuine—and most certainly got right to the heart of the 23 matter. His medium was the spoken and written word rather than canvas and paint. 24 In his publication simply titled General Rules, Wesley paints for his readers three 25 faithful practices that celebrate the heart of the matter—to authentically love God and 26 graciously love one another by doing no harm; doing good; and staying in love with God, or 27 in his original words, attending all the ordinances of God. Wesley noted that being faithful to these rules was a true mark of a Methodist. In fact, this piece of our Wesleyan heritage 28 continues to be found in our Book of Discipline under paragraph 103 article 16. 29 Not only does our Wesleyan heritage teach us the importance of the heart of the 30 matter, but our Christian heritage does as well. Matthew 22:38 teaches us that loving God is 31 the greatest commandment of all. Through John 13:34, Jesus reminds us of his new 32 commandment: to love another as He has first loved us. Through Jesus Christ we find that 33 the heart of the matter is a matter of the heart. 34 During this annual conference session, let’s keep in mind our foundational Wesleyan 35 and Christian heritage and celebrate our love of God and our love for one another. As we 36 travel back to our homes and churches, let’s continue to tap into that authentic and truthful 37 passion of Wesley and our folk artist brothers and sisters to be bold and authentic in our 38 expression of love. 39 40 41 2

01 02 Dear Sisters and Brothers: 03 04 Welcome to the 2008 North Georgia Annual 05 Conference. For the sixth consecutive year – and ninth 06 out of the last ten – we are being graciously hosted by 07 the Athens-Elberton District, the City of Athens and 08 Clarke County. 09 Our theme this year is “The Heart of the Matter.” 10 We will highlight those things that are at the very center 11 of our faith, with particular attention to Wesley’s three 12 basic rules for Christian living: do no harm, do good, 13 and stay in love with God by attending to the ordinances 14 of God. Our times of study, testimony and reflection in the mornings will be led 15 by three of our own clergy: Davis Chappell, Amy Morgan and Sharma Lewis. 16 Our Conference Preacher will be Maxie Dunnam, former President of Asbury 17 Theological Seminary. We will also be hosting the new bishop from the 18 emerging church in Venezuela, the Reverend Juvenal Perez. James Cantrell, the 19 Superintendent of the -Decatur-Oxford District, will be preaching at our 20 opening Communion and Memorial Service. 21 This is my final Annual Conference with you as your bishop. It has been 22 a distinct privilege and joy for me to serve this conference for the past twelve 23 years. On Thursday evening Jennifer and I will have a chance to greet you and 24 to express our deep love and affection for this Annual Conference and for all 25 that you do in the name of Christ in our Area. Our special mission offering this 26 year will go to support two mission efforts that are near and dear to our hearts. 27 Half of the offering will be designated for Venezuela NOW, to support the 28 training of pastors in the Methodist Church of Venezuela. The other half will be 29 used to continue Jennifer’s work in the Agalta Valley of Honduras, a ministry 30 to children through schools and provides for their basic health and nutritional 31 needs. I hope you will help us celebrate these past twelve years by joining us in 32 being generous to these two very worthy causes. 33 Pray for all of our conference delegates as we approach this session in 34 June. Pray that God will bless us and bless our conversations. Come prepared to 35 celebrate our unity in Christ and our deep affection for one and other. 36 37 In Christ, 38 39 40 Bishop Lindsey Davis 41 3

Welcome Letter From Athens-Elberton District Host Committee 01 02 Dear 2008 Annual Conference Delegates, 03 On behalf of the Annual Conference Host Committee and the Athens- 04 Elberton District, we look forward to welcoming you to the 2008 North Georgia 05 Annual Conference. You honor us by returning to Athens and the Classic 06 Center again this year. 07 If you are a first-time delegate to Annual Conference in Athens, we 08 would want you to know that much of what makes our community an exciting 09 place to visit is within walking distance of the Classic Center. We believe you 10 will enjoy the variety of restaurants as well as the warm friendliness of the 11 downtown area. As in past years, breakfast and lunch will be available at the 12 Classic Center. 13 Please remember, you are responsible for making your own lodging 14 reservations. When you call your chosen hotel, please mention that you will be 15 attending the North Georgia Annual Conference. This will enable you to 16 receive the conference rate. If you are unsuccessful in securing a room, please 17 call the Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-653-0603 or email 18 Charlotte Brothers at [email protected]. 19 Convenient parking for the conference will be available at the Classic 20 Center parking deck, the Courthouse parking deck, and the University of 21 Georgia North Campus parking deck on Jackson Street. Provisions have been 22 made for church vans and buses to shuttle delegates to and from the University 23 of Georgia North Campus parking deck, which is only three blocks below the 24 Classic Center. We do encourage you to carpool when possible. Parking permits 25 are included in your delegate handbook. 26 Delegates are invited to participate in the golf tourney on Monday 27 afternoon at the Georgia Club and the 5K Run/Walk on Wednesday morning. 28 Proceeds from these events will benefit the “Our Daily Bread” soup kitchen in 29 Athens. Delegates also can register for the Red Cross blood drive and other 30 activities to benefit others. As always, forms and updated information also are 31 available on the conference website: www.ngumc.org. 32 Again, we look forward to seeing you in Athens in June. 33 34 Robin Lindsey Bill Britt Johnny Fowler 35 District Superintendent, Clergy Chairperson, Lay Chairperson, 36 Athens-Elberton District Host Committee Host Committee 37 38 39 40 41 4

01 Agenda 02 142nd Session of the North Georgia Conference 03 The United Methodist Church 04 June 17 - 20, 2008 05 The Classic Center - Athens, Georgia 06 Theme: “Heart of the Matter” 07 Agenda revised as needed during the conference session 08 09 Monday, June 16, 2008 10 9 am-12 Display Set up - Foundry 11 1:00 pm Golf tournament to benefit “Our Daily Bread” 12 1-6 pm Blood Drive – Oconee 13 3-6 pm Laity Registration begins – Cypress 14 3-6 pm Clergy Registration begins – High Shoals 1 15 6:30 pm Golf Tournament Dinner – Georgia Club 16 17 Tuesday, June 17, 2008 18 7:00 am Breakfast for Tuesday’s presenters 19 8am-7 pm Clergy Directory – Lower Theatre Lobby 20 8:00 am Rehearsal for Commissioning/Ordination Service 21 8:00 am Display set up continues – Foundry 22 8:00 am Laity Registration continues – Cypress 23 8:00 am Clergy Registration continues – High Shoals 1 24 8:00 am Service Opportunities/Project Collection – Firehall 25 9:30 am Board of Ordained Ministry – Athena 26 10:00 am Lay Orientation – Grand Hall 27 10:00 am Clergy Executive Session – Theatre 28 12:00-5pm Blood Drive – Oconee 29 30 2:00 pm Session One 31 Opening Communion/Memorial Worship 32 Preacher – James C. Cantrell III, Superintendent, ADOX District 33 Music – Oak Grove UMC Choir, Decatur 34 Janet Johnson, music leader; David Buice, organist 35 3:45 pm Opening of Conference – Classic Ctr Grand Hall 36 Call to Order – 142nd Session 37 Prayer – Dianne Spencer, Assoc. Conf Lay Leader 38 Hymn “And Are We Yet Alive” 39 Led by St. Timothy choir, led by Barbara Sanko 40 41 5

Welcome – Host Committee 01 Organization of Conference 02 Setting the Bar of the Conference 03 Election of Associate Secretaries 04 Adoption of the Agenda 05 Consent Agenda 06 Other organizational items 07 Introduction – 2008 Theme and Logo 08 Committee on Nominations – to present 09 Monitoring at Annual Conference 10 General Conference Delegation Report 11 Committee on Episcopacy/Episcopal Residence 12 United Methodist Publishing House 13 Other Reports as scheduled 14 Announcements 15 5:15 pm Adjourn 16 17 7:30 pm Session Two 18 Service of Ordination/Commissioning 19 Preacher – Maxie Dunnam, Chancellor, 20 Asbury Theological Seminary 21 Offering – Annual Conference expense 22 Music: Combined choirs led by Beth Brown Shugart 23 Reception honoring those ordained and commissioned 24 Co-sponsored by the Georgia Florida UM Credit Union 25 26 Wednesday, June 18, 2008 27 5:30 am 5-K Registration 28 6:30 am 5-K Run 29 7:00 am Bishop’s Breakfast for Wednesday’s Presenters – Olympia 2 30 7:30 am Service of Holy Communion – Classic Ctr Theatre 31 Preacher – Mark LaRocca-Pitts, Chaplain, Athens Regional Med. 32 8am-7 pm Clergy Directory – Lower Theatre Lobby 33 34 8:15 am Session Three 35 Music/Witness – 36 Davis Chappell/United Voices of Praise, Bowen UMC 37 Prayer – Norris Long, Assoc. Conf. Lay Leader 38 Committee on Standing Rules – to present 39 40 41 6

01 Wesleyan Christian Advocate 02 GA/FL UM Credit Union 03 Greetings – Assoc. UM Theological Schools & 04 Gammon Theological Seminary 05 Higher Education/Campus Ministry 06 Black College Fund Ambassador 07 Camping/Retreat Committee 08 Beyond These Doors Mission Event 09 Board of Ordained Ministries 10 Board of Pensions and Health Benefits 11 10:15 am – Fred Sanfilippo, 12 Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, 13 and CEO, Health Sciences Center 14 10: 30 am Recognition of Clergy who are Retiring 15 Announcements 16 12:15 pm Adjourn 17 18 12:15-5pm Blood Drive – Oconee 19 12:15-2pm Project Assembly - Firehall 20 21 2:00 pm Session Four 22 Evangelism Worship Service 23 Preacher – Maxie Dunnam 24 Music – Hickory Flat UMC & St. James UMC, Alpharetta 25 Offering for Missions in honor of Bishop and Mrs. Davis 26 3:15 pm Prayer – John Ellis, Assoc. Conf Lay Leader 27 Greetings from Bishop Juvenal Perez, Venezuela 28 Greetings – SEJ Connectional Table 29 Equitable Compensation 30 Conference Statistician 31 Conference Treasurer 32 Council on Finance and Administration – Part I 33 Consent Agenda to vote/remove items 34 Future Sites of Annual Conference 35 Conference Staffing Task Force 36 Wesley Woods 37 Announcements 38 5:15 pm Adjourn 39 40 41 7

7:30 pm Evening of Fellowship – no evening program 01 Spend time with new and long-time friends 02 03 Thursday, June 19, 2008 04 7:00 am Bishop’s Breakfast for Thursday’s Presenters – Olympia 2 05 7:30 am Service of Holy Communion – Classic Center Theatre 06 Chester Cook, Chaplain, Hartsfield-Jackson Airport 07 7:30 am Concessions Open – 130 Foundry Bldg Lower Lobby 08 8am-7 pm Clergy Directory – Lower Theatre Lobby 09 10 8:15 am Session Five 11 Music/Witness – Sharma Lewis/Jonesmen Quartet 12 Prayer – Dianne Traynham, Assoc. Conf. Lay Leader-elect 13 Joint Task Force on Conference Lines 14 Church Development 15 Bo, Sierra Leone – Child Rescue Centre 16 Committee on Nominations – to vote 17 Standing Rules to vote on amendments 18 Consent Agenda to vote on items removed – if needed 19 Simpsonwood Task Force 20 Episcopal Residence Task Force 21 Aldersgate Homes 22 UM Children’s Home 23 Action Ministries 24 UMW 25 UMM 26 Connectional Ministries – Teams/Committees/Awards 27 12:15 pm Adjourn 28 29 2:00 pm Session Six 30 Laity Worship Service 31 Message – Ray Buckley 32 Music – Zoar UMC Praise Band 33 3:15 pm Prayer – Ron Davis, Assoc. Conf. Lay Leader-elect 34 Young Adult Task Force 35 Office of Information 36 Wesley Community Centers 37 Camp Wesley/Camp Glisson 38 Housing and Homeless Council 39 40 41 8

01 Board of Laity 02 Richardson Award 03 Recognitions 04 Resolutions 05 5:15 pm Adjourn 06 07 7:30 pm Session Seven 08 Service of Farewell & Celebration of Ministry for 09 Bishop & Mrs. Davis – Theatre 10 Music – Atlanta Bluegrass All Stars 11 Offering – Annual conference expense 12 13 8:30 pm Reception Honoring Bishop & Mrs. Davis – Athena Ballrooms 14 15 Friday, June 20, 2008 16 7:00 am Bishop’s Breakfast for Friday’s Presenters – Olympia 2 17 7:30 am Service of Holy Communion – Classic Ctr Theatre 18 Vincent Dominique, Military Chaplain, Kuwait 19 7:30 am Concessions Open – 130 Foundry Bldg Lower Lobby 20 21 8:15 am Session Eight 22 Music/Witness – Amy Morgan/The Morales family 23 Prayer – Mathew Pinson, Assoc. Conf. Lay Leader-elect 24 Report of the Journal Committee 25 Monitoring Report 26 Council on Finance & Administration – Part II 27 Moving Day 28 60th Anniversary of the Advance 29 Other reports as needed 30 31 10:30 am Pastoral Word from Bishop G. Lindsey Davis 32 33 Reading of Appointments and Sending Forth 34 35 12:00pm Adjourn 36 37 38 39 40 41 9

2008 Consent Agenda 01 02 The Consent Agenda is designed to expedite business during the annual 03 conference session by adopting reports to be included in the Conference 04 Journal that do not require action by the annual conference. Many of the 05 following reports indicated by number, name of agency and page are offered as 06 the 2008 Consent Agenda. These reports will be accepted by consent of the 07 Annual Conference unless they are removed from the Consent Agenda on 08 Wednesday, June 18, during Session Four. Please read the reports carefully 09 prior to that session. Reports removed from the Consent Agenda will be 10 presented for conference action on Thursday, June 19, Session Five. 11 12 No. Report Page 13 100. *Candler School of Theology ...... 36 14 101. *Georgia Florida UM Credit Union...... 37 15 102. *Higher Education and Campus Ministry...... 39 16 103. *Southeastern Jurisdiction Connection Table...... 40 17 104. *Wesleyan Christian Advocate...... 42 18 203. *Conference Statistician Team – 2007 ...... 81 19 204. *Conference Housing and Homeless Council ...... 82 20 205. *Conference Communications Office ...... 85 21 209. *Conference Trustees...... 97 22 401. *Aldersgate Homes, Inc...... 118 23 402. *Camp Glisson...... 119 24 403. *Capital/Fund Raising Needs for Camp Wesley, Task Force...120 25 404. *Interfaith Airport Chaplaincy, Inc...... 121 26 405. *The Methodist Foundation for Retired Ministers ...... 122 27 406. *Murphy-Harpst Children’s Homes ...... 125 28 407. *North Georgia United Methodist Foundation, Inc...... 125 29 408. *United Methodist Children’s Home, Inc...... 128 30 409. *Wesley Community Centers, Inc...... 129 31 410. *Wesley Woods ...... 130 32 600. *Drew University Theological School ...... 135 33 602. *Gammon Theological Seminary ...... 140 34 603. *Georgia Christian Council ...... 141 35 605. *Journal and Handbook Committee ...... 144 36 606. *Sierra Leone – The Child Rescue Centre ...... 144 37 607. *United Methodist Association of Health & Welfare Ministries146 38 39 40 41 10

01 Registration and Assistance Committee 02 03 The Registration and Assistance Committee provides name badges to all 04 persons attending Annual Conference. It also distributes and collects 05 reimbursement forms for persons eligible for financial assistance. 06 Registration begins for both laity and clergy Monday, June 16, 3-6 07 p.m. and continues Tuesday, June 17, 2008, 8:00 a.m. 08 Registration is located in the Lower Level of the Foundry Building, at 09 the Classic Center: Laity - Cypress 10 Clergy - High Shoals 11 12 I. Registration 13 North Georgia Conference name badges are needed for participation 14 within the Bar of the Conference. The badges list both name and 15 voting status within the conference. Please do not place stickers on the 16 plastic nametag holder. As good stewards we recycle the plastic 17 holders. 18 A. Clergy Members 19 1. Ordained Members in Full Connection * - White 20 2. Probationary and Associate Members * - Green 21 3. Full-Time and Part-Time Local Pastors * - Brown 22 4. Student Local Pastors - Orange 23 5. Affiliate Members, clergy from other conferences or 24 denominations - Purple (upon request) 25 6. Clergy serving in Honorable Location and Supply Pastors - 26 Purple 27 * Includes persons who were so designated upon retirement 28 B. Lay Members 29 1. Lay Delegates - Blue 30 2. Alternate Delegates - Red 31 3. Diaconal Ministers * - Yellow 32 4. Deaconesses - Yellow 33 C. Guests 34 1. Clergy Spouses (including surviving spouses) – Light Gray 35 2. Candidates for Ordained Ministry (not under appointment 36 during the 2007-2008 conference year) – Purple 37 3. Agency, Staff, etc. - Purple (upon request) 38 4. Visitors - Purple (upon request) 39 40 41 11

II. Financial Assistance 01 Persons eligible for financial assistance must complete a 02 reimbursement form prior to the close of the Annual Conference 03 Session. A check will be issued within 30 days. Forms received 04 after the Session adjournment will not be processed for 05 reimbursement. 06 A. Eligibility. Financial assistance is offered for the following 07 persons: 08 1. Retired ministers not serving churches, retired ministers 09 serving churches whose compensation does not exceed $6,000 10 per year. 11 2. Widows or widowers of clergy persons who are not married 12 to persons designated in # 1 above. 13 B. Assistance Guidelines. 14 1. Travel - One round trip to the conference site at the rate of 15 $.28 per mile. 16 2. Lodging and Meals - Maximum of four (4) nights lodging 17 with 3 meals per day at a maximum of $50 per day TOTAL. 18 Receipts must be provided for reimbursement. 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 12

01 2008 Information for Conference Members and Visitors 02 03 Attendance Registration 04 Each lay and clergy member of the annual conference must complete an 05 attendance registration card. Lay registration is located in the Foundry 06 Building, Cypress. Clergy registration is located in the Foundry Building, 07 High Shoals. Place completed cards in boxes located at registration tables or 08 associate conference secretaries’ table in the Classic Center Grand Hall. Laity 09 and clergy registration begins Monday, June 16, 3 - 6 p.m. and continues 10 Tuesday, June 17, 8 a.m. 11 12 Bring Supplies for UMCOR School kits (UMW) and Medicine kits (UMM) 13 North Georgia United Methodist Women are gathering supplies to assemble 14 School kits for UMCOR: blunt scissors, loose leaf ruled paper, 30-centimeter 15 ruler, hand held pencil sharpener, unsharpened pencils with erasers, 2” eraser, 16 construction paper, box of 24 crayons. The North Georgia United Methodist 17 Men are gathering supplies to assemble Medicine Kits for UMCOR: sterile 18 gauze (4 x 4 pads), adhesive tape (1” x 10 yards/roll), triple antibiotic ointment, 19 aspirin (325 mg tablets), ferrous sulfate (325 mg tablets), children’s chewable 20 multivitamins with iron, adult multivitamins with iron, children’s 21 acetaminophen chewable 80 mg tablets. Bring supplies to the Firehall at the 22 Classic Center. 23 24 Clergy Pictorial Directory 25 Olan Mills is taking clergy photographs for the North Georgia Clergy Pictorial 26 Directory at the annual conference session. Photographers are available 8 a.m. 27 – 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 17, through Thursday, June 19, in the Classic Center 28 Theatre lower level lobby. Each clergy photographed receives a copy of the 29 directory. 30 31 Cokesbury Book Store 32 The Cokesbury Book Store, located in the Foundry Building Empire Room # 1, 33 offers a selection of books and church supplies for sale. 34 35 Communion Elements 36 Gluten-free communion elements are available for worship at designated 37 serving stations as announced at the service. 38 39 40 41 13

2008 Conference Journals 01 The 2008 Conference Journal can be ordered during annual conference in the 02 Classic Center Foundry Building Lobby. Orders with payment can also be 03 mailed to: North Georgia Conference, Attention: Journal, Box 102417, 04 Norcross, GA 30368-2417 or ordered on the conference website 05 http://www.ngumc.org/resources/journal/. Cost is $42.00 for print edition in 06 two volumes and $20 for CD version. 07 08 Day Camp and Child Care Providers in Athens 09 Check the North Georgia Conference website www.ngumc.org for a list of 10 Athens-area child care and day camp providers compiled by the Committee on 11 the Status and Role of Women (COSROW). Neither COSROW nor the North 12 Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church evaluates, advocates, 13 recommends, guarantees, or warrants any of the childcare providers as listed, 14 and neither COSROW nor the North Georgia Conference (UMC) nor their 15 agents shall be liable for any reasons, conditions, situations, or injuries relating 16 to the actions of any such provider or agency. Parents and/or guardians are 17 responsible for selecting caregivers appropriate to the needs of their child(ren) 18 and are solely accountable for any conditions, situations, injuries, or accident 19 resulting from contractual day care agreements during Annual Conference 20 2008. 21 22 Displays 23 Display tables are an extension of reports presented at the annual conference 24 session. The displays interpret and celebrate the program ministries of the 25 annual conference. Various conference boards, committees, commissions, 26 councils, teams and related agency displays are located in the 130 Foundry 27 Building lobby, Empire # 2 and Willow rooms. 28 29 Email Access 30 Live port access to check email on personal lap top computers is available in 31 the area outside the Classic Center Ballroom restrooms. 32 33 Food Service 34 Concessions located in the Lower Lobby of the 130 Foundry Building open at 7 35 a.m. Lunch concessions are served 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the 130 Foundry 36 Building Courtyard and Lower Lobby. 37 38 39 40 41 14

01 Handbook Supplemental Reports (Tote Bags) 02 Supplemental reports are provided in a packet of materials at registration. The 03 conference appreciates The United Methodist Children’s Home for providing 04 the tote bags and the North Georgia Conference United Methodist Women and 05 other volunteers for collating the materials into packets. 06 07 Housing 08 Delegates make housing arrangements directly with the hotels/motels in the 09 area. Please use the information in the delegate’s packet. Additional assistance 10 is available from the Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau at 706-357-4410 11 or 800-653-0603. 12 13 Language Translation 14 Spanish and Korean audio translations are available in the Grand Hall. Contact 15 Nora Martinez, 678-533-1388, for Spanish translation. Contact Hyo Kim, 678- 16 533-1448, for Korean translation. 17 18 Medical Care 19 First aid and medical care is located in the lower level escalator lobby during 20 sessions held in the Grand Hall. First aid is located in the Theater lobby main 21 level for evening services. Contact the Message and Information Center for 22 directions or assistance. 23 24 Message and Information Center 25 The message and information center is located in the Classic Center at the top 26 of the escalators. Messages are placed on a display board and emergency 27 messages are displayed electronically in the Classic Center Grand Hall. The 28 telephone number for the message center is 706-357-4513. The fax number is 29 706-357-4514. 30 31 Mission Offering 32 Bishop and Mrs. Davis have requested that rather than receiving a love offering 33 for them we will make this year’s Bishop’s offering in their honor given to two 34 mission causes they have designated. Half of the offering will go to Venezuela 35 NOW, to support the training of pastors in the Methodist Church of Venezuela. 36 The other half will be used to continue Jennifer’s work in the Agalta Valley of 37 Honduras, a ministry to children through schools that also provides for their 38 basic health and nutritional needs. 39 40 41 15

We want to present them with a check representing the offering at the 01 celebration on Thursday evening. You may place your gifts in the offering 02 during the evangelism service on Wednesday afternoon or turn them into one of 03 the Treasurer’s Office staff or one of the Associate Secretaries. 04 05 Parking and Transportation 06 Parking: 07 1. Complimentary parking for delegates will be available in parking 08 spaces at the Classic Center, Court House parking deck and the UGA 09 parking deck. 10 2. Only delegates with state handicap parking permits will be allowed on 11 the bridge leading to the Classic Center parking deck. 12 3. Parking permits must be displayed so they can be seen in all parking 13 spaces for free parking. The UGA parking deck will accept either a 14 parking permit or a nametag. 15 4. The upper deck at the Classic Center will be reserved on Wednesday 16 for retirees. Please do not park there on Wednesday. 17 5. Level one of the Classic Center parking deck will be used for non- 18 conference parking all week during the conference. 19 6. The bridge to the parking deck will be closed Monday night through 20 Wednesday night during the conference. 21 7. Parking at the Classic Center is during the hours of the event. No 22 overnight parking is allowed. Your vehicle may be towed if left 23 overnight. 24 8. We will have spaces reserved for persons with handicaps during 25 registration on the flat lot behind the 130 Foundry Street building. 26 9. The spaces in front of the theatre will be reserved for church vans and 27 emergency vehicles. 28 Transportation: 29 1. Church vans will be used to transport delegates to and from the UGA 30 parking deck and the Classic Center as needed from 9 a.m. until 6 31 p.m. They will load and unload in front of the theatre and the lower 32 level of the UGA parking deck on North Thomas Street. 33 2. Anyone in need of transportation during the conference may go by the 34 message center or call 706-357-4513 35 3. Foundry Street will be closed all week and a police officer will be on 36 duty all day starting Tuesday until the conference ends on Friday. 37 38 39 40 41 16

01 Offering for Annual Conference Expense 02 The offerings received during worship on Tuesday and Thursday nights support 03 the costs of the 2008 session of the North Georgia Annual Conference. 04 05 Prayer Room 06 The Prayer Room sponsored by the North Georgia United Methodist Men is 07 located in Athena A. It is open 8 am – 9 pm, June 17 and 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. 08 beginning Wednesday, June 18, 2008. 09 10 Request for Video Duplication 11 The Office of Information offers video duplication of 2008 worship services. 12 Order on the North Georgia Conference website www.ngumc.org. 13 14 Safety 15 Please be aware that Athens is an urban city. Use caution after dark, do not 16 walk alone or leave valuables visible in parked/locked cars. 17 18 Special Needs 19 Direct special needs requests to the Message Center located in the Classic 20 Center at the top of the escalators. 21 22 Telephones 23 Public telephones are located in upper level lobby of the Classic Center. 24 25 Web Site 26 Information on the 2008 annual conference session is available on the North 27 Georgia web site: www.ngumc.org. Daily audio and video streaming is 28 available June 17 – 20, 2008. 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 17

01 02 03 04 Delegate 05 06 07 Parking Permit 08 09 10 North Georgia Conference 11 12 The United Methodist Church 13 14 15 June 17 - 20, 2008 16 17 Athens, Georgia 18 19 20 ------21 22 23 24 To display: fold in half and place on dashboard of vehicle 25 26 27 This permit must be displayed 28 29 for 30 31 Delegate Free Parking 32 33 AND 34 35 Special Rates at the 36 37 Delegates Pay Parking Decks 38 39 See maps in Handbook 40 41 18

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01 02 03 THE CLASSIC CENTER 04 300 North Thomas St., Athens, GA 30601 05 Accessible Entrance for 06 Registration 07 08 09 Concessions Cypress Room 10 Laity Clergy

11 Registration  Registration 12 Foundry Level One Classic Center 13 14 Elevator

15 Cokesbury

Displays  Displays BloodDrive Bookstore 16 Lunch T

Foundry Level Two o Concessions

17 F o u

18 n d r y

19 Parthenon3Ͳ L ClergyHealth e

ClergyProCheck v Risk 20 Screening e l Assessment

T h

21 r e e 22 23 Business& 24 Worship 25 26 27 Auto-Bridge to Parking Deck Morning 28 Escalator

Elevator Communion to  29 GrandHall Ordination

30  31 ProjectCollection  Message

Center Evening 32 Worship

AthenaA  Laity  33 Prayer Service Luncheon 34 Room Opportunities UMWBreakfast 35 Ordination 36 Reception Horseshoe Retiree 37 Luncheon 38 UMMBBQ 39 40 41 FACILITY LAYOUT 21

2008 Room Directory for the North Georgia Conference 01 02 THE CLASSIC CENTER Bishop’s Dining Room Olympia 2 03 300 North Thomas St., Athens, GA 30601 Blood Drive, Red Cross Foundry Oconee 04 Business Sessions Grand Hall - lower level 05 Accessible Entrance for Registration Clergy Executive Session Theatre 06 Clergy Photographs Theatre Lower Lobby 07 Clergy Registration Foundry Bldg., High Shoals 1 08

Concessions Concessions: 7 am-4 pm Foundry Bldg., Lower Lobby 09 Cypress Room Concessions: lunch-11am-2pm Foundry Bldg. Plaza 10 Laity Clergy

Registration  Registration Cokesbury Bookstore Foundry Bldg., Empire 1 11 Foundry Level One Conference Secretary/Support Parthenon 1 12 Classic Center Displays Foundry Bldg. Lobby, Empire 2, Willow 13 Elevator First Aid – Daytime Grand Hall- lower level escalator 14

Cokesbury First Aid – Evening Theatre Lobby – main level 15

Displays  Displays BloodDrive Bookstore Lunch Health Risk Assessment Parthenon 2 16 T

Foundry Level Two o Concessions

F Fun Run registration Firehall 17 o u n Journal Sales Foundry Bldg Lobby 18 d r y

Laity Registration Foundry Bldg, Cypress 19 Parthenon3Ͳ L ClergyHealth e

ClergyProCheck v Risk Screening e Lay Orientation Session Grand Hall - lower level 20 l Assessment

T h

r Lost & Found Message Center – top escalators 21 e e Media Parthenon 1 22 Business& Message Center Top of escalators 23 Worship Monitor Support Parthenon 1 24 Morning Communion Theatre Stage 25 Prayer Room Athena A 26 Auto-Bridge to Parking Deck ProCheck Screening Parthenon 3 27 Morning Escalator Receptions Athena Ballrooms 28

Elevator Communion to  Registration/Assistance Foundry Bldg Lobby 29 GrandHall Ordination

 Ticket Sales Foundry Bldg Lobby 30 ProjectCollection  Service Opportunities Firehall 31 Message

Center Evening Worship Worship Theatre and Grand Hall 32

AthenaA  Laity  Prayer Service 33 Luncheon Room Opportunities 34 UMWBreakfast 35 Ordination Reception Horseshoe 36 Retiree Luncheon 37 UMMBBQ 38 39 40 41 FACILITY LAYOUT 22

01 Breakfasts, Luncheons, Dinners and Receptions 02 2008 North Georgia Annual Conference 03 04 Note: Room locations at the Classic Center and 130 Foundry are subject to 05 change. Please check signs posted throughout the building. Contact 06 representatives of sponsoring organizations for reservation information. 07 08 Monday, June 16, 2008 09 6:00 pm Order of Deacons Dinner – Latino Mission UMC 10 11 Tuesday, June 17, 2008 12 7:00 am Bishop’s Breakfast-Tuesday’s Presenters – Olympia 2 13 7:30 am Breakfast-Clergy Ext Min – Athena BCEF 14 7am-4 pm Concessions – Foundry Lower Lobby 15 11-2 pm Lunch Concessions – Foundry Plaza/Lower Lobby 16 12:00 pm Bishop’s Luncheon, Ordinands – Athena D 17 12:00 pm Clergy Luncheon – Athena BCEF 18 12:15 pm District Directors of Lay Speaking – Athena D 19 5:15 pm Clergywomen’s Dinner – High Shoals 20 5:30 pm LaGrange College Dinner – Athena BCEF 21 9:00 pm Ordination Reception – Athena BCDEF Ballroom 22 23 Wednesday, June 18, 2008 24 7:00 am Bishop’s Breakfast – Wednesday’s Presenters – Olympia 2 25 7am-4 pm Concessions – Foundry Lower Lobby 26 7:00 am UMW Breakfast – Athens BCEF Ballroom 27 11-2 pm Lunch Concessions – Foundry Plaza/Lower Lobby 28 12:15 pm Retirees Luncheon – Athena BCEF Ballroom 29 5:30 pm Asbury Alumni Dinner – Athens First UMC 30 5:30 pm Clark-Gammon-Paine Fellowship Banquet – Athena BCEF 31 5:30 pm Young Harris College Dinner – Athena D 32 6:30 pm Duke Alumni Event – Harry Bisset’s New Orleans Café 33 34 Thursday, June 19, 2008 35 7:00 am Bishop’s Breakfast-Thursday’s Presenters – Olympia 2 36 7am -4pm Concessions – Foundry Lower Lobby 37 7:00 am MFSA Breakfast – Athens First UMC 38 11am-2 pm Lunch Concessions – Foundry Plaza/Lower Lobby 39 12:00 pm Laity Luncheon – Athena – IJ 40 41 23

12:00 pm Clergy Spouses’ Luncheon – Oconee River 01 12:15 pm Candler Club Luncheon – High Shoals 02 12:15 pm CEF Luncheon – Trumps at Georgian Terrace 03 12:15 pm Hispanic/Latino/Multi-Ethnic Committees Luncheon – Athena D 04 12:15 pm Erskine Alumni Luncheon – Athena G 05 5:30 pm UMM BBQ – Athena BCEF 06 5:30 pm Local Pastors Dinner – Oconee River 07 9:00 pm Reception Honoring Bishop and Mrs. Davis – Athens BCDEF 08 09 Friday, June 20, 2008 10 7:00 am Bishop’s Breakfast-Friday’s Presenters – Olympia 2 11 7:00 am Board of Ordained Ministry Breakfast – High Shoals 12 7 am-12 pm Concessions – Foundry Lower Lobby 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 24

01 Responsibility of the Lay Members of the Annual Conference 02 03 It is an honor to be elected as a lay member to the North Georgia 04 Conference. This is an assignment of great responsibility. By virtue of this 05 office, he/she is also a member of his/her church’s Council (¶ 252.5.g), Finance 06 Committee (¶ 259.4), and the Pastor Parish Relations Committee (¶ 259.2.b). 07 (2004 Book of Discipline.) 08 Each member has the responsibility to: 09 1) Attend pre-conference orientation session held in his/her district. 10 2) Attend all sessions of the annual conference. When he/she must be absent 11 from the Conference every effort should be made to see that the alternate lay 12 member is able to be present. 13 3) Become familiar with the organizational structure and existing programs of 14 the annual conference, parliamentary procedure, and the conference 15 Standing Rules as printed in the 2007 Conference Journal. 16 4) Read pre-conference reports in the Conference Handbook provided at the 17 district pre-conference session and become familiar with specific programs 18 and items that might be presented during the sessions. Consult with the 19 pastor and church lay leader. While the lay member is obligated only to use 20 his/her own best thinking in the conference, the dialogue with others ahead 21 of time should prove helpful in clarifying issues. 22 5) Participate fully in the work of the annual conference policy-making 23 decisions. 24 6) Form his/her own opinions on issues and vote his/her convictions. 25 7) Prepare report for his/her local church. This report may be presented at a 26 Sunday morning worship service and/or a more detailed report at a meeting 27 of the Administrative Board/Council. In either case it should be done as soon 28 after Annual Conference as feasible, and “not later than three months after 29 the close of the conference” (¶ 251.2, 2004 Book of Discipline). Consult 30 with his/her pastor before conference about scheduling and time limit. The 31 Wesleyan Christian Advocate, Conference Handbook, the NGC web page 32 www.ngumc.org, handouts received at Annual Conference, and personal 33 notes on the sessions can be used as a basis for the report. Mention major 34 issues raised and any action and how they might affect the local church. 35 Refer to conference preachers and share highlights from worship services. 36 Do talk about the positive aspects of the conference. Try not to dwell on the 37 trivia. 38 39 40 41 25

Responsibility of the Diaconal Members of the Annual Conference 01 02 Diaconal ministers by virtue of their consecration are members of the 03 annual conference where their church membership is held. (2004 Book of 04 Discipline, ¶ 602.4.) Each diaconal minister has the responsibility to: 05 1) Attend pre-conference orientation session held in his/her district. 06 2) Attend all sessions of the Annual Conference. “Any diaconal minister 07 unable to attend shall report by letter to the conference secretary setting forth 08 the reason for the absence.” (2004 Book of Discipline, ¶ 602.8.) 09 3) Become familiar with the organizational structure and existing programs of 10 the annual conference, parliamentary procedure, and the conference 11 Standing Rules as printed in the 2007 Conference Journal. 12 4) Read pre-conference handbook and become familiar with specific programs 13 and items to be presented. Participate fully in the work of the annual 14 conference and help in policy-making decisions. 15 5) Form his/her own opinions on issues and vote his/her convictions. 16 6) Identify with and assist in any way possible the clergy and lay members 17 from his/her local church in preparation for, participation in, and reporting 18 on the annual conference sessions. 19 20 Responsibility of the Clergy Members of the Annual Conference 21 22 Each clergy member has the responsibility to: 23 1) Attend pre-conference orientation session held in his/her district. 24 2) Attend all sessions of the annual conference and leave only under emergency 25 conditions and with the knowledge of his/her district superintendent. 26 Attendance is not optional. “Any person unable to attend shall report by 27 letter to the conference secretary, setting forth the reason for the absence.” 28 (2004 Book of Discipline, ¶ 602.8.) 29 3) Become familiar with the organizational structure and existing programs of 30 the annual conference, parliamentary procedure, and the conference standing 31 rules as printed in the 2007 Journal and discuss with his/her lay member(s). 32 4) Read pre-conference reports and become familiar with specific programs 33 and items that might be presented during the sessions. Prior to Annual 34 Conference, consult with his/her lay member(s) so that he/she might 35 understand the various reports and their implication for the life of the 36 Church. Keep in mind that the lay member(s) as well is/are obligated to 37 express views and vote as each feels is best. 38 39 40 41 26

01 5) Participate fully at the Annual Conference and help in policy-making 02 decisions. 03 6) Form his/her own opinions on issues and vote his/her convictions. 04 7) Serve as interpreter of the annual conference actions along with the lay 05 member. (2004 Book of Discipline ¶ 251.2). 06 07 Parliamentary Guidelines for Participation at Annual Conference 08 09 1. The presiding Bishop is the “chair” of the conference. 10 11 2. To address the conference: raise your hand until recognized by the chair; 12 move to the microphone as directed; state your name, the name of your local 13 church, and whether you are a lay delegate or clergy delegate. 14 15 3. To request a conference committee review the business currently under 16 consideration: after recognition by the chair, state: “I move that the item 17 currently before the conference be referred to …” (state the name of the 18 committee to which you think the matter should be referred or request referral 19 to a committee to be recommended by the chair). 20 21 4. To request clarification of business being conducted: after recognition by 22 the chair, state: “I request a point of information/clarification regarding …(state 23 the specific clarification you seek). 24 25 5. To change the wording of a resolution, or business item, which is before 26 the conference: 27 a. Write down the specific wording of the proposed amendment/change, 28 include handbook page and line number. 29 b. After recognition by the chair, say, “I move to amend Line_____, on page 30 __ by: (deleting or inserting) the following words:. . .” Read only the exact 31 wording proposed. Have a written copy of the amendment ready for the 32 conference secretary. 33 c. The chair will ask for a second, state the motion and ask for discussion. 34 d. Raise your hand for recognition. When recognized by the chair, state the 35 reasons for your proposed amendment/change. 36 e. Other persons may be recognized to discuss/debate the motion. The motion’s 37 presenter is allowed a final chance to speak for the motion. 38 f. After “the question is called” and discussion is closed, the motion is voted 39 on by the conference. 40 41 27

The Ministry of Monitoring 01 02 Committee on the Status and Role of Women 03 The purpose of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women shall 04 be to challenge The United Methodist Church, including its general agencies, 05 institutions, and connectional structures, to a continuing commitment to the full 06 and equal responsibility and participation of women in the total life and mission 07 of the Church . . . The General Commission shall function as an advocate . . . 08 and as a monitor to ensure inclusiveness in the programmatic and administrative 09 functioning of The United Methodist Church. (2004 Book of Discipline ¶ 2101) 10 11 Committee on Race and Religion 12 The primary purpose of the General Commission on Religion and Race shall be 13 to challenge the general agencies, institutions, and connectional structures of 14 The United Methodist Church to a full and equal participation of the racial and 15 ethnic constituency in the total life and mission of the Church through advocacy 16 and by reviewing and monitoring the practices of the entire Church so as to 17 further ensure racial inclusiveness. (2004 Book of Discipline ¶ 2002) 18 19 Monitoring is a practice through which the official dialogue of an annual 20 conference, its committees and congregations can be observed and reported. 21 The goal of monitoring is to use statistical information to foster inclusiveness in 22 the decision-making processes of our church. This ministry offers a tool we can 23 use to examine our own actions so that we may discern what changes may or 24 may not be necessary. 25 One of our deeply held Christian beliefs is that all persons are deeply 26 cherished by God. Our response to God’s love is to in turn love and respect one 27 another. We realize this love by showing equal regard to all people and sharing 28 in the concerns of others. In our decision-making processes, we must ascertain 29 that the people who shape our choices represent the diversity that exists in our 30 conference. The input of all people should be given equal weight. No group, 31 gender or ethnicity should dominate. 32 In the ministry of monitoring at annual conference, statistical information 33 is gathered regarding each speaker according to gender, race/ethnicity and the 34 status as clergy or laity. This information is recorded, given to the presiding 35 bishop and also communicated to the gathered body. The statistics gathered 36 through monitoring can offer indications of our inclusiveness and our 37 willingness to hear diverse perspectives. 38 39 40 41 28

01 The Committee on the Status and Role of Women and the Committee on 02 Religion and Race, as our counterparts at the general church level (¶643, ¶642), 03 are called to be advocates for inclusiveness. It is for this reason that we are 04 engaging in this important ministry. We hope that monitoring can be a tool for 05 our conference to fully honor God’s image in all people. 06 07 Statistical Information about the North Georgia Conference 08 Lay Membership 09 Total Membership 346,430 10 Female 196,464 57% 11 Male 149,966 43% 12 Minority 52,625 15% 13 White 293,805 85% 14 15 Clergy Membership 16 All active pastors under appointment as either elder or deacon. 17 Total Clergy 1,438 18 Female 323 22% 19 Male 1,115 78% 20 Minority 223 16% 21 White 1,215 84% 22 23 Clergy in Full Connection 24 Total Clergy in Full Connection 1,018 25 Female 205 20% 26 Male 813 80% 27 Minority 134 13% 28 White 884 87% 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 29

01 02 GREAT DAYS OF SERVICE 03 MONDAY – WEDNESDAY 04 TH 05 JUNE 16 – 18 06 07 08 North Georgia Annual Conference Golf Classic 09 Grab your golf clubs and make plans to join Bishop Lindsey Davis at The Georgia Club, Monday, 10 June 16, 1 p.m. for the North Georgia Annual Conference Golf Classic! Proceeds benefit Our Daily Bread soup kitchen located in Athens, Georgia. More information about the golf tournament 11 and a registration form is enclosed. Registration is also available online: www.ngumc.org -- select 12 Great Day of Service link. Deadline to enter is June 1, 2008. 13 2nd Annual Great Day of Service 5K Run/Walk 14 Join us bright and early on Wednesday morning, June 18th at 6:30 a.m. for the 2nd Annual Great 15 Day of Service 5K Run/Walk. The race route starts on Washington Street, a block from the Classic 16 Center and runs through downtown and down the Oconee River Greenway, finishing behind the Classic Center. Proceeds benefit Our Daily Bread soup kitchen located in Athens, Georgia. 17 Registration form is enclosed or register online at www.ngumc.org -- select Great Day of Service 18 info link. 19 Red Cross Blood Drive 20 The Red Cross blood drive will be available at the Classic Center on the following dates and times 21 for your convenience. Please make your appointment online: www.ngumc.org -- select Great Day 22 of Service link or call Carol Rymer, 706-254-6990 to make an appointment. 23 ! Monday, June 16, 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. 24 ! Tuesday, June 17, noon – 5 p.m. 25 ! Wednesday, June 18, noon – 5 p.m. 26 Donations needed for UMCOR Emergency Kits 27 Please help the UMW collect items needed for UMCOR school supply kits and the UMM collect items for Medicine Boxes. Donated supplies may be dropped off in the Firehall at the Classic 28 Center beginning Monday, June 16. Help is needed assembling these kits on Wednesday, 29 June 18 from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. No need to register for this project – just drop-in to lend a hand! 30 (Room/Assembly location TBA). 31 School kits 32 ! blunt scissors (rounded tip) ! unsharpened pencils with erasers 33 ! 8" x 11" (loose leaf) ruled paper ! 2” eraser 34 ! 30-centimeter ruler ! construction paper (varied colors) 35 ! hand held pencil sharpener ! box of 24 crayons (only 24) 36 Medicine Kits 37 ! Sterile gauze, 4X4 pads ! Children’s chewable multivitamins with 38 ! Adhesive tape, 1” X 10 yards/roll iron 39 ! Triple Antibiotic Ointment ! Adult multivitamins with iron 40 ! Aspirin, 325 mg tablets ! Children’s acetaminophen chewable ! Ferrous Sulfate, 325 mg tablets 80mg tablets 41

For more information or for sponsorship information, please contact Carol Rymer, Mission Coordinator, 706.254.6990 or [email protected]. 30

01 02 NORTH GEORGIA CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 03 04 fundraising events to benefit 05 06 07 08 Our Daily Breadsoup kitchen 09 10 Golf Outing @ The Georgia Club: Monday, June 16, 2008 , 1 p.m. 11 & 12 13 5K Run/Walk, Classic Center: Wednesday, June 18, 2008, 6:30 a.m. 14 The Cause nearly 45 different Bread has added raise money for planned is a 5K 15 Since 1989, the religious, business breakfast each day, Our Daily Bread. Run/Walk soup kitchen, Our and civic sack lunches on The first is a golf beginning at the 16 Daily Bread, has organizations Saturdays and a outing and dinner, Classic Center on provided a hot support the sack supper on located at The Wednesday, June 17 The Event lunch, 5 days a ministry Sundays. Please Georgia Club on 18 at 6:30 a.m. We The North Georgia 18 week for the needy financially as well consider joining us Monday, June 16 hope you can join Conference of the in the Athens as cooking and in one of the events (shotgun start at 1 us in one or both of 19 United Methodist community. preparing meals so that together we p.m.) with dinner these great events. Church invites all 20 Located at Oconee each day. As the can help Our Daily and silent auction Registration delegates and Street United ministry has Bread continue it’s following play. The information is 21 friends to two fun- Methodist Church, grown, Our Daily ministry in the second event outlined below. filled events to help 22 Athens community. 23 24 5K Run/Walk 25 Delegate Event The race begins bright and early at the Classic Center, 6:30 a.m. on 26 Registration Wednesday, June 18th! Entry fee is $20 by 27 June 8th, $25 thereafter. Not a fan of Information running but still want to support the 28 Please let us know how you would cause? Register as a “Phantom Runner” 29 like to participate! Golf Classic for $20 and we’ll just pretend that you are registration form (enclosed) must be there with us in the race! A t-shirt will also 30 completed and returned by June 1 or Hole #2 Black at The Georgia Club be assured for all Phantom Runners if 31 register online at www.ngumc.org. registered Dinner & Silent Auction 32 Golf Tournament by June Monday, June 16, 6:30 p.m. 8th. A fantastic day is planned at The 33 Complete Georgia Club, named “Best New Course” in Please, be our guest! Join the players after the attached 34 2001 by Georgia Golf News. The Club is the golf tournament for a fabulous dinner form and 35 located off Highway 316, 12 miles west of prepared by The Georgia Club. An awards return to Athens and 32 miles east of I-85 and ceremony for the winners is planned during 36 the address below or better yet, register Gwinnett. Shotgun start is at 1 p.m., dinner and a silent auction will keep all online at www.active.com. We’ll see you at 37 Monday, June 16. Entry fee is $125 per entertained! $50 per person. Reservations the starting line! 38 player or enter your favorite golf foursome required by June 8th. for $500. Please complete the enclosed form 39 All donations are tax deductible. EIN #58-0572421 and return. Includes tee gift, box lunch, Checks payable to: North GA Conference of the United Methodist Church prizes, dinner and silent auction. 40 Mail to: Carol Rymer, Event Coordinator, 1450 Spartan Lane, Athens, GA 30606 41 Questions? Call Carol Rymer: 706-254-6990 31

2008 Worship Leaders 01 02 Ray Buckley is the Interim Director of the Center for 03 Native American Spirituality and Christian Study, a think 04 tank for Native scholars and spiritual leaders. He has 05 served The United Methodist Church as a staff member of 06 The United Methodist Publishing House, Director of the 07 Native People’s Communication Office (UMCom) for 08 nine years, and Director of Connectional Ministries for the 09 Alaska Missionary Conference. 10 Ray spent his early years on Pine Ridge Reservation 11 in South Dakota. His father was Tlingit/Lakota; his mother is a native of 12 Scotland. Ray is a traditional woodcarver and basket maker and 13 author/illustrator of seven books. His stories, poetry and art have appeared in 14 numerous journals, periodicals, books and museums. 15 Buckley has taught in Nigeria and Ghana, served as a lecturer in Native 16 American studies for several universities, and was keynote speaker for various 17 denominational events and lecture series. He is one of several Native leaders 18 profiled in As Long As the Waters Flow: Native Americans in the South and 19 East by Frye Gillard and The Power of Eagles: Natures Way to Individual 20 Accomplishment by Twyman L. Towery. 21 22 James C. Cantrell is an elder in the North Georgia Annual 23 Conference, having served appointments in North Georgia 24 since 1976. He currently serves as the Superintendent of the 25 Atlanta-Decatur-Oxford District. He is the secretary of the 26 North Georgia Delegation to General and Jurisdictional 27 Conferences. 28 Jim is married to the former Holly Fisher. They have 29 two children: a son, Andrew, and a daughter, Claire, both of 30 whom are college students. 31 32 Davis Chappell is completing his seventh year as senior 33 pastor of Lawrenceville First UMC with a congregation now 34 numbering 3200-plus. 35 Davis graduated from Martin College in Pulaski, TN 36 and from Lambuth College in Jackson, TN with degrees in 37 psychology. He received his M.Div. degree from Candler 38 School of Theology, and he is currently completing his 39 40 41 32

01 D.Min degree at Perkins School of Theology at SMU in the area of evangelism 02 and church renewal. His thesis is the impact of birthing a new congregation on 03 the mother church as LFUMC birthed and planted a new congregation in a 04 growing section of Gwinnett County in 2005. 05 Davis has served in pastoral appointments in the North Georgia 06 Conference for 25 years and is a member of the North Georgia Board of 07 Ordained Ministry. He is married to the former Sherre Hufman. They have two 08 children: Andrew, 18, and Hailey, 14. 09 10 Chester R. Cook is the Executive Director of the Interfaith 11 Airport Chapel, Inc. at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta 12 International Airport. An ordained elder in the North Georgia 13 Conference, he was awarded a Doctor of Ministry from 14 Interdenominational Theological Center and Master of 15 Divinity from Candler School of Theology. Chaplain Cook 16 trained at Emory Center for Pastoral Services. Chester is 17 married to Susan and has two sons; Kevin is a pilot, attending 18 Reinhardt College, and Collin is a sophomore at Alpharetta 19 High School. He and his family attend Mount Pisgah UMC. 20 21 Maxie D. Dunnam is Chancellor of Asbury Theological 22 Seminary, after serving as President for 10 years. 1982 to 23 1994 he was senior minister of the 6,000-member Christ 24 UMC in Memphis, TN – his tenure marked by a 25 commitment to evangelism, inner-city ministries, housing 26 for the working poor, outreach to the recovering 27 community and innovative worship. 28 His wide experience includes church planting, rural 29 churches, suburban, and regional congregations in 30 Mississippi, Georgia, California and Tennessee. He has served as World Editor 31 of The Upper Room, President of the and is currently 32 on the Executive Committee of the Council. He is a director of the Board of 33 Global Ministries of The UMC and a member of the Executive of the 34 Association of Theological Schools. His many awards include induction into 35 the Foundation for Evangelism’s Hall of Fame, the Chair of Distinction by the 36 World Methodist Council, and the Philip Award for Distinguished Service in 37 Evangelism. 38 Dr. Dunnam has authored more than 40 books, including The Workbook 39 of Living Prayer, Alive in Christ, This is Christianity, and two volumes in The 40 41 33

Communicator’s Commentary series. His one-minute radio and television 01 message entitled PERCEPTIONS is being replicated all over the nation. 02 03 Mark LaRocca-Pitts holds a BA and MA in Religious 04 Studies from Indiana University and a M.Div. from Harvard 05 Divinity School. He earned his Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible in 06 the Department of Near Eastern Languages and 07 Civilizations at Harvard University in 2000. Mark is 08 endorsed by the United Methodist Church for healthcare 09 chaplaincy and is Board Certified (BCC) with the 10 Association of Professional Chaplains. He is appointed as a 11 Staff Chaplain at Athens Regional Medical Center and as 12 the pastor of the Crawford Charge. He lives in Athens, GA with his wife, Beth, 13 and twin children, Ellie and Joe. 14 15 Sharma D. Lewis is a native of Statesboro, Georgia. She 16 is a 1985 graduate of Mercer University, where she 17 received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, and a 18 1988 graduate of West Georgia College, where she 19 received a Master of Science degree in Biology. Prior to 20 her call to ministry, she was a biologist in the academic 21 and corporate sectors for several years. After answering 22 God’s call to ministry, she entered Gammon Seminary at 23 the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in 24 Atlanta, where she graduated with a Master of Divinity in Biblical Studies. 25 Sharma was ordained Deacon in 1999 and Elder in 2002. She is the 26 senior pastor at Wesley Chapel, McDonough (the first female in 140 years). 27 Previously she served as senior pastor at Powers Ferry UMC for three years, a 28 cross-racial appointment, and as senior associate pastor of Christian Training at 29 Ben Hill UMC. 30 She has served on numerous committees representing the United 31 Methodist Church. 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 34

01 Robert H. McMichael III is a native of Atlanta and a 02 graduate of Morehouse College, where he earned a 03 Bachelor of Arts in Religion. He is currently pursuing an 04 MDiv in Psychology of Religion and Pastoral Care and 05 Counseling at Gammon Theological Seminary at ITC, 06 Atlanta, while also working at Central Ministries UMC 07 as Minister of Music, Worship and the Arts. 08 He has previously served Mallelieu UMC East 09 Point (now East Point First Mallelieu UMC); Hoosier 10 Memorial, his home church; and Cascade UMC as director of the Women’s 11 Chorus and as Praise and Worship Leader. 12 Robert believes it is his calling to “Spread the Liberating Gospel of Jesus 13 Christ through word and song,” and this has sparked him to begin writing his 14 first publication With My Whole Heart: Worship as a Lifestyle. He believes 15 worship should be more than a once a week event; instead, it should be the 16 lifeline upon which Christians thrive. 17 18 Hur and Lucy Morales are currently serving 19 at McEachern UMC. Previously they served at 20 the St. Stephen and Hollydale United 21 Methodist churches in Marietta after moving to 22 the United States in September 2005. Both 23 studied at the Wesley Seminary in Venezuela 24 before coming to the United States and served 25 the Lord in a church in Barquisimeto, 26 Venezuela. They have three children, Keren, 27 Helem and Zaret. 28 Hur is the son of Efrain and Bethsaida Morales. Efrain was the pastor at 29 Cabudare, Odas de Paz United Methodist Church in Venezuela, but now is 30 serving as Hispanic pastor at Snellville UMC. 31 32 Amy Parsons Morgan is an Elder in the North Georgia 33 Conference currently serving as associate pastor at Cannon 34 UMC in Snellville. She attended Young Harris College, 35 LaGrange College and the Candler School of Theology. In 36 1999 she earned her Doctor of Ministry degree from 37 Columbia Theological Seminary, where she focused on 38 Christian Education as Spiritual Formation. Amy served as 39 associate pastor at Mt. Bethel, Marietta for five years, as the 40 41 35 pastor of Allen Memorial, Oxford for four years, and as the associate pastor at 01 Ebenezer in Conyers for eight years. Amy is married to Dan Morgan, a 02 firefighter with Rockdale County, and they have two children: Hannah, who 03 just completed her first year at Georgia Tech, and Jarrett, who is a junior at 04 Grayson High School. Amy enjoys music, reading and spending time with 05 family and friends. 06 07 The Atlanta Bluegrass All-Stars are Sonny Houston, 08 The Atlanta Buck Peacock, Tom Hicks, Todd Cliatt and Greg 09 Bluegrass All-Stars Earnest, a seasoned bunch of quality pickers with 45 10 years of professional experience between them – from 11 all the way back to the roots of "newgrass" music 12 forward to appearances in the Atlanta musical classic 13 "Cotton Patch Gospel." 14 Recent gigs have included a four-week series at 15 the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, a fundraiser for Democratic presidential 16 candidate John Edwards, and two prestigious events produced by Steven 17 Darsey, choral director at Glenn Memorial UMC: the fourteenth edition of 18 Darsey's Southern Folk Advent service and a special Old-Time 19 at the historic Smyrna Campground in Conyers, GA. 20 21 The United Voices of Praise is a gifted group of dedicated servant leaders 22 from the Bowen United 23 Methodist Church, Atlanta. The 24 group is under the anointed 25 direction and leadership of 26 Marilyn Lawal Carter and Tim 27 Carr. This group proclaims the 28 good news of God's love and 29 grace through praise, song and 30 witness. 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 36

01 100. Candler School of Theology 02 03 Candler School of Theology is grounded in the Christian faith and shaped 04 by the Wesleyan tradition of evangelical piety, ecumenical openness and social 05 concerns. Our mission is to educate faithful and creative leaders for the 06 church’s ministries in the world. Candler is one of the 13 official seminaries of 07 The United Methodist Church and is one of nine schools at Emory, a top twenty 08 research university, founded in memory of Methodist Bishop John Emory and 09 his commitment to “mold both character and intellect.” 10 This year enrollment was 535, with 440 in the Master of Divinity 11 program, 54 in the Master of Theological Studies program, 12 in the Master of 12 Theology program, 10 in the Doctor of Theology program and 19 enrolled as 13 Special, Non-Degree students. Eighty-three percent of students are enrolled 14 full-time. The student population is 25 percent U.S. ethnic minority, 11 percent 15 international and 52 percent women. Nearly 50 denominations are represented 16 with 52 percent of MDiv students being United Methodist from 37 conferences. 17 We will move into Phase I of our new building in early August 2008. It 18 offers 65,000 square feet for classrooms, offices and community life. We hope 19 construction on Phase II will begin late in 2008. It will hold the Pitts Library 20 and the Wesley Teaching Chapel. The first year of implementation of a new 21 MDiv curriculum is nearly complete. This program deepens faculty roles in 22 advising and mentoring and requires a course in a religion other than 23 Christianity. A new director of lifelong learning should be in place by fall 2008 24 to initiate a renewed emphasis on programs that benefit congregations and their 25 leaders in continuing education. 26 At the center of our upcoming capital campaign is a program to boost 27 financial support for students. This year 76 percent of eligible students received 28 scholarship support from Candler with an average scholarship covering 71 29 percent of tuition. Among these awards, more than $2.4 million was provided to 30 198 United Methodist students. Gifts from the Ministerial Education Fund 31 (MEF) have played a large role in this support. However, so much more needs 32 to be done. More than 60 percent of Candler’s MDiv graduates leave school 33 with educational debt. This burden undermines their effectiveness in ministry, 34 such that some seek alternative employment. Your continued support, gifts and 35 prayers mean a great deal as we work to provide a strong educational program 36 as well as support for the courageous and committed students who choose to 37 undertake the challenge of theological education. 38 Jan Love, Dean 39 40 41 37

101. Georgia/Florida Federal United Methodist Credit Union 01 02 101a. Chairman's Report 03 04 Our world is constantly changing. We have witnessed major changes in 05 the financial community over the past year, from fluctuating interest rates to a 06 dramatic rise in gas and other consumer products. Even though you are 07 surrounded by other transformations in your financial life, your credit union has 08 remained an unfailing protector of your funds and financial health. Our 09 continued focus on the well being of our members is reflected in our consistent 10 and steady growth each year, no matter any outside influences. 11 A quick glance at our financials will show slight variances between this 12 fiscal year and the one prior. On closer inspection, you’ll quickly see the sound 13 increases and strong foundation that this credit union continues to build. Our net 14 worth has increased, showing a correct balance of expenditures and capital. 15 Loan interest did not make a dramatic rise, but did show an improvement. As 16 our membership and number of share accounts grew, so did our need for 17 dividends, which attests for the slight climb. Bottom line, your credit union 18 continues to make the solid growth that will allow us to maintain success in the 19 years to come. 20 We are only concerned with doing business one way—the way that’s 21 right for our members. Slow and steady wins the hearts of our members. Let all 22 your fellow church and family members know how much you enjoy doing 23 business with your credit union—ask them to join! Your recommendation is 24 one of our most successful methods of advertising. All the best for the coming 25 year! 26 James R. Mitchell, Chair 27 28 101b. Credit Union-2007 Financials 29 30 Assets (2007) Summary as of 12/31/07 Summary as of 12/31/06 31 32 Cash $438,322.76 266,537.05 33 Loans To Members $15,104,071.21 14,939,350.50 34 Loan Participation $7,725.74 17,126.70 35 Allowance for Loan Losses -$116,652.31 -147,447.87 36 Other Receivables $0.00 0.00 37 Investments $2,391,697.50 2,617,205.46 38 Accrued Income $92,047.79 89,317.75 39 40 41 38

01 Prepaid Exp & Defer Charges $26,401.91 31,763.16 02 03 Fixed Assets $248,383.22 247,677.99 04 All Other Assets $0.00 0.00 05 06 Total Assets $18,191,997.82 18,061,530.74 07 08 Liabilities 09 10 Accounts Payable $2,328.20 156.32 11 Dividends Payable $0.00 0 12 Notes Payable $0.00 109,933.51 13 Taxes Payable -$288.43 1,517.84 14 Accrued Expenses $10,949.56 8818.45 15 Deferred Credits $1,415.77 0 16 Other Liabilities $0.00 -2,834.51 17 18 Total Liabilities $14,405.10 117,591.61 19 20 Equity 21 22 Shares of Members $16,078,698.83 15,859,516.28 23 Reserves $682,937.04 682,937.04 24 Undivided Earnings $1,379,412.03 1,376,076.56 25 Net Income $36,544.82 25,409.25 26 27 Total Equity $18,177,592.72 17,943,939.13 28 29 Total Liabilities & Equity $18,191,997.82 18,061,530.74 30 Income Statement (2007) Summary as of Summary as of 31 12/31/07 12/31/06 32 33 Interest on Loans $973,010.66 908,551.18 34 Income on Investments $116,416.54 116,437.33 35 Fees & Charges $107,020.98 91,224.17 36 Other Operating Income $47,965.59 55,080.43 37 38 Operating Income $1,244,413.77 1,171,293.11 39 40 41 39

Operating Expenses 01 02 Compensation $314,720.14 292,199.33 03 Employee Benefits $90,639.95 89,751.41 04 Travel & Conference $45,300.92 45,101.01 05 Association Dues $13,546.96 12,256.00 06 Office Occupancy $37,892.91 37,249.11 07 Office Operations $89,349.47 84,967.91 08 Education & Promotion $48,500.58 43,264.69 09 Loan Servicing $7,289.73 9,351.50 10 Prof & Outside $210,943.69 196,909.09 11 Provision for Loan Losses $3,000.00 52,602.09 12 Member Insurance $0.00 0.00 13 Federal Operating Fee $3,666.13 3,696.53 14 Interest on Borrowed $9,361.09 8,964.00 15 Cash Short/Over $0.00 42.04 16 Annual Meeting $2,865.10 2,400.00 17 Miscellaneous $2,408.23 1,515.71 18 19 Total Operating Expenses $879,484.90 880,270.42 20 21 Income From Operations $364,928.87 291,022.69 22 Income Before Dividends $364,928.87 291,022.69 23 Dividends $328,384.05 265,613.44 24 25 Gain on Assets $0.00 0.00 26 27 Net Income $36,544.82 25,409.25 28 29 30 102. Commission on Higher Education and Campus Ministry 31 32 When a student goes off to college, we wish them well, wave good-bye 33 and hope we did the best we could to raise them right. We have hopes and 34 expectations of them, but most of all we want them to follow three simple rules: 35 do no harm, do good, and stay in love with God. Mostly, we want them to just 36 stay out of trouble. 37 38 39 40 41 40

01 It is a widely held assumption that college students put God on the back 02 burner during their college years, but this is not necessarily the case. In the state 03 of Georgia, over 38,000 students remain or become connected with the United 04 Methodist Church through our 21 Wesley Foundations and our nine United 05 Methodist colleges and universities. 06 Wesley Foundations are places where students can get to the heart of the 07 matter and follow those three simple rules. Most importantly, Wesley 08 Foundations provide a variety of ways for students to stay in love with God and 09 grow in their faith. All of the current 30 Wesley Foundations/fellowships across 10 the state of Georgia gather each week for worship, study, and fellowship. 11 Throughout the year they also participate in some kind of charitable work. 12 Whether it is serving meals at a local community center or building houses in 13 Mexico, college students are doing good year-round and loving it! Supporting 14 local Wesley Foundations can change our long-held assumptions that nothing 15 godly goes on at college. 16 A celebration this year is that due to increased Wesley participation, two 17 of our part-time Wesley directors will be going full-time. The greatest needs of 18 our Wesley Foundations are capital improvements to the buildings. Of the 21 19 Wesley units in Georgia, ten are housed in aging buildings that are in great need 20 of renovation and repair. Several others are searching for permanent locations 21 to house the foundation on or around campuses. Renovating the older Wesley 22 buildings and purchasing new ones helps to further Christ on campus as more 23 students can be welcomed and served. 24 The state of campus ministry in Georgia is a positive one. This is largely 25 due to the dedicated hard work of Bill Griffin. For 13 years, Bill has devoted his 26 time and energy to college students, as well as Wesley Foundations across the 27 state of Georgia. As Bill retires this year, The United Methodist Church in 28 Georgia will continue to benefit from the healthy campus ministries Bill has 29 fostered over these past 13 years. 30 Leigh Martin, Vice-President 31 32 33 103. Southeastern Jurisdiction Connectional Table 34 35 Greetings on behalf of the Southeastern Jurisdiction Connectional Table 36 and our President, Bishop Lawrence McCleskey. I am pleased to report to the 37 North Georgia Annual Conference on actions and accomplishments at Lake 38 Junaluska and in the jurisdiction. We were excited to consecrate the Bethea 39 Welcome Center at Lake Junaluska on July 9, 2007. We thank the North 40 41 41

Georgia Conference for your financial commitment to make this place of 01 hospitality and symbol of reconciliation a reality. Lake Junaluska grounds and 02 facilities are a priority. We have completed the new golf course clubhouse. As 03 we prepare and plan for Lake Junaluska becoming a premier conference center 04 for The United Methodist Church, we have a representative group from around 05 the jurisdiction serving on the Lake Junaluska Campus and Stuart Center 06 Design Group to recommend a master plan for the campus. We have Cornell 07 University studying our operations and services to better serve the church. 08 Along with looking at our facilities, we have reorganized our ministry 09 area into the Ministry Event Development Office. Roger Dowdy is giving 10 superb leadership. An agreement has been made to establish Alban Institute at 11 Lake Junaluska. The centerpiece of the partnership will be an Alban Institute 12 seminar July 6-10, at the newly envisioned Ministry Summit (formerly the SEJ 13 Minister’s Conference). There is a new relationship between Ministry and 14 Marketing at Lake Junaluska. Ken Howle and Roger Dowdy are leading us in 15 considering new possibilities for the future. The Ministries with Young People 16 continues to serve the largest numbers of United Methodists at Lake Junaluska. 17 The summer youth events and winter ski retreats are being well attended this 18 year. An outstanding multi-cultural event, Embracing God’s Diversity, was held 19 in December. The leadership of the jurisdiction made this one of the most 20 exciting and diverse groups that has ever met at Lake Junaluska. 21 Mollie Stewart reports the Board of Gulfside Assembly thanks the SEJ. 22 They are considering senior housing on the gulf built around a smaller ministry 23 center and won’t be selling any more land. 24 Larry Ousley reports that the Intentional Growth Center has been in 25 business for 30 years and have planned 57 events this year. They trained over 26 400 interim ministers in this denomination. They look forward to working with 27 the Lay Leaders. Darlene Jacobs reports that SEJANAM became an agency in 28 1993 to strengthen Native American ministries. They work with churches in 29 rural and urban areas. Programs have increased from 25 to 50% and one of the 30 largest Native American events in The United Methodist Church is at Lake 31 Junaluska. SEMAR is the oldest agency in the SEJ – 38 years old. We 32 appreciate the Western North Carolina Conference and Givens Estates making 33 the Laurels of Junaluska a reality. They have entered into a contract with Mike 34 Dyson to run SEMAR. Nick Elliott, UMVIM, thanks all annual conferences 35 for their support over the last 31 years. They began in the SEJ and are now 36 national. In 2005, 26,000 people went out in service and in 2006 it was 31,000. 37 Clay Smith reports that Hinton Rural Life Center does consulting, provides 38 training and builds effective ministries. They have a wonderful First Parrish 39 40 41 42

01 Project for young clergy in small churches. Nell Thrift reports that Art 02 Swarthout is the interim director of Archives & History and The Heritage 03 Center. The main focus of The Commission is the Heritage Center, which 04 acquires, organizes, preserves and makes available records of the SEJ and 05 provides training for confirmation classes from throughout the jurisdiction. 06 We were thrilled to host the United Methodist Council of and the 07 Extended Cabinet in November. In July it will be our honor to welcome the 08 2008 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference to Lake Junaluska. The SEJ 09 Connectional Table appreciates the support we receive from annual 10 conferences. 11 Jimmy L. Carr, Executive Director 12 13 14 104. Wesleyan Christian Advocate 15 16 The Wesleyan Christian Advocate has gone through some changes this 17 year and will continue to change in the future. In July 2007 the Rev. Dr. Jim 18 Nelson, a member of the South Georgia Annual Conference, took over as 19 editor. He has been looking at ways of increasing subscriptions and particularly 20 upgrading the on-line version to make it more in line with other on-line 21 publications today. 22 So far this year we have seen a slight increase in the number of subscriptions 23 and an increase in our ad revenue. Consequently, even with major increases in 24 postage and printing costs, we have been able to keep the annual subscription 25 rate at $25. 26 Although we have had some increases in income, we still need to rely on 27 grants from both conferences in order to provide the same award-winning 28 publication which our readers expect. However, it is our goal to try to reduce 29 the percentage of our revenue that comes directly from the conferences’ 30 budgets. 31 We are looking for ways of marketing the Advocate in order to reach 32 more people in the pews. We continue to be the one source of information about 33 the United Methodist Church and its ministries around the world. We are a 34 connectional church, and the Advocate is one way for all our members to 35 maintain a feeling of connection to United Methodists around the world. We 36 also celebrate the good news from United Methodist churches across the state. 37 We highlight the various ministries that are being carried out every day in 38 Georgia in hopes of giving other churches ideas of what might work in their 39 communities and congregations. 40 41 43

We encourage everyone to subscribe; to tell their friends and family 01 members to subscribe; and most importantly we depend on the leadership of all 02 our churches, clergy and laity, to spread the word to make sure their members 03 stay informed. As conference delegates we know that you believe in and 04 support the connection, and that you will help us help others to grow to be 05 informed leaders like you. 06 Jim Nelson, Editor 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 44

01 200. Board of Church Development 02 03 The Office of Church Development continues to be thankful for the 04 United Methodists of the North Georgia Conference. Your willingness to make 05 possible the birthing of new United Methodist churches and missions augments 06 the efforts of our existing churches and missions in the ongoing challenge to 07 reach our ever-growing population with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Your 08 prayers and gifts to Church Development through our apportionment system are 09 making a difference in thousands of lives throughout our annual conference. 10 With your prayers and continued support we will keep working to reach our 11 goal of 200 new churches and missions by the year 2020. 12 In 2007 we celebrated the chartering of three new United Methodist 13 churches. Still Waters in the Atlanta-Emory District, Highlands in the 14 Gainesville District and Quest in the Augusta District became official United 15 Methodist churches. These three new churches reported 126 professions of faith 16 in 2007. We anticipate several additional congregations will charter in 2008. 17 During 2007 we have started nine new ministries. The six new mission 18 congregations are currently worshipping in existing churches throughout our 19 annual conference. Sacred Tapestry, a new church plant in the Atlanta-Marietta 20 District started worship February 24, 2007. UMC of the Well in the Northwest 21 District started worship on Easter Sunday. A new facility on 38 acres is being 22 constructed for Life Springs, a new United Methodist church in Pike County. 23 The property and facility is the gift of Julian Danielly who grew up in the area. 24 Natural Church Development, a process for existing church assessment 25 and growth toward becoming a healthier congregation, continues to be used by 26 an increasing number of congregations in North Georgia. Information and 27 coaches are available through the Office of Church Development. We 28 encourage our churches to make annual use of this tool in our efforts to be as 29 effective as possible in the making of disciples. 30 The future is both bright and challenging for the United Methodist 31 churches of North Georgia. Population growth and cultural changes bring great 32 opportunities for those who will adapt to the new realities around us. Our prayer 33 continues to be that the Lord of the Harvest will raise up laborers and resources 34 for the making of disciples into the unseen and unknown future. 35 E. Parks Davis, Executive Director 36 37 38 39 40 41 45

200a. Committee on Black Church Development 01 02 The African-American churches in North Georgia present unique 03 challenges as well as unique opportunities for growth. Statistically, the African- 04 American population in the North Georgia Conference has experienced 05 phenomenal growth and represents the largest net gain of any racial or ethnic 06 group. There are currently living within the bounds of the North Georgia 07 Conference 1.76 million African-Americans, and by 2012 there are expected to 08 be 2.03 million. The counties with the greatest net change in African-American 09 residents are Gwinnett, Clayton, Cobb and Henry. The counties with the largest 10 percentage change are Henry, Cherokee, Rockdale and Douglas. 11 This is a mission field that we must reach with great intentionality. A 12 strategic plan is being developed by the follow-up committee from the Black 13 Church Summit Committee and other constituent groups. Based on the need for 14 congregational transformation and starting new churches in growing African- 15 American communities in the North Georgia Conference, the Committee on 16 Black Church Development is focusing on three areas this year: 17 Leadership Development - We are currently partnering with the Fund for 18 Theological Education using their Equipping Congregations program. By the 19 time of this printing, we will have held four modules of a seminar called 20 Equipping Pastors, which are designed to help pastors develop congregational 21 leaders. We are also beginning Leadership Incubators with pastors. The 22 Leadership Incubator creates an environment where spiritual leaders and ideas 23 are born, nurtured and developed. In this accountability process, pastors will 24 work on their own spiritual development and a ministry action plan for their 25 church. Another area of leadership development is the great need to identify and 26 recruit effective and younger leadership for serving existing churches and 27 planting new churches. Our starting point for this area is focusing on persons 28 with less than five years in ministry. 29 Coaching Resources - In March five African-American churches were given 30 the opportunity to grow to their next level of effectiveness using a coaching 31 process. This included viewing the mission field, a written assessment of the 32 current reality provided by interviews with the congregation, the development 33 of a 90-day jump start plan, and follow up sessions; and, 34 Church Data Collection - The intention is to obtain a good picture of 35 African American churches by strategically observing church ministries and 36 37 38 39 40 41 46

01 facilities in order to connect churches to needed resources in reaching their 02 communities with the gospel of Jesus Christ. 03 Marvin Moss, Chair Renita Thomas, Associate Director 04 05 200b. Committee on Hispanic Church Development 06 07 "The Heart of the Matter." We cannot speak about ministries with Latinos 08 without reflecting on the issue of immigration, a phenomenon throughout the 09 history of humankind. Bishop Davis said: “Some people talk about immigration 10 in terms of politics and the law. But for me, immigration is about people – 11 God’s people – it is about you and it is about me. Immigration is also about 12 tomorrow – about what our area and our Church will look like in the future.” 13 (“Invite Me In,” sermon preached at the Annual Latino Celebration by Bishop 14 G. Lindsey Davis, September 22, 2007) 15 When we think about today and tomorrow, studies show that the 16 racial/ethnic diversity in the North Georgia area is extremely high and that 17 Hispanics/Latinos are projected to be the fastest growing group, increasing by 18 38.1 percent between 2008 and 2013. That means that between those years, the 19 Hispanic/Latino population is projected to increase by 230,914 persons. 20 In the year 2000 there were 356,413 Hispanic/Latinos in the North Georgia 21 Conference area (6.1 percent of the population). In 2008 there are 605,499 (8.8 22 percent of the population), and in 2013 there will be 836,413 Hispanics/Latinos 23 neighbors whom we are called to love as we love ourselves (11 percent of the 24 population). 25 At the end of 2007 the NGC had 1,725 Hispanic/Latino members and 26 about 1,275 Hispanics/Latinos attending 24 congregations that offer or will 27 offer worship services in Spanish or Portuguese. The newest areas where we 28 started to develop or plan to develop ministries with Hispanics are: Athens, 29 Roswell, Snellville and Augusta. Training is an essential part of the ministry of 30 the church: “to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of 31 Christ may be built up” (Eph 4:12). This past year we offered the following 32 training opportunities: 33 ƒ May 2007, Module I for the Development of Hispanic/Latino Ministries 34 was offered in Spanish, English and Portuguese with 25 participants. 35 ƒ Thirty-six Hispanic youth participated in a weekend retreat in October 36 2007 at Camp Glisson. 37 ƒ One bilingual (Spanish/English) church is going through the Natural 38 Church Development process. 39 40 41 47

ƒ Two training events in Spanish on the topics of: teaching Sunday school, 01 pastoral care for immigrants, and youth leadership. 02 ƒ One Hispanic leader went through the Leadership Academy for church 03 planters, and one Hispanic pastor is currently going through it. 04 ƒ Two prospective pastors went through an assessment process. 05 In September 2007 we celebrated our Annual Latino Celebration at St Paul 06 UMC in Gainesville. Bishop Lindsey Davis preached in Spanish and English to 07 about 350 persons in attendance. 08 In 2008 the conference will sponsor the first Boot Camp for Hispanic 09 Church planters with Jim Griffin as co-leader and using an adaptation of his 10 church planting resources. In August 2008 the NGC and Candler School of 11 Theology will offer the License to Preach School in Spanish, which will be 12 open to the rest of the Jurisdiction and beyond. In order to give opportunities to 13 dual career pastors, this school will be offered over long weekends. 14 In addition to the pastors who are currently serving, five Hispanic church 15 members are going through the candidacy process for ordained ministry. 16 Reflecting on this conference year, we would like to recognize Olga Rodríguez, 17 María Colone and Daniel Gaetán, three local pastors who have faithfully served 18 their churches and the conference for many years. Their retirement has left a 19 void but it has also left a legacy of ministry with love and sacrifice. 20 Joel Rodríguez, Chair Nora Colmenares Martinez, Assoc. Director 21 22 200c. Committee of Korean Church Development 23 24 As we strive to Make Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of 25 the World, our ministry has been graciously blessed in developing Korean 26 mission churches in our conference, providing leadership training for both laity 27 and clergy, and providing resources to existing Korean American ministries. 28 Growth of the Korean-American population in our conference continuously 29 challenges us to find innovative ways to provide leadership training and other 30 resources in strengthening the Korean-American ministries in our conference. 31 In 2007, in partnership with the Korean Church of Atlanta UMC and 32 Korean Church of Newnan, a new Korean mission, Korean Church of 33 LaGrange, has been planted. LaGrange First United Methodist Church is 34 graciously sharing their facility with this new mission. The Korean population 35 in this area is gradually growing as the KIA plant is nearing its completion. 36 The Korean Church of Dacula has been restarted with new pastoral leadership 37 in reaching out to the growing Korean-American population in its community, 38 39 40 41 48

01 and it is gradually growing. The Korean Church of Newnan is growing and is 02 looking forward to being constituted in the near future. 03 All of the Korean pastors and lay leaders in the North Georgia 04 Conference are continuously provided with leadership training through the SEJ 05 Korean-American Pastor’s School and Lay Leadership Academy. The pastors 06 from these new missions have formed a network in sharing ministries together. 07 Future plans are that these mission pastors will be coached through the Natural 08 Church Development process in the Korean language. 09 We ask for your prayers and support for the mission of the Committee on 10 Korean Church Development to continue its efforts in Making Disciples of 11 Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World among the Korean-American 12 communities in North Georgia for 2009 and the future. 13 Hyo Shik Kim, Associate Director 14 15 200d. Committee on Multi-Ethnic Church Development 16 17 The mission field is coming to us. According to new projections from the 18 Pew Research Center, 82 percent of the increase of the population in the United 19 States will be due to immigrants arriving from 2005 to 2050 and their U.S.-born 20 descendants. The challenges of diversity are more complex than ever. The 21 committee on Multi-Ethnic Church Development assists new and existing 22 congregations in meeting these needs in the North Georgia Conference. 23 This past year, the committee helped United Methodist congregations 24 that aim to reach specific ethnic groups in our area. We helped Brazilian, 25 Chinese, Kenyan and Haitian congregations in their leadership and ministry 26 needs. Furthermore, we assisted several existing congregations experiencing 27 changes in their communities with funds and teaching resources in order for 28 them to be able to offer English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) 29 classes. These language ministries bridge the cultural gap between established 30 congregations and their new international neighbors. 31 The committee is also the place where we facilitate the training of local 32 church members and their pastors on new ways of sharing the Gospel to all 33 God’s children. We offered funds to send leaders to a conference at Lake 34 Junaluska called “Transforming Lives...Embracing God's Diversity” in 35 December 2007. The committee also continued to offer our workshop series 36 “Connecting Across Cultures” to help churches reach out to their neighbors 37 from other cultures. 38 39 40 41 49

The good news of Jesus Christ continues to be shared through our efforts 01 as well as to help the churches of the North Georgia Conference reach out to the 02 mission field that is coming to our doorsteps. 03 Zack Martin, Chair 04 05 200e. Commission on the Small Membership Church 06 07 The Committee met to discuss various issues that are important to the 08 Small Membership Church. Ideas came forth such as the production of a 09 quarterly newsletter which would suggest ideas for ministry, partnering with 10 other churches for Habitat or other ministries, and a summit with churches with 11 less than 100 members and a summit with churches having a membership of 12 101-200. 13 The committee will continue with asking the 12 district superintendents 14 to nominate a small membership church in their district for “Excellence in 15 Ministry.” Churches will be recognized at the 2009 Annual Conference. 16 Carol N. Helton, Chair 17 18 19 201. Council on Finance and Administration 20 21 The Conference Council on Finance and Administration (CFA) remains 22 committed to addressing issues of critical importance to the conference’s 23 financial health. We continued to coordinate the audit and review process with 24 respect to conference and district accounts, thereby insuring full disclosure and 25 accountability. 26 CFA worked prayerfully and diligently to construct a recommended 2009 27 conference budget that provides substantial funds for our critical ministries and 28 programs, while acknowledging the expectations of our churches to exercise 29 excellent stewardship of precious resources. The proposed 2009 budget increase 30 is 2.8%, one of the lowest percentage increases in many years. As more 31 churches are able to pay 100% of their apportionments, we will be able to more 32 effectively address the needs of our various ministries and missions. 33 We will continue to focus on efforts to improve the efficiency of our 34 conference-funded programs in 2008, 2009 and beyond. We would like to 35 commend the North Georgia Housing and Homeless Council, as they have now 36 achieved their goal of fully funding their own operations via earnings from their 37 endowment fund. As such, the H&HC no longer requires the support of 38 apportioned giving, due to their long term planning and hard work. 39 40 41 50

01 We offer thanks to our churches for their excellent stewardship and 02 support of conference, jurisdictional and denominational ministries and 03 programs. We also would like to recognize the Conference Staffing Task Force 04 and the Conference Cabinet Housing Allowance Task Force for their fine work 05 on behalf of the Conference. 06 B. Wiley Stephens, President 07 08 201a. 2009 Council on Finance and Administration Recommendations 09 10 Administration/Personnel 11 1. We recommend that the conference elect Keith M. Cox as the 12 Conference Treasurer and Director of Administrative Services. 13 2. We recommend that each district continue to be responsible for 14 funding of conference expenses for its at-large delegates. Funding 15 levels will be at the discretion of the respective district superintendent. 16 3. We recommend that laity volunteers serving annual conference 17 committees and task forces be reimbursed their mileage costs at 18 $.505/mile. 19 4. We recommend that all conference-funded ministries and programs 20 continually review their operations to ensure that resources are being 21 utilized as efficiently as possible. We recommend that the annual 22 conference re-examine conference benevolences through its Vision 23 Forum/Connectional Table to determine whether or not the essential 24 purpose of the church is being best served with the monies expended. 25 5. We recommend that the conference extend special thanks to all those 26 persons who have served faithfully and effectively during the year. 27 6. We recommend that the 2009 housing allowance designated by annual 28 conference for Cabinet-level clergy personnel be based upon the 29 average of the highest 50 housing allowances reported at 30 December 31, 2007. That amount is $32,749. Further, we recommend 31 that the utility allowance for 2009 for that group be set at $5,000. 32 7. We recommend that the annual conference positively affirm the 33 practice and policy of designated funds collected for and earned by 34 each of the following benefit funds for the stated purposes: 35 a. Pre-1982 Pension Funds for the purpose of funding the pre- 36 1982 pension obligations due to vested participants in that 37 pension plan. Fund balance as of December 31, 2007 totaled 38 $7,984,015. 39 40 41 51

b. Future Retiree Medical Insurance Reserve for the purpose of 01 accumulating funds to satisfy the unfunded supplemental 02 health insurance obligations accruing to current and future 03 clergy participants in the post-retirement Medicare companion 04 plan. Fund balance as of December 31, 2007 totaled 05 $21,005,213. 06 c. The Conference Board of Pensions continues to accumulate 07 and maintain an operating reserve equal to three months of 08 health insurance and CRSP premiums. Fund balance as of 09 December 31, 2007 totaled $3,750,349 or approximately 2.5 10 months of premiums. 11 Offerings/Appeals 12 8. We recommend in addition to those observances set by the General 13 Conference, the following special days, with offerings but without 14 quotas, be observed in 2009: Homeless Offering (last Sunday in 15 February), Mother’s Day Offering for Wesley Homes (Mother’s Day, 16 second Sunday in May), Golden Cross (third Sunday in August), 17 United Methodist Children’s Home Work Day (third Sunday in 18 September), Aldersgate Homes (fourth Sunday in October), and AIDS 19 Awareness Sunday (first Sunday in December). 20 9. We recommend that each of the following be permitted to have one 21 direct mail appeal for funds in 2009: the United Methodist Children’s 22 Home, Wesley Homes, Action Ministries, and Aldersgate Homes, Inc. 23 10.We recommend that all special day offerings be scheduled through the 24 Connectional Ministries Related Agencies Committee so as to avoid 25 calendar conflicts. 26 Apportionments 27 11.We expect that clergy and each charge will pay their apportionment in 28 full and that full-time pastors pay their benefits premiums, in full, on a 29 monthly basis. 30 12.We recommend the adoption of the apportionment formula approved 31 at Annual Conference 2006. 32 Risk Management 33 13.We recommend that all churches and conference-related agencies 34 ensure that their internal control systems are adequate to safeguard 35 their assets as well as to insure compliance with completing an annual 36 audit pursuant to section 259(c)(4) from the 2004 Book of Discipline. 37 38 39 40 41 52

01 14.We recommend that all unincorporated churches explore the 02 advantages of incorporation and seek guidance from the Conference 03 Chancellor if they move to incorporate. 04 15.We recommend that local churches institute or update risk 05 management practices and procedures to protect church assets, 06 employees, and volunteers. This includes expeditiously moving to 07 comply with practices defined in the “Safe Sanctuaries” program. 08 16. We recommend that all churches investigate and be in a position to 09 make an informed decision on coordinating insurance coverage 10 including participating in district meetings prior to the end of 2008 led 11 by United Methodist Property and Casualty Trust (UMPACT). 12 13 14 201b. Treasurer/Director of Administrative Services 15 16 North Georgia Conference churches continued their strong support of 17 connectional ministries in 2007. Total apportionment payments were 18 $22,423,831, an increase of $350,000 from 2006. Payments to Conference and 19 General Advances and to special offerings totaled $2,325,528 compared to 20 $1,932,639 in 2006. 21 For the sixth consecutive year, the North Georgia Conference was the top 22 payer of General Church apportionments, with a total paid of $6,257,669. 23 For the eighth consecutive year, the Gainesville District achieved a 100% 24 apportionment payment rate. The Northwest District again achieved the second 25 highest percentage at 98.5%.The Atlanta-Roswell District had the highest 26 payment total, followed by Atlanta-Marietta and Atlanta-Emory. 27 The Treasurer’s Office continues to emphasize training for local church 28 treasurers and finance committees. We continue to utilize both district training 29 events as well as meetings with individual churches for the purpose of 30 interpretation and clarifying policy and procedural issues. We strive to update 31 our website with current information, and routinely communicate directly with 32 local church treasurers. We appreciate and rely on feedback from the local 33 churches to help us focus on issues that are important to them. 34 The annual conference audit and the district office reviews will be 35 substantially concluded prior to annual conference session. The conference 36 audit for 2006 is posted on the North Georgia Conference website, and, upon 37 the completion of the 2007 audit, it will be posted also. 38 39 40 41 53

Investment Summary 01 Conference funds are invested in accordance with the Investment 02 Guidelines approved by the annual conference in 2007 and published in the 03 Annual Conference Journal. Investment maturities and rates of return vary 04 based on projections of cash needs, both short and intermediate term investment 05 performance. 06 In 2007, the conference earned 7.96% on invested funds. Total 07 investments at December 31, 2006 were $34,533,535. 08 Keith Cox, Conference Treasurer 09 and Director of Administrative Services 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 54

01 201c. Schedule of Investments North Georgia Conference 02 Schedule of Investments 03 As of December 31, 2007 04 MARKET INVESTMENT INSTITUTION FUND VALUE TYPE/COMPANY 05 General Board of Pensions and Conference Board of Pensions $ 16,865,878 HMEP Deposit Acct - Domestic Health Benefits and Health Benefits - Future Bond Fund, Domestic Stock Fund, 06 Retiree Medical Insurance Multiple Asset Fund & Short-Term Fund Investment Fund 07 General Board of Pensions and Conference Board of Pensions 7,699,006 Pension Deposit Account - Multiple Health Benefits and Health Benefits Pre 1982 Asset Fund & Short-Term 08 Pension Fund Investment Fund General Board of Pensions and Conference Board of Pensions 157,114 Multiple Asset Fund 09 Health Benefits and Health Benefits Superannuate Fund 10 Georgia Methodist Federal Credit Central Treasury 95,258 Certificate of Deposit 11 Union North Georgia United Methodist Board of Trustees - Louise D. 341,776 Suntrust Investment Services ("STI") 12 Foundation Park Eye Fund Money Market ("MM") Fund & STI Short Term Bond Fund 13 North Georgia United Methodist Central Treasury 1,016,915 STI MM Fund, STI Short-Term 14 Foundation Bond Fund, UM Foundation ("UMF") Equity Fund 15 North Georgia United Methodist Church Development 204,387 STI MM Fund, UM Foundation Foundation Fixed Income Fund, Coca-Cola 16 Company & UMF Equity Fund 17 North Georgia United Methodist Church Development - Charles 240,701 STI MM Fund, UMF Equity Fund & Foundation Barnes Endowment UMF Fixed Income Fund 18 North Georgia United Methodist Church Development - 40,418 STI MM Fund, UMF Fixed Income Foundation Douglas and Daisy Gibson Fund, UMF Equity Fund 19 Permanent Endowment North Georgia United Methodist Conference Board of Global 92,407 STI MM Fund & STI Short-Term 20 Foundation Ministries - Mildred F. Butler Bond Fund Fund 21 North Georgia United Methodist Conference Board of Pensions 85,912 STI MM Fund, UMF Fixed Income Foundation and Health Benefits - Fund & UMF Equity Fund 22 Culpepper Fund North Georgia United Methodist Conference Board of Pensions 3,998,884 STI MM Fund, STI Short-Term 23 Foundation and Health Benefits - Future Bond Fund &UMF Equity Fund Retiree Medical Insurance 24 Fund

25 North Georgia United Methodist Conference Board of Pensions 60,797 STI MM Fund, UMF Fixed Income Foundation and Health Benefits - Milsaps Fund 26 Sustentation Fund 27 North Georgia United Methodist Conference Board of Pensions 75,435 STI MM Fund, UMF Equity Fund, Foundation and Health Benefits - Retiree UMF Fixed Income Fund 28 Needs Fund North Georgia United Methodist Housing and Homeless 820,378 STI MM Fund, UMF Fixed Income 29 Foundation Council - Homeless Trust Fund Fund & UMF Equity Fund

30 North Georgia United Methodist Housing and Homeless 405,041 Purchased three year note receivable, 31 Foundation Council - Homeless Trust Fund 5.00% interest 32 North Georgia United Methodist Methodist Center Sinking Fund 155,123 STI MM Fund, STI Short-Term Foundation Bond Fund & UMF Equity Fund 33 North Georgia United Methodist Ministerial Education Fund - 102,793 STI MM Fund, STI Short-Term Foundation Conference Bond Fund & UMF Equity Fund 34 North Georgia United Methodist Preachers Aid and Special 83,032 STI MM Fund and STI Short-Term Foundation Relief Fund Bond Fund 35 RBC Centura Bank Conference Board of Pensions 792,397 Money market investment and Health Benefits - Milsaps 36 Sustentation Fund SunTrust Robinson Humphrey Conference Board of Pensions 1,094,867 Kellogg Company Commerical 37 Paper maturing 1/30/08 Vanguard Wellington Fund Ministerial Education Fund - 52,681 1,614.979 Shares 38 Conference 39 Wachovia Bank Archives & History 2,440 Savings Account Wachovia Corporation Conference Global Ministries 49,895 1,312 Shares 40 Total $ 34,533,535 41 55

201d. How the 2009 Recommended Budget Was Developed 01 02 03 Local Local Local Local 04 Church Church Church Church 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 North Georgia 13 Conference 14 Budget 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 UMC Connectional Conference 23 General Programs Related and 24 Agencies and Extended 25 and Ministries Agencies 26 Ministries 27 28 29 30 1. The “General Church” sets priorities and develops programs at the 31 General Session for a four (4) year period (the quadrennium). The new 32 quadrennium begins in 2009 and runs through 2012. The financial 33 support for those worldwide ministries is apportioned to the annual 34 conferences, which, in turn, apportions those amounts to the local 35 churches. For 2009, General Church Apportionments are ESTIMATED 36 (subject to revision at General Conference) to be $7,284,077 or 27.7% of 37 the 2009 conference budget. For those members who have not 38 traditionally attended a United Methodist or other “connectional” church, 39 40 41 56

01 this may be a new concept. The United Methodist Church is a 02 worldwide, connectional system and every United Methodist church 03 supports, via apportioned giving, our worldwide ministries. 04 2. Conference-related and extended agencies, such as the Murphy-Harpst 05 Children’s Homes, hospital chaplaincy programs, Crime Victim’s 06 Advocacy Council, etc., present budget requests, based on their priorities, 07 to the Related Agencies Committee of the Conference Office of 08 Connectional Ministries. The Related Agencies Committee modified the 09 requests based on its evaluation of the information presented and 10 discussion with the presenters. The modified requests are included in the 11 Connectional Ministries’ request, which was made to the Conference 12 Council on Finance and Administration (CF&A). There are fourteen (14) 13 different programs supported in this manner. 14 3. Conference-based programs and ministries request funding based on their 15 plans and priorities for the upcoming year. These plans are developed by 16 program “conferencing” via staff as well as those serving on boards and 17 committees, such as the Board of Church Development, the Board of 18 Laity, the Board of Pension and Health Benefits, the Board of Outreach, 19 etc. Representatives from the programs/ministries and their board 20 chairpersons, if applicable, presented their requests to the CF&A on 21 February 18, 2008. Those requests were then put in the draft budget. 22 4. On March 16 and 17, 2008 CF&A met to prayerfully review the draft 23 budget. At the March 17 meeting, CF&A made small adjustments to the 24 draft budget based on several factors, including: budget increase 25 compared to increases in local church expenditures; apportionment 26 collection rates from prior years; feedback from the local churches, the 27 Cabinet and other members of the annual conference; national and 28 regional economic conditions, etc. The total proposed budget for 2009 is 29 $26,252,000. 30 5. Through a series of district “pre-conference briefings,” conference staff 31 and representatives of CF&A will make themselves available to the 32 delegates to not only present highlights of the proposed budget, but to 33 also answer questions about it. 34 6. On the last day of Annual Conference Session, the proposed budget will 35 be voted on by the delegates. Amendments can be offered to the budget 36 at this time. Once the final budget with amendments has been voted on 37 and approved, conference staff will begin the process of apportioning the 38 budget to the local churches. 39 40 41 57

201e. 2009 Budget Executive Summary 01 Overall: 02 ¾ Total proposed budget of $26,252,000, an increase of $711,000 or 2.8% 03 over 2008 budget. 04 ¾ Local church expenditures increased 4.8% for most recent period 05 available. 06 Conference: 07 ¾ Conference apportionments increase $646,000 or 3.6%. 08 ¾ Forecast 5% increase in Healthflex insurance premiums. 09 ¾ Total compensation increases $89,000 or 2.8%. Slight staff restructuring 10 partially mitigates salary increases. 11 ¾ Ministerial Support/Equitable Compensation Area I increases $218,000 12 or 9.3%. 13 o Board of Ordained Ministry increases $224,000 due to inclusion of 14 severance payments; 15 o Equitable Compensation decreases $52,000, or 13.9%; 16 o District superintendent compensation and benefits increases 17 $43,000 or 2.7%. 18 ¾ Retired Ministers Pension and Insurance increases $220,000 or 3.2%. 19 o Current health insurance expense for retirees forecast to increase 20 $144,000 or 5% ; 21 o Pre-1982 pension funding increased $76,000 or 2.0%. 22 ¾ Administrative budget, Area III increases $3,000, or 0.1%. 23 ¾ Conference Benevolences, Area IV increases $108,000 or 5.3%. 24 o Action Ministries increases $50,000, returning to 2007 funding 25 levels; 26 o Related and Extended Agencies funding increases $49,000. 27 ¾ Capital Funding, Area V increases $45,000 or 16.8% due to increased 28 funding for capital maintenance and replacement reserve for Methodist 29 Center. 30 ¾ Higher Education, Area VI increases $47,000 or 4.0%. 31 ¾ Church Development, Area XII increases $99,000 or 4.0%. 32 ¾ Funding for Simpsonwood decreases $93,000 or 12.4%. 33 General Church: 34 ¾ Total estimated General Church apportionments decrease $32,000 or 35 0.4%. Subject to change at quadrennial General Conference in Fort 36 Worth. 37 38 39 40 41 58

01 ¾ North Georgia was the top contributor towards General Church 02 apportionments in 2007, exceeding Florida by $796,000, Virginia by $1 03 million and Texas by $1.1 million. 04 Southeast Jurisdiction: 05 ¾ Increases $97,000 or 37.8%, of which $88,000 is attributable to the 06 reestablishment of the dam restoration asking. 07 08 201f. Summary Budget Proposal 09 North Georgia Annual Conference 10 Summary Budget Proposal 11 For the Year Ending December 31, 2009 12 2007 2007 2008 2009 Increase % Chng Increase Approved Expended Approved Proposed (Decrease) 08 vs 09 (Decrease) 13 Budget Budget 08 vs 09 Budget 07 Expd v 09 North Georgia Conference: 14 Ministerial Support/Equitable I. Compensation $ 2,300,065 $ 2,294,722 $ 2,339,912 $ 2,557,902 $ 217,990 9.3%$ 263,180 15 Retired Ministers Pension and II. 16 Insurance 6,587,000 6,229,588 6,931,000 7,151,000 220,000 3.2% 921,412 III. Administrative Budget 1,975,287 1,799,223 1,983,576 1,986,517 2,941 0.1% 187,294 17 IV. Conference Benevolences 2,057,707 1,815,308 2,030,710 2,138,792 108,081 5.3% 323,484 V. Capital Funding 275,000 170,717 266,365 311,000 44,635 16.8% 140,283 18 Higher Education and Campus VI. Ministry 1,165,853 1,077,675 1,180,030 1,227,231 47,201 4.0% 149,556 19 XII. Church Development 2,487,563 2,155,377 2,487,563 2,586,106 98,543 4.0% 430,729 Simpsonwood Conference and XIII. 20 Retreat Center - - 750,000 657,000 (93,000) -12.4% 657,000 21 Total North Georgia Conference 16,848,475 15,542,610 17,969,156 18,615,548 646,392 3.6% 3,072,938 22 General Church VII. Black College Fund 523,223 476,440 509,545 522,176 12,631 2.5% 45,736 23 VIII. Ministerial Education 1,313,985 1,187,848 1,279,635 1,308,910 29,275 2.3% 121,062

24 IX. Interdenominational Cooperation 101,734 89,999 101,067 102,010 943 0.9% 12,011 X. World Service Fund 3,818,507 3,503,361 3,937,299 3,784,454 (152,845) -3.9% 281,093 25 XI. Africa University 115,543 105,896 112,523 116,867 4,344 3.9% 10,971 26 XIV. Episcopal Fund 981,815 890,682 1,029,685 1,027,967 (1,718) -0.2% 137,285 XV. General Church Administration 330,240 300,064 346,602 421,693 75,091 21.7% 121,629 27 Total General Church 7,185,047 6,554,290 7,316,356 7,284,077 (32,279) -0.4% 729,787

28 XVI. Southeastern Jurisdiction 306,478 275,460 255,627 352,375 96,748 37.8% 76,915 29 Grand Total $ 24,340,000 $ 22,372,360 $ 25,541,139 $ 26,252,000 $ 710,861 2.8%$ 3,879,640 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 59

North Georgia Conference 01 Summary Budget Proposal For the Year Ending December 31, 2009 02

2007 2007 2008 2009 Increase % Chng Increase 03 Approved Expended Approved Proposed (Decrease) 08 vs 09 (Decrease) Budget Budget 08 vs 09 Budget 07 Expd v 09 04 Area I Ministerial Support/Equitable Compensation 05 Resident Bishop Residence and Office * $ 64,500 $ 59,648 $ 87,000 89,000$ 2,000 2.3%$ 29,352 06 District Superintendents Compensation 1,563,665 1,563,726 1,614,657 1,658,093 43,436 2.7% 94,367 Equitable Compensation Fund 385,000 409,647 373,155 321,409 (51,746) -13.9% (88,238) 07 Board of Ordained Ministry 286,900 261,701 265,100 489,400 224,300 84.6% 227,699 Total Ministerial Support 2,300,065 2,294,722 2,339,912 2,557,902 217,990 9.3% 263,180 08 Area II Retired Minister Pension and Insurance 09 Current benefit provision 2,850,000 2,784,898 2,874,000 3,018,000 144,000 5.0% 233,102 Future Retiree Medical Insurance Reserve 150,000 143,888 300,000 300,000 - 0.0% 156,112 10 Pre 1982 Pension Funding 3,587,000 3,300,802 3,757,000 3,833,000 76,000 2.0% 532,198 Total Retired Ministers Pension and 11 Insurance 6,587,000 6,229,588 6,931,000 7,151,000 220,000 3.2% 921,412 12 Area III Administration Annual Conference Session and related 270,000 286,698 275,150 251,800 (23,350) -8.5% (34,898) 13 Treasurer and Administrative Services 575,401 556,114 589,754 589,943 189 0.0% 33,829 Office of Ministerial Services and Spiritual 14 Support 237,516 240,738 248,713 255,506 6,793 2.7% 14,768 15 Office of the Executive Assistant to the Bishop and Conference Information Office 572,236 530,820 504,565 555,646 51,081 10.1% 24,826 16 CFA, Board of Trustees, Contingency 320,133 184,853 365,395 333,622 (31,773) -8.7% 148,769 17 Total Annual Conference Administration 1,975,287 1,799,223 1,983,576 1,986,517 2,941 0.1% 187,294 18 Area IV Conference Benevolences 19 Connectional Ministries: Outreach Team 37,900 13,264 53,019 54,090 1,071 2.0% 40,826 20 Nurture Team 287,680 216,220 294,975 323,689 28,714 9.7% 107,469 Witness Team 17,000 7,288 39,900 41,070 1,170 2.9% 33,782 21 Advocacy Team 63,100 17,713 46,000 47,380 1,380 3.0% 29,667 Related and Extended Agencies ** 259,600 243,448 261,000 310,100 49,100 18.8% 66,652 22 Leadership ID & Development 18,225 4,677 22,500 24,500 2,000 8.9% 19,823 CM Office Support 518,134 535,294 551,916 557,463 5,546 1.0% 22,169 23 Total Connectional Ministries 1,201,639 1,037,904 1,269,310 1,358,292 88,981 7.0% 320,388 Action Ministries * 750,966 701,418 700,000 750,000 50,000 7.1% 48,582 24 Housing and Homeless Council 64,102 54,454 30,000 0 (30,000) n/a (54,454) Ministry of the Laity *** 31,000 20,997 30,900 29,900 (1,000) -3.2% 8,903 25 Small Membership Church 10,000 535 500 600 100 20.0% 65 Total Conference Benevolences 2,057,707 1,815,308 2,030,710 2,138,792 108,081 5.3% 323,484 26 27 Area V Capital Funding 275,000 170,717 266,365 311,000 44,635 16.8% 140,283 Area VI Higher Education and Campus 28 Ministry 1,165,853 1,077,675 1,180,030 1,227,231 47,201 4.0% 149,556 (rec'd $39,377 in advances in 2007) 29 Area XII Church Development 2,487,563 2,155,377 2,487,563 2,586,106 98,543 4.0% 430,729 Area XIII Simpsonwood Conference and 30 Retreat Center - - 750,000 657,000 (93,000) -12.4% 657,000 Total North Georgia Conference 16,848,475 15,542,610 17,969,156 18,615,548 646,392 3.6% 3,072,938 31

Area VII Black College Fund 523,223 476,440 509,545 522,176 12,631 2.5% 45,736 32 Area VIII Ministerial Education Fund * 1,313,985 1,187,848 1,279,635 1,308,910 29,275 2.3% 121,062 (25% of receipts remain in conference. Fund balance decreased $49,580 to $110,072 in 2007.) 33 34 Area IX Interdenominational Cooperation 101,734 89,999 101,067 102,010 943 0.9% 12,011 Area X World Service Fund 3,818,507 3,503,361 3,937,299 3,784,454 (152,845) -3.9% 281,093 35 Area XI Africa University 115,543 105,896 112,523 116,867 4,344 3.9% 10,971 Area XIV Episcopal Fund 981,815 890,682 1,029,685 1,027,967 (1,718) -0.2% 137,285 36 Area XV General Church Administration 37 Fund 330,240 300,064 346,602 421,693 75,091 21.7% 121,629 Total General Church * 7,185,047 6,554,290 7,316,356 7,284,077 (32,279) -0.4% 729,787 38 estimated for 2009 - subject to change following General Conference Area XVI Southeastern Jurisdiction * 306,478 275,460 255,627 352,375 96,748 37.8% 76,915 39 Total Budget $ 24,340,000 $ 22,372,360 $ 25,541,139 26,252,000$ 710,861 2.8%$ 3,879,640 40 41 60

01 B. Wiley Stephens, Chair 02 Hank Huckaby, Vice Chair 03 Keith M. Cox, CTP, Treasurer 04 05 201g. Graphs 06 07 08 North Georgia Conference Budgeted and Actual Apportionment Receipts

09 29,000,000 10 27,000,000 11 12 25,000,000 13 23,000,000 14 21,000,000 15 19,000,000 16 17,000,000 17 15,000,000

18 13,000,000

19 11,000,000 20 9,000,000 21 22 7,000,000 5,000,000 23 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Budget 16,159,425 17,453,563 19,114,950 21,175,125 22,315,000 23,051,600 24,038,000 24,340,000 25,541,139 26,252,000 24 Actual 15,364,495 16,617,757 17,776,244 19,535,614 20,669,089 20,650,895 22,079,098 22,423,831 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 61

01 North Georgia Conference Budget Percentage Increase 02 12% 03 04 10% 05 06 8% 07 08 6% 09 10 4% 11 12 2% 13 14

0% 15 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 16 % 6.2% 8.0% 8.7% 10.8% 5.4% 3.3% 4.3% 1.3% 4.7% 2.8% 17 18 19 Comparison of Local Church Spending Increases vs. Conference Apportionment Increases 20 21 12.0% 22 23 10.0% 24 25 8.0% 26 27

6.0% 28 29 30 4.0% 31 32 2.0% 33 34 0.0% 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 35 Local Church 10.1% 9.5% 9.5% 8.8% 7.5% 5.2% 1.4% 7.0% 3.7% 4.8% 36 Conference 6.2% 8.0% 8.7% 10.8% 5.4% 3.3% 4.3% 1.3% 4.7% 2.8% 37 38 39 40 41 62

01 General/Jurisdictional Apportionments as a Percentage of Conference Budget

02 35.0% 03 04 30.0% 05 06 25.0%

07 20.0% 08 09 15.0% 10 11 10.0%

12 5.0% 13

14 0.0% 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 15 % 30.0% 30.5% 29.6% 28.4% 28.5% 31.0% 30.9% 30.8% 29.6% 29.1% 16 17 18 Percentage of Conference Apportionments Received 19 100.0%

20 98.0% 21 22 96.0% 23 94.0%

24 92.0% 25 90.0% 26 27 88.0% 28 86.0% 29 84.0% 30 31 82.0% 32 80.0% 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 33 % 91.6% 94.1% 95.1% 95.2% 93.0% 92.3% 92.6% 89.6% 91.9% 92.1% 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 63

01 Percentage of Churches Paying 100% of Apportionments 02

87% 03 04 86% 05 85% 06

84% 07 08 83% 09 82% 10 81% 11 12 80% 13 79% 14 78% 15

77% 16 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 17 % of Total 82.0% 86.0% 85.9% 85.5% 85.5% 82.0% 80.2% 81.2% 81.3% 81.7% 18 19 20 Conference Payment Percentages by District 101.0% 21 22 99.0% 23 97.0% 24

95.0% 25 26 93.0% 27 91.0% 28 89.0% 29

87.0% 30 31 85.0% 32 83.0% 33

81.0% 34 35 79.0% 36 77.0% ACPK ADOX AGST AMAR AMRY AROS ATHN NWST GNSV GRFN LAGR ROCA 37 % Paid 78.2% 90.2% 96.3% 92.0% 89.1% 91.3% 93.7% 98.5% 100.0% 96.7% 97.0% 92.1% 38

39 40 41 64

01 201h. Interpretation of Recommended 2009 Budget 02 03 The proposed budget for 2009 is $26,252,000, an increase of 2.8% over 04 the 2008 budget. 05 06 AREA-BY-AREA REVIEW 07 CONFERENCE FUNDS: 08 AREA I. MINISTERIAL SUPPORT 09 Episcopal Residence/Office/Discretionary $ 89,000 10 District Superintendents’ Compensation 1,658,093 11 Equitable Compensation Fund 321,409 12 Board of Ordained Ministry 489,400 13 Total Area I $ 2,557,902 14 The Episcopal Residence and Office Fund provides the conference share of 15 financial support for the office and residence expense for North Georgia’s 16 Resident Bishop. ALL Bishops are required to reside in conference-owned 17 residences. In 2009, the General Church share of residence support is $10,000, 18 while the General Church’s share of office support is $66,500. 19 The District Superintendents’ Compensation line item represents salaries, health 20 insurance and pension benefits for the twelve (12) district superintendents of 21 our conference. 22 The Equitable Compensation Fund enables our conference to ensure all 23 appointed clergy will have just compensation. 24 The Board of Ordained Ministry provides support for conference clergy through 25 myriad services, continuing education activities, seminars and Emory Clergy 26 Care. It screens and evaluates candidates for ordained ministry. This ministry 27 enables our conference to meet the high standards and expectations of local 28 church congregations. 29 30 AREA II. RETIRED MINISTERS PENSION/INSURANCE 31 Retired Minister Insurance/Future Retiree Ins. $3,318,000 32 Retirees’ Past Service Pension (pre-1982) 3,833,000 33 Total Area II $7,151,000 34 Retired Minister Pension/Insurance reflects increased funding for the pre-1982 35 pension liability, as recommended by the Conference Board of Pensions. This 36 “past service liability” must be fully funded by the year 2021. Also included is 37 the current year premium (“pay-as-you-go”) for the Medicare Supplemental 38 Insurance for retired clergy. The amount is based on premiums passed on to the 39 conference by the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits. Additionally, 40 41 65 funding to address the Unfunded Future Retiree Medical Liability is included 01 here ($300,000). 02 03 AREA III. ADMINISTRATIVE FUND 04 Annual Conference Session/ Journal/Handbook $ 251,800 05 The following Area III office “sub totals” include director and staff salaries and 06 benefits and office related expenses 07 Office of Treasurer/Admin/Computer Services $ 589,943 08 This office develops, maintains and administers a comprehensive plan of fiscal 09 and administrative policies, processes and services for the conference and 10 Simpsonwood Conference and Retreat Center. Additionally, the office provides 11 workshops for clergy and laity who serve as church treasurers and/or financial 12 secretaries and finance committee chairpersons. This office also administers 13 all conference databases and computer equipment. The computer systems 14 manager also provides support for the district offices. 15 Office of Ministerial Services and Spiritual Formation $ 255,506 16 This office provides for the many needs of those who have dedicated their lives 17 to God’s service through the church, including maintenance of clergy service 18 records/files. This department also provides for credentialing and support of all 19 conference clergy. 20 Office of Exec Asst to the Bishop & Conf Info $ 555,646 21 This office provides assistance to the Bishop and is responsible for overseeing 22 the Pension and Insurance offices. Also, this office disseminates internal and 23 external communications via brochures, audio-visuals and the conference 24 website and distributes public domain information releases. 25 BOT/Methodist Center Operating Expenses $ 67,000 26 This represents net operating expenses for the conference offices, including 27 utilities and housekeeping and maintenance. 28 Council on Finance and Administration $ 96,200 29 This includes conference audit fees, legal fees and meeting expenses for CFA. 30 Cabinet Expenses $ 70,000 31 This represents expenses for Cabinet members related to Cabinet meetings, 32 including Annual Conference session, Minister’s Week and Pastor’s School. 33 Contingency Reserve and other $ 100,422 34 Total Area III $ 1,986,517 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 66

01 AREA IV. CONFERENCE BENEVOLENCES 02 Connectional Ministries 03 Office Related Expenses $ 557,463 04 Program/Ministry Teams 267,665 05 Extended/Related Agencies 310,100 06 Camping Ministries 198,564 07 Conference Leadership Development 24,500 08 Sub Total Connect. Ministries $1,358,292 09 The Connectional Ministries functions are responsible for equipping and 10 training local church leaders for effective ministry. 11 Action Ministries $ 750,000 12 This ministry continues the transformation of communities by counteracting 13 social issues such as poverty. This line item includes salary support and an 14 underpayment factor. 15 Ministry of the Laity $ 29,900 16 The Conference Board of Laity fosters awareness of the role of laity both within 17 the local congregation and through their ministries, develops and promotes 18 stewardship, provides for training of lay members, provides support and 19 direction for ministry of the laity and provides organization, direction and 20 support for the development of local church leaders. 21 Committee on Small Membership Churches $ 600 22 This line item will help fund efforts to strengthen the ministry of those churches 23 whose membership is less than 200. 24 Total Area IV $2,138,79 25 26 AREA V. CAPITAL FUNDING 27 Total Area V $ 311,000 28 This line item includes a total of $145,000 for Camp Glisson and $20,000 for 29 Camp Wesley. Also included is $56,000 for equipment and a modest 30 “replacement reserve” of $140,000 that partially addresses depreciation on the 31 United Methodist Center. 32 33 AREA VI. HIGHER EDUCATION AND CAMPUS MINISTRY 34 Total Area VI $ 1,227,231 35 This line item represents support to the seven (7) United Methodist Colleges 36 (5 in NGA) and eighteen (18) Wesley Foundations (12 in NGA) on college 37 campuses in Georgia. The balance goes to support office expenses and capital 38 funding. 39 40 41 67

AREA IV. CONFERENCE BENEVOLENCES AREA XII. CHURCH DEVELOPMENT $ 2,586,106 01 Connectional Ministries This proposed budget includes funding for the following activities: 02 Office Related Expenses $ 557,463 The Office of Church Development and Staff - The salaries, benefits and 03 Program/Ministry Teams 267,665 expenses for all personnel in the Office of Church Development. 04 Extended/Related Agencies 310,100 New Church Salary and Support - These funds are used to underwrite the 05 Camping Ministries 198,564 compensation packages of our new church pastors and also to provide some 06 Conference Leadership Development 24,500 start-up funding. 07 Sub Total Connect. Ministries $1,358,292 Research and Development - These funds are used to maintain a contract with a 08 The Connectional Ministries functions are responsible for equipping and demographic consultant and to provide partnership opportunities with districts 09 training local church leaders for effective ministry. to develop district strategies. 10 Action Ministries $ 750,000 New Pastor Training and Assessment- These funds are used to conduct our 11 This ministry continues the transformation of communities by counteracting New Church Leadership Academy as well as to train our assessment teams. 12 social issues such as poverty. This line item includes salary support and an Natural Church Development- Funds in this area are used to facilitate a process 13 underpayment factor. by which existing churches discover the areas of ministry that will provide the 14 Ministry of the Laity $ 29,900 most improvement in the overall health of the church. This activity includes 15 The Conference Board of Laity fosters awareness of the role of laity both within training lay and clergy “coaches” to work with churches and pastors. The 16 the local congregation and through their ministries, develops and promotes liquid fund balance committed to previously started projects as of 12/31/2007 is 17 stewardship, provides for training of lay members, provides support and $419,518; commitments total $835,850. The fund balance represented by real 18 direction for ministry of the laity and provides organization, direction and estate (illiquid) at 12/31/2007 is $2,140,642. 19 support for the development of local church leaders. 20 Committee on Small Membership Churches $ 600 AREA XIII. SIMPSONWOOD $ 657,000 21 This line item will help fund efforts to strengthen the ministry of those churches This item is funding as recommended by the March 24, 2007 called session of 22 whose membership is less than 200. Annual Conference. This line item represents an operating subsidy for 23 Total Area IV $2,138,79 Simpsonwood, and is necessary in order to fund anticipated operating shortfalls. 24 SUB TOTAL 2009 CONFERENCE PROPOSED BUDGET $18,615,548 25 AREA V. CAPITAL FUNDING 26 Total Area V $ 311,000 GENERAL CHURCH FUNDS: 27 This line item includes a total of $145,000 for Camp Glisson and $20,000 for AREA VII. BLACK COLLEGE FUND 28 Camp Wesley. Also included is $56,000 for equipment and a modest Total Area VII $ 522,176 29 “replacement reserve” of $140,000 that partially addresses depreciation on the This line item represents our denomination’s support, via supplements, of the 30 United Methodist Center. operations and capital funding of historically black colleges and medical 31 schools related to the United Methodist Church, including Clark Atlanta 32 AREA VI. HIGHER EDUCATION AND CAMPUS MINISTRY University and Paine College. 33 Total Area VI $ 1,227,231 34 This line item represents support to the seven (7) United Methodist Colleges AREA VIII. MINISTERIAL EDUCATION FUND 35 (5 in NGA) and eighteen (18) Wesley Foundations (12 in NGA) on college Total Area VIII $ 1,308,910 36 campuses in Georgia. The balance goes to support office expenses and capital This ministry provides our churches financial support for the recruitment and 37 funding. education of our future pastors and bishops. Please note that our conference 38 retains 25% of the fund balance for use in our conference. The retained fund 39 40 41 68

01 balance as of 12/31/2007 is $110,625. Scholarship grants can total $1,000 per 02 semester for undergraduate studies and $2,000 per semester for seminary 03 students with a lifetime maximum per student of $16,000. 04 05 AREA IX. INTERDENOMINATIONAL COOPERATION FUND 06 Total Area IX $ 102,010 07 This fund enables United Methodists to have a presence in the activities of 08 ecumenical organizations, and provides our United Methodist share of the basic 09 budgets of those organizations which relate to the ecumenical responsibilities of 10 the Council of Bishops and the General Commission on Christian Unity and 11 Inter-religious Concerns. Included in this fund in 2009 is support for: 12 National Council of Churches $33,000 13 World Council of Churches $28,000 14 World Methodist Council $24,000 15 Pan-Methodist Commissions $ 3,000 16 Ecumenical/Multilateral Conv $13,000 17 Other $ 67 18 19 AREA X. WORLD SERVICE FUND 20 Total Area X $ 3,784,454 21 The World Service Fund enables our denomination to strengthen its evangelism 22 efforts, stimulate church growth, expand Bible studies and enrich spiritual 23 commitment. This fund allows us to share in a worldwide ministry, including 24 support for missionaries. In the current quadrennium, $22,000,000 was 25 included for the Igniting Ministries program. This program was funded from 26 reserve funds (off- budget) in the previous quadrennium. 27 28 AREA XI. AFRICA UNIVERSITY 29 Total Area XI $ 116,867 30 This fund supports the development of the first private university for young 31 men and women from all over Africa. Courses of study include agriculture 32 theology, medicine and dentistry, education, technology and management. 33 34 AREA XIV. EPISCOPAL FUND 35 Total Area XIV $ 1,027,967 36 This fund pays the salaries and benefits of active bishops worldwide and 37 support for the retired bishops worldwide, funds the majority of the expenses 38 related to episcopal offices and a portion of episcopal residence expenses. It 39 also funds episcopal travel and moving expenses. There are 51 Jurisdictional 40 41 69 and 18 Central Conference bishops and over 100 retired bishops who receive 01 support from this fund. The salary for active bishops for 2009 will be $125,658. 02 03 AREA XV. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION FUND 04 Total Area XV $ 421,693 05 This area funds those General Church activities that are specifically 06 administrative in nature, such as the General Council on Finance and 07 Administration, General Conference session, Archives and History and Judicial 08 Council. 09 SUBTOTAL 2009 GENERAL FUNDS PROPOSED BUDGET $ 7,284,077 10 11 JURISDICTIONAL MISSION & MINISTRY FUNDS: 12 AREA XVI. JURISDICTIONAL MISSION & MINISTRY FUND 13 Total Area XVI $ 352,375 14 This area supports the Jurisdictional Offices in Lake Junaluska, NC. 15 GRAND TOTAL 2009 PROPOSED BUDGET $26,252,000 16 17 201i. How Are Apportionments Computed? 18 19 Step 1: Conference determines annual budget, consisting of several ministries 20 and programs, including retired ministerial support, regional ministries, new 21 church development, General Church and Jurisdictional apportionments to the 22 North Georgia Conference. 23 Step 2: At calendar year-end, the local church completes the Local Church 24 Report to the Annual Conference. (For the 2009 budget, the latest available 25 reports are the 2007 year-end reports.) 26 Step 3: The Treasurer’s Office accumulates all local church reports and 27 determines each local church’s operating expenses. Operating expenses consist 28 of salaries, pension benefits, clergy housing-related expenses, expenses 29 reimbursements, current program expenses, expenses related to commercial 30 insurance and other current operating expenses. Operating expenses (also 31 referred to as “decimal” expenses) do NOT include: HealthFlex insurance 32 expenses, payments on indebtedness, or capital-related expenditures. Also, 33 expenses related to “self-sustaining” activities and local benevolences are NOT 34 considered operating expenses. 35 Step 4: The Treasurer’s Office totals the local church operating expenses for 36 ALL 920+ North Georgia United Methodist churches. For 2007, this total was 37 $180,347,326. 38 39 40 41 70

01 Step 5: We determine “the decimal”. This is the conference budget divided by 02 total church operating expenses (from step four). The decimal for 2009 is .146, 03 or 14.6%. This compares to 14.8% in 2008. 04 Step 6: We multiply an individual church’s operating expenses by the decimal, 05 arriving at the total gross apportionment. We then prorate the gross 06 apportionment to fifteen individual apportionment line items. 07 Step7: Churches above 1000 members will have a “reasonableness test” 08 applied to their apportionments, and the Cabinet will adjust the computed 09 apportionments for certain churches within that size range. This methodology 10 was approved at AC 2006. 11 Step 8: We sum the apportionment for each individual district and send this 12 information to the district offices. 13 Step 9: District superintendents notify local churches of their apportionment 14 amounts. This information is provided to the pastors via “Local Church 15 Apportionment Reports” at the summer/fall district set-up meetings. 16 17 201j. Conference Restructuring 18 19 If the Annual Conference approves the recommendations of the Committee on 20 Conference Staffing and Number of Districts, the 2009 budget will appear as North Georgia Annual Conference 21 Summary Budget Proposal - Restructured follows, with prior periods restated for consistency: 22 For the Year Ending December 31, 2009 2007 2007 2008 2009 Increase % Chng Increase 23 Approved Expended Approved Proposed (Decrease) 08 vs 09 (Decrease) 24 Budget Budget 08 vs 09 Budget 07 Expd v 09 North Georgia Conference: Ministerial Support/Equitable 25 I. Compensation $ 2,300,065 $ 2,294,722 $ 2,339,912 $ 2,557,902 $ 217,990 9.3%$ 263,180 Retired Ministers Pension and 26 II. Insurance 6,587,000 6,229,588 6,931,000 7,151,000 220,000 3.2% 921,412 27 III. Administrative Budget 1,975,287 1,799,223 1,983,576 1,986,517 2,941 0.1% 187,294 IV. Conference Benevolences 2,245,736 2,069,456 2,312,959 2,372,957 59,998 2.6% 303,501 28 V. Capital Funding 275,000 170,717 266,365 311,000 44,635 16.8% 140,283 Higher Education and Campus VI. 29 Ministry 1,165,853 1,077,675 1,180,030 1,227,231 47,201 4.0% 149,556 XII. New Church Development 2,299,534 1,901,229 2,205,314 2,351,940 146,626 6.6% 450,711 30 Simpsonwood Conference and XIII. Retreat Center - - 750,000 657,000 (93,000) -12.4% 657,000 31 Total North Georgia Conference 16,848,475 15,542,610 17,969,156 18,615,548 646,392 3.6% 3,072,938 32 General Church 33 VII. Black College Fund 523,223 476,440 509,545 522,176 12,631 2.5% 45,736 VIII. Ministerial Education 1,313,985 1,187,848 1,279,635 1,308,910 29,275 2.3% 121,062 34 IX. Interdenominational Cooperation 101,734 89,999 101,067 102,010 943 0.9% 12,011 35 X. World Service Fund 3,818,507 3,503,361 3,937,299 3,784,454 (152,845) -3.9% 281,093 XI. Africa University 115,543 105,896 112,523 116,867 4,344 3.9% 10,971 36 XIV. Episcopal Fund 981,815 890,682 1,029,685 1,027,967 (1,718) -0.2% 137,285 XV. General Church Administration 330,240 300,064 346,602 421,693 75,091 21.7% 121,629 37 Total General Church 7,185,047 6,554,290 7,316,356 7,284,077 (32,279) -0.4% 729,787

38 XVI. Southeastern Jurisdiction 306,478 275,460 255,627 352,375 96,748 37.8% 76,915 39 Grand Total $ 24,340,000 $ 22,372,360 $ 25,541,139 $ 26,252,000 $ 710,861 2.8%$ 3,879,640 40 41 71

201k. Council on Finance and Administration Investment Policy 01 02 General Provision Investment Policies 03 A. Purpose: As defined in the 2004 Book of Discipline (¶612.12) the 04 Conference Council on Finance and Administration (Council) shall develop, 05 maintain, and administer a comprehensive and coordinated plan of fiscal and 06 administrative policies, procedures, and management services for the Annual 07 Conference including: 08 1. Policies governing the investment of conference funds (except for 09 pension funds as provided in (¶1508) whether short-term or long-term 10 instruments, with the aim of maximizing funds available for mission 11 consistent with the preservation of capital, the Policies Relative to 12 Socially Responsible Investments (¶716) and the Social Principles of the 13 Church. A statement of such policies shall be presented in the Conference 14 Journal at least once in each quadrennium (¶612.5). 15 2. Authorizing the conference treasurer to invest funds in accordance with 16 policies and procedures established by the Council (¶618(5)(2)(d). A 17 listing of securities held shall be printed annually in the Conference 18 Journal (¶618(5)(2)(d). 19 B. Standard of care: To use the care, skill, prudence, and diligence under the 20 circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in a like capacity 21 and familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a 22 like character and with like aims. 23 C. Investment Ethics: We affirm that all financial resources of the church and 24 its members are God-given resources, to be held in trust for use or 25 investment in ways which promote the reign of God on earth. Further, we 26 recognize that every investment has ethical dimensions. Financial 27 investments have consequences which are both fiscal and social. We believe 28 social justice and social usefulness must be given consideration together 29 with financial security and financial yield in the investment of funds by 30 United Methodist Church agencies and affiliated institutions and 31 congregations as well as individual United Methodists. Socially responsible 32 investing by Christians, institutions and individuals must take account of 33 both sets of considerations. We also concur and abide by the policy goals of 34 the General Conference of the United Methodist Church, its general 35 agencies, and entities under its control. 36 D. Social Responsibility: 37 1. In accordance with (¶716) of the 2004 Book of Discipline, it shall be the 38 policy of The United Methodist Church that all general boards and 39 40 41 72

01 agencies, including the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits, 02 and all administrative agencies and institutions, including hospitals, 03 homes, educational institutions, Annual Conferences, foundations, and 04 local churches, shall, in the investment of money, make a conscious 05 effort to invest in institutions, companies, corporations, or funds which 06 practices are consistent with the goals outlined in the Social Principles; 07 and shall endeavor to avoid investments that appear likely, directly or 08 indirectly, to support racial discrimination, apartheid, or the production of 09 nuclear armaments, alcoholic beverages or tobacco, or companies dealing 10 in pornography. The boards and agencies are to give careful 11 consideration to shareholder advocacy, including advocacy of corporate 12 disinvestment. 13 E. Guidelines: 14 1. To purchase fixed income securities only where issued by the United 15 States Treasury, an agency of the United States Government, or corporate 16 bonds rated in one of the top four letter classifications by Moody’s or 17 Standard and Poor’s. (Convertible securities will be considered as equity 18 securities.) 19 2. To purchase short-term securities only when issued by the United States 20 Treasury, an agency of the United States Government, non-collateralized 21 commercial paper rated P-1 by Moody’s Investor Services, Inc., A-1 by 22 Standard and Poor’s or acceptances of the ten largest commercial banks 23 in the United States where such certificates of deposit or bankers 24 acceptances are fully insured by an agency of the Federal Government. 25 3. Investments shall not be made in foreign securities including American 26 Depository Receipts, except the common stocks, and the American 27 Depository Receipts thereof, of those foreign securities listed on the New 28 York Stock Exchange. 29 4. Investments shall not be made in commodities, commodity contracts, 30 derivatives, oil, gas, mineral leases, mineral rights, or royalty contracts. 31 5. Margin transactions, short sales, options, puts, calls, straddle, and/or 32 spreads shall not be used. 33 6. No investment shall knowingly be made in which any officer of the 34 Council or any member of the Council has a known significant financial 35 interest. 36 7. Investments shall not be made in the securities of an issuer which, 37 together with any predecessor, has been in operation for less than three 38 39 40 41 73

years, and/or in equity securities of issuers for which market quotations 01 are not readily available. 02 8. Investments shall not be made in securities for the purpose of exercising 03 control or management. 04 9. To make no unsecured personal loans of any of the assets contributed 05 under the provisions of any of the funds, plans and programs 06 administered by the Council. 07 10.Investments shall not be made in asset backed securities, as well as any 08 structured investment vehicles such as collateralized debt obligations, 09 collateralized mortgage obligations, etc. 10 11. Acceptable investments will include funds managed by the North 11 Georgia United Methodist Foundation, the United Methodist 12 Development Fund or the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits. 13 F. Supervision: 14 1. The Council will maintain and review: 15 a. the investment policies and objectives of the Council; 16 b. procedures for a periodic analysis, at least annually, of the application 17 of these investment policies and objectives and the performance 18 resulting therefrom; and 19 c. procedures for handling the receipts, deliveries, transfers, and 20 safekeeping of securities and the safeguarding of assets. 21 22 23 202. Commission of Equitable Compensation Guidelines 24 25 In The Book of Discipline 2004, ¶624.3 states, “The commission on 26 equitable compensation shall carefully study the needs for additional support 27 within the conference and the sources of income and shall recommend annually 28 to the conference for its action a schedule of minimum base compensation for 29 all full-time pastors and those clergy members of the annual conference 30 appointed less than full-time to a local church, subject to such rules and 31 regulations as the conference may adopt.” In the North Georgia Conference 32 minimum base compensation is referred to as “total compensation subject to 33 minimum salary guidelines.” 34 Definitions 35 The following terms and definitions may be helpful to the understanding 36 of what is meant by “Equitable Compensation” for both what is required to be 37 included and those pastoral support items which may be included at the 38 discretion of the annual conference: 39 40 41 74

01 The term “Clergy Salaries” term has been discontinued as of 1992 Book 02 of Discipline. Clergy Compensation refers to the total package of compensation 03 budgeted by the local church or paying entity. The following terms are 04 reflective of information included on the “Clergy Compensation and Expenses 05 Worksheet” available on conference website. 06 “Total Compensation subject to minimum salary guidelines” (Sections I 07 & II) refers to gross base salary paid directly to pastor, including allowances 08 that are negotiated between the pastor and church to reduce taxable income. 09 (Section II items ONLY) It also includes other cash compensation >(example 10 listed in I.(2) )@. 11 The total of sections I and II on the Clergy Compensation and Expenses 12 Worksheet must total at least the amount approved as the “minimum salary.” 13 “Base Compensation” – includes cash, non-GBOP mandated pension 14 plans, payments to cover or assist personal SS taxes and other cash benefits 15 such as bonuses. Section I (3) includes ONLY funds received from the Annual 16 Conference that supply Base Compensation. 17 “Not Base Compensation” – base compensation would not include other 18 items included in total compensation, such as utilities and other housing-related 19 allowances, accountable reimbursements for professional expenses and cost of 20 benefits such as General Church-mandated pension plan contributions, and life 21 and health insurance which are borne by the paying entity. 22 Equitable compensation programs, at the discretion of the annual 23 conference, may broaden the scope of a conference’s requirements to include 24 elements of pastoral support beyond what has historically been called “salary.” 25 The Book of Discipline is prescriptive rather than restrictive. The programs may 26 also provide grants for pastors to levels above the established minimums based 27 on prescribed guidelines. 28 The schedule of minimum base compensation may vary the base 29 compensation for pastors according to any number of criteria, such as years of 30 service, size of parish or educational credentials. Although not required by The 31 Book of Discipline, in the interest of equity it may include all aspects of clergy 32 support. 33 34 202a. Conference Standards for Pastoral Support 35 36 The Commission recommends the following items be included in the 37 definition of Pastoral Support for 2009: 38 1. base compensation, which includes cash compensation payments, 39 pension plan payments, payments to cover or assist personal Social 40 41 75

Security taxes of the pastor and any other cash benefits paid to the 01 pastor 02 2. annual conference life and health insurance premium 03 3. provision for a parsonage or a housing allowance 04 4. reimbursement for travel/business expenses and continuing 05 education, and any other expenses as may be required by the 06 annual conference 07 Note: Base compensation may be divided into salary and a 08 utilities/furnishings allowance to minimize a pastor’s tax liability. Local 09 churches should be familiar with Internal Revenue Service requirements 10 for pastors receiving non-taxable reimbursement when establishing 11 compensation. 12 13 202b. Minimum Cash Compensation 14 15 The Commission recommends the following minimum cash 16 compensation for the Annual Conference in the year 2009. (This represents the 17 sum of items I and II): 18 Category 2008 2009 19 Full Connection $31,500 $33,000 20 Associate Member $30,300 $31,200 21 Probationary member $30,300 $31,200 22 Full Time Local Pastor $27,300 $28,200 23 Local churches are expected to reimburse pastors for travel/business 24 expenses and continuing education expenses under an accountable 25 reimbursement plan that complies with Internal Revenue Service regulations. 26 These IRS regulations require reimbursements made outside an accountable 27 reimbursement plan to be reported as taxable income. The local church shall 28 budget sufficient funds to meet the anticipated cost of pastoral travel and 29 business expenses based on the most current year’s actual expenses or the 30 amount determined with the pastor. The local church shall budget sufficient 31 funds to meet the pastoral continuing education expectation of the Committee 32 on Pastor-Parish (Staff) Relations >The Book of Discipline 2004 ¶259.2g(8)@, 33 which shall be no less than $800 annually. 34 The Commission recommends that all churches provide at least a 3 35 percent increase in base compensation for the coming year. 36 The Commission recommends that churches follow the annual 37 conference practice of paying pastoral salaries in advance. 38 39 40 41 76

01 202c. Vacation Recommendations 02 03 The Commission recommends that all charges of the conference provide 04 their pastor(s) annual vacation periods of at least the following schedule and 05 make necessary financial arrangements for pulpit supply during the pastor’s 06 absence from the pulpit. Guidelines for vacation periods shall be based on the 07 credited years of service indicated in the Chronological Roll published annually 08 in the Conference Journal: 09 Credited Years of Service Vacation Recommendation 10 1 to 5 years 3 weeks (including 3 Sundays) 11 6 to 10 years 4 weeks (including 4 Sundays) 12 11+ years 5 weeks (including 5 Sundays) 13 Vacation shall be calculated based on the conference year July1-June 30. 14 The Commission also recommends a Transitional Sunday for churches 15 receiving a new pastor. The last Sunday for a departing pastor could be the 16 Sunday prior to annual conference with the new pastor assuming duties two 17 Sundays after conference. 18 19 202d. 2009 Equitable Compensation 20 21 The Commission recommends the following items be included in the 22 Annual Conference Equitable Compensation Plan for 2009: 23 2008 2009 24 Full-Time Elder Full-Time Elder 25 Item of Compensation Estimated Cost Estimated Cost 26 Cash Compensation (1) $31,500 $33,000 27 Housing allowance (2) 16,100 17,100 28 Pension 8,800 9,000 29 Health Insurance 10,000 10,500 30 Total Estimated Cost $66,400 $69,600 31 (1) may be broken out between cash, utility allowance and parsonage-related 32 allowances 33 (2) where parsonage is not provided 34 35 202e. Equitable Compensation Fund 36 37 The Commission recommends that all full-time clergy appointed to serve 38 as Pastor-in-Charge be eligible to receive grants from the Equitable 39 Compensation Fund under the North Georgia Annual Conference Equitable 40 41 77

Compensation Plan. Churches may not receive salary supplementation funds 01 from both Church Development and Equitable Compensations. 02 The Commission administers the Equitable Compensation Fund to assure 03 each pastor receives a minimum compensation package approved by the Annual 04 Conference (¶624.3 The Book of Discipline 2004). A local church that 05 demonstrates the ability to maintain a full-time ministry may apply to the 06 Commission of Equitable Compensation for a grant. We recommend that the 07 North Georgia Annual Conference Equitable Compensation Plan provide for 08 grants not to exceed twenty percent (20%) of the total equitable compensation 09 costs (as outlined above) for the original grant. Following the first full year and 10 each succeeding year, the grant shall be reduced by twenty-five percent (25%) 11 of the original grant and the church shall be expected to underwrite any 12 additional increase in the total equitable compensation costs. A church shall 13 demonstrate its ability to maintain a full-time ministry by completing the 14 application provided by the Commission on Equitable Compensation. [The 15 Commission recommends the elimination of this provision in 2009.] 16 The Bishop, Cabinet and the Commission on Equitable Compensation 17 must approve any exception to the above Equitable Compensation guidelines on 18 an annual basis and must request any additional funds over the original 19 Equitable Compensation Budget from the Conference Council on Finance and 20 Administration before an exception is made. The Commission shall report to 21 the annual conference the charges and the clergy members receiving or who 22 have received disbursements from the Equitable Compensation Fund during the 23 past calendar year including the number of years such funds have been 24 disbursed to the charge and the clergy member. 25 The Commission will make disbursements from the Equitable 26 Compensation Fund in accordance with The Book of Discipline 2004 ¶331.14, 27 ¶342 and ¶623. By May 31 of each year the district superintendent must file 28 with the Commission a list of standard supplement requests to be provided 29 churches/charges in his/her district effective July 1- June 30. By November 30 30 of each year the district superintendent must file with the Commission any 31 changes to be supplements for the period January 1- June 30. 32 The Commission in keeping with the intent of The Book of Discipline 33 2004 ¶362 may disburse funds to a supply pastor or a suspended pastor as 34 determined by the Bishop and Cabinet. In those situations where the provisions 35 of The Book of Discipline 2004 ¶624.5 are not met, funds may be disbursed for 36 or loaned to charges in accordance with ¶625. 37 The Commission will assemble advisory material including but not 38 limited to IRS regulations, denominational resources, annual conference 39 40 41 78

01 resources and such information helpful in understanding and establishing 02 compensation in The United Methodist Church. The Commission will provide 03 such material and/or consultants from the Commission upon request by district 04 superintendents, committees on Staff/Pastor Relations or any event where such 05 information would be beneficial in developing or maintaining an effective 06 compensation package or program. The Commission will be responsible for 07 making adequate requests from the Conference Council on Finance and 08 Administration as needed for approval of budget and expenditures. 09 10 202f. Guidelines for Housing Allowance and Parsonage 11 12 Housing Allowance and Parsonage Pastoral Housing 13 Every church must provide adequate housing for its pastor. The church or 14 charge may meet this need by means of a parsonage or by providing a housing 15 allowance sufficient to buy or rent a home in the area served by the church. 16 17 Minimum Parsonage Standards 18 1. The parsonage shall have at least four bedrooms of at least 120 square feet 19 each with ample closets. The master bedroom shall have its own bath. At least 20 one bedroom and bath shall be on the main level. There shall be at least two full 21 baths in the house. A two-car garage or carport shall be provided and a 22 minimum of 120 square feet of storage space shall be provided in addition to 23 closet space. The main floor of the parsonage shall be handicap accessible. 24 2. Central heat and air are required, and insulation of R30 rating or higher. 25 3. A study shall be provided either at the parsonage or at the church. 26 4. There shall be a family room/dining room and/or a living room and separate 27 dining room. 28 5. A parsonage must be furnished with window treatments, stove, refrigerator, 29 dishwasher, washer, dryer, smoke alarms and mower or lawn service. 30 Parsonage furniture will not be required (except for the above mentioned items) 31 effective January 1, 2003. 32 6. Cable television or satellite service should be provided where available. The 33 telephone line must be private with a minimum of two jacks. A fenced play area 34 is recommended. 35 7. Pastors are encouraged to purchase renters insurance on their personal 36 property in the parsonage. 37 38 39 40 41 79

Housing Allowance Standards 01 1. The district superintendent of the church involved must review all housing 02 allowance requests and the Bishop and Cabinet must approve such requests. 03 Questions about housing allowance may be referred to the District Committee 04 on Church Development for its ruling. 05 Each local congregation, conference agency, or district that decides to 06 provide a housing allowance in lieu of a parsonage and sells the existing 07 parsonage, must place the proceeds from such sale in an escrow account, or use 08 the proceeds for capital expenses (The Book of Discipline 2004 ¶2542). 09 2. The minimum housing allowance for 2009 shall be $17,100. The district 10 superintendent must approve exceptions to this minimum. The allowance 11 should respect the Internal Revenue Service regulations and rulings. The 12 housing allowance should be clearly established, recorded in the Charge 13 Conference minutes and excluded from Box 1 but listed in Box 14 in the W-2 14 form provided to the pastor. 15 16 202g. Churches Receiving Equitable Compensation in 2007: 17 18 Church Yrs Received Eq Comp Total Apportionment 19 Church District Paid Eq Comp Paid Compensation % Paid 20 New Spirit ACPK 40,000 7 25,810 65,810 100% 21 Harris Chapel ACPK 30,000 5 35,138 65,138 100% 22 Laster Chapel ACPK 30,000 3 36,422 66,422 0.01% 23 Rocky Head ACPK 21,000 8 45,422 66,422 4.6% 24 St. Mark ACPK 30,000 5 35,462 65,462 100% 25 Rock Chapel ADOX 20,000 3 45,750 65,750 10% 26 Kings 27 Memorial AMRY 20,000 3 46,074 66,074 56.2% 28 Hickory Flat GNSV 3 625 (End Jan 08) 100% 29 Zion GNSV 4 240 (End Jan 08) 100% 30 Unionville/ 100% 31 Green Mount GRFN 12,500 3 12,240 (End July 07) 100% 32 Merrill Chapel LAGR 20,000 3 45,138 65,138 53% 33 Burns/ LAGR 5 1,800 (End July 07) 29% 34 St. Mary 16.7% 35 ROCA Hispanic ROCA 34,964* 6 26,394 61,358 36 *Carrollton First/Cedartown/ROCA 37 38 39 40 41 80

01 202h. Clergy Receiving Equitable Compensation – 2007 02 03 Clergy Eq Comp Pastor Continuous 04 Receiving Grant District Received Classification Yrs Eq Comp 05 Hubert Brown ACPK 25,810 FE 9 06 Robert Crawford ACPK 35,138 FE 5 07 Martha Randall ACPK 36,422 FE 6 08 Steve Jones ACPK 45,422 FE 4 09 Ed Best ACPK 35,462 FE 6 10 Michael Flanigan ADOX 45,750 FE 4 11 Earl Dabney AMRY 46,074 FE 5 12 Jerry Cameron GNSV 625 PL 5 13 Vikki McVay GNSV 240 PL 6 14 Vincent Miller GFRN 12,240 FE 8 15 Greg Williams LAGR 5,400 FE 7 16 Deborah Maddox-Turman LAGR 45,138 FE 5 17 Olga Rodriguez ROCA 26,394 FL 7 18 19 202i. Cabinet Level Housing Allowance 20 Task Force Report to CF&A 21 22 The North Georgia Conference Cabinet Level Housing Allowance Task 23 Force met at Simpsonwood on Feb. 18, 2008 with Hank Huckaby, Jim Cantrell, 24 Joe Tucker, Sondra Jones, Keith Cox, and Steve Wood in attendance. After 25 prayer and introductions the Chair Steve Wood called for the election of a 26 Secretary and a Vice-Chair of the Task Force, and Joe L. Tucker was elected 27 Secretary and Sondra Jones elected Vice-Chair. The Task Force reviewed their 28 charge: 29 The Task Force was formed because of a recommendation from CFA 30 that was approved at Annual Conference. On page 57 of your 2007 31 Conference Handbook, recommendation #8 reads: "We recommend that 32 the Bishop appoint a task force to study the setting of Cabinet-level clergy 33 housing allowances, including the possible adjustment of the base amounts 34 based upon district-specific circumstances, and that the findings be 35 reported at Annual Conference 2008." 36 Much productive and informative conversation took place concerning the 37 charge and it was determined that the wording of “district-specific 38 circumstances” led us to focus on district and cabinet level issues like parity and 39 40 41 81 reporting rather than focusing on issues of comparison and contrast of district 01 issues in relation to local church issues. 02 The Task Force also reviewed the current policy as stated in the 2007 03 standing rules point #7 from the CF&A report: 04 7. We recommend that the 2008 housing allowance designated by 05 Annual Conference for Cabinet-level clergy personnel be based upon 06 the average of the highest 50 housing allowance reported at 07 December 31, 2006. That amount is $31,255. Further we recommend 08 that the utility allowance for 2008 for that group be set at $5,000. 09 Several thoughts emerged from the group including issues of parity, 10 reporting process, housing allowance minimums, formulas to calculate Cabinet- 11 level housing allowances, and several others. After a thorough and wisdom 12 filled interaction, the task force proposes these recommendations to CF&A: 13 1) That the formula currently used to calculate Cabinet-level clergy housing 14 allowance is effective and no change should be made. 15 2) That the reporting process (i.e. the Clergy Compensation and Expense 16 Worksheet) be standardized and consistent in order that all clergy 17 including Cabinet-level clergy use the same reporting components in the 18 conference database. 19 3) That the practice of at least one of our district superintendents to choose 20 to return to the district any unused amount be a simple but effective 21 model of reconciling varying housing costs and actual expenses. 22 4) That districts be reminded that the option to choose to utilize a district 23 parsonage is within their purview in accordance with the UM Book of 24 Discipline ¶2517.1. 25 5) That all district finance committees or their equivalents and Cabinet 26 members, for whom a housing allowance is applicable, agree to honor the 27 amounts set by the formula currently approved by the Annual 28 Conference. 29 Steve Wood, Chair 30 31 32 203. Conference Statistician Team – 2007 33 34 The purpose of the Conference Statistician Team is to help the churches 35 of the North Georgia Conference complete your End-of-Year (EOY) Reports as 36 easily, efficiently and accurately as possible. We are here to help you. 37 38 39 40 41 82

01 Highlights: 02 x Net gain from other denominations: 2.5:1 ratio. We had 4,859 03 persons transfer in from other denominations while we lost only 1,978 04 members. 05 x More persons reached through church school. We had more people 06 attending church school but on a less frequent basis than the previous 07 year. The number of members increased 1 percent while average 08 attendance decreased 4.6 percent. 09 x More people’s lives enriched by short-term groups: up almost 10 10 percent. There was a significant increase in the number of persons 11 learning the Bible and growing spiritually in short term groups, up by 9.8 12 percent. 13 x Average worship attendance: down 2.2 percent. Our average worship 14 attendance was down slightly for the first time in a few years. 15 x Membership: increase 1.1 percent. The total membership of all the 16 churches in our conference was up for the 31st year in a row. 17 18 Groups – Top 20 churches with the largest increase in number of persons in all 19 groups: Trinity-Cartersville, The Korean Church Atlanta, Peachtree Road, 20 Gainesville First, Mt Bethel-Marietta, Wesley-Evans, Norcross, Toccoa First, 21 Smyrna First, Dunwoody, Due West, Athens First, Hamilton Mill, McEachern 22 Memorial, Creekside, Duluth First, LaGrange First, Quest, Dacula First and 23 Calhoun First. 24 25 Worship – Top 20 churches with the largest increase in average worship 26 attendance: Carrollton First, Sugarloaf, Alpharetta First, Ben Hill, Mt. Bethel- 27 Marietta, The Korean Church Atlanta, Creekside, Impact, Cedartown First, 28 Fellowship Church, Providence-Fayetteville, Redemption Community, Smyrna 29 First, Boynton, St James-Alpharetta, Canton First, Johns Creek, Dahlonega, 30 Bethlehem First and Dunwoody. 31 John Dallas, Conference Statistician 32 33 34 204. Conference Housing and Homeless Council 35 36 Through the Housing and Homeless Council, the church ministers to 37 people who are homeless, inadequately housed, or in situations that place them 38 at risk for becoming homeless. The Council is an administrative agency of the 39 North Georgia Conference, and it is made up of lay and clergy representatives 40 41 83 from each of the districts plus at-large members and ex-officio representatives. 01 Terry DeLand serves as chair of the Council, and Virginia Tinsley serves as 02 Director. 03 February 11 was designated as Homeless Offering Sunday for 2007. 04 Churches contributed $217,490.01 to the 2007 Homeless Offering. 100 percent 05 of funds received from the Homeless Offering are distributed as grants to 06 ministries serving poor and homeless persons. Total receipts including 07 foundation contributions and pin sales brought the year total to $234,970.44. 08 The Homeless Trust Fund is an endowment administered by the North 09 Georgia United Methodist Foundation. This fund ended the year with a market 10 value of $1,225,418.96. In 2008, the Housing and Homeless Council will be 11 covering most of its administrative expenses from endowment earnings, and in 12 2009 the Council will pay its entire administrative budget from endowment 13 earnings. 14 The Housing and Homeless Council awards grants twice a year to 15 churches and non-profit agencies that are providing housing and services to 16 poor and homeless persons in North Georgia. From 1990 through 2007, the 17 Housing and Homeless Council has awarded grants totaling $2,994,028. 18 Priority is given to programs with a high level of United Methodist involvement 19 and to those programs that provide transitional housing and permanent housing. 20 Grant applications are due on March 1 and September 1 (or the first business 21 day if the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday), and application information 22 is available at www.nghhc.org. Housing and Homeless Council members do 23 site visits to the applicants and carefully consider the merits of each application. 24 During 2007 the Housing and Homeless Council awarded capital grants 25 totaling $143,500 and operational grants totaling $80,000, for a grand total of 26 $223,500. These grants were awarded in all 12 districts. 27 28 CAPITAL GRANTS GIVEN IN 2007 29 Action Ministries dba Atlanta Urban Ministry $10,000 30 Action Ministries, Inc. d.b.a. Augusta Urban $2,873 31 AHMEN Housing, Roswell $4,000 32 Calvary Refuge, Inc., Forest Park $10,000 33 Cannon UMC/ $2,500 34 The Drake House, Roswell $5,000 35 Fulfilling God's Assignments Ministries, Winder $5,000 36 God's Marketplace, Inc., Washington $4,500 37 Griffin Area Habitat for Humanity/Griffin First UMC $2,500 38 H.O.P.E. Through Divine Intervention, Inc., Atlanta $3,000 39 40 41 84

01 Habitat Barrow County/Winder First UMC $5,000 02 Habitat N. Central Georgia/Hillside UMC, Canton $5,000 03 Habitat N. Central Georgia/Johns Creek UMC, Forsyth Co. $2,500 04 Habitat for Humanity Gwinnett/Cannon UMC $2,500 05 Habitat Meriwether County/Greenville UMC, Luthersville $5,000 06 Habitat N. Central Georgia/Roswell UMC, Milton $2,500 07 Habitat Towns/Union County/Hiawassee UMC, Young Harris $5,000 08 Habitat Pickens County/Jasper UMC $2,500 09 Housing Initiative of North Fulton (Homestretch), Roswell $2,500 10 Interfaith Hospitality Network of Augusta, Inc. $3,500 11 Mosaic UMC, Evans $2,500 12 MUST Ministries, Canton $10,000 13 Peace Place, Inc., Winder $5,000 14 Rainbow Community Center, Inc., Porterdale $4,000 15 Stone Mountain Cooperative Ecumenical Ministry $10,000 16 Trinity Community Ministries, Atlanta $5,627 17 Trinity UMC, Atlanta $10,000 18 United Way of the Central Savannah River Area, Inc., Augusta $5,000 19 Wesley UMC L.O.T.S. Ministry, Augusta $7,500 20 Woodbury UMC $1,000 21 22 OPERATIONAL GRANTS GIVEN IN 2007 23 Action Ministries dba Transitional Ministries, Atlanta, Carrollton, 24 Cartersville, Dalton, Ellijay, Gainesville, Greensboro, Griffin, $30,000 25 Harlem, Jasper, LaGrange, Lincolnton, Rome, Thomson, Washington Total 26 All Faiths' Christian Ministries, Inc., Griffin $2,300 27 Atlanta Alliance on Developmental Disabilities $2,300 28 CaringWorks, Inc., Augusta $2,300 29 Clarkston UMC $2,300 30 Community Action Center (CAC), Sandy Springs $2,500 31 Community Welcome House, Inc., Newnan $2,500 32 CSRA Economic Opportunity Authority, Inc., Augusta $2,300 33 Faith UMC Manna Pantry, Cartersville $2,000 34 Harris Chapel UMC, Palmetto $2,300 35 Heard County Food Pantry, Franklin $2,500 36 Hope Health Clinic, Inc., Griffin $2,300 37 Living Room, Inc., Atlanta $2,300 38 Midtown Assistance Center, Atlanta $2,500 39 Never Alone, Inc., Cherokee County $2,500 40 41 85

Norcross Cooperative Ministry $2,500 01 Ousley UMC, Lithonia $2,500 02 Redemption Community Church, East Point $2,300 03 Safe Homes of Augusta, Inc. $2,500 04 Sweetwater Valley Community Action Ministries, Austell $2,500 05 Toco Hills Community Alliance, Atlanta $2,300 06 Union Point UMC $2,500 07 Terry DeLand, Chair Virginia Tinsley, Director 08 09 10 205. Conference Communication Office 11 12 I am pleased to join the Conference Information Office in its seventh year 13 of existence. My predecessor, Ed Tomlinson, has given outstanding leadership 14 since its inception. We will continue every effort to maintain the high standards 15 that has caused the North Georgia Conference to be a model for many 16 conferences and for the general church. 17 A well informed clergy and laity is high priority in all that we do. 18 Through our website (www.ngumc.org) we will strive to keep pastors and 19 members of local churches aware of opportunities, resources, and other 20 information that will enrich their ministries. Mid-week Updates and the 21 monthly Snapshot are among the efforts to help us gain from the connection we 22 share as United Methodists in North Georgia. Press releases, promotional 23 material, and instructional videos are additional ways the Communications 24 Office seek to aid in the ministry of the conference. 25 Inspiration and motivation is the goal of Monday Morning in North 26 Georgia. Daily emailed Prayers and Celebration keep us connected to and 27 supportive of one another. The monthly Prayer Calendar continues to be a 28 valuable resource. It is not only used throughout the conference but the General 29 Board of Discipleship and the denominational website, www.umc.org, utilize it. 30 It is available for downloading at www.ngumc.org and we encourage its use in 31 church bulletins and newsletters. 32 An extensive effort was made to provide complete and balanced coverage 33 of General Conference this year. The communications staff worked very hard to 34 provide the news before and during General Conference that was important to 35 all United Methodists but especially to the people of North Georgia. Follow up 36 details of significance after conference ended was also provided. 37 Working cooperatively with the Office of Information Technology we 38 now have the capability of providing every clergy person in the conference with 39 40 41 86

01 a permanent conference email address. Two districts have already become fully 02 functional with this new system. A staffed kiosk at the Annual Conference will 03 allow others to secure their address and password during our week of meeting. 04 This project will be completed by August 1 enabling more effective 05 communication with great cost saving capability. 06 Many people have heard the United Methodist message of “Open Hearts, 07 Open Minds, Open Doors” through radio and television. The radio spots written 08 and produced by the Communications Office have been heard across the 09 conference. These radio spots and television ads have been placed as a means of 10 outreach and invitation to all, but especially the un-churched. 11 At the annual gathering of the United Methodist Association of 12 Communicators, the Conference Communications Office won Best of Division 13 awards for Monday Morning in North Georgia and the “On the Move by Faith” 14 health brochure distributed at Annual Conference in 2007. The office won 15 Certificates of Merit for the “UMTV News” videos shown at Annual 16 Conference 2007 and for the 2007 Annual Conference logo. 17 I am privileged to work with Tim McDaniel and Sybil Davidson who are 18 exceptionally gifted and deeply committed to using their talents to spread the 19 Word. I am grateful to them for their outstanding work and to the conference 20 for allowing us the opportunity. We solicit your prayers that we might continue 21 to expand our knowledge and understanding of how to use electronic media and 22 all means of communications in the ministry of Christ and the Church. 23 Information from local churches, pastors, and others in leadership is 24 always welcome. We are happy to receive the information. We encourage 25 everyone to continue to send the news of your events, projects, and celebrations 26 to us and we will help to share it with others. 27 Jamie Jenkins, Conference Information Officer 28 29 30 206. Board of Ordained Ministry - Clergy Sexual Abuse Hotline 31 32 The Clergy Sexual Abuse Hotline is a service of the North Georgia 33 Conference Board of Ordained Ministry. The Hotline will receive calls from 34 individuals who perceive they have been victims of clergy sexual abuse. Skilled 35 volunteers will listen and give information on how to report incidents and to 36 whom such incidents are to be reported. All calls will be confidential and 37 anonymous. FURTHER NOTES: 38 39 40 41 87

1. The Hotline team was created at the request of the Bishop and the 01 Conference Board of Ordained Ministry. 02 2. The Hotline will be staffed by six or more skilled UMC clergy who are 03 also licensed professional counselors or have equivalent credentials. The 04 phone will be located in one office and the calls forwarded to one of the 05 members. We have seven volunteers at present: Tom Camp, Mari Lane 06 Brooks, Dennis Jarvis, Skip Johnson, Woody Spackman, Cynthia 07 Vaughan and Boyd Whaley. The Board of Ordained Ministry Executive 08 Committee and Cabinet will be asked about additional clergy who would 09 qualify to participate. 10 3. Members of The Hotline team are not advocates for the victim or the 11 clergy. 12 4. The Hotline team will listen and help the person express facts and 13 feelings. Team members will communicate that the church/conference is 14 willing to listen to them. The Hotline team will refer persons to their 15 district superintendent who will work with the person after that. Team 16 members may suggest a person seek counseling, but will not take any 17 cases themselves, and they will not give referrals. 18 5. The Hotline Team members have agreed to these guidelines. Any 19 changes in these guidelines will be approved by the Board of Ordained 20 Ministry Executive Committee and the Bishop. 21 6. The Bishop, Cabinet and Board of Ordained Ministry Executive 22 Committee may at some future time develop and deploy a response team 23 to promote healing in a situation resulting from clergy sexual 24 misconduct. 25 7. This Clergy Sexual Abuse Hotline statement will be submitted into the 26 2008 Conference Handbook as a part of the report of the Board of 27 Ordained Ministry for consideration by the Clergy Executive Session 28 and, if approved, for the information of the Annual Conference and 29 insertion into the 2008 Conference Journal. 30 31 32 207. Board of Pensions and Health Benefits 33 34 207a. Pension Section 35 36 Clergy Retirement Security Program 37 In May 2004, the General Conference adopted a new pension plan: the 38 Clergy Retirement Security Program (CRSP). The program became effective 39 40 41 88

01 January 1, 2007. The program has two components: a defined benefit 02 component and a defined contribution component. 03 The defined benefit component provides pension benefits, payable for 04 life, based on a formula that incorporates years of service and the 05 denominational average compensation (DAC). This benefit increases 06 automatically 2 percent each year after retirement. There is a surviving spouse 07 benefit of 70 percent of the deceased clergyperson’s benefit. 08 The defined contribution component provides a cash distribution upon 09 retirement (either partial distribution, single-sum distribution, or cash 10 installments) from an account balance in each clergyperson’s name. The 11 account balance, accumulated at an annual contribution rate of 3 percent, is 12 invested at the direction of the clergyperson. 13 Ministerial Pension Plan (MPP) contributions by local churches (11 14 percent of the Compensation Base of their clergyperson(s)) ceased December 15 31, 2006. Instead, the local church sends contributions to the annual 16 conference, which in turn forwards them to the General Board for the funding 17 of the defined benefit and defined contribution components of the CRSP. Each 18 clergyperson’s MPP account balance as of December 31, 2006 plus the 19 continuing accumulation of earnings will remain on account until distributed at 20 retirement. 21 Many of the clergypersons in the North Georgia Conference, some of 22 them retired and some still active, have rendered service before January 1, 23 1982. The method of computing their pensions for such service remains 24 unchanged. That is, the annual pension is the product of the Past Service Rate 25 (the PSR) adopted by the annual conference multiplied by the years of pre-1982 26 service. 27 The conference is required to complete the funding of the pre-1982 28 pension obligations by December 31, 2021. There will likely be a continuing 29 need for the local church to pay apportionments for use in this funding. 30 Many clergypersons who are now active will receive pension benefits 31 from all three plans: the defined benefits and the defined contributions plus 32 accumulated earnings of the CRSP, the defined contributions plus accumulated 33 earnings of the MPP, and the defined benefits of the pre-1982 service plan. 34 35 Other Benefit Plans 36 The Comprehensive Protection Plan (CPP) and the Basic Protection Plan 37 (BPP) are administered through the General Board. 38 The CPP provides disability benefits to active clergypersons. It also 39 includes spouse annuity benefits, surviving children benefits, and death 40 41 89 benefits. The 2008 CPP contribution rate is 3 percent of plan compensation up 01 to two times the DAC. The local church sends contributions to the annual 02 conference, which in turn forwards them to the General Board. 03 The BPP covers clergypersons who die prior to retirement with an 04 additional $10,000 death benefit. These benefits are funded by conference 05 apportionments. 06 07 207b. Funding Plan for Retirement of the Pre-1982 Pension Liability 08 as of January 1, 2008 for Approval by the Annual Conference 09 10 The Book of Discipline in ¶1506.8 requires that the annual conference 11 develop, adopt, and implement a formal funding plan for retirement of the pre- 12 1982 pension plan obligations of the conference on or before December 31, 13 2021 and that the plan be approved annually by the annual conference. 14 The accompanying Funding Plan for Retirement of the Pre-1982 Pension 15 Liability as of January 1, 2008 (the Funding Plan), developed by the 16 Conference Board of Pension and Health Benefits (the Board) and approved by 17 the Conference Council on Finance and Administration (CF&A), is an update 18 of the plan approved by the annual conference in 2007. The plan is 19 accompanied by the compliance opinion of the General Board. 20 For the purposes of the plan the Board has prepared a long-range 21 projection that includes assumptions as to future Past Service Rates, investment 22 returns, apportionments, etc. See the Funding Plan for a description of those 23 assumptions. 24 Each year the General Board conducts an actuarial valuation of the pre- 25 1982 pension liability of the conference. The Funding Plan shows that, given 26 the assumptions described in the plan, the unfunded liability is estimated to be 27 approximately $40,526,000 as of January 1, 2008. 28 The Board recommends that the annual conference adopt the Funding 29 Plan, believing that it will aid the conference as it fulfills its obligations to our 30 ministers who have rendered pre-1982 service. 31 32 Past Service Rates and Apportionments 33 In June 2007 the Conference Board recommended and the annual 34 conference adopted a $644 Past Service Rate (PSR) for 2008. 35 The Board is recommending that the annual conference in June 2008 36 increase the PSR 3.0 percent, to $663, for 2009. The PSR will be reviewed each 37 year, at which time the rate of increase may be adjusted upward or downward. 38 39 40 41 90

01 The Board is recommending that the annual conference in June 2008 set 02 apportionments for pre-1982 pensions and related benefits administered by the 03 Board at $3,833,000 for 2009. 04 In arriving at the PSR and apportionments recommendations for 2009 05 and the long-range plan assumptions, the Board has considered several factors – 06 not only the effect upon the financial wellbeing of retirees and their families – 07 but also the general economic and investment outlook, future inflation rates, the 08 conference PSR compared to that of other conferences, the requirement that the 09 pre-1982 pensions be completely funded by December 31, 2021, and the effect 10 of all factors on local church apportionments. 11 A factor not mentioned in the Funding Plan is the rate of apportionments 12 collections. During 2007, 92.5 percent of the apportionments for pension 13 benefits were collected. The collection rate was 91.8 percent in 2006, 89.6 14 percent in 2005, 92.4 percent in 2004, 92.8 percent in 2003, 93.5 percent in 15 2002, and 95.2 percent in 2001. 16 17 Financial Highlights 18 Following are financial highlights of the Conference Pension Fund: 19 unaudited for 2007, projected for 2008, and proposed for budget purposes for 20 2009. 21 2007 2008 2009 22 Pension rate for each year of 23 ministers’ service before 1982 $625 $644 $663 24 Apportionments $3,587,000 $3,757,000 $3,833,000 25 Apportionment collections 3,317,000 3,456,000 3,526,000 26 Investment returns 805,000 91,000 455,000 27 Contributions from Methodist 28 Foundation for Retired Ministers 282,000 272,000 267,000 29 Contributions toward the funding 30 of the pre-1982 pension liability 3,959,000 3,959,000 3,546,000 31 Increase (decrease) in net assets of 32 the Conference Pension Fund 430,000 (155,000) 686,000 33 Net assets of the Conference 34 Pension Fund at year-end 7,984,000 7,829,000 8,514,000 35 36 Substantially all of the assets of the Conference Pension Fund are on 37 deposit with the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits and invested in 38 the Multiple Asset Fund and the Short-Term Investment Fund administered by 39 the General Board. 40 41 91

207c. 2009 Recommendations 01 02 The Board submits to the 2008 annual conference the recommendations 03 listed below. 04 John P. Adams, Jr., Chairperson 05 06 Recommendations of the Board of Pension and Health Benefits 07 to the 2008 Annual Conference 08 09 1. That the annual conference approve the 2008 Funding Plan 10 recommended by the Conference Board of Pension and Health Benefits. 11 2. That the 2009 annuity rate for each year of service rendered by our 12 clergypersons prior to 1982 (the PSR) be set at $663. 13 3. That the Comprehensive Protection Plan Adoption Agreement with the 14 General Board of Pension and Health Benefits remain in effect for 15 2009. 16 4. That the Basic Protection Plan agreement with the General Board of 17 Pension and Health Benefits remain in effect for 2009. 18 5. That the 2009 apportionments for past service pensions for retired 19 clergypersons (pre-1982 pensions) and related benefits administered by 20 the Conference Board of Pension and Health Benefits be set at 21 $3,833,000. 22 6. That the annual conference adopt the Resolution Related to 23 Rental/Housing Allowances for Retired or Disabled Ministers of the 24 Conference, so as to designate the 2009 pension and disability payments 25 as a rental/housing allowance for income tax purposes, within the limits 26 of the Internal Revenue Code (see Resolution). 27 28 Board of Pension and Health Benefits of the North Georgia Conference 29 Funding Plan for Retirement of 30 The Pre-1982 Pension Liability – as of January 1, 2008 31 32 The 2004 Book of Discipline, ¶ 1506.8 requires that the annual 33 conference each year adopt a plan for retirement of the pre-1982 pension plan 34 obligations of the conference on or before December 31, 2021. The Board of 35 Pension and Health Benefits has developed the following funding plan. 36 37 38 39 40 41 92

01 Mandatory Funding Requirements 02 The unfunded liability for pre-1982 pensions (the present value of future 03 pension benefits not yet funded) is estimated to be approximately $40,526,000 04 as of January 1, 2008, given the assumptions described below. 05 The pre-1982 plan requires amortization of the conference liability over 06 the period ending December 31, 2021 by annual payments to the General Board 07 of Pension and Health Benefits toward funding of the plan. Each required 08 payment includes a portion toward reduction of the unfunded past service 09 liability and a portion toward interest on the liability. 10 Long-Range Projection 11 The conference Board has developed a long-range projection that 12 includes the following assumptions. These assumptions are subject to review 13 and adjustment in future years. 14 Past Service Rate 15 $663 for 2009, 3.0 percent more than the 2008 PSR, $644, and a 4.5 percent 16 increase each year after 2009 for several years. 17 Investment Returns 18 1.0 percent for the year 2008; 5.0 percent for each of the years 2009 and 19 2010; 7.0 percent for each year after 2010. 20 For several years the conference has maintained a reserve fund (the 21 Conference Pension Fund) that is designated for use when other funding 22 sources may not be sufficient to make the required plan contributions. 23 Substantially all of the assets of the fund are on deposit with the General Board 24 and invested in the Multiple Asset Fund and the Short-Term Investment Fund 25 administered by the General Board. The Conference Pension Fund balance was 26 $7,984,000 as of December 31, 2007. 27 Methodist Foundation for Retired Ministers of the North Georgia Conference 28 The Methodist Foundation for Retired Ministers of the North Georgia 29 Conference contributed $272,000 to the Conference Pension Fund in 2007. It is 30 assumed that the Foundation will continue to make contributions. 31 Plan Contributions 32 $3,695,307 for the year 2008 and an increasing amount each year 33 thereafter through 2021. 34 Apportionments 35 2.0 percent increase for 2009 and a 2 percent increase each year 36 thereafter for several years. 37 Summary 38 The actuarial services department of the General Board has used its most 39 recent valuation of the pre-1982 plan, as of January 1, 2007, in estimating the 40 41 93 unfunded past service liability as of January 1, 2008. The unfunded past service 01 liability as of January 1, 2008, $40,526,000, is the sum of the estimated 02 unfunded liability as of January 1, 2007, $41,575,000 (shown in the table 03 below), and interest thereon at 7.0 percent for the year 2007 less the portion of 04 the past service liability that the Conference funded by a plan contribution on 05 December 31, 2007. 06 The unfunded past service liability and the funding sources as of January 07 1, 2008 based on the above assumptions are summarized as follows: 08 Total past service liability, January 1, 2007 $66,962,000 Note 1 09 Pension funds held by the General Board, 10 January 1, 2007 25,387,000 Note 2 11 Remainder – Unfunded past service liability, 12 January 1, 2007 41,575,000 13 Interest at 7.0 percent for 2007 2,910,000 14 Plan contribution, December 31, 2007 (3,959,000) 15 Unfunded past service liability, January 1, 2008 $40,526,000 16 Funding sources, January 1, 2008: 17 The North Georgia Conference Pension Fund $ 7,984,000 Note 3 18 Present value of future funding sources (from 19 apportionments, investment returns, 20 contributions from the Methodist Foundation 21 of Retired Ministers, etc., net of expenses) 32,542,000 Note 4 22 Total funding sources, January 1, 2008 $40,526,000 23 24 Note 1. The total past service liability as of January 1, 2007 is the 25 present value of future benefits payable as of that date, that is, 26 the estimated amount that if currently invested at 7.0 percent a 27 year would be sufficient to pay all future benefits to the 28 ministers and their surviving spouses. 29 Note 2. The pension funds held by the General Board represent 30 the portion of the past service liability that has been funded by 31 the North Georgia Conference as of January 1, 2007. 32 Note 3. Substantially all of the assets of the Conference Pension 33 Fund are invested in the Multiple Asset Fund and the Short- 34 Term Investment Fund administered by the General Board. 35 Note 4. The present value of future funding sources is the amount 36 of such sources that, if they were currently available and if they 37 were currently invested, would be sufficient, along with the 38 pension funds held by the General Board and the assets of the 39 40 41 94

01 Conference Pension Fund, to meet the obligations for the pre- 02 1982 pensions. 03 Jamie Jenkins, Executive Director John P. Adams, Jr., Chair 04 05 207d. Health Insurance Committee 06 07 Conference health insurance is provided by HealthFlex, a cooperative 08 effort of several annual conferences and other agencies administered by the 09 General Board of Pensions and Health Benefits. Besides seeking the best 10 insurance for most favorable rates, our recent efforts have included an emphasis 11 on health and wellness. 12 The Insurance Committee encourages everyone to give attention to 13 caring for their physical well-being. By being proactive we can be healthier and 14 save money. In an effort to assist, a kiosk will be set up and staffed during 15 Annual Conference to assist HealthFlex participants (lay and clergy) to 16 complete the Health Risk Assessment (HRA). 17 Provision has also been made for persons to have a comprehensive 18 profile of medical tests that will screen for several health conditions. There will 19 be no cost for this screening, provided by Health Ministries Association, for 20 HealthFlex participants. The cost will be $115 for all others. Appointments can 21 be made for June 18-20, 7:00-10:00 a.m., at the Classic Center, site of the 22 Annual Conference session. This screening will count as the annual wellness 23 exam for HealthFlex. 24 As an incentive, all HealthFlex participants who complete the HRA and 25 annual wellness exam will receive a $50 rebate. These may be completed 26 during Annual Conference or anytime during calendar year 2008. Quarterly 27 checks will be issued from the Benefits Office. If the rebate is not received 28 within six months of completing both HRA and wellness exam, the refund will 29 be issued by the Benefits Office upon receipt of documentation. 30 If 40 percent of the active participants of HealthFlex complete the HRA 31 this year, the Annual Conference will receive a 1 percent rebate on annual 32 premiums paid. If 50 percent of active participants complete a wellness exam 33 this year, there will be an additional 1 percent rebate. These two rebates total 34 approximately $200,000. 35 After eight years as chair of the Insurance Committee I want to thank the 36 members of the Annual Conference for their support as changes have been 37 made, some rates increases endured, and the program strengthened. I’m 38 especially grateful for the care and efficiency of our pensions and insurance 39 40 41 95 staff of Karen Fullerton, Valerie Henry, and Val Bligh as well as the oversight 01 of Jamie Jenkins. 02 William A McKoy, Chair 03 04 207e. Health Risk Quotient – Parthenon 2 05 ProCheck Health Screening – Parthenon 3 06 Wednesday, June 18 – Friday, June 20, 2008 07 08 The Heart of the Matter: Do No Harm, Do Good, Stay in Love with God 09 10 Your Conference Board of Pensions & Health Benefits invites all 11 HealthFlex members to take advantage of two opportunities during annual 12 conference to positively impact your health. 13 1. Visit our computer kiosk station in Parthenon 2 of the Classic 14 Center to take your Health Risk Quotient. Get help logging on, 15 spend a few minutes privately reviewing your health risks. 16 2. Visit Keith Mullen of ProCheck from 7 to 10 AM on Wed- 17 Friday in Parthenon 2 of the Classic Center for a FREE health 18 screening. (Non-HealthFlex members eligible for $115.) You 19 will be evaluated for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney and 20 liver disease, thyroid disorders, anemia or excess iron, and 21 prostate cancer. Blood drawn by phlebotomists from Athens 22 area hospitals. Test evaluations by Oklahoma University 23 Hospital laboratory with results provided directly to you. No 24 appointment needed, but 12 hour fasting requested. 25 Your ProCheck screening can count as your annual wellness 26 examination. Please bring your HealthFlex insurance ID card. 27 Be proactive in caring for your health and encourage your family 28 members to respect their wellness. Stay in love with God by staying healthy. 29 Attending to our health reflects our love for God and makes us better stewards 30 of God’s gift of life to us. 31 You can qualify for a $50 rebate with completion of the Health Quotient 32 and a wellness exam in 2008. Every HealthFlex primary participant and 33 covered spouse is eligible. Take advantage of these opportunities and be one of 34 the first to receive your check!! 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 96

01 208. Committee on Episcopacy and Episcopal Residence 02 03 A major concern for our committees this year has been the 04 implementation of the decision made at our last Annual Conference to purchase 05 a new episcopal residence. This involves not only the selection of a new home 06 but the sale of the present residence. A new residence means, too, that care must 07 be taken to furnish it in a way that will be a credit to our conference. At the 08 writing of this report a residence has been decided upon and a full report will be 09 given at Annual Conference. 10 A task force of the Episcopacy Committee has been working on a Service 11 of Farewell and Celebration for Bishop and Mrs. Davis. The service will be at 12 the 7:30 p.m. Thursday night of Annual Conference. It will be marked with 13 expressions of appreciation, recognitions and best wishes from the laity and 14 clergy. 15 The annual mission offering will be given as a love offering in honor of 16 Bishop and Mrs. Davis who have designated that it go half to Venezuela NOW, 17 to support the training of pastors in the Methodist Church of Venezuela, and the 18 other half will be used to continue Mrs. Davis’ work in the Agalta Valley of 19 Honduras, a ministry to children through schools that also provides for their 20 basic health and nutritional needs. 21 Following the service on Thursday evening there will be a reception in 22 the Classic Center Ballroom to which everyone is invited. During the week in 23 the Prayer Room, Athens A, there will be a book where you can write notes to 24 Bishop and Mrs. Davis. 25 In conclusion, speaking as committee members and on behalf of the 26 Annual Conference, we wish to thank Bishop and Mrs. Davis for their years of 27 outstanding service with us in North Georgia. They have been faithful in their 28 leadership and their efforts have borne fruits for the Kingdom. The North 29 Georgia Episcopal Area is stronger today and has a more effective witness 30 because they have been among us. 31 It has been our privilege to work with them, to share in their high 32 moments as well as some low ones and to have them be a part of our personal 33 lives. We are grateful for all they have done and to them and their families we 34 wish all our prayerful best. 35 Buddy Darden, Chair, Episcopacy Charles Hoover, Chair, Episcopal Residence 36 37 38 39 40 41 97

209. Conference Trustees 01 02 In consultation with the conference chancellor, the trustees continually 03 discuss and take appropriate steps to deal with legal matters related to property 04 with implications for the annual conference. Careful oversight is given to funds 05 for which the trustees are responsible. Work continues with district trustees on 06 previously discontinued and abandoned churches. 07 Reports from Simpsonwood are encouraging, and significant progress is 08 being made currently and for the long term future. The Episcopal Committee 09 has signed a contract on a new episcopal residence and it will be ready for our 10 new bishop to move into upon arrival. A complete report will be made to the 11 annual conference by that committee. 12 The Park Eye Fund is available but continues to be under utilized. The 13 board encourages pastors of low income persons, retired pastors, and pastors 14 who might need help with eye care costs. Applications may be made by 15 contacting the Office of the Executive Assistant to the Bishop. 16 Deborah Marlowe, President Jamie Jenkins, Secretary 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 98

01 300. Connectional Ministries 02 03 The year 2007-08 was notable for many reasons. One significant change 04 was seeing new leadership at the helm of Camp Glisson. After nine years, Gary 05 Greenwald moved out of the role as director/manager, and we welcomed 06 Russell Davis back home to Georgia to fill that vacancy. Russell began on 07 May 1 and assumed the duties of guiding Camp Glisson to the next level for 08 another generation. His leadership has continued to advance the profile and 09 effectiveness of Camp Glisson. Russell has been seeking ways to bring camp to 10 the church instead of always looking for the church to come to camp. Every 11 facet of camp life continues to grow and expand under Russell’s leadership. 12 Another significant happening was the development of a program that 13 teaches churches how to get back to the basics of straightforward evangelism by 14 simplifying the structures and the programs of a congregation. In 1996 the Book 15 of Discipline was amended to allow churches to create any structure they 16 needed to live out the vision of the Church. Over the past 20 years, many 17 congregations have become excessively hectic with various ministries held over 18 from any number of attempts to find the best structure for their situation. Now 19 with sometimes competing ministries, congregational leaders are tired and 20 frustrated and are seeking ways to re-center and get back to a clear path of 21 practical disciple making. The working title of this idea is 1.4.4.8., and after its 22 debut at annual conference in June, has been taught over 80 times in North 23 Georgia UM churches. The program has helped many see a basic approach to 24 the fundamental mission of the United Methodist Church, “Making Disciples 25 for Jesus Christ.” Currently there is a writing team developing a study book 26 outlining the process and illustrating how to simplify their leadership and 27 organization for effective ministry. 28 In the past year the needs of local churches have changed and 29 expectations of the Connectional Ministries office have changed with it. This 30 office is an extension of every local church in our conference, and they are 31 seeking more and more technical guidance for specific challenges and 32 opportunities from this office. In 2007 Shari Rates and I taught almost 100 33 workshops in 60 conference churches. We also participated in over a dozen 34 conference and district training events. We continue getting more and more 35 requests for advanced leadership enhancement, conflict prevention and 36 resolution, church structure design, re-visioning, and creative problem solving. 37 These types of requests call out the best in the staff and press us to coordinate 38 existing conference leadership for service to those seeking guidance, technical 39 40 41 99 insight, and networking solutions to challenges; person to person, church to 01 church. 02 As we move through 2008, we welcome the growing energy for the work 03 of this office and the emerging opportunities to share in the work of Kingdom 04 building for Jesus Christ of which all of us are a part. 05 Micheal Selleck, Director 06 07 08 301. Advocacy Team 09 10 301a. Advocacy Team – Disability Concerns 11 12 Since the 2007 Annual Conference was held in June, the Disability 13 Concerns Advocacy Team has been busy meeting to discuss how our Team can 14 make contact with churches and clergy in North Georgia who presently have an 15 active ministry with people with disabilities both physical and developmental. 16 We feel that in putting together a complete data base we would be able to 17 expand the scope of this committee and what it can do to be in ministry to more 18 individuals. 19 During the past year we received seven requests for Accessibility Grants. 20 This was an increase over previous years and I only see this continuing to grow 21 in numbers as the years go by. Of the seven requests we received, three were 22 awarded. In making these grant awards we looked at the completeness of the 23 accessibility audit of buildings, what individual churches had already 24 accomplished and an overall view of their total plan for renovation. Those 25 receiving grants were Oak Grove in the Dalton District, Fair Oaks in the 26 Atlanta-Marietta District and Big Springs in the LaGrange District. I received 27 an invitation to attend the Fair Oaks UMC in the Atlanta-Marietta District on 28 the Sunday they consecrated the new additions but was unable to attend due to 29 commitments at my own church. This church has put together a collage that 30 will be on display during annual conference on the Disability Concerns 31 Advocacy Team Display table. 32 Those members who participated in this decision felt we had looked at 33 each and every request and knew each and every church had kept in their minds 34 that God is present for all, and building facilities should be accessible to each 35 and every person. 36 In looking at this year’s conference theme, it is our belief that by opening 37 your doors to all of God’s children a church “Will Do No Harm, Do Good, and 38 39 40 41 100

01 Stay in Love with God.” Only good can come when the doors of our churches 02 are open and accessible to all. 03 When I look back over this past year I see many changes that have taken 04 place, and I have no doubt that with God’s help and hard work by a great and 05 giving committee, this will happen. 06 Dodie Risse, Chairperson 07 08 301b. Advocacy Team – Ethnic Local Church Concerns (ELCC) 09 10 The ELCC is our voice that speaks for our ethnic diversity to all the 11 many member parts of our conference. “The Heart of the Matter: Do No Harm, 12 Do Good, Stay in Love with God” calls us to dialogue and embrace our 13 diversity. 14 The Hispanic/Latino ministry continues to grow in our conference. The 15 challenge is to address the issues that are affecting these communities through 16 local churches, districts and conference. Where as Hispanic/Latino churches are 17 not numerous in our conference, their ministries can and should be active in 18 most of our churches. The ELCC supported the youth camp this year which 19 helped to reach out to this youth population. North Georgia Hispanic pastors 20 joined with Tertulia to give voice to current issues important to their 21 community. Tertulia, the Association for Theological Education of Hispanics, 22 met to discuss theological issues around national immigration issues and the 23 church’s response from Hispanics and non-Hispanics pastors and lay leaders. 24 Our Kenyan ministry at the East Cobb church has experienced much 25 tragedy this year within the Cobb county area and in the African nation of 26 Kenya. Many Kenyans were victims of violence this past year and there was 27 much fear in their community. The nation of Kenya has been the scene of 28 political and civil unrest which has affected many of our Kenyan brothers and 29 sisters. Churches looking for mission goals to support, seek out leaders of our 30 Kenyan ministry at East Cobb. 31 The ELCC – in collaboration with the Black Church Development 32 Office, Black Church Development Committee and Ministers Fellowship of the 33 North Georgia Conference – initiated the call for a strategic plan for the Black 34 Church of the North Georgia Conference. Meetings were held with our Bishop 35 and the Extended Cabinet to establish a plan for the coming quadrennium. 36 Pastors from the conference were given support to attend the 2007 37 multicultural event of the Southeastern Jurisdiction, Transforming Lives by 38 Embracing God’s Diversity: Listening-Learning-Celebrating-Empowering. 39 40 41 101

To achieve the theme of the conference for the coming year, “The Heart 01 of the Matter: Do No Harm, Do Good, Stay in Love with God”, the ELCC has 02 realized it is most important that the membership of churches of the North 03 Georgia Conference engage in Christian dialogue concerning its richness of 04 ethnicity, membership of racial diversity, and richness of all cultures. 05 George P. Lanier, Chair 06 07 301c. Advocacy Team – Native American Concerns 08 09 Vision and Mission Statement 10 Vision Statement: Determine the distribution of the Native American 11 Ministries Sunday offering and coordinate the promotion of Native American 12 Ministries within the annual conference (¶ 650). We seek to do good to our 13 Native American members and friends, encouraging us all to stay in love with 14 God. 15 Mission Statement: Congregational Development - Develop and support 16 existing and new UM Native American congregations, ministries, and 17 fellowships in North Georgia and the Southeastern Jurisdiction; 18 Denominational Presence - Encourage new and existing Native American 19 ministries to pursue connection to the UMC; Leadership Development - 20 Develop Native American leadership for service in the UMC. 21 Role and Responsibility: The ministry of the committee fulfills its vision and 22 mission to the Conference by meeting at least four times a year to decide what 23 programs to fund, to report to the Advocacy team and Connectional Ministries 24 through meeting minutes; to maintain accountability of all funds expended 25 through the Conference Treasurer’s office; to promote Native American 26 Awareness and Special Sunday offerings. 27 Scholarships and Mission Trips: The Native American Ministries Committee 28 provides scholarships to Native American students enrolled in college or 29 vocational schools. Students must meet guidelines outlined in our application 30 form. Contact the chair for applications or information. Local UM churches 31 may receive grants for Native American ministries within their church, and/or 32 for mission trips to Native American reservations, churches, or ministries. 33 Previous grants have benefited churches on mission trips to Blackfeet 34 Reservation, Cherokee Reservation, Impoverished UM church in NC, and the 35 Cherokee Family Advocacy Center, higher education scholarships to Native 36 American students, Native American AA programs, and attendance at 37 SEJANAM training events. 38 Ed Swehla, Chair 39 40 41 102

01 301d. Advocacy Team – Religion and Race 02 03 Purpose: The purpose of the North Georgia Advocacy Team-Religion and Race 04 is to challenge the general agencies, institutions and connectional structures of the 05 United Methodist Church to work toward a full and equal participation of the racial 06 and ethnic constituency in the total life and mission of the Church through advocacy, 07 training, reviewing and monitoring. 2004 The Book of Discipline, Section XIV, 08 ¶ 2002. 09 1. NGCORR facilitated a March dialogue session with Erin Hawkins, 10 General Secretary of the General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR), 11 providing leadership. The session was open to team members of COSROW and 12 ELCC. Also attending were the associate director of Connectional Ministries, two 13 associate directors in the Office of Church Development, Advocacy Team Shepherd 14 and 2008-2012 team chair nominees. Follow-up planning sessions with current and 15 incoming chairs were held in April and May to develop strategic goals and plans and 16 to facilitate smooth quadrennial transition. 17 2. NGCORR reached out to our 12 district superintendents in October 18 requesting they nominate one church or program in their district that “stood 19 out for their emphasis on inclusiveness.” The Award of Recognition lifts up 20 those ministries that are intentional about growing an inclusive church in the North 21 Georgia Conference. Our heartfelt congratulations go to those nominated and to the 22 district superintendents for recognizing and nominating them. 23 The Stone Mountain First, Elijay First, and Still Waters churches and the 24 Mary Peaks Cancer Foundation at Forest Park UMC each will receive an award 25 plaque and an award check of $100. They will be honored in their local district and 26 be honored at Annual Conference. The other nominees will receive a Certificate 27 of Nomination. The NGCORR handout will honor all nominees. 28 3. CORR partnered with COSROW to monitor the Annual Conference 29 Nomination Committee proceedings for selecting committee chairpersons and 30 members for the 2008-2012 quadrennium. CORR was invited to attend/monitor the 31 meetings of the North Georgia delegation to General Conference. 32 4. Four CORR team members were among the North Georgia clergy and 33 laity attending the Transforming Lives by Embracing God’s Diversity 34 Conference at Lake Junaluska December 13-15, 2007. Two spouses and 35 two visiting parents from China rounded out the CORR “delegation”. 36 5. We continue to participate with the SEJ Commission for Religion and Race 37 networking meetings and events. (Lake Junaluska and Norfolk, VA). 38 A. Louise Adams, Chairperson 39 40 41 103

301e. Advocacy Team – Committee on the Status and Role of Women 01 02 The mission of the Committee on the Status and Role of Women is to 03 challenge the United Methodist Church to work for the full and equal 04 participation of women in the total life of the church. We hope not only to 05 challenge but empower individuals and churches to fully recognize the 06 contributions that women make to the work of the body of Christ. 07 As in years past, we wish to honor the work of our laity and clergy 08 women and to highlight the contributions they have made. This year we have 09 done that in a new way. At Annual Conference, participants are invited to stop 10 by our display table and to test their knowledge regarding the work of the 11 women of the United Methodist church in North Georgia. 12 Because the well-being of our families is a high priority to both the 13 women and men of our conference, we have worked with members of the 14 annual conference committee to address the issue of childcare. As a result we 15 plan to offer support for our clergy and lay delegates who have children by 16 continuing to offer information about possibilities for childcare in the Athens 17 area. 18 For the fourth year COSROW is partnering with the Committee on 19 Religion and Race in the ministry of monitoring. This year we are excited to 20 also be working with our Youth and Young Adult ministries who will help us 21 gather a broader range of information. The process of monitoring is to examine 22 and quantify the participation of delegates based on gender, status as clergy or 23 laity, race/ethnicity and age. This ministry allows us to gauge our ability to 24 appreciate the contributions of all individuals and it helps us to fully reflect the 25 diversity and inclusiveness of God’s church. 26 We continue to offer support for our clergywomen who are in the 27 beginning stages of their ministry. For those women being commissioned and 28 ordained this year, COSROW is again offering the gifts of Books of Worship 29 and stoles appropriate for the ordination ceremony. We are also working to 30 build support systems for new and young clergywomen through small groups 31 and mentoring. 32 COSROW will continue to work for inclusiveness in the business and 33 worship life of the North Georgia Conference. We will offer resources for 34 education and advocacy and seek new ways to address the issues that matter to 35 our women and families. Our goal will remain the recognition, appreciation and 36 full participation of all God’s people in the life of the United Methodist Church. 37 Nancy A. Johnson, Chair 38 39 40 41 104

01 302. Nurture Team 02 03 It has been our privilege to provide, training, fellowship and networking 04 opportunities for people who volunteer in their church’s Sunday School, Bible 05 studies, youth ministry, young adult groups, older adult ministries, pre-school 06 directors groups and connecting with our conference’s Camping and Retreat 07 Ministries. 08 Under the leadership of Elizabeth Nall, our Children’s Ministries Team 09 meets with directors of children’s ministries once a quarter for lunch trainings 10 where dynamic ideas and best practices are shared. They are planning 11 children’s workers workshops, VBS trainings and providing networking among 12 their community. 13 Our Youth Team has worked on activities such as our Spiritual Life 14 Advances “Living a part of God’s Greater Story!” This spring, youth from our 15 conference participated in the Washington DS/UN Seminar to consider the role 16 of the church in social issues on a global level. Confirmation retreats at Camp 17 Glisson were also a major focus for our youth team this year. 18 Chris Schutz led our Adult Nurture Team in hosting a major event called 19 “True North” where declining membership churches were offered training on 20 revitalizing and setting the course for increasing discipleship. This team is also 21 putting together a North Georgia Methodist Resource network. In addition they 22 are working on teaming up with local counselors and speakers who would be 23 willing to lead seminars in local churches. 24 Older Adult Ministries sponsored another successful training event called 25 Golden Opportunities which focused on caring for, involving and keeping Baby 26 Boomers in ministry and mission. 27 And Sunday School and Beyond is pleased to invite you to attend our 28 event on August 16 at LaGrange College as we “Journey Into the Bible” and 29 tour Jim Fleming’s Antiquities Center and participate in one workshop. 30 Betsy Haas, Chair 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 105

302a. Nurture Team – Adult Ministries 01 02 The Adult Nurture team seeks to help the local church make mature adult 03 disciples of Jesus Christ in all areas of life. We want all North Georgia 04 Methodists to follow Jesus and live out God’s call to “Do No Harm, Do Good, 05 and Stay in Love with God” in their communities, churches, jobs, marriages, 06 and the parenting of their children. 07 In the last year we have worked toward this mission by empowering a 08 spirit of renewal into our local churches through the True North Conference in 09 February. The dynamic teaching of Warren Lathem and Walter Kimbrough 10 inspired us to strengthen the local church’s ability to reach our community with 11 the Good News of Jesus Christ and make stronger disciples. Even if you or your 12 church did not attend True North, our team is making this wonderful conference 13 available in a DVD format that can be used as a leadership retreat in your local 14 church. Contact Chris Shurtz for more details on this offer. 15 We are also working with our North Georgia conference web office to 16 offer the North Georgia Methodist Resource Network. This conference 17 database will allow North Georgia churches to share discipleship resources with 18 one another. It will be located at the ngumc.org website in data services and 19 will allow churches to share video, DVD and bible study curriculum with other 20 neighboring churches. This will be a great resource especially for small and 21 medium churches that do not have the ability to purchase expensive education 22 and discipleship curriculum. We are working to have NGMRN up and running 23 by Annual Conference 2009 and hope your church will join this connectional 24 approach to making disciples for Christ. 25 If you have an idea how we can help your local church make stronger 26 adult disciples, please feel free to call or e-mail and let us know. 27 Chris Shurtz, Chair 28 29 302b. Nurture Team – Children’s Ministry 30 31 “Give us a little time we will save you a lot of time!” 32 Vision – we want to be a support and educational development group 33 for all who are in children’s ministry making disciples of Christ with our 34 children. 35 Programming and Ministry 36 February 28, 2008 – The conference network team had a spectacular 37 event at Roswell UMC. Family therapist Catherine McCall spoke about how to 38 minister to children in crisis, and Diane Morgan provided us with information 39 40 41 106

01 regarding curriculum that assist children in need of divorce care. You can find 02 an exceptional bibliography of resources for those working with grieving 03 children beyond those that Mrs. McCall provided at the workshop. For more 04 information go to: www.bringingbabyhometogeorgia.com. Click the My 05 Practice section in the left side margin and there is an underlined title of the 06 talk, “Helping Children Deal with Loss.” 07 September 18, 2008 – Advent/Easter workshop at Duluth UMC. Bring 08 your best Advent and Easter programs that you have implemented into your 09 ministry program at your church to share with everyone. You can prepare your 10 Advent and Easter programs at your church by simply checking out everyone’s 11 ideas they are sharing. It is a one-stop shop for the Christian Calendar year. 12 November 13, 2008 – Northside UMC will host a special needs ministry 13 with children program. Northside has strategically placed a minister to children 14 with special needs. We will learn how Northside implements their special needs 15 ministry and hear from well trained speakers on the topic of how to create a 16 welcoming and hospitable environment to children with special needs. 17 Progress for this Year 18 Leslie Yokely, the children’s minister from Duluth UMC, is setting up a 19 mentoring program for children’s ministers. Stop by the booth at annual 20 conference or look online for the sign ups to request a mentor. 21 Elizabeth Nall, Chair 22 23 302c. Nurture Team – Young Adult Ministry Task Force 24 25 The North Georgia conference created the Young Adult Task Force two 26 years ago to identify ways of attracting the missing generation of 18-35 year- 27 olds to the United Methodist churches of North Georgia. We made great 28 progress but much work is needed to continue addressing this important issue. 29 We respectfully ask that you vote to continue our work in the coming year. 30 The Young Adult Task Force accomplished two main goals this year: 31 x A conference-wide survey 32 x Two proposals for increasing young adult participation at Annual 33 Conference 34 First, we surveyed local churches about their desire to reach out to young 35 adults. We are still receiving results and processing the findings. The 36 preliminary results are encouraging. Many of the respondents are willing to try 37 unconventional ministries aimed at attracting Young Adults. The churches, with 38 some help, seem open to ideas such as social gatherings outside the church 39 40 41 107 walls, hands on service projects, and topical studies that are relevant to Young 01 Adults issues and lifestyles. 02 Secondly, we are hoping to continue to increase the number of Young 03 Adult attendees at Annual Conference by hosting special events focused to 04 draw them to the conference. And in turn, we hope to increase the number of 05 young adults present at Annual Conference through the opportunity for districts 06 to choose young people between the ages of 18 and 40 as their at-large lay 07 delegates. 08 This coming year, we are excited about our task of encouraging new life, 09 excitement, energy and representation of Young Adults in the church. 10 Young Adult Task Force 11 12 302d. Nurture Team – Ministries with Youth 13 14 There is much to celebrate throughout Conference Youth Ministries. It 15 has been a year of growth and continued focus on resourcing churches to better 16 minister to the needs of the youth within their church walls and within the 17 surrounding community. I’d like to point out three specific things to share. 18 As the volunteer staff for our Spiritual Life Retreats (SLR) continues to 19 develop, we continue to experience lives being changed and purposes defined. 20 High school and college kids alike are offered an opportunity to explore their 21 gifts in a safe, encouraging environment and asked tough questions which leads 22 to the exploration of God’s call on their lives. Just this year, a student declared 23 his desire to enter the candidacy process and yet another shared how this 24 opportunity gave her the community she needed to explore a life devoted to 25 missions. Two additional students were able to use their gifts in videography 26 and technology to create videos used in our worship gatherings to bring life, 27 connection, and focus to the theme. I believe SLR staff is a strong conduit for 28 growing leaders for active service in Christ’s church both today and the future. 29 This year, the Conference Council on Youth Ministries took on a heavy 30 project. At the fall gathering, they had profound goals and ideas about the 31 change they hope to see in the church. Those conversations birthed a set of 32 devotions written by young people focusing on issues of diversity that we face 33 every day. Small groups, Sunday School classes, and individuals were 34 challenged to dig deep into their past, prejudices, and assumptions to find 35 healing truth. 36 And finally, I’m pleased to announce that the North Georgia Conference 37 Community of youthworkers has been formed in conjunction with the national 38 Youthworker Movement. The community encourages and supports each other 39 40 41 108

01 in our ministry with youth while strengthening the professional field of full time 02 youth ministry. Realizing that we are each other’s best resource, the networking 03 piece is a huge draw. 04 It has been a spectacular year! I’m confident that beautiful things are 05 happening throughout the young people and youthworkers in our conference at 06 the lead of the Holy Spirit. It’s an honor to be a part of it! 07 Shari Hickom, Conference Youth/Young Adult Coordinator 08 09 10 303. Outreach Team 11 12 Since 1992 I have been privileged to serve in one aspect or another the 13 missions endeavors of this annual conference. Sixteen years is a long time, and 14 I have seen many changes – some good and some not so good. 15 The best change is the passionate commitment of local churches to doing 16 hands on missions. We are no longer satisfied to see others do missions while 17 we simply write the checks. From large membership churches to small 18 membership churches, we are involved. On the negative side, there has been an 19 increasing questioning of the motives of those who disagree with “us.” 20 Committed Christians can disagree without impugning the faith of the “other.” 21 Missionaries can come with different world views and still serve our Risen 22 Lord. My prayer for our conference and our new conference leadership is that 23 we serve Jesus Christ and his people throughout the world. 24 I want to thank the people who have worked so faithfully for missions on 25 the Conference Council on Ministries and Connectional Ministries: Joe 26 Crawford, Jonathan Holston, Bridgette Young, Derrick Rhodes, and Shari 27 Rates. Each of these persons made an incredible impact on missions. I am 28 almost afraid to begin to name the laity who made missions their life because I 29 will leave someone out. Mission teams to Redbird, Henderson Settlement, and 30 Sager-Brown, you will each be in my memory. 31 Lastly, I want to thank the current members of the Outreach Team for 32 their zeal and service: Sue Raymond, our secretary, who kept us on task and 33 served as our collective memory; Steve Winter, our vice chair, who reminded 34 us why we were there and presided when needed; Mike Yoder, chair of the 35 Disaster Response Committee, who served so ably when disasters struck locally 36 or regionally; Shan Yohan, Chair of the Resettlement Committee, who lifted up 37 the plight of the stranger among us and then made a difference; Renita Hall- 38 Thompson, Chair of Health and Wellness, who developed new ways of seeing 39 the health needs of our conference and local churches. 40 41 109

In summation, each part of the Outreach Team has been able to do its 01 missions because of the faithfulness of the churches of North Georgia in paying 02 their apportionments and then going out to the highways and the byways to 03 spread scriptural holiness in the land. Thank you, North Georgia United 04 Methodists. 05 D. Alan Smith, Chairperson 06 07 303a. Outreach Team – Conference Secretaries for Global Ministries 08 09 The co-conference secretaries for Global Ministries serving the North 10 Georgia Conference for calendar year 2007 are Shan Yohan and Terry 11 Raymond. 12 During the 2007 calendar year a Conference Committee on Mission 13 Personnel (CCMP) was established. The members of the committee are Warren 14 Harbert (chair), Jo Harbert, Joe Crawford, Ellynda Lipsey, Joy Magnus, Shan 15 Yohan and Terry Raymond. The committee interviewed three missionary 16 candidates and one deaconess candidate. It was with pleasure that Jo (Elna) 17 Sheetz was highly recommended and accepted as a deaconess candidate. Her 18 commissioning service was March 11, 2008. 19 The appointment by the GBGM of a Southeastern Jurisdiction 20 Missionary Interpreter in Residence was made in May 2007. Welcomed by the 21 annual conference are Chris Stockwell-Goering and his wife Martha. The 22 Stockwell-Goerings are missionaries whose purpose is to interpret and support 23 the work of the CSGMs and further the work of the GBGM for our annual 24 conference and the SEJ. 25 The Co-operative Christian Mission Education Event was held at 26 Simpsonwood on July 12-14, 2007. This co-operative event is sponsored by the 27 North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Women and GBGM. Each 28 year studies are presented under the topics of spiritual growth, current issues 29 and geographically related issues. For 2007 these studies were "Music and 30 Mission," "Globalization," and "Israel/Palestine." 31 The co-secretaries attended a training conference for CSGMs of the 32 Southeast Jurisdiction which was held in on October 24-28. 33 Shan Yohan attended the UMVIM sponsored "Connect" conference at Lake 34 Junaluska on June 27-30. This conference also serves as a venue where SEJ 35 CSGMs can break out to meet, plan, and organize future GBGM events. Some 36 CSGMs are also presenters at the UMVIM conference. 37 The goals of your co-CSGMs for 2008 are to Promote the NGC Church 38 of Excellence program and the GBGM Covenant Relationship program by 39 40 41 110

01 participating in annual district training events and district set-up meetings and 02 to establish a District Secretary of Global Ministries (DSGM) position that will 03 be the mission point of contact for each district. 04 The annual SEJ CSGM conference will be held at St. Simons Island on 05 October 30-November 1, 2008. The CSGMS and DSGMs will attend a training 06 conference to be held in Jacksonville, FL on Jan 29-Feb 1, 2009. 07 Terry Raymond and Shan Yohan, Co-secretaries for GBGM 08 09 303b. Outreach Team – Resettlement Task Force 10 11 We continue in the endeavor to “do good” as we welcome our neighbors 12 who are refugees, documented and undocumented immigrants, asylum seekers 13 and those who are homeless because of poverty or disaster. Our task force will 14 address needs of any person who needs “resettlement.” Atlanta ranks number 15 four among US cities in the number of refugee placements. 144 languages are 16 spoken in Atlanta. There is much need for resettlement assistance in Georgia. 17 We collaborate with ecumenical and interfaith agencies. Our main liaison 18 is Refugee Resettlement and Immigration Services of Atlanta (RRISA). In 19 Georgia, Church World Service and Episcopal Migration Ministries affiliate 20 with RRISA. We also collaborate with other agencies in the metro Atlanta area, 21 such as Refugee Family Services which serves the large refugee population in 22 Clarkston and Stone Mountain. 23 We have established a connection with services of the State of Georgia 24 by contact with the State Refugee Coordinator, Georgia Department of Human 25 Resources, Division of Family and Children’s Services. We are honored that 26 Shan Yohan, outgoing chairperson, was selected to serve on the State of 27 Georgia Advisory Council on Refugee Resettlement. She will continue to serve 28 on this council. Ann Guckert is the incoming chairperson of the Task Force for 29 the quadrennium 2008-2012. Ann is a member of Marietta First United 30 Methodist Church. 31 We will continue to aid congregations of the North Georgia Conference 32 in “welcoming strangers” with financial contributions, transportation, housing, 33 food and clothing and above all by developing personal/family friendships of 34 love, care and prayer. 35 Shan Yohan, Chair 36 37 38 39 40 41 111

304. Witness Team 01 02 It is again with great joy and enthusiasm that I write this annual report as 03 the chairperson of the Witness Team of the Connectional Ministries. I would 04 like to express my sincere appreciation to the following persons for their 05 faithfulness and leadership to the specific area of ministry: Carol Cook 06 (Secretary), Martha Aenchbacher (Worship), Bernice Kirkland (Stewardship), 07 Susan Taylor (Career & Vocation), Nancy Watkins (Archives & History), Dick 08 Williamson (Evangelism) and Gerald Thurman (Cabinet Representative). 09 Likewise, I am grateful to the clergy and laity who served on the various 10 committees and Dr. Winston Worrell (World Evangelism Institute) for his 11 assistance and involvement. Furthermore, thanks to Michael Selleck and Shari 12 Rates, who provided direction and visionary leadership to the team. Moreover, 13 I would like to further express my appreciation to Martha Aenchbacher, Nancy 14 Watkins and Dick Williamson for their exemplary leadership over the past 15 quadrennium. 16 It is the goals and objectives of the witness stream to train, equip and 17 enable churches, church servant leaders and others to share the good news of 18 Christ through the various means of servanthood. The specific areas provide 19 individuals the ways and means to express and exercise their faith in 20 meaningful ways. The Witness Team through the Office of Connectional 21 Ministries’ website provide links to key information, resources and training 22 opportunities for churches to reach their potential in bringing persons to Jesus 23 Christ and develop a faith-driven life of discipleship and servanthood. 24 The theme for the 2008 Annual Conference, “The Heart of the Matter: 25 Do No Harm, Do Good, Stay in Love With God,” is a reminder of the familiar 26 words from the author Stephen R. Covey, “The Main Thing Is To Keep The 27 Main Thing The Main Thing.” God is the main focus of the Witness Team 28 because God is the center of all that we proclaim and our actions. Consequently, 29 God’s spirit propels us to do what is right and care for one another 30 unconditionally! 31 Therefore, as we move into a new quadrennium, we challenge the 32 members of the North Georgia Annual Conference to “keep the main thing, the 33 main thing” and utilize the resources and schedule events sponsored by the 34 Witness Team. The individual area witness reports will highlight and emphasize 35 the scheduled opportunities for awareness and growth. 36 Leon Matthews, Chairperson 37 38 39 40 41 112

01 304a. Witness Team – Archives and History Committee 02 03 Our Mission - Our mission is to assist with the collection and preservation of 04 historically significant records of all North Georgia Conference offices, 05 agencies and local churches. We stress the conference theme “The Heart of the 06 Matter: Do No Harm, Do Good, Stay in Love with God” by encouraging 07 churches to properly care for the documents and other materials that serve to 08 bear witness to our history as United Methodist Christians and further our 09 ministry of memory. 10 Activities and Resources - During the 2007-2008 conference year, the 11 committee began plans to present a conference-wide workshop with the theme 12 “Church History: the Next Generation.” The planning process will be 13 continued under new leadership during the 2008-2009 conference year. 14 The committee provided resource materials for writing local church 15 histories and setting up a local church archive at the Gainesville District 16 leadership training event in January 2008. Nancy Watkins, Committee Chair, 17 presented a workshop at this event and also presented a workshop on records 18 management for the local church at the Southeastern Jurisdiction Heritage 19 Preservation Workshop in October 2007. 20 What can we do for you? If your office or local church needs assistance 21 with any matters relating to maintaining your historical records, the committee 22 can provide the training and resources you need to carry out your ministry of 23 memory. 24 Nancy Watkins, Chair 25 26 304b. Witness Team – Evangelism Committee 27 28 One of the responsibilities of the Evangelism Committee is to choose a 29 clergy and a lay person who will receive the annual Harry Denman Award for 30 Evangelism. The recipients of the Award for 2006-2007 were Bishop Lindsey 31 Davis (clergy) and George Pennebaker (laity). 32 Another responsibility is “to plan, promote and provide the training of 33 clergy and laypersons in leadership in ministries of evangelism.” On October 34 20, 2007, the evangelism committee planned for a day of training in “Faith- 35 Sharing.” This was led by Dr. Eddie Fox and Dr. George Morris. We had 36 approximately 250 persons attend, and the event was very well received. 37 Thought is being given for two or three districts going together in the future for 38 such an event. 39 Dick Williamson, Chair 40 41 113

304c. Witness Team –Vocations and Career-Life Planning 01 02 Members of the Vocations and Career-Life Planning met for the first time on 03 January 24, 2008. Mission, role and responsibility of the committee are: 04 Educate the church on the importance of Career and Vocational 05 Planning to the witness of Jesus Christ. Our witness is connected to Jesus 06 Christ, and we are called to reach the world with the good news of the gospel. 07 Therefore, the world is our parish, and we are called to be witnesses for Christ. 08 That call is lived out in the many areas in our culture and society. 09 The role and responsibility of the Vocational/Career-Life Planning 10 Committee is to: 11 x Train, equip and enable conference leaders, church servant leaders and 12 others on the importance of other recognized Christian service beyond 13 the ordained ministry. 14 x Provide awareness initiatives for persons to explore opportunities 15 beyond the local church to witness to the good news of Christ. This can 16 be achieved through the following opportunities: 17 o District workshops and training events 18 o Conference workshops and training events 19 o Provide consultation services for local church leaders 20 The Heart of the Matter: Do No Harm, Do Good, Stay in Love with God 21 – the theme of this year’s Annual Conference – is fulfilled in each Christian’s 22 life when, as a disciple of Christ, every Christian realizes that serving God is 23 their vocation. Various jobs and careers provide opportunities for every disciple 24 to fulfill their vocation of serving God. 25 During the coming year the committee will be working to contact church 26 lay leaders to gather information to use to create a web page, as part of the 27 North Georgia Conference web site, to direct lay leaders and local church 28 leaders to resources that will assist disciples in hearing and acting out their 29 vocation to serve God. 30 Susan Martin Taylor, Chairperson 31 32 304d. Witness Team – Worship Committee 33 34 The mission of the Worship Committee is to encourage worship 35 education in the local church by providing opportunities to encounter 36 innovative and effective worship tools or practices as they glorify God and 37 proclaim Christ. 38 39 40 41 114

01 “God is spirit and his worshipers must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24 02 In 2007 and 2008 the committee continued to share dreams about helping 03 local churches in the area of worship. With the success of the 2006 Worship 04 Conference, we elected to co-sponsor another worship conference with Hickory 05 Flat UMC in the Fall of 2007. Low registration prompted us to reschedule the 06 event for Saturday, April 19, 2008. The conference was entitled “ReGenesis; 07 Heart Changing Worship.” 08 Our hope was to again stress the importance of excellence in worship and 09 to “share the wealth” of resources with one another. The conference was 10 designed for pastors, worship leaders, musicians, and technical artists. Teaching 11 the benefits of having a worship team is a key component of this effort. We 12 want leaders to learn about grace-filled worship that challenges, frees the spirit 13 and provides new ways of responding to the scriptures. 14 We strongly recommend the use of the internet for finding online 15 resources. There are links to the North Georgia website to encourage persons 16 who are searching for quality worship materials. The website of the General 17 Board of Discipleship offers a variety of information and ideas for UM worship 18 www.gbod.org. For more in depth lectionary connections, www.textweek.com 19 is a helpful resource. We encourage churches to share their experiences and 20 knowledge by submitting entries for the “Best Ideas, Best Practices” portion of 21 the North Georgia website. It would be exciting to know what others are doing 22 in worship. 23 Martha Aenchbacher, chair 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 115

400. Action Ministries, Inc. 01 02 The Board and staff of Action Ministries, the Conference’s ministry for 03 poor persons, wishes to express our sincere appreciation to every church in the 04 North Georgia Conference, to the Conference Leadership, and especially to 05 Bishop Davis for partnering with us in being at “The Heart of the Matter.” 06 On a cold winter night in North Georgia, no harm is done to a homeless 07 family because you have supported our transitional housing program through 08 your time, money, and gifts. A family (347 persons over the year) has a warm 09 place to sleep. The children will be ready for school the next day. The mother is 10 receiving training so that she will be able to live self-sufficiently. Good is done. 11 A woman, who is finding her breakfast in the dumpster next to the bar 12 where she is waiting for her next drink, hears the voice of a friend who says 13 “Rachel” come home with me and take a bath; eat some food; God is going to 14 make you well! God does no harm but does good. One such place is the 15 Breakthru House where last year 58 women received hope when there was 16 none. 17 A father, who has worked for years at the mill, now finds himself 18 unemployed and unemployable. The rent is coming due and the younger child 19 needs medicine for her asthma. All of the family’s savings are gone and the 20 darkness of depression and despair is surrounding him. The Action Ministries 21 volunteer carefully asks him the questions on the in-take form, reassuring him 22 that there is hope. Because of the volunteer’s deep love for God, her 23 compassion for him is shared through her voice and he feels God’s love 24 surrounding him. He knows that tomorrow is going to be a better day. Last year 25 2,212 persons received emergency assistance of aid with food, rent, utilities, 26 and medical and auto expenses. The volunteer who was in Love with God 27 helped the father regain his trust in God. 28 For 43 years the love I felt from God and my love for Him have found 29 expressions in Action Ministries: Seeking to Do No Harm, to Do Good, and to 30 Stay in Love with Him. Thank you for giving me that gift. 31 Action needed: 32 1. Confirmation of the Board of Directors 33 2. Approval of Advance Mission Specials through Action Ministries 34 3. Support of local Action Ministries’ programs 35 4. Support of our Annual Campaign and Endowment 36 Frank Windom, President 37 38 39 40 41 116

01 400a. Advance Mission Specials through Action Ministries 2008-2009 02 03 Operated Ministries 04 x Action Ministries Undesignated/Greatest Needs Ministry (Code 3300) 05 x Athens Urban Ministry (Code 3590) 06 Our Daily Bread Community Kitchen (Code 3590-Community Kitchen) 07 x Atlanta Urban Ministry (Code 3360) 08 Atlanta Emergency Aid Program (Code 3340) 09 Atlanta Children's Ministry (Code 3000) 10 Atlanta Women's Community Kitchen (Code 3360-WCK) 11 x Augusta Urban Ministries (Code 3430) 12 Community Clothing Center (Code 3430-Community Clothing Center) 13 x Breakthru House, Inc. (Code 3350) 14 x Gainesville Action Ministries (Code 3420) 15 x Rome Urban Ministries (Code 3500) 16 Community Kitchen (Code 3500-Community Kitchen) 17 Food Pantry (Code 3530) 18 x Family Transitional Ministries (Code 2330) 19 Atlanta Family Housing Program (Code 3360-AFH) 20 Related (United Methodist) ) 21 x Atlanta's Trinity Community Ministries (Code 3380) 22 x Atlanta's Northside Shepherd's Center (Code 3310) 23 x Atlanta's St. Mark Emergency Shelter (Code 3250) 24 x Atlanta's Trinity UMC (Code 3630) 25 x Ministries United for Service and Training, Inc. (MUST) 26 Marietta (Code 3370) 27 Smyrna (Code 3610) 28 Cherokee (Code 3570) 29 Elizabeth Inn (Code 3370-Elizabeth Inn) 30 x Rome's Metropolitan UMC Bus & Breakfast Ministry (Code 3560) 31 Endorsed (Ecumenical or Non-denominational) 32 x Crime Victims Advocacy Council (Code 2930) 33 x Atlanta's Community Food Bank (Code 3850) 34 x Atlanta's Day Shelter for Women & Children, Inc. (Code 3270) 35 x Atlanta Interfaith AIDS Network, Inc. (Code 2810) 36 x Metro Atlanta Recovery Residences (MARR) (Code 3860) 37 x Augusta's Golden Harvest Food Bank (Code 3430-) 38 x Augusta's Meals on Wheels (Code 3450) 39 40 41 117 x Augusta's Downtown Cooperative Church Ministries (Code 3430- 01 Cooperative Ministries) 02 x Gainesville's Gateway House (Code 3600) 03 x Rome's Star House (Code 3540) 04 x Rome's Hospitality House, Inc. (Code 3550) 05 x New Horizons Ministry (Mtn. Top) (Code 3320) 06 x The Partnership Against Domestic Violence (Code 2920) 07 08 400b. Action Ministries - Service Statistics for 2007 09 10 The Basics 11 x 87,547 meals were served. 12 x 63,627 bags of groceries were distributed. 13 x 6,830 persons received coats, clothing, and shoes. 1485 (of the total) 14 adults and children received coats and blankets from the COAT program. 15 x 14,000 half-pints of milk were distributed through the Fresh Milk Project 16 in Rome. 17 Beyond the Basics 18 x 2,212 persons received emergency assistance (food, rent, utilities, 19 medical, and auto.) 20 x 1,885 persons received health related assistance. 21 x 6,774 persons received information and referral. 22 x 72 bikes were provided for children and adults for transportation. 23 x 324 bikes were distributed during White Christmas. 24 x 794 people received furniture, appliances, and household items. 25 x 1,625 persons received Christmas gifts and toys. 26 x 337 persons and 300 families received food boxes or dinner at the 27 holidays. 28 x 997 Marta and bus tickets were distributed. 29 Investing in the Future 30 x 227 children were served in preschool, after school, weekend and 31 summer programs. 32 x 58 women with addictive diseases were provided residential therapeutic 33 treatment through Breakthru House, Inc. 34 x 164 were provided adult education and supportive services. 35 x 347 homeless persons including children received transitional housing 36 and supportive services. 37 Making a Difference 38 Over 4700 volunteers provided 47,493 hours of volunteer service through: 39 40 41 118

01 x Providing meals to the hungry. 02 x Tutoring homeless and poor children. 03 x Serving on Boards, Advisory Council and committees. 04 x Hosts for fundraising events. 05 x Providing clean up, repairs, painting and landscaping. 06 x Repairing bikes. 07 x Collecting and sorting furniture and clothing. 08 x Preparing baskets and toys. 09 x Supporting homeless families in their efforts to become self-sufficient. 10 x Providing computer, secretarial and mailing support. 11 12 13 401. Aldersgate Homes, Inc. 14 15 Aldersgate Homes, a related agency of the North Georgia Conference, 16 seeks to get to “The Heart of the Matter”, doing good and loving God by loving 17 His people with special needs. We serve God through ministry with and to 18 persons with developmental disabilities and by offering congregations 19 opportunities to participate in the ministry. Aldersgate Homes provides 20 facilities for group home living, facilitates independent living possibilities, 21 offers a universally accessible retreat and recreation facility and encourages 22 inclusion of all persons in local church ministries of worship and service. 23 During the past year, Aldersgate Homes served residents in districts 24 across the conference. Local congregations and small groups partner with 25 Aldersgate to fund residences. We especially thank our Partners: Decatur First, 26 Douglasville First, Dunwoody, and Marietta First. We also appreciate our 27 partnerships with the Friendship Circle, the UMW, the New Beginnings Class, 28 and the Fellowship Class at Decatur First; the Joyful Class, UMM, and 29 Craftsmen at Embry Hills; the Marvin Foster Class at Morrow First; the UMW 30 at Tucker First and Gainesville First; and the Trinity Class at St. James. 31 Our homes provide safe, accessible, comfortable living at appropriate 32 levels of independence for our residents. 33 Collinswood of Aldersgate, located on Lake Oconee, is a special place. 34 Collinswood’s cottages, the nature trail that leads to the waterfront, the gazebo, 35 picnic area, and fishing dock are all wheelchair accessible. Garnett Wilder Hall, 36 our new food preparation, dining, and meeting facility to seat 60, has just been 37 completed under the guidance of volunteer building supervisor Ken Lowery. 38 We appreciate the many volunteers from conference churches who have 39 assisted with the building process. Collinswood is available to all, with a special 40 41 119 focus on use by the developmentally disabled and their families. It is a 01 wonderful day or overnight retreat location and offers an opportunity to raise 02 awareness of special needs to all who visit. 03 The ministries of Aldersgate Homes go to “The Heart of the Matter”, 04 doing good for His people. We thank all the churches that support this ministry, 05 and those who give to our annual Special Offering. We invite you to partner 06 with us in ministry through worship, service, education, monetary gifts, and 07 advocacy for persons with developmental disabilities. 08 Becky Bocian, Director 09 10 11 402. Camp Glisson 12 13 A return to the simplicity of living is only one of a variety of growth 14 experiences offered by Camping and Retreat Ministry. For 83 years the heart of 15 our ministry at Camp Glisson has been the Heart of the Matter for our church – 16 doing no harm, doing good and providing experiences for people of all ages to 17 stay in love with God. These experiences of simplicity are more vital for 18 today’s church in our frenetic society than at any time in Glisson’s history. 19 Almost 2400 summer campers participated in programs offered by Camp 20 Glisson in the past year. The focus of our summer program is to provide 21 experiential Christian education that contributes to campers’ cognitive 22 development, social skills and understanding, and growth through stages of 23 faith. These experiences are the foundation for our ministry in the development 24 of Christian leaders. Over 100 college-age staff received intense leader training 25 and experience last summer. There were 36 summer participants in our Leader- 26 in-Training and CREW leadership programs for high school students. Glisson 27 continues to take seriously its role in developing leaders for our church. 28 Three Confirmation Retreats sponsored by Glisson and five Spiritual Life 29 Retreats wonderfully designed by Shari Hickom, Conference Director of Youth 30 and Young Adults, served over 1750 children and youth during eight weekends 31 this winter. In 2007, Glisson hosted 83 retreat groups with 4,576 participants. 32 Glisson Day, a one day celebration of Camp Glisson’s ministry, was held 33 on April 12 and featured three former camp directors – Bob Lanford, Jimmy 34 Moor and Gary Greenwald – presiding at the day’s chapel service. Charter 35 members of the Cane Creek Falls Fellowship were honored. 36 With its completion in April, a new swimming pool replaced its 38-year 37 old predecessor. Glisson is indebted to the generous donations of individuals 38 and churches across our conference who made meeting this urgent need 39 40 41 120

01 possible. Volunteers continue to play a large and vital role in Glisson’s ongoing 02 ministry, contributing to the construction of the pool bathhouse, two new 03 summer camping areas and three new shelters at our Adventure/Outpost site, 04 among other projects. A new high-ropes course was installed in March. 05 Camp Glisson continues to be the beneficiary of a talented and strongly 06 committed year-round staff and Board of Directors. As I celebrate my first year 07 of service as Director/Manager, I cannot be more grateful for the people with 08 whom I serve and for my predecessors in this position on whose shoulders I 09 stand. May all of us continue to be faithful to the love, passion, gifts and 10 prayers of the people of the North Georgia Annual Conference. 11 C. Russell Davis, Director 12 13 14 403. Report of the Task Force on Capital and 15 Fundraising Needs for Camp Wesley 16 17 The 2007 Annual Conference asked the Bishop to “form a task force to 18 study capital needs and fundraising needs for Camp Wesley.” Bishop Davis 19 appointed the following as members of this committee: Sharma Lewis, chair, 20 Yvette Massey, Howard Wright, Med Roach, Robin Lindsey, Jimmy Moor, 21 Dianne Spencer, Derrick Rhodes, Steve Rea and Winston Carhee. 22 Camp Wesley is a youth summer camp enrichment program of Wesley 23 Community Centers, Incorporated, a related agency of the North Georgia 24 Conference of the United Methodist Church. It has provided a safe, caring and 25 fun-filled camp experience to many youth from economically challenged 26 backgrounds in the Atlanta area for approximately 60 years. 27 In the 1960s the Camp was located in Lithia Springs and relocated to 28 Fairburn. In 2006, the Fairburn property was sold and the new property which 29 consists of 334 acres in Meriwether County was purchased. Historically, Camp 30 Wesley, Incorporated has managed the property and Wesley Community 31 Centers provided the outreach programs for the campers. 32 As members of the NGA Task Force discussed our strategy we sought to 33 maintain the historic mission of Camp Wesley by: (1) continuing to outreach to 34 disadvantaged youth; (2) expanding the outreach ministry to disadvantaged 35 youth from LaGrange and potentially areas of the South Georgia Conference; 36 and (3) by expanding the existing operation into a year round camping and 37 retreat center. 38 While we were doing our work, two other efforts were underway. The 39 Board of Directors of Wesley Community Centers issued an RFP for a detailed 40 41 121 property survey. The Board approved that Kaleidoscope Incorporated would 01 conduct the survey under contract by Camp Wesley, Incorporated. 02 Subsequently, Coxe Curry and Associates, fundraising consultants have been 03 hired to conduct a joint capital needs campaign for Camp Wesley and 04 Simpsonwood. 05 Simultaneously, further questions were raised by the NGA Task Force 06 about the success of this project. Therefore, NGA Task Force representatives 07 along with representatives of Camp Wesley Incorporated, Wesley Community 08 Center, Capital Campaign Planning Team, and the Conference Connectional 09 Ministries and Camping met to dialogue about the long term vision of Camp 10 Wesley. As a result of these meetings, it was recommended that dialogue 11 among these groups continue. 12 It was also recommended that in 2008 a resolution be brought forth to the 13 Annual Conference to establish a clear vision for camping and retreat ministry 14 for the North Georgia Annual Conference. 15 Sharma Lewis, Chairperson 16 17 18 404. Interfaith Airport Chaplaincy, Inc. 19 20 The support of the North Georgia Conference through Connectional 21 Ministries, local churches and faithful individuals is enabling the ongoing 22 ministry of the Airport Chaplaincy at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta 23 International Airport, the world’s largest airport, serving over 95 million 24 patrons this year. 25 The Rev. Dr. Chester R. Cook, full elder in the North Georgia 26 Conference, is appointed full time to the position of Executive Director/Senior 27 Chaplain. Ordained IAC chaplains and lay volunteers assist with the airport 28 ministry. 29 Chaplaincy services are provided to the traveling public, military 30 personnel and the airport community. The chaplaincy program provides: two 31 chapel locations, one in the Atrium and the second on the E-International 32 concourse; Christian worship services on Sunday and special services on 33 holidays; camouflaged New Testaments for the soldiers; H.O.P.E. for the 34 homeless, hungry, mentally ill and unemployed; travel aid for the stranded; and 35 counsel, comfort and prayer for the sojourner. 36 We are grateful for the investment of North Georgia United Methodists 37 into this valuable marketplace ministry. “The world is our parish.” 38 Chester Cook, Executive Director/Senior Chaplain 39 40 41 122

01 405. The Methodist Foundation for Retired Ministers 02 03 For the Methodist Foundation for Retired Ministers The Heart of the Matter is 04 to continue to provide as much as possible to enable clergy of this conference to 05 live comfortably in retirement. To do this, the Board of Trustees endeavors to 06 Do No Harm, Do Good by managing the assets of the Foundation in accord 07 with its investment policy and with the advice of investment counsel from 08 Trustco Capital Management. 09 The Foundation continues to have four ongoing commitments: 10 1. Based on a three year rolling average of the market value of the 11 Foundation’s assets, three percent goes to the pre-1982 unfunded pension 12 liability of the North Georgia Conference ($272,000 for 2008). 13 2. Also based on the rolling average two percent goes toward funding of the 14 unfunded liability of the Retiree Medical Supplemental Insurance 15 ($181,000 for 2008). 16 3. The Foundation made an ongoing pledge of $1,000,000 to the Wesley 17 Woods Foundation Aging with Grace Campaign. This pledge is paid in 18 the amount of $100,000 annually through 2009. 19 4. Starting in 2005 a commitment was made to provide $25,000 annually to 20 help retirees who need assistance with payment of their portion of the 21 Medicare Supplemental Insurance. 22 The Board of Trustees is made up of three classes with the terms of one 23 class expiring annually. The nominations for four new trustees are a part of the 24 report of the Nominating Committee and will be presented for action when that 25 report is made. 26 The Trustees of the Foundation pledge to the North Georgia Annual 27 Conference that we will continue to believe that The Heart of the Matter is To 28 Do No Harm, Do Good, Stay in Love with God as we attempt to follow in the 29 footsteps of the retired clergy who have made doing these things their purpose 30 in life. 31 Sally Curtis AsKew Jamie Earl Jenkins 32 33 405a. Statement of Activities for the Years Ended 34 December 31, 2007 and 2006 (Unaudited) 35 36 Revenues: 2007 2006 37 Investment Income $240,792 $242,703 38 Change in Market Value of Investments 323,628 709,208 39 Administrative expense (44,705) (55,124) 40 41 123

Other 4,000 4,800 01 Total revenues $523,715 $901,587 02 03 Expenses: 04 Transfers to Board of Pensions $282,000 $285,600 05 Transfers for Retirees Medicare Suppl Insur 188,000 190,400 06 Transfers to Fdtn of Wesley Homes 100,000 100,000 07 08 Transfers for Med Supplemental Assistance 25,000 25,000 09 Miscellaneous / Other 14,023 7,424 10 Total expenses $609,023 $608,424 11 12 Change in Net Assets (85,308) 293,163 13 Net Assets, January 1 $8,885,588 $8,592,425 14 15 Net Assets, December 31 $8,800,280 $8,885,588 16 Statement of Financial Position 17 December 31, 2007 and 2006 (Unaudited) 18 Assets: 2007 2006 19 20 Total Assets $8,942,780 $9,029,988 21 Liabilities and Net Assets: 22 Liabilities $142,500 $144,400 23 Net Assets: 24 Operating Fund 6,821,068 6,898,560 25 26 James S Dozier and Martha S Dozier Fund 1,979,212 1,987,028 27 Total Net Assets $8,800,280 $8,885,588 28 Total Liabilities and Net Assets $8,942,780 $9,029,988 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 124

01 405b. Graphs 02 03 04 Beneficiaries of Methodist Foundation 05 06 for Retired Ministers of North Georgia 07 Conference Payments 08 09 Unfunded Pension Liability 10 48% 11 Wesley Homes 12 Aging with Grace Cam paign 13 17% 14 Retirees Medicare 15 M edicare Supplem ental Supplem ental 16 Insurance Assistance 17 31% 4% 18 19 20 21 Methodist Foundation for Retired Ministers 22 of North Georgia Conference historical asset values for 23 past 20 years 24 25 M illions 26 $12 27 28 $10 29 $8 30 $6 31 32 $4

33 $2 34 35 $0

8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 36 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 37 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 38 39 40 41 125

406. Murphy-Harpst Children’s Home 01 02 The array of Murphy-Harpst’s services to children, youth, and families 03 ranges from in-home services to the community, outpatient mental health 04 clinics, early education and independent living to more intensive services such 05 as residential treatment and specialized foster care. As early as 1914, founders 06 Ethel Harpst and Sarah Murphy answered God’s call to take care of the health 07 and education of needy children and their families. 08 In 1924 Ethel Harpst opened the “Harpst Home” in Cedartown for 09 children who had lost their parents or whose parents could not care for them 10 due to illness, death and poverty. Now a nationally accredited residential 11 treatment facility, the Harpst Center of Murphy-Harpst cares for 50 children in 12 residence at any one time, supervises 23 therapeutic foster care homes and 13 provides the administrative and financial support team needed to insure the 14 delivery of the highest quality of services within the resources of the facility. 15 Services are provided to children from throughout the state of Georgia. 16 In nearby Rockmart, schoolteacher Sarah Murphy began providing a 17 home to orphaned and needy African-American children in 1931. Now the 18 Murphy campus houses an independent living group home, a community 19 mental health center and Pre-Kindergarten/Head Start classes for 150 at-risk 20 children. 21 The interventions and assistance provided by the Murphy-Harpst 22 Children’s Centers are crucial to the long-term success of children and youth 23 whose early years were traumatically impacted by severe emotional, physical or 24 sexual abuse. Multiple therapeutic programs – including individual, group and 25 family therapy; equine therapy; art, music and drama; specialty groups; field 26 trips; spiritual enrichment services; and special times provided by a variety of 27 dedicated volunteers – all work together to heal the hurt and provide the hope 28 needed for a new life. 29 Joanne Simmons, President/CEO 30 31 32 407. North Georgia United Methodist Foundation, Inc. 33 34 The North Georgia United Methodist Foundation was founded in 1984 to 35 help churches, agencies and individuals within the North Georgia Conference 36 multiply their financial resources for mission and ministry. 37 Our ministry goals include partnering with United Methodists to grow 38 God’s kingdom for the transformation of the world; maintaining high Christian 39 40 41 126

01 and professional standards; and providing expert counsel, superior value and a 02 comprehensive range of stewardship services. 03 The Foundation’s Investment Services are designed to meet a variety of 04 financial objectives. We serve as a trustee and offer competitive rates of returns 05 to clients who invest in money market, short-term bond, fixed income and 06 equity funds. In 2007 investments managed exceeded $59.8 million. New 07 receipts comprised of funds from trusts, individuals, permanent endowments 08 and managed assets for local churches totaled over $4.5 million. The Equity 09 Fund delivered net returns of 6.15%, outperforming the domestic Standard & 10 Poor’s 500 Index, which yielded returns of 5.49%. The Fixed Income Fund 11 earned net returns of 6.91%. Churches with a balanced portfolio consisting of 12 60% Equity and 40% Fixed Income netted good returns of 6.45%. 13 Investors who purchase Investment Certificates from the Development 14 Fund earn above-average interest rates, prudently grow their investments and 15 experience the joy of Christian stewardship by providing a source of funding 16 for the Foundation to offer low-interest loans to United Methodist churches and 17 agencies. The Loan Fund enables churches to construct new buildings, 18 renovate existing facilities, purchase property and refinance debt to meet the 19 needs of growing ministries. 20 Planned Giving Services help churches and agencies establish 21 endowment funds, which provide a future source of income for the upkeep of 22 buildings, missions and many other ministries. The Foundation also consults 23 with individuals on donor advised funds, charitable remainder unitrusts and gift 24 annuities that make lifetime payments while offering tax benefits. 25 Capital Campaign Services assist churches and agencies in raising 26 funds for property acquisition, building construction and renovation, debt 27 reduction and endowment growth. These custom-designed services include 28 feasibility analysis, planning, training and campaign consultation. 29 Please contact us at (770) 449-6726 or visit www.ngumf.org for 30 assistance with any of your stewardship needs. 31 Bob Fletcher, President 32 Chuck Savage, Chair 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 127

01 WHO BENEFITS FROM FOUNDATION FUNDS? 02 SCHOLARSHIPS 03 CONFERENCE 1.9% MISSIO NS 04 RETIRED 8.5% PROGRAMS MINISTERS 12.0% 05 18.4% 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 UMC LOCAL 15 INST IT UT IO NS CHURCHES 16 11.8% PLA NNED G IV ING 40.2% 17 B ENEFIC IA R IES 7.2% 18 19 407a. Graphs 20 NORTH GEORGIA UNITED M ETHODIST 21 22 FOUNDATION GROWTH IN ASSETS 1987-2007 23 (M ILLIONS) 59.8 58.2 24 25 52.9 $60 26 27 $50 41.5 38.8 28

$40 31.7 29 30 $30 21.0 31 32 $20 14.2 33 34 $10 3.0 0.6 1.0 35 $0 36

7 9 1 3 5 7 9 1 3 5 7 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 37 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 38 39 40 41 128

01 408. United Methodist Children’s Home, Inc. 02 03 2007 was a year of mission and challenge for the Children’s Home. From 04 the November 1 destruction of our Leigh Cottage by fire to our year-long 05 struggles with finances the Home met the challenges and maintained its mission 06 to serve children and families in crisis. Churches around the North Georgia 07 Conference responded to support the ministry of the Home with gifts totaling 08 $802,612.65, up 12% from the previous year. 09 2007 saw a rapid growth in the Independent Living and Transitional 10 Living Programs for older teenagers. These older youth – ages 17 to 21 – are 11 not easily placed in foster homes but they are in great need of mentors/teachers 12 to help them with the skills of living and working on their own. The 13 Independent Living Program is housed in a boys building and a girls building 14 on our campus and receives youth who are willing to work at a job (and perhaps 15 go to school as well) while they are learning skills such as how to be good 16 employees, how to keep their living space clean and healthy, and how to keep a 17 checkbook and manage their money responsibly. The Transitional Living 18 Program places somewhat more advanced boys and girls in apartments around 19 the area and maintains close supervision on them in order to help them continue 20 to mature and take the last steps toward independence. 21 After some delays our new intake center housed in Whitehead Hall 22 opened in January 2008. The newly renovated building, which was the old 23 school building and more recently the auxiliary building, will receive youth 24 24 hours a day/seven days a week with boys housed in one wing of the building 25 and girls in another. After entering the agency through this center the young 26 person may go on to a cottage on campus, to the ILP or TLP program or to 27 another agency if they have more specific, severe problems that need 28 specialized care. 29 Services Provided in 2007 Children Families 30 Emergency Financial Aid 1053 467 31 Family Counseling 66 39 32 Parenting Skills 21 13 33 Higher Education 7 7 34 Short-term Family Housing 66 23 35 Foster Family Care 101 63 36 Group Care 108 90 37 Independent Living 30 30 38 Transitional Living 26 23 39 Beverly O. Cochran, Administrator Richard A. Puckett, Director of PR&D 40 41 129

409. Wesley Community Centers, Inc. 01 02 The Wesley Community Centers, Inc. was founded by the Women’s Mission 03 Board of six Methodist churches in 1902 as a settlement house for newly 04 arriving immigrants seeking a better life in Atlanta. Today, the three primary 05 ministries of Wesley Community Centers are the Bethlehem Senior Center, 06 Project Extend and the Camp Wesley program. 07 The Board of Directors of Wesley Community Centers is happy to 08 announce that our Interim Executive Director, Joy Magnus, has accepted the 09 position on a permanent basis. The Board, staff and clients look forward to 10 Joy’s leading us into a future that expands the mission and ministry of this 11 historic organization. 12 The Bethlehem Senior Center, owned by the Women’s Division of the 13 General Board of Global Ministries, provides an environment of love, care and 14 support for senior citizens. Due to the new senior citizen residential 15 communities being built in the area, the number of seniors served at Bethlehem 16 continues to increase, serving 30 percent new clients in the past year. 17 Project Extend serves seniors and disabled adults by providing no-cost 18 home repairs for low income homeowners in metropolitan Atlanta. In 2007, 19 Project Extend staff, contractors and volunteers completed 287 minor and major 20 home repairs. Goodwill/New Choices has partnered with us providing their 21 students hands-on experience. United Methodist church groups, Macy’s, college 22 students/youth groups and individuals served as volunteer teams. 23 Camp Wesley provides a residential summer camping experience for at- 24 risk children and youth. In 2007, Camp Wesley served 8-12 year-old children at 25 the Shiloh Campground in Carrollton in two five-day sessions. This year, we 26 will have three five-day sessions at the Shiloh Campground. 27 The 25th Annual Wesley Walk for Others took place in October at Stone 28 Mountain. The Walk is our major fundraiser of the year and we were pleased to 29 see familiar walkers and new faces. There were satellite walks around the 30 conference and we are currently expanding our walk sites. We thank Stone 31 Mountain First UMC for hosting us again, all the walk coordinators, churches 32 and district superintendents that supported us at this milestone event. 33 Because of you, we can continue to be the Heart of the Matter in Atlanta 34 as we serve seniors and children in the community. On behalf of the seniors, 35 disabled adults and children we thank you for helping us “give feet to the faith 36 of the church.” 37 Sue Raymond, Board of Directors M. Joy Magnus, Executive Director 38 39 40 41 130

01 410. Wesley Woods 02 03 Our forefathers and mothers, under the guidance of the North Georgia 04 Conference and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, established a premier 05 ministry to and for older adults. Today we are privileged to continue to serve 06 this significant population in our society. Our residential communities in Athens 07 (2), Atlanta (3), Augusta, Blairsville (2), and Newnan-Peachtree City are 08 comfortable, safe, secure homes for the more than 1,500 who live there. Our 09 facilities on Clifton Road in Atlanta, with the partnership of Emory University, 10 provide medical care for over 3,000 inpatient residents and over 45,000 11 outpatient visits each year. With gratitude to God, we can say as the United 12 Methodists of North Georgia, that we have been able to serve thousands upon 13 thousands of senior citizens. Now it is the present generation’s time to carry 14 forward the ministry begun by those who have gone before to “do no harm, do 15 good, and stay in love with God.” These are some of the highlights of the year. 16 Under the leadership of Kenneth Weber, President of Wesley Woods 17 Senior Living, the ministry to the housing needs of low and moderate income 18 senior adults has continued by providing over $5 million in governmental and 19 Wesley Woods related financial assistance to over 75 percent of the 1500 20 persons served. A current major focus is the refinancing possibilities of the 21 retirement communities due to the lower interest rates with two having been 22 refinanced this past year. The local advisory boards related to each retirement 23 community continue to provide invaluable guidance to our ongoing ministry. 24 Under the leadership of Albert K. Blackwelder, Chief Operations Officer 25 of Wesley Woods Center of Emory University, the Wesley Woods Center 26 continues to provide inpatient services in the rehabilitation, psychiatry, 27 neuropsychiatry medical areas, and nursing care, and a wide array of outpatient 28 services in primary care, wound therapy, dental care, late-life despression, and 29 neurological and psychiatric evaluations and others. 30 Under the leadership of Lillian Darden, President, the Foundation of 31 Wesley Woods continues to concentrate on its primary purpose, the raising of 32 funds for charitable care and the care of the facilities. The generosity of the 33 churches of North Georgia through the Mother’s Day Offering is greatly 34 appreciated and is the lifeline for so many older adults. Again this year, the 35 Foundation sponsored clergy appreciation luncheons in the Athens-Elberton, 36 Atlanta-Emory and LaGrange districts. We will do this yearly on a rotating 37 basis to show our gratitude for our churches’ support of Wesley Woods. 38 Charles Hoover, Director of Church Relations 39 40 41 131

500. Conference Board of Laity 01 02 At our August meeting we welcomed two new district lay leaders, 03 Celesta Sargent from Augusta and Paul Norris from Atlanta-Emory. We also 04 welcomed Jasmine Smothers, President Conference Youth and Ashley Eady, 05 Co-President Conference Youth. The CBOL affirmed the presentations of 06 Bishop Larry Goodpaster at the Laity Luncheon and Charles Whittemore at the 07 Laity Worship Service. In October the CBOL provided assistance at the Faith 08 Sharing seminar at Mt Bethel. At our November meeting Bernie Brown 09 presented each of us his latest book “Lessons Learned on the Way Down.” 10 Every person on the Bishop’s Cabinet has a prayer partner on CBOL; these 11 prayer partners held a joint meeting and dinner on January 7. At our March 12 meeting we enjoyed the hospitality of Zoar UMC in the ADOX district, joining 13 them for Sunday School, worship and lunch, followed by our meeting. The four 14 task forces of CBOL have been working hard this year. Their area reports 15 follow: 16 Leadership UMC (LUMC) - Sam Kilburn, Chairperson. In 2007/2008 the 17 sixth class successfully completed the LUMC academy. LUMC helps prepare 18 persons for church leadership at the local, district and annual conference level. 19 226 people have graduated from the LUMC program in the past six years. Most 20 graduates of the program are now active leaders in their local churches, in their 21 districts and in the conference. The graduates have represented over 170 22 churches in the North Georgia Conference since the program began in 2002. 23 This year-long program features four workshops to help participants discover 24 their ministry: church polity, spiritual gifts, shared leadership between clergy 25 and laity, and leadership skills. Small groups study societal and church issues 26 and make recommendations for resolutions. Presentations from the small group 27 research projects can be viewed on the ngumc.org web site under the 28 Conference Board of Laity. Our long range goal is to have at least one LUMC 29 graduate from each church in the North Georgia Conference. Applications for 30 the 2008/2009 class can be received by each district office as late as 8/1/2008. 31 Conference Committee on Lay Speaking Ministries (CCLSM) - Verdery 32 Cunningham, Director. Lay Speaking Ministries emphasizes Leading, 33 Communicating and Caring ministries. The twelve district directors continue to 34 increase the number of lay speakers through their districts’ offerings of the 35 Basic and Advance courses twice a year. Most districts also held a celebratory 36 Dedication/Consecration service in 2007/2008. 37 In January we hosted the National Association of Conference Directors of Lay 38 Speaking Ministries (ACDLSM) at Simpsonwood. For this event we published 39 40 41 132

01 a cook book titled Peaches, Pecans and Prayers, for those not familiar with our 02 “southern specialities.” The persons who attended this meeting appreciated our 03 warm welcome and were impressed with the hospitality of Simpsonwood. In 04 July 2008 we will host the Southeastern Jurisdiction Lay Speaking Ministries 05 workshops. This will be the first time to have the annual SEJ training event 06 away from Lake Junaluska. For more information go to 07 layspeakingministries.org/SEJpage.htm or contact your district director. The 08 courses offered at this gathering will be new for North Georgia. Last year the 09 General Board of Discipleship began offering the 20 lay speaking courses in a 10 generic form to local churches whose members want to become better equipped 11 in leading, communicating and caring ministries but who are not interested in 12 becoming credentialed lay speakers. The Conference committee hopes the local 13 churches will begin to use this excellent resource material. 14 Lay Missionary Training (LMT) - Lenny Peterson, Interim Chairperson. Lay 15 Missionary Training (LMT) provides training to equip lay persons for mission 16 ministry locally or internationally. For laity who hear a call to deeper mission 17 service, LMT helps clarify and focus the call and to develop a plan to 18 implement the mission. In conference year 2007-2008 LMT trained and 19 certified 14 Lay Missionaries. Most are planning local missions, although some 20 plan to become fulltime international missionaries. Local mission ministries 21 dealing with handicapped children, substance abuse are planned. This is the 22 eighth session of LMT. To date 81 lay missionaries have been certified. The 23 ninth session of Lay Missionary Training will be held in the fall of 2008 and 24 spring of 2009. 25 Lay Revitalization Ministry (LRM) - Leon Jourolmon, Chairperson. This 26 ministry joins laity and clergy for the purpose of inspiring and training 27 members of local churches. The program centers around a weekend 28 consultation event conducted at the local church, during which experienced 29 team members encourage and train church members in ministry areas, including 30 evangelism, prayer, music, finance, and church image. LRM consulted with 31 Philadelphia UMC (Griffin District) and Tunnel Hull UMC (Northwest District) 32 this year. We have four more consulting visits in various planning stages. LRM 33 team members are passionate about their ministry, because matching churches 34 that have a particular area of interest with laity/clergy trained in that area has 35 great potential for the Kingdom! 36 Lyn Powell, Conference Lay Leader 37 38 39 40 41 133

501. United Methodist Men 01 02 A year of transition is the best way to describe 2007 for the United 03 Methodist Men, there were multiple changes in leadership, several due to men 04 going on to be with Jesus. UMMen ministries continued through out the year. 05 In EVANGELISM, our prayer advocate has vitalized prayer ministry 06 promoting training for Upper Room Prayer Line, National Day of Prayer, 07 Prayer partners across the conference, and a prayer wall at events. Scouting and 08 youth ministries continue to grow and UMMen are a source of manpower and 09 volunteer leadership. 10 In MISSION, the men have been active in our local communities, in the 11 Southeastern Jurisdiction and around the world. Locally UMMen responded to 12 numerous needs. Several Potato Drops and gleaning opportunities were 13 arranged around Georgia. In Pass Christian, MS, we maintain and support a 14 Volunteer Center, where teams stay while serving in the community. 15 Additionally, men participated in mission trips to, Brazil, Costa Rico, Ghana, 16 Honduras, Mexico, Mozambique, Peru, and Venezuela, to name a few. 17 SPIRITUAL LIFE undergirds the ministry, mission and events of the 18 UMMen. Study material, books and guides to aid in spiritual growth are shared 19 around the conference. The 45th Annual Men’s Spiritual Retreat at Rock Eagle 20 was attended by over 800 men, and the 6th Annual Super Mission Saturday had 21 over 80 mission minded people in attendance. 22 Leadership Training is a continuous focus for local and district presidents 23 and covers broad range of information. Annually Presidents Handbooks and 24 Program Manuals are updated and distributed. 25 For the coming year, effective and improved communication will be used 26 to enlarge the UMMen vision of Evangelism, Mission and Spiritual Life. Our 27 goal is to reach, offer and engage every man in the North Georgia Conference 28 in UMMen ministries. 29 Jasper J. Russell Sr., President 30 31 32 502. United Methodist Women 33 34 The Heart of the Matter in UMW is our Purpose. We remain a community of 35 women who want to know God, by participating in global ministries, 36 developing creative, supportive fellowship, and by studying scripture and 37 related resources. In 2007, the UMW theme was Rise, Shine, Glorify God 38 (Matt. 5:14-16.) UMW sought ways to do no harm as we took part in the “Truth 39 40 41 134

01 is Coming to Light” Conference in June 2007. Attendees were enlightened as to 02 the need for further study on the connections between mercury and an increase 03 in autism and other medical difficulties. See video excerpts at youtube.com and 04 search for UMW and Mercury conference. 05 UMW did good in several ways as servant leaders during Annual 06 Conference 2007. To name a few areas of service: UMW stuffed packets for all 07 conference delegates, were involved in the Great Day of Service projects, and 08 hosted the annual UMW breakfast. Former and current UMW officers were 09 elected as delegates to General and Jurisdictional Conferences. 10 UMW ambassadors from all over the United States visited North GA 11 during the US Social Forum held in Atlanta. The young college UMW explored 12 major social issues and sought to find the good and share the biblical 13 perspective on the issues. 14 The Cooperative Mission Education Event in July was sponsored by 15 Global Ministries and UMW. This was an opportunity to receive new insight to 16 mission involvement for women, children, and youth. Worship, fellowship and 17 study for the Event focused on Israel and Palestine, God's Mission, God's Song, 18 and Globalization. Participants had the opportunity to study in English, Spanish 19 and Korean languages, “Singing Across the Walls” and finding Jesus there. 20 Annual meeting 2007 was a fantastic time of fellowship, celebrating how 21 North GA UMW had embraced the theme “Rise, Shine, Glorify God.” Dr. Jan 22 Love blessed us with her message on “Glorifying God.” Each district was 23 recognized for their effort to be in mission. A recognition luncheon was added 24 to show our love for individuals who have gone beyond expectations to 25 continue mission efforts. 26 Officer Update was a time to revisit policies and introduce new ones to 27 the local and district officers. Information was shared from the National 28 Seminar where the theme was “For Christ's Sake, Turn the World Upside 29 Down.” The events of 2007 have inspired UMW to…Stay in Love with God. 30 Tonya Murphy, President 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 135

600. Drew University Theological School 01 02 Drew Theological School is grateful that the annual conferences continue 03 to send us men and women for the various programs of the school. We are 04 proud of our United Methodist Scholarship that gives full tuition to any United 05 Methodist who has been a member of a UM church for at least two years, has a 06 3.5 from their undergraduate program and meets our other requirements. 07 Enrollment Our 560 students come from over 20 countries and across 08 the United States. They are half men and half women, from 23 to 74 in age, 09 and in addition to the 70 percent who are from Methodist traditions, they 10 represent many other denominations. We offer the PhD, the DMin, STM, 11 MDiv, MTS degrees and on going offerings for the larger community. Kevin 12 Miller continues to serve as director of admissions and can be reached via email 13 at [email protected]. 14 Shalom Initiative As of January 1, 2008, Drew Theological is the new 15 partner for the United Methodist initiative called “Communities of Shalom.” 16 Often referred to as “shalom zones,” Communities of Shalom is a grass-roots, 17 faith-based network of shalom sites that engage congregations and communities 18 in working together for community development, peace and wholeness. 19 Michael Christensen, who has been Drew’s director of the doctor of ministry 20 program, is now serving as the director of this important community-based 21 initiative. 22 Clergy Health and Wholeness Center Associate Dean Virginia Samuel 23 is working on the creation of an initiative to address the crises in the health of 24 our clergy. The proposed Center for Clergy Health and Wholeness will respond 25 to the precipitous decline in the overall mental, emotional, and especially 26 physical health of active clergy members over the past 25 years. Through 27 programming for clergy, denominational officials and seminary students, 28 ongoing research in the area of clergy health, programs for laity to increase 29 their awareness of the issues, and the facilitation of partnerships between and 30 among judicatories, health professionals and health care systems, the Center 31 will seek to educate and help clergy to adopt better self-care practices. 32 Maxine Clarke Beach, Dean 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 136

01 601. Study Committee on 02 Conference Staffing and Number of Districts 03 04 At its 2006 session the conference approved a resolution from the Council on 05 Finance and Administration asking the bishop to “name a study committee to 06 review the staffing, clergy and lay, at the Methodist Center and to review the 07 number of districts with an eye to current responsibilities, efficiency and cost 08 savings.” 09 Bishop Davis appointed the following as members of this committee: 10 Chuck Hodges, chair, James Cantrell, James Ellison, Jane Finley, Nancy 11 Folsom-Lane, Bob Forrest, Jonathan Holston, Tom Jackson, Bill Lester, 12 Sharma Lewis, Lyn Powell, Charles Savage, Herchel Sheets, Dianne Spencer, 13 Wiley Stephens and Edward Tomlinson. (Jamie Jenkins served in the latter’s 14 place in 2007-2008). 15 The committee gave its report regarding the number of districts at the 16 2007 conference session. Our recommendation to retain twelve districts was 17 approved by the conference. The committee is now reporting its 18 recommendations regarding conference staffing. 19 As the committee went about its task, we sought to keep in mind the 20 charge to conduct the study “with an eye to current responsibilities, efficiency 21 and cost savings.” At times we found ourselves inclined to think only in terms 22 of “cost savings,” but then some member of the committee would remind us 23 that we were to think also in terms of “current responsibilities and efficiency.” 24 The process used by the committee was an extensive one. Data and 25 feedback were sought first from the staff persons themselves, both by written 26 response to a questionnaire and by interview. The five persons in executive or 27 director positions were interviewed both individually and as a group. In 28 addition, the study committee requested written input from chairpersons of 29 conference committees about staff relationships with their committees and also 30 interviewed many of the chairpersons. 31 We studied certain demographics of our conference to see what light 32 these shed upon staff needs and services. We discovered, for instance, that 33 between 1984 and 2006 the number of clergy in our conference increased from 34 918 to 1422, a 55 percent increase; the number of pastoral charges grew from 35 653 to 794, a 22 percent increase; and church membership rose from 252,356 to 36 342,045, a 36 percent increase. 37 In light of these facts, we found ourselves asking if it was logical to 38 assume that the conference could function more effectively with fewer staff 39 persons now than when the conference was considerably smaller. We 40 41 137 discovered, in fact, that though staff relationships, assignments and functions 01 have changed somewhat through the years, the conference staff is almost 02 exactly the same in number now as in 1984. 03 We also made certain comparisons of the North Georgia Conference with 04 other annual conferences, particularly those in the Southeastern Jurisdiction. Of 05 those from whom we received data, we found our conference to compare 06 favorably as far as the number of staff is concerned and also in regard to the 07 percentage of the conference budget designated for staff costs. That percentage 08 in our conference is 6.74 percent. Only two conferences in the Southeastern 09 Jurisdiction for which we have data show lower percentages, and that only 10 slightly lower. While our conference’s decisions about such matters are to be 11 made in the light of our own goals and needs, still it is helpful to know how 12 other conferences are dealing with the matter of staff services. 13 A primary interest, if cost savings is our concern, would be with the 14 number of executive or director positions: Treasurer and Director of 15 Administrative Services, Executive Assistant to the Bishop, Director of 16 Connectional Ministries, Director of Ministerial Services, and Director of 17 Church Development. Since each of these is a cabinet level position, 18 elimination of one of these positions would result in the most cost savings. Yet 19 with our 2008 budget of $24,340,000, the cost savings by the church with either 20 the largest or the smallest apportionment would be minimal. That is not to say 21 that a position should not be eliminated because it would not have much effect 22 on the conference budget, but it is to say that cost savings is not sufficient 23 reason to eliminate a position when it is critically important to the annual 24 conference, which we believe is the case with each of our director positions. 25 Therefore we recommend that the five Director positions be retained. 26 The Council of Bishops has recently recommended that the planting of 27 new churches be one of the priorities of our denomination. That has long been a 28 priority of North Georgia , and that has been a major factor in our 29 membership growth. Church attendance has increased in our conference by 30 21,468 since 1990, and 70 percent of this increase is due to our new churches. 31 The study committee believes we need to continue this attention to the planting 32 of new churches, and we recommend that the title and the focus of the 33 Director of Church Development be changed to Director of New Church 34 Development. 35 Across the years the scope of responsibility of the Office of Church 36 Development has broadened to include important areas of church development, 37 but these concerns may detract from the director’s attention to the planting and 38 developing of new congregations. While North Georgia’s success rate in church 39 40 41 138

01 starts (about 80 percent) is above the national average, having a director who 02 focuses only on new churches could increase our effectiveness in establishing 03 growing new congregations. Therefore we recommend that a new program 04 team called “Congregational Development Program Team” be formed, and 05 that several program tasks now being carried out by the Board of Church 06 Development be reassigned to this Program Team. These tasks include: 07 existing church development, natural church development, small 08 membership churches, and church grants. As this program team goes about 09 its work, it may appropriately add other concerns involving congregational 10 development—such as urban church development, for instance. 11 With the transfer of these program areas, we recommend that one 12 associate director presently assigned to the Board of Church Development 13 be transferred to the Office of Connectional Ministries, to work under the 14 supervision of the Director of Connectional Ministries. We recommend 15 that after this change is made, the Director of New Church Development 16 re-evaluate the support staff needs of the Office of New Church 17 Development to determine whether or not a decrease in support staff might 18 be feasible. 19 The study committee has a number of concerns about the conference’s 20 program teams, which are supposed to promote the program needs of the annual 21 conference and help to equip local churches in their mission of making disciples 22 of Jesus Christ. These concerns include the following: (1) The conference 23 nominating committee nominates numerous program committees which have 24 their separate existence, but then are supposed to function in unity under one of 25 four Program Teams (Advocacy, Nurture, Outreach, and Witness). This has 26 sometimes proved to be complicated and confusing. (2) In addition to the 27 twenty-three (23) committees having their separate existence, the four Program 28 Teams are somewhat disconnected, which has been an obstacle to unified 29 programming for the annual conference. (3) When restructuring of the 30 conference’s programming was done in 2002, the Office of Connectional 31 Ministries replaced the Conference Council on Ministries. We believe the role 32 of that office in the conference’s programming now needs greater clarity. (4) 33 The number of staff has decreased from ten (10) assigned to the Council on 34 Ministries in 1984 to six (6) assigned to the Office of Connectional Ministries in 35 2007. These six include the Director of Connectional Ministries, the Manager of 36 Camp Glisson, the Director of Youth and Young Adult Work, and one 37 Associate Director, plus one full time and one part-time administrative 38 assistant. With this decrease in staff, the Program Teams and their committees 39 often need more staff leadership/support than is available. 40 41 139

We recommend the following restructuring of the five Program 01 Teams (including a new Congregational Development Program Team): 02 Each Team shall be composed of thirty-six (36) elected members, including the 03 team officers (chairperson, vice chairperson, and secretary), grouped in classes 04 so that normally no more than one-fourth of the members of a Team will rotate 05 off in any given year. Each Program Team will form the committees it needs to 06 carry out its responsibilities for the program areas assigned to it, and those 07 committees will function as a part of the Team and not as independent units. 08 These five Program Teams shall be accountable to the Director of Connectional 09 Ministries and the Board of Connectional Ministries for oversight and budget. 10 We recommend that there be a Board of Connectional Ministries 11 composed of the chairpersons of the five Program Teams, the chairpersons of 12 committees formed within the Program Teams, the chairperson or other 13 representative of the Conference Board of Laity, a Cabinet representative, and 14 the Director and Associate Directors of the Office of Connectional Ministries 15 (including the staff person transferred from the Board of Church Development). 16 The officers of the Board (chairperson, vice chairperson, and secretary) shall be 17 nominated by the Conference Committee on Nominations and elected by the 18 annual conference. This Board shall have responsibility for presenting a unified 19 program, including budgeting, to the annual conference and for giving 20 leadership in the implementation of that program. The Director of Connectional 21 Ministries shall be the executive officer of the Board. 22 The Vision Forum has been charged with the responsibility to focus and 23 guide the mission and ministry of The United Methodist Church within the 24 boundaries of the North Georgia Annual Conference. This body, at least in 25 recent years, has had difficulty carrying out that responsibility, in no small part 26 because of its huge size (almost 100 persons). This responsibility still needs to 27 be fulfilled. Therefore we recommend that there be a Conference 28 Connectional Table charged with the responsibility for stewardship of the 29 conference’s vision and its commitment to the mission and ministry of The 30 United Methodist Church. The Connectional Table shall be composed of 31 approximately forty (40) designated officers of the conference (to be listed in 32 the conference’s Standing Rules), plus such additional persons as the 33 Conference Nominating Committee may nominate and the conference elect, 34 with the total membership not to exceed fifty (50) persons. The Director of 35 Connectional Ministries, in consultation with the Resident Bishop, shall chair 36 the Connectional Table. 37 In all good faith the study committee cannot recommend any decrease in 38 conference staff at this time. We do recommend that when the above changes 39 40 41 140

01 are implemented, the Directors of the several departments give careful 02 study to how the changes affect support staff needs, and make such 03 changes as may be advisable. 04 We also recommend the sharing of staff in the several departments 05 when this is needed and feasible. We are aware that this already takes place to 06 some extent, and we encourage this practice to continue as often as possible. All 07 of the staff in the United Methodist Center are the staff of the North Georgia 08 Conference and should function as one staff. 09 Since this annual conference session is the time for election of 10 quadrennial boards, committees, and commissions, we recommend that the 11 above changes be implemented at the 2008 annual conference session. 12 We would not complete this report without a word of appreciation for 13 and commendation of our staff. As we went about our study, they were fully 14 cooperative and helpful in every way possible. On every hand we saw evidence 15 of their faithfulness to their responsibilities and of their commitment to the 16 United Methodist Church and the North Georgia Conference. We thank them 17 for their service to our Conference. 18 The committee’s recommendation of changes to the conference’s 19 Standing Rules is a part of the study committee’s report. 20 Chuck Hodges, Chairperson 21 22 602. Gammon Theological Seminary 23 24 Gammon Theological Seminary is one of 13 accredited theological 25 institutions of The United Methodist Church. Gammon is the only historically 26 African-American graduate theological school related to the United Methodist 27 Church. Gammon will celebrate its 125th year of founding this year during the 28 annual Founders’ Day and Thirkield-Jones Lecture Series, October 6-9, 2008. 29 “Remembering Who We Are: Seeking New Pathways” is our theme for our 30 125th celebration. Bishop Violet Fisher will serve as our Founders’ Day 31 Worship Service speaker and Bishop Gregory Palmer will serve as our guest 32 lecturer for the Thirkield-Jones Lecture Series. A Founders’ Day Banquet and 33 Gala will be held during this event to honor the alumni who have matriculated 34 at Gammon and served The United Methodist Church for the last 125 years. 35 The Methodist Episcopal Church founded Gammon Theological 36 Seminary in 1883. Bishop Gilbert Haven and the officers of the Freedmen’s Aid 37 Society had purchased nearly 500 acres of high land in the southern suburbs of 38 Atlanta, Georgia. Gammon initially began as a Department of Theology at 39 Clark University through the efforts of Bishop Henry White Warren and the gift 40 41 141 of $20,000 for endowment from the Rev. Elijah H. Gammon, a Methodist 01 minister of the Rock River (Illinois) Conference. The enthusiasm of these two 02 men led to the construction of Gammon Hall. The Rev. Wilbur Patterson 03 Thirkield was elected dean, and Gammon School of Theology was officially 04 opened on October 3, 1883. 05 Gammon is the United Methodist member of the consortium of 06 theological schools, known across the world as The Interdenominational 07 Theological Center located in Atlanta, Georgia. We offer a broad curriculum in 08 the scholar-minister tradition and also offer a holistic educational experience 09 that continues to stress scholarship and service. Students prepare for 10 administration and leadership, counseling, teaching and preaching and a range 11 of other spiritual and secular roles, with a blend of scholarship in the classroom 12 and practical experience in the community. The interdisciplinary curriculum 13 integrates theological studies with preparation for the ministry, merging theory 14 with practice to equip the student for scholarship in the academy, service in the 15 parish, and leadership in the community. Degree programs offered are Master 16 of Divinity; Master of Arts in Christian Education; Master of Arts in Church 17 Music; Dual Degrees and Doctor of Theology and Doctor of Ministry with a 18 Specialty In Pastoral Counseling; 19 Dr. Walter H. McKelvey, President 20 21 22 603. Georgia Christian Council 23 24 During a radio interview, a coach praised an outstanding high school 25 running-back. “Without him we don’t have a team. He is the essential spark 26 without which we do not function.” The player interrupted, “You have it 27 wrong, Coach. I am just one person, but it is a team effort. I am not the key to 28 the team’s success. The team is the key to my success!” 29 Sometimes we forget that being church is a team effort. When Jesus 30 called us to become part of his one body, he called us to fulfill a particular role 31 that is important to the ministry of the church, but none of us is indispensable. It 32 is easy to develop an attitude of superiority toward other groups and/or 33 individuals. Sometimes a pastor will think himself more important than others, 34 a church congregation will crown itself as the “premier” church, or 35 denominations will hold such an attitude toward others. It is sad when 36 Christians are more interested in shouting, “We’re number one!” than in 37 proclaiming “He is The One and Only.” 38 39 40 41 142

01 The Georgia Christian Council exists to be a constant reminder to the 02 entire church that we are One Body, and share One Calling, but each of us may 03 have different functions in the Body. Jesus prayed for us (John 17) that we 04 “may all be one in Him So That the World May Believe.” The world often 05 ignores the church because it sees a fractured fellowship of competing parts. 06 However, the world listens when we speak and act together. The unity of the 07 Spirit of Christ is an essential ingredient in our success as we strive to “Make 08 Disciples,” emphasizing evangelism, church growth, increasing stewardship, 09 and missions, serving the poor and addressing the social ills of our nation. 10 We have tried to help shape an environment in churches that recognizes 11 the value of the contributions of Christians of different races, denominations, 12 genders, cultural heritages and theological perspectives. We provided a ministry 13 of presence at judicatory denominational meetings; sponsored educational 14 events addressing church conflict resolution, discipleship/sharing the faith, 15 consultation on ecumenical ministry, renewing the church, developing 16 missional attitudes/actions, the church/law and 21st century stewardship; served 17 as consultants to those wishing to resolve church conflict, develop ministries to 18 ex-prisoners; and advocated for children/youth at risk in Georgia. 19 Thank you, North Georgia Conference, for your prayers and support 20 given to The Georgia Christian Council since you helped birth it in 1952, and 21 special thanks to those churches and individuals who supported the council 22 through the Conference Mission Special Program. 23 Leland C. Collins, Executive Director 24 25 26 604. Joint Conference Lines Task Force 27 28 Motions were approved at the North and South Georgia annual 29 conference sessions in 2007 asking the respective bishops to name a task force 30 to study the conference boundaries. The task force was asked to explore 31 whether it would advance the mission of making disciples by making some 32 changes to the conference boundaries, thus placing specific territories and 33 existing churches in the other annual conference. 34 Bishops Lindsey Davis and Mike Watson appointed representatives to 35 the task force. Members from North Georgia are Jamie Jenkins, Gary Dean, 36 Clay Jacobs, and Jane Finley (lay). South Georgia representatives are Jimmy 37 Cason, Ricky Varnell, Mark Shelnutt (lay) and Brad Brady. 38 The task force sought input from the existing congregations residing 39 along the conference boundaries. The respective district superintendent of each 40 41 143 congregation conducted listening sessions. Feedback from these sessions was 01 compiled and shared with other task force members. 02 We are grateful for the openness of congregational leaders as they shared 03 their thoughts and feelings about whether being in the other annual conference 04 would coincide with the flow of their other natural relationships (shopping, 05 medical, relational). With few exceptions, existing congregations thought it 06 would not advance their missional ability to change annual conferences. 07 The task force was drawn to the question as to which annual conference 08 might be better situated to serve a growing population area that borders or is 09 within the bounds of the other conference. Several growth areas were discussed 10 with input from the North and South Georgia conference directors of New 11 Congregational/New Church Development. 12 In light of these discussions, we recommend the following to our two 13 annual conferences meeting in June 2008: 14 1. That there be no changes in conference boundaries for existing 15 congregations unless the congregation specifically requests 16 permission to be moved to the other conference. If such a 17 congregation makes a request, the two district superintendents 18 involved will meet with congregational leaders to discuss their request 19 and will then make a final recommendation to the respective bishops. 20 2. That flexibility and missional sensitivity be demonstrated regarding 21 the conference who can best serve an emerging population growth 22 area. In these situations, we propose that the two directors of 23 Congregational/New Church Development and the two district 24 superintendents collaborate and determine which of the two annual 25 conferences would lead in the development of a new congregation or 26 redevelopment of an existing congregation to meet the missional 27 needs of that territory. The recommendation of these four persons 28 would be forwarded to the two presiding bishops for final approval. 29 3. That any agreements made involving existing congregations or areas 30 of new church development be formalized in a “Memorandum of 31 Understanding” signed by the two presiding bishops and recorded in 32 the conference Journals for the historical record. 33 We believe the most pressing missional reason to consider the redrawing 34 of conference boundaries relates to the areas of population growth and new 35 church development. We understand and appreciate the high value that existing 36 congregations place on maintaining their present conference membership. Such 37 feelings demonstrate that our relationships are one of the strengths of the United 38 Methodist connection. We believe that these recommendations address the key 39 40 41 144

01 concern of how we can strategically address areas of great potential for 02 evangelistic growth without creating the negative energy caused by relocation 03 of boundaries. 04 The Joint Conference Lines Task Force 05 06 07 605. Journal/Handbook Committee 08 09 The Conference Journal and the Handbook continue to be a challenge to 10 produce with economy, appearance and readability as primary goals for our 11 committee. During the last quadrennium we feel we have continued to improve 12 the organization and accuracy of both publications to provide the information 13 about conference sessions for you through the Handbook and to preserve the 14 historical moments of the sessions through the Journal. 15 We are mindful of the increase in the cost of the Journal and continue to 16 explore the possibility of selling some ads to help defray costs. 17 Our committee meetings are true work sessions as we pore over the many 18 pages of reports and other business of the annual conference. I am grateful for 19 the dedication of committee members to their work during conference sessions, 20 as well as the proofing of the publications before they are sent to the printer. 21 It is our hope that you will continue to know the importance of these 22 pieces of history and will want to extend your library each year. Please place 23 your order today. 24 Katha Morgan, Chair 25 26 27 606. Sierra Leone - The Child Rescue Centre – 28 From Fear to Hope through the Faith of Many 29 30 [Editor’s note: The Bishop’s Mission Offering for the 2000 Annual 31 Conference supported “Hope for the Children of Africa” initiative. The North 32 Georgia Conference was assigned Bo, Sierra Leone and our goal was to raise 33 enough funds to building a children’s center. The following report provides an 34 update on the generous gift of over $577,000 from the people of the North 35 Georgia churches.] 36 Nearly eight years ago, 140 very frightened children were rescued from 37 the streets of Bo, Sierra Leone. A brutal war was raging. Their families were 38 gone or had no way to care for them. They had only the clothes on their backs. 39 40 41 145

They were hungry, traumatized and desperately in need of love and care and 01 protection. It was hard to find smiling faces. 02 Through the faith and action of many, The Child Rescue Centre (CRC) 03 has grown and has cared for more children and reached into the community in 04 ways that could never have been foreseen when it opened July 4, 2000. The 05 complex of buildings built through the donation of the North Georgia 06 Conference was a catalyst for taking more children into its care. Because of the 07 enlarged capacity provided by these buildings, the residential population of the 08 CRC has grown from 40 to 70 children. The Child Support Program which 09 supports the education and healthcare of children living in the community will 10 grow this year from 100 to 150. In 2007 the CRC was able to establish a foster 11 care program which will house 30 additional children that are in the most 12 desperate of situations. CRC staff will work with families from the local United 13 Methodist churches who are willing to open their homes to provide a family for 14 a child. Support for these children will be provided by the CRC. In all, 250 15 children will be cared for by the CRC in 2008. 16 The connectionalism of the United Methodist Church has helped sustain 17 and grow the work of the Child Rescue Centre. A growing partnership of 18 churches, seven in Virginia and one in Texas, support the CRC. The CRC 19 complex was made possible by the generous giving spirit of the North Georgia 20 Conference. A GBGM Advance (14377A) provides a mechanism for many 21 churches to support the CRC. Lives are being changed in the U.S. and Sierra 22 Leone because of the CRC. 23 When the children moved into the new complex in August, 2006, the 24 building that had housed the children became available and Mercy Hospital was 25 opened in October 2007. Because of the work that had been done with the CRC, 26 it became clear that healthcare for the poor is almost non-existent in Sierra 27 Leone. It is a country with the highest child and maternal mortality rates in the 28 world. Mercy Hospital is a 25-bed primary care facility that addresses these 29 issues, along with malnutrition, malaria, HIV/AIDS and healthcare regardless 30 of ability to pay. The Mercy Hospital Advance is 15173A. 31 Also as a result of the new CRC complex and available land, a Mission 32 Training Center was built. This facility provides living space for mission teams 33 and individuals who are visiting and working at the CRC and Mercy Hospital. 34 The MTC will hold teams of up to 20 people, in addition to the availability of 35 three small apartments, a kitchen, dining space and gathering space. This 36 facility enables better housing for more people who want to be in mission to 37 children and the sick in the poorest country in the world. 38 39 40 41 146

01 Smiling faces are no longer hard to find at the CRC. Happy children who 02 love to play, work hard at their studies, and participate in church activities, form 03 the family that nurtures each child. To God be the Glory, great things are being 04 done! 05 Tom Berlin, pastor, Floris United Methodist Church, Herndon, VA 06 07 08 607. United Methodist Association 09 10 The United Methodist Church has a nearly 250-year history of service in 11 hospitals and ministries to older adults, children, youth and families. This 12 service is rooted historically in the concern Christ demonstrated throughout his 13 ministry for healing of body, mind and soul, as well as John Wesley’s repeated 14 concern demonstrated for health and social ministry. 15 In the context of this history, the United Methodist Church now fosters a 16 network of nearly 400 health and welfare ministries in the United States. These 17 organizations provide care in children and family services, senior living 18 communities, hospital and health systems, community service ministries and 19 ministries serving persons with mental and physical disabilities. For nearly 70 20 years, these organizations have joined together in The United Methodist 21 Association of Health and Welfare Ministries (UMA) and predecessor 22 organizations. 23 UMA supports the organizations through a range of services, networking 24 and sharing of best practices. UMA is a key link between faith-based health 25 and welfare organizations and the church on the local, regional and 26 denominational level. It promotes and expands all-important connections 27 between these institutions and the church. 28 The association promotes excellence through its EAGLE accreditation, 29 the only program of its type for faith-related organizations in the United States. 30 UMA research data estimates that institutions affiliated with the United 31 Methodist Church serve 32.2 million persons annually and provide more than 32 $2 billion annually in benevolent and charity services in the US. United 33 Methodist-related health and welfare ministries have 1,555 locations in 44 34 states and employ 354,507 persons. 35 Four North Georgians continue to provide invaluable leadership to the 36 United Methodist Association Board of Directors: Dodie Risse, Richard 37 Puckett, Woody Spackman and Ken Weber. UMA recognized Ken Weber at 38 39 40 41 147 the Annual Meeting on March 29 with the Distinguished Service Award for his 01 dedication and leadership to the UMA organization for over 39 years. 02 Mearle L. Griffith, President/CEO 03 United Methodist Association of Health and Welfare Ministries 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 148

01 700. Resolutions 02 03 701. Resolution by the Delegation of the North Georgia Annual Conference 04 Regarding the Selection of an Episcopal Nominee by Future Delegations 05 Submitted for the consideration of the North Georgia Annual Conference 06 07 WHEREAS the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church has 08 a wealth of leadership in its clergy and laity and has displayed a strong 09 commitment to our denominational mission statement of Making Disciples of 10 Jesus Christ; and, 11 12 WHEREAS the North Georgia Conference has recommended strong nominees 13 for the episcopal office to the Jurisdictional Conference from among its gifted 14 clergy; and, 15 16 WHEREAS the precedent has been for the first elected clergy delegate to 17 General Conference to be consulted and offered opportunity to be the North 18 Georgia episcopal nominee at the organizational meeting of the new delegation; 19 and, 20 21 WHEREAS the election as the first elected delegate to General Conference is a 22 high honor and privilege and indicates exceptional leadership and a lifetime of 23 service to our conference by the individual; and, 24 25 WHEREAS the complexity of the Office of the Episcopacy requires unique 26 gifts and graces and prayerful discernment of the best of the best leadership in 27 North Georgia takes a season of prayer and consideration; and, 28 29 WHEREAS the actions of one delegation are not binding on any future 30 delegation; and, 31 32 WHEREAS delaying the consideration of an episcopal nominee from the time 33 of election until at least the next January would give time for prayer, 34 discernment and conversation; and, 35 36 WHEREAS delaying the consideration by a future delegation would also enable 37 the delegation laity to have a stronger voice and vote in the selection of the 38 episcopal nominee; and, 39 40 41 149

WHEREAS the selection of Ed Tomlinson as the first elected General 01 Conference delegate and Ed’s determination not to be an episcopal nominee 02 allows for a season of thoughtful reflection by the 2008 delegation to have 03 conversations about planting seeds now, should a clergy or lay delegate of the 04 2012 delegation desire to make a recommendation about delaying the possible 05 selection of an episcopal nominee until at least January 2012; and, 06 07 WHEREAS the intent of this resolution is to encourage conversation about 08 prayerful discernment and conversations over time to determine who might be 09 the best episcopal nominee among the clergy of the North Georgia Conference, 10 as an offering from North Georgia to the General Church; 11 12 BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the 2008 delegation affirms the intent of 13 this resolution to allow for the possibility of separating the order of clergy 14 election to General and Jurisdictional Conferences from the selection of the best 15 nominee for the episcopal office in the 2012 and subsequent delegations, 16 understanding that the actions of the 2008 delegation are not binding on any 17 future delegations; and, 18 19 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the North Georgia delegation petitions the 20 2008 session of the North Georgia Annual Conference through the Conference 21 Secretary to propose the following change in “Guidelines for North Georgia 22 Annual Conference Delegation” under section III. Selection of Episcopal 23 Nominee: “At the first full meeting of the delegation after the 24 organizational meeting or at such time as the delegation may determine, 25 the delegation shall may select from its membership its episcopal nominee to 26 be put forward at the next annual conference for election as the North Georgia 27 annual conference nominee for the episcopacy.” The explanation for the 28 changes is to allow the delegation time for prayerful discernment and 29 conversation as outlined in this resolution. 30 Passed by the North Georgia delegation on January 5, 2008 31 32 33 702. Resolution from Disaster Response 34 35 WHEREAS, disasters are going to happen, come when least expected, and have 36 lasting effects on physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of those involved; 37 and 38 39 40 41 150

01 WHEREAS, North Georgia has experienced devastating floods, hurricanes, 02 tornados, fires and human-made disasters in recent history; and 03 04 WHEREAS, every responsible person regardless of age can offer themselves to 05 respond to a disaster through physical work, emotional support, and/or spiritual 06 prayer; and 07 08 WHEREAS, Scripture calls us to be ready to be the hands and feet of Jesus 09 Christ, treating all people with fairness and equality; and 10 11 WHEREAS, the North Georgia Annual Conference has a Disaster Response 12 Committee in place; and 13 14 WHEREAS, the conference Disaster Response Committee has developed 15 training in coordination with UMCOR and UMVIM to prepare men and women 16 to respond to a disaster; and 17 18 WHEREAS, training is offered by the conference Disaster Response 19 Committee on a regular basis; and 20 21 WHEREAS, not every church is aware of the existence and work of the 22 conference Disaster Response Committee; and 23 24 WHEREAS, when disaster strikes in North Georgia and other neighboring 25 conferences we need to be ready to respond; and 26 27 WHEREAS, as ambassadors of Jesus Christ in the world, it is the responsibility 28 of every United Methodist congregation in the North Georgia Annual 29 Conference to take the initiative to respond to disasters in our local community 30 and to offer assistance regardless the age, race, creed, denomination, economic 31 or social status of those affected by disaster; 32 33 THEREFORE LET IT BE RESOLVED that every church in the conference be 34 intentional about preparing for a disaster by appointing a disaster response 35 liaison to keep the lines of communication open between the conference 36 Disaster Response Committee and the local church; and 37 38 LET IT FURTHER BE RESOLVED that every district in the North Georgia 39 Annual Conference elect an active Disaster Response Coordination committee 40 41 151 to work in the local district and to keep the lines of communication open 01 between the districts and the Conference Disaster Response Committee; and 02 03 LET IT FURTHER BE RESOLVED that by Annual Conference 2009, a 04 minimum of 2,500 laity and clergy in the North Georgia Annual Conference be 05 trained and registered with the Conference Disaster Response Committee so we 06 as a conference are more prepared when disaster strikes. 07 08 09 703. Resolutions Relating to Rental/Housing Allowances 10 for Retired or Disabled Clergypersons 11 of the North Georgia Annual Conference 12 13 The North Georgia Annual Conference (the “Conference”) adopts the following 14 resolutions relating to rental/housing allowances for active, retired or disabled 15 clergypersons of the Conference: 16 17 WHEREAS, the religious denomination known as The United Methodist 18 Church (the “Church”), of which this conference is a part, has in the past 19 functioned and continues to function through ministers of the gospel (within the 20 meaning of Internal Revenue Code section 107) who were or are duly ordained, 21 commissioned, or licensed ministers of the Church (“clergypersons”); 22 23 WHEREAS, the practice of the Church and of this conference was and is to 24 provide active clergypersons with a parsonage or a rental/housing allowance as 25 part of their gross compensation; 26 27 WHEREAS, pensions or other amounts paid to active, retired, and disabled 28 clergypersons are considered to be deferred compensation and are paid to 29 active, retired, and disabled clergypersons in consideration of previous active 30 service; and 31 32 WHEREAS, the Internal Revenue Service has recognized the conference (or its 33 predecessors) as the appropriate organization to designate a rental/housing 34 allowance for clergypersons who are or were members of this conference and 35 are eligible to receive such deferred compensation; 36 37 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that an amount equal to 100% of the 38 pension or disability payments received from plans authorized under The Book 39 40 41 152

01 of Discipline of The United Methodist Church (the “Discipline”), which 02 includes all such payments from the General Board of Pension and Health 03 Benefits (“GBOPHB”), during the years 2008 and 2009 by each active, retired 04 or disabled clergyperson who is or was a member of the conference, or its 05 predecessors, be and hereby is designated as a rental/housing allowance for 06 each such clergyperson; and 07 08 LET IT FURTHER BE RESOLVED that the pension or disability payments to 09 which this rental/housing allowance applies will be any pension or disability 10 payments from plans, annuities, or funds authorized under the Discipline, 11 including such payments from the GBOPHB and from a commercial annuity 12 company that provides an annuity arising from benefits accrued under a 13 GBOPHB plan, annuity or fund authorized under the Discipline, that result 14 from any service a clergyperson rendered to this conference or that an active, a 15 retired, or a disabled clergyperson of this conference rendered to any local 16 church, annual conference of the Church, general agency of the Church, other 17 institution of the Church, former denomination that is now a part of the Church, 18 or any other employer that employed the clergyperson to perform services 19 related to the ministry of the Church, or its predecessors, and that elected to 20 make contributions to, or accrue a benefit under, such a plan, annuity, or fund 21 for such active, retired or disabled clergyperson’s pension or disability as part 22 of his or her gross compensation. 23 24 NOTE: The rental/housing allowance that may be excluded from a 25 clergyperson’s gross income in any year for federal income tax purposes is 26 limited under Internal Revenue Code section 107(2) and regulations thereunder 27 to the least of: (1) the amount of the rental/housing allowance designated by the 28 clergyperson’s employer or other appropriate body of the Church (such as this 29 conference in the foregoing resolutions) for such year; (2) the amount actually 30 expended by the clergyperson to rent or provide a home in such year; or (3) the 31 fair rental value of the home, including furnishings and appurtenances (such as 32 a garage), plus the cost of utilities in such year. 33 34 35 704. Resolution to Amend Meeting Days of Annual Conference 36 37 WHEREAS the North Georgia Annual Conference continues to be strengthened 38 by the inclusion of young people in annual conference leadership, including 39 service as lay delegates to Annual Conference, and; 40 41 153

WHEREAS many lay delegates to annual conference (especially young people) 01 do not have an abundance of vacation time and; 02 03 WHEREAS young people are essential to the present and future of the ministry 04 of the Church, and; 05 06 WHEREAS there are other Southeastern Jurisdiction Annual Conferences who 07 begin their annual conference sessions on Wednesday and end on Saturday, 08 09 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the North Georgia Annual Conference 10 request that the resident bishop of North Georgia set the dates for the Annual 11 Conference session, beginning with the 2010 session, to occur over the course 12 of a Wednesday through Saturday and; 13 14 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the conference secretary invite a Young 15 Adult Taskforce member to be part of the annual conference planning 16 committee, in addition to the already included representative from the Young 17 Adult Nurture Team. 18 Young Adult Ministry Taskforce 19 20 21 705. Resolution to Increase Participation of Young Adults 22 as Voting Members of the Annual Conference 23 24 WHEREAS General Conference has intentionally created and invested in 25 initiatives to increase the membership and participation of younger adults in the 26 United Methodist Church through the Shared Mission Focus on Young People, 27 Igniting Ministries Campaigns, and the Division on Young People's Ministries, 28 and 29 30 WHEREAS the population of United Methodist Church is aging at a 31 disproportionate rate to society at large, and 32 33 WHEREAS the North Georgia Annual Conference values the importance of all 34 realms of diversity including age, and 35 36 WHEREAS many local churches have one lay delegate to Annual Conference; 37 38 39 40 41 154

01 BE IT RESOLVED that the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist 02 Church intentionally increase the Annual Conference participation of adult lay 03 delegates, 40 years of age and under with each district nominating at least 2 04 adults between the ages of 18-40 years of age as at-large delegates to Annual 05 Conference, and 06 07 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that each local church grant consideration to 08 nominating delegates to Annual Conference that are 40 years of age and under. 09 Young Adult Ministry Taskforce 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 155

800. Standing Rules’ Amendments 01 02 800a. Vision and Planning Connectional Table 03 04 30. There shall be a Conference Vision Forum Connectional Table with 05 responsibility to focus and guide the mission and ministry of The United 06 Methodist Church within the boundaries of the North Georgia Annual 07 Conference. It shall give leadership and guidance in setting the vision of 08 the annual conference and in conducting an on-going process of refining 09 and revising that vision which shall set the overall vision of the annual 10 conference in accordance with ¶ 607. It is responsible for an on-going process 11 of refining and revising the vision. It shall take into consideration both the 12 immediate and long range goals of the conference as they relate to the local, 13 district and general church ministries. 14 The forum will be chaired by the director of connectional ministries, in 15 consultation with the resident bishop, shall chair the connectional table, 16 which shall . It will be composed of not more than 100 the following persons:, 17 including the resident bishop, the director of connectional ministries, the 18 district superintendents, the executive assistant to the bishop, the director of 19 ministerial services, the director of new church development, chairperson of 20 the board of new church development, the conference treasurer, the 21 chairperson of the council on finance and administration, the chairperson of the 22 board of ordained ministry, chairperson of the board of connectional 23 ministries, the secretary of the annual conference, the conference chancellor, 24 the conference lay leader, the associate conference lay leaders, conference 25 president of United Methodist Women, conference president of United 26 Methodist Men, president of the conference Youth Organization, president 27 of the conference Young Adult Organization, chairperson of conference 28 personnel practices and policy committee, chairperson of advocacy 29 program team, chairperson of parish life program team, chairperson of 30 nurture program team, chairperson of outreach program team, 31 chairperson of witness program team, chairperson of the Order of 32 Deacons, chairperson of the Order of Elders, chairperson of the fellowship 33 of local pastors and associate members, the heads of most recently elected 34 lay and clergy delegations to general conference, and such at-large 35 members as the conference committee on nominations shall nominate to 36 provide for diversity and inclusiveness as regards race/ethnicity/national 37 origin, age, and gender. The Table’s membership shall be limited to fifty 38 persons. laity and clergy members of the General Conference delegation and 39 40 41 156

01 the Jurisdictional Conference delegation, the chairpersons of advocacy, witness, 02 outreach and nurture teams, and other at-large members nominated by the 03 conference committee on nominations. The eligibility limitations of standing 04 rule 10 9 shall not apply to the forum Connectional Table. Staff of the 05 Conference Information Office (not otherwise included) will be ex-officio with 06 voice only. 07 The conference committee on nominations will nominate the additional 08 at-large members to serve on the forum to provide for diversity and 09 inclusiveness in regard to race, age, gender and national origin and to ensure 10 that there will be a 50 percent clergy/50 percent laity ratio on the forum. 11 Persons who are elected to General and Jurisdictional Conference will 12 begin to serve on the forum after annual conference the year of their election. 13 At-large members will be elected for the quadrennium, begin service at the time 14 of election and be limited to eight consecutive years. 15 There will be an executive committee of the conference vision forum 16 composed of the bishop, the director of connectional ministries, the conference 17 lay leader, the dean of the cabinet and five other persons from the forum who 18 are nominated by the nominating committee. 19 There shall be an executive committee of the connectional table 20 composed of the bishop, the director of connectional ministries, the 21 conference lay leader, the dean of the cabinet, the chairperson of the board 22 of connectional ministries, and the chairperson of the council on finance 23 and administration. 24 The connectional table shall meet regularly twice each year and 25 additional times as considered appropriate or needful by the bishop and 26 the director of connectional ministries, and shall report each year to the 27 annual conference regarding the conference’s stewardship of its vision and 28 its commitment to the mission and ministry of The United Methodist 29 Church. 30 31 Connectional Ministries 32 33 31. There shall be an office of connectional ministries which is responsible for 34 serving as the of the vision of the annual conference and for 35 coordinating the mission and ministry of the conference with that vision. It 36 shall create and nurture relationships and connections among the local, district, 37 conference and general church ministries. Other functions shall be in concert 38 with ¶ 607. 39 40 41 157

There shall be a director of connectional ministries whose, in 01 partnership with the bishop and cabinet, shall have the following primary 02 responsibilities: To serve as steward of the vision of the annual conference, 03 including the development, clarification, interpretation, and embodiment 04 of the conference’s vision; to serve as leader of the continuous process of 05 transformation and renewal necessary for the annual conference to be 06 faithful to our Christian identity in a changing world; to ensure alignment 07 of the total resources of the conference to its vision; and to ensure the 08 connections among the local, district, annual conference, and general 09 church ministries for the purpose of networking, resourcing, and 10 communicating their shared ministry. duties and responsibilities shall reflect 11 the recommendations of ¶ 607. The director shall serve as chair of the vision 12 forum, supervise the conference staff related to the office of connectional 13 ministries and coordinate the recruitment, training and leadership of annual 14 conference leaders. 15 The director of connectional ministries shall serve as an officer of the 16 annual conference, and shall sit with the cabinet when the cabinet 17 considers matters relating to coordination, implementation, or 18 administration of the conference program, and other matters as the cabinet 19 and director may determine. 20 The director of connectional ministries shall supervise the conference 21 staff related to the office of connectional ministries, coordinate the 22 recruitment and training of conference program leaders, provide oversight 23 and leadership in the conference’s program and ministry, and serve as 24 chair of the connectional table and as executive officer of the board of 25 connectional ministries. 26 27 Program Teams of the Annual Conference 28 29 32. The programming of the annual conference shall be done primarily by four 30 (4) five (5) program teams: – nurture, outreach, advocacy, parish life 31 development and witness. There shall be a cabinet representative with vote on 32 each program team of the annual conference. Each program team shall be 33 responsible for several areas of program and ministry, as indicated below, 34 and shall have authority to form such committees as the Discipline may 35 require for its program areas or as deemed appropriate for carrying out its 36 responsibilities, while at the same time continuing to function as a unified 37 team. Each team may enlist additional persons to assist in its work, and 38 may also form time-limited task forces to address particular issues or 39 40 41 158

01 emphases. These five Program Teams shall be accountable to the Director 02 of Connectional Ministries and the Board of Connectional Ministries for 03 oversight and budget. 04 33. The membership of the teams shall be composed of the officers (president, 05 vice president and secretary) of the various committees which report to the 06 team, appropriate conference staff, a cabinet representative and the officers of 07 the team. The team officers (president, vice president and secretary) will be 08 nominated by the conference committee on nominations and serve for the 09 quadrennium. Task forces may be created and resource persons used to address 10 major program emphases. When task forces are used, they shall be answerable 11 to the team that created them, have a definite life span determined before they 12 are constituted, and can address only the program for which they were created. 13 There shall be the following committees which relate to an assigned team 14 (i.e., witness, outreach, advocacy or nurture): archives and history, evangelism, 15 stewardship, worship, global ministries, disaster response, conference related 16 agencies, health and welfare, persons living in poverty, religion and race, status 17 and role of women, Christian unity and interreligious concerns, church and 18 society, disability concerns, native American concerns, ethnic local church 19 concerns, education, adult ministries, children’s ministries, youth ministries, 20 young adult ministries, older adult ministries, family ministries, higher 21 education and campus ministries, camping and retreat ministries, and vocations 22 and career/life planning. The aforementioned committees shall be limited to 23 twelve (12) duly elected persons plus any ex-officio members unless otherwise 24 determined by the conference or the Book of Discipline. The members and the 25 chairperson shall be nominated by the annual conference committee on 26 nominations. Serving ex-officio shall be the members of corresponding general 27 boards and agencies, a representative from the conference board of laity, one 28 (1) youth named by the conference youth organization, a conference staff 29 person, and a cabinet representative. Ex-officio members shall have voice and 30 vote on their appointed committees and teams. 31 Each program team shall be composed of thirty-six (36) duly elected 32 members. These shall include the team’s officers (chairperson, vice 33 chairperson, and secretary), who shall be nominated by the conference 34 committee on nominations and elected by the annual conference. The 35 number limitation specified in standing rule 9 shall not apply to the 36 program teams. Additional members shall include a cabinet 37 representative, a youth named by the conference youth organization, and 38 any member of a corresponding general board or agency who is a member 39 of or related to the annual conference. To insure continuity of experience 40 41 159 and leadership, members of the program teams shall be grouped in classes 01 so that normally no more than one-fourth of the members of a team will 02 rotate off in any given year. 03 34. There shall be a witness team with responsibilities for the following 04 program areas: archives and history (¶ 640), evangelism (¶ 629), stewardship 05 (¶ 629), worship (¶ 629) and vocations and career/life planning. The 06 membership of the team is defined in standing rule 33. 07 35. There shall be an outreach team with responsibilities for the following 08 program areas: global ministries (¶ 632), disaster response (¶ 632.22), refugee 09 resettlement, conference related agencies, and health and welfare ministries (¶ 10 632.27). The membership of this team is defined in standing rule 33. 11 36. There shall be an advocacy team with responsibilities for the following 12 program areas: religion and race (¶ 642.1), status and role of women (¶ 643), 13 Christian unity and interreligious concerns (¶ 641), church and society (¶ 628), 14 disability concerns (¶ 652), native American concerns (¶ 653), ethnic local 15 church concerns (¶ 661) and persons living in poverty. The membership of the 16 team is defined in standing rule 33. 17 37. There shall be a nurture team with responsibilities for the following 18 program areas: education (¶ 629.2), adult ministries [older adult (¶ 650.1) and 19 young adult (¶ 649.1)], children’s ministries (¶ 629.1.g), youth ministries (¶ 20 648.1), family ministries, higher education and campus ministries (¶ 633) and 21 camping and retreat ministries (¶ 629.1.c). The membership of the team is 22 defined in standing rule 33, with the added stipulation that two (2) 23 representatives from United Methodist Youth (¶ 648.1) and United Methodist 24 Young Adults (¶ 649.1) will be included. 25 38 There shall be a conference youth organization as provided by ¶ 648.1. It 26 shall relate to and be answerable to the nurture team. 27 NEW The parish life program team shall have responsibility for the 28 following program areas: existing church development, natural church 29 development, small membership churches, church grants, and other areas 30 or concerns involving congregational development. 31 NEW There shall be a board of connectional ministries composed of the 32 chairpersons of the five program teams, the chairpersons of committees 33 formed within the program teams, the chairperson or other representative 34 of the conference board of laity, a cabinet representative, and the director 35 and associate directors of connectional ministries. The officers of the 36 board (chairperson, vice chairperson, and secretary) shall be nominated by 37 the conference committee on nominations and elected by the annual 38 conference. This board shall have responsibility for presenting a unified 39 40 41 160

01 program for mission and ministry, including budgeting, to the annual 02 conference and for giving leadership in the execution of that plan. The 03 director of connectional ministries shall be the executive officer of this 04 board. 05 RATIONALE: These amendments to the standing rules 30 -37 support the 06 recommendations in the Conference Staffing Task Force report. 07 08 800b. Amendment to Standing Rule Number Ten 09 10 We, the Young Adult Task Force, request the amendment of standing rule 11 number ten (10) in the second paragraph to include a representative from the 12 young adult task force. 13 14 It shall read: 15 16 The committee shall consist of the following persons: the bishop; the executive 17 assistant to the bishop; the annual conference lay leader; the associate 18 conference lay leader(s); the conference secretary, the dean of the cabinet, the 19 conference presidents of United Methodist Women, United Methodist Men, 20 conference youth organization, conference young adult organization, and the 21 conference young adult task force; the chairpersons of the conference witness 22 team, the conference committee on registration and assistance, and the board of 23 ordained ministry; the director of connectional ministries; the chairperson of the 24 conference council on finance and administration; the conference treasurer; and 25 other persons selected by the bishop to assure proper representation of persons 26 related to the work of the committee, such as the host district superintendent 27 and the host pastor. The resident bishop or his/her designee shall be the 28 chairperson of the annual conference planning committee. 29 30 800c. Amendment to Standing Rule Number 17 31 32 We, the Young Adult Task Force, request the amendment of standing rule 33 number seventeen (17) in the second paragraph. It shall read: 34 35 If the lay membership shall number less than the clergy membership, the 36 following lay persons shall also be members of the annual conference: the 37 associate conference lay leaders, the conference director of lay speaking 38 ministries, the district presidents of United Methodist Women and United 39 Methodist Men, and the district presidents or equivalent officers of the district 40 41 161 young adult organization and the district youth organization, four (4) young 01 persons 18 years and under and two (2) young persons 40 years of age and 02 under. 03 . 04 Rationale: Each district Board of Laity is currently involved in the practice of 05 electing four (4) delegates 18 years of age and under in the Youth Delegate 06 Program. This amendment acknowledges that practice for youth and expands it 07 to intentionally include young persons 40 years of age and under. 08 09 10 801. Standing Rules – As printed in 2007 Journal 11 Introduction 12 13 "The annual conference, for its own government, may adopt rules and 14 regulations not in conflict with the Discipline of The United Methodist 15 Church." (¶ 604, 2004 Book of Discipline.) The standing rules of the 16 conference expand and clarify these structures and their modes of operation. 17 (All references to The 2004 Book of Discipline hereafter shall be designated by 18 the paragraph number.) 19 1. Rules - Robert's Rules of Order shall govern parliamentary procedures of the 20 annual conference, subject to the rules of the preceding general conference and 21 the 2004 Book of Discipline. 22 2. Amendments - These standing rules may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) 23 vote of the conference not less than twenty-four (24) hours following their 24 presentation to the conference; provided, a written copy of the proposed 25 amendment(s) shall be submitted to the conference secretary before being read 26 to the conference. Amendments shall take effect upon passage, except the 27 number of districts can only be changed at least one (1) year in advance. 28 29 Standing Committees of the Annual Conference 30 31 3. There shall be a committee on standing rules, composed of ten (10) persons, 32 nominated by the annual conference committee on nominations, plus the 33 conference chancellor. 34 4. There shall be a committee on registration and assistance, composed of ten 35 (10) persons, nominated by the annual conference committee on nominations. 36 5. There shall be a committee on journal and handbook, composed of ten (10) 37 persons, nominated by the annual conference committee on nominations. 38 39 40 41 162

01 6. There shall be a committee on resolutions, composed of ten (10) persons, 02 nominated by the annual conference committee on nominations. 03 04 Annual Conference Session and Related Committees 05 06 7. Annual Conference Committee on Nominations - There shall be an annual 07 conference committee on nominations whose duty shall be to nominate all lay 08 and clergy members of the boards, councils, teams, commissions, committees, 09 and other agencies of the North Georgia Conference. The committee shall be 10 composed of the bishop, who shall be the chairperson, the district 11 superintendents and extended cabinet, the conference lay leader and associate 12 conference lay leaders, the district lay leaders, the chairperson of the advocacy 13 team, the conference presidents of United Methodist Men and of United 14 Methodist Women, the chairpersons of the Conference Young Adult 15 Organization and the Council on Youth Ministry, and not more than five (5) 16 members-at-large who shall be named by the bishop for inclusiveness. The 17 committee shall make its nominations not later than the second morning of the 18 annual conference. 19 The executive committee of the annual conference committee on 20 nominations, composed of the bishop, the conference lay leader, the director of 21 connectional ministries and three (3) other members of the annual conference 22 committee on nominations named by the bishop, will coordinate the 23 comprehensive nominations process of identification, recruitment, training, 24 selection and evaluation for the annual conference. Where vacancies in 25 essential elected positions occur between annual conference sessions, the 26 executive committee may fill the positions until the next annual conference 27 elects. Task forces may be used in keeping with the directions stated in 28 standing rule 33. 29 8. District Committee on Nominations - There shall be a district committee 30 on nominations, composed of five (5) clergy and six (6) lay members. One (1) 31 clergy member shall be the district superintendent, who shall serve as the 32 chairperson. One (1) of the six (6) lay members shall be the district lay leader. 33 The district committee on nominations shall assist in identifying, recruiting and 34 recommending potential leaders to the conference committee on nominations. 35 9. Quadrennial Boards, Teams, Councils, Commissions, Committees - The 36 membership of quadrennial boards, councils, teams, commissions, committees, 37 and other agencies shall be limited to twenty-seven (27) persons plus ex-officio 38 members. This rule shall not apply to standing committees nor to any board, 39 40 41 163 council, team, commission, committee, or other agency whose membership is 01 otherwise determined by the conference or by the Book of Discipline. 02 All committees, boards, teams, councils, commissions and agencies of the 03 annual conference shall be composed of equal numbers of clergy and lay unless 04 the Book of Discipline provides otherwise. 05 No person shall be eligible for election to membership on the same board, 06 council, team, commission or committee or agency for more than eight (8) 07 consecutive years and may not be re-elected to the same board, commission, 08 team, council, committee or agency for more than one quadrennium except as 09 provided in the Book of Discipline. No person shall be nominated to serve 10 concurrently on more than one (1) quadrennial board, council, team, 11 commission or committee, except as an ex-officio member. However, one (1) 12 exemption may be allowed for those serving on the board of laity, episcopal 13 committee, church development, nominations, and the standing committees of 14 the annual conference session (acknowledgments, registration and assistance, 15 journal and handbook, resolutions and standing rules). No district 16 superintendent may be nominated as an elective member of any program 17 agency or team of the conference. Persons nominated shall have agreed in 18 advance to serve if elected. 19 When quadrennial boards, councils, teams, commissions and committees are 20 elected, they shall be convened for training within sixty (60) days following the 21 annual conference session, to be informed concerning their responsibilities. 22 Chairpersons shall be nominated by the annual conference committee on 23 nominations and elected by the annual conference. Under the direction of their 24 respective chairpersons, each board, council, commission and committee shall 25 elect a vice-chairperson and secretary. All team officers shall be nominated by 26 the committee on nominations. 27 All district committees and conference boards, councils, teams, commissions 28 and committees shall include members which ensure balance, continuity, 29 expertise, inclusiveness in keeping with the spirit and guidelines of The Book of 30 Discipline, Part III Section VI, (¶ 138). 31 10. Annual Conference Planning Committee - There shall be an annual 32 conference planning committee responsible for setting the agenda for sessions 33 of the annual conference, recommending the site of the conference annually, 34 and overall coordination of annual conference. Applications to host the 35 conference shall be submitted to the bishop not less than eighteen (18) months 36 in advance and must include adequate data to satisfy the planning committee of 37 the suitability of the proposed site, with special attention to housing, food 38 service, seating, congregating areas, parking and all standard public services 39 40 41 164

01 necessary to accommodate large numbers of people. All facilities must meet 02 ADA Accessibility Guidelines. All applications to host the conference must 03 include an itemized account of anticipated expenses. The site must provide 04 seating for all members of the conference, both clergy and lay, and for visitors 05 and guests. The planning committee shall submit applications approved by 06 them to the conference council on finance and administration for approval of 07 projected costs. The planning committee shall advise the conference 08 concerning the desirability of each acceptable proposed site, including 09 estimated costs. The conference may select sites into the future, but must 10 reconfirm that selection within three (3) years of that scheduled conference. 11 When for unforeseen circumstances related to finances, logistics or other 12 compelling reasons the annual conference is not able to hold annual conference 13 at the agreed upon site, the annual conference planning committee is authorized 14 to work with the conference council on finance and administration to secure an 15 appropriate alternate site. 16 The committee shall consist of the following persons: the bishop; the 17 executive assistant to the bishop; the annual conference lay leader; the associate 18 conference lay leader(s); the conference secretary, the dean of the cabinet, the 19 conference presidents of United Methodist Women, United Methodist Men, 20 conference youth organization, and conference young adult organization; the 21 chairpersons of the conference witness team, the conference committee on 22 registration and assistance, and the board of ordained ministry; the director of 23 connectional ministries; the chairperson of the conference council on finance 24 and administration; the conference treasurer; and other persons selected by the 25 bishop to assure proper representation of persons related to the work of the 26 committee, such as the host district superintendent and the host pastor. The 27 resident bishop or his/her designee shall be the chairperson of the annual 28 conference planning committee. 29 11. Conference Handbook & Information Packets - Material for publication 30 in the conference handbook shall be submitted annually to the conference 31 secretary not less than ninety (90) days prior to the opening date of the annual 32 conference. Other material may be distributed to the members of the 33 conference, at the discretion of the conference secretary, in a packet of 34 supplementary materials. All printed materials requiring action by the annual 35 conference shall be available in large print. 36 12. Pre-Conference Briefings - Not more than twenty-five (25) days prior to 37 the opening session of the annual conference, each district superintendent, in 38 consultation with the district lay leader, shall convene, at such time and place as 39 the two (2) of them together shall determine, the conference members residing 40 41 165 in the district, both clergy and lay, for the purpose of examining the published 01 reports and recommendations of the boards, councils, teams, commissions, 02 committees and other agencies of the conference. 03 13. Consent Agenda - In order to expedite the business of the conference, the 04 consent agenda committee, composed of the conference secretary, the 05 chairperson of the committee on standing rules, the director of connectional 06 ministries, and the conference lay leader or his/her designee, in consultation 07 with agencies or individuals presenting reports, recommendations or 08 resolutions, may present in the conference handbook a written list of items 09 which shall be known as the consent agenda. Items on the consent agenda shall 10 be considered as adopted by consent of the annual conference unless they are 11 removed from this list at a time set aside for this purpose on the second day of 12 conference. Individual items may be removed from the consent agenda to be 13 placed on the regular agenda by a motion to remove supported by a second 14 from two (2) voting members of the annual conference. When an item has been 15 removed from the consent agenda, it shall be placed on the regular agenda at an 16 appropriate time as determined by the conference secretary. 17 14. Reports - Reports shall be in writing, and an original, signed copy of the 18 same shall be in the hands of the conference secretary before being read on the 19 floor of the conference. When twenty-five (25) percent or more of the 20 membership of a board, council, team, commission, committee or other agency 21 shall request the privilege of presenting a minority report to the annual 22 conference, the chairperson of said board or other agency shall appoint a 23 committee to draft a minority report and shall submit the said minority report 24 along with the majority report to the conference. 25 15. Committee on Resolutions - There shall be a committee on resolutions, 26 nominated and elected under the provisions of the standing rules. Any 27 resolution coming to the floor of the annual conference which has not been 28 before an official board, commission or agency of the annual conference, or a 29 resolution not previously printed in the conference handbook, shall be referred 30 to the committee on resolutions for study before the resolution is considered by 31 the annual conference. 32 33 Administrative Procedures of the Annual Conference 34 35 16. Publication of Names and Addresses of Lay Members - The names and 36 addresses of lay members of the annual conference, arranged by districts and by 37 charges, shall be published in the Conference Journal, and they shall be 38 39 40 41 166

01 compiled and made available to members of the conference, both lay and 02 clergy, as early as is feasible following their election. 03 17. Lay Member Equalization Plan - The lay membership of the annual 04 conference shall be equal in number to its clergy membership. Lay members 05 shall be elected by each charge conference as directed by the Constitution of 06 The United Methodist Church, Division Two Section VI, Article I (¶ 32). The 07 following are designated by the Constitution, (Loc. Cit.), to be members of the 08 annual conference: the diaconal ministers, the conference presidents of United 09 Methodist Women and United Methodist Men, the conference lay leader, the 10 district lay leaders, the president or equivalent officer of the conference young 11 adult organization, the president of the conference youth organization, the chair 12 of the annual conference college student organization and two (2) young 13 persons under twenty-five (25) years of age from each district selected by the 14 district board of laity. 15 If the lay membership shall number less than the clergy membership, the 16 following lay persons shall also be members of the annual conference: the 17 associate conference lay leaders, the conference director of lay speaking 18 ministries, the district presidents of United Methodist Women and United 19 Methodist Men, and the district presidents or equivalent officers of the district 20 young adult organization and the district youth organization. 21 Additional members shall be elected from each district by the district board 22 of laity to achieve equalization of the number of lay and clergy members of the 23 annual conference. 24 The conference secretary shall advise the district superintendents annually, 25 not later than November 1, of the number of additional lay members required to 26 achieve equalization. The district superintendents shall assist the district board 27 of laity to elect the necessary persons, to notify them of their election, and to 28 forward their names and addresses to the conference secretary by January 1 of 29 each year. 30 18. Moving Day and Expenses - Moving Day for pastors shall ordinarily be 31 Thursday of the week following the regular session of the annual conference; 32 provided, if unusual circumstances prevail, the cabinet may change the date to a 33 more suitable one; provided, further, the secretary of the cabinet shall have 34 notice of the change published in the Wesleyan Christian Advocate not less 35 than thirty (30) days prior to the convening of the annual conference. Departing 36 clergy shall vacate their parsonages by one o'clock on the afternoon of Moving 37 Day. District superintendents shall encourage the pastoral charges to pay 38 moving expenses for newly assigned clergy moving within the bounds of the 39 North Georgia Conference. 40 41 167

19. Care of Parsonages - Clergy shall use care to maintain cleanliness and 01 good housekeeping of the parsonages in which they reside. In addition to the 02 annual inspection of the parsonage, Part V, Chapter Six, Section VI (¶ 2532.4), 03 at a time of change in pastoral appointment, there shall be an inspection of the 04 parsonage by the pastor and the pastor/parish relations committee to determine 05 the condition of the parsonage. Where there has been obvious abuse, 06 replacement and/or repair shall be at the pastor's expense. If pets are a part of 07 the pastor's family, the expense for professional treatment for infestation and 08 odor shall be the pastor's responsibility prior to moving out. Any disagreement 09 concerning liability shall be addressed by a mediation committee to determine 10 the ratio of responsibility. The decision of the mediation committee shall be 11 binding on all parties. The mediation committee shall be composed of the 12 district superintendent, a person of the church’s (charge’s) choice, a person of 13 the pastor's choice, and a neutral person selected by the district superintendent. 14 20. Number of Districts - There shall be twelve (12) districts in the North 15 Georgia Conference. 16 21. Service Year - The conference service year shall be July 1 through June 17 30. 18 22. Local Church Reports - Pastors shall submit their annual reports as 19 directed by the conference statistician, not later than January 20. The 20 conference statistician shall reconcile the financial reports with the records of 21 the conference treasurer. 22 23. Archives - The depository for archival records of the North Georgia 23 Conference shall be the Candler School of Theology of Emory University 24 through its Pitts Theology Library. 25 26 Finance and Property 27 28 24. Budget Development - All requests for appropriations shall be submitted 29 to the conference council on finance and administration, in writing, not less 30 than ninety (90) days prior to the opening session of the annual conference. 31 Requests shall include a detailed financial statement. Any persons or group 32 presenting a proposal to the annual conference for a program or activity which 33 is not included in the conference budget shall at the same time, present a 34 financial analysis including estimated cost and plans for funding. Before final 35 action by the annual conference, the conference council on finance and 36 administration shall review the financial aspects of the proposal and make its 37 recommendation to the conference regarding the proposal. Budgets submitted 38 39 40 41 168

01 to the conference for approval shall include itemized comparative figures for 02 the previous year, except in the case of new programs. 03 25. Fiscal Regulations - The conference fiscal year shall be January 1 through 04 December 31. All monies for conference and district items shall be remitted by 05 December 31. The books of the conference treasurer and the district treasurers 06 shall be closed at the end of business on the fifth (5th) working day following 07 January 1. The conference treasurer shall make final settlement and disburse all 08 funds to the annual conference boards, councils, commissions or other agencies 09 within fifteen (15) days following the end of the fiscal year. The conference 10 treasurer shall report by districts and by charges all payments for equitable 11 salaries, mission appropriations and the temporary general aid fund. The 12 conference treasurer shall report monthly to the district superintendents all 13 conference askings paid by each local church in the district. 14 26. District Superintendents' Financial Support - The support of the district 15 superintendents, including their salaries, pensions, and insurance (subject to the 16 same insurance rules for other clergy), shall be provided by the annual 17 conference, through the conference council on finance and administration. 18 Housing, utilities, office expenses, travel and district work funds shall be 19 provided by the respective districts. 20 27. Church Property - Each district superintendent shall furnish the 21 conference secretary annually, for publication in the Conference Journal, a list 22 of the real property situated within the district, belonging to but not currently in 23 use by The United Methodist Church. 24 28. Salary Supplements - All supplementation of pastoral salaries from 25 whatever source shall be administered by the commission on equitable 26 compensation in accordance with guidelines developed by the commission and 27 approved by the annual conference, except that the conference board of church 28 development shall be authorized to administer salary supplementation for 29 pastors of new and redeveloping congregations, in keeping with guidelines 30 developed by the committee and approved by the annual conference. 31 29. Charters - Charters authorized by the North Georgia Conference shall be 32 reviewed by the conference chancellor before being filed with the Secretary of 33 State. 34 35 Vision and Planning 36 37 30. There shall be a Conference Vision Forum which shall set the overall 38 vision of the annual conference in accordance with ¶ 607. It is responsible for 39 an on-going process of refining and revising the vision. It shall take into 40 41 169 consideration both the immediate and long range goals of the conference as 01 they relate to the local, district and general church ministries. 02 The forum will be chaired by the director of connectional ministries in 03 consultation with the resident bishop. It will be composed of not more than 100 04 persons, including the bishop, the director of connectional ministries, the 05 district superintendents, the executive assistant to the bishop, the director of 06 ministerial services, the director of church development, the conference 07 treasurer, the chairperson of the council on finance and administration, the 08 chairperson of the board of ordained ministry, the secretary of the annual 09 conference, the conference chancellor, the conference lay leader, the associate 10 conference lay leaders, laity and clergy members of the General Conference 11 delegation and the Jurisdictional Conference delegation, the chairpersons of 12 advocacy, witness, outreach and nurture teams, and other at-large members 13 nominated by the conference committee on nominations. The eligibility 14 limitations of standing rule 10 shall not apply to the forum. Staff of the 15 Conference Information Office (not otherwise included) will be ex-officio with 16 voice only. 17 The conference committee on nominations will nominate the additional 18 at-large members to serve on the forum to provide for diversity and 19 inclusiveness in regard to race, age, gender and national origin and to ensure 20 that there will be a 50 percent clergy/50 percent laity ratio on the forum. 21 Persons who are elected to General and Jurisdictional Conference will 22 begin to serve on the forum after annual conference the year of their election. 23 At-large members will be elected for the quadrennium, begin service at the time 24 of election and be limited to eight consecutive years. 25 There will be an executive committee of the conference vision forum 26 composed of the bishop, the director of connectional ministries, the conference 27 lay leader, the dean of the cabinet and five other persons from the forum who 28 are nominated by the nominating committee. 29 30 Connectional Ministries 31 32 31. There shall be an office of connectional ministries which is responsible for 33 serving as the steward of the vision of the annual conference and for 34 coordinating the mission and ministry of the conference with that vision. It 35 shall create and nurture relationships and connections among the local, district, 36 conference and general church ministries. Other functions shall be in concert 37 with ¶ 607. 38 39 40 41 170

01 There shall be a director of connectional ministries whose duties and 02 responsibilities shall reflect the recommendations of ¶ 607. The director shall 03 serve as chair of the vision forum, supervise the conference staff related to the 04 office of connectional ministries and coordinate the recruitment, training and 05 leadership of annual conference leaders. 06 07 Program Teams of the Annual Conference 08 09 32. The programming of the annual conference shall be done primarily by four 10 (4) program teams – nurture, outreach, advocacy and witness. There shall be a 11 cabinet representative with vote on each program team of the annual 12 conference. 13 33. The membership of the teams shall be composed of the officers (president, 14 vice president and secretary) of the various committees which report to the 15 team, appropriate conference staff, a cabinet representative and the officers of 16 the team. The team officers (president, vice president and secretary) will be 17 nominated by the conference committee on nominations and serve for the 18 quadrennium. Task forces may be created and resource persons used to address 19 major program emphases. When task forces are used, they shall be answerable 20 to the team that created them, have a definite life span determined before they 21 are constituted, and can address only the program for which they were created. 22 There shall be the following committees which relate to an assigned team 23 (i.e., witness, outreach, advocacy or nurture): archives and history, evangelism, 24 stewardship, worship, global ministries, disaster response, conference related 25 agencies, health and welfare, persons living in poverty, religion and race, status 26 and role of women, Christian unity and interreligious concerns, church and 27 society, disability concerns, native American concerns, ethnic local church 28 concerns, education, adult ministries, children’s ministries, youth ministries, 29 young adult ministries, older adult ministries, family ministries, higher 30 education and campus ministries, camping and retreat ministries, and vocations 31 and career/life planning. The aforementioned committees shall be limited to 32 twelve (12) duly elected persons plus any ex-officio members unless otherwise 33 determined by the conference or the Book of Discipline. The members and the 34 chairperson shall be nominated by the annual conference committee on 35 nominations. Serving ex-officio shall be the members of corresponding general 36 boards and agencies, a representative from the conference board of laity, one 37 (1) youth named by the conference youth organization, a conference staff 38 person, and a cabinet representative. Ex-officio members shall have voice and 39 vote on their appointed committees and teams. 40 41 171

34. There shall be a witness team with responsibilities for the following 01 committees: archives and history (¶ 640), evangelism (¶ 629), stewardship (¶ 02 629), worship (¶ 629) and vocations and career/life planning. The membership 03 of the team is defined in standing rule 33. 04 35. There shall be an outreach team with responsibilities for the following 05 committees: global ministries (¶ 632), disaster response (¶ 632.22), conference 06 related agencies and health and welfare (¶ 632.27). The membership of this 07 team is defined in standing rule 33. 08 36. There shall be an advocacy team with responsibilities for the following 09 committees: religion and race (¶ 642.1), status and role of women (¶ 643), 10 Christian unity and interreligious concerns (¶ 641), church and society (¶ 628), 11 disability concerns (¶ 652), native American concerns (¶ 653), ethnic local 12 church concerns (¶ 661) and persons living in poverty. The membership of the 13 team is defined in standing rule 33. 14 37. There shall be a nurture team with responsibilities for the following 15 committees: education (¶ 629.2), adult ministries [older adult (¶ 650.1) and 16 young adult (¶ 649.1)], children’s ministries (¶ 629.1.g), youth ministries (¶ 17 648.1), family ministries, higher education and campus ministries (¶ 633) and 18 camping and retreat ministries (¶ 629.1.c). The membership of the team is 19 defined in standing rule 33, with the added stipulation that two (2) 20 representatives from United Methodist Youth (¶ 648.1) and United Methodist 21 Young Adults (¶ 649.1) will be included. 22 38. There shall be a conference youth organization as provided by ¶ 648.1. It 23 shall relate to and be answerable to the nurture team. 24 25 Ministry of the Laity 26 27 39. Conference Board of Laity - There shall be a conference board of laity 28 which shall provide for the ministry of the laity related to the objectives of the 29 General Board of Discipleship as set forth in ¶¶ 1101-1127. The purpose of the 30 conference board of laity shall be as outlined in ¶ 630.2. Funding for the board 31 shall be provided through the conference budget. 32 40. Membership of Conference Board of Laity - The following shall 33 comprise the membership of the board: The conference lay leader, associate 34 conference lay leaders, the district lay leaders, the conference director of lay 35 speaking, the presidents and two representatives elected by each of the 36 conference organizations of United Methodist Men and United Methodist 37 Women, the presidents of the conference young adult organization and the 38 conference youth organization; and in addition, the conference scouting 39 40 41 172

01 coordinator, the lay chair or lay vice-chair of the general conference delegation 02 and up to four at-large members elected by the board, in consultation with the 03 annual conference committee on nominations as needed from time to time for 04 inclusiveness and/or operations; and as ex-officio, a district superintendent 05 designated by the cabinet, the director of connectional ministries and the 06 presiding bishop. Task forces may be utilized in keeping with the directives 07 stated in Standing Rule 33. 08 41. Election of Conference Lay Leader and Associate Conference Lay 09 Leaders – The conference lay leader and no more than four (4) associate 10 conference lay leaders shall be elected quadrennially by the annual conference 11 on nomination of the conference committee on nominations after consultation 12 with the board of laity. The conference lay leader shall serve as chair of the 13 conference board of laity. No person may serve as the conference lay leader for 14 more than eight (8) consecutive years. No person may serve as the associate 15 conference lay leader for more than eight (8) consecutive years. The 16 conference lay leader and the associate conference lay leaders shall be members 17 of the board of laity by virtue of their election to the offices they hold. Years of 18 service as an associate conference lay leader shall not be considered in 19 determining the eligibility of a person to serve as conference lay leader. 20 42. Conference Committee on Lay Speaking – There shall be a conference 21 committee on lay speaking ministries, which shall relate to the conference 22 board of laity as specifically provided for in ¶ 630.6. The committee shall be 23 structured by the conference board of laity and shall include as a minimum the 24 conference director of lay speaking, the district directors of lay speaking, the 25 conference lay leader and one or more associate conference lay leaders. Up to 26 four (4) at-large members may be elected by the conference board of laity as 27 needed for inclusiveness and/or operations from time to time. The conference 28 director of lay speaking shall be elected for a four-year term by the conference 29 board of laity after consultation with the conference committee on nominations. 30 No person may serve as the conference director of lay speaking for more than 31 eight (8) consecutive years. 32 33 Administrative Agencies of the Annual Conference 34 35 43. There shall be a board of ordained ministry composed of up to sixty-two 36 (62) persons nominated by the bishop as outlined in ¶ 634. 37 44. There shall be a commission on equitable compensation as provided by 38 39 40 41 173

¶ 624, composed of twenty (20) persons with one (1) representative from each 01 district. Members shall be nominated by the annual conference committee on 02 nominations. 03 45. There shall be a board of pensions and health benefits as provided by ¶ 638 04 and ¶ 651composed of thirty-six (36) persons arranged in classes and serving a 05 term of eight (8) years to include representatives of both lay and clergy, 06 nominated by the annual conference committee on nominations. 07 46. There shall be a board of trustees of the annual conference, elected as 08 indicated in ¶ 2512, composed of twelve (12) persons, nominated by the annual 09 conference committee on nominations, serving in four (4) year terms, except for 10 the first board. It is recommended that it be composed of one-third (1/3) clergy, 11 one-third (1/3) lay women, and one-third (1/3) lay men. 12 47. There shall be a joint committee on incapacity which shall be made up of 13 an equal number of members from the board of pensions and health benefits 14 and the board of ordained ministry and shall have duties as directed by ¶ 651. 15 48. There shall be a council on finance and administration as provided by ¶ 16 610-617, composed of five to twenty-one (5-21) persons, with one (1) lay 17 person more than clergy included on the council. Ex-officio members are the 18 conference treasurer, director of connectional ministries and the cabinet 19 representative. Members shall be nominated by the annual conference 20 committee on nominations. 21 49. There shall be a committee on episcopacy as provided by ¶ 636, composed 22 of fifteen (15) persons. It is recommended that it be composed of one-third 23 (1/3) clergy, one-third (1/3) lay women, one-third (1/3) lay men, provided that 24 one (1) lay person be the conference lay leader. One-fifth (1/5) of the 25 membership shall be appointed by the bishop. The lay and clergy members of 26 the jurisdictional committee on episcopacy shall be ex-officio members. 27 50. There shall be an episcopal residency committee as provided by ¶ 637. 28 51. There shall be a clergy committee on investigation as provided by ¶ 2703.1, 29 composed of seven (7) clergy in full connection, two (2) laypersons and six (6) 30 alternate members, five of whom shall be clergy in full connection and one of 31 whom shall be a lay person, nominated by the bishop in consultation with the 32 board of ordained ministry. 33 52. There shall be a conference Board of Church Development composed of 34 such membership and assigned such responsibilities as the conference may 35 from time to time determine. 36 53. There shall be a North Georgia Loan Guarantee Committee, comprised of 37 two (2) members of the cabinet, the president and the executive director of the 38 board of church development, two (2) members of the council on finance and 39 40 41 174

01 administration, one (1) lay and one (1) clergy and two (2) members representing 02 areas of expertise appointed by the bishop in consultation with the chancellor, 03 conference lay leader, executive director of the conference board of church 04 development and the chairperson of the council on finance and administration. 05 54. There shall be a diaconal committee on investigation as provided by ¶ 06 2703.3. 07 55. There shall be an administrative review committee as provided by ¶ 635. 08 56. There shall be a conference information office under the office of the 09 bishop that will plan and administer the information/communication needs of 10 the annual conference. 11 57. There shall be a conference information advisory group whose membership 12 shall not exceed ten (10) persons. The group shall be nominated by the 13 conference information office and the conference committee on nominations 14 and approved by the annual conference. The persons shall include skilled 15 communicators in print, public relations, electronic and video media. 16 58. There shall be a committee on personnel policy and practices which shall 17 consist of a chairperson nominated by the committee on nominations, the 18 Director of Connectional Ministries, the Conference Treasurer, the Executive 19 Director of the Board of Church Development, the Director of Ministerial 20 Services and Spiritual Formation, the Executive Assistant to the Bishop, and a 21 member designated by each of the following: the Council of Finance and 22 Administration, the Board of Pensions and Health Benefits, the Board of 23 Church Development, the Board of Ordained Ministry, the Advocacy Program 24 Team, the Conference Board of Laity, and the Cabinet. Its duties shall be to 25 establish uniform and equitable policies and practices in the employment and 26 compensation of personnel, in consultation and cooperation with the 27 aforementioned bodies. These policies and practices shall be in accordance 28 with the Social Principles (Par. 162 A, E, F, and G). The committee shall 29 receive and review the rationale for any new position and be satisfied that 30 existing funding to finance the position is available or appropriate plans to 31 acquire the same are being followed. (Par. 612.12 as interpreted by Judicial 32 Council Decision 952). 33 59. There shall be a North Georgia United Methodist Housing and Homeless 34 Council which shall be composed of no more than 36 persons nominated by the 35 conference committee on nominations and elected by the annual conference. 36 Each district shall be represented by no fewer than two members, one of which 37 shall be a clergy member in that district and one of whom shall be a lay person 38 who shall be a member of one of the churches in the district that they represent. 39 In addition, the following other persons shall be members: a district 40 41 175 superintendent designated by the cabinet; a member of the connectional 01 ministries staff designated by the director of connectional ministries; the 02 director of the Council, who shall be a non-voting member; a representative of 03 the Church and Society Committee of the Advocacy Team, and a representative 04 of the Outreach Team. 05 06 Districts 07 08 60. District Conference Membership - The membership of the district 09 conference shall consist of (a) all active and retired clergy and diaconal 10 ministers serving appointments or holding charge conference membership 11 within the district and (b) all local church elected, at-large, and ex-officio lay 12 members of the annual conference from the district. 13 61. District Board of Laity – There shall be in each district of the annual 14 conference a district board of laity composed of the district lay leader who shall 15 serve as chair, the associate district lay leaders, the district superintendent, the 16 chair of district connectional ministries or equivalent, the district presidents of 17 United Methodist Women and United Methodist Men, one (1) youth and one 18 (1) young adult named by the youth and young adult groups respectively, the 19 district director of lay speaking and such other persons as the district lay leader 20 and the district superintendent together may select. The district board of laity 21 shall elect annual conference at-large delegates from the districts. 22 62. Election of District Lay Leader and Lay Leadership – The district lay 23 leader, the district associate lay leaders and the district director of lay speaking 24 shall be elected annually, on nomination of the district nominating committee, 25 after consultation with the district board of laity, by the membership of the 26 district conference at the district orientation meeting before the annual 27 conference session. It is recommended these officers will serve quadrennially 28 and will be elected for their first term at the district orientation meeting 29 immediately preceding the start of the new quadrennium. Replacements for 30 these positions shall be elected at the annual district orientation meeting as 31 needed. 32 33 Conference Related Agencies 34 35 63. There shall be a North Georgia United Methodist Foundation, Inc. board of 36 trustees, nominated by the Foundation to be confirmed or denied confirmation 37 by the annual conference. 38 39 40 41 176

01 64. There shall be a Methodist Foundation for Retired Ministers board of 02 trustees, nominated in accordance with its Constitution and By-Laws, to be 03 confirmed or denied confirmation by the annual conference. 04 65. There shall be a Simpsonwood, Inc. board of directors, nominated in 05 accordance with its Constitution and By-Laws, to be confirmed or denied 06 confirmation by the annual conference. 07 66. There shall be an Action Ministries, Inc. board of directors, nominated in 08 accordance with its Constitution and By-Laws, to be confirmed or denied 09 confirmation by the annual conference. 10 67. There shall be an Aldersgate Homes board of directors, nominated in 11 accordance with its Constitution and By-Laws, to be confirmed or denied 12 confirmation by the annual conference. 13 68. There shall be a United Methodist Children's Home board of trustees, 14 nominated in accordance with its Constitution and By-Laws, to be confirmed or 15 denied confirmation by the annual conference. 16 69. There shall be a Wesley Woods, Inc. board of trustees, nominated in 17 accordance with its Constitution and By-Laws, to be confirmed or denied 18 confirmation by the annual conference. 19 70. There shall be a Camp Glisson board of directors, nominated in accordance 20 with its Constitution and By-Laws, to be confirmed or denied confirmation by 21 the annual conference. This is the facility through which camping ministry for 22 children and youth shall be carried out. The director is accountable to the 23 conference director of connectional ministries. 24 25 Joint Ministries of North and South Georgia Conferences 26 27 71. There shall be a Georgia Commission on Higher Education and Campus 28 Ministry. North Georgia membership shall be limited to fifteen (15) persons 29 and shall include one (1) person from each district and not more than three (3) 30 at-large members. Members shall be nominated by the annual conference 31 committee on nominations. 32 72. There shall be a Georgia Pastors' School Committee, composed of persons 33 by virtue of office and at-large members named by the annual conference 34 committee on nominations. 35 73. There shall be a Wesleyan Christian Advocate board of directors, 36 nominated in accordance with its Constitution and By-Laws. 37 38 39 40 41 177

United Methodist Related Institutions of Higher Education 01 02 74. There shall be boards of trustees of United Methodist related schools, 03 nominated in accordance with their Constitution and By-Laws, to be confirmed 04 or denied confirmation by the annual conference. 05 75. There shall be boards of directors of Wesley Foundations, nominated in 06 accordance with their Constitution and By-Laws, to be confirmed or denied 07 confirmation by the annual conference. 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 178

01 NOTES 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 179

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