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United Theological Seminary i ii iii The tentative program and reports to be presented to the Annual Conference of the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church June 2-4, 2013 Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett, Resident Bishop of the Birmingham Area presiding Rev. Sherill Clontz, Conference Secretary Entrance of Methodism into Alabama through Matthew P. Sturdivant 1808 Alabama Conference, Methodist Protestant Church Organized 1829 Alabama Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, South Organized 1846 Alabama Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church Organized 1867 North Alabama Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, South Organized 1870 Central Alabama Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church Organized 1876 Uniting Conference, the Methodist Church 1939 Merger Conference, the United Methodist Church 1968 Merger Conference, North Alabama Conference and Central Alabama Conference, Making the North Alabama Conference Organized 1972 The One Hundred Forty-fourth Annual Session of the North Alabama Conference since organization in 1870. The Forty-first Session of the North Alabama Conference since organization in 1972. Vision of the North Alabama Conference Every church challenged and equipped to grow more disciples of Jesus Christ by taking risks and changing lives. Conference Priorities New Congregations Natural Church Development Effective Leadership for the 21st Century Empowering a New Generation of Christians Transforming the World through Missions and Advocacy So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each. For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building. —1 Corinthians 3:7-9 (NRSV) The theme for the 2013 North Alabama Conference is Cultivate: New in Christ. We gladly welcome Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett as we return to the campus of Birmingham-Southern College and celebrate together the new life we have in Christ. As clergy and laity gather for worship, study, reflection and reconnection, our prayer is all will gain a fresh perspective on their call to ministry, garner innovative ideas and methods for ministry and leave energized to serve the world. Reports Received: Welcome: Table of Contents From Bishop Wallace-Padgett 5 Adult Discipleship 63 From Steve Lyles, Conference Lay Leader 6 Advocacy for Social Justice 63 From Rev. Sherill Clontz, Conference Secretary 7 Africa University 64 Birmingham-Southern College 65 From Gen. Charles Krulak, President of BSC 8 Reservations: Board of Ordained Ministry 68 Board of Superannuate Homes 71 Reservation Information 9 Boston University School of Theology 72 Hotels 10 Candler School of Theology 73 On-Campus Meals 11 Central Conference Pension Initiative 74 Childcare / Kids' Camp 12 Children’s Ministries 74 Youth Battle of the Bands 13 Church Revitalization 75 Conference Guide: Commission on Archives and History 76 Registration Team 14 Commission on Equitable Compensation 77 Registering Your Attendance 14 Committee on Episcopacy 83 Visitors 14 Deaconess / Home Missioner 83 PreConference Meetings 15 Disability Ministries 84 Directions 16 Disaster Recovery 85 Parking and Traffic Flow 16 Disaster Response Team 86 Places of Note 17 Ethnic Ministries 87 Emergency Contact 17 Evangelism Team 88 Persons with Disabilities 17 Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary 89 Special Meals and Gatherings 18 Huntingdon College 90 Laity Luncheon 19 Kairos Prison Ministry 92 Archives Open House 19 Lay Ministry Team 93 Mission Displays 19 Lay Servant Ministries 94 Worship Services 20 Memphis Theological Seminary 95 Special Offering 21 Methodist Homes Corporation 96 Prayer Chapel 21 Mission2Gather 97 Items to Purchase 22 Mission and Advocacy 98 Cokesbury 22 Missionary Report—Rhett Thompson 99 Mission2Gather 5K Information 23 Missionary Report—Kay Twilley 100 Stay Connected 24 Missionary Directory 100 Health Screening 25 New Church Development 101 Lost and Found 25 Office of Communication 102 Frequently Asked Questions 26-27 P.E.E.R. Inc. 103 Leadership: Promise Homes 104 Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett 28 Resource Ministry Partners 104 Rev. Sherill Clontz, Conference Secretary 28 Society of St. Andrew 105 Assistant Secretaries 28 Sumatanga Camp and Conference Center 106 Annual Conference Planning Team 28 United Counseling 107 Steve Lyles, Conference Lay Leader 29 United Methodist Children's Home 108 United Methodist Foundation 111 Rev. Jack Hinnen, Host Elder 29 United Methodist Senior Citizens Ministries 112 Rev. Lonna Lynn Higgs, Worship Coordinator 30 United Methodist Women 113 Christopher Henley, Worship Team 30 United Theological Seminary 113 Quint Harris, Worship Team 30 Upper Sand Mountain Parish 114 Rev. Bill Brunson, Worship Team 31 Urban Ministry 115 Rev. Kevin Payne, Worship Team 31 Wesley Fellowship at Athens State University 117 Rev. Wade Langer, Worship Team 31 Wesley Foundation at Jacksonville State University 117 Dr. Bill Morgan 31 Wesley Foundation at UAB 118 John G. Elliott, Worship Leader 32 Wesley Foundation at the University of North Alabama 119 Bishop Jonathan Holston 32 Wesley Theological Seminary 120 Business: Youth Ministries 121 Tentative Schedule 34-37 Forms: Call to Mission & Ministry 38-52 5K Registration 123 Consent Agenda 53 5K Sponsor Sheet 125 Voting Information 54 Journal Order Form 127 Petitions and Resolutions 55-61 Evaluation Form 129 Reserve Lay Member Form 131 Dear Annual Conference Member We are excited you will be a part of the 2013 North Alabama Annual Conference on the campus of Birmingham-Southern College June 2-4, 2013. Our theme this year is Cultivate: New in Christ. Thank you for the important role you are playing in the North Alabama Conference connection for 2013. As we gather for this time of Christian Conferencing which will include worshipping together, conducting business, learning and celebrating the disciple-making ministries of the North Alabama Conference, Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett will preside over the gathering for the first time since her assignment to the Birmingham Episcopal Area in 2012. Bishop Jonathan Holston of the South Carolina Annual Conference will be our guest presenter. Dove Award-winning songwriter John Elliott will lead us in music throughout our time together. You are getting this mailing because you are a member or reserve member of the North Alabama Annual Conference. It is important you read through this PreConference Book / Journal Vol. I to prepare yourself for the position of leadership and service as an Annual Conference member. In this book you will find • Information on meals, hotels and other general information about the Annual Conference event • The tentative schedule • Reports received from Conference ministry teams and organizations • Reports and petitions that will require action during the Annual Conference Session • Evaluation Form, Journal Order Form and Reserve Member Form • A Birmingham-Southern College campus map (see back cover) We also encourage you to visit www.northalabamaumc.org/ac2013 to find additional information related to the 2013 Annual Conference. Thank you for your service and leadership to your local church and the North Alabama Conference. 4 Welcome Reservations Conference Guide Leadership Business Forms NORTH ALABAMA ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2013 Message from the Bishop Dear Friends, Welcome to Annual Conference 2013! I am excited about the worship, work and fellowship that will happen in North Alabama Methodism here on our Birmingham-Southern College campus this week as we focus on the theme “Cultivate: New in Christ.” Many thanks to the Birmingham-Southern College staff for graciously welcoming and hosting us. Also, kudos to our talented Conference staff, teams and volunteers who have worked tirelessly to ensure that this event is a high quality and meaningful experience. Finally, thank you to each lay and clergy member participating in this Conference. Your commitment to God and the ministry of the church is inspiring. My hope and prayer is that on June 4 we will leave this place with a renewed commitment to cultivate the soil of our ministry contexts so that additional people will come to know new life in Jesus Christ. I pray that as a result of what God does in and through North Alabama Methodists in this Conference year, many lives, families and communities will experience the new life that Jesus Christ offers. As always it is a privilege to serve as your bishop. Blessings, Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett 4 5 NORTH ALABAMA ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2013 Message from the Conference Lay Leader Dear Laity, Clergy and Guests of Annual Conference, Welcome to the 2013 North Alabama United Methodist Church Annual Conference at Birmingham-Southern College. This is a pivotal year in the life of the local church, the Annual Conference and the General Church. Our church, at all levels, finds itself with challenges never faced in our denomination. The challenges that face our Church can only be overcome with hard work by the laity and clergy, with the grace of God. With this Annual Conference, Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett will finish her first year as Bishop of the North Alabama United Methodist Conference. We give thanks to Bishop Wallace-Padgett for her leadership and the leadership efforts she has put in place, which are inspiring our local churches to grow and be fruitful for the kingdom of God. Bishop Wallace-Padgett is a team builder and everyone will be asked to join the team that will elevate the North Alabama Conference in the work of Jesus Christ in the local churches, districts and in the Conference. Please take time to study this PreConference Book, reading and studying the various reports of the ministries of the North Alabama Conference. This year’s Annual Conference schedule includes a balance of worship, business, reports, and Christian fellowship. Remember to enjoy the amenities of Conference by visiting the booths that tell the story of ministry together through the agencies of Conference on Sunday afternoon. The Laity Luncheon will be at noon on Monday, June 3, in the Great Hall on the third floor of the Norton Center.
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