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The United Methodist Vol. 40, Issue 24 / June 13, 2012 NEWSCOPE THE WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER FOR UNITED METHODIST LEADERS [With this expanded issue, Newscope continues its coverage of the 2012 Annual Conferences. As space permits, reports are published in the order in which they are received. Numbers supplied by conference staff are unaudited.] Burundi and East Africa Annual Conferences There was an overwhelming attendance by delegates this year at the 22nd Annual Conference of Burundi and East Africa Annual Conference (EAAC). The event, under the theme “One in Christ, All in Ministry in the Spirit of Discipleship to Transform the World,” marked the celebration of God’s goodness especially in the concluded quadrennial of the general church. Delegates celebrated upon receiving the news of the restoration of Burundi as an Annual Conference. Celebra- tions continued during the ordination of 43 pastors (37 from Burundi, 6 from EAAC), the commissioning of 58pro- visional elders (34 from Burundi, 24 from EAAC). Six elders from other denominations in Kenya and Rwanda were also received as provisional members. In his opening remarks, Bishop Daniel Wandabula disclosed that, “Unlike the past session, [this] session is unique given that we are witnessing great achievements: the recent decision made by the General Conference to grant Burundi the status of an annual conference within the East Africa Episcopal Area. We begin the quadrenni- um with Burundi as a conference and pray that stability returns to Burundi.” He reminded the delegates that Burundi has long experienced division among the church leaders; several meet- ings have been held to deal with the issues since 2007. The Burundian delegates proposed that delegates join in prayer for to promote peace and reconciliation in the church. In his ordination sermon, the bishop charged the pastors always to preach God’s word, be ready to carry the message and understand that hardships will come in service to God. The guest preacher was the General Board of Global Ministries’ missionary, Jennifer Hansen, who encouraged the delegates on knowing what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Other guests included the Rev. Masuka Maleke, a GBGM missionary, and Traci McCuistion, a VIM worker from Central UMC in Arkansas. The session received reports from the district superintendents indicating that church membership in the Area had increased to 300,265, up 68,341 from last year. Further activities included recognition of four new districts in Kenya and Uganda that brought the combined total to 32 districts in Burundi Annual Conference and East Africa Annual Conference. —Grace Nakajje, East Africa Episcopal Area North Alabama Annual Conference Report The 2012 North Alabama Annual Conference met May 31–June 2 on the campus of UM-related Birmingham- Southern College. The 2012 session had the feel of both a homecoming and a sending forth as members and visitors celebrated the return to the campus of Birmingham-Southern for the first time in six years (The North Ala- bama Annual Conference met on the campus each year from 1954 to 2006). They also recognized that the 2012 session marks the last time Bishop William H. Willimon will preside as the resident bishop before retiring at the end of August. The 2012 Conference began with the Memorial Service at Trinity UMC to remember those clergy and clergy spouses who have died in the last year. Dr. Charles Gattis used various psalms to illustrate the hard times and high times of ministry, noting that all those being remembered kept going on their journey when they faced the hard times and when they faced the exciting moments. Guest speakers were Bishop James Swanson of the Holston Conference and the Rev. Michael Slaughter, lead pastor of Ginghamsburg UMC in Tipp City, Ohio. The Praise Team from Ginghamsburg UMC led times of worship throughout the gathering. Bishop Swanson opened the Friday session with a Bible study/sermon and held a Q&A session on Friday afternoon. During the powerful message, he urged the UMs gathered to use the connection to change the world. The conference was welcomed by Birmingham-Southern College President General Charles Krulak. He offered an update on the college and offered thanks to UMs congregations for support of their college. Birmingham- Southern College then recognized laywoman Gloria Holt, who has served in many leadership roles at all levels of The UMC, with an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity. In the episcopal address, “This Far by Faith,” Bishop Willimon shared the 10 main things he heard when he first arrived in North Alabama and gave an update on how the conference has been in ministry in each area over the last eight years. Conference Lay Leader Steve Lyles gave the laity address. The Rev. Michael Slaughter told stories of Ginghamsburg and other smaller churches the Ginghamsburg congre- gation has helped revive. He challenged and encouraged those gathered to be true to United Methodist theology and to work to make a difference in their communities. He noted the hope in The UMC is not in the organization, but in the organism of the body of Christ represented by local congregations. The Conference Youth Ministry Team held a Battle of the Bands competition in which five youth bands compet- ed. The winning praise band was from Asbury UMC in Birmingham. In legislative business, the conference: adopted the proposed budget of $9,273,761 for the year 2013; approved a petition from the Birmingham-Southern College Trustees to amend the Birmingham-Southern Charter, which would make changes to the organization of the board of Trustees; approved a request from Sumatanga to sell two unused parcels of land on the edges of the camp’s prop- erty; approved a proposal from the UM Children’s Home to amend its charter; approved a request for a Judicial Council ruling on the legality of the General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) and UM Women (UMW) participation in the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice; heard an update from Conference Disaster Recovery coordinator, the Rev. Nancy Cole, on the work being done in North Alabama since the April 2011 tornadoes; recognized the 31 deacons, elders and local pastors who are retiring; recognized the Rev. Greg Reynolds, pastor of New Vision UMC in Florence, Ala., as the Louise Branscomb Barrier Breaker, an annual award presented by COSROW; recognized, through the Conference Disabilities Team, Monte Sano UMC and Northeast District as Bridge Builders; recognized the winners of the Harry Denman Evangelism award: Judy Berry of Monte Sano UMC (laity) and the Rev. Albert Smith of Huguley UMC (clergy); voted to close seven churches; announced the start of four new congregations, including an established church committed to becoming a new community of faith to reach its community more effectively. The conference ordained four elders and recognized the orders of one elder previously ordained in another de- nomination. The class has an average age of 32. Licensed local pastors were recognized and 10 provisional el- ders were commissioned. The average age of the class is 37. The Committee on Episcopacy thanked Bishop Willimon and his wife Patsy for their ministry with the North Ala- bama Conference over the last 8 years. As a token of thanks, the Willimons were presented with a commis- sioned painting. The committee also announced they were giving a $15,000 scholarship to a BSC student in hon- or of the Willimons. Conference Statistician the Rev. Amy DeWitte reported that while both membership and worship attendance numbers declined, the percentage of attendance vs. membership grew (more members are active in worship than in the previous year). One of the most encouraging statistics is a large growth in missions and serving. Membership stands at 139,535, down 3,935 from the previous year. Average worship attendance stands at 70,341, down 276. Christian formation group attendance stands at 73,458, up 132. Number of mission teams sent was 2,226, up 1,504; number of person sent on mission teams was 18,431, up 8,547; number of persons served by community ministries was 747,745, up 191,811. —Danette Clifton, North Alabama Annual Conference Minnesota Annual Conference “Do you want to be made well?” Jesus asked the invalid at the pool of Beth-zatha (John 5). Bishop Sally Dyck asked the same question of 760 Minnesota Annual Conference members in session on May 30–June 1, at the River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Introducing the conference theme, “Healthy Church, Healthy World,” Bishop Dyck observed in her episcopal ad- dress (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtb9aNG---I) that the church is in pain—on a denominational, confer- ence and local level. The bishop challenged members to consider what they were being faithful to—balanced budgets or compelling ministry and mission? Certainty about one’s own opinions or a commitment to work through our differences? Survival or extravagant hospitality and generosity? Since last year, the 70,000-member Minnesota Conference has raised $2.5 million in gifts and pledges for Imagine No Malaria. “You have become the standard bearers in the UMC,” Gary Henderson, executive director of The UMC’s global health initiative, told session members. Healthy churches are reliant on their leaders’ health, the Rev. Mike Slaughter, pastor of Ginghamsburg UMC (Tipp City, Ohio), told session members. He recommended daily devotions, lifelong commitment to learning, in- vesting in personal relationships, and good diet and exercise. Healthy congregations are “missional” rather than “attractional,” he said. In legislative session, members voted to divest of one campground (Kingswood Camp, Mound, Minn.) in order to invest the proceeds in lowering the conference camping ministry’s $900,000 debt and enhancing facilities at two sites, Northern Pines (Park Rapids) and Koronis (Paynesville).