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.] and East Annual Conferences There was an overwhelming attendance by delegates this year at the 22nd Annual Conference of Burundi and 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 and 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 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). Participation in Minnesota UM camps declined from 6,109 in 2003 to 3,315 in 2011. The Retreats and Camping Ministry Team unveiled a strategy focused on residential camping. Advocates of Star Lake Wilderness Camp (Pequot Lakes) also recommended for divest- ment and convinced members to allow a group to negotiate a plan with conference trustees to enable them to operate an independent camp on that land, with an eye toward eventually purchasing it. On social issues, members affirmed a resolution against a proposed amendment to the Minnesota state consti- tution that would reinforce a statutory ban on marriage between same-sex couples; agreed to “drop the ‘I’ word (illegal) when referring to individuals who may not have immigration documentation; resolved to ask federal leg- islators to investigate Israeli practices of home demolitions and “become familiar with Peace House,” the Shawamreh family home in Anata. The Israeli government has demolished it several times, though it has been rebuilt by the assistance of Minnesota Conference 2003 Love Offering funds and the Israel Committee against Home Demolitions. Session members passed a 2013 annual conference budget of just over $6.2 million, $130,000 lower than the 2012 budget and at “ceiling” (maximum allowed by conference rules). The 2013 budget is at the same level as the 2003 budget and continues a trend of decline. Throughout conference, Bishop Sally Dyck and her spouse, the Rev. Ken Ehrman, heard appreciative good-byes from Minnesota conference clergy and lay members, who have valued their leadership over the past eight years. Bishop Dyck, having served two four-year terms in Minnesota, anticipates being assigned to another conference effective Sept. 1. Ehrman, now pastor of Minnetonka UMC, plans to retire from East Ohio Conference this year. Minnesota and the Dakotas will share a bishop beginning Sept. 1. The conferences are not merging. Donations received at session: Love Offering for Missions, $73,353; Walker Community UMC fire recovery, (https://minnesotaumc.org/news/walker-community-umc-burns-during-thunderstorm/), $5,700; Ministerial Edu- cation Fund, $4,567. Members honored Denman Evangelism Award winners the Rev. Mark Nordell (Cascade UMC, Deerwood) and Sandra Driscoll (Glendale UMC, Savage); Jeanne Audrey Powers Ecumenism Award winner Ann Carlson (director of the Dignity Center at Hennepin Avenue UMC, Minneapolis); and Rural Churches Award winners Fair- fax, Hector, and Fourth Avenue (Faribault) UM churches. One deacon and two elders were commissioned and two elders were ordained; average age of the five is 39. Twenty clergy retired. Membership stands at 70,126, down 2,110 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 33,657, down 591. Church-school attendance (Sunday morning statistics only) stands at 8,352, down 955. —Victoria Rebeck, Minnesota Annual Conference Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference With hands, hearts and voices that have upheld and nurtured the Word of God for 228 years, members of the Baltimore-Washington Conference reached out to claim a new generation of believers at their annual session May 30–June 1. Meeting at the Waterfront Marriott Hotel in Baltimore, the 631 clergy and 604 lay members gath- ered for holy conferencing and revival as the church conducted its business, set a vision for the future, wor- shiped, prayed and learned together. In his episcopal address on the state of the church, Bishop John Schol discussed some of the myths about the closing of churches, homosexuality and the state of the church in the Baltimore-Washington Conference, which is “forward-leaning.” With candor, the bishop acknowledged that he is not a biblical literalist and believes “gay and lesbian people are children of God, loved by God and saved through the love of Jesus Christ. . . . I want non - and nominally religious people of the Baltimore-Washington region to say about us, ‘See how they love each other.’ It can be so if we choose.” Find the full episcopal address online. In their report on the State of the Church, Bishop Schol and five church leaders shared about the strong ministry across the Baltimore-Washington Conference during 2011: more disciples made in 2011 than 2010, more churches growing than declining, increased the number of churches paying 100% of apportionments, more people in Sunday school, more people engaged in mission, and more small groups. The conference adopted a “2020 Vision” that commits to bold goals in the areas of discipleship, leadership, con- gregational growth and mission. Included in the vision are plans to develop funding streams that allow the con- ference to participate in efforts to end deaths by malaria in Africa and build 500 units of supportive housing for the homeless in Baltimore and Washington. The vision also calls for a feasibility study to explore the potential success of a local church-centered capital funds campaign throughout the conference. The vision, said Cynthia Taylor, chair of the Discipleship Council and a member of the 2020 Vision team, continues the shift in the church’s conversation from membership to discipleship. “We are moving from enlisting members to discipling believers for faithful living in the world,” she said. Members also adopted a $17.1 million budget for 2013, which reduces conference spending by more than a mil- lion dollars and lowers the benevolence factor to 17.75%. The reductions are intended to ensure that as much money as possible stays in local churches for mission and ministry, said Charlie Moore, the chair of the confer- ence Council on Finance and Administration. At the end of the opening worship service, Bishop Schol invited members to come forward to the altar to pray. Many streamed forward, but during that time of music and prayer, Marge Shiflet of Providence UMC in Kemp- town, stayed in her seat, stunned. Shiflet, who was going blind in her left eye, said she felt the presence of the Holy Spirit and her vision suddenly cleared. “I’m not this kind of person. This kind of thing doesn’t happen to me,” Shiflet said. “I’m going to see my doctor, but this feels like a miracle.” In addition, members heard from a series of inspiring preachers and speakers: Bishop Gregory Palmer, of the Illinois Greater Rivers Annual Conference, spoke at the Service of Ordination, where nine elders and two dea- cons were ordained into full connection and 14 candidates were commissioned to serve as provisional pastors. The Rev. Zan Holmes preached at the opening worship service. He invited church leaders to check their egos at the doors, so that they might not miss the blessings God has in store, and to be open to the new things God is doing in their midst. The Rev. Clif Christopher led two plenary sessions on practical stewardship and why people give. The church, he said, too often does a poor job at helping people be generous. The Rev. Kenda Creasy Dean, of Princeton Theological Seminary, instructed the members how to reach out to young people and em- phasized the importance of hope and missional imagination. Members also endorsed the Rev. Rodney Thomas Smothers of St. Paul-Corkran Memorial Cooperative Parish in Oxon Hill as the BWC’s episcopal candidate. Smothers will be a candidate in the election of three bishops at the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference, which meets in Charleston, W.Va., July 16–20. In others actions, the members:  worshiped to the music of the nationally celebrated Latino band Salvador, and to Crossroads, led by Jim- my Sherrod of Metropolitan Memorial UMC in Washington;  received greetings and an invitation to be a partner in community outreach from Baltimore Mayor Stepha- nie Rawlings-Blake;  affirmed the creation of a team that will study the best ways to organize and do campus ministries within the Baltimore-Washington Conference;  adopted legislation that updates and clarifies the conference’s sexual misconduct policies;  endorsed Extend Health, a new health care plan for retirees that will go into effect Jan. 1, 2013;  updated and clarified the conference rules so that they are in line with the Discipline and current practices;  recognized the contributions of 27 people who have been trained at Certified Lay Ministers;  remembered and celebrated the lives of 42 saints of the church who died last year;  received words of appreciation from Gabrielle Moriah Johnson, a student at Bennett College, for paying 100% of apportionment to benefit the Black College Fund;  endorsed the work of ending homelessness and voted to review this work to strengthen the conference’s involvement by including other homeless ministries around the conference and reviewing how conference properties are used and how this ministry will be overseen;  increased equitable compensation by $764 to a minimum salary of $38,948. Also voted that equitable com- pensation maximum increments of $250 per year be decreased from 30 years to 15 years for those with new appointments beginning in 2013. Professions of faith stand at 4,231, up 1% from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 65,627, down 1%. Church school attendance stands at 19,609, up 1.7%. The Baltimore-Washington Conference paid 100% of its Gen- eral Church apportionment for the 15th year in a row. —Melissa Lauber, Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference Bishop, Cabinet Tested for HIV/AIDS Bishop Peggy Johnson and district superintendents from the Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference were tested for HIV/AIDS on May 23 to show church leaders are willing to do what is being asked of others: Get tested and know your status. “The bishop’s and cabinet’s willingness to be tested serves as a visible witness that the church does see, hear and respond,” said Dr. Deborah Tanksley-Brown, a deacon and director of HUB (Help Us Be) of Hope Ministry, an HIV/AIDS outreach begun by the UMC of the Open Door in Kennett Square, Pa. June is national AIDS Education Month. Churches are encouraged to use the HUB of Hope Resource Directory de- veloping their own mission and ministry in response to HIV/AIDS. Go to www.aids.gov for posters that can be used to promote HIV testing. For more information, contact Deborah Tanksley-Brown ([email protected]). —Suzy Keenan, Eastern Pennsylvania Conference UMC Foundation Hosts Conversations The UMC Foundation (UMCF) has been working for years to reduce administrative duplication and redundancies with the general Church. Since 2003, UMCF has hosted a regular opportunity for development staff related to general agencies of The UMC. The General Agency Development Staff (GADS) Roundtable serves to gather for the exchange of ideas, sharing of resources and partnering for cost savings and ministry enhancement. Eleven development staff from several UM general agencies gathered in Nashville on Apr. 29. The various groups represented included ; General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM); General Board of Discipleship (GBOD); General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns (GCCUIC); General Commission on UM Men (GCUMM); General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA); General Commis- sion on Communication (UMCOM); the UM Committee on Relief (UMCOR); the Women’s Division-GBGM; and the Upper Room. During this event, staff had a chance to meet one another, give updates on current initiatives and programs, and share challenges and best practices that they have developed. Presentations included non-traditional revenue sources and the direction that GCFA is taking to look at ways to increase visibility and revenue for church minis- tries and ways for the general agencies to grow, adapt to and be relevant in our rapidly changing culture. The group has met once again since General Conference and is planning future gatherings. —Sharon Clapp, GCFA Foundation Screens Private-Prison Stocks The UMC Foundation at its May meeting took a stand against profiting from companies engaged in privatization of prisons. In an action affirming a recommendation by its investment committee, the foundation’s board of di- rectors amended the foundation’s investment policy to add a screen for all of its portfolios and holdings. The board’s decision follows the January announcement by the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits that it would prohibit investments in private-prison companies. —UMNS Churches Hosting Free Medical Clinics Three UM churches in South Carolina are opening their doors to provide free, walk-in medical clinics. Murray UMC in Summerville, New Hope UMC in Ridgeville and Wesley UMC in Ladson will host monthly clinics that will be staffed by volunteer physicians. Read the full story online. —UMNS Retirement Reversal Prompts Response from Episcopacy Committee Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe announced June 1 that he was retiring voluntarily. But late on the afternoon of June 5, just before the conclusion of the North Texas annual conference session, he declared that he was reversing course. He was being forced out, he told conference members, and he had decided to fight all the way to the Judicial Council if he has to. On June 8, the chair of the South Central Episcopacy Committee, Don House, released a statement sharing in- formation, usually held as confidental, about the reasons for the committee’s decision to request Bledsoe’s vol- untary retirement. The committee met on June 10 to consider the question of involuntary retirement. If the South Central Jurisdiction episcopacy committee votes to compel Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe’s retirement, and he appeals, he will remain as the North Texas Conference bishop until the Judicial Council renders a ruling. If the Judicial Council upholds an involuntary retirement, the Council of Bishops, in consultation with the episco- pacy committee and cabinet, could fill the vacancy with a retired bishop. Or the South Central Jurisdiction Col- lege of Bishops could call a special session of the jurisdictional conference to elect and appoint a new bishop. —Heather Hahn, UMNS African American Cemetery Restored UM Men joined a Baltimore-community celebration atthe conclusion of a four-year effort to restore a historic cemetery established in 1872 as “The City of the Dead for Colored People.” At a May 14 celebration, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley said he remembers passing the 34 acre site in 1999 and asking, “What is all that over there?” The site was indiscernible as a cemetery housing 48,000 graves of African Americans. The Mount Auburn Cemetery, owned by Sharp Street UMC, contains the graves of some of Maryland’s most prominent African American leaders. The renewal project took a huge step forward when the Rev. Douglas Sands, chair of the Mt. Auburn Cemetery Corporation and the Rev. Del Hinton, pastor of Sharp Street UMC, asked the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services for help from inmates. With help from former Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick Bealfeld III, the project was approved. Sharp Street UMC is developing a maintenance plan and will establish a columbarium for cremated remains. Tegeler Monuments is restoring headstones and Morgan State University will use global positioning systems to determine if the headstones are aligned correctly. —Rich Peck for UMNS Fire Destroys Rural Arkansas Church On Wednesday, May 30, members of Hickory Plains UMC, a rural community church in central Arkansas, watched their church building burn to the ground. The congregation, which has an average worship attendance of about 30, gathered on June 3 at a nearby park pavilion. “Right now we’re working through our grief, and when we finish grieving over the sentimental part of the church, we will start anew,” said the Rev. Debbye Harrison, the church’s pastor. “We lost the building, but we didn’t lose the church. We have a loving and giving congrega- tion, and we’ve been blessed with so many people calling and supporting us from around the state.” —UMNS Forthcoming Events Father’s Day is June 17: The West Michigan Conference is giving a gift in honor of fathers to Church World Service’s Blankets+ Program, which provides blankets, education, small-business loans and other resources to help empow- er fathers and encourage their families. Congregations might consider hosting a Blanket Sunday on Father’s Day. June is National AIDS Education Month: A CBS television special to be aired June 17 will include an interview with the Rev. Don Messer, chair of the UM Global AIDS Fund Committee and founder of the Center for the Church & Global AIDS. June 27 has been set aside as national HIV Testing Day. Across the United States, June 19—the day in 1865 when slaves in Galveston, Texas, received word of their eman- cipation—remains a date when many Americans celebrate the abolition of slavery. The General Board of Disciple- ship (GBOD) offers resources for marking Juneteenth and recognizing God’s gift of human liberty. Personalia Philander Smith College will welcome one of its own graduates back to campus to take the helm of the histori- cally black, four-year school. Johnny Moore, 44, will become the 13th president of the UM-affiliated institution as of July 1. ……The Rev. Herbert Sei Lami Zigbuo, a UM missionary assigned to his home country of Liberia, died May 30 after a long illness. Zigbuo was superintendent of the Ganta UM Mission Station as well as interim administrator of Ganta UM Hospital. Zigbuo died in North Carolina, where his wife, Mary Randall Zigbuo, is serv- ing as a missionary in the Western North Carolina Annual Conference. Services will be June 23 at the Miller- McAllister UMC at Ganta Mission Station. Send condolences to Mary Zigbuo, 327 Bridget Way, Creedmoor, N.C. 27522. ……The Rev. James McGraw, 76, retired pastor of the historic John Street UMC, the oldest Methodist church in the United States, died May 30. McGraw’s collection of meditations delivered over the 10 Sundays af- ter the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Prayers from Ground Zero, was published by the General Board of Glob- al Ministries (GBGM). Positions Available The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) is seeking an assistant general secretary for Super- vision in the Division of Ordained Ministry. Qualified applicants can visit www.umc.org and click on the Jobs sec- tion for further details. Interested candidates may submit a resume to [email protected]. ……The General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) is currently seeking a Travel and Meeting planner. Send cover letter and re- sume to GCFA (Attn: Personnel Services, P.O. Box 340029, Nashville, TN 37203-0029; fax 615-369-2355; [email protected]) by June 17. ……The New Mexico Conference Methodist Foundation, Inc. is seeking a full-time presi- dent to begin Nov. 1. The position description may be requested at [email protected] or contact Sanford Coon, executive director ([email protected]). Submit resume and cover letter by July 27.

Editor: Mary Catherine Dean Managing Editor: Barbara Dick Publisher: Neil M. Alexander NEWSCOPE, 201 Eighth Ave. So., Nashville, TN 37203; ISSN 1073-4910.

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