Proceedings of the Twenty-first World Methodist Conference Hilton Americas Houston, Texas, U.S.A. One God One Faith One People One Mission World Methodist Council 2012 – 2016 Steering Committee Bishop Paulo Lockmann, Brazil Chairperson Bishop Sarah Davis, USA Vice-Chairperson Mr. Kibry Hickey, USA Treasurer Bishop Ivan Abrahams, South Africa/USA General Secretary Bishop Heinrich Bolleter, Switzerland Geneva Secretary Mr. John Thomas III, USA Youth and Young Adult Coordinator Officers Rev. David Bush, New Zealand Rev. Lauren Matthew, South Africa Bishop G. Lindsey Davis, USA Dr. George Mulrain, Antigua Mrs. Gillian Kingston, Ireland Rev. Dr. Won Jae Lee, Korea Mr. Joshua Rathnam, India Archbishop Michael Stephen, Nigeria Dr. John Barrett, Past Chairperson Mrs. Ann Connan, Australia World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women Mr. Larry Malone, USA World Fellowship of Methodist and Uniting Church Men Standing Committee Chairperson Ecumenical Dialogue Rev. Prof. Robert Gribben, Australia Educational Dr. Amos Nascrimento, Brazli/USA Evangelism Bishop B. Michael Watson, USA Family Life Bishop Teresa Snorton, USA Theological Education Dr. J.C. Park, Korea Social and International Affairs Rev. Kim Reisman, USA Worship and Liturgy Dr. Jorge Lockward, USA Youth and Young Adults Ms. Christy-Ann Arrington, United Kingdom Finance Mrs. Ruby Beech, United Kingdom TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction From the General Secretary 1 Introduction From the Outgoing President 2 Program Committee for the 21st World Methodist Conference 3 Texas Annual Conference of The UMC Local Host Committee 4 Conference Staff 5 Worship Leaders and Musicans 5 Member Churches Present 6-7 Ecumenical & Special Guests 8 Program of the 21st World Methodist Conference Houston, Texas USA 9-12 “ONE: ONE GOD, ONE FAITH, ONE PEOPLE, ONE MISSION” Sponsors 13 Parade of Banners 14-16 Conference Program 17-18 Seminars and Workshops 19-31 One God Address by Rev. Dr. David Wilkinson and Dr. Jennifer Wiseman 32-37 One Faith Address by Pastor Rudy Rasmus 38-42 Address by Rev. Dr. Grace Imathiu 43-48 Address by Rev. Dr. Ted Campbell 49-55 One People Address by Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie 56-61 Address by Bishop João Carlos Lopes 62-67 Address by Rev. Dr. Harold Good 68-77 One Mission Address by Rev. Dr. Joanne Cox-Darling 78-84 Address by Rev. Dr. Yani Yoo 85-88 Address by Rev. Dr. Jo Anne Lyon 89-94 Address by Ivan Abrahams & WMC Leadership 95-101 Minutes of the World Methodist Council Meetings Pre-Conference (Aug. 30-31) Outgoing Council 102-117 Post-Conference (Sept. 4-5) Incoming Council 118-132 List of Attendees 133-174 INTRODUCTION FROM THE GENERAL SECRETARY I am grateful for the privilege that has been mine to serve the World Methodist Council as its General Secretary for the past quinquennium. Allow me to add my word of welcome to that of our President, Bishop Paulo Lockmann. I am delighted to see you in Houston for the meeting of the Council and Conference. It has been forty-five years since we last gathered in the continental United States. There are some amongst us who were in Denver, Colorado in 1971 and have since been on an exciting journey to Nairobi, Singapore, Rio de Janeiro, Brighton, Seoul, and Durban. I have served on the Council in various capacities (Executive Committee and Chairperson of Social and International Affairs) since 1996. I have also had the privilege to serve on the Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches (2007-14) which brought me into contact with the leadership of the larger ecumenical movement. These have all been invaluable opportunities and a blessing in assisting me, as General Secretary to provide leadership to the World Methodist Council. As we critically evaluate the work of the Council over the past five years since Durban, there is much to celebrate, but it is also a time to pause and plan how to move forward to “serve the present age” as we participate in God’s mission. We have been through a period of rapid change, great expectation, and enormous challenge. While some Council members feel that we are moving ahead too fast, others complained that we should speed up the transformation process. The liet-motif in all my reports has been that it cannot be “business as usual” in a globalized world where the geo-political, economic and ecclesiastical landscape has dramatically changed. We have to work smarter and do more with fewer resources. When I look at the rich diversity in World Methodist Council, I am convinced that it is a privileged instrument through which Methodists will become “one people in all the world”. The work during these past five years has been wonderfully rewarding. As I think about our future and the possibilities that lie before us I am blessed to build upon the contributions of my predecessors. I am also deeply grateful to all those who have accompanied me on the journey, nurtured my faith and enriched my life and ministry. Special thanks to the President and Officers of the Council, Committee Chairpersons, the Presidents of affiliated organizations, Members of the Steering Committee, the staff at Lake Junaluska, the Conference Program Team in Nashville and members of the Council, who have played a significant role to bring us to this place and time. Allow me to acknowledge the contribution of my wife, Esme and my immediate family who have shared in the joys and challenges of the work. Ivan M Abrahams, General Secretary World Methodist Council 1 INTRODUCTION FROM THE OUTGOING PRESIDENT It is with great joy that we receive all of you coming from many nations of the world, where the Wesleyan Methodist tradition is present. Our conference is a place offered to God to experience and to express fraternity, communion and the love of the faith that we have in the risen Christ, and his testimony. We come from many diverse cultures and experiences and we are made one in Christ. We are made one family. As any family, we have people of different ages, backgrounds, and expectations. Our expectation is in the sense that everyone can experience moments of unity in diversity, where we will find encouragement to continue to give a testimony of love and respect for an abundant life, as the Gospel of our Lord Jesus brings us, and teaches us. This Gospel is the answer for our needy world of unity in diversity, where prejudices divide and creates hatred and violence. Our desire is to convey and set an example of love and communion. We really want to promote reconciliation. Our intention is to leave here with an open heart to love and to serve this world so lacking in concrete signs of grace, redemption and God’s goodness. Yes, the God revealed in Christ. We want to hear the sounds that echoes the world, their images, their cries and their cry, so as to enrich communion of these days spent here together. We can return to care for the world and people, to share much of what we receive here. To this end, we invite each one to open your heart, your mind, your ears, your eyes to what God has to say through the various times when we will be together, and so we will feel the presence of God manifest among us. And I can already feel at this moment, and for the days to come, that God is present and God is already with us, here and now, Amen and Amen!!! Bishop Paulo Lockmann President of The World Methodist Council 2011-2016 2 PROGRAM COMMITTEE FOR THE 21ST WORLD METHODIST CONFERENCE Ms. Sarah Wilke, Chairperson United States Bishop Paulo Lockmann Brazil Bishop Sarah F. Davis* United States Ms. Gillian Kingston Ireland Mr. Kirby Hickey United States Bishop Ivan Abrahams South Africa Dr. John C. A. Barrett United Kingdom Ms. Ruby Beech United Kingdom Rev. David Bush New Zealand Mrs. Ann Connan Australia Ms. Christy-Anna Errington United Kingdom Rev. Dr. Robert Gribben Australia Rev. Oyvind Helliesen Norway Rev. Dr. Won Jae Lee Korea Rev. Jorge Lockward United States Mr. Larry Malone United States Rev. Lauren Matthew South Africa Rev. Dr. George Mulrain Jamaica Dr. Amos Nascimento Brazil Rev. Dr. Jong Chun Park Korea Mr. Joshua Rathnam India Rev. Dr. Kimberly Reisman United States Bishop Teresa Snorton United States Bishop Darryl Starnes United States Archbishop Michael Stephen Nigeria Mr. John Thomas United States Bishop B. Michael Watson United States *Deceased 3 TEXAS ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH LOCAL HOST COMMITTEE Rev. Dr. B.T. Williamson Committee Chair Ms. Jan Ervin Assistant to Chair, Information Booth Rev. Linda Christians Airport Hospitality Rev. Juanita Jackson Airport Hospitality Rev. Dr. Charles Millikan First Aid, Houston Methodist Hospital Ms. Lindsay Kirkpatrick Local Culture Night Rev. Dr. Keith Whitaker Local Attractions Rev. Pat Sparks Lunch Sponsorships Ms. Paula Arnold Media and Daily Newsletter Mr. Brant Mills Media and Daily Newsletter Ms. Michelle Hall Prayer Ministry, Prayer Room Rev. Will Reed Registration and Packets Ms. Julie Stuckey Registration and Packets Ms. Frankie Watson Registration and Packets Dr. Judy Forney Transportation Dr. Charles Johnson Transportation Rev. Carol Bruse Volunteer Services Rev. Dr. Chap Temple 100 Preachers Project (visiting preachers) Bishop Janice Huie Area Bishop (until Aug. 2016) Bishop Scott Jones Area Bishop (from Aug. 2016) 4 CONFERENCE STAFF Rev. Ivan Abrahams General Secretary – World Methodist Council Ms. Barby Bowser Executive Assistant – World Methodist Council Ms. Jackie Bolden Director of The World Methodist Museum Ms. Susan Gaddy Staff Assistant – World Methodist Council Ms. Elizabeth Redman Staff Assistant – The Upper Room The Adams Group Audio & Video Production Mr. Donald Reasoner Director of Interpretation Mr. John Thomas, III Coordinator, Parade of Banners Dr.