Workbook WELCOME and GREETINGS from OUR BISHOP
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
2016 Florida Annual Conference The Buena Vista Palace Hotel, Orlando, Florida 2016 Florida Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church June 16 – 18, 2016 Registration begins June 14 Workbook WELCOME AND GREETINGS FROM OUR BISHOP Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Welcome to the annual session of the Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church. We join together during these days as disciples of Jesus Christ and leaders in his mission. Three years ago we focused on the process of becoming disciples of Jesus Christ; two years ago we celebrated the mission of God. Last year, in 2015, we celebrated “Next Generations” of faith. This year’s theme will be “Leading like Jesus.” Our conference will be marked by music and worship, study and prayer, debate and conferencing, fellowship and laughter, business and visioning. We will license, commission and ordain men and women for set apart leadership in the church. We will send clergy into congregational and extension leadership for the coming year. We will make important decisions as an Annual Conference, especially about clergy health care. And we will return to our local churches, more conscious of our connection as Florida United Methodists. Gathering in Orlando, the Annual Conference will begin as I celebrate Holy Communion with Bishop Adam J. Richardson of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, a visible sign of our shared Wesleyan identity. Our keynote speakers will be extraordinary: Jeff James of the Disney Leadership Institute; Bishop Janice Huie of the Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church, and Bill Hybels of the Willow Creek Community Church. We will also hear the testimony of Lucille O’Neal, a leader in the Orlando community, and the music will be led by Jeremy Hearn of First UMC in Lakeland. David Dodge, assistant to the bishop, will give the Memorial sermon. Our offerings will support core initiatives with our Annual Conference that develop laity and clergy in the Fresh Expressions movement, the strengthening of Missional Churches, and the formation of spiritual leaders for these emerging ministries. I thank you for serving as a leader in the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. I welcome you to Orlando, and wish you God’s richest blessings in these days! The peace of the Lord, +Ken Carter Resident Bishop, Florida Area The United Methodist Church TO: Lay and Clergy Members of the Florida Annual Conference FROM: David Dodge, Chair; Annual Conference Program Committee RE: 2016 Florida Annual Conference Workbook “LEADING LIKE JESUS” The 2016 Annual Conference will represent a big change from past Annual Conferences. For the first time we will be meeting in a convention center hotel as we gather at the Buena Vista Palace Hotel on the Edge of Walt Disney World. All of our scheduled activities, except for the 5K Walk/Run, will take place at the hotel. This will provide attendees the opportunity to maximize their time at Annual Conference in that there will be limited need to leave the hotel. The lower level of the hotel is where the Expo will be held in the Exhibit Hall. It is also on that level where the Laity Session and the Clergy Session will be held on Thursday morning in The Great Hall. And all of our plenary sessions and times of worship will be held in the Empire Hall. This year we will have a number of different speakers who will be helping us in our understanding of what it means to lead like Jesus. On Thursday afternoon we will hear from Ms. Lucille O’Neal, author of the book, Walk Like You Have Somewhere to Go: Reclaiming Courage & Direction in Life, and mother of Shaquille O’Neal from the National Basketball Association. Ms. O’Neal, also a trustee of Bethune-Cookman University, will share some of her personal story of leadership. On Thursday evening Rev. Bill Hybels, founding pastor of Willow Creek Church, will be talking with us about his understanding of leadership. This time with Rev. Hybels will be facilitated by Rev. Jorge Acevedo in an interview format. On Friday morning we will be led by Bishop Janice Riggle Huie of the Texas Conference. Bishop Huie is an incredible leader and serves as bishop of some of the largest churches in our denomination. Friday afternoon will include a presentation by Mr. Jeff James, Director of the Disney Leadership Institute. He will be sharing with us the core principles of Walt Disney World and how they influence every decision. Mr. James is an active member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Windemere. Our schedule will be a bit different this year in the following ways: The opening worship on Thursday afternoon will also include our service of communion On Thursday evening there will time, following the presentation by Rev. Bill Hybels, for everyone to meet in district gatherings in order to formulate direction for each district’s missional context. The service of recognizing those who are retiring this year is scheduled for 4:00 pm on Friday afternoon. The service of Licensing, Commissioning and Ordination will be our closing time of worship on Saturday morning. It is scheduled for 10:00 am on Saturday. This workbook is being provided to allow you to have adequate time and information to be fully prepared for this year’s Annual Conference. Please read the reports and recommendations carefully in order to be the best steward of our time together. If you have questions about certain aspects of the workbook you can contact the author of that section directly, or you can contact me and I will be glad to assist in any manner that I can. Foremost, I encourage you to prepare yourself spiritually for our time together. In John Wesley’s days Annual Conference was a time for “connection,” a time for us to come together to hear from one another about how it is with our souls. Today is no different. We need one another. And, because of our time together, we will be able to join in the words of the historic hymn of Charles Wesley, “And are we yet alive, and see each other’s face? Glory and thanks to Jesus give for his almighty grace!” - 1 - CAMERA READY WORKBOOK REPORTS All content included in the 2016 Workbook is generate by conference departments, committees, ministries, etc. Reports are submitted for publishing as “camera ready.” The Florida Conference publishing staff does not edit camera ready reports. - 2 - TABLE OF CONTENTS KEY TO NAME BADGE COLORS .................................................................................................... 7 VOICE AND VOTE ............................................................................................................................. 8 THE BUENA VISTA PALACE HOTEL .............................................................................................. 9 WELCOME AND GREETINGS FROM OUR CONFERENCE LAY LEADER .................................. 11 2016 ANNUAL CONFERENCE SPEAKERS ................................................................................... 12 Bishop Adam Richardson ............................................................................................................. 12 Bishop Kenneth Carter .................................................................................................................. 13 Lucille O’Neal ................................................................................................................................ 14 Bill Hybels ..................................................................................................................................... 15 Bishop Janice Riggle Huie ............................................................................................................ 15 Rev. David Dodge ......................................................................................................................... 17 Jeff James .................................................................................................................................... 18 Rev. Audrey Warren ..................................................................................................................... 19 Jeremy Hearn ............................................................................................................................... 19 EVENT INFORMATION ................................................................................................................... 20 BREAKFAST AND LUNCH MENUS ............................................................................................. 24 ANNUAL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE ........................................................................................ 25 YOUTH SCHEDULE FOR ANNUAL CONFERENCE ................................................................... 26 YOUTH EVENT INFORMATION .................................................................................................. 27 HOTELS FOR 2016 ANNUAL CONFERENCE ............................................................................ 28 PROCEDURE AND AGENDA REPORT ......................................................................................... 29 STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP TEAM REPORT .................................................................................. 30 CONFERENCE TABLE REPORT.................................................................................................... 31 CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON LEADERSHIP ............................................................................ 32 STANDING RULES ........................................................................................................................