BUSINESS OF THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE 155 WELCOME TO LAKE JUNALUSKA Dear Holston Annual Conference Members and Guests: We are so pleased to welcome you back to Lake Junaluska once again for the Holston Annual Conference. Your loyalty to this place and its mission, “to be a place of Christian hospitality where lives are transformed through the renewal of soul, mind, and body” is deeply appreciated. We hope you will take full advantage of the opportunities provided for you while you are here to experience that transformation and renewal for yourself in the midst of the important work of holy conferencing. We have been blessed with many assets here at Lake Junaluska, and the greatest by far is our location. From the beautiful lake itself, the gorgeous centerpiece of our grounds, to the surrounding mountains and beyond we are situated as a gateway to some of the best outdoors that Western North Carolina has to offer. Right here at the lake we have 16 gardens, four miles of walking trails, a golf course, boat rentals, and dozens of areas for meditation. Just a short drive away you will find whitewater rafting, skiing, and easy access to two of the most visited national parks in the nation. Not every Annual Conference has the benefit of taking place on sacred ground with such easy access to the wonderful renewing power of God’s creation. It is our goal to help you make the most of it. We sincerely want you to have a wonderful time with us at the 2017 Holston Annual Conference. We are here to serve you. Peace and Grace, Jack Ewing, Executive Director and CEO Lake Junaluska Assembly, Inc. 156 HOLSTON ANNUAL CONFERENCE HOLSTON ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2017 June 11-14, 2017 Mary Virginia Taylor Resident Bishop, Presiding SCHEDULE AND AGENDA BEHOLD “BEHOLD, I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK” REV 3:30 (ESV) SUNDAY – JUNE 11, 2017 2:00 p.m. Registration opens – Foundation for Evangelism Center 4:00 p.m. Laity Session – Stuart Auditorium 5:00 p.m. Clergy Session – Stuart Auditorium 5:45 p.m. Rehearsal for Communion Servers for Sunday Evening Service 5:45 p.m. Dinner served at Terrace Hotel and Lambuth Inn 7:00 p.m. Pre-Service Music – Fountain City UMC Choir, Knoxville District 7:30 p.m. Opening Worship – Behold Bishop Mary Virginia Taylor, preaching and presiding After worship Rehearsal for Monday morning Communion servers – Stuart Auditorium “BEHOLD, I AM DOING A NEW THING” ISAIAH 43:19 (ESV) MONDAY – JUNE 12, 2017 8:30 a.m. Morning Worship with Teaching & Holy Communion Reverend Dr. Samuel R. Roberts, III Music by El Ministerio del Espiritu Santo, Maryville District Break 9:45 a.m. Hymn Welcome from Lake Junaluska Organizing Motions Adoption of Agenda Setting Bar of Conference Election of Ushers and Tellers BUSINESS OF THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE 157 MONDAY – JUNE 12, 2017 (cont.) Report from Committee on Rules and Order Blessing of Hands-On Mission Kits State of the Church – Bishop’s Report Conference Lay Leader Report Council on Finance and Administration Initial Budget Presentation Cabinet Report Conference Strategy Team Report Closing Prayer for the Session Lunch Break 12:30 p.m. Chat Room with Conference Strategy Team – Harrell Center Auditorium 2:00 p.m. Memorial Service - Reverend Randall B. Martin, preaching Music by the Annual Conference Choir Break 3:45 p.m. Hymn Discipleship Team Holston Conference Foundation Discipleship Team – Witness Team Discipleship Team – Denman Awards Committee on Petitions and Resolutions Holston Home for Children Conference Strategy Team United Methodist Endorsing Agency Closing prayer for Session Dinner Break 158 HOLSTON ANNUAL CONFERENCE MONDAY – JUNE 12, 2017 (cont.) 7:00 p.m. A Night of Inspiration – Africana Live: Reflect, Reclaim, and Rejoice After session Rehearsal for Tuesday morning Communion servers – Stuart Auditorium “BEHOLD, I AM MAKING ALL THINGS NEW” REVELATION 21:5 (ESV) TUESDAY – JUNE 13, 2017 7:15 a.m. 5K Run/1 Mile Walk – Outside of Stuart Auditorium 8:30 a.m. Morning Worship with Teaching & Holy Communion Reverend Dr. Samuel R. Roberts, III Music by The Lin Sisters, Concord UMC, Oak Ridge District Stand-Up Break 9:35 a.m Leadership Holston Board of Trustees Discipleship Team – African American Ministries Task Force Committee on Congregational Development Personnel Resources Committee Committee on Nominations Discipleship Team – Nurture Team United Methodist Women Board of Pensions Break 11:00 a.m. Retirement Recognition 12:00 p.m. Explanation of On-Site Mission Project Closing Prayer for the Session Lunch Break 12:30 p.m. On-Site Mission Project – Rise Against Hunger– Kern Youth Center BUSINESS OF THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE 159 TUESDAY – JUNE 13, 2017 (cont.) 2:00 p.m. Hymn Holston Conference Higher Education and Ministry Francis Asbury Award Presentation Emory & Henry College Hiwassee College Tennessee Wesleyan University Recognition of Wesley Foundations Representative from the Commission on a Way Forward Board of Ordained Ministry Presentation of Local Pastors’ Licenses Discipleship Team – Hispanic Ministries Commission on Equitable Compensation Discipleship Team – Outreach/Advocacy Break Task Force on Lay Abuse of Clergy Discipleship Team – Stewardship Team CFA Budget Presentation for Approval Constitutional Amendments Cabinet Report Part 2 Greetings from the National Council of Churches Minute Question #85 “Where Shall Annual Conference Be Held?” Interim Business Resolution Omnibus Motion Thank You and Acknowledgements Closing Prayer for the Session 160 HOLSTON ANNUAL CONFERENCE TUESDAY – JUNE 13, 2017 (cont.) Dinner Break 7:00 p.m. Pre-Service Music – Lauren Talley 7:30 p.m. A Night of Inspiration – Mission Celebration After session Commissioning & Recognition Service Rehearsal “BEHOLD, I AM WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO” GENESIS 28:15 (ESV) WEDNESDAY – JUNE 14, 2017 8:15 a.m. Provisionals and Associate Members meet at the chapel for pictures and line-up for Commissioning & Recognition Service 8:45 a.m. Sponsors and Cabinet line-up for Commissioning & Recognition Service ~~~~~ 8:30 a.m. Pre-Service Music – The Lake Junaluska Singers 9:00 a.m. Service of Commissioning & Recognition and Sending Forth - Bishop Mary Virginia Taylor, preaching and presiding Music by The Lake Junaluska Singers Fixing of Appointments Adjournment Recessional BUSINESS OF THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE 161 B. DAILY PROCEEDINGS MINUTES OF THE FIFTIETH SESSION OF THE HOLSTON ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH (The 194th Session of the Holston Conference) June 11-14, 2017 George R. Stuart Auditorium Lake Junaluska, North Carolina Mary Virginia Taylor, Resident Bishop Holston Annual Conference 2017 “Behold” “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20 (ESV) Trinity Sunday-June 11, 2017 (The First Sunday after Pentecost) Registration opened at 2:00 p.m., at the Bethea Welcome Center. The Laity Session began at 4:00 p.m. in Stuart Auditorium and was followed by the Clergy Session at 5:00 p.m. Following the dinner break the conference gathered for worship. Music for the evening worship was provided by the Fountain City UMC Chancel Choir (Knoxville District). Reverend Mary Elizabeth Tipton offered the evening prayer and Bishop Taylor was the preacher for the evening. Mr. Bryan K. Underwood (Abingdon District) and Mr. Wesley Rouse (Maryville District) were staff musicians for the Annual Conference. Monday-June 12, 2017 “Behold, I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth.” Isaiah 43:19a (ESV) The day began with a Morning Teaching Moment and Holy Communion. Celebrants for the service were Elizabeth Hernandez-Lopez and Javier Hernandez-Torres, pastors of Door of Heaven (Wytheville District). Special music was provided by El Ministerio del Espiritu Santo from First UMC Sevierville (MA). 162 HOLSTON ANNUAL CONFERENCE The Teaching Moment for this day and this annual conference was provided by the Rev. Dr. Samuel R. Roberts, III, retired professor from Tennessee Wesleyan University. Sam is a member of the West Virginia and an affiliate member of Holston. The first business session of the conference was called to order by Bishop Taylor at 9:45 A.M. Rev. Jack Ewing, Executive Director of Lake Junaluska, welcomed the conference and highlighted some of the things that had been done since we were here last year. 2017 marks the 40th year that the Holston Annual Conference has met at “The Lake”. Organizing Motions were presented by the Conference Secretary. ORGANIZING MOTIONS FOR 2017 HOLSTON ANNUAL CONFERENCE Annual Conference Roll Call: I move that the online registration constitute the roll call and record of attendance. Excused clergy will be noted and recorded in the Journal. Legal Limits for Voting and Business: I move that the legal voting and business limits of the 2017 Holston Annual Conference be the stage area, sections one (1) through ten (10), and pews behind sections one (1)B and three (3) of the George R. Stuart Auditorium. Agenda: I move that the Schedule/Agenda as printed and included in the Annual Conference Book of Reports constitute the agenda for the 2017 Session of the Holston Annual Conference, subject to any necessary changes and/or amendments by the Chair. Reports: I move that reports found in the Annual Conference Book of Reports that do not require action and other reports submitted for information, subject to editorial corrections, be ordered to record and be published in the 2017 Conference Journal. Harrison Ambrose (Knoxville District) made the following motion: I move to amend the motion by the addition of the following words: There shall be included in this year’s annual conference agenda, and all subsequent annual conference agendas, a section titled “New Business” and that this agenda item must be scheduled at a time such that the members of all categories will be expected to be in maximum attendance and that the item called “New Business” will not be scheduled on the last day or at the end of any day’s agenda.