2017 journal of the Annual Conference i JOURNAL OF THE Fiftieth Session OF THE WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Successor Conference to: North Carolina Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church (1828) North Carolina Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church (1869) Blue Ridge-Atlantic Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church (1879) Western North Carolina Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South (1890) Western North Carolina Conference of The Methodist Church (1939) North Carolina Conference of the Central Jurisdiction of The Methodist Church (1939) North Carolina-Virginia Conference of The Methodist Church (1965) June 23-25, 2017 George R. Stuart Auditorium Lake Junaluska, North Carolina Edited for the Conference by Kimberly T. Ingram, Director of Ministerial Services and Conference Secretary Editorial Assistants: Erin Allen, G. Craig Allen, Adri Bullard-Rogers, Amy Coles, Karen Morgan, Marsha Bradley Patton, A. Owen Peeler, Kenneth E. Perry, Virginia Robinson, Barbara Rouse PO Box 18005, Charlotte, NC 28218 ii Western North Carolina Conference 2017 journal of the Annual Conference 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS VOLUME I Bishop Paul L. Leeland .....................................................................................................................................................................5 Clergy Ordained as Elders and Deacons at 2017 Session ............................................................................................................6 Clergy Commissioned as Provisional Members at 2017 Session .................................................................................................7 Local Pastors Recognized at 2017 Session ....................................................................................................................................8 Clergy Granted Retirement at 2017 Session ..................................................................................................................................9 2017-2018 Cabinet ....................................................................................................................................................................... 11 I. CONFERENCE OFFICERS ........................................................................................................................................................ 12 A. General Officers and Staff ..................................................................................................................................................... 12 B. District Superintendents and Staff ....................................................................................................................................... 13 II. CONFERENCE ORGANIZATION ................................................................................................................................................ 14 A. Quadrennial Election ...............................................................................................................................................................14 B. Term Election .......................................................................................................................................................................... 18 C. Other Groups .......................................................................................................................................................................... 18 D. Treasurers to Whom Funds Should Be Forwarded ................................................................................................................21 E. District Officers ....................................................................................................................................................................... 22 1. Appalachian ..................................................................................................................................................................... 22 2. Blue Ridge ....................................................................................................................................................................... 22 3. Catawba Valley ................................................................................................................................................................ 23 4. Metro .................................................................................................................................................................................24 5. Northern Piedmont ..........................................................................................................................................................24 6. Smoky Mountain ............................................................................................................................................................. 25 7. Uwharrie ........................................................................................................................................................................... 26 8. Yadkin Valley .................................................................................................................................................................... 26 III. CONFERENCE DIRECTORY ...................................................................................................................................................... 28 A. Honorary Members ................................................................................................................................................................ 29 B. Ordained Clergy, Provisional Members, Associate Members, and Local Pastors .............................................................. 29 C. Clergy Granted Honorable Location ...................................................................................................................................... 92 D. Diaconal Ministers ................................................................................................................................................................. 93 E. Deaconesses .......................................................................................................................................................................... 94 F. Mission Personnel .................................................................................................................................................................. 94 G. Lay Members of the 2017 Annual Conference .................................................................................................................... 96 Ex-Officio Members .......................................................................................................................................................... 101 H. Surviving Spouses of Deceased Clergy and Diaconal Ministers ....................................................................................... 102 I. Clergy Service Records ........................................................................................................................................................ 106 IV. DAILY PROCEEDINGS .............................................................................................................................................................144 A. 2017 Conference Speakers and Program .......................................................................................................................... 144 B. 2017 Conference Special Events ........................................................................................................................................ 146 C. Daily Minutes ........................................................................................................................................................................ 147 D. Certificate of Commissioning and Ordination ..................................................................................................................... 159 V. THE BUSINESS OF THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE ...................................................................................................................160 Part I. Organization and General Business ............................................................................................................................ 160 Part II. Pertaining to Ordained and Licensed Clergy ............................................................................................................... 165 Part III. Certification in Specialized Ministry .............................................................................................................................182 Part IV. Certified Lay Ministry ....................................................................................................................................................183 Part V. Diaconal Ministers ........................................................................................................................................................183 Part VI. Appointments and Concluding Business .....................................................................................................................184 2 Western North Carolina Conference VI. APPOINTMENTS – 2017-2018 .............................................................................................................................................. 188 A. Appointments of Clergy