The United Methodist Church Louisiana Annual Conference Pre-Conference Report June 7 – 10, 2015 Centenary College, Shreveport 2015 PRE-CONFERENCE REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR BEFORE CONFERENCE As You Prepare For 2015 Louisiana Annual Conference ...........................................................6 How to Say What You Want to Say: It’s Petition Time Again ..................................................7 Petition to the 2015 Louisiana Annual Conference .....................................................................8 Budget Amendment Form for the 2015 Louisiana Annual Conference ......................................9 Pre-Conference Meeting ..............................................................................................................10 GENERAL INFORMATION Highlights .....................................................................................................................................11 Agenda .........................................................................................................................................13 Board Meetings ............................................................................................................................17 Conference Meals ........................................................................................................................18 Registration Form .......................................................................................................................20 District Offices .............................................................................................................................21 Off Campus Lodging ..................................................................................................................22 Centenary College Lodging and Meal Registration.....................................................................24 Childcare ......................................................................................................................................26 Directions to Churches .................................................................................................................27 Directions to Centenary College ..................................................................................................28 Map of Centenary .......................................................................................................................29 2015 Conference Journal Ordering Information ..........................................................................30 REPORTS Statisticians Condensed Report ...................................................................................................31 REPORTS REQUIRING/REQUESTING ACTION BY THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE WITH PRESENTATION AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE Rules Committee ...................................................................................................................35 Restructure Diagram ........................................................................................................35 Restructure Proposal ........................................................................................................36 Frequently Asked Questions about Restructure ...............................................................42 Board of Pensions .................................................................................................................46 Board of Trustees ..................................................................................................................56 Committee on Nominations ..................................................................................................57 Council on Finance and Administration ...............................................................................59 3 OTHER CONFERENCE BOARD REPORTS Church and Society ................................................................................................................67 Discipleship ...........................................................................................................................67 Global Ministries ..................................................................................................................68 Cambodia Missions .........................................................................................................68 Cuba Initiative .................................................................................................................69 Russian Initiative ............................................................................................................69 SAM – Support Action Ministries ..................................................................................70 Secretary of Global Ministries ........................................................................................71 Higher Education and Campus Ministry ...............................................................................71 Laity .......................................................................................................................................72 Church Starts Ministry .....................................................................................................77 Conference Council on Youth Ministries .......................................................................78 Daughenbaugh-Matheny Scholarship .............................................................................78 Lay Servant Ministry ......................................................................................................79 United Methodist Women ...............................................................................................80 Ordained Ministry ..................................................................................................................80 Division of Elders ...........................................................................................................81 Division of Deacons and Diaconal Ministers .................................................................82 Division of Local Pastors and Associate Members ........................................................83 Order of Elders ................................................................................................................84 Order of Deacons ............................................................................................................84 Fellowship of Local Pastors and Associate Members ....................................................85 Care and Nurture .............................................................................................................85 OTHER CONFERENCE COMMISSION REPORTS Archives and History ............................................................................................................86 Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns ........................................................................86 Equitable Compensation .......................................................................................................87 Status and Role of Women ...................................................................................................89 OTHER CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORTS Communications ...................................................................................................................90 Episcopacy ............................................................................................................................91 Episcopal Residence .............................................................................................................92 OTHER REPORTS Academy for Spiritual Leadership ........................................................................................93 Camping Ministries ...............................................................................................................93 Center for Pastoral Excellence ..............................................................................................94 Congregational Development and Transformation ...............................................................95 Disaster Preparedness/Disaster Response Ministries ............................................................96 Early Response Teams ....................................................................................................96 Epworth Center ...............................................................................................................96 Disaster Preparedness/Disaster Response .......................................................................97 Dulac Community Center .....................................................................................................98 4 Educational Institutions and General Board .........................................................................99 Africa University ............................................................................................................99 Candler School of Theology ...........................................................................................100 Centenary College ............................................................................................................101 Dillard University ............................................................................................................104 Iliff School of Theology...................................................................................................107