CCONFERENCEONFERENCE WORKBOOKWORKBOOK Sandra Steiner Ball Judith M. Kenaston Resident Bishop Conference Secretary THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH WEST VIRGINIA AREA 900 WASHINGTON STREET, EAST CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA 25301 PHONE (304) 344-8330 FAX (304) 344-8330 LISA M. SHAFER ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY SANDRA L. STEINER BALL KEN KRIMMEL RESIDENT BISHOP ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP March 31, 2021 Dear Members and Friends of the West Virginia Conference, I invite you and issue the call to meet with me for our Annual Conference session which will gather both online and in-person on the campus of West Virginia Wesleyan College in a variety of ways, June 3-6. For more information about participation online and in-person please see the conference agenda and Program Team welcome on pages 6-8 of the Conference Workbook The theme of the 2021 Annual Conference session is: Building Bridges! Bridges link otherwise impossible distances, making them an important symbol for those impossible things Christ has made possible in the last year. While these are still anxious and unknown times, we trust that God is with us on the journey - linking together where we have been and where we go next. When we build bridges, we make connections. The more connections we make with one another, our churches, and our communities, the better we can adapt to the new post pandemic world. We need ears, eyes, and hearts open to the nimble, flexible movements of the Holy Spirit to reach people for Christ in a world of constant disruption, beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. What is changing? Well, we are! Our churches continue to expand ministry in new ways reaching those who can connect online as well as in-person. Our Conference leadership continues to evolve to provide support for emerging ministries and stewardship of resources for ongoing missions. I am working with the cabinet to better balance and align the oversight of the District Superintendents. Additionally, beginning this summer I will join Bishop Moore-Koikoi as we work together as an episcopal team to provide oversight to the West Virginia, Western Pennsylvania, and Susquehanna Conferences. Indeed, God is doing new things! I pray that you participate in Conference expectantly ready and prepared to hear and experience Christ. Come clothed with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Come with the peace of Christ in your hearts. Additionally, I ask that you pray for me, that I might preside prayerfully, faithfully, and wisely in this band new format for holding our Annual Conference session. Grace and Peace, Sandra L. Steiner Ball Resident Bishop, West Virginia Conference Judith Kenaston Annual Conference Secretary 304-344-8331, Ext. 23 [email protected] March2021 DearConferenceFamily, Overtwoandahalfcenturiesago,whenCharlesWesleypennedthehymn“AndAreWeYet Alive?”hewasn’tthinkingofWestVirginiaAnnualConferencein2021.Ormaybe,insomeway,hewas. Hishymnhasbecomeasongsungatconferencesthroughoutthecenturies.Despitethechoices,changes, andchallengesthathavebeenrequiredofusoverthepast18months,wewillonceagaingather(some inͲpersonandsomeonline)toanswerCharlesWesley’squestion:“Andareweyetalive;Andseeeach other’sface?”Hegoesontoaskus,“Whattroubleswehaveseen,whatmightyconflictspast,fightings without,andfearswithin,sinceweassembledlast!” BecauseIhavethebenefitofreadingthroughallofourconferencereportsfirst,Icantellyouwith someconfidencethatthemostcommonreflectionineachreportis“Wehavehadtodothingsanew way.”I’msurethiscomesasnosurprisetoyousincewe’veallexperiencedanewwayofdoingthings. EvenwhenweheldAnnualConference2020,wedidnotknowwhatthenextyearwouldhold. AsyoureadthroughthereportscontainedinthisConferenceWorkbook,noticethecreativity, perseveranceanddedicationthatisreflectedthere.NoticethedependenceonGodtoguideandlead. NoticethatGodisdoinganewthingamongus. Attimes,ithasfeltthatweareisolatedandseparatedfromthepeopleandplacesthatwehold mostdear.ButneithertheChurchnortheWestVirginiaConferencehasstoodstillduringthistimeof separationandisolation.Wehavebeeninmissiontoourneighbors,evenwhenwecouldnotseethem. WehavepreachedtheGospel,andwehavecomfortedthesick,andwehavefedthehungry.Hasitbeen easy?No.Hasitbeendonethewaywealwaysdidit?No.Butithashappened. Thereisstillmuchuncertaintyintheworldandinthechurch.InTheUnitedMethodistChurch, wehavebeenwaitingforwelloverayeartolearn:whatwillcomeoutofGeneralConference?Howwill ourconferencebeaffected?Howwillmylocalchurchbeaffected?Now,wewillwaitlongerbecausethe GeneralConference,scheduledforMinneapolisinMay2020,thenAugust2021,hasbeenpostponed again.TheGeneralConferenceisnowplannedforearlySeptember2022.Wemayneedtobereminded daily,“YetoutofalltheLordhathbroughtusbyhislove.” Throughitall,ourconferenceworkofmakingdisciplescontinues.Readthroughthereportsin thisbooktoseewhathasbeenhappeningintheconferencetomakedisciplesofJesusChristtotransform theworld.IlookforwardtosharingAnnualConferencewithyouinJune. Andareweyetaliveandseeeachother’sface? GloryandthankstoJesusgiveforhisalmightygrace! Blessings, TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Bishop’s Greeting ..............................................................................................................................1 Secretary’s Greeting .......................................................................................................................... 3 Contents ...........................................................................................................................4 - 5 General Information .....................................................................................................................6 - 8 Agenda ................................................................................................................................ 8 Organization of Conference .............................................................................................................. 9 Organizational Motion .........................................................................................................9 Leadership Standards ..................................................................................................12 - 13 Rules (Currently approved) ........................................................................................14 - 29 Rules Recommendations for 2021 ..............................................................................30 - 51 Ministry Structure Proposal ........................................................................................52 - 58 General Information ...........................................................................................................59 Lay Session ........................................................................................................................ 59 GNTV Overview ................................................................................................................ 60 Introduction to Portico .......................................................................................................61 Kingdom Builders ..............................................................................................................62 Foundation Academy of Faith and Generosity .................................................................. 63 Spiritual Formation Opportunities ..............................................................................64 - 65 Journal Order Form ............................................................................................................66 Clery Information Form .....................................................................................................67 Agencies and Staff of the West Virginia Annual Conference (some reports include recommendations and resolutions) Archives and History ...................................................................................................................... 68 Assistant to the Bishop.................................................................................................................... 69 Cabinet Report .............................................................................................................................. 70 Clergy Support .............................................................................................................................. 72 Connectional Ministries Staff Reports .....................................................................................73 - 78 Covenant Council Recommendations ......................................................................................79 - 80 Episcopacy .............................................................................................................................. 81 Equitable Compensation ................................................................................................................ 82 Ethnic Ministries ............................................................................................................................ 86 CONAM ............................................................................................................................. 86 Global Ministries ............................................................................................................................ 87 Conference Secretary of Global Ministries ....................................................................... 87 Refugee and Immigration Ministries ................................................................................. 87 Global Health Ministries ....................................................................................................88