i Table of Contents 2008 Annual Conference Session Handbook Report Numbers marked with an asterisk (*) are on the Consent Agenda unless removed on Wednesday, June 18, during Session Four. The Consent Agenda is listed on page 9. Session Information Theme and Logo – The Heart of the Matter: Do No Harm, Do Good, And Stay In Love With God.......................................................................... 1 Bishop’s Welcome .......................................................................................... 2 Host Committee Welcome.............................................................................. 3 Agenda……. ................................................................................................... 4 Consent Agenda .............................................................................................. 9 Registration and Assistance .......................................................................... 10 Information for Conference Members and Visitors...................................... 12 Parking Permit............................................................................................... 17 Maps: Downtown Athens ............................................................................. 19 Classic Center .................................................................................... 20 Room Directory............................................................................................. 21 Meals: Schedule & Location......................................................................... 22 Responsibilities of Conference Members Lay.......... .......................................................................................... 24 Diaconal............................................................................................ 25 Clergy................................................................................................ 25 Parliamentary Guidelines.............................................................................. 26 Monitoring Ministry...................................................................................... 27 Great Days of Service ................................................................................... 29 Worship Leaders ........................................................................................... 31 Jurisdictional/Joint Agencies *100. Candler School of Theology .............................................................. 36 *101. Georgia-Florida UM Credit Union .................................................... 37 101a. Chairman’s Report .............................................................. 37 101b. Credit Union-2007 Financials ............................................ 37 *102. Higher Education and Campus Ministry, Commission on................ 39 *103. Southeastern Jurisdiction Connectional Table................................... 40 *104. Wesleyan Christian Advocate............................................................ 42 ii Administrative Agencies 200. Board of Church Development ........................................................... 44 200a. Committee on Black Church Development ......................... 45 200b. Committee on Hispanic Church Development.................... 46 200c. Committee on Korean Church Development....................... 47 200d. Committee on Multi-Ethnic Church Development ............. 48 200e. Small Membership Church, Commission on....................... 49 201. Council on Finance and Administration ............................................. 49 201a. 2009 Recommendations....................................................... 50 201b. Treasurer/Director of Administrative Services.................... 52 201c. Schedule of Investments ...................................................... 54 201d. How the 2009 Recommended Budget was Developed ....... 55 201e. 2009 Budget Executive Summary ....................................... 57 201f. Summary Budget Proposal................................................... 58 201g. Graphs ................................................................................... 59 201h. Interpretation of Recommended 2009 Budget...................... 64 201i. How are Apportionments Computed?.................................. 69 201j. Conference Restructuring ..................................................... 70 201k. CFA-Investment Policy........................................................ 71 202. Commission on Equitable Compensation Guidelines ........................ 73 202a. Conference Standards for Pastoral Support ......................... 74 202b. Minimum Cash Compensation ............................................ 75 202c. Vacation Recommendation.................................................. 76 202d. 2009 Equitable Compensation............................................. 76 202e. Equitable Compensation Fund............................................. 76 202f. Guidelines for Housing Allowance & Parsonage ............... 78 202g. Churches Receiving Equitable Comp in 2007..................... 79 202h. Clergy Receiving Equitable Comp in 2007......................... 80 202i. Cabinet-Level Housing Allowance Task Force ................... 80 *203. Conference Statistician Team – 2007 ................................................ 81 *204. Conference Housing and Homeless Council ..................................... 82 *205. Conference Communications Office ................................................. 85 206. Board of Ordained Ministry-Clergy Sexual Abuse Hotline .............. 86 207. Board of Pension and Health Benefits............................................... 87 207a. Pension Section ..................................................................... 87 207b. Funding Plan ......................................................................... 89 207c. 2009 Recommendations........................................................ 91 207d. Health Insurance Committee ................................................ 94 207e. Health Risk Quotient/ProCheck Health Screening............... 95 iii 208. Episcopacy and Episcopal Residence................................................ 96 *209. Conference Trustees........................................................................... 97 Connectional Ministries 300. Office of Connectional Ministries ..................................................... 98 301. Advocacy Team ................................................................................. 99 301a. Disability Concerns.............................................................. 99 301b. Ethnic Local Church Concerns (ELCC) ............................. 100 301c. Native American Concerns ................................................ 101 301d. Religion and Race.............................................................. 102 301e. Committee on the Status and Role of Women................... 103 302. Nurture Team ................................................................................... 104 302a. Adult Ministries .................................................................. 105 302b. Children’s Ministry............................................................. 105 302c. Young Adult Ministry Task Force...................................... 106 302d. Youth, Ministries with........................................................ 107 303. Outreach Team................................................................................. 108 303a. Conference Secretaries for Global Ministries..................... 109 303b. Resettlement Task Force..................................................... 110 304. Witness Team................................................................................... 111 304a. Archives and History Committee....................................... 112 304b. Evangelism Committee...................................................... 112 304c. Vocations and Career-Life Planning.................................. 113 304d. Worship Committee........................................................... 113 Conference Related Agencies 400. Action Ministries, Inc. ..................................................................... 115 400a. *ADVANCE Mission Specials 2008 -2009 ....................... 116 400b. *Service Statistics for 2007 ................................................ 117 *401. Aldersgate Homes, Inc..................................................................... 118 *402. Camp Glisson................................................................................... 119 *403. Capital and Fund Raising Needs for Camp Wesley, Report ................. of the Task Force on ........................................................... 120 *404. Interfaith Airport Chaplaincy, Inc. .................................................. 121 *405. The Methodist Foundation for Retired Ministers ............................ 122 405a. Statement of Activities........................................................ 122 405b. Graphs ................................................................................. 124 *406. Murphy-Harpst Children’s Homes .................................................. 125 *407. North Georgia United Methodist Foundation, Inc........................... 125 407a. Graphs ................................................................................. 127 iv *408. United Methodist Children’s Home, Inc. ........................................ 128 *409. Wesley Community Centers, Inc....................................................