Detroit Annual Conference
May 14-17, 2009, Adrian, Mich.

“Called to Lead … For Such a Time as This” was the theme of the 2009 Detroit Annual Conference session, held on the campus of Adrian (Mich.) College. The theme tied in with one of the Four Areas of Focus of The United Methodist Church – “developing principled Christian leaders for the church and the world.”

Bishop Gregory V. Palmer, leader of the Illinois Area and president of the Council of Bishops, addressed the conference regarding both the origination of the Four Areas of Focus and specifically leadership development. “If we keep our leaders underdeveloped long enough, we won’t have a church,” Palmer said. He also preached a sermon “Fit to Lead” during a morning worship service, citing the examples of Samuel and Esther, who answered God’s call to lead “for such a time as this.”

Michigan Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton preached at the session’s opening worship service, urging conference members to "Rejoice in our Sufferings." Referring to the apostle Paul’s instructions in Romans 5, the bishop said, "Paul is convinced that we can accomplish God’s mission in Michigan regardless of the pain and suffering wrought by unemployment, bankruptcy, church closings, swine flu, death, doubt and pessimism.” Keaton also challenged the conference by stating, “revival will not come to Michigan if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones Christ has been waiting for … we are the ones we seek.”

Michigan has one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation and the recent bankruptcies of Chrysler and General Motors has greatly affected the churches of the Detroit Conference. This has affected giving, as the conference was unable to pay 100 percent of its apportionments for the first time in eight years.

The conference also heard greetings from Bishop John Innis of Liberia, who celebrated his conference’s long-standing partnership with the Detroit Conference.

The Rev. Michael T. Sawicki, pastor of Pigeon: Salem United Methodist Church, was introduced as the planting pastor for FaithWay Church, which will be located in the Saginaw area. FaithWay is the first new church start in the Detroit Conference since 1997 – a span of 12 years.

Significant action taken by the conference included:

• The approval of a budget for 2010 totaling $9,736,500, a nine percent reduction from the previous year;
• The reorganization of the Conference Council on Ministries into a Conference Leadership Team and the adoption of a new vision: “To create and nurture dynamic and fruitful congregations who make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world”;
• Asking United Methodists to encourage the President and Congress to create a peaceful economy by requesting that they "expend greater effort on diplomacy and nuclear disarmament" and "reinvest those tax monies in societal improvement programs";
• Commending the Firestone Natural Rubber Company for cooperation with the government of Liberia and encouraging additional labor and environmental reforms; and
• Asking conference churches to use a Sunday in March to recognize Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Day and educate people on the need for this legal protection for health care decisions.

Conference churches donated 475 tubs of supplies bound for Haiti as well as $12,000 to ship the container. In the annual covenant mission offering for their partner conferences in Haiti and Liberia, conference members gave more than $48,500. Conference churches also donated 7,388 pairs of "seat covers" for children in need throughout the conference.

After taking action to pledge its support at the 2008 annual conference, the Rev. Donald Emmert, conference benefits officer, reported that the conference has fulfilled its $2 million pledge to support the Central Conference Pension Initiative for retired pastors in Africa and their surviving spouses.

The Conference Council on Youth Ministries raised $1,000 for the Youth Service Fund in their annual "Penny Palooza." Another $2,114 was raised after Bishop Keaton spontaneously invited conference members to come forward to donate a dollar to the fund.

In constitutional amendment voting, the conference voted in the affirmative for all 32 amendments, however, only amendments 2, 8, 9, 15, 17, 19, and 22 received a two-thirds majority or greater support. All the amendments dealing with the “Worldwide Nature of the Church” were approved by only 55 percent of the voting members.

Bishop Keaton ordained two deacons and 10 elders during the conference. Fifteen clergy celebrated their retirement, including the Rev. John C. Huhtala, director of connectional ministries. The Rev. Jerome DeVine, current Albion District Superintendent in the West Michigan Annual Conference, will become the new conference director of connectional ministries on July 1. The conference also celebrated the retirement of the Rev. Ann Whiting, member of the New England Annual Conference, who is retiring after serving 11 years as the editor of the Michigan Christian Advocate.

Membership stands at 96,851, down 2,112 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 44,767, down 804. Church school attendance stands at 26,394 down 1,400.

—Paul Thomas and Ann Whiting