News Archives

Central Texas Annual Conference
June 4-7, 2006, Waco, Texas

The Central Texas Conference met in Waco with Bishop Ben R. Chamness introducing “Follow Me ? NOW” as the conference theme for the next three years. The focus for 2006 is on the “Witnessing to Our Faith” portion of the Nurture, Outreach and Witness program areas.

This was emphasized in the Mission Ministries’ Witness Council plan to host two “How to Share Our Faith” programs in 2006, deploy 21 Mystery Guests in September to evaluate church hospitality across the conference, provide 14 evangelism-certified and Igniting Ministry-trained lay speakers to help churches achieve Certified Welcoming Congregation status, and recognize such CWC churches at the 2007 annual conference. This is also supported by the cabinet’s directive for pastors to preach and Sunday school classes to teach on faith sharing during the month of September.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of full clergy rights for women, clergywomen had major roles in worship: The Rev. Gail Ford Smith of the Texas Conference as guest preacher at all four worship services; music leaders; the Rev. Karen Greenwaldt, general secretary of the General Board of Discipleship and first woman to be ordained in the Central Texas Conference, and 117 others recognized; the Rev. Georgia Allen, first African-American woman ordained in the Central Texas Conference, who passed the mantle to a member of the newest class of elders; and publication of HerStory, a collection of writings by and about clergywomen. Dr. John C. Holbert, professor of homiletics at Perkins School of Theology, was Bible study leader.

Conference members approved resolutions in support of the Council of Bishops’ statement opposing Judicial Council Decision 1032 and the Millennium Campaign to end global poverty; reaffirmed a moratorium on the death penalty in Texas; and postponed indefinitely affirming the Council of Bishops’ Resolution on the War in Iraq.

In other actions, members approved funding for the new clergy retirement security program; approved a budget of $9.9 million, an increase of 3.37 percent; approved a conference Safe Sanctuaries Policy; closed three churches, with $25,000 from the sale of one of those closed to be directed to a neighboring congregation of the Rio Grande Conference, and restored one church; celebrated 32 consecutive years of membership growth, a 91.2 percent payout of 2005 general church apportionments, and the 10-year anniversary of a covenant relationship with the Eastern Mexico Conference; received the clergy portion of a two-part study/document on clergy and congregational effectiveness plus a report on hosting the 2008 General Conference; designated the conference offering of over $19,000 for development of a communications center in the North Katanga Conference, Democratic Republic of Congo; ordained seven elders and consecrated 18 probationary members for ministry, and honored 14 in their retirement. In executive session, clergy members voted to appeal six rulings of law to the Judicial Council.

Among the awards and scholarship were the Board of Laity’s Morris Walker Awards to the Rev. Brian Young (clergy), campus minister and Wesley Foundation director at Texas Christian University, and Dr. Sandra Oliver (laity), conference director of Lay Speakers, plus the introduction of a new scholarship category for a student preparing for a career in finance or accounting that requires a statement on how their education will help to under gird good stewardship in the church today and in the future.

Over 600 attended FUSE, a reunion of youth and adults who have participated in the summer youth mission trips since the program’s inception in 1994.

Membership stands at 160,119, up 1,566 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 48,022, up 700. Church school attendance stands at 59,911, down 1,405.