|
West Virginia Annual Conference
June 8-10, 2006, Buckhannon
A highlight of the West Virginia Annual Conference session was the celebration of the continuing generosity of congregations. Bishop Ernest S. Lyght announced that $937,000 had been contributed for the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s Hurricane Katrina response, almost $1.4 million to a major funds campaign and more than $82,000 for mission projects.
Another $8,000 was raised by a group of bikers, who rode the 150 miles from Charleston, W. Va., to the site of the conference in Buckhannon. The money was the first installment in support of the Katrina Church Recovery Appeal.
In addition, payout on apportionments had improved.
The conference theme, “Stewardship of God’s Call,” reflected an emphasis on stewardship. Members approved a 2007 budget of $12.02 million unanimously and without debate.
However, discussion was intense before the defeat of a resolution calling for local churches to read, distribute, and study a statement signed by more than half of United Methodist bishops against the resort to war. The bishops confessed they should have spoken out more vigorously against the war in Iraq.
A proposed resolution that would affirm open membership in the church “to all who seek to be disciples of Jesus Christ” was defeated. The recent Judicial Council decision regarding the denial of membership to a person because of homosexual practice prompted the introduction of the resolution.
In other business, Bishop Lyght said the conference needed to make improvements in disciple-making. He noted that the conference had netted an average of only seven new members per year since 1990. He said the first step is prayer. He announced that 1,090 churches had completed “healthy church” assessments, the first step in a process to increase the number of vital churches, which, he said, are faith communities dedicated to helping people meet, know and serve Jesus — congregations that express care and compassion for both its members and its community.
The 50th anniversary of full clergy rights for women in the church was noted and celebrated throughout the session by the reading of biographies of various women pioneers in the church. Guest preacher was Maxine Beach, dean of the Drew University Theological School. Conference applauded a report of the pastoral response to the needs of the families of coal miners who died in the Sago mine disaster early this year.
The following resolutions were approved:
- Supporting the right of workers at Peabody Coal Co. mines to unionize;
- Encouraging celebrations of Children’s Sabbath;
- Recognizing churches in Bath County, Va., in references to the churches of the conference;
- Urging churches to offer opportunities for study of global climate change;
- Asking state legislative leaders to exempt churches from the state tax on propane and heating oil;
- Encouraging churches to be involved in health ministries;
- Expressing support for small membership churches; and
- Inviting churches to raise money for the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund.
Rachel Kenaston, youth president, told the conference that too many churches were pushing youths away rather than encouraging them. “By the time we’re studying calculus in high school, we don’t want to play Bible Baseball on Sunday,” she said.
Conference also voted to make evangelism the missional priority for the 2008-2012 quadrennium. The Rev. Mary Ellen Finnegan, chairwoman of the evangelism task force, urged churches to get out in the streets to reach out to nonbelievers. “Nobody needs rescued at the fire station,” she said.
Bishop Lyght agreed, saying, “Hit the road in the name of Jesus Christ.”
The bishop ordained nine elders and two deacons in associate membership. Membership stands at 105,342, down 537 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 51,812 down 1,059.
--Tom Burger
|
