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New York Annual Conference
June 7-10, Hempstead

The New York Annual Conference met in celebrative session at Hofstra University, Hempstead. Bishop Jeremiah J. Park, resident bishop of the New York Area, presided over the 2007 meeting of the conference. The conference theme was: “For Such a Time as This: We are the Church Together.”

After a year’s consultation and discussion, and with advice and guidance from Wally Fletcher from the Dialogue Center, and the enthusiastic support of Bishop Park, the conference officially adopted a vision statement for its work and ministry.

The statement is: “The New York Annual Conference through the grace of God embodies a beloved community of hope, building up a healthy body of Christ, with heart-warmed United Methodists in mission for the transformation of the world.”

Early in the conference, California-Pacific Bishop Mary Ann Swenson, guest preacher and president of the United Methodist Council on Finance and Administration, presented the conference with a certificate celebrating the payment of more than 100 percent of all its 2005 general church shared ministry apportionments, the second consecutive year the conference has given beyond its askings.

The 50^th anniversary of the granting of full clergy rights for women was celebrated on the opening evening of the conference. Bishop Swenson preached on “An Idle Tale for Every Generation.” Noting that women were present at the crucifixion and the resurrection, she affirmed that women were in the inner circle of the early believers and that, for Luke, women are disciples!

Hers was a message of hope, recalling the history of women’s participation in the church from suppression to empowerment. “It has been a long time coming,” she recalled, “but we have been received, and we are here!”

After 50 years, we must now relate to those who are still waiting for full acceptance—the undocumented, children, the gay, lesbian, transgendered, bisexuals, the poor, homeless, differently-abled and the peace-makers, she noted.

“Ours is the voice we must make heard if change is to take place,” she declared. The service included remembrances of women of the New York Annual Conference who have been leaders in establishing and expanding the role of women in the church.

The conference budget for 2007 as presented totaled $8,795,803. The conference added $4,000 to keep support for the Christian Conference of Connecticut and the New York State Council of Churches at their present level,  thus making the final budget $8,799,802. This represents an increase of 6.1 percent over the 2006 budget, but is the first increase in four years. The budget was approved with no dissenting votes.

The conference recognized the service of 17 elders in full connection and two local pastors who will retire as of July 1. Five people received their license for pastoral ministry, and 14 were commissioned and granted probationary membership in the annual conference. Two people were ordained as deacons, and nine received elders orders and full conference membership. One elder from another denomination (Salvation Army) had his orders recognized and received full conference membership.

The conference considered an array of reports, petitions and proposed legislation. Consideration was give to the effects of recent Judicial Council decisions regarding pastoral authority and church membership. Two statements were adopted by the conference. One stated, in part: “Therefore, be it further resolved, that the NYAC recognizes that the grace of God is open and available to all, and the local churches of the NYAC will welcome into membership all who are willing to affirm the membership vows of the United Methodist Church.”

The second resolution stated: “Therefore be it resolved that all pastors of the New York Annual Conference are strongly encouraged to minister enthusiastically to all persons regardless of race, class, ability, gender or sexual orientation.”

Consideration was also given to issues regarding peace in the Middle East, the war in Iraq, global climate change, homosexuality, laws concerning marriage, and a call urging “purposeful resolution of contentious issues within the New York Annual Conference.”

The celebration of the conference’s involvement in mission was the highlight of the closing day. An open invitation was extended to all United Methodists of the conference to attend Saturday’s sessions. With more than 2,000 persons present, the conference heard reports of its involvement in hurricane relief through the work of VIM teams in Mississippi, and additional VIM efforts in Bolivia, Costa Rica, Mozambique, Haiti, and through Youth Ambassador Team efforts in India.

The conference raised more than $1,900,000 in 2005 for relief work above and beyond apportioned askings ? an increase of more than 500 percent over the previous year.

The conference concluded with the service of Ordination of Elders. Choirs and dancers from conference churches combined to provide extraordinary music for the celebration. The service concluded with all the choirs and congregation members—numbering nearly 2,500 voices—singing Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” together.

Membership stands at 123,964, down 2,782 or 2.2 percent from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 39,329, up 4,107 or 11.7 percent. Church school attendance stands at 12,560, down 633 or 4.8 percent.