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Alabama?West Florida Annual Conference
June 4-7, Mobile, Ala.
The Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference was held at Christ United Methodist Church with the theme “Jubilee II: Sharing God’s Abundance.” Before this year’s conference, Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster challenged the conference’s churches to raise $50,000 to be divided between two mission projects? the Cameroon Mission of the United Methodist Church and the conference’s own Disaster Recovery Ministry. At press time, with donations still being counted, the people of the conference overwhelmingly responded by raising nearly $75,000.
In observance of the 50th anniversary celebration of full clergy rights for women, worship leadership was provided by five women preachers: the Rev. Anne Burkholder, the Rev. Denise Honeycutt, the Rev. Joy Moore, the Rev. Robin Wilson, and the Rev. Rebecca Youngblood.
During his annual episcopal address, Bishop Goodpaster told those assembled: “Let us today renew our commitment and efforts to become a conference filled with dynamic, thriving, healthy, vital churches! Let us resolve to be Acts 2 churches: receiving and incorporating new believers, worshiping with the inspiring presence of the Spirit, engaging in mission outreach and justice ministries, and performing signs and wonders that will amaze and astound even your bishop!”
In business matters, the conference:
- Established a $15.7 million budget for mission and ministry for the next year, up 4.85 percent from 2006;
- Recognized eight churches as a “Church for All God’s Children;”
- Voted to send the United Methodist Publishing House contribution of $9,518 to the Central Conference Pension Initiative;
- Formally entered into a partnership with the United Methodist Church’s Cameroon Mission and welcomed the Rev. Wes Magruder, mission director, and the Rev. David Sen;
- Approved a capital funds campaign for the conference’s Blue Lake United Methodist Assembly; and
- Celebrated the conference’s work in Disaster Recovery Ministry and the more than $3 million in grants received from UMCOR.
During a service of ordination at Dauphin Way United Methodist Church in Mobile, Ala., four elders were ordained as members in full connection and 14 clergy entering into a membership relationship with the conference were recognized during Service of Commissioning, including one probationary deacon and 13 probationary elders.
The conference also honored 28 retiring clergy ? representing more than 730 years of service to the United Methodist Church. Twenty-three clergy and clergy spouses who died in the past year were remembered during a service of commemoration.
“The sessions of our 2006 Annual Conference certainly stirred my spirit and renewed my confidence in the faithfulness and commitment of United Methodists across our area,” said Bishop Goodpaster. “I sensed a spirit and presence among the lay and clergy members that was hopeful, excited, and positive.”
Membership stands at 147,925, up 312 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 69,185, down 63 from the previous year.
—Meredyth Earnest |
