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Greater New Jersey Annual Conference
June 1-3, King of Prussia, Pa.

The Greater New Jersey Conference gathered at the Valley Forge Convention Center, with New Jersey Area Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar presiding.  More than 1,300 members, guests and friends convened under the theme, “One in Spirit, All in Ministry: In the Spirit of Worship.” A highlight of the conference was the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of full ordination rights for women. Clergywomen of the conference were celebrated and affirmed throughout the sessions through vignettes, audio/visual presentations and passages about the special journey of women in ministry in the New Jersey Area.

The Rev. Safiyah Fosua, director of invitational preaching ministries at the United Methodist Board of Discipleship, preached the memorial sermon for the opening tribute service.  She reflected on her childhood in Oklahoma and the emergency drills and response systems that were practiced at her school for nuclear war and tornadoes.  She was reminded of this during the natural calamities such as hurricanes and tsunami that occurred in the past year.  She encouraged the conference to, “…hold on to your faith. Faith is more than an example; it is more than disaster insurance.  It is blessed assurance.” 

Bishop Minerva Carcaño, episcopal leader of the Phoenix Area addressed the annual conference twice during the conference sessions.  She preached about her experience as a child at youth camp in Texas.  There she encountered the first woman to serve as a local church pastor in the Rio Grande Conference, her home conference. The pastor told her, “Jesus is calling you to serve him and don’t you let anyone tell you otherwise.” This was the moment when Bishop Carcaño first realized the possibility of serving as a clergywoman in the United Methodist Church.

Bishop Devadhar, in his episcopal address, celebrated:

• The participation of clergy and laity in the new District Resourcing Days that have helped to equip clergy and laity to make disciples of Jesus Christ.
• The pilgrimage of 77 youth and adults to Taizè to be spiritually refreshed and share in the power of Christian ecumenicity.
• The response of the Greater New Jersey Conference in contributing more than $1 million to provide for the needs of those who were affected by Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters.
• The service of the H.E.A.R.T. Unit, the 9/11 Long Term Recovery Ministry designed and implemented by the conference and funded with a grant from UMCOR. The agency will close at the end of June but will leave the legacy of offering the compassion of Christ to more than 500 individuals and families within the boundaries of the conference.

Bishop Devadhar laid out his vision for the future of the conference by challenging the body to partner with him in the making of disciples and “…become concerned about those who have not yet been touched and moved by the power of the gospel.  Become restless about it!”

Bishop Yeon Soo Yoon, episcopal leader of the Seoul Annual Conference of the Korean Methodist Church was the guest preacher at the commissioning service and many members enjoyed Friday and Saturday breakfast conversations with the Rev. Grace Imathiu, a writer and preacher.

In conference business, the members:

• Approved the consolidation of existing, fragmented missional funds to establish the Harvest Mission Fund. These funds totaling just over $4.5 million will be used for new church development and revitalization, urban ministries, and other fluctuating needs as determined by the Primary Task Team;
• Approved an upgrade of equitable compensation levels and parsonage standards;
• Approved a measure that allows clergy to option out of the group health insurance plan but still requires that churches contribute a connectional premium to offset costs.

The 2007 budget of $11,170,610 was approved with a slight increase over 2006 of 3.29 percent.

Bishop Devadhar announced that the next annual conference session would be May 30-June 2, 2007 in Valley Forge, Pa.  He also ordained eight elders and one deacon in full connection. Three people were commissioned as probationary members toward the order of deacon and five were commissioned as probationary members toward the order of elder.  One person was commissioned and accepted into associate membership in the annual conference.  Eighteen clergy, representing over 300 years of service, retired.

Membership stands at 102,528, down 2,299 (2.9 percent) from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 54,446, down 677 (2.4 percent). Church school attendance stands at 21,496, down 1,368 (6.0 percent).