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Iowa Annual Conference
June 8-11, Ames, Iowa
The 163rd Session of the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
began by remembering?“remember your baptism and be thankful”?remember the clergy
and their spouses who have served and have now entered the church
triumphant?remember the anguish of those who suffered so tragically from the
ravages of Hurricane Katrina.
In his sermon, Bishop Gregory Palmer invited all to “live dreams, claim faith.”
Encouraged by the Gospel of Mark, the bishop said, “we should remember that the
blood of the covenant is poured out for many.” Of the saints remembered during
the service, the Bishop added, “They are still in our midst?among those taken,
blessed, broken, given?there are no unknown among the beloved.”
Some 13 clergy were memorialized as were 16 spouses. In addition, one of the
conference session’s five special offerings was received, to benefit the Katrina
Church Recovery Appeal.
A “Women’s ?Herstory’” Celebration, a commemorative book, and a video
recollection remembered the 50th anniversary of the full clergy rights of women.
Preaching at the celebration, the Rev. Nan Allen proclaimed, “What a new day it
has become?a time of awe and thanksgiving!” The conference remembered the Iowa’s
foremothers in the faith and, in particular, the action of the 1956 General
Conference that opened the door to what Allen described as the “scary,
unpredictable path that the church chose.”
Members of the conference joined in song remembering “when God restored our
common life, our hope, our liberty.” They also gave thanks to the “God of the
women who answered your call.” In dance and liturgical movement, through the
choir of the “Women of the Iowa Conference,” and through Rev. Allen, the
conference gave thanks “for the women who celebrate the number 50 as a
springboard to the future.
Bishop Deborah Kiesey, of the Dakotas Area, was the ordination service preacher.
The Rev. David Wendel delivered the sermon at the service honoring commissioning
and retirement. In his Episcopal Address, Bishop Palmer noted that “we are
called to the missionary proclamation of the Gospel in word and deed,
universally ? not just to those who look like us, are educated like us, talk
like us, live in houses like us?the Gospel is to all creation, starting right
where we are!”
The approximately 1800 lay and clergy members of the Iowa Annual Conference
formed 10 “legislative committees.” Nearly three hours were scheduled for the
groups to review reports, discuss potential conference action, and comment on
the work of two task forces. The committees represented an increase over the
three to which members of the conference were assigned in 2005. The larger
number in 2006 was created in response to requests for an opportunity for more
conversation and participation in the process that sees some legislation
received by “consent” while other matters are sent on to the plenary session for
further review and discussion. A report of each committee’s work was presented
to the full membership of the Conference Session throughout the remaining days.
Two evenings were devoted to Holy Conferencing on homosexuality. Two task forces
brought reports to the session, calling for a reduction in the number of
districts from 12 to eight, and a different pattern for ministry funding. An
implementing committee will bring specific proposals for action to the 2007
gathering.
The conference also engaged in a morning of “worshipful work,” that included a
“blitz build” of a Habit for Humanity house in Ames, eight additional hands-on
projects, and 16 workshops. Cokesbury presented a check in the amount of
$18,035, which was received and given to the Central Conferences Pension Fund.
Five special offerings, totaling $31,490, were received. The offerings were for
the Katrina Recovery Appeal, Africa University Scholarship for Women. United
Methodist Committee on Relief, Pages and the Global AIDS Fund.
The Denman Award was presented to: the Rev. Marvin D. Arnpriester and Fred Bark.
Ecumenism Awards were presented to the Rev. Brian Milford and to the
congregation of Living Water United Methodist Church. Some 112 academy graduates
also recognized. The Iowa United Methodist Foundation announced an anticipated
gift of $500,000 for seminary scholarships. A CD/DVD package to assist with the
interpretation of apportionments was presented to each appointed clergyperson.
Three course of study graduates were received, one elected to associate
membership under the 2004 Discipline, two ordained as deacon per the 1992
Discipline, two ordained as deacon, with full conference membership, and six
ordained as elder.
A budget of $29,772,052 ? a 1.25 percent increase over 2006, was approved.
Membership stands at 193,648 ? down 805; average weekly attendance was: 68,300,
down 1141.
Conference Treasurer Charles Smith told the conference that it “ cannot be
isolated and be in Christ’s service.” He reminded the members that “whenever we
put ourselves and our needs first we then lose sight of the claim of Christ for
our service.”
Arthur McClanahan
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