Annual Conference 2014
Laity Session
Cross Purposes kicks off the session!
Three songs the last being from Mercy Me called Shake
Lay Leader Warren Harper welcomes us to this celebratory time
Song, Draw Me Close To You
Scripture, Ephesians 4:1-16 NIV
The scripture in Spanish (very poor Spanish by a NON Spanish speaking person! This is both very sad and very embarrassing...everyone sits uncomfortably wanting to just pull the correct pronunciations from her throat as she stumbles, staggers, and falls over each word spoken. Some believe this is very insulting. Why didn't the Lay Leader ask a lay member who speaks Spanish to read the scripture? Why didn't she consult a Spanish speaking person) NIV
The scripture read yet again by a young person (seems like stereotyping) The Message
Liturgical Dance performed by Gabby Burge, age 12, from Wellspring
Lay Leader Warren Harper speaks of Pastor Shinaesy's Book on worship
GBD path one section - creative, vital worship
Sacrament - weekly communion; center us
liturgical - the word of the people
indigenous - faithful to the relevant matter called church; worship is about offering our best to our place and to our people
connected - important that we are one in Christ, one in ministry, one in mission
embodied - gifts are entrusted to each of us; we use our bodies to express our love for our Lord and savior Jesus Christ
To give our best to God
Song, Breathe
Prayer
Presentation by three youth about the Fusion Retreat at Eagle Eire which is a Tri-District retreat (Danville, Farmville, Lynchburg) with 350 youth
Video
Description of small group discussions
Missions in four stations: education, Teddy Bear Brigade (to war torn nations), Stop Hunger Now (over 21,000 meals packaged) and prayer station (clean water facts, poverty and injustices in the world)
VWorship message was Illuminate - taking the light of God out to show and share with others.
Brian Bateer, Danville District youth coordinator
National Gathering of youth in Orlando at the World Marriott Center, June 24-28 2015
Video about Youth 2015, Y15
Reverend Lynn Litchfield, Women's Prison Chaplain Services
Drama about an incarcerated woman, Hope, praying to God (awesomeness, as usual...love this gal!).
1,250 women incarcerated in Virginia's prison in Fluvanna
Today at Fluvanna, Hope will find Chaplain Perry inside the prison where chaplains have been serving for more than 100 years; not state employees, but our employees - missionaries that are so often "out of sight, out of mind"
Toiletry kits at Christmas time are always welcome
Our chaplains at our state prisons are currently part time and the juvenile system has no chaplain at all; we are seeking full time chaplains at each major prison and part time at the smaller jail systems
With God's help, 27,000 men and women can return to society a better person, better parents, better workers; God needs our help, without us where will Hope be?
For more information? Fill out the orange card (I did)
Virginia Conference Wellness Ministries, Charles Reynolds
Begun when Bishop Kammerer was here
Bishop Cho says no spiritual growth, no vital congregations; true with physical health
Human beings are created by God as body, mind, and spirit which are totally interwoven
Pastors, who are charged with the care of the congregation, often neglect their personal care and the care of their families; we, as laity, need to be the ones to check the pulse of the pastor
Personal care is extremely personal; do not assume responsibility for your Pastors health decisions
Pray fervently for your pastor and family
Make a mental note of how much time the pastor is spending in ministry
Is the pastor available 24/7 to the congregation? Suggest a day of sabbath; suggest a vacation - four weeks per year including Sundays
Encourage SPRC to arrange pastor supply to fill the pulpit
Encourage the pastor to participate in a pastor support group and/or covenant groups
Encourage continuing education
Jesus provided the model for personal care; ensure your Pastor follows that model
Thank you for the time and God bless you
Recognition of Lay Servant Academy, David and Johnnie - directors
Video of the Lay Servant Academy which is held in February at VUMAC
The past five years have been very rewarding; Virginia will be the host of the 2015 Lay Servants Academy of the SE Jursdiction in Williamsburg
Prayer
Afternoon Session
Called to order by Bishop Cho, the 232nd Annual Conference
Song, And Are We Yet Alive (accapela)
Opening Prayer, Raymond Wrenn's 74th Assembly, and Noell Schoeman's 1st.
Appreciation expressed to planning committee and the York River District
Greetings by Joe Carson, York River District Superintendent
Greetings by Booker Brown, York River District Lay Leader
Introductions of guests and recognition of previous bishops
Motion that bar of conference be set by Joe Carson. Motion carries
Motion that agenda be approved by Joe Carson. Approved
Motion of Susan Reeves be elected as secretary by Joe Carson. Approved
Motion of assistant secretaries and editor of the journal by Joe Carson. Approved
Motion to appoint Committees with Tim Tate as clergy teller from Roanoke by Joe Carson. Approved
Announcements by Susan Reeves including time for addendums to agenda as well as removal of consent agenda items
Recognize the Rules Committee Chair, Stephen Bray
And Here We Go Again, Bishop Cho's Episcopal Address
My prayer for conference is Lord, You Do It. Lord, you please do it.
We are making progresses
All Things New has moved from maintenance to fruitfulness in making vital congregations
Clergy Leadership Program has had 18 clergy complete
39 clergy joined in the spiritual renewal to Korea
Strengthening the foundation to save our denomination through All Things New
No spiritual vitality, No vital congregation
Prayer convocation team developed the spiritual disciplines covenant; more that 200 churches, 40%, have signed to be a prayer covenant congregation
May 25th was set as a conference wide day of prayer
My focus has been:
New faith communities, 28 since I became Bishop.
120 pastors received training
Restructuring of the common table
Long term financial strategy
We have a long way to go:
Vital congregation statistics and data
Discipleship circle
Imagine No Malaria
Spiritual discipline, act of mercy
Vital balance between acts of mercy and and acts of piety
Hope to touch more than 100,000 lives
Hope every church participate
Ask the youth and young adult to lead this initiative
Starting 3 new faith communities
2016 General Conference will be faced with many issues involving human sexuality; conference wide conversation of this issue and pray for the future of the UMC
We desperately need revival
God, renew me first
Song, Spirit of the Living God
Recognize Shan Sixby, COSROW, pg. 81
Galatians 6:10
37% reports by female and 86% were white
Reference to MLK's I Have A Dream and an alter his speech slightly
Report of the Cabinet, pg. 40
Historical Society Meeting
Announcements by Bishop
Song, Alleluia
Adjourned (early!)
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