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Blog - Saturday, May 18
Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton preaches during the Memorial Service on Saturday, May 19. (Photo by Jeremy Africa)
AFTERNOON SESSION
1:30 p.m. - We are back in session. We will hear a few reports, the highlight of which will be the report of the Dean of the appointive cabinet.
The Rev. Chong (Joy) Won is now presenting about the ministries of Korean churches in the conference.
We are now presenting the Harry Denman Evanglism Awards. This is the 31st year of the award. The recepient of the laity award is Susan Walker, a member of Belleville: First UMC. The clergy recipient is the Rev. Tom Anderson, pastor at Houghton Lake UMC.
The conference watched a video from conference youth that attended Youth '11 last year at Purdue University. In addition, a video presentation of the denomination's Black College Fund. Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton is a graduate of Philander-Smith College, one of the 11 United Methodist-related historically black colleges.
The Dean of the Cabinet, the Rev. Joanne Bartelt, will be presenting the annual report on behalf of the Detroit Conference appointive cabinet. Bartelt is completing her third year as the superintendent of the Blue Water District. The theme of Bartelt's message is "give us something to do."
The Rev. Mark Spaw, superintendent of the Ann Arbor District, was named the Dean of the Cabinet for 2012-13.
As part of the Dean's report, the alumni choir from the Lake Louise Camp in Boyne Falls, Mich., performed as a recognition of the ministry of the Rev. Terry Gladstone, who passed away in November.
The conference will recess until 7:00 p.m., when the Celebration of Ministry will take place honoring those who are entering into and retiring from the ministry. The retirements of 21 clergy will be recognized, and the conference will celebrate the introduction of six provisional elders and two deacons that will be ordained on Sunday, May 20.
At 3:30 p.m., the annual Memorial Service will take place. Fourty-two individuals will be remembered, including 19 clergy, 16 clergy spouses, and seven lay persons that have passed since the last annual conference session.
MORNING SESSION
8:00 a.m. - Good morning! We are beginning the third day of the 2012 session of the Detroit Conference. Stay tuned to this blog for all of the notable events during today's sessions.
We are beginning with a time of devotions, led by Michigan Area Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton.
8:50 a.m. - We are back in plenary and ready to hear reports from various groups. This morning will highlight the work of the laity, while this evening will highlight the work of the clergy.
The Rev. Dr. Tom Robinson is highlighting the Detroit Conference's convenant relationship with the United Methodist Church in Liberia, which has been in place since 2000.
Mike Clark, the conference lay leader, is now presenting the report of the Lay Leader and is highlighting the ministries of the laity in the Detroit Conference.
Clark has served as the conference lay leader for the past three years and will be replaced by Wayne Bank, who has been serving as the conference's Secretary of Global Ministries.
The conference's Board of Global Ministries is reporting and has indicated that the Detroit Conference churches gave over $800,000 to the Advance. The group is also highlighting the Spotlight Churches in the conference - those that pay apportionments in full, support the conference and general church Advance projects, and committ to missionary partnerships.
The United Methodist Men are now presenting their report. Mel Scott, vice-president of the UMM is reporting for James Walker, who has had serious medical issues over the past year. The Detroit Conference UMM received an award from the Society of St. Andrew for raising $23,000 for hunger ministries, the most of any conference UMM in the United States.
9:35 a.m. - The United Methodist Women are now reporting. This is the first report since the UMW became an autonomous organization due to action taken at the 2012 General Conference. The UMW awarded a $1000 prize to Jon Reynolds, who designed a video for the conference UMW. Reynolds is from Cass City UMC.
9:45 a.m. - The conference Commission on Young Adult Communities is now reporting and sharing stories of young adults in ministry in the churches of the conference.
10:00 a.m. - We are taking a short break and will be back in 15 minutes to begin work on legislation.
10:15 a.m. - We are coming back from break and after recognizing the chaplains serving in the conference, we will begin work on legislation.
Results of the conference offerings - so far - are being announced. To date, the conference has raised over $53,159 in offerings, including $7,613 for Imagine No Malaria. $19,552 has been collected for the Haiti Hot Lunch program, and $16,959 has been raised for Bishop Craig's Children's Village in Libera. An additional $8,835 has been raised to help purchase a truck for the Liberia Annual Conference.
The consent calendar is being presented to the conference. Click here to view the calendar. Of the 13 items before the conference, five are on the consent calendar. The conference has approved pension benefit rates for 2012; a minimum base compensation schedule for 2013; a revised protection policy for children, youth, and vulnerable persons; and called for the appointment of men's ministry liasons in each local church where a United Methodist Men unit does not exist.
Also, the conference rejected a resolution asking to develop "Jr. Love Masters."
First up is Resolultion 2, which deals with support for Liberian pastor's salaries.
The conference has supported the resolution, which calls for pastors in the conference to contribute .5 to 1 percent of their salary to support pastors salaries in the Liberia Annual Conference.
Resolution 14 is next, which deals with concealed weapon-free zones in churches.
After an extended debate, the conference has supported the resolution, which states that "churches and ministries of the Detroit Annual Conference remain concealed weapon free zones regardless of any changes made to the concealed weapons laws in the state of Michigan. This would not apply to qualified law enforcement officers."
Resolution 5, which deals with having each church designate a "Resorative Justice Coordinator," is now being discussed. The conference has adopted the resolution.
Resolution 10 is now being considered. This resolution deals with fragrance-free worship, meetings, and church events. The conference has referred the resolution to the conference Committee on Disability Concerns.
We are now onto Resolution 9, which deals with opposition to the usage of drones in Michigan. The conference has rejected the resolution.
The conference will take lunch recess and be back at 1:30 p.m.
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