Task Force Assembled to Facilitate Reduction of Districts

  A 13-person task force has been commissioned by Michigan Area Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton to assist him in reducing the number of districts in the Detroit Conference from seven to six. The conference is reducing a district to comply with action taken by the 2010 annual conference session, which instructed the resident bishop to determine the boundaries of the new districts, and for the Conference Leadership Team to name them by no later than July 1, 2011.   Bishop Keaton was not...

2010 Detroit Annual Conference Review

Detroit Annual Conference May 20-23, 2010, Adrian, Mich. “Wherever the Water Flows … Life Flourishes, Life Abounds” was the them of the 2010 Detroit Annual Conference session, held May 20-23 on the campus of Adrian College in Adrian, Mich. The theme tied in with one of the Four Areas of Focus of The United Methodist Church – “creating new spaces for new people and revitalizing existing congregations.”   The Rev. Dr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr., executive...

What Was Your Favorite Moment from Annual Conference?

The Baptism Poem offered by the Revs. Jeff Nelson, Jeremy Peters, Eric Kieb, and Michael Mayo-Moyle was one of the highlights of the 2010 Detroit Annual Conference. So, what was your favorite moment from annual conference? Was it the "Baptism Poem?" Was it the Friday morning worship service? Was it the story of two youth raising thousands of dollars for Liberia? We would like to hear your stories from annual conference. Please use the comments section below to share your story!...

42nd Detroit Annual Conference Comes to Close

  The four-day session of the Detroit Annual Conference concluded on Sunday, May 23, with the adoption of the 2011 budget, the setting of appointments for 2010-11, and the commissioning and ordination of 22 clergy.   The conference began the day with a Celebration of Pentecost, telling stories of how the Holy Spirit was moving across the Detroit Conference, before the body concluded its required work.   The conference finished its legislative calendar, taking action on two...

Legislation, Retirements Highlight Third Day of Annual Conference

  The members of the Detroit Conference voted to reduce the number of districts in the conference to six, effective no later than July 1, 2011, during business on Saturday, May 22. The conference also passed a number of resolutions and celebrated the retirement of 22 clergy during the third day of the four-day session.   The reduction of districts was the first resolution of the day, and allows the conference to begin 'right-sizing' itself and move from a structure and design that...

Nine Resolutions Pass During Second Day of 2010 Annual Conference

  The members of the 2010 Detroit Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church passed several items of legislation during the second day of the four-day session.   Nine of the 18 resolutions were passed on Friday (May 21), including five by virtue of the consent calendar. Three resolutions were debated and passed on the floor of the conference.   The legislation that was passed by consent calendar includes the following: The approval and setting of the pension...

Lovett Weems Addresses Laity Session

  The building of the Transcontinental Railroad and an evaluation of the five senses of the human body might seem like peculiar discussion points to start off the 2010 Detroit Annual Conference. But one of the nation’s leading Methodist scholars used history and basic anatomy to remind laity members how every person can be a leader and a follower — often within the same day — to accentuate the strengths of Christ’s church around the world. Dr. Lovett H. Weems,...

Lovett Weems to Address Laity at Annual Conference

  Dr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr., one of the preeminent thinkers and authors on the state of the United Methodist Church and its challenges, will speak directly to laity during the 2010 Detroit Annual Conference in Adrian May 20-23.    Distinguished professor of church leadership and director of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership at the Wesley Theological Center in Washington, D.C., Dr. Weems will speak at the laity session planned for 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 10. His...

2010 Annual Conference To Be Broadcast Live Over The Internet

  For the first time ever, the plenary sessions and worship services of the 2010 Detroit Annual Conference will be broadcast live over the internet. The live streaming is part of a larger communications plan to make the events of the annual conference session available to the local churches of the conference.   Live Streaming Live broadcasts of all plenary sessions and worship services will be available for viewing on the conference Web site's annual conference media page. The...

Full Cabinet Issues Letter About Potential Reduction of Districts

At the 2010 session of the Detroit Annual Conference, members will consider a resolution that will reduce the number of districts in the Detroit Conference from seven to six, effective July 1, 2011. (click here to see text of resolution).   The following is a letter from the Full Cabinet of the Detroit Conference regarding this resolution.     Dear Lay and Clergy Members of the Detroit Annual Conference,   As we gather in a few weeks for our Detroit Annual...

Annual Conference Registration Materials Now Available

Registration materials are now available for the 2010 Detroit Annual Conference session which will take place May 20-23 on the campus of Adrian College in Adrian, Mich.    The registration materials for the 2010 Detroit Annual Conference are available on the conference Web site – www.detroitconference.org/annualconference - and will not be mailed to the members of the annual conference. All voting materials, as well as historical reports and the statistician’s report,...

Theme, Speakers Announced for 2010 Annual Conference

"Wherever the water flows … life will flourish … life abounds!" will be the theme for the 43rd session of the Detroit Annual Conference, the conference Program Committee announced recently. The conference Program Committee also announced that the Rev. Dr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr., will be the featured speaker during the conference. The 2010 annual conference session will take place Thursday-Sunday, May 20-23, on the campus of Adrian College in Adrian, Mich.   The...

RJ Walters Named Editor of New Michigan Area Newspaper

The Michigan Area Communications Task Force announced today (Wednesday, Dec. 23) that RJ Walters has been named the editor of the new Michigan Area newspaper, which will begin production in early 2010. Walters will officially begin his duties on January 4, 2010.   "The Area Communications Task Force is very pleased about the selection of RJ Walters as the editor of our new Michigan Area edition of the United Methodist Reporter, said the Rev. Benton Heisler, Director of Connectional...

CFA Takes Action As Financial Uncertainties Continue for Conference

With continuing uncertainties in the financial support of the 2009 Detroit Conference budget, the conference Council on Finance and Administration has decided to hold off any decisions relating to salary increases for all conference personnel until further notice, according to the Rev. Carol Johns, chairperson of the conference's financial agency. In addition, the CFA is planning to introduce a resolution to the 2010 annual conference calling for the reduction of the conference's districts from...