Annual Conference 2018

Annual Conference 2018 closed on Sunday, June 17 with appointments being read and sending preachers to their new assignments.  The theme this year was “Servant Leaders Making A Difference.”  The Conference theme came from 1 Peter 4:10, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

Nineteen people were ordained Elders, two were ordained deacons, 11 were commissioned as provisional members, two were recognized for orders and 32 were licensed as local pastors at the Saturday evening Ordering of Ministry Service.

Bishop Lewis preached the closing worship and challenged everyone to “stir up the gifts”.  Bishop Lewis reminded everyone that once you have discovered your gift, you must do something with it. 

Annual Conference members brought  44,774 disaster relief kits to UMCOR.  Kits included 29,409 Hygiene Kits, 703 Birthing Kits, 334 Layette Kits, 840 Cleaning Kits, 16 Bedding Kits, 102 Sewing Kits.  Forty- four pastors retired representing 1285 years of service. 9000 pounds of canned food was brought and distributed. 1627 persons participated in the Great Day of Service. Members of the Annual Conference approved a budget of $31,615,000 which is down $185,000 from the 2018 budget.  A Conference offering of $111,000 was collected to go to Cambodia, Brazil, Mozambique, VIM teams working with Native Americans, Haiti, Cuba Recovery, Puerto Rico recovery and the Moscow Seminary.

Annual Conference 2018 was a wonderful three days of meeting old friends and reminding each of us what God wants us to do.  He wants us to go back home and use the gifts He has given us.