Annual Conference Update from the WNCC of the United Methodist Church

Lay Delegate Report on WNCCUMC Annual Conference (AC)

June 17-18, 2022 at Lake Junaluska

The theme for this year’s conference, after taking two years off due to covid, was Connect (or reconnect), Imagine, Engage! It was based on Ephesians 3:20 from The Message which says: “God can do anything, you know - far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!”

In addition to reconnecting with one another after the long absence, Bishop Carter emphasized over and over that if we apply the theme, with God’s help, we can find ways forward as a United Methodist Church, but if there are those who must separate, we must still love them and help them through their separation.

• Our guest speakers included the Dean of the Duke Divinity School, Rev. Dr. Edgardo Colon-Emeric, and WNCC clergy, Rev. Dawn Hand, now Superintendent of the Central Maryland District of the Baltimore-Washington Conference. Both focused on the conference theme in their messages. Rev. Colon-Emeric reminded us that we can’t be socially holy if we are apart from one another. Rev. Hand, in her message during the Celebration of Life service, emphasized that we should, as Linda reminded us in her children’s message last week, be a shining light to others, the way those who have gone before us were a shining light to us.

• Our business sessions addressed many of the outstanding accomplishments in the Conference during the last two years during covid, and emphasized the way many of our churches adjusted and used technology to worship and remain connected with our congregations.

In attendance at the AC were 1882 members: 975 Laity; 858 Clergy; and 49 Others.

Opening Worship at WNCC’s Annual Meeting in Lake Junaluska

Closing Worship at the Annual Conference for the WNCC of the UMC

Closing worship featured a reading from Ephesians by Mars Hill UMC’s Shasta Wild

Annual Conference Business Session

Our business sessions addressed many of the outstanding accomplishments in the Conference during the last two years during covid, and emphasized the way many of our churches adjusted and used technology to worship and remain connected with our congregations. 

We dealt with 19 petitions:

• Two (#1,2) passed dealing with financial policies, pension and health benefits after brief explanation and discussion (Overall apportionments for 2023 will decrease by 8.69%); 

• One (#3) passed unanimously dealing with overcoming the discrepancy in salaries for minority and women clergy;

• Twelve (#4-15) were passed with a consent vote, without discussion;

• One (#16), on revision of the pension plan, was referred to committee for study until the 2023 Annual Conference;

• One (#17), dealing with disaffiliation procedures in Para 2548.2 of the Book of Discipline (BOD), was ruled “out of order” since the General Conference Judicial Council is already studying the relevant paragraphs of the BOD

• One (#18), requesting an additional AC in 6 months to consider disaffiliation requests in progress before the next AC, was not approved;

• One (#19), requesting clarifying references to human sexuality, was withdrawn by the submitter before discussion. 

The Conference passed resolutions to close 6 churches (1 in our District); and to disaffiliate 18 churches (4 in our District) per the requirements of Para. 2553 of the BOD. The number of disaffiliating churches represents 1.8% of the 984 churches in the Conference and 1% of the regular attendance.

On a positive note, Clergy Class of 2022 had 57 individuals who were licensed as local pastors, commissioned as provisional members, and ordained as deacons and elders.

A Still UNITED Methodist Church

Bishop Carter, on numerous occasions, stressed that we can remain a UNITED Methodist Church, and that if we Connect with one-another, Imagine what God can do through us, and Engage in Holy conversation, we CAN remain UNITED, the way God intended for us to be.

Respectfully Submitted:

Rich Ashley,

Lay Delegate, Bright Hope Laurel United Methodist Church & Mars Hill United Methodist Church (representing the Mars Hill Charge in the Blue Ridge District)