Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church

Annual Conference: Sunday report

June 15, 2009

Church members scurried into Lake Junaluska yesterday for the 2009 session of the Holston Annual Conference – only to wait in long registration lines at Bethea Welcome Center.

They made the best of the situation by re-connecting with old friends, introducing themselves to new ones, and sharing their expectations of the June 14-17 meeting of leaders representing 903 churches.

Scroll to the end of this page for live streaming info and daily newspaper PDFs.

Virginia Oliver came with her pastor, the Rev. Mary Minnick of Hunt Memorial UMC, Abingdon District. She heard Bishop James Swanson preach last year and said she looked forward to hearing him again at the Sending Forth Service. “He is a very, very, very spiritual person,” Oliver said.

Several members said they were concerned about the outcome of votes on 32 constitutional amendments and a direct invoicing proposal. “We still don’t know if our apportionments will go down proportionately,” said the Rev. Amy Bartee, referring to direct invoicing. She is pastor at Wallace/Wyndale UMC, Abingdon District.

Bill Daugherty rushed into Bethea and was immediately greeted by the Rev. Samuel Dzobo, pastor at Woodlawn UMC, Morristown District. Daugherty explained that Dzobo is the former pastor of Hilltop UMC in Zimbabwe, where Holston has sent supplies for many years through its Hands-On Mission Project for Ishe Anesu.

The Hands-on Project was completed last week. The total collection of supplies destined for Zimbabwe and Liberia will be announced Monday morning. “It was the most we’ve ever had,” Daugherty said.

The Rev. John Ripley and his wife, Mary Jane Ripley, said they were excited to be staying with five other couples in a condo this week. The Ripleys attend Church Steet UMC in Knoxville District and heaped praises on the clergy staff.

Another retired clergy member, the Rev. Nelson Woody, celebrated his 58th consecutive Annual Conference. He and his wife, Ruth Woody, recalled how clergy of yesteryear came to Annual Conference
not knowing if they would be re-appointed or not.

“There were a lot of tears in those days,” said Ruth Woody.

Between Harrell Center and Stuart Auditorium, the Rev. Jeannie Higgins and other members of the Sudan Action Team prepared a special display where art and T-shirts will be sold to raise $40,000 for a Toyota Landrover. The vehicle will enhance the ministry of the Rev. Boo Hankins and the Rev. Phyllis Hankins, who depart this month for a two-year assignment in Yei, Sudan.

Last night in Stuart Auditorium, members worshipped in air conditioning for the Service of Remembrance. The Rev. Tyrone Gordon challenged members to fi nd new ways to carry out the Great Commission: to be a “go to” church instead of a “come to” church.

“Jesus never expected people to come to him,” Gordon said. “He was hanging around with people that good church folk don’t want to be around ...

“A ‘go to’ church doesn’t pick and choose who they want to reach out to. A ‘go to’ church throws out a lifeline to the hurting, the sinking, and the despondent.”

The Holston Annual Conference is June 14-17 in Lake Junaluska, N.C. Watch it now through live streaming.

Download PDFs of Monday 6/15/09 newspaper: Page 1 Page 2

Download PDFs of the Sunday 6/14/09 newspaper: Page 1 Page 2