Monday Morning - Laity, Clergy & Opening Sessions

While the clergy met in closed session in the Civic Center's Performing Arts Theater, the laity met in the center's auditorium to prepare for the days of conference ahead.

Lay Leader Shirley Cauffman brought greetings and welcomed the gathering.

The Rev. David McAllister-Wilson

The Rev. David McAllister-Wilson, president of Wesley Theological Seminary, addressed the laity. He highlighted churches across the conference that faced obstacles and overcame them to grow and flourish.

"This week, the United Methodists are in town," McAllister-Wilson said, " and nobody expects any trouble.  We are suffering from a condition I have come to call 'late-stage institutionalism.' When our clergy get together, or our bishops, or our general agencies, we fixate on the statistics and the symptoms of our decline and we seek ways to adjust to our circumstances like polar bears on melting icebergs.  Did you know that the majority of United Methodist clergy have never served a growing church?  And that most of the congregations they serve remember when things were better -- and make a point of telling them when that was?  Think about what that means for your spirit – it’s like playing for the Chicago Cubs your entire career."

He explained, " We are not top-down, we are not bottom-up.  We are an inside-out organization.  As Methodists, we understand that a healthy church is a result of the movement of the Holy Spirit – working inside out, calling and empowering God’s children to come out and work in fields already 'white unto the harvest.'  We are all sheep – but those of us with the white name tags are not the good shepherd, we all have the same one.  And a conference is a way for all of us to be greater than the sum of our parts.  So we gather this week in conference as a flock of flocks listening for the voice of God leading us to green pastures.  And from now on, I bring you good news, because there are lots of churches, in every district who are experiencing the revitalizing work of the Holy Spirit."

Lay members from the floor then read the headlines they'd like to see in their local newspapers, talking about the growth and evangelism taking place throughout Virginia through the United Methodist Church.

The official opening of conference began in 10:30 a.m. with the Call to Order by Bishop Charlene Kammerer.

She invited Dr. George S. Lightner to the stage to give the opening prayer. He is attending his 73rd consecutive annual conference. The bishop referred to him as the conference "postmaster," attending through rain, sleet, snow and sun.

Roanoke District Superintendent Steve Hundley introduced the mayor of Roanoke who welcomed the lay and clergy members to the area and invited them to visit local attractions and restaurants. The mayor of Blacksburg addressed the congregation and thanked everyone for the support given to the Virginia Tech community following the tragic killings on that campus, April 16.

From right, Larry Jent and Bishop Kammerer present a blanket to Chief Adkins.

Bishop Kammerer introduced the Steve Adkins, chief of the Chickahominy Tribe who brought greetings in the "name of the Great Spirit." He said he appreciated the relationship he has devoped with the United Methodist Church through people such as Myles Pierson, Larry Jent, and Jon Barton of the Virginia Council of Churches. He said he has felt the love personally as it helped him through an illness of his wife.

Adkins brought greetings from the Virginia Indian nations. "Today there is much to celebrate," he said. He's been appointed to the Jamestown Commission by President Bush to find the true story of Jamestown. Adams asked support for federal recognition of Indians. "I wouldn't have been on this stage 50 years ago because of the climate. I'm here today because of the amazing grace of God. We've learned a lot at the laps of mothers and hands of our fathers. We accept responsibility to do our part to allow free access to all in this land of promise. We can't change what happened in the past but I can challenge you to go forward... we are all made in the image of God. Beyond that we see the face of the Creator. Isn't that great."

Adkins concluded, "Today, I believe you and I, in our journey, will f orm a more perfect union that has been positioned by our Creator in such a time as this."

The first ballot for election of lay and clergy members to General and Jurisdictional conferences was distributed.

Mr. K. Dane Mills, chair of the Rules Committee, presented the report of his committee. The proposed changes as presented in the Book of Reports were adopted.

Brenda Brooks, lay leader of the Roanoke District, introduced Becky Hundley and Leigh Kammerer, spouses of the Rev. Steve Hundley and Bishop Kammerer. Bishop Kammerer made further introductions of special guests including those from Alaska, Mississippi. A short video was shown from the Mississippi Conference thanking all those who have volunteered in the Katrina recovery.