Monday AfternoonReconvening after lunch, the lay and clergy members continued with General and Jurisdictional Balloting. During the ballots, videos are being shown around the theme of this year's conference, "Let's Get Growing! All for Jesus." The videos challenge everyone to think about ways they can connect the disconnected with church. Dennis Scheer, conference statistician, reported that the total membership of the Virginia Conference has decreased 1,262 or 0.37 percent. The Rev. Doug Paysour, outgoing president of Virginia United Methodist Communications, announced that the Virginia Advocate, the conference's official news magazine, was observing its 175th anniversary. A video was shown recapping its history. Mr. Jim Bergdoll presented the report of the Virginia Conference Foundation. Six new endowment funds were established with the foundation in 2006. The Rev. Sallye Bowen, president, presented the Report of the Conference Trustees. Dr. Susan Garrett presented the Common Table report. She encouraged members to visit the Evangelism Expo at this session of annual conference. She also highlighted the resource guide available in packets that is a guide to all staff persons available to help local churches in the Virginia Conference. Garrett introduced the new staff persons who are Linda Rhodes, director of communications; Neill Caldwell, editor of the Virginia Advocate; George Neas, director of stewardship; and Ileana Rosas, director of Hispanic/Latino ministries.
"Leadership is helping God's people take the next faithful step." So, what do we need to do? "Leaders help define reality. This is not the same thing as promoting an agenda. It's helping everyone get on the same page. We need to understand what the common goal is. "The truth for Virginia is the harvest is plentiful. There is no state that has more going for it demographically than the state of Virginia. Demographics is the study of people. Congregations exist to meet the needs of people." Weems outlined the various demographics that make Virginia such a good place to find the harvest. He broke the state into four regions -- Shenandoah, Tidewater, Capital, and Northern Virginia. All areas have had areas of growth in the last 30 years, with the largest in Northern Virginia. Virginia also have an increasing younger population, but United Methodists as a percent of populations have gone down. Children and youth numbers have both declined since the 1970s. "So, is it about numbers?" he asked. "Yes it is!" He made the point that we have to turn those numbers into actual people. The next step, he said, is to "Do God's Will." Back in 1978 he was in China and a translator was asking a lot of questions, including "How many Christians are there? How many churches are there?" and then he said, "Why don't you take over?" "If we've got the people, the theology, the hymns, why don't we just do it?" Virginia is behind in new church starts. "The harvest is plentiful," the Scripture says, "but the laborers are few." Weems challenged the gathering to be those laborers. To download the Power Point presentation, download a copy of the handout accompanying the presentation, and download a list of the Counties and Cities in the Four Virginia's, go to www.churchleadership.com The Rev. Peter Moon continued the 250 Task Force report and showed a video to begin converation about how to "take the table outside." The video clip was in partnership with the General Board of Discipelship. It will be a teaching model for use in congregations. Jeff Mickle, chair of the Board of Ordained Ministry, presented the board's report. Deacons in full connection are celebrating the 10th anniversary, and diaconal ministry is observing its 30th anniversary. Rudy Smith, dean of the Cabinet, brought its report and thanked Bishop Kammerer for her leadership. Jim Hodges presented the report of the Retired Clergy Housing Corp. The corporation is observing its 75th year of providing hundreds of ministers and their families homes. The total number of homes owned is now 29. |
