Tuesday AfternoonTuesday afternoon's activities began with "A New Commission: Ministry in Retirement."
"I hope what I say may reflect what is on all of hearts and minds of all of on the stage. They say time flies when you're having fun, and it has for me," Smith said. He was received into full membership 34 years ago in Roanoke. It was a milestone in his ministry even though he had been serving churches before his ordination. "Each of us has sought to listen to God's gifts and use our gifts to be responsive to the needs of the church. Our hearts and minds our filled with memories of our ministries. It all lives and breathes deep within us. Sometimes it doesn't take much to bring the memories back. We remember times that are joyous and hurtful. Beyond any emotions and our feelings, the memories give rise to know that we have survived. It's because there was always a strength beyond our own strength. God was always with us," Smith said. He continued, "We are those who have accepted the call and gone on the adventure. We have brought the message from a combined total of 876 years. God called us to life and faith and service years ago and that calling continues. We'll move at new and different directions. We embark on a new road. Retirement is not a ceasing, but a changing. In God's love there are no retired heroes, only transformed heroes. We intend to keep alive the gift that God gave. We know God will be with us as we move into the future, just as He has in the past. "On behalf of all us on the stage, we offer our love and support to those who now follow us in ministry. May the one who saved us and gave us grace enable all of us to continue to take our part in the suffering of the good news and the witness to the Lord." A statement from each of the 35 retirees was read as they were introduced. Mr. Stephen Mansfield presided over the Historical Society meeting. He noted that Mrs. Patti Russell, the conference archivist for 30 years, is retiring this year. She will continue as the editor of Heritage in her retirement. Bishop Kammerer said about Russell, "She is a living treasure among us." Tom Lee, the Conference Kits coordinator, announced that as of 1 p.m. on Tuesday, 36,675 kits had been collected from local churches across the conference. The value of the kits was put at $668,406. An estimate $3,800 was collected in bulk items, and $49,983 was received in donations for a grand total of $718,389. The kits will be delivered to the Sagar Brown Center in Lousisana for distribution by the United Methodist Committee on Relief to wherever they are needed. Lee noted that some flood buckets donated one year from Virginia made their way back to Virginia following Hurricane Isabel. The Rev. Marc Brown, Richmond District superintendent, presented the Report of the 250 Task Force. The task force recommended that the conference reaffirm the goal of starting 250 new faith communities in the next 30 years and that the task force formulate a comprehensive plan to accomplish this goal. This was adopted by the conference. The conference also approved that the task force will be funded $7,500 to continue its work. A DVD was distributed to conference members, "Called to Step Outside," that will help with this process. A study guide is available on the Web site at http://www.vaumc.org/repository/250TaskForce/StepOutsideGuide.pdf The Rev. Bruce Tuttle presented the report of the Task Force on Professions of Faith, a "companion piece" to the previous task force report. This deals with teh way of being accountable to the mission of this denomination to make disciples of Christ for the transformation of this world. More than 530 churches did not receive a new member on profession of faith in 2005. This low number is a conference-wide dilemma. All of our churches are expected to plan effective programs of evangelism. An evangelism program this evening has been designed to "recharge" everyone's batteries. The Denman Award for Evangelism for clergy was presented to the Rev. Wayne Snead, pastor of Galilee United Methodist Church in Sterling, Va. The award for laity was presented to Myrteen Heslep, a member of Fairview United Methodist Church in Roanoke. Anna Workman, conference director of congregational development, introduced this year's new church planters. |
