_{George Stuart Auditorium
Lake Junaluska,
North Carolina}

_{Ray W. Chamberlain, Jr.,
Residing Bishop,
Presiding}

Video and/or Audio Tapes of Annual Conference are available by calling:
1-828-452-2881 x.767

We're back. The 2002 session of the Holston Annual Conference began the way it always does – with hugs and handshakes between old friends, the annual scramble for parking, the quest for something cold to drink, and long lines at registration.

Representing 931 United Methodist congregations in East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, clergy and lay leaders arrived in North Carolina yesterday for what can only be described as the "Lake Junaluska experience."

People waited as long as 40 minutes in registration while the line tumbled out the door, Registrar Norma Smith said the lines were caused by members who forgot to bring their registration cards. "Everybody was hot because we had a lot of extra bodies in here," she said.

In the tent between Stuart Auditorium and Memorial Chapel, Catherine South hawked cookbooks for the Wesley Foundation at University of Virginia College at Wise.

"If you buy one, we'll give you this fan," she said, pulling an Asbury Centers paper fan from the neighboring display booth.

Jacquie Dishner, lay representative for Hull's Chapel/Adam's Chapel UMC in the Kingsport District, read a book alongside the lake, catching a breeze and waiting for evening worship to begin. A veteran of several Annual Conferences past, she said she looked forward to hearing about the outcome of the Legacy of Commitment campaign.

"Our church was so enthused and willing to give to that," she said. "After years and years of hearing about it, we're hoping for a conclusion."

LaNoka Rhodes, co-lay leader from Church Street UMC in Knoxville, said she enjoys the annual gathering in Lake Junaluska because she likes connecting with former pastors. "I'm looking for Dr. Wilcox, who christened my son. He's 30 now." Following sessions for clergy, laity and fi rst-time attenders, the conference gathered for evening worship with music by Concord UMC's band and preaching by the Rev. Larry Trotter.

Minutes before the clergy session begins at 6 p.m., the cars are still coming. Scrambling for parking is a traditional Annual Conference activity.

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