What's Happening in 2004?
by Annette Bender
Holston Conference stands to change a lot in 2004. By the time we light the Advent candles again, we'll have a new bishop. General Conference will be over, and we can debate the decisions that were made until the next conference in 2008. If Holston leaders have their way, apportionments paid will be on the rise, and ministries that have taken a back seat will be riding high on the conference agenda.
General Conference
Every four years, delegates representing United Methodist conferences gather to make decisions about policy for the denomination. At Annual Conference 2003 in Lake Junaluska, N.C., members elected eight clergy and eight lay delegates to represent Holston. The delegates will travel to Pittsburgh, Pa., for General Conference, held April 27-May 7.
Holston delegates have met three times; the next meeting is Feb. 23. Soon, the delegation will announce an open meeting in March that Holston members may attend.
Issues likely to surface at General Conference involve finance and organizational structure, according to the Rev. Al Bowles, delegate and Chattanooga district superintendent.
One question Bowles expects will be asked is, in a time when money is increasingly short, "How do we find resources to do ministry the way we need to be doing it?" He also anticipates "serious discussions" about how general boards and agencies can be reorganized.
"We also need to look at how we can live together as a community in diversity," Bowles said, citing differences in culture, race, gender and perspectives that can divide the church. "And, issues like abortion and homosexuality always seem to come up, although you can't promise they will."
Privately, church leaders say that homosexual issues are very likely to be debated, including ordination of openly gay clergy, and officiating at or allowing same-sex unions. Other possible proposals include reducing the number of bishops to cut administrative costs; determining how jurisdictions should be represented on general boards and agencies; and allowing bishops to chair legislative committees at General Conference.
A February issue of The Call will contain more information about Holston delegates as well as contact information for church members wishing to express opinions about General Conference issues.
Changing bishops
This summer, 32 delegates representing Holston Conference will attend Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference at Lake Junaluska, N.C. On July 14-17, these delegates will elect at least six bishops, replacing those who have announced retirement. The 32 delegates, elected last summer at Holston Annual Conference, are comprised of the 16 General Conference delegates plus 16 additional delegates (half clergy, half lay).
One of the newly elected or existing bishops will be appointed to Holston Conference this year on July 17. Resident Bishop Ray Chamberlain completes eight years of service to Holston this year on Aug. 31. The newly appointed bishop will assume leadership on Sept. 1. On Sept. 25, an installation ceremony and reception for the incoming bishop will be held at Munsey Memorial UMC in Johnson City.
Because bishops have different leadership styles, speculation on who will become Holston's next leader and resulting changes in administration and ministry is a common pastime among church leaders.
In a recent letter to Holston leaders and staff, Chamberlain assured them that the Committee on Episcopacy charged with appointing a bishop to Holston in July will "carefully and prayerfully discern" the best choice. The committee is comprised of representatives from each of 15 conferences in the jurisdiction. Representing Holston are Jean Henderson of Cleveland, Tenn., and the Rev. J.N. Howard of South Pittsburgh, Tenn.
"The Committee will attempt to match someone to this conference who will provide fresh vision and who will come with strengths and gifts and graces I do not possess," Bishop Ray Chamberlain wrote. "I anticipate a nearly seamless transition to the next bishop God has and will be with us and ultimately that matters most."
Budget issues
At press time, the treasurer's office was still receiving 2003 apportionment payments from local churches as the conference approached its Jan. 9 deadline for closing the financial books. A report on 2003's final income will be provided in a future issue.
Leaders hope 2003 will go down as a good year. Still, they say that paying 100 percent of Fair Share apportionments remains a priority in 2004.
"If 2004 Fair Share apportionments remain at the same percentage level as in 2002 and 2003, then we're looking at significant reductions in the 2004 budget," Treasurer Clyde McDonald said. "The conference parallels the local church when receipts do not match the budget. Salaries and utilities have to be paid. What suffers is programs or paying apportionments."
Percentages of apportionments paid by local churches have dropped since 2000, settling at 88.5 percent in 2002. For every 1 percent decrease in Fair Share giving, Holston receives $156,666 less in funding. The 2004 budget is currently set at $14.4 million. Hardest hit will be ministries, McDonald said, "but costs ultimately will have to be reduced in all areas."
The good news is that a majority of local churches will realize reductions in their apportionment amounts this year the result of the elimination of $4 million for pre1982 pensions from the conference budget.
Bishop Chamberlain says he hopes the reductions will "make it easier for local churches to assume full payment of their Fair Share apportionments."
Ministries to watch
This year, the conference will place more emphasis on ministries that haven't been prominent in the past but without a lot of extra money, said Anne Travis, director of connectional ministries.
"We're going to find ways to do these ministries, but they're probably not going to be in the conference budget."
For example, the conference will focus on prison ministries in 2004 by encouraging local churches to become more involved and then helping them plug into ideas. Church members have contacted Travis with interest in prison ministries before, "but with no clue about how to get started."
These days, congregations calling the connectional ministries office (865-690-4080) can learn more about ministries such as providing toiletries for prisoners or beginning pen pal programs.
Hispanic ministries will also get a shot in the arm in 2004 the year that a Hispanic ministry grant from the General Board of Global Ministries expires. Between now and Annual Conference in June, a task force will write and begin implementing a new plan for Hispanic ministry. "We have a half a dozen good Hispanic ministries going in the conference," Travis said. "We need to look at how to strengthen them and then look at our demographics to start new ones."
This month, a newly formed young adult ministry team will also meet to discuss building ministries for "20-somethings" in Holston. It's no accident that the meeting coincides with Divine Rhythm, the conference's spiritual event for young adults, held Jan. 23-24 in Gatlinburg, Tenn. But more needs to be done for the age segment that includes a variety of people such as college students, graduate students, young parents, young married couples, young single professionals, and others, Travis says.
"How do you minister to these people in all these different life situations?" she asked. "It's a tough nut to crack but I'm excited about the possibilities."
Finally, Travis said the ministries staff and others will address a need in Holston that seems to thread through many issues: stewardship. Look for a movement to teach the values of giving and serving to youth and children.
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