Kingsport District shoots for the stars (again)
By Annette Bender
For the second year in a row, Kingsport District leads the conference with the highest percentage of churches achieving "Five-Star Church" status in 2002.
Forty out of 59 Kingsport congregations – 68 percent – qualified for the title by paying their Fair Share apportionments in full and giving to missions funds, according to the treasurer's office.
Other districts reporting high percentages of Five-Star Churches include secondplace Maryville District with 53 percent (34 of 64 congregations), and third-place Morristown District with 50 percent (56 of 110 congregations).
The Rev. Grady Winegar, Kingsport district superintendent, said that pastors and congregations are encouraged to meet Five- Star criteria at the district conference in September, in clergy meetings, and through occasional reminders in the newsletter.
"I think they have accepted the idea that they want to be involved in missions, and they see the [Five-Star certificate] as a way of cultivating moral in their churches," Winegar said of Kingsport congregations.
"Some of those churches on the list are very small, with only 45 in worship. But they're very determined to do this every year. They've got a few laypeople who see the opportunity to be in mission and they're proud to do it."
Conference-wide, an average 43 percent of all 929 congregations achieved Five-Star recognition in 2002. To qualify, Holston churches must pay 100 percent of apportionments and give any amount of money to each of these four Advance Special categories: International, United States, United Methodist Committee on Relief, and Conference-Initiated Specials.
In 2001, Kingsport District led the conference with 75 percent of Five-Star churches, followed by Big Stone Gap and Morristown Districts, each with 51 percent.
Of Holston's 12 districts, Cleveland (32 percent) and Johnson City (33 percent) had the lowest percentages of Five-Star churches.
Five-Star Churches for 2002 receive certificates and will be recognized at Annual Conference in June.
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