Bold, Passionate Joyful
Annual Conference lifts up the bold past, debates passionately over current issues, then heads joyfully into the future

By Annette Spence

The Holston Annual Conference theme - "Courageous Past, Bold Future" - was borrowed from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry to help Holston recognize the 50th anniversary of full clergy rights for women.

Yet, during the June 11-14 gathering of 1,900 clergy and lay members representing 912 churches in east Tennessee, southwest Virginia, and north Georgia, it was evident that "Courageous Past, Bold Future" also proclaimed something about Holston.

With Bishop James Swanson presiding, the conference adopted a "bold, passionate, and joyful" vision statement, based on prayerful responses gathered from members of the 2005 conference. Following the vote was a time of celebration and the singing of "Be Thou Our Vision."

"Thank you for singing as if the Lord touched your hearts," Swanson said. "And now the work really begins with this vision statement."

This summer, Swanson will empower the Connectional Table to develop an action plan for the conference to live out the statement, conference leaders have said.

During Monday's celebration of Holston ministries, an offering of $94,494 was collected for an Alaskan mission led by Church and Community Worker Fran Lynch, a daughter of Holston.

In the conference's largest "hands-on" mission project ever, 6,728 kits containing food, clothing, sewing, school, and medical supplies were blessed and dispatched to missions in Liberia and Zimbabwe. (See related story on page 8.)

An additional $43,853 was collected for "Change for Children," benefiting children's ministries in Africa as well as within Holston boundaries.

During a Sunday-night service celebrating the 50th anniverary of full clergy rights for women, 152 of Holston's living clergywomen were lifted up, as well as many deceased. The conference stood and applauded Bishop Mary Virginia Taylor, resident bishop of the South Carolina Conference, who preached, "Remember Me." Elected in 2004, Bishop Taylor is a native of Holston and a former Cleveland District superintendent.

"I'm overwhelmed with emotion," Taylor said. "As I look out and see your faces, I just want to say thank you ... You are my family.

Another special guest was Bishop Scott Jones, resident bishop of the Kansas Area, who led Bible studies on female leadership in the church. He concluded that seemingly conflicting verses can be resolved by examining the "general tenor of scripture." Verses forbidding women to pray or preach were temporary rules of the time, he said, kept by other denominations "because of the culture of sexism we have maintained for 1,900 years."

On Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning, the conference tackled 10 resolutions, approving some swiftly while debating a few for several heated minutes before voting.

Approved were resolutions creating a "limited-service church" category, establishing an annual Youth Sunday, lifting up mental health awareness, supporting health and wholeness ministry, and appointing a task force to preserve two historical shrines, Acuff Chapel and Cox House.

Also approved - and referred to the Council on Finance and Administration - ?was a resolution supporting the United Methodist Church Global AIDS Fund.

The conference adopted, with a narrow 421-396 vote, a resolution "affirming laws defending marriage." The resolution states, "..Be it resolved that we continue to affirm the United Methodist stance on marriage and support laws in our state that protect the definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman."

Rejected were three resolutions: a resolution "reconsidering our relationship with the National Council of Churches," a resolution "urging withdrawal from the Religious Coalition of Reproductive Choice," and a "Resolution on Homosexuality." The latter declared that "advocates of unbiblical sexuality, who year after year seek the approval of plain and sinful practices, should cease their striving or separate themselves from the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church."

As members stood to express conflicting viewpoints on some resolutions, Swanson repeatedly asked members not to applaud. He finally scolded members by saying, "We are people who are bound and wrapped up in the Spirit of Christ. We have the right to disagree, but we do not have the right to do it in a way that antagonizes others."

The applause ceased.

Other actions:
The Board of Trustees received approval to purchase a $1.8 million, three-story building for the conference headquarters. The conference office will relocate from Knoxville to Alcoa, Tenn., in late August.

The conference approved a $15.89 million budget for 2007 - a 3.8 percent increase over 2006.

The conference approved an insurance premium rate increase of 3 percent for individuals and 9 percent for family/retirees, effective Jan. 1, 2007. Also approved: A pre-1982 past service retirement rate of $465 for next year, a 3.64 percent increase over the previous year.

Members learned that more than 4,000 Holston volunteers have done hurricane recovery work in Mississippi. In the past year, churches and individuals gave a combined $1.32 million to UMCOR disaster relief, Change for Children, the Russian Seminary Building Fund, and Special Sundays.

Twenty-one retirees, representing a total 531 years of service, were recognized during a Retirement Celebration.

The Service of Ordination and Commissioning included 17 full-connection deacons, 1 full-connection deacon, 2 deacons in associate membership, 9 commissioned probationary elders, and 1 probationary deacon.

At the Sending Forth Service, 34 new local pastors received licenses.

The Rev. James Noseworthy, president of Hiwassee College, received the Francis Asbury Award for higher education. (See related story on page 3.)

The Witness Ministry Team recognized three people with the Denman Evangelism Award: Wayne Scott of Unicoi UMC, Johnson City District; the Rev. Will Shewey of Hiltons Memorial UMC, Big Stone Gap District; and 10-year-old Ashton Taylor Huff of First Hillsville UMC, Wytheville District.

The Peace With Justice Team updated members on accomplishments of the Sudan Action Team, including the "Have a Ball" campaign and an initiative for all church members to read the book, "They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky."

The Children's Ministries Team reported that $55,800 was given by Holston churches to Change for Children in the past year. One-half ($27,900) was awarded to nine groups within the conference. The remaining funds were awarded to three missions benefiting African children.

As part of a new hospitality mission at Annual Conference, the Conference Council on Youth Ministry (CCYM) lavished attention on less-mobile senior citizens by bringing them fans on hot afternoons and serving them ice cream and beverages during crowded break periods. The CCYM members wore bright blue T-shirts with the message, "Greet each other with a holy kiss ... or how about a hearty handshake?"

At least 150 members participated in the "Walk for Change."After walking around the lake one time, Sharon Nelson Rush was inspired to organize a walk at her own church - Jonesborough UMC in Johnson City District - to raise money for children's ministries. "So she walked around the lake one more time to pray about it," said Children's Ministry Coordinator Anita Henderlight.

Three churches were discontinued: Cumbo, Big Stone Gap District; Walnut Grove, Maryville District; and Wellspring, Maryville District. Mt. Tabor of Cleveland District was abandoned. Loy Memorial and Wooten's Chapel of the Morristown District were merged into New Market UMC. Beulah and Trinity of the Lead Mines Circuit, Wytheville District, also merged.

Members were treated to coffee, soda, water, popcorn, and ice cream during breaks and fellowship time. The sponsors were Holston Conference Foundation, Holston Methodist Federal Credit Union, Asbury Inc., Emory & Henry College, and Holston Home for Children.

In a powerful Sending Forth message, Bishop Swanson urged members to stop mourning the past and "start right now" to make a difference. "You can carry on about the good old days all you want," he said, "but honey, in the good old days I wouldn't even be your bishop."

Conference membership stands at 167,340, down 373 from the previous year. Average worship attendance stands at 73,956, down 419.

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