C-Mail
Was there more than one chat room at Annual Conference for the purpose of discussing direct billing? If your description of comments made by Peggy Callison is accurate, then there had to have been more than one. I was one of more than 125 present at the Monday afternoon chat room and was seated on the very same row with Ms. Callison. In a very calm and collected voice, Ms. Callison asked that a "little less flippancy" be used when responses were given to questions being asked. Flippancy was an appropriate description of the responses from one particular individual.
When I read the words "angrily ordered" in the June 10 edition of The Call, I was stunned. In a tense situation, this lady expressed, in a very calm, collected, and articulate manner, what a number in attendance were thinking. On Wednesday morning, all who heard Ms. Callison speak from the conference floor heard the very same tone of voice that she used when speaking at the chat room. Her manner of speaking is praiseworthy – not to be described as unkind.
Since your comments are not an accurate description of Ms. Callison's demeanor, she deserves an apology. I sincerely hope one will be printed in the next issue of The Call. My feeling is that, if an apology is not given, others will be reluctant to speak up for fear of what might appear in print.
Another concern that I wish to address are comments made by Nathan Malone in the July 4 issue of The Call. I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Malone that we are family. However, when there is a family breakdown there is most often a reason. Such a breakdown leads to mistrust.
With the issue of direct billing, there was definitely a breakdown in the family. Those who serve on the Council of Finance & Administration (CFA) and have been a part of all discussions leading up to this recommendation, have at their access the information that stands behind their proposal. The rest of "the family" would like access to the same. Bad feelings could have easily been avoided if direct responses had been given to questions and concerns of "family members."
During the Wednesday morning session of Annual Conference, "family members" learned that the CFA had used $2 million from an insurance reserve fund. We were told the CFA "probably should not have" and that it was "not a prudent thing to do but we did it anyway." Family members placed their trust in the CFA to be good stewards of their funds. Actions such as this, in my opinion, are what create "the conference" (us/them) perception of which Mr. Malone writes.
Overall, the 2003 gathering of Holston Annual Conference was an outstanding experience. I trust that we have learned yet another lesson in how to communicate with each other. I pray that all of us have learned valuable lessons in how to work together as God's family "to win some by all means." We are indeed sisters and brothers in Christ!
Anita Taylor
Meadowview UMC
Abingdon District
I am responding to a statement by the Rev. Lynn Hutton on the floor of our recent Annual Conference during a discussion of direct billing. Lynn recognized the small membership churches who have faithfully paid their Fair Share apportionments for many years and stated that these small membership churches, by their faithfulness, have been inadvertently "subsidizing" large membership churches who do not pay their apportionments in full.
I don't disagree with her statement. But the primary issue, I believe, is that we all lose – and God's work suffers – whenever we regard our connectional ministry as optional or secondary to other causes and claims upon our prayers, energy, and financial resources.
The formation of the 1,800-plus member church I am now privileged to serve began on March 19, 1944, at a meeting called by the district superintendent – whose salary was paid by the conference. Early in its history, this churched received a $500 grant from the Board of Missions – money that was given by Methodists to help other Methodists follow and serve Christ.
Since 1944, almost without exception, this church has faithfully paid its Fair Share apportionment and district askings. In 2002, it paid its Fair Share apportionment of $229,860 in full and also committed over $37,000 to the Legacy of Commitment campaign for ministerial pensions. This year the church is current in its payments to the Fair Share and district apportionments and expects to pay them in full.
This church is my home church, and I am grateful and proud to be serving as its senior pastor. I am also grateful and proud that long before I was appointed here, this church has expected its senior pastor to "lead the congregation in the fulfillment of its mission through full and faithful payment of all apportioned funds and special offerings" (senior pastor description).
I believe that the history of this church and of many other churches demonstrates that we take our connectional responsibilities seriously, we ourselves are blessed, even as our shared prayers, presence, gifts, and service bless others and God's world in the name and spirit of Christ.
For the many churches – regardless of membership size – who faithfully and generously support our connectional ministry, thanks be to God!
Rev. Bob Cantrell
First Oak Ridge UMC
Oak Ridge District
I went to Annual Conference with a sense of foreboding over the issues we faced. Ironically, the issues were not laden with theological implications. However, the practical ramifications of the issues of health care costs for clergy, retirees, and other conference claimants and of direct billing had created a divisive spirit for our Annual Conference. I cannot praise Bishop Ray Chamberlain and the Council on Finance & Administration enough for withdrawing the latter (direct billing) and allowing amendments to the former. The mood of the Annual Conference immediately shifted from dread to elation for what I believed to be a majority of those present, but I know this was true for me. I left Annual Conference with my spiritual batteries recharged and ready to throw myself wholeheartedly into the work of pastoral ministry.
I do want to take a moment to make some comments with regard to some moments when I felt we were not at our best. On behalf of my mother and sister, I attended the chat room dealing with the matter of health care costs for the retired ministers, spouses, and other conference claimants. Before I say anything negative, let me begin by praising the work of the members of the Board of Pensions. They truly perform a labor of love done on behalf of many faithful servants of the Lord.
However, those leading the session on behalf of the Board of Pensions gave a negative impression, at times taking an authoritarian role or the role of a parent. One leader challenges those gathered as if to say, "What is your problem?" Another comment was in the form of a plea to trust the board to "take care of you." Another comment suggested to the group that they should feel guilty for asking the conference to come up with funds to continue paying for prescription medications, quoting a figure of $20 million in the conference budget in the next 20 years if we do not scale back on what the conference is presently doing for the clergy. The problem that I have with such language is that it cuts off debate instead of creating the atmosphere for healthy dialogue.
I pray that we will come to next year's Annual Conference better equipped to face such challenges. More than that, I hope we will learn something from the unity that was established by backing off some and allowing creative thinking to surface.
Rev. Mack Turner
Bookwalter UMC
Knoxville District
The new format for The Call is most readable. I know you try to have articles of interest that will bring growth and change to the church we cherish. As former editor of the "Holston United Methodist," I salute you and pray your best.
Rev. E.A. Eldridge
Retired minister
Knoxville District
I would like to urge all pastors in the Holston Conference to read the new book, "United Methodism @ Risk: A Wake-Up Call," by Leon Howell. This important book points out the threat of very conservative groups to our diversity of theological opinions in the United Methodist church. This also would make an excellent study book for groups within the churches. We need to be aware of our very nature as United Methodists.
Rev. Frederick H. Richard
Retired minister
Kingsport District
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