North Alabama Conference Journal 2005

554 Pages·2005·4.01 MB·English

Journal 2005
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Journal of the
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North Alabama Conference of The United Methodist Church D
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June 5-7, 2005
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Edward L. Norton United MethodistCenter
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Birmingham-Southern College
Birmingham,Alabama
Bishop William H. Willimon,President
Dr. Mark S. Lacey,Conference Secretary
KathyC. Clements,Journal Editor
William H. Willimon Mark S. Lacey KathyC. Clements Ben Williams
Presiding Bishop Conference Secretary Journal Editor Journal Design
2004 The Book ofDiscipline,724,“...An annual conference,local church,or other bodywithin The United MethodistChurch that
is composed ofuniting units with differing dates oforigin shall use as the date ofits founding the date offounding ofthe older
or oldestofthe uniting units ....”
Entrance ofMethodism into Alabama through Uniting Conference,The MethodistChurch,1939
MatthewP. Sturdivant,1808 Merger Conference,The United MethodistChurch,1968
Alabama Conference,MethodistProtestantChurch Merger Conference,
Organized 1829 North Alabama Conference and Central Alabama Conference,
Alabama Conference,MethodistEpiscopal Church,South Making the North Alabama Conference
Organized 1846 Organized 1972
Alabama Conference,MethodistEpiscopal Church The One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Annual Session
Organized 1867 ofthe North Alabama Conference
North Alabama Conference,MethodistEpiscopal Church,South Since Organization 1870
Organized 1870 The Thirty-third Session ofthe North Alabama Conference
Central Alabama Conference,MethodistEpiscopal Church Since Organization Introduction
Organized 1876
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Vision & Mission Goals
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The Vision
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D Everychurch challenged and equipped to make disciples ofJesus Christbytaking risks and changing lives.
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• Help Children and Youth to be Disciples
• Establish NewCommunities ofFaith
Conference Website
www.northalabamaumc.org
Bishop &Mrs. William H. Willimon
ResidentBishop,The Birmingham Area
The United MethodistChurch
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Table of Contents
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Officers & Agencies Reports continued
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2005 North Alabama Conference Cabinet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Advocacyfor Social Justice Ministries O
Conference Officers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Advocacyfor Social Justice Ministries Team. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313 D
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DistrictSuperintendents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Advocacyfor the Disabled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
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Officials ofConference Agencies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Church & Society. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
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DistrictLayLeaders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Commission on the Status and Role ofWomen (COSROW). . . 315 I
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Conference Staff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Religion and Race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
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Call to Mission & Ministry Restorative Justice Team. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Call to Mission & Ministry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Servants Like Jesus
Directories Servants Like Jesus Team. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Boards,Commissions,Committees,Councils &Teams. . . . . . . . 26 Advance Specials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
DistrictCommittees on Ministry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Attentional Growth,Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
DistrictBoard ofChurch Location and Building. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 CommunityEnabler Developer,Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
ClergyRoll. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Dream Garden,Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Diaconal Ministers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 United MethodistCenter for Senior Citizens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Professional Certification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153 P.E.E.R. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Full Time Local Pastors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 United CommunityCenters,Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
PartTime Local Pastors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 United MethodistChildren’s Home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
StudentLocal Pastors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164 Cooperative Parishes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Certified Candidates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166 Hispanic Ministries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
LaySpeakers Serving Churches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 United MethodistMen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Local Deacons and Elders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170 MethodistHomes for the Aging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Missionaries,Deaconesses & Employed Workers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171 United MethodistResidential Alternatives,Inc. (UMRA). . . . . . 328
Retired Missionaries &Deaconesses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Your Change Can Change the World. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
LayMembers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 United MethodistWomen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Minutes United MethodistVolunteers in Mission (UMVIM) . . . . . . . . . . 330
Journal ofProceedings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194 MinistryAdministration
Business ofthe Annual Conference. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204 Council on Finance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Appointments Committee on Investments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
Pastoral Appointments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245 Board ofPensions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353
Amendments Board ofTrustees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
Constitutional Amendments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287 New&Renewing Communities ofFaith
Reports Evangelism. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
The Official Schedule. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292 New& Renewing Communities ofFaith Team. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366
Leadership Formation Children’s Discipleship
Board ofOrdained Ministry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295 Children’s Discipleship Team. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
Conference Leadership Team. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299 Youth Discipleship
Committee on Episcopacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 Council on Youth Ministry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368
Connectional Ministries Report. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 AdultDiscipleship
The Institute for ClergyExcellence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301 Alabama Young AdultChrysalis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
LayMinistryTeam. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302 The Walk to Emmaus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
Leadership Formation Team. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304 SilentRetreat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
Board ofPastoral Care & Counseling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304 Other Reports
Stewardship Team. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305 Commission on Archives and History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 372
Commission on Equitable Compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305 PR/Communications Team. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373
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Table of Contents
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R Board ofHigher Education and Campus Ministry. . . . . . . . . . . . 374
O WesleyFoundation atCentral Alabama CommunityCollege. . . 374
D Jacksonville State UniversityWesleyFoundation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375
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WesleyFellowship — Montevallo FirstUMC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376
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UniversityofAlabama WesleyFoundation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 377
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I UAB WesleyFoundation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 378
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Campus MinistryAssociation — UAH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379
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WesleyFoundation ofUNA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379
Birmingham-Southern College. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 380
Huntingdon College. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 382
Gammon Theological Seminary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 383
United Theological Seminary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384
North Alabama United MethodistFoundation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 386
North Alabama Conference Fellowship ofLocal Pastors . . . . . . 388
Sumatanga. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 390
Board ofSuperannuate Homes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 391
Conference Visioning Team. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 392
Resolutions
Resolutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 393
Memoirs
Memoirs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 404
Historical ClergyRoll ofthe Honored Dead. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 424
Historical Sessions ofthe North Alabama Conference. . . . . . . . 426
Statistics
Conference Statistician’s Report. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 427
Conference Year 2005 Statistical Table. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 432
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2005 North Alabama Cabinet
From Leftto Right: Harold L. (Hal) Noble; T. Michael Morgan; William H. (Bill) Bostick; Donald S. Neal;
GaryT. Ward; Steven (Steve) Screws; Glenn D. Conner,;
Bishop William H. Willimon; Dalton B. Styes; Thomason (Tom) Bell;
Charles H. Lee; Paul D. Messer; DorothyAnn Webster
Conference Officers
ResidentBishop and President William H. Willimon,898 Arkadelphia Road,Birmingham,AL 35204
Conference Secretary Mark S. Lacey,6690 Cahaba ValleyRoad,Birmingham,AL 35242
Conference Statistician KennyBaskins,1227 Sixth Avenue SE,Decatur,AL 35601
Treasurer ScottY. Selman,898 Arkadelphia Road,Birmingham,AL 35204
LayLeader Gloria Holt,6740 Clear Creek Circle,Trussville,AL 35173
President,United MethodistMen John Hardeman,310 Colonial Drive,Florence,AL 35633
President,United MethodistWomen PattyPerryFinney,3220 Rockledge Road,Birmingham,AL 35213
President,Conference Youth Council Joe Riddle,408 Seminole Lane,Trussville,AL 35173
Conference Chancellor TerryMcElheny,PO Box 1387,Birmingham,AL 35201-1387
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District Superintendents
Albertville District Donald S. Neal,12 Sycamore Lane,Albertville,AL 35950
Anniston District DorothyAnn Webster,1320 Noble Street,Suite 2B,Anniston,AL 36201
Birmingham-EastDistrict T. Michael Morgan,898 Arkadelphia Road,Birmingham,AL 35204
O Birmingham-WestDistrict Dalton B. Styes,898 Arkadelphia Road,Birmingham,AL 35204
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Decatur District William H. (Bill) Bostick,1316 Stratford Rd. SE,Suite 100,Decatur,AL 35601
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I Florence District Harold L. (Hal) Noble,505 N. SeminaryStreet,Suite 3C,Florence,AL 35630
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E Gadsden District Steven (Steve) Screws,104 Gwindale Road,Gadsden,AL 35901
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Huntsville District Thomason (Tom) Bell,PO Box 4286,Huntsville,AL 35815
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Jasper District Glenn D. Conner,PO Box 1524,Jasper,AL 35502
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Roanoke District Paul D. Messer,Box 433,Roanoke,AL 36274
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G Sylacauga District GaryT. Ward,PO Box 281,Chelsea,AL 35043
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Tuscaloosa District Charles H. Lee,2711 7th Street,Tuscaloosa,AL 35401
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Officials of Conference Agencies
CarrawayMethodistMedical Center,Interim ChiefOperation Officer:
Ken Eshak,1615 25th StreetNorth,Birmingham,AL 35234
College Presidents
Birmingham-Southern College G. David Pollick,President,Birmingham,AL 35254
Huntingdon College John Cameron West,President,Montgomery,AL 36106
Conference Office of Connectional Ministries
Director,Office ofConnectional Ministries Dale R. Cohen,898 Arkladelphia Road,Birmingham,AL 35204
Director,Office of Communication Danette Clifton,898 Arkadelphia Road,Birmingham,AL 35204
Associate Director and Director ofServantMinistries
Patrick Friday,898 Arkadelphia Road,Birmingham,AL 35204
Coordinator,Youth Ministry Myrle Grate,898 Arkadelphia Road,Birmingham,AL 35204
Coordinator,Children’s Ministry Danette Schader,898 Arkadelphia Road,Birmingham,AL 35204
Coordinator,Volunteers in Mission Paulette West,898 Arkadelphia Road,Birmingham,AL 35204
Other Conference Officials
Director,Office ofCongregational Development
Dick Freeman,898 Arkadelphia Road,Birmingham,AL 35204
Executive Director,Superannuate Homes & Office ofOrdained Ministry
H. McCreal Chapman,898 Arkadelphia Road,Birmingham,AL 35204
Executive Director,United MethodistFoundation
Charles B. Carlton,898 Arkadelphia Road,Birmingham,AL 35204
Administrative Assistantto the Bishop and Chaplain ofUnited MethodistCenter
Denise Morgan Mullaney,898 Arkadelphia Road,Birmingham,AL 35204
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President,The Golden Cross DwightChristolear,1600 CarrawayBoulevard,Birmingham,AL 35234
Executive Director,Homes for the Aging A. WrayTomlin,1424 Montclair Road,Birmingham,AL 35210
Executive Director,UM Children’s Home Mike Galloway,PO Box 830,Selma,AL 36702-0830
Director,Camp Sumatanga Anne Horton,3616 Sumatanga Road, Gallant,AL 35972
District Lay Leaders
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Albertville District Mike Hopper,2109 SunsetDrive,Guntersville,AL 35976
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Anniston District Nathan Hill,307 Wind Ridge NE,Jacksonville,AL 36265 R
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Birmingham-EastDistrict John McQueen,815 Riverchase ParkwayWest,Birmingham,AL 35244

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Birmingham-WestDistrict Ellen Harris,232 Varnon Drive,Birmingham,AL 35214

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Decatur District ScottStone,P. O. Box 126,Hartselle,AL 35640
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Florence District Jarvis Brewer,P. O. Box 237,Rogersville,AL 35652 E
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Gadsden District Karen Owen,P. O. Box 134,Gadsden,AL 35902
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Huntsville District Carol Y. Toney,P. O. Box 6654,Huntsville,AL 35824 I
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Jasper District Donna Hatley,89175 BagleyRoad,Dora,AL 35062
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Roanoke District GuyPerry,332 Quail HollowDrive,Dadeville,AL 36853
Sylacauga District Sam Frazier,136 GrandviewCircle,Maylene,AL 35115
Tuscaloosa District Maurice Stuckey,2411-800 EnergyCenter Blvd.,Northport,AL 35473
Conference Staff List
Office ofthe ResidentBishop William H. Willimon,Bishop
Denise Morgan Mullaney,Administrative Assistantto the Bishop
Jilda Harris,Executive Secretary
Office ofAdministrative Services ScottY. Selman,Treasurer
Ken Livesay,Conference Accountant
Gail Jeffreys,Office Manager
Wanda Tray,Benefits Coordinator/AssistantBookkeeper
Julia Dawson,Receptionist/Secretary
Pete Banish,Director of Information Technologies
Office ofOrdained Ministry/ H. McCreal Chapman,Executive Director
Superannuate Homes Cindi Patsios,Administrative Assistant,Board ofOrdained Ministry
Angeline Mylalsingh,Assistant,Office ofOrdained Ministry
Claudia Hope,Administrative Assistant,Board ofSuperannuate Homes
Office ofConnectional Ministries Dale R. Cohen,Director
Patrick Friday,Associate Director
Danette Schader,Coordinator ofChildren’s Ministries
Myrle Grate,Coordinator ofYouth Ministry
Paulette West,Coordinator ofNorth Alabama Conference Volunteers in Mission
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Conference Staff List cont’d
KathyClements,Coordinator of Connectional Ministry
Pamela Harris,SupportStaff
Aleta Short,Assistantto the Director / SupportStaff
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United MethodistFoundation Charles B. Carlton,Executive Director
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I Jean Sandefur,Administrative Assistant
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E JennyPitts,Controller
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Laynee Young,Accountant
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Elaine Haskins,AssistantDirector ofDevelopment
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Linda Holland,Director ofCommunication
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Office ofCongregational Development Dick Freeman,Director
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C MarySimpson,SupportStaff
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S Office ofCommunication/The Voice Danette Clifton,Director
Ben Williams,AssistantDirector
Doris McCullers,Data Entry,Resource Librarian and Conference Registrar
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Call to Mission & Ministry
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Vision and Mission Goals
1.1 The Vision ofthe North Alabama Conference is: Everychurch challenged and equipped to make disciples ofJesus
Christbytaking risks and changing lives.
1.2 The Mission Goals ofthe North Alabama Conference are:
• Provide Effective Leadership;
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• Establish NewCommunities ofFaith; A
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• Become Servants Like Jesus;
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• Help Children and Youth to be Disciples. T
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The Ministry of All Christians S
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2.1 "The church as the communityofthe newcovenanthas participated in Christ's ministryofgrace across the years N
and around the world. Itstretches outto human needs wherever love and service mayconveyGod's love and ours.
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The outreach ofsuch ministries knows no limits. Beyond the diverse forms ofministryis this ultimate concern:
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thatall persons will be broughtinto a saving relationship with God through Jesus Christand be renewed after the I
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image oftheir creator (Colossians 3:10). This means thatall Christians are called to minister wherever Christ
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would have them serve and witness in deeds and words thatheal and free." (2004 Book ofDiscipline,¶ 126) S
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2.2 "This ministryofall Christians in Christ's name and spiritis both a giftand a task. The giftis God's unmerited Y
grace; the task is unstinting service. Entrance into the church is acknowledged in baptism and mayinclude per-
sons ofall ages. In this sacramentthe church claims God's promise,the seal ofthe Spirit(Ephesians 1:13).
Baptism is followed bynurture and the consequentawareness bythe baptized ofthe claim to ministryin Christ
placed upon their lives bythe church. Such a ministryis ratified in confirmation,where the pledges ofbaptism
are accepted and renewed for life and mission. Entrance into and acceptance ofministrybegins in a local church,
butthe impulse to minister always moves one beyond the congregation toward the whole human community.
God's gifts are richlydiverse for a varietyofservices; yetall have dignityand worth." (2004 Book ofDiscipline,¶ 127)
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The Journey of a Connectional People
3.1 "Connectionalism in the United Methodisttradition is multi-leveled,global in scope,and local in thrust. Our
connectionalism is notmerelya linking ofone charge conference to another. Itis rather a vital web of interac-
tive relationships." (2004 Book ofDiscipline,¶ 130)
3.2 "The purpose ofthe annual conference is to make disciples for Jesus Christbyequipping its local churches for
ministryand byproviding a connection for ministrybeyond the local church; all to the gloryofGod." (2004 Book
of Discipline,¶ 601)
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3.3 "The annual conference,for its own government,mayadoptrules and regulations notin conflictwith the
Discipline ofThe United MethodistChurch." (2004 Book ofDiscipline,¶ 604)
3.4 These procedures aim:
• To organize around our mission goals;
• To keep our structure as simple and flexible as possible to respond to mission goals;
• To keep to a minimum the number of people and amountoftime and energydevoted to administration
in order to free people for hands-on servantministries;
• To make spiritual formation and discernmentan integral partofthe work ofall Conference groups;
• To move from standing committees with broad concerns,to teams ofpeople with skills and passion who
come together to accomplish a particular mission or ministry;
• To focus Conference groups on equipping our local churches to make disciples;
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its own.
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I 3.5 Throughoutthis Call to Mission and Ministry,various groups are led bya Convenor and a Spiritual Guide. The
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task ofthe Convenor is to convene a team and,where indicated,to invite others to become partofthe team. The

& Convenor serves as the chairperson ofthe team. The task ofthe Spiritual Guide is to bring the Wesleyan spiri-

N tual practices into the life and work of the team. These disciplines include worship,prayer and fasting,Bible
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study,Christian conferencing,and acts ofmercyand service.
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Servant Leadership

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L 4.1 "Within The United MethodistChurch,there are those called to servantleadership,layand ordained. Such call-
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A ings are evidenced byspecial gifts,evidence of God's grace,and promise ofusefulness. God's call to servant
C leadership is inward as itcomes to the individual and outward through the discernmentand validation of the
Church. The privilege ofservantleadership in the Church is the call to share in the preparation ofcongrega-
tions and the whole Church for the mission ofGod in the world." (2004 Book of Discipline,¶ 136)
4.2 The Conference Staff,under the direction ofthe Director ofConnectional Ministries,is responsible to assure
thatall agencies ofthe Annual Conference meetand organize as soon as possible following their election.
4.3 Each Conference agency,board,commission,committee,council,task force,and team annuallyclarifies its pur-
poses and howitwill further the Conference goals and vision. Each group sets objectives for each year and eval-
uates whatthe group has accomplished atthe end of thatperiod.
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Conference Leadership Team
4.1 "Within The United MethodistChurch,there are those called to servantleadership,layand ordained. Such call-
ings are evidenced byspecial gifts,evidence ofGod's grace,and promise ofusefulness. God's call to servant
leadership is inward as itcomes to the individual and outward through the discernmentand validation of the
Church. The privilege ofservantleadership in the Church is the call to share in the preparation ofcongrega-
tions and the whole Church for the mission ofGod in the world." (2004 Book of Discipline,¶ 136)
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