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Index
Summary Reports of 2006 Rocky Mountain Annual Conference
by Ben Roe, Information Administrator, RMCUMC
Annual Conference Summary Report
The Rocky Mountain Conference met at a Marriott Hotel in Denver,
Colorado, around the theme, “Caring Hands Unite: Churches
Building Churches.” Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. opened
the conference with a meditation on change and faith, using William
Sloane Coffin’s words, "I love the recklessness of
faith: first you leap then you grow wings" and Peterson’s
Message Bible (Acts 1): “you don’t get to know the
time; you get the Holy Spirit.” He challenged all not to
hold on to what used to be, and to “Remember Rule 6: Don’t
take yourself too seriously” (Benjamin Zander, The Art
of Possibility). He also announced he will lead study groups
on 2 books, “Good to Great” and “Good To Great
And The Social Sectors” by Jim Collins.
The roomy meeting space was transformed into a worshipful space
by lighting, fabric and sacred objects, where Bishop Brown confirmed
eight local pastors, commissioned one towards deacons orders and
seven towards elders orders, ordained one deacon and eight elders.
Special music for the ordination service came from Park Hill UMC
(Denver) voices and Christ UMC (Salt Lake City) bell choir. The
celebration of 50 years of full clergy rights for women featured
colorful streamers floating above the congregation and on the arms
of about 200 clergywomen, who were also wearing bright colored
favorite stoles. Bishop Minerva Carcaño of the Phoenix Area
preached both services, applying Jesus’ words from Mt. 26:6f.,
it is “a beautiful thing…” to the beauty of God’s
calls to clergywomen and their ministries. In the ordination service,
she challenged all with Micah’s words “What does the
Lord require?” God requires our total selves, not just our
financial giving, our service in the church, but the total refocusing
of our lives to love as God loves, to serve, and do justice.
Advance Field Representative for the Western Jurisdiction Heather
Wilson inspired and challenged all during the Teaching Moments
of the Conference to a deeper faith and greater service. She pointed
to the study by Easum and Bandy (in Growing Spiritual Redwoods)
of the characteristics of declining and thriving congregations
as examples of what this deeper faith and greater service might
look like. The Conference also welcomed Bishop Zothan Mawia of
Methodist Church of Lower Burma. The bishop’s witness, Heather’s
enthusiasm, faith, and sharing and a “Virtual Missions Parade” of
Conference churches in mission made this conference a faith-inspiring
event.
A new programmatic structure was adopted unanimously, ethics and
sexual misconduct training requirements were clarified, the 2007
Conference theme was set, “Diversity, Inclusiveness and Racial
Acceptance.” Members endorsed and set a giving goal for the
Bishop’s Young Adult Initiative which is starting “GraceWorks
Community” this year as an intentional young adult community
of service in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Also affirmed was an invitation
to RMC pastors to “voluntarily relinquish the authority granted
them by the Judicial Council decision 1032” and receive those
willing, after suitable instruction, to affirm the membership vows.
The US House Resolution 676 was supported, which would move towards
a “Medicare for all” approach to health care. General
Conference petitions approved included one mandating that the pastor
be present at S/PPRC meetings (259.2e) except when s/he voluntary
excuses him/herself; asking that “sensitive attention be
given to clergy when there are family members with physical or
mental challenges” (430.1); and mandating complete investigation
of “apparent, alleged or suspected” discrimination,
especially in cross-racial appointments.(604.1).
The Conference welcomed Jack Ford as new treasurer, who named
19 “Transformational Churches” who met minimal standards
of life and mission. He celebrated the generosity of Rocky Mountain
United Methodists who gave over $1.5 million to disaster relief
and took many mission trips by youth and adults to disaster areas.
A budget for 2007 was adopted which will take “Caring Hands
United” to reach.
The Rocky Mountain Conference has had several major changes this
year. An aging and unique Conference Office building was sold and
a new one purchased in Greenwood Village, south of Denver; the
death of John Boyle, and the loss of Dan O’Neill around the
same time emphasized the changes we face as a church. The untimely
death of beloved Chancellor John Boyle after nearly 20 years of
service, led to Rich Marsh of Rinn UMC being elected Chancellor.
At the end of 2005, membership stands at 67,261, down 2.73% from
the end of 2004. Worship attendance stands at 33,050, down 2.1%.
Church school attendance stands at 11,311, down 8.2%.
Caring Hands Unite
By Kimberly Henrie, Lay Leader, Western Colorado
Subdistrict
I don’t often give it much thought, but when questioned
about the theme of this annual Rocky Mountain Conference I realized
that over the years, I have developed an aversion to ‘themes.’ It
seems a strange thing to be concerned with, but upon reflection
I have come up with some pretty sound reasons why themes can pose
a problem and why this theme, ‘Caring Hands Unite: Churches
Building Churches’ has touched me deeply.
It really didn’t occur to me to give much consideration
to our theme as I began receiving pre-conference materials in April,
and as I walked into the Marriott Hotel on Wednesday, June 21st
for registration. I gathered up each lovingly designed piece as
necessary, placed them into the specially designed tote bag and
headed up to my room. Once there, I did take a moment to go through
each piece, long enough to decide whether I really needed to carry
it with me all weekend and to admire, briefly, the pin included
with my nametag. Nice.
If you had asked me at that point what our theme was, I probably
would have had to look at my name tag.
As I traveled around the hotel that first evening, it was a time
to reconnect with those I had not seen in too long, others that
I don’t see often enough, and some that I see on a regular
basis. It was good to see them all. There were extended hands,
smiles and waves and warm hugs. And I found a great seat, next
to wonderful friends at Wednesday night’s worship.
There were also new faces present this year. I met some of them
and was reminded that many of those old friends I’d greeted
this year had come from beginnings such as this. I look forward
to seeing my ‘new’ old friends next year.
Over the four days that made up our conference (June 21-24) the
theme ‘Caring Hands Unite’ was lifted up over and over,
without speaking those words. It was not a theme that was lifted
up in words with little or no substance to back it up, like I’ve
seen in other circumstances. Hype is what I call it. No, this was
a quiet theme, sitting in the background, borne out by example
time and again.
We were treated to a history and celebration of the 50th Anniversary
of Women Clergy during Wednesday’s worship service. While
the women were visible and present in leading the worship, Bishop
Warner Brown being the only male presence in leadership, when it
came time for the congregational response, the men of our conference
were as enthusiastic about the event as any of the women in the
room. We all shared as one in hearty applause, standing ovations
and words of peace and encouragement following the service, recognizing
this very important part of our United Methodist ministry.
In our teaching moments, guest speaker Heather Wilson (see her
speak if you ever get the opportunity) talked about our role as
church & individuals in meeting the needs of the community,
locally and globally. Ms. Wilson challenged us with examples of
how we, as a conference, stepped up to the hurricane disasters
in 2005 as evidence that we can step up to the every day needs
that are before us. She shared stories and videos of others around
the United States and the world that are making a difference by
putting God’s work first and how the Rocky Mountain Conference
is supporting them through our financial gifts.
In legislation, Bishop Brown supported the unity of the group,
by reminding us that the rules he was implementing were the rules
of the body, ‘our’ rules. We were not a group subject
to the rules of the Bishop or some other hierarchy. Rather, as
a body, we have developed and implemented the guidelines as to
how we make decisions that reflect the will of the conference and
those in it.
Other highlights of the conference included a Virtual Missions
Ministry Parade, that included pictures and videos that churches
throughout our conference provided of the ministry work they had
been doing throughout the year. There were many photos of trips
to New Orleans, along with teams in other parts of the world, and
right in our own backyard. It was very clear that the ministry
of serving others through missions is alive and well in our conference.
The inclusion of a youth lead worship service allowed the youth
the opportunity to develop leadership and share their gifts with
us. It allowed the adults an opportunity to look forward in hope
to the wonderful leadership of these young people. The youth worship
service also allowed us all to admit that we are working for God
together and we can learn from one another, regardless of age.
While we often hear about the differences from one district to
another throughout our annual conference, the reports of our District
Superintendents brought to light that we all face many of the same
challenges and share in similar celebrations. And most importantly,
that we all serve the same God and act out our faith in missions,
sacraments, worship, teaching and encouragement. We also learned
about the support we give one another in the physical act of churches
building churches, as it was reported that new and remodeled churches
benefited from the Rocky Mountain Conference UM Foundation for
their financing, and from the physical labor of volunteers from
throughout the conference.
By the time this annual conference meeting came to an end, I not
only could recite the theme without looking, but I could feel it
written on my heart. It didn’t occur to me until reflection
later that from the moment I stepped foot in the hotel on Wednesday,
until I left on Saturday, I witnessed the Caring Hands Unite theme
in action. Every part of the conference, formal or informal, was
a reminder that we are all united as the Body of Christ and more
specifically, as the United Methodist Church during these 4 days
and the days before and the days beyond.
I reflected with my local congregation on Sunday, June 25th, that
there were hundreds of folks present at annual conference and that
I felt as close to each one of those present at AC in the Body,
as I did with those in my local church. I also shared that I believed
that each one of those persons present at AC had a love for those
in my local church as brothers & sisters in Christ, as I did
for those in their congregations. And that from each church in
our conference there was probably 2-3 people represented at conference,
in some cases only one. So, it follows that there are many thousands
of brothers and sisters in Christ in the Rocky Mountain Conference
that, even though we may not know one another personally, are uniting
together in love as the Body of Christ.
Now that I think about it, maybe our theme is silly after all.
Caring Hands Unite. It’s a call to action to come together
as a church, when, by every indication, we already are.
Index
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