2018 New England Annual Conference

Officiating bishop: Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar

Guest Preacher the Rev. Dr. Robert Allan Hill

Dr. Hill from his Bible study on June 16 on John 17:3: "The community of the Gospel of John feared not the culture around them. They feared not truth, even when that truth was best expressed outside of their particular religious circle. They had the guts to use language belonging to pagans, outsiders, heretics, Gnostics to celebrate and consecrate their faith. In doing so, they opened up the church to the world, to the future, to the culture around them. They changed their way of speaking of Christ, and pointed to Christ above, in, and transforming the culture around them. They changed. They had the courage to change."

Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar from his Episcopal Address Thursday, June 14: "As we approach the important General Conference of February 2019, let us remember to see the Christ in others that they might see the Christ in us. Let us resolve to live out our relationships in ways that give honor and respect and dignity to fellow human beings. Let these ministries continue until we are unified in faith and filled with the knowledge of the Son of God, 'until we stand mature in His teachings and fully formed in the likeness of the Anointed One.'"

Following the address Bishops Devadhar, Susan Hassinger, John Innis, Cliff Ives, and Jane Middleton participated in an open discussion about the Commission on a Way Forward and the upcoming special called session of the General Conference.

Main actions enacted by the conference:

Created a Pastors Respite Fund with more than $23,000 in pledges/donations and a $25,000 matching grant from the United Methodist Foundation of New England.

Resolutions adopted by the conference:

RS-18-212 – TAKING A STANCE AGAINST SEPARATING IMMIGRANT CHILDREN – approved
RS-18-213 – ENCOURAGING ATTENDANCE AT THE SPECIAL GENERAL CONFERENCE SESSION – approved
RS-18-214 – REQUESTING A DECLARATORY DECISION FROM THE JUDICIAL COUNCIL – approved

Joining Bishop Devadhar in the Service of Ordination and Commissioning on June 15, 2018, were special guests United Methodist Bishops Susan Hassinger, John Innis, Clif Ives, and Jane Middleton; the Rt. Rev. Gayle E. Harris, Bishop Suffragen, Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts;  Bishop Young-Hwa Kwon, Samnam Conference of the Korean Methodist Church, Rev. Dr. Mary Elizabeth Moore, Dean of Boston University School of Theology; and Rev. Dr. Robert A Hill, Dean of Marsh Chapel, Boston University.

Number of people ordained, commissioned or received into associate membership, and average age: 2 commissioned as deacons, 5 commissioned as elders, 7 ordained as elders. Average age: 38

Number of people retired: 14

Membership stands at  78,982, down 2.8% from the previous year.  However, membership has increased in almost all racial/ethnic groups.

Worship attendance stands at ____26,113_________, down  3.9%.

Church school attendance stands at __5,492________, up 2% from 2016.

Professions or reaffirmations of faith for 2017 __1,141________, up from 2016 by 14%.

Adults and young adults in small groups for 2017 ____1392______, up from 2016 also by 14%,

Worshippers engaged in mission for 2017 __12,426________, up 11% from 2016.

Beth DiCocco, director of communications, New England Conference