2018 North Alabama Annual Conference

The North Alabama Annual Conference met June 3-5, 2018, at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett presided over the Conference. Bishop Sharma D. Lewis, resident bishop of the Richmond episcopal area (Virginia Annual Conference), was the guest preacher. Throughout the three days she inspired and challenged the conference preaching, "North Alabama, what clothes are you wearing?" and "Take Jesus to the Streets!"

The Rev. Kevin M. Watson, Assistant Professor of Wesleyan and Methodist Studies at Candler School of Theology, Emory University, led teaching sessions each morning. He talked of the importance of small groups in the Methodist movement noting that in John Wesley's day, "a Methodists was someone who met together in small groups weekly and talked about how their soul prospered." Throughout his presentations, he emphasized that Methodist small groups focus on transformation and not just information.

The focus of this year's Annual Conference, the conference priority of Ethnic Ministries, took center stage during opening worship as musical groups from various congregations and ethnic backgrounds sang. The worship included music in Cherokee, Korean and Spanish and in the African-American tradition.

Updates on a variety of Ethnic Ministries topics including the following:

• A report by Executive Director of Ethnic Ministries, the Rev. Clinton Hubbard Jr., and a video of highlights of the team's work over the last year.
• Reports on the work of North Alabama's Latino and Native American Ministries teams.
• Information about Black Church Initiatives that will be offered during the next year, including Know to Grow Leverage Workshops and Partnership Ministry Grants.
• Insights from young adults on how ethnic ministries is reaching children, youth and millennials. 
• An update from members of the Conference the Courageous Conversations Team.
• An introduction of the new Executive Director of Ethnic Ministries, the Rev. Donald Smith.

The conference also received a special offering designated to continue and expand the work of the ethnic ministries team by funding ministry opportunities to strengthen and create healthier ethnic minority local churches by way of leadership recruitment, internships and young adult ministries.

Additionally, North Alabama United Methodists

• Celebrated four newly ordained elders and three newly ordained deacons and recognized two new associate members, three provisional elders, one provisional deacon, 17 newly licensed local pastors and 19 certified candidates for ministry. The average age of the ordination class is 36.  The average age of the commissioned class is 35.
• Recognized 22 retiring clergy who are retiring this annual conference. 
• Received the In Mission Together Award from the Board of Global Ministries, recognizing the North Alabama Conference as one of the top ten annual conferences in its financial support of United Methodist missions.
• Saw a presentation of the Commission on the Status and Role of Women of the Louise Branscomb Barrier Breaker Award to Ama Shambulia, director of Urban Ministry's WE Gardens and WE Café.
• Recognized the 2018 Denman Evangelism Award recipients (Clergy) Tony Johnson, (Laity) Paula Phillips and (Youth) Billy Prewitt.
• Celebrated stories presented by the New Church Development team of new congregations and ministries in North Alabama via video, including the 44 new Celebrate Recoveries started in North Alabama churches since last Annual Conference.
• Announced the Southeastern Jurisdiction's Herman Siedschlag Award was being presented to Rachel Estes, Director of Outreach and Missions at Canterbury United Methodist Church.
• Heard from the Commission on Archives and History and William E. Nicholas, retired Wood Professor of American History at Birmingham-Southern College, about his new book, Go and Be Reconciled, which tells the story of the Methodist Church during the Civil Rights struggle of the 1950s and 1960s, particularly focusing on the North Alabama Conference. Nicholas presented the first copy of the book to the bishop.
• Celebrated that the Ministry with the Poor interns are now in place in Birmingham and Anniston, living in intentional community and serving their local neighborhoods.
• Approved the 2019 North Alabama Annual Conference proposed budget of $10,155,71 and approved that North Alabama will continue to use a proportional giving (tithe) model of funding the conference budget.
• Invited North Alabama United Methodists to join Wallace-Padgett and the Adult Discipleship Team in "Reading Together," an opportunity to read through the entire Bible during the year 2019.
• Received the annual Laity Address presented by Conference Lay Leader Steve Lyles.
• Remembered 34 clergy and clergy spouses who have died in the last year during the annual memorial service. The Rev. Roger Thompson preached the service using the image of treasures in jars of clay.
• Heard a report on the Abundant Health Initiative 
• Received an updated from Wallace-Padgett about where the United Methodist Church is on the journey as a church to the 2019 General Conference. Following the bishop's presentation, Executive Director of United Counseling, the Rev. Monica Harbarger, walked the conference through a time of processing around tables.
• Cast ballots on the correct text of an amendment to the UMC constitution approved by the 2016 General Conference.
• Voted on one petition and four resolutions.
  • Did not adopt "A Petition Concerning Clergy Appointments to Home Church"
  • Adopted "A Resolution Supporting Childcare Licensing and Inspection"
  • Did not adopted "A Resolution Concerning HealthFlex Insurance Plan"
  • Adopted "A Resolution Concerning Parity in Appointments."
  • Did not adopt "A Resolution Concerning Unity" by a written vote of 240 yes to 412 no.
• The bishop led the conference through four minutes of prayer (from 2:23-2:26 p.m. on Tuesday) for The United Methodist Church as part of the Praying Our Way Forward Phase 3. 

Membership stands at 129,658, down 335 from the previous year.

Worship attendance stands at 64,243, up 1,662.

There were 1,871 professions or reaffirmations of faith in 2017, up from 2016 by 55.

There were 1,619 baptisms in 2017, up by 516.

Submitted by Danette Clifton, Director of Communication