Voting members participated in the New England Annual Conference session via Zoom on Oct. 17, 2020. Spectators and those without vote were able to follow the session via livestream.
Worship leaders were Marcia McFee and Mark Miller; technical support was provided by GNTV.
Episcopal Address
The session opened with Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar’s annual address, titled “You Are Beloved,” that drew on the theme for this year’s session: “Vital Conversations: Building Beloved Community” and our guiding scripture Acts 2:42-47.
“Until we erase the sin of white supremacy and white privilege, we will not be able to move beyond the systematic injustices that tear away the fabric of our society,” the bishop said. “The social sin of racism has exposed how bereft our country and world are and how far we are from the vision of the early apostles …”
Acknowledging the process of adaptation that has gone on and is going on across the Conference, the bishop said:
“These past seven months have been enormously stressful for all of us, as we have had to adapt and reinvent our mission and ministry,” the bishop said. “I recognize how weary our clergy and lay leaders are and am so very grateful to God for the creativity and resiliency given to do ministry in these anxious times. We are still functioning in crisis management ... and you are working overtime. I pray that God provides you needed rest and relief workers to sustain you.”
Read the full text of Bishop Devadhar’s 2020 Address
Guest Preacher
This year’s guest preacher was the Rev. John L. McCullough, an elder in the New England Conference and president and CEO of Church World Service, the global humanitarian agency with programs in development and humanitarian affairs, refugee assistance, and advocacy for social justice.
In his sermon titled “Balancing Grief and Promise in the Season of Hope,” McCullough reflected on the challenges of 2020:
“The convergence of remembering and grieving the death of loved ones who have shared their lives with us and who are not only part of our story but have helped shape it; of a global pandemic that swirls about us regardless of acknowledgement or denial, and poses a threat to health and survival; and the wanton acts of discrimination intended to make others feel less than fully human that provoke tangible fear, and that are an abomination to the creative genius of God, these are part of the reality that we as people of faith need willingly confront.”
But, he said, “As Christ’s church we perpetually live in a season of hope. This is not an easy or convenient thing to do. It never amounts to discrediting the realities of the current moment and often is excruciatingly hard and painful.”
Read MuCullough’s full message
Actions
Annual conference addressed eight resolutions that were on the agenda (in addition to the organizing motions and the consent calendar) and one added during the session.
Actions included:
• To be prepared for possible remote conferencing in the future, the Annual conference approved RS-20-210 – Resolution to Amend the Conference Rules of Order to Allow Remote Voting.
• RS-20-217 – Ratification of Disaffiliation Agreement (Brackett Memorial United Methodist Church) Though several members expressed disappointment at the loss of Brackett Memorial, which is on Peaks Island in Maine, the resolution was approved.
Members approved a motion from the floor stating: “Information would be required in the hiring and interview process of the NEAC highlighting what training has been previously completed by applicants with regard to anti-racism and bias training, as well as white privilege training as applicable.”
— Submitted by Beth DiCocco, director of communications.
Worship leaders were Marcia McFee and Mark Miller; technical support was provided by GNTV.
Episcopal Address
The session opened with Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar’s annual address, titled “You Are Beloved,” that drew on the theme for this year’s session: “Vital Conversations: Building Beloved Community” and our guiding scripture Acts 2:42-47.
“Until we erase the sin of white supremacy and white privilege, we will not be able to move beyond the systematic injustices that tear away the fabric of our society,” the bishop said. “The social sin of racism has exposed how bereft our country and world are and how far we are from the vision of the early apostles …”
Acknowledging the process of adaptation that has gone on and is going on across the Conference, the bishop said:
“These past seven months have been enormously stressful for all of us, as we have had to adapt and reinvent our mission and ministry,” the bishop said. “I recognize how weary our clergy and lay leaders are and am so very grateful to God for the creativity and resiliency given to do ministry in these anxious times. We are still functioning in crisis management ... and you are working overtime. I pray that God provides you needed rest and relief workers to sustain you.”
Read the full text of Bishop Devadhar’s 2020 Address
Guest Preacher
This year’s guest preacher was the Rev. John L. McCullough, an elder in the New England Conference and president and CEO of Church World Service, the global humanitarian agency with programs in development and humanitarian affairs, refugee assistance, and advocacy for social justice.
In his sermon titled “Balancing Grief and Promise in the Season of Hope,” McCullough reflected on the challenges of 2020:
“The convergence of remembering and grieving the death of loved ones who have shared their lives with us and who are not only part of our story but have helped shape it; of a global pandemic that swirls about us regardless of acknowledgement or denial, and poses a threat to health and survival; and the wanton acts of discrimination intended to make others feel less than fully human that provoke tangible fear, and that are an abomination to the creative genius of God, these are part of the reality that we as people of faith need willingly confront.”
But, he said, “As Christ’s church we perpetually live in a season of hope. This is not an easy or convenient thing to do. It never amounts to discrediting the realities of the current moment and often is excruciatingly hard and painful.”
Read MuCullough’s full message
Actions
Annual conference addressed eight resolutions that were on the agenda (in addition to the organizing motions and the consent calendar) and one added during the session.
Actions included:
• To be prepared for possible remote conferencing in the future, the Annual conference approved RS-20-210 – Resolution to Amend the Conference Rules of Order to Allow Remote Voting.
• RS-20-217 – Ratification of Disaffiliation Agreement (Brackett Memorial United Methodist Church) Though several members expressed disappointment at the loss of Brackett Memorial, which is on Peaks Island in Maine, the resolution was approved.
Members approved a motion from the floor stating: “Information would be required in the hiring and interview process of the NEAC highlighting what training has been previously completed by applicants with regard to anti-racism and bias training, as well as white privilege training as applicable.”
— Submitted by Beth DiCocco, director of communications.
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