Final Morning Business Session
The first order of business was a vote on the fifth laity ballot. The results include Lynn Baker with 94, Harold Hughes with 87, Grace Bloodworth with 66, Alison Huskey with 51, Samantha Menley with 29, Clint Johnson with 17, Shelley Lee with 11, James Sawyer with 10, and Melanie Scott with 10. Samantha Menley removed herself from the running, and Bishop Merrill opened the sixth ballot for laity delegate.
The results of the sixth and final laity ballot are Lynn Baker with 136 and Harold Hughes with 113 votes. Evie Jones, Baker, and Hughes will be our laity delegates.
Assistant to the Bishop, Rev. Jim Polk, addressed the body on the standing rules. They are listed on page 44 of the pre-conference journal. One change, on pages 57-58 in section 402.4, has to do with the Standing Rules, which govern the life of the Conference throughout the year. These are meant to create a more streamlined structure for the committee. The proposal was sent to the body for discussion. An amendment was brought to the floor and seconded. The amendment was sent to the body, voted on, and approved. The standing rules as amended were approved unanimously.
Rev. Dr. Michael Roberts, Conference Director of the ReStart Initiative, gave his report. Testimonies were given by a variety of pastors and representatives from several Arkansas churches.
Rev. Rashim Merriwether, Special Assistant to the Bishop for Ethnic Concerns and Initiatives, took the stage to talk about the work the committee accomplished in the last year. Karon Mann, the chair of the Committee on Episcopacy, provided the report for the committee’s work during the year. Rev. Bill Sartin reported on the work of the Board of Discipleship. Dylan White from The Upper Room presented a Discipleship Ministry award, The One Matters, and a $1,000 check to Fairview United Methodist Church of Camden. Katie McLean received the Denman Award for laity, and Rev. Haley Jones was recognized with the award for clergy.
Bishop Merrill updated the body on the condition of Rev. Larry Kelso and the Rev. Alicia McCastlain, both of whom have been released from the hospital.
Rev. Rebekah Miles and Rev. Hammett Evans asked for clarification of decision 15-03 in the 2016 Book of Discipline, which defines the relative role of the Board of Trustees on the use of the church property. The motion carried. Rev. Evans reported First United Methodist Church of Conway qualifies for the five-star church award. Rev. Wayne Clark provided the report from The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas.
Rev. Roy Smith, senior pastor at Trinity UMC in Little Rock, gave a report on the Conference Board of Higher Education. The full report can be found on Page 76 of the PCJ. Rev. Dr. Trip Lowrey, Assistant General Secretary of Ministry and Formation for the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, also gave a report to the body on the work of GBHM.
Carla Cardoza with Lydia Patterson Institute spoke about the accomplishments made during the past year. Dr. Karen Peterson, president of Hendrix College, gave a report on the work of the college. The full report can be found on Page 92 of the pre-conference journal. Dr. Cythia A. Bond Hopson, president of Philander Smith University, gave a report on the work of the past year. Rev. Dr. Rebekah Miles, Susanna Wesley Centennial Professor of Practical Theology and Ethics Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Professor, gave a report on the work of Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University.
Service of Remembrance Honors Saints in the Church Triumphant
Let us lift up our hearts and our voices in praise. Bishop Merrill presented the preacher for the service, Rev. Dr. U.C. Washington. “Fill my cup, Lord,” he prayed. “Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.”
Please remember, honor, and pray:
- Montgomery Bell
- Laurie Bulice
- Curtis Norman Carter
- Joyce Conell
- Bonnie Dark
- Lawson Delony
- Constance Durham
- Barbara Eaton
- Ethel Lu Teague Elliot
- Elain Gillam
- Milton Glass
- Nancy Hines
- Rachael Jarrell
- Margaret Kelly
- Ken Latham
- Betty Jean Long
- L.T. Marks
- Gerald Meeks
- John Shafer
- James Smith
- Mary Beth Sudduth
- Terry Trexler
- Lisa Dillon Turner
- Charles Watts
Final Afternoon Business Session Begins with Prayer by Rev. Brittany Watson
There was a shooting at a grocery store in Fordyce at noon today. Bishop Merrill provided this news and will update throughout the rest of the conference. Rev. Dr. Candace Barron brought forward the consent calendar on pages 69-89 in the pre-conference journal. The motion was approved. Next year’s annual conference will be in Hot Springs. The Monitoring Report will be sent by email next week from Rev. Sara Bayles Charlton. A short discussion was held concerning the Mentimeter system, with opportunities to give opinions on the system about next steps in ministry after leaving Annual Conference.
Karon Mann reported on the jurisdictional nomination pool. The motion was moved, seconded and passed. Totals of the collections during Conference include the sales of Arkansas United Methodist pins earned $987 with Bishop Merrill adding to the total to make the total $1,200. Project Transformation collected $1,587.
Leather-bound bibles on the tables are to be returned. Other Bibles may be taken. Next conference dates are June 18-20, 2025, in Hot Springs at the convention center.
Bishop Merrill brought a word of thanks to the members of the Cabinet, both those leaving and those coming on. Rev. Michael Roberts is leaving the conference to lead the ReStart Initiative. Rev. Blake Bradford is leaving the conference for new journeys, and Bishop Merrill thanked him for his service and contributions. Rev. DeeDee Autry is joining the conference as is Rev. Roy Beth Kelly.
Appointments, Service of Covenant Renewal and Baptism, Sending Forth
The last session of the day included the announcement of appointments as well as the baptism of Tyson Daniel Read, son of Revs. Dan and Corey Read and brother of Alyce Read. Worship and sending forth completed the 2024 annual conference.
News to Know and Share
– Prayer stations, which the Annual Conference Worship Team provides, are available in the Concourse area near the registration tables throughout Annual Conference. Take time during the conference to stop by and pray.
– Order 2024 Annual Conference t-shirts here.
– Join Arkansas’s United Women in Faith at Mission U on July 17-20 at Hendrix College. Register at ARMissionU.Weebly.com.
– Young Adult Book Club This Fall! Email Rev. Lauren Delano at Lauren.DeLano@ARUMC.org to sign up and receive a free copy of the book, “Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World” by Katharine Hayhoe.
– Join the Summer Reading Club on Mondays, July 15, 22, and 29 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. via Zoom with host Amy Ezell and Mary Lewis Dassinger. Visithttps://docs.google.com/forms/d/1qnT2W97AUfDNbj8cQp25AfxCUFmQfFyLBjOmOQEKERk/viewform?edit_requested=true for more information.
– Join Small Church Gathering: A Big Event for Resourcing Small Churches on September 21, 2024, at Branson United Methodist Church. This event is designed with the small church in mind, and presenters include Charity Goodwin, Teresa Stewart, Kay Kotan, and Blake Bradford. Visit SmallChurchGathering.org for information.
– Submit locations for photography of stained glass to support The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas and Ozark Mission Project.
– Fall Boundaries Training will be on Friday, October 18, OR Saturday, October 19. Registration will open July 2. First United Methodist Churches in North Little Rock, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, Magnolia and Monticello will discuss boundaries in ministry and the importance of self-care.
– Since its founding in 1789, Cokesbury has been in the business of providing Christian resources for churches, pastors, and those they serve. For over 200 years, it has been a trusted source of thousands of unique products including Bibles, books, and church studies, as well as church resources and church supplies. It serves Methodists worldwide as well as a broad ecumenical audience representing numerous denominations and independent churches. Visit Cokesbury.com to order or for more information.
– The Central District of ARUMC is moving in August! New location is with the Conference offices at Philander Smith University, 800 W. Daisy Bates Dr., Little Rock, AR 72202.
– Find out how your church can be more accessible to all. Visit ARUMC.org/Our-Ministries/Disability-Ministries.
– Follow ARUMC on social media! Facebook.com/ArkansasUMC and Instagram.com/ArkansasUMC.
– Mount Eagle Retreat Center is in the middle of nature, yet close to everything you need. Visit MountEagle.org for more information and to register your group.
– BeADisciple.com has provided quality online educational experiences with roots in Wesleyan theology since 2006. It offers online studies, workshops and courses on a variety of ministry, formation, and leadershiptopics. All courses offer CEU credits, and BeADisciple’s goal is to make rich learning experiences accessible to church leaders and laity, no matter their location or life situation.
– The BeADisciple Study App is your digital home for small-group Christian study. It is now seeking small-group leaders to launch Disciple Fast Track 24-week Bible studies. Additional six-week studies are coming this fall. Visit BeADiscipleApp.com for more information.
– Disciple is the beloved Bible study that has transformed millions of lives. Now revised, updated, and reimagined for the way we live our lives, all Disciple curriculum is accessible on any digital device with 24/7 connectivity wherever you are. Visit Cokesbury.com for resources.
– Keep Up with What’s Happening at the 2024 Annual Conference at ARUMC.org
– 200K More Reasons asks churches to add poverty alleviation strategies to their ministries with hungry children. Specifically, it focuses on literacy and promoting healthy, stable families as means of hope, assistance, and the opportunity for families to move out of poverty. The mission remains the same: 100% of Arkansas United Methodist churches will participate in an initiative to significantly reduce childhood hunger through feeding ministries, public witness, and education for long-term stability. 200,000 MORE Reasons expands the understanding of education and long-term stability, believing that in working to alleviate poverty, we have the best opportunity for ending childhood hunger in Arkansas.
– The Arkansas Annual Conference is a supporter of Africa University Fund, which brings hope, nurtures healers, makes disciples and transforms lives. Visit https://www.umc.org/en/content/africa-university-fund-ministry-article for more information.
– ResourceUMC.org offers church leaders a central online destination for comprehensive information from across the United Methodist Church’s worldwide connection: timely content, practical ministry tools, agency updates and more.
-United Methodist Communications (UMCom) is available to help you build vital ministries with the power to transform the world. Access communication best practices, customizable outreach tools, denominational FAQs, online training course, local church marketing services and more. Visit ResourceUMC.org/Market/MyChurch for more information.