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Report from The 221st Virginia Annual Conference
Melissa Kintigh, Lay Leader to the Annual Conference
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The 221st Virginia Annual Conference convened on Sunday, June 17, 2003 at 7 p.m.
Rev. Kirk Nave was the preacher for the memorial service which honored 68 people who had died during the previous year. He closed his sermon reminding us that we are all still connected as a family to the saints who have gone before us.
Ron Hardiman, Virginia
Conference Lay Leader
addressed the laity saying
that he believes that God
is always calling us to
something new, and that
United Methodists should
move beyond their comfort
zone to "Adventurous
Discipleship."
Bishop Pennel led the service of ordination that included 91 clergy being commissioned or licensed. He spoke reminding them that "Reconciliation always comes by way of suffering, sacrificial love" and urged them to stay "focused on the ministry of reconciliation in all you do."
I can't say enough about the youth contingent attending conference. 150 volunteers stood in the rain bagging 31,000 pounds of potatoes. Fifty-one youth made up one third of the volunteer group.
The Conference Council on Youth Ministries went into partnership with Woody Howard racing in an attempt to offer Christ at the racetrack. This partnership has resulted in $49,806 being given to the Youth Service Fund -- more than any other group in the world.
"Remember the Past, Celebrate the Present, Envision the Future," was the theme of the celebration of 100 years of Korean Methodism in America. Rev. M.J. Kim was the speaker. He spoke of the power of a mustard seed and the power of a single atom, comparing them to the power of faith which sent missionaries to the Korean people. He said, "Tonight you are reaping the benefits of that mustard-seed faith.
The report brought by the Common Table Task Force was brainstorming ways to make our conference more effective and efficient in connecting local churches to the conference. Almost 40% of our churches did not have one confession of faith last year. Many questions were raised from the floor regarding inclusivity and priorities of the new structure. Bishop Pennel wants a youth delegate to sit on the task force this year as well.
The highlight of the Conference for me was the sermon of Bishop Janice Huie. She used the example of her grandmother's handmade quilt and compared it to life. She said, "Life quilt pieces, those individual pieces of life may not be glamorous by themselves, but when one focuses on the big picture the effect is beautiful and transparent in God." When the details are the focus however that effect can be lost. "Congregations can sometimes emphasize their differences instead of their unity." She reminded all of us that God can bring unity one stitch at a time.
One fact she shared with us really came home to me and that is the average age of a United Methodist in America is 56.7 years, while the average age of Americans is 33 years. More than a 20 year difference.
Her sermon on Wednesday was equally unsettling as she challenged us to be reconciled to each other at table. "The only thing that keeps us from welcoming all people at table is fear -- but perfect love casts out all fear." She ended with one word, "Go" as she sent us out to make disciples for Christ.
$393,000 had been received on the Conference special Offering. We gave about $1,300. 38,158 kits were collected at conference, surpassing last year's total.
This conference was a blessing to me and I thank you for sending me to represent you.
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If you have any comments on any of these pages, please email me: Robert W.(Bob) Mckitrick, thanks.
Last update: July 21, 2003