Minutes

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 2006
MORNING SESSION

Gathering Music was performed by Mr. Paul Saik.

Bishop Hutchinson introduced Bishop William Oden for the Bible Study.  He spoke on Justifying Grace and quoted Martin Luther’s “We are justified by grace and not by works alone.”  Justified by grace through faith or simply put, peace.

Rev. J. Roddy Taylor, Chair of the Conference Board of Pensions, reported that a surviving clergy spouse came to the last meeting to thank the Conference for the pension she received.  He refered the Conference pages 26-44 of the Pre-Conference Report.  The annuity rate for 2007 for pre-82 service was increased by 3% or $17 per service year.  Some editorial notes were made in the report to take out the word full connection.  The CRSP Plan was introduced and similar editorial notes were made.  The Conference Board of Pensions recommends that the distribution from the United Methodist Publishing House be donated to the Central Conference Pension Initiative.  Rev. Marie Williams asked about the new billing system for CRSP.  The report was approved.

Gail Nelson, President of the Board of the Conference Trustees, presented six resolutions beginning on page 45 of the Pre-Conference Report and ending on page 50.  The six resolutions were:  Resolution #1 - To ratify the sale of the Old Monroe District Parsonage, Monroe District; Resolution #2 - To discontinue and abandon Concord United Methodist Church, Monroe District; Resolution #3 - To discontinue and abandon Morningside United Methodist Church, Shreveport District; Resolution #4 - To discontinue and abandon Gibson United Methodist Church, Acadiana District; Resolution #5 - To Provide for Catastrophic Events; Resolution #6 – To ratify the purchase of the New Orleans District Parsonage; Resolution #7 – To donate Winbourne UMC Property, Baton Rouge District to the United Methodist HOPE Ministries, Inc.  The seven proposed resolutions were approved.

Rev. Eugene Finnell, chair of the Conference Ministries Team recapped the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  Rev. Finnell referred the Conference to pages 50-60 of the Pre-Conference Report.  Dr. Don Contrill presented the CMT Family Album.  He spoke of all the activities that have taken place: Youth Retreats; Confirmation Day with the Bishop; Special Ministries; Kids Helping Kids; LAVIM; and the Storm Recovery efforts.

Rev. Phil Woodland spoke of the Global Fight on Aids.  The General Conference has set a goal of raising $8 million in 4 years for the Global Aids Fund.  He also spoke about the Social Principles Workshops scheduled for this year.

Rev. Finnell spoke about the focused ministries at different churches throughout our Conference.  Local churches are encouraged to take up these ministries.  He thanked the Bishop for the Faith and Fasting Retreats.

CMT will be proposing a reconfiguration of District Missioners to three Conference Transformation Leaders in the afternoon session.

The session took a short break.

Dr. Pat Day presented Report #2 of the Council on Finance and Administration.  The report began with a brief DVD from GCFA by Bishop Swenson thanking the Louisiana Conference for its apportionment giving.  Dr. Day directed the Conference to page 4 of the Pre-Conference Report and the changes in the 2007 budget.  The total of the proposed 2007 Conference Budget is $7,606,688.  That is a 1.24% increase over the previous year.  The Conference Administration has absorbed the loss of the Lilly Grant and Foundation monies for the Center for Pastoral Effectiveness and Church Extension Ministries.  The adoption of the CFA Report was approved.

Dr. Carl Rhoads presented the Nominations Report for Boards and Institutions.  Several corrections were made to the list.  The nominations were approved.

Rev. Ken Fisher, chair of the Commission on Archives and History, welcomed Timothy Hebert to speak of the maps that will be placed at the Wesley Center.  A DVD presentation was shown on 200 Years of Methodism in Louisiana.  Rev. Fisher gave special thanks to Dr. Don Cotrill, Rhonda Whitley, and Tim Hebert.  The report was approved.

Dr. Michael Reeves, President and CEO of the Louisiana Foundation, reported that their services and staff have grown and that the Foundation has its goal of $100 million under management.  The report was approved.

Mr. Timothy Hebert spoke of the redesigned Conference website.

Rev. Doug Ezell, Rev. Roger Lathan, and Rev. Freddie Henderson thanked all the clergy in their districts, the laity, and other cabinet members for everything that has been accomplished this past year.

Announcements were made by Dr. Carl Rhoads.

The session was adjourned for lunch.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 2006
AFTERNOON SERVICE

Mr. Paul Saik gave his last performance of this year’s Annual Conference at the opening of the afternoon session.

Mrs. Harriette Elrod, the new United Methodist Women President, led the afternoon session in prayer.

Rev. Lyndle Bullard gave the report of the Rules Committee.  He expressed appreciation to the Rules Committee.  Rev. Bullard reviewed the proposal regarding the Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry’s request to delete the paragraph under Article IV, #5.g. removing the board’s Administrative Committee which is no longer needed.  The rule change was approved.  He then reviewed the rule amendment to change District Missioners to Conference Consultants, deleting Districts Article V.1.d.; Article V.2.: deleting the sentence that starts with “The Districts Superintendent and the District Personnel Committee shall recommend the employment of the District Missioner…” through the end of the paragraph; Article V.B.: deleting the words “District Missioner;” Conference Rules Article I.R.: in the second paragraph, deleting the words, “…funds for the base salary for the District Missioners,” Article I.Y.: delete the entire rule.  Questions were entertained.  The rule change was approved by the conference.

Rev. John Deschner gave the report of the Committee on Petitions.  Rev. James Poole asked for one change on Petition #1 regarding the support of alignment 1 of the Morganza to the Gulf Hurricane Levee System which was to replace the word “Indian” with “Native American” in the second sentence.  The group accepted the change.  The petition carried.

Petition #2, encouraging the use of non-disposable dishes and cups by the Wesley Center, Louisiana Area Conference Office, local churches and other church offices, and to make recycling bins available for paper, plastic, aluminum and glass, was presented by Dr. Phil Woodland.  The petition carried.

Petition #3 regarding inclusivity of local church membership in the United Methodist Church was presented by Dr. Phil Woodland.  Discussion was entertained.  Rev. Donald L. Wilkinson moved to amend Petition #3 as follows:  delete the sixth “Whereas” replacing it with “Whereas ¶ 218 exhorts persons to grow in holiness through the practice of the means of grace,” and delete in the “Be it therefore resolved” section, “which includes racism, heterosexual relations outside the marriage bond, and the practice of homosexuality” replacing it with “And commitment to spiritual transformation.”  Bishop Hutchinson asked for a standing vote.  The amendment did not pass with 180 votes for and 200 votes against.  Rev. M. Eugene Finnell moved to amend Petition #3 as follows:  Add to the “Be it therefore resolved” section “the neglect of the poor, the failure to take care of our physical bodies and spiritual souls, the failure to engage ourselves in an aggressive campaign to end world hunger, our failure to push harder for solutions to the aids crisis in the U.S. and other parts of the world, specifically parts of Africa, our failure to tithe 10% of our income, all other sins of commission and omission for which we are all guilty on a daily basis.”  The amendment did not pass.  Norma Reed moved to table this petition until further study has been made on homosexuality. The motion failed.  The petition’s author, Rev. Norwood Hingle, explained his rationale for the petition.  Rev. Chris Andrews moved the previous question which was seconded and passed.  The conference voted on Petition #3 and it failed.

Petition #4 was presented by Rev. Ken Fisher, regarding the preservation of church documents, records and photographs.  The petition was approved.

Rev. Joe Connelly requested that the Committee on Petitions be moved earlier in the Annual Conference schedule and that a conference-wide Roberts Rules of Order training be offered.

Mr. Joe Kelley asked Rev. James Poole to present the Bishop’s Excellence Award for Scouting to Leesville UMC.

Dr. Carl Rhoads moved that any unpublished reports not received but before the Annual Conference as a part of the Pre-Conference Report be received by the Annual Conference and published in the 2006 Louisiana Annual Conference Journal.  The group approved the motion.

Various announcements were made by Dr. Carl Rhoads.

Bishop Hutchinson expressed appreciation to Mary Parker Core and Beverly Cox for the Annual Conference banner, which was created for the UMW National Assembly in Anaheim, California.

Bishop Hutchinson announced that Dr. David Trickett has recently been named the new President of Iliff School of Theology.

Thanks was offered to the audio and video technicians for their hard work.

The Courtesy Committee expressed appreciation for all involved in Annual Conference preparations.

Rev. Larry Miller invited the 2007 conference to Baton Rouge.

Mr. Nik Belanger offered prayer concluding the business session of the 2006 Annual Conference.

Mr. Paul Saik began the Service of Sending Forth with song.  Rev. Freddie Henderson passed the mantle of the District Superintendent to Dr. W. Ralph Ford.  Bishop Hutchinson fixed the appointments and dismissed the conference with a blessing.