MINUTES - Monday June 2, Gold Dome

Gathering music was led by Ken Medema. 

Bishop William W. Hutchinson convened the thirty-eighth session of the Louisiana Annual conference at 1:45 p.m. with the opening procession.

The Reverends Nicholas and Ester Gitobu, GBGM Missionaries from Cambodia, began the opening service with prayer.

Bishop Hutchinson welcomed the Annual Conference back to Shreveport and Centenary College.  He stated that this is a Christian conference and a time in which God is honored and glorified.

Dr. Ken Schwab, President of Centenary College, offered greetings from the college.  He stated that Centenary has been a Methodist institution for over 183 years.  He also said that the Annual Conference is in partnership with Centenary College in mission.  He offered thanks for the support of the conference.  He stated that Centenary will prepare the next generation of Christian leaders. Dr. Schwab informed the conference of several improvements that was currently under process at the institution: a new science building, a new endowment for scholarship funds, and building renovations to the Gold Dome and dormitories.  Dr. Schwab offered thanks to Benny Vaughn, the courtesy students, and the facilities staff for all their hard work in preparing for this year’s session of conference.
 
Dr. Pat Day, Pastor at First United Methodist Church in Shreveport, welcomed the annual conference back home to Shreveport.  He invited the Service of Ordination and Consecration to return in 2009.
 
Rev. Doug deGraffenried, Pastor at Asbury United Methodist Church, invited the conference back to Asbury for the 2009 Memorial Service.

Mr. Lynn Austin, the assistant to the Bossier City mayor, brought greetings from mayor’s office and city of Bossier City.  Mr. Rick Seaton, the assistant to the Shreveport mayor, brought greetings from City of Shreveport.

Bishop Hutchinson announced that Reverend Carl Rhoads was suddenly hospitalized on Saturday evening with heart illness.  He offered prayers of concern and deep gratitude for Rev. Rhoads’ forty years of dedicated service to the United Methodist Church.  The group responded with applause.

Dr. Don Cottrill led the Roll call.

Rev. Ramonlynn Bethley moved move that the main floor of the Physical Education Center be designated as the Bar of the Conference for the Laity Session, Monday, June 2, 2008 and that the nave of the Brown Chapel be designated as the Bar of the Conference for the Clergy Session, Monday, June 2, 2008 and that beginning Monday afternoon, June 2, 2008 the main floor of the Physical Education Center of Centenary College be designated as the Bar of the Conference.

She also moved that Tuesday’s order of the day be set at 10:00 A.M. for the retirees to address the Conference and that the printed program be the agenda for the Annual Conference Session and that the Bishop be empowered to make changes in the agenda necessary to complete the business of the Conference.  I move that the printed material that is to be distributed to the Annual Conference session be cleared through the secretary prior to distribution.

Rev. Kem Alexander stated that the theme of this year’s session is “Sanctifying Grace” from 1 Thess.5:23-24.  He stated that the Worship Committee has been planning this year’s session since July of 2007.  He recognized the committee members and offered thanks for their hard work.  He also thanked for Mrs. Kathryn Moore for designing the altar.  He invited everyone to attend the evening worship service with music by Ken Medema.  Mr. Medema will be asking for personal testimonies of how God’s grace has affected your life as part of his performance.

Episcopal Address

Again, the Annual Conference affirmed Bishop Hutchinson with a standing ovation.

The report of the Episcopacy Committee was given by Dr. Bob Burges.  He stated that the report was erroneously omitted from the PreConference Report Book.  He recognized the members of the committee.  Dr. Burgess then reflected on fond memories and experiences of the past eight years with Bishop and Mrs. Hutchinson since their Episcopal appointment to Louisiana in 2000.  Mr. Fred Loy escorted Mrs. Kay Hutchinson to the platform and Mrs. Carolyn Dove presented her with a corsage.  Mrs. Hutchinson offered her love, thanks and praise to Louisiana for all their support.  The conference responded with a standing ovation.  Bishop Hutchinson’s son, John, was recognized.  Dr. Burgess presented a pair of Fleur de Lei cuff links to match a Fleur de Lei lapel pin that was given to his wife, Kay, four years ago, as an appreciation gift.  Dr. Burgess offered a resolution to the Jurisdictional Conference affirming the conference’s wishes to have Bishop Hutchinson remain as the conference’s Episcopal Leader for the next four years.  The annual conference approved this resolution.  (Get resolution from Bob Burgess)

The session took a short recess.

The Conference Ministry Team made a video presentation for youth and Christian education.

Dr. Pat Day presented the CFA report.  A plaque from GCFA honoring our 100% apportionment payout was presented to Bishop Hutchinson.  He addressed page 1 of the pre-conference report.  The Good Samaritan Offering was terminated.  The two Children’s Home Offerings will continue from the recommendation of Dr. Terrell DeVille.  Rev. Mike McLaurin offered an amendment to Number 8 on page 2 raising the recommended moving expense amount to $6,000 from $4,000.  On page 5 the recommended mileage rate for conference meetings was increased from 20 cents per mile to 25 cents.  The report was received by motion and seconded.  The motion passed.

Dr. Don Cottrill presented the report of the statistician.  Three changes where noted on page 9 of the report, the value of church land, buildings and equipment $590,556,373, the
value of church owned parsonages and property $40,601,667, and the value of other assets, $97,213,437.  The report was approved.

Dr. Cottrill also presented the nominations report.  He asked that any corrections be written down and given to the secretary’s office.  The corrected report will be presented in Nominations Report #2.

Rev. John Deschner presented Petitions and Resolutions #1.  No resolutions were submitted on time this year.  The Committee on Petitions welcomes petitions received in a timely manner.

Mr. Ray Sutton gave the Commission on Equitable Compensation Report.  There were no Equitable Compensation Grants for the period of January through June of 2008.  Only one applicant requested equitable compensation this June through December 2008 term.  He thanked the Bishop and Cabinet for their hard work on keeping clergy compensations at equitable rates. 

Mr. Gordan Dillahunty presented the report of the publishing house.  He offered greetings from the Cokesbury Publishing House.  He also offered a few new books available.  A check was presented to Bishop Hutchinson that will go to the Central Conferences Pension Initiative.

Mr. James Goins presented the report of the Wesley Center, board of trustees.  Mr. Goins thanked the board for their hard work.  He also thanked retired director Richard Bushnell, interim director Tony Lawrence and the entire staff for their work.  Rosanne Galespie will take over as director of the Wesley Center.  A slide show was presented showing the status of the projects underway at the center.  Mr. Goins offered continued support of the Wesley Center.

Mr. Rob Fairly presented the report from the LA UM Foundation.

A video was presented on Mt. Sequoyah, the South Central Jurisdiction retreat center.

Mr. John Altland presented the report from Mt. Sequoyah.  Mr. Altland thanked the conference for our continued support of the retreat center.  He addressed two initiatives:  supporting the troops and supporting the disaster recovery volunteers.

Ms. Irene Howard came to present the UMPACT material.  She was asked to update us on the questions regarding UMPACT.  In August 2005 the Bishop and other leaders met with UMPACT.  The conference office moved their property and liability insurance to UMPACT.  Meetings were held throughout the conference.  Approximately 280 churches have submitted the survey necessary to present a quote for possible coverage.  She thanked the Bishop and our churches for submitting their surveys.

Rev. Tom Dolph presented a report on Safe Sanctuaries.  He brought attention to a hand out on a resolution for safe sanctuaries.  The resolution was brought before the conference for a vote.  Rev. John Cannon motioned that the vote be tabled for further study.  That motion was defeated.  Rev. Steve Stephens motioned that the question be resolved.  The resolution was received by motion and seconded.  The resolution was approved.

Dr. Cottrill offered announcements.

Rev. Freddie Henderson introduced Tatina _______ that spoke about the Black College Fund.

Rev. Terry Love closed the session in prayer.