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Annual Conferences 2004 Updates

NIC VOICE Annual Conference Update (#5)

 

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Follow the Episcopal Elections - The Episcopal elections occur in five geographic conferences across the United States. When delegates in those jurisdictional conferences gather July 14-17, they could elect as many as 20 U.S. bishops. 

 

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ALL ITEMS ARE NEW or UPDATED unless otherwise noted.

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UMNS:  The Annual Conference

 

When you hear the term “annual conference,” it could be referring to any one of three things. The annual conference is a regional body, an organizational unit AND a yearly meeting. Read More

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UMNS 2004 Annual Conference Wrap-up:
 Conferences bid bishops farewell, contribute to pension fund

 

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2004 Annual Conference Reports - UMNS

 

NEW!
 

Western New York Annual Conference

At the end of 2003, the total membership reported in the Western New York Conference was 58,592, a decline of 1,453 members. Average worship attendance was 22,587, a decline of 538.  

Kansas East Annual Conference

No attendance or membership data was reported.

Yellowstone Annual Conference

Membership stands at 17,120, down 150 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 8640, down 278.

Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference  

Membership stands at 130,386, down 1,029 from the previous year.  Worship attendance stands at 55, 634, down 268.  These figures are currently under review for accuracy.

Nebraska Annual Conference
No attendance or membership data was reported.

Kentucky Annual Conference

Membership stands at 151,887, up 509 from the previous year. Worship attendance decreased by 28 to 62,074.

 

 
Previously Reported in NIC VOICE Annual Conference Reports Update #4:
Membership stands at 69,608 down 1,009 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 33,241, down 2,223.
Membership stands at 98,078, down 2,188 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 44,974, down 1,179. 
Membership stands at 152,632, down 2,536 from the previous year. Average worship attendance stands at 70,762, down 2,103 from the previous year.
Membership stands at 168,121, down .05 percent from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 73,835, down 2.4 percent from the previous year.
Membership stands at 333,664, up 5,399 from the previous year. Worship attendance is reported at 134,307, down 66.
Membership stands at 35,247, down 915 from the previous year. Average attendance was 18,060, down 219.
Two conference officials presented a sobering picture of declining membership and diminishing apportionment payments over the past several years. Treasurer Diane Knudsen encouraged pastors and congregations to think of the conference in connection as “we” rather than “they,” and to reach out into the community to strengthen their churches. Statistician Scott Allread documented a membership decline for the sixth straight year and a drop in worship attendance during four of the past five years. On a positive note, he pointed out that 135 churches in the conference saw increases in membership, while 129 recorded increases in worship attendance, and urged churches in decline to study what works well in their sister churches.  Membership stands at 89,115, down 1,181 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 42,358, down 1,686.
Membership stands at 93,128 down 1.7 percent from the previous year.  Average
weekly worship attendance stands at 55,101, down 2.2 percent.
Membership stands at 185,041, down 2,313 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 70,869 down 4,629.
Membership stands at 243,888, down 6,767 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 126,407, up 2,887
Membership in the Greater New Jersey Conference stands at 107,837, down 1,238 from last year.  Average worship attendance was 56,648, down 1,370 from the previous year. 
Conference membership stands at:  60,499, down 1,068 from 2002.
Membership (confessing members) of the newly formed annual conference stands at 18,576, down 338 members. The number of “baptized members” (Kirchenangehörige) in the new conference remained relatively stable at 15,337.
Attendance stands at 76,692, down 2.5 percent; membership is at 155,264, down 2.7 percent.
South Indiana Annual Conference
South Indiana Annual Conference
Membership stands at 115,918, down 2,756. Worship attendance stands at 65,320, down 1,877.
Membership stands at 67,740, up 266 from the previous year.  Worship attendance stands at 23,868, down 629 from the previous year.

Membership stands at 6,232, down 50 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 2,266, down 68.

Rio Grande Annual Conference

Membership stands at 14,927, down 212 from last year. Worship attendance stands at 5,338, down 52 from the previous year.

Florida Annual Conference
 

Conference membership in 2003 was 329,018, a decline of 3,106 people. The average worship attendance was 161,375.

Western North Carolina Annual Conference
Heard the statistical report which noted that while conference membership is up, attendance at the principle worship service is down;

 

Previously Reported in NIC VOICE Annual Conference Reports Update #3:

Membership stands at 342,106, up 785 over the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 124,877, down 1,821. Two new congregations were chartered.
Participation in short term and on-going groups is at 63,629 up nearly 18,000. Membership stands at 196,575 down 1,415. Worship attendance is 71,626 down 1,455
Northern Illinois Annual Conference
Membership stands at 114,151 as of the end of 2003, down 1,812 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 45,606, down 2,093 from 2002.
Membership stands at 102,062, down 2,193 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 35,880, down 1,566.
Membership stands at 54,446, down 631 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 17,647, down 627.
Membership stands at 107,215, down 1,266. Worship attendance stands at 53,286, down 1,304.
Conference membership stands at 195,537, down 2,201 from the previous year.  Worship attendance stands at 69,470, down 445 from the previous year.

 Arkansas Annual Conference

Membership stands at 139,139, down 924 from the previous year.  Worship attendance stands at 57,246, down 2,807.

Louisiana Annual Conference

Membership stands at 126,846, up 239 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 48,387, down 778 from last year.

Desert Southwest Conference
Desert Southwest membership stands at 44,778, down 326. Average weekly worship attendance is 30,854, 8.9% of membership. (Editor's note - these numbers do not appear to be correct (% attending 8.9%)

 
Previously Reported in NIC VOICE Annual Conference Reports Update #2:
Membership stands at 101,267, down 1,653, Worship attendance stands at 68,694, down 2,783.
Membership stands at 86,072, down 2,512 from the previous year.  Worship attendance stands at 43,060, down 749.
Membership stands at 68,422, down 1629. Average worship attendance is 45,273, down 135.

Membership stands at 157,454, up 553 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 47,500, down 845.

Kansas West Annual Conference

Membership stands at: 87,520, down 762 from the previous year.  Average attendance stands at: 37,197, down 737 from the previous year.

New Mexico Annual Conference

Membership stands at 40,653, down 1,068 over the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 17,776, down 227.
Membership stands at 190,472, up 483 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 77,914, up 439.
Membership stands at 242,057, up 237 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 100,123, down 1,029.
Membership in the Peninsula-Delaware Conference stands at 94,262, down 623 over the previous year. Average worship attendance stands at 36,006, up 570.
Membership stands at 60,525, down 3,895 from the previous year. Worship attendance remains steady at 16,318. 
Missouri Annual Conference
Membership stands at 176,251, down 1,861 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 84,457, down 1,232 from the previous year.

As of Jan. 1, Oklahoma Conference membership stood at 248,364, a decrease of 2,265; worship attendance for 2003 averaged 62,191, a decrease of 1,160; church school enrollment stood at 85,068, a decrease of 556; and church school attendance for the year averaged 33,860, a decrease of 1,009. During 2003, the conference received 7,013 members.  Of that number, 2,679 were by profession of faith.

Dakotas Annual Conference
 Current membership stands at 43,684, down 625 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 23,116, down 244.

New York Annual Conference

Membership stands at 129,696, up 802 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 34,824, down 6,428.

North Texas Annual Conference

Membership stands at 159.014, down 2,276 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 62,483, down by 112. According to the statistician’s report, North Texas Conference churches actually received 11,654 new members (8.2 percent) in 2003 over 2002, and 4,039 came by profession of faith, more than any other year of the past decade.  Most obvious reason for the decline in membership – after seven straight years of growth – was that more than twice as many names as usual were dropped from church rolls by Charge Conference action (6,683 compared to 3,265 in 2002).

Southwest Texas Annual Conference

Membership stands at 120,428, down 487. Worship attendance stands at 51,000, down 147. 

Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference

Membership stands at 146,813, up 94 from the previous year.  Worship attendance stands at 67,624, down 83 from the previous year.

Memphis Annual Conference

Although church school enrollment in the Memphis Conference is up by 970 from the previous year, membership stands at 89,920, down 1,178 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 36,038, down 493.

North Alabama Annual Conference

Membership stands at 157,862, down 1,408 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 74,066, up 227.

North Carolina Annual Conference

Membership stands at 234,056, up 1,356 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 89,950, down 38.

South Georgia Annual Conference

Membership stands at 139,917, down 1,419 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 53,537, up 145.


Previously Reported in NIC VOICE Annual Conference Reports Update #1:
 

Membership stands at 105,351, down 942 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 51,459, down 623
Membership stands at 202,302, down 2,532. Worship attendance was down 3 percent.
Membership stands at 79,895, down 1,566 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 25,027, down 613.
Membership stands at 1,367, up 3 over the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 747, down 63.
Membership stands at 4,044, down 88 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 2,594, down 28.
Membership stands at 7,774 confessing members, down 112, and 4,985 baptized members (up 144).
 

 

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North Georgia Annual Conference Report by Joseph Slife, Lay Leader at Gateway UMC (published with permission)
 
In his address at the 2004 N. Ga. Conf. Laity Luncheon (June 16), Bishop Lindsey Davis said the UMC must "support and proclaim the classical, orthodox doctrines of our faith -- the faith that St. Jude said 'was once and for all delivered to the saints.' "

"It is this apostolic faith," he said, "which will empower, shape, and guide us in the future."
 
See article at http://www.GatewayUMC.org/gt_04summer_bishop.htm
(includes audio)

Also, Dr. Bill Hinson (head of the Confessing Movement) preached at the N. Ga. ordination and evangelism services this year. Bishop Davis introduced him as "a dear friend and a very trusted person in my circle of friends in the United Methodist Church."

In his ordination sermon, Dr. Hinson decried "the silence of the pulpits" regarding important cultural issues, and said that faithful ministers of the gospel MUST speak to the issues of the day, even though it may make them unpopular.

"To address from the perspective of Scripture the burning issues of our time is painful indeed. And who wants to hurt" he asked. "[But w]hen we don't preach the whole gospel... we're giving up something precious, namely kinship with Christ. How did he say it in John 7? 'The world has hated me because I testify that their sins are evil.'"

Dr. Hinson challenged the ordinands to be faithful to preach God's truth, even though it will go against the grain of our culture.

"It doesn't matter how big your church, or how successful the world feels you have been, if you cannot say at the end of the road, 'I have given the whole counsel of God,' then you haven't been a faithful preacher of the gospel," he said.

BTW, the N. Ga. Conf. had a net gain of 5,399 members in 2003, with 7,333 joining on profession of faith.

I'll issue a full Annual Conf. report in a few weeks, similar to the one from last year posted at http://www.GatewayUMC.org/annualconferencereport03.htm

Grace and peace,


Joseph Slife
LayLeader@GatewayUMC.org - Athens GA
 
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UMNS:  Western Jurisdiction

Western Jurisdiction
Annual Conference Date Location
Alaska Missionary May 28-30 Chugiak, Alaska
California - Nevada June 16-19 Fresno, Calif.
California-Pacific Annual Conference June 16-21 Redlands, Calif.
Desert Southwest June 10-13 Scottsdale, Ariz.
Oregon-Idaho  June 9-12 Salem, Ore.
Pacific Northwest June 23-27 Moscow, Idaho
Rocky Mountain Annual Conference June 16-19 Denver, Co.
Yellowstone June 10-13 Billings, Mont.
 

 

 

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Following are five Annual Conference 2004 reports from the eight Annual Conferences in the Western Jurisdiction

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Alaska Missionary Annual Conference

(No AC Report Found)

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California-Pacific Annual Conference

Annual Conference June 17 - 21
Circuit West Daily:
6/18, 6/19, 6/20
Daily Photos: 6/17, 6/18

Annual Conference Report
 

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California-Nevada Annual Conference

  • Friday Connection & Wednesday-Thursday's Daily Summary
  • Saturday Connection & Friday's Daily Summary
  • Saturday's Daily Summary
  • Click here for media clips of Fresno ACS

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    Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference

    Annual Conference

    Annual Conference Photos -- Potpourri
    This is a collection of photos from various parts of Annual Conference that can't really be categorized!

    Annual Conference Photos -- Liturgical Art Show
    One of the highlights of Annual Conference was the Liturgical Art Show. Conference artists displayed may different forms of art, all to the glory of God.

    Annual Conference Photos -- Budget and Missions
    One of the most difficult tasks for Annual Conference members is digesting, understanding, and finally voting on the Conference budget. One of the easiest and most rewarding things that happens always seems to be giving to missions.

    Annual Conference Photos -- Plenary Sessions
    Most of the business of Annual Conference is accomplished in plenary sessions. Here's a peak at how it all works.

    Annual Conference Photos -- Laity
    At Annual Conference laity are equal partners with clergy in work, worship and activities. Here are photos of lay persons at work, worship and play.

    Annual Conference Photos -- Ordination
    One of the most sacred aspects of Annual Conference is the Ordination Service. Seeing people accept authority for the sacraments and devote their lives to the ordained ministry is moving and inspiring.

    2004 District Superintendents’ Report
    The Rev. Jim Monroe, Western District superintendent, gave the DSs Report at Annual Conference. This is a personal account of what it's like to be a DS and what he has learned in his years in that capacity.

    Annual Conference Photos -- Honors and Awards
    Various people and groups were honored at Annual Conference for the contributions they have made in service to Christ and the Church.

    Annual Conference Photos -- Cabinet
    Photos of the Cabinet in action at Annual Conference, plus an introduction to the new Western District Superintendent Kate Conolly.

    Annual Conference Photos--Bishop's Farewell Party
    Bishop Ed and Carol Paup were honored for their eight years in Oregon and Idaho at a reception on Friday evening of Annual Conference.

    In the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit
    This is the sermon preached by the Rev. David Helms-Peyer at Annual Conference during the Memorial and Communion Service.

    Downloadable Annual Conference Wrap-Up
    Here's a downloadable, printable wrap-up of the 2004 Annual Conference for local churches to use as handouts to their members or as supplements for newsletters. [ Download/View File ]

    Issue #369 – Annual Conference #2 – June 9, 2004
    Opening day of Annual Conference introduced worship, clergy and laity sessions, the Memorial and Communion Service...with original music.

    Issue #370 – Annual Conference #3 – June 10, 2004
    Thursday morning brought with it mission news, impressions of General Conference, the Denman Award for Evangelism, the Crane Award...and dancing.

    Issue #371 – Annual Conference #4 – June 10, 2004
    Thursday afternoon was about money!

    Issue #372 – Annual Conference #5 – June 11, 2004
    Friday offered some good-byes, some good news, the Jason Lee Award, archivist honored, two nominated for bishop, the Ministry Fair and Picnic, the Liturgical Art Show, and a fond farewell to the Paups.

    Issue #373 – Annual Conference #6 – June 12, 2004
    The last day of Annual Conference saw passage of the 2005 budget, a strategic plan, the Retirees' Luncheon, and the Service of Ordination and Recognition of Retirees.

    Issue #374 – Annual Conference #7 – June 12, 2004
    Here's the listing of clergy appointments for 2004-5.

    Issue #375 – Annual Conference #8 – June 12, 2004
    This is a summary of action taken on legislative items.
     

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    Faithful Christian Laity Reports on PNAC2004

    The Steering Committee of The Faithful Christian Laity of the United Methodist Church is compelled to speak out against the continuing egregious actions of the leadership of Pacific Northwest Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church (PNWAC)  See Mission Statement  
     
    NEW!!!! Recommended Reading Report on PNWAC 2994 by Cathy Bihler, Faithful Christian Laity

    Click this link:  http://www.ucmpage.org/discuss_bb/viewtopic.php?p=25552#25552

     

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    Pacific Northwest Annual Conference

    There will not be daily reports from Annual Conference posted to this website.  News, photos and reports will be posted upon our return to the office, after June 29th. (no reports posted as of 7/12)

     

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    Yellowstone Annual Conference

    (No AC Report Found)

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    Rocky Mountain Annual Conference

    Annual Conference

    Reports

    Reports and related documents from the Annual Conference sessions:

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    Desert Southwest

    A report of Annual Conference

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