On September 25, 2022, under the leadership of Conference Superintendent Joe Hill, the Midland-South and Western Districts officially united as West Virginia UMC’s “Nine Rivers District,” so named for the rivers in and around the district (Big Sandy, Coal, Elk, Guyandotte, Kanawha, Mud, Ohio, Pocatalico, and Tug.)
The Rev. Dr. Joe Kenaston, senior pastor of host church Forrest Burdette UMC, welcomed the gathering with prayer, celebrating the region’s unique Methodist history, mission, and ministry. Laypersons from Mason and Lincoln Counties led a litany of blessing connecting the nine fruits of the Spirit with the nine-river region as Superintendent Hill poured waters from each of the rivers into a flowing fountain on the altar. Those same waters were later used in a “Remembrance of Baptism” (pp. 50-53, The United Methodist Hymnal). Worship music included selections by organist Barbara Good, song leader Robert Jackson, accompanist Rev. Robert Fulton, and an acapella quintet which sang Southern Gospel hymn “Down in the River to Pray.”
During the worship service, videos were shared celebrating district ministries Heart & Hand Outreach (South Charleston) and Ebenezer Community Outreach (Huntington) and highlighting the district’s Asbury Woods Camp & Retreat Center (Salt Rock). An offering was collected for supporting the Clergy Spouses’ Love Fund.
The District Conference also included elections of previously nominated members to various boards and committees, and lay ministry addresses were shared by Conference Director of Lay Servant Ministries Kim Matthews (Certified Lay Servant), District Lay Leader Cheryl Davis (Certified Lay Minister), and Assistant District Lay Leader Heather Fulton (Certified Lay Speaker). Ms. Matthews encouraged clergy and laity alike to consider how each person might answer the call to ministry, offering a variety of programs The United Methodist Church has for lay leadership. Pastoral retirements and new assignments were celebrated, and invitations were issued to participate in the New Vision Depot Ambassador program, Undie Sunday (10/23), a peanut-butter drive, World Cancer Day (2/5/23), a workshop with author Michael Beck (10/20), and a Fresh Wing weekend spiritual retreat (11/4-5). The Reverend Al Flaitz (Barboursville) was introduced as the district’s “resident Messianic Jew,” and Rev. Flaitz offered to give instruction to congregational gatherings regarding fall and spring Jewish celebrations.
Rev. Hill also shared the Transition Team’s recommendation for collecting the 2023 District Promotional Fund, and a motion was made setting the 2023 DPF Obligation per church at 2.7% of that church’s 2023 Conference Apportionment. The motion passed.
Another motion that passed was offered by the Rev. Dr. Bill Wilson, a former Conference Superintendent, regarding adopting “Nine Rivers District” as the new district’s name.
The Organizational Conference concluded with the gathered body singing “Freely, Freely.” After requesting an additional acapella refrain be sung, Superintendent Hill blessed the congregation, saying, “Brothers and sisters, you are your own benediction. Go as far as God will take you, to how ever many God will lead you, with every gift and grace of God that God gives you, into the world as Christ did before you. I love you.”
