Holy Conferencing …
Bishop Steiner Ball welcomed Bishop Moore-Koikoi, Bishop of the Pittsburgh area assigned to Western PA Conference and coverage of Susquehanna Conference, along with Bishop Steiner Ball.
Ecumenical Greetings were brought by conference clergy member Rev. Jeff Allen, Executive Director, West Virginia Council of Churches.
Conference considered the resolution: Regarding the Preaching and Teaching of United Methodist Doctrine, which was referred to the Board of Ordained Ministry.
Several amendments were proposed and approved, including a rule that adjusted the responsibilities for the Conference Secretary and a change in how Global Mission coordinators are nominated;
Major changes to the rules for ordained ministry, which had been approved by the executive clergy session, were supported. These included removing all duplications of the Book of Discipline; giving authority on distance learning to the University Senate, while retaining the requirement of Preaching, pastoral care, and Church administration, and increasing the number of local pastors allowed on District Committees on MInistry.
A rule regarding distribution of printed materials for conference was referred to the Rules Committee. After debate, the rule was approved as written.
Resolution BOP Health Insurance Funding Transition was supported as written on page 135 of the Conference Workbook after an attempt to amend it failed. Pensions recommendation was supported.
The body approved the recommendations of Equitable Compensation that included the Base Minimum compensation as follows:
$42,000 for full and provisional members
$40,000 for Associate members
$39,000 for Full-Time Local pastors.
Global Ministries highlighted the connectional ministries of the seven mission projects: (LIST); Burlington Family Ministries; New Vision Depot; Parish Development Teams, Disaster Ministries; Volunteers in Mission.
Kristi Wilkerson, Conference Lay Leader, gave the laity report around the theme of “It’s good to go where everybody knows your name.” She highlighted churches throughout the conference who are reaching out to the community in various ways.
We celebrated the work of the CCYM, Spring Heights and Campus Ministry.
Kim Matthews was elected as the final member of the General and Jurisdictional Delegation.
