Saturday’s Morning Plenary Session opened with music led by Bishop Shelton and Paul Saik, followed by a prayer led by Rev. Chris Brady, Capital District Superintendent.
Board of Ordained Ministry
Rev. Dr. Sangwoo Kim, Chair of the Board of Ordained Ministry, presented the Board’s report on Saturday morning. The Board recommended six individuals be ordained as elders in full connection, two individuals be ordained as deacons in full connection, ten commissioned as provisional elders, and one commissioned as a provisional deacon. The Board also reported that they are working with the Commission on the Status and Role of Women (COSROW) on creating a more balanced process for clergy misconduct reports.
Board of Managers
Rev. Eddie Hill offered an invitation on behalf of the Board of Managers to participate in this fall’s Pastor’s School and Convocation at Duke Divinity School. Based on Jeremiah 17:8, the theme of this year’s gathering is “Growing Where You Are Planted,” and it will convene October 15 – 17, 2023. All clergy and laity (yes, laity too!) are encouraged to attend.
Nominations
Dr. Christine Dodson presented the report of the Committee on Nominations. “We are blessed in North Carolina with leaders who are willing to step into these positions of leadership in our Annual Conference committees, boards, and ministries. Thank you for continuing to give your time and your energy into the important connectional work we do together as the annual conference.”, said Christine.
The Nominations report, with the recommended changes, was approved by the conference. The Committee on Nominations report is on page 82 of the Conference Workbook.
Church Transformation Ministries
Rev. Ken McLean addressed the annual conference and thanked The Duke Endowment and your Church Transformation team for helping churches find their best path forward and into a fruitful future.
Communications Report
Derek Leek, Director of Communications for the North Carolina Conference, came to the stage to share his report on communications in the conference. He teased the body by starting his report uncommunicatively, but then took the camera on a tour of the communications and technology hub behind the stage! Communications team members shared some exciting statistics.
- The conference email open rate is 53% which is up 12% from last year
- All of our statistics on social media have risen in the past year.
- Our conference website, nccumc.org, had over 280,000 users on computers and mobile devices.
Leek also expressed the gratitude of the entire communications team and the annual conference for the life and ministry of Bill Norton, who led the Conference Communications team for many years. Bill passed away earlier this year.
Media Center
Laura Dallas, Director of Media Center, Marketing and Resource Coordinator, reminds the conference that the Conference Media Center has current resources that are free to borrow by mail with no late fees.
She also announced a discount code to try the Amplify streaming study and devotional website, which is accessible to any church. Use promo code EASTERNNC to get 50% off 3 months trial plus 30 days free, which amounts to 4 months for $45. The code is good through the end of August 2023.
Fixing the Appointments
Changes of appointments in each district were ready by each District Superintendent, and the Bishop invited members from each district to stand in celebration after the changes of appointments were read by the District Superintendent in each district. Bishop Shelton thanked each of the District Superintendents for their leadership.
At the end of the session, Rev. Joseph Park led us in the Korean prayer practice of Tong Sung Kiddo, inviting those who could kneel, to call out to God and to lift their concerns to God together.
Bishop Shelton thanked the stage team, musician Paul Saik, the secretarial team, runners, tellers, ushers, greeters, and NC Conference staff who helped with Annual Conference, as well as the AV team, Risa Tucker, and the Greenville Convention Center staff.
The Bishop offered appreciation to Rev. Heidi Seifert, who stepped into the Conference Secretary’s Assistant role with grace and humor; Parliamentarian Rev. Taylor Mills and Rev. Laura Wittman; Eric Stevens, Conference Chancellor; conference laity, who lead attentively and compassionately; John Hall, NC Conference Lay leader, and Rev. Dr. Gray Southern, Assistant to the Bishop and Conference Secretary. Bishop Shelton also thanked Becky Biegger, Administrative Assistant to the Bishop, for her work at the Conference.
Bishop Shelton called us to remember the fruit of the Spirit, and to find ways to be witnesses in the world, and not to do harm, and called us to sing “Grace Alone” as we adjourned before the ordination service.