Camp and Retreat Ministries

After several musical selections played by Paul Saik, Director of Music Ministries from Centenary UMC in New Bern, Bishop Connie Mitchell Shelton called the body to order on Friday morning. 

Shelton reminded the body that Christians are called to love boldly, serve joyfully, and live courageously by the power of the Holy Spirit. She then invited Dail Ballard, Executive Director of NC Camp and Retreat Ministries, to the podium. 

Ballard presented a creative time of devotion based on the movie, The Wizard of Oz, and drew parallels to camp and retreat ministries as a way to remind those gathered of their call to equip and send out people for ministry.

Ballard highlighted the skills and gifts of different characters in the movie, but focused on Glinda the Good Witch, the character whose costume Ballard wore. Glinda only appears in three scenes of The Wizard of Oz, and yet her character reveals the importance of Dorothy’s influence in Oz and back home in Kansas.

Aspects of camping ministries can be seen in each of the characters in The Wizard of Oz, said Ballard. However, she stated that camp is most like the ruby slippers because at camp, campers and guests find the power to walk through life inspired and emboldened. She related this to Philippians 4:13 where Paul discusses experiencing his own challenges and wrote that his strength came from God, regardless of the challenge he faced.

Making disciples for Jesus Christ cannot stay at camp or stay in our churches. Ballard noted that Glinda sent Dorothy home to transform the world, and camps send campers home with life lessons to love boldly, to serve joyfully, and to lead courageously. She ended her devotion with a moment of joy by inviting annual conference members and guests to blow bubbles and to remember that there is: “No place like camp.” 

Connectional Ministries

Using spoken word, TikTok-style videos, spoken reports, and music, the Connectional Ministries team presented their report. Director of Connectional Ministries, Rev. Ismael Ruiz-Millán, shared that as he came into this job, people asked him what he was supposed to do in this position. Could it be something about events? Could it be sending lots of emails? Could it be connecting something? 

In those discussions, he began to discern a call for the Office of Connectional Ministries to do three things: connect people, values, gifts, and resources; align ministries with the gospel and with the conference mission; and collaborate because we are not called to do this work alone. Ruiz-Millán exemplified these three foci in the report, utilizing many voices, multiple means of communication, and data to share the story of Connectional Ministries.

The Duke Endowment

Rev. Robb Webb, Director of the Rural Church Division of The Duke Endowment, came to the podium to celebrate 101 years of The Duke Endowment and to announce the appointment of retired Bishop Hope Morgan Ward as the newest trustee of The Duke Endowment.

Webb celebrated the impactful and incredible ways The Duke Endowment partners with churches around the NC Conference. He announced a new initiative and partnership with the NC Department of Adult Correction, which will place four United Methodist pastors in correctional facilities in North Carolina as of this appointment year. These community chaplains will serve people in a local church and in the Department of Adult Correction simultaneously.

Secretary of the Department of Adult Correction, Leslie Cooley Dismukes, came to the stage to express her excitement at this partnership. Having chaplains in prisons will improve the rehabilitative journey for many incarcerated persons. These chaplains are there to provide guidance, help, and wisdom in dark times. 

Rev. Sarah Jobe came to the stage to commission these four chaplains for their work in correctional facilities across our conference. 

Methodist Home for Children

After 19 years of ministry passion and vision setting, Rev. Bruce Stanley is retiring as the Executive Director of the Methodist Home for Children. The body gave Stanley a standing ovation for his years of service as he came to the stage.

Stanley shared a story from a recent visit to St. Luke’s UMC in Sanford. After hearing him preach twice, his host said, “You have it easy. Your sermons write themselves when you share the stories of the children of the Methodist Home for Children.” Stanley stated that commentary is certainly true because the stories are valuable, heartbreaking, and full of hope. 

Stanley went on to share a story from “The Farm,” a transitional living home for boys who are on probation but cannot return home safely after being in a youth development center or other residential placement. When asked what the best thing about The Farm was, a young man responded, “I have a bed here.” Learning more about the youth’s story, Stanley shared that this was the first time in the young man’s life that he has had a bed to sleep in and a place to call his own. According to Stanley, “To this young man, it is near to a miracle to have a safe place to rest.”

Stanley closed by reminding the conference that their support through prayers, witness, and financial means provides for over 1,400 children around North Carolina. He reminded those gathered that funding received through grants and partnerships does not cover the full cost of care and encouraged continued financial gifts. This support is needed to create a way for children to be able to live into their preferred future.