Wednesday Morning - Pensions, Society of St. Andrew Anniversary, CFA

Sonlight Choir

Wednesday morning opened with special music from the Sonlight Youth Choir Band from Trinity UMC, Gainesville, Fla.

The Rev. Lee Sheaffer and the Rev. Arthur Grant commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church to form the United Methodist Church.

Mr. Bobby Thompson, chair of the Board of Pensions, presented its report. The Rev. Donald J. Emmert from the Detroit Conference Board of Pensions, addressed the conference. He brought greetings from his bishop and conference. Their conference had an overfunding of pensions from pre-1982 funds. The monies were invested within the General Board. They have an $80 million surplus this year but it's an unusable resource.  The Virginia-Detroit Conference happened, allowing Detroit to cover Virginia's liability, which Virginia directly reimbursed. It produced no liability or benefit to the Virginia Conference but benefited the Detroit Conference. Through the indirect agreement of transfer last year, they may be able to discontinue a specific apportionment. That allows the local church to use the money to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Though the Virginia Conference gained nothing fianancially, the Detroit Conference wanted us to know that we have helped them gain more.

The Pensions report was approved. Mr. Thompson was thanked for his eight years of service. This is his last year as chair.

Ken Horne, left, is congratulated by Jim Tongue for his 25 years of service.

The Society of St. Andrew is observing its 25th anniversary this year. Ken Bradford and Jennifer Moore showed a presentation that outlined the history of the society begun by Ken Horne and Ray Buchanan. Horne is retiring this year. The society started on a farm in Big Island, Va. The Potato Project has provided 392 million pounds of food. That equates to 1.2 billion servings of nutritious food. In 1985, the Harvest of Hope event was held. Over 12,000 people have been encouraged to be a part of the solution to hunger. In 1988, the society established the Gleaning Network. Within a year, they were gleaning in three states. Under Horne's leadership, they are gleaning operations in 20 states that gleans about 15 million pounds of food a year. Hunters of the Hungry is another program that has sput out of the Societ of St. Andrew. This year's General Conference commended the Society of St. Andrew for helping to eradicate hunger. Marion Kelly, who has worked with Ken throughout the years, told about the early years and thanked Horne for his vision. The Rev. Jim Tongue, chair of the board of the Society of St. Andrew, made a presentation to Horne. The Commonwealth of Virginia General Assembly has a joint resolution that recognizes Horne's leadership. Horne took the stage and said, "This is quite over the top." He thanked Bishop Ken Goodson who didn't mind "strange people with strange ideas." Horne had six years in the pulpit then had the opportunity for this ministry. He thanked his co-workers. "Without them and their hard work, we're not having this conversation. Nobody accomplished anything without their co-workers." 92 cents of every donated dollar goes to feed people. "I thank you, the Virginia Conference, for your support. We don't accomplish anything without your support. I don't think there's another conference that could have gotten behind this ministry to ensure its success."

Ken Horne "serenades" the conference.

He then said, "I have three more minutes, and I'm going to burn it they way I want." He picked up his guitar and put on his harmonica and left us with a song that involves grandbabies and sail boats and historical re-enacting (his nex t pursuits). Kris Kristofferson wrote the song he played, "This Old Road."

Horne introduced Mike Waldemann who said, "As you can see, it's impossible to replace Ken Horne." He presented Horne a flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol. Bishop Kammerer came forward and blessed the continuation of the ministry of the Society of St. Andrew.

From the floor, Pat Koontz of the Ashland District raised the challenge to raise 1/10,000 of  a penny to match each pound of food the Society of St. Andrew saves. The challenge was accepted. Susan Garrett let the gathering know that 75 of the "green bags," used this year at conference were left over and are available for a donation to the Conference Offering.

Conference Treasurer Dennis Scheer came to the stage for the Treasurer's Report.

Bishop Kammerer announced that today's offering for the Youth Service Fund has raised $7,879.

J.D. Berlin, chair, came to the stage to present the Council on Finance and Administration (CFA) report. Dennis Scheer as nominated as re-election for conference treasurer. He was elected. Sections 1, 2 and 8 concerning budgets were adopted.

Section 3 concerning apportionments. CFA recommended at 2007 Annual Conference a more accelerated three-year phase-in of the apportionment formula beginning in 2008, so that all churches will be apportioned according to the 2002 formula by 2010. This has impacted large churches. Jay Hanke, pastor of Mt. Olivet, Arlington District, said he church has had to cut staff hours and programs to put more money toward apportionments and not pay 100 percent of their apportionments. J.D. Berlin said they are very cognizant of the burden on larger churches. Section 3 was adopted.

Section 4 - Six Special Offerings Supported by the Conference. There were no changes. It was adopted. Section 5 concerns Recommended Policies. Berlin pointed out that the Reserve Fund had dropped and it needs to be built up. He pointed out the changes in distribution of the conference Journal (now using CDs). A motion was made to still offer retired pastors a printed copy of the Journal upon request. The motion failed. David Hindman recomended changing the 3.5 person increase (distributed equally among the district superintendents) for district superintendents' salaries to 2.5 percent.  The Equitable Compensation increase was already set at 2.5 percent. Kathleen Overby Webster, dean of the Cabinet, said they would support the 2.5 percent motion. The motion was adopted.

A motion was made to vote in all before the conference members. The entire CFA report was adopted.

The bishop said she has received 530 persons Response Cards from the All Things New Initiative.

Roger Dowdy brought greetings from the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference.

Doug Geeting introduced Anne West, a young adult member of the Site Selection Committee, said the committee has chosen some later dates in and weekend dates to encourage more participation by younger people and would not require as much vacation time for lay members.

Roanoke, June 16-19, 2011 (election year)

Roanoke, June 21-24, 2012

Hampton, June 20-23, 2013

Hampton, June 19-22, 2014

The report was accepted.

Bishop Pennel's Sermon

Bishop Joe E. Pennel Jr. led the closing worship service. The Sonlight Choir and Band led the music that included music from the rock band U2.

Bishop Kammerer thanked Bishop Pennel and his wife, Janene attended the Virginia Conference.

"It's been a very high moment in our life to be with you again," the bishop said. He praised Bishop Kammerer for the way she presides over the conference. "You feel like you're in good hands," he said, "and, indeed, you are."

The morning Scripture came from Ecclesiastes 1:12-18. Bishop Pennel's sermon title was "Chasing After the Wind."

"The writer of Ecclesiastes is concerned about seeking holy wisdom. Some attempts to find wisdom are as foolish as chasing the wind. Consider the wind... we cannot see it, but we know it's coming from the east, the north, the south or the east. We can feel it, but we cannot catch the wind.

"Sometimes the wind can be disturbing. It can mess up our hair, it can carry unwanted seed, or it can bring massive tornadic destruction. The wind can also be useful. It can cool the sweat from our brow, it can carry the scent of flowers, it can cause a flag to unfurl, it can fill the sail of a boat... but try as hard as we might, we cannot catch it."

The writer of Ecclesiastes tried many things... drink, money, whatever his eyes desired. But the writer discovered that self-indulgence would not enable him to catch the wind of wisdom.

"Sometimes I think," Bishop Pennel said, "congregations are guilty of self-indulgence."

Bishop Pennel used to take the new ordinands to the Holy Land. On one trip, they went to a small hospital and one of the ordinands said, 'This is awful. Why don't we do more to help?' Well, I knew about her congregation. And I said, 'If your congregation would pay its apportionments, this hospital could be taken care of.'"

We are at work around the world in hospitals. It's difficult to go almost anywhere in the world and not see a seed that has been planted by the United Methodist Church. When Nelson Mandela received the World Peace Award he wouldn't be where he was without his Methodist school. "But we still have some people that believe self-indulgence is the way to holy wisdom. If you believe that, you are as foolish as trying to catch the wind," he said.

"We don't chase the wind when we are truly committed to justice, mercy love. We need a new measurement that is greater than numerical growth, rising stewardship, and upward mobility of the clergy. Is there the increase of love in the congregation? Is there the increase of mercy, forgiveness, justice? These are the measurements of the Gospel."

The bishop said he's made notes of what he's read on church signs as he travels. "I saw a church sign not long ago that had a sign that said, 'Sin is forgiven here.' That church is not chasing the wind."

Following the service, Bishop Kammerer led the "holy privilege" of fixing the appointments. She introduced the new Cabinet members who came forward with the current superintendent. Larry Davies is the new superintendent of the Lynchburg District. David Drinkard is taking a pastoral appointment. Steve Jones is the new superintendent of the Richmond District. Marc Brown will be director of Connectional Ministries. Bradford Phillips is the new superintendent of the Norfolk District. Clarence Brown is taking a pastoral appointment. Each DS was called to the podium to make sure each district was correct. All appointments as printed are correct.

The dismissal with blessing was given at 12:20 p.m.