Conference votes to send letter to senator
The Kansas East Conference voted to send a letter to Sen. Sam Brownback supporting federal funding for international family planning efforts. The vote followed a report from Katey Zeh, who is on staff at the General Board of Church and Society.
Brownback, who opposes funding for family planning, heads the committee that will be considering funding for international family planning, Zeh said. She had letters with her that conference members could sign and send to Brownback in support of funding for family planning efforts.
Following her report, a member of the annual conference made a motion that the conference’s Board of Church and Society would send a letter on behalf of the annual conference supporting funding for family planning. The motion carried. Zeh had letters at the Church and Society booth for individuals to use as well.
Conference adopts budget, asks for alternate budget in 2011
Kansas East members adopted a budget of slightly more than $5.028 million for 2011, an increase of only $1,058 from the adopted 2010 budget. Rev. Dr. Felix Burrows, chairperson for the Council on Finance and Administration, said conference giving was up, due largely to Advance giving for Haiti earthquake relief. At the end of May, conference receipts for apportionments only were down $126,000 from May 2009.
Rev. Neil Gately, co-pastor at Wamego and Manhattan: Blue Valley United Methodist churches, made a motion from the floor instructing the Personnel Committee and the Council on Finance and Administration to prepare an optional budget for 2012 at the 2011 conference session that includes the funding needed to implement a paid Board of Ordained Ministry registrar position. The 2008 Annual Conference voted to implement the position, but a lack of funding has kept the position from being filled.
Rev. Leslie Van Blarcom,, chairperson for the Board, told the conference that the board is not asking for the position to be funded at this time. The Gately motion carried with a friendly amendment that the Leadership Team would also be involved in the process of determining priorities so the conference can determine the importance of the BOOM registrar in comparison to whatever ministry would be lost to fund the position.
An amendment to the conference offerings also was adopted. A new 2000 Member Club Sunday was added to the Special Sundays list. On the Sunday designated churches would be encouraged to lift up the Club and its mission of enabling existing churches to take on building projects to enhance their ministry, inviting persons to become members of the Club. Members are asked, two times a year (April and October) to give either $10 as a regular member or $25 as a sustaining member. The 2000 Member Club supports revitalization efforts in small-membership churches across the conference.
Conference adopts resolution supporting pregnant women, voiceless children
An emergency petition encouraging the conference to support programs with a focus on preventing abortions presented to the annual conference was replaced by a petition that calls for local churches to provide financial and emotional support and avenues for community networking for pregnant women and their voiceless children.
Conference votes to return to Resurrection
Members of the Kansas East Conference voted June 11 to return to United Methodist Church of the Resurrection for the 2011 session of Annual Conference. The Sessions and Rules Committee made the recommendation that the conference give Resurrection another year.
As soon as the recommendation was made, Rev. Ira DeSpain, minister to Baker University, invited the conference to return to Baker in 2011. However, most of the speakers on the conference floor spoke in favor of remaining at Church of the Resurrection. Many shared reasons from not having to stand in line for the ladies’ room to the increased wireless internet access and online video streaming as reasons they support staying at Resurrection next year.
Others cited the long tradition of meeting at Baker and the instant community formed by staying together in the residence halls on campus as reasons for returning to Baker.
The conference will be June 8-11, 2011, at United Methodist Church of the Resurrection.
Board of Pension and Health Benefits actions
Conference members voted to increase the past service rate for the pre-82 pension to $587 for each past year of service, beginning Jan. 1, 2011. This rate is for clergy who served in ministry prior to Dec. 31, 1981.
Members also adopted the Resolution on Rental/Housing/Household Expense Allowance for retired and disabled clergy in accordance with Internal Revenue Service guidelines for clergy housing allowances; and adopted a funding plan for supplement one to the clergy retirement security program. This allows the conference to pay for excess Clergy Retirement Security Program funding with available pre-82 excess funds.
On the Health Insurance side, the board recommended, and the members approved, referring decisions on the conference health insurance rates for 2011 to the Leadership Team. The decision will be made at the team’s meeting in October.
Finally, members voted to pay the conference’s 2010 Central Conference Pension Initiative obligation with mineral rights from oil and gas wells owned by the conference. The contribution for 2010 is $5,750.
Equitable Compensation increased
Kansas East Conference members voted for a 2 percent increase in minimum compensation for all categories of ministry for 2011. A complete compensation schedule is available on page E-6 of the preconference workbook.
Elmdale recognized for 150 years, Day award presented
The Area Archives and History Commission recognized Elmdale United Methodist Church, which will be celebrating 150 years of ministry this year.
Dan Clifford, a student at Baker University, was awarded the first ever Day Prize for research. The prize was named for Brenda Day, the former archivist who died of cancer last year. Clifford began researching the history of Baker University but found a more interesting topic about a Kansas bishop who was instrumental in ending the persecution of the Methodist Church for communism during the McCarthy era.
United Methodist Men present checks for missions
United Methodist Men president, David Toler, presented two checks to Rev. Gary Beach, conference treasurer, for missions. The United Methodist Men raised enough money to give $842 each to Nothing But Nets and Meals for Millions hunger relief.
Johnson wins Asbury Award, Merit Scholarships announced
Rev. Dick Johnson, a former campus minister and missionary, was the winner of the 2010 Francis Asbury Award. Rev. Josh Gooding, Vice President of the United Methodist Campus Ministries in Kansas board, presented the award to Johnson.
Johnson is the father of Rev. Howard Johnson, Flint Hills District superintendent. During his ministry, he was a missionary in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, served churches in the Kansas East Conference and was director of the Wesley Foundation at Pittsburg State University.
“People who remember, still hold him up as a shining example of what it is to be a campus minister,” Gooding said.
Gooding also announced four Merit Scholarship recipients: Erin Wilson, Andrea Borchardt, Maribel Vasquez and William Delvalle-Gonzalez.
Roemer wins Torch Award
Ken Roemer, a member of Emporia First United Methodist Church, received the Torch Award for his years of service and dedication to the scouting program at Emporia First. Gary Scott, conference scouting coordinator, presented the award.
Wollen daughter wins award named for father
Janie Works, daughter of Doc Wollen, received the Doc Wollen Award for her dedication to Camp Chippewa. Works used the award as an opportunity to evangelize the conference for Camp Chippewa, an act of which her father would have been proud, Bishop Scott Jones said.
Three win communications awards
Meriden, Baldwin: Ives Chapel and Louisburg all won Excellence in Communication Awards from the Kansas East Commission on Communications.
23 congregations recognized as Certified Welcoming Congregations
Twenty-three congregations were recognized for becoming Certified Welcoming Congregations in the Kansas East Conference. Those recognized were: Baxter Springs, Emporia First, Fancy Creek, Independence First, Kansas City: Bristol Hill, Lawrence Central Avenue, Lawrence First, Leawood, Leonardville, Meriden, Overland Park Valley View, Paola, Parsons Wesley, Pittsburg College Heights, Randolph, Saffordville, Shawnee Monticello, Swede Creek, Topeka Asbury-Mount Olive, Topeka First, Topeka Highland Park, Topeka Lowman and Topeka Pleasant Hill.
Offering totals announced
Four offerings were collected during worship services at the 2010 Kansas East Annual Conference. The Youth Service Fund offering raised $2,590.78. The World Hunger/Poverty offering raised $2,607.60. The Amistad y Fe/Wesley House/Ogden Friendship House offering raised $3,066.61. The Haiti offering raised $3,876.33. In addition, an offering was received at the VIM/Disaster Response dinner for teams going to Haiti where $502 was raised.
