Legislative summary from 2012 annual conference session

  During the 2012 session of the Detroit Annual Conference, members considered 13 items of legislation ranging from administrative policies to items that dealt with social issues.    Each year, by February 15, motions to initiate new business (resolutions) are received from individuals, local churches, or agencies of The United Methodist Church within the Detroit Conference. During the annual conference session, the resolutions are assigned to one of 10 legislative sections,...

Detroit Conference lays out strategic plan, launches malaria campaign at 2012 annual session

  "Imagine a World…Healing, Healthy, Whole" was the theme of the 2012 session of the Detroit Annual Conference, which was held May 17-20 on the campus of Adrian College in Adrian, Mich.    The theme of the conference session focused on stamping out killer diseases by improving health globally, one of the Four Areas of Focus of The United Methodist Church. To highlight the theme, Michigan Area Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton spoke about "divine health...

Two ordained, six commissioned at Service of Ordination and Commissioning

  Under cloudless blue skies and temperatures nearing 90 degrees, families, friends, and members of the Detroit Annual Conference gathered in Herrick Chapel Sunday afternoon, May 20, for the service of ordination and commissioning.   And, for the first time in the memory of most, there were no elders in full connection ordained.   However, six Provisional Elders were commissioned: Daniel Joseph Charnley Hart; Robert A. Miller, Jr.; Anna Mi-Hyun Moon; Rahim Omar Shabazz; Joel...

Blog - Sunday, May 20

8:05 a.m. - Good morning! We are into the final day of the 2012 Detroit Annual Conference session. We opening this morning with a time of devotions, then a few items to complete before an adjournment before 12:00 p.m.  8:45 a.m. - We have a few pieces of legislation to wrap up, and will spend some time this morning dealing with those.  The first resolution is dealing with churches and ministries that identify or label themselves as Reconciling Ministries, mong other things....

Board of Global Ministries dinner celebrates mission in Haiti

  Members and friends of the Detroit Conference Board of Global Ministries gathered to celebrate missions at Adrian: First United Methodist Church on Friday, May 18. Nearly 100 people came together for dinner and fellowship and to recognize the continuing need of sharing God’s love throughout the world.   Guests heard from the Rev. Chrisnel Le Lievre, a superintendent of the Methodist Church from Jeremie, Haiti. He brought news of life after the January 12, 2010,...

Blog - Saturday, May 18

AFTERNOON SESSION 1:30 p.m. - We are back in session. We will hear a few reports, the highlight of which will be the report of the Dean of the appointive cabinet. The Rev. Chong (Joy) Won is now presenting about the ministries of Korean churches in the conference. We are now presenting the Harry Denman Evanglism Awards. This is the 31st year of the award. The recepient of the laity award is Susan Walker, a member of Belleville: First UMC. The clergy recipient is the Rev. Tom Anderson, pastor...

Blog - Friday, May 18

EVENING SESSION 7:00 p.m. - We are back from dinner break and will be hearing reports from the Committees on Nominations, Committee on Pension and Health Benefits, Council on Finance and Administration, and United Methodist Communications. The Committee on Nominations is presenting first. Bill Burnett, in his second year as chairperson, is talking about the committee's new process for collecting skills and passions of people for serving in conference leadership positions. Rev. Carol Johns,...

Opening worship highlights "Divine Health Initiatives"

  Amid colorful drummers from the Ann Arbor Korean United Methodist Church, Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton opened the 44th session of the Detroit Annual Conference Thursday afternoon with worship at the Herrick Chapel on the campus of Adrian College.   Gathering under the theme “Imagine a world…,” Bishop Keaton used the service to highlight the fourth quadrennial emphasis of eliminating poverty and the killer diseases associated with it.   Using the biblical...

Sutton appointed to lead Crossroads District

  Michigan Area Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton has announced that the Rev. Dr. Tara Sutton has been appointed to serve as the superintendent for the Crossroads District, effective July 1, 2012. Sutton, the senior pastor at Flint: Bethel UMC, is replacing the Rev. Dr. Andrew Allie, who has been the Crossroads District superintendent in a temporary capacity since April 1.    "The Rev. Dr. Tara R. Sutton has accepted the call to the Crossroads District," Keaton...

Health Screenings to take place at 2012 annual conference session

  As part of its wellness initiatives, the conference Board of Pension and Health Benefits will offer a health screening during the 2012 annual conference session. The screening will be conducted by Personal Health Partners (formerly ProCheck for Health). PHP provides health screening opportunities for a number of annual conferences.   The screenings will take place on campus from 6:30-11:00 a.m. on Friday-Saturday, May 18-19.    The cost of the screening for all active...

Sherry Parker to address Laity Session

  One of the Detroit Conference’s leading advocates for dynamic clergy-laity partnerships will address lay men and women participating in this year’s annual conference.   The Rev. Dr. Sherry Parker, lead pastor of Brighton First United Methodist Church, will be the featured speaker during the laity session on the opening day of the 44th Detroit Annual Conference on the campus of Adrian College.   The laity session will be 7:00 p.m., on Thursday, May 17, in Adrian...