Annual Conference: Faith Rising

It was Annual Conference last week in Lakeland. Things got started on Wednesday. I recorded a video about labyrinths. The official kickoff was a Next Generation Worship Service in Branscomb - the youth and young adults were awesome! Several of our district youth led in the service. And then afterwards I went to speak to our youth delegation. 

Thursday morning was the clergy session at First Lakeland that I was in charge of. Then I ran over to catch the end of the laity session where two of our district folks were certified as lay ministers. Then it was time to celebrate at the clergywomen lunch where the speaker was from the Commission on the Status and Role of Women. 

A few more of our district folks were helping on stage as Timekeeper and Parliamentarian. And some others as speakers. 

Then in the afternoon I had the privilege to give the BOM report before we recognized retirees and the ordinands. 

On Friday I was back up on stage to give the Cabinet report and lead the church discontinuances motion. 

Then later I got to come back out on stage to give a big check for $100,000 to the president of Gammon Theological Seminary for scholarships. 

A few more of our district pastors and youth made it up onto the stage as well. 

Lunch was spent with the local pastors and these were the ones present from the South West district 

I found a few more of our district clergy and laity in Honeyman Pavilion during one of the breaks, along with two of our candidates for ministry from a church in Naples. 

We elected a new co-lay leader for the Annual Conference - our first deaconness and a member of the Haitian community. 

Dinner was back at First Lakeland with the MFSA crowd (Methodists for Social Action), where one of our district pastors honored the anniversaries for clergywomen and deacons. 

And then it was time for the Memorial Service, led by three different district pastors. Trinity UMC Bradenton also offered their lay support to welcome all the families. 

Saturday morning we debated a resolution brought by one of our district laity and had another pastor back up on the stage as well. Then we set the appointments by having each superintendent kneel and be prayed over by the bishop.  

Then it was time for the ordination service. I got to lead the Nicene Creed and also the offering moment. 

It was so much fun after to celebrate with colleagues and friends for all of the licensed, commissioned and ordained pastors. 

 

Annual Conference Week - Part Four

On Saturday morning, each district superintendent knelt down to be prayed for for their work and for their churches and clergy. It is wild to me that this was my fourth time kneeling at the altar rail - and that I start my fourth year as a DS in July along with my second year as the Director of the Office of Clergy Excellence. This will be my 25th year of ministry as a pastor in the Florida Conference. 

And then it was time for the licensing, commissioning and ordination service. Here I am with one of our summer pastoral interns. 

And this is our annual Cabinet picture. 

With our newly commissioned provisional elders, Rev. Elan Miavitz Brown and Rev. Chandra Snell 

 

 

 

 

With a few of the pastors that I supervise. 

And here is our little band of three back together - best clergy staff ever.  

And my amazing partner in the Office of Clergy Excellence - Holly FInley. 

A bunch of our Community UMC friends were there to see their associate pastor get ordained. We ran into Miss Faye, the children's minister.

 

 Afterwards we went to lunch with the Hills before heading home.