CHARGE CONFERENCE --
DECEMBER 14, 2008
CHARGE CONFERENCE --
DECEMBER 14, 2008
Highlights:
* Revenue for 2008 is catching up to expenses
* 2009 Deficit budget approved with faith leap that additional revenue will be raised for new ministries
* New ministries will include planning an additional 'contemporary worship' service to appeal to younger worshippers.
* Longtime Treasurer Elaine Roffo will help plan 'contemporary service' as worship support team coordinator; Trustees Chairperson Kim Page will leave Trustees to become the new Treasurer
* Jay Hickey named co-lay leader with current lay leader Paula Martasian
* Committees approved for new year
* 4 Local & 9 Certified Lay Speakers renewed for another year
* Conference celebrates the lives of those members who passed away this year
* Conference affirms Richard Dunn as he prayerfully considers if God is calling him to the ministry
* Conference celebrates Pastor Lori's upcoming birthday with 'Happy Birthday' song and cake
PHOTOS FROM CHARGE CONFERENCE - Please be patient while photos load on slower connections.
|
Prior to Charge Conference, children present to DS Gary Shaw the donations raised by the children and families to fight AIDS |
Lay speaker and former lay leader Richard Dunne speaks about his continuing faith journey to decide on whether God is calling him to the ministry. A mentor has been appointed to assist Richard in his decision-making. |
|
Mark Zaccaria of Finance Committee presents the 2009 budget which was approved. |
Long time Treasurer Elaine Roffo is overcome with emotion after receiving flowers from Finance Chair Zaccaria as she leaves her post to become Worship Team Coordinator. |
|
The Rev. Lori Eldredge presents her pastor's report in her first Conference as NKUMC minister. Her dreams for the church include new ministries in the community, a contemporary worship service and more building space. Seated: The Rev. Gary Show, DS of RISEM. |
Lay leader Paula Martasian presents Pastor Lori a cake for her upcoming birthday when she will be 'north of 50.' Seated, recording secretary Sarah McGovern and The Rev. Gary Shaw, District Superintendent of RISEM. |
|
Sharing the servant leadership: Jay Hickey will join Paula Martasian as co-lay leaders as the church membership grows in 2009. |
CHARGE CONFERENCE 2008 -- CONDUCTING THE BUSINESS OF OUR CHURCH |
#
Charge Conference, Dec 14th at 11:30 AM—Why It’s Important
By Larry Price
Published December 5, 2008
We’re all too busy this time of year. While the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are the most joyous time of the year, they also can be very hectic. There are a lot of demands on everyone’s attention and time—and many of them are important.
Given our economy, most of us have to work harder at our jobs and many are working even harder to find a job to replace one lost. Workers are postponing retirements, too. Charities are struggling to fill needs. There are blood banks and food pantries that need replenishing and Salvation Army kettles that need filling. We’re asked to contribute to many worthwhile causes—from fighting AIDS to putting gifts under the Giving Tree for families of domestic violence. Churches are hoping that members who made pledges before the year started will catch up with their delinquent donations in December to meet the budget goals this year, while finance committees look ahead to another year, and another budget that needs balancing.
There are many demands for our time and money and as a church family we’re quite generous with both. But before we slow down and find the quiet center of the miracle of Christmas, there’s one more meeting we should put on our calendars. On December 14th at 11:30 AM, following the 10 AM worship service, our church will hold its annual charge conference. I know what you may be thinking: “It’s just another meeting and I don’t need to be there.” Let me ask you to reconsider if that thought is crossing your mind. Here’s why.
The annual church charge conference is the one time each year when all members of local United Methodist churches gather together to evaluate how we’re doing as a faith community, and where we’re going in the year ahead. We make Important decisions on ministries and spending, confirm the committees that will carry out our goals in the new year, and we also celebrate the lives of people who have passed. It’s the one time each year when the district superintendent visits the church to help us understand how God is working within our church family. Quite simply, charge conference is when we pause to evaluate how we’re connecting to what God calls us to do.
There’s a movement this year to refer to the charge conference, as the ‘change’ conference because we’ve seen a lot of changes and more are on the way. We welcomed a new pastor this year and there are new challenges for our church next year. We’re unsure how we will finance all the needs of our ministries, especially in these uncertain times. It’s also a time when committees and responsibilities change because church members can burn out in service and need fresh new opportunities to serve.
Some critics say the United Methodist Church has too many organizational layers, but all that organization serves a purpose and a method that allows United Methodists to actually get things done. If you’ve ever tried to read The Book of Discipline that outlines in over 720 pages the structure of the United Methodist Church, you know it can be a rather dry read. It goes on for several pages describing the charge conference of a local church and all that it should accomplish, but here’s the important part: “The basic unit in the connectional system of the United Methodist Church is the charge conference.”
The charge conference is “the connecting link between the local church and the general church and shall have general oversight of the church council(s)…. The primary responsibilities of the charge conference in the annual meeting shall be to review and evaluate the total mission and ministry of the church….”
As members of the church, we have a responsibility to be part of that evaluation. Whether we call it charge or change conference, attendance at this meeting has traditionally been low over the years, and that’s unfortunate. Not every member can be there. There always will be legitimate commitments that prevent a member from attending, but let’s hope we’re really surprised by the turnout this year and the sanctuary will be filled with people eager to participate in forming a direction for our church for the new year.
If exercising our right to vote is paramount to good citizenship, it’s also vital to good membership in our Lord’s house of worship. Mark your calendar for December 14th at 11:30 AM.
