2009 annual conferences
address social justice issues
Justice issues found their way to the floor for deliberations at many United Methodist annual conferences during their sessions in 2009. These issues went well beyond the 32 constitutional amendments received for consideration from the 2008 General Conference.
The reports on this page focus primarily on activities related to conference boards of Church & Society. More comprehensive articles about each annual conference can be found online at Annual Conference Reports.
The following information is drawn from several sources, including conference Church & Society leaders, United Methodist Communications and General Board of Church & Society staff members, who attended several sessions. The reports are organized by jurisdiction. All annual conferences are listed, although some are NIA (No Information Available) pending a report.
North Central Jurisdiction
Dakotas — NIA
Detroit
Passed a resolution calling for protection of wetlands and natural conservation of land in the United States.
Passed a resolution asking the Obama administration and U.S. Congress to create a peaceful economy:
“Expend greater effort on diplomacy and nuclear disarmament,” and
Reinvest those tax monies in societal improvement programs.”
Passed a resolution commending the Firestone Natural Rubber Co. for cooperation with the government of Liberia. The resolution also encouraged additional labor and environmental reforms.
Former GBCS Wesley Seminary intern the Rev. Paul Perez, a pastor in the conference, preached during one of the plenary sessions.
GBCS’s Director of Annual Conference Relations, the Rev. Clayton Childers, greeted the conference. He also spoke on the “Health-care Crisis in the United States,” at the Church & Society dinner.
East Ohio
Approved a resolution establishing “Environmental Awareness Sunday.”
Passed a resolution urging conference members to no longer use the term “Third World” to refer to people of former colonial countries because it is offensive.
Illinois Great Rivers — NIA
Indiana — NIA
Iowa
Bishop Julius Trimble, a former GBCS board member, preached on “One Step Beyond Caution” at the Ordination Service. He said: “Caution limits difficult questions, avoids all conflict, preaches only favorite texts … encourages you to avoid the call for justice … keeps you from declaring that it’s not right to ignore the world outside our doors; it’s not right for children to be hungry in Uganda or neglected in Iowa.”
Minnesota
Approved development of curriculum that promotes a just-and-lasting peace with equal rights for Palestinians in the Middle East.
Urged all of its churches to study poverty in Minnesota and to address poverty in the communities they serve.
Fulfilled mandate from 2008 conference that only fair-trade coffee be made available during conference breaks. Annual conference members each received a sample of fair-trade coffee and chocolate.
Northern Illinois — NIA
West Ohio
Called upon members of congregations to pray and actively engage in opposing the gambling interests attempting to bring casinos and slots to Ohio.
Established a committee to investigate companies within the conference’s investment portfolio that support occupation of Palestinian territories. The committee is to recommend divestment from these companies.
Passed a resolution on health care that calls on members and congregations to do the following:
Live healthier life styles;
advocate for just health-care policies at the state, national and global levels; and
engage in health-care justice Sabbaths.
Educational events:
- Workshop on Just Health. Leaders: Robin Knowles Wallace, professor at Methodist Theological School in Ohio professor; Deborah Archie, Church & Community Worker; and Jon Peterson, former state legislator. Covered health care in the nation and Ohio; how to incorporate health-care reform and justice into worship and congregational life; how to effectively engage elected representatives. About 40 persons attended.
- Workshop on Immigration. Leader: the Rev. Ryan Grace, who created a DVD on that includes a study guide. The workshop trained attendees in using the DVD as well as provide information about comprehensive immigration reform. About 25 persons attended the breakfast workshop.
Both workshops resulted in enlisting advocates for West Ohio’s newly forming health-care and immigration networks. Postcards supporting immigration and health care reform were available for participants to sign. They were sent to Ohio’s U.S. senators.
Ministry Fair had a table focused on different justice networks: health care, immigration, public education, predatory gambling and creation care. People signed up to join the networks. Postcards for Sens. Voinovich, Brown and Gov. Strickland were available for people to sign. The postcards were mailed following conference.
GBCS’s Linda Bales Todd attended a luncheon jointly sponsored by Methodist Federation for Social Action, Black Methodists for Church Renewal and the Urban Network. Bishop Joe Sprague preached. He spoke prophetically about racism, heterosexism and the need to love our neighbor.
The Revs. Dee Stickley-Miner, GBCS board member, and John Wagner, chair of “Let Justice Roll” had a table at the conference Mission Fair. The table had information about gambling and education. Todd joined them to promote Operation Healing Hope, a United Methodist campaign to end obstetric fistula. West Ohio is one of 10 annual conferences involved with this initiative.
West Michigan — NIA
Wisconsin
The annual conference session received a “Conference Letter” from the Board of Church & Society promoting social action issues and encouraging an affirmative vote on constitutional amendments.
Northeastern Jurisdiction
Baltimore-Washington
Approved a statement on sexuality that stated: “Faithful thoughtful people who have grappled with this issue deeply disagree with one another; yet all seek a faithful witness.” The statement asks the denomination to “refrain from judgment regarding homosexual persons.”
Paul Monteiro, religious liaison in the White House, recognized the work of the conference during inauguration weekend of President Barack Obama. He expressed appreciation for the work of United Methodists across the country saying, “We will count on you to be that prophetic voice and deal with the many moral issues facing us today.”
Central Pennsylvania
Conference unanimously condemned a proposal being considered at the state house to allow video poker in Pennsylvania restaurants and taverns.
Eastern Pennsylvania
Bishop Peggy Johnson joined members of the Methodist Federation for Social Action and Heeding God’s Call, a faith-based campaign to stop gun violence, in hosting a symbolic “cleansing of the space of the spirit of violence.” The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center had hosted a gun show only days before the conference session began there.
Eastern Pennsylvania was the first conference to ever “offer skilled American Sign Language interpreters, real-time text captioning, assistive listening devices, a large-print reader for those with low vision, and video streaming for those who could not physically attend conference because of physical challenges.”
Urged congregations to support statewide efforts to stop the expansion of gambling.
Greater New Jersey
Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar lifted up the B1 program, a fasting and hunger awareness program from the General Board of Global Ministries that includes an advocacy action component.
The Conference Board Church & Society continues to encourage local churches and individuals "to go Green.” In early March, the board held a workshop to help congregations do their own energy audits. It was decided to continue this type of workshop at District Days of Learning in 2010. The workshops would also include a highlight of issues that congregations and individuals need to know about and ways to be involved.
New York
Hosted a 90-minute session for thoughtful dialogue on human sexuality.
GBCS’s General Secretary Jim Winkler spoke to the session and at the conference’s Church & Society dinner. Over 100 persons attended.
The Conference Board of Church & Society (CBCS) had a prominent display table, which had brisk sales of the new Social Principles booklet. Well over $100 worth of literature was sold , and many pamphlets and flyers were distributed.
The big news is that CBCS, along with many other groups, succeeded at establishing an official Conference Task Force on Immigration, becoming only the fourth conference to do so.
New York West
Passed resolution calling for study and prayerful dialogue on issues of homosexuality and homophobia.
Bishop Marcus Matthews challenged the conference: “We say we want to be a diverse community, but what are we doing to bring in those who are different from us?”
North Central New York — NIA
Peninsula-Delaware
Passed a resolution on “Native American Ministries” calling for “no sending by Federal Express because Resolution #131 passed at 2004 General Conference urges United Methodists not to support sport teams that use Native American symbols. The Washington Redskins home field is known as FedEx Field.
Troy — NIA
West Virginia
The Harry Denman Evangelism award went to Marieta Reel, an obstetric nurse from Peru and lay member of the conference, and the Rev. Judy Vetter. Both have worked extensively with the Hispanic community in Moorefield.
Passed a resolution presented by the Justice & Advocacy team calling for humane comprehensive immigration reform.
Western Pennsylvania
Passed a resolution calling for human immigration reform.
Passed a resolution calling for death penalty reform in Pennsylvania, and a moratorium on executions.
Wyoming
Former Conference Board of Church & Society Chair the Rev. Susan Davis was awarded both the Jefferson Award for Effectiveness in Urban Ministry, along with her congregation at First United Methodist Church, Endicott, and the Guy Leinthall Award for Social Justice Ministry.
Blenda Smith, conference lay leader, highlighted Wyoming’s hosting of “Dismantling White Privilege” workshops attended by more than 400 clergy and laity.
Passed two resolutions:
- Encouraging churches to not use styrofoam for dinners and events, and
- encouraging churches and parishioners to be aware of where their food is coming from, and the health benefits of eating locally and healthy.
Planning a Green Churches Forum Sept. 19.
South Central Jurisdiction
Arkansas
Board of Church & Society co-sponsored with the Board of Global Ministries and Volunteers in Mission a luncheon emphasizing Mission. Dr. Ed Paup, general secretary of the General Board of Global Ministries was speaker.
BCS placed a copy of the new Social Principles at each place and had bookmarks with the Companion Litany to the Social Creed on them. During the program several of the activities of the co-sponsors were highlighted briefly. As a closing Doni Martin, chair of BCS, led the group in the Companion Litany for the Social Creed.
The luncheon was sold out, making it a great success and a good opportunity for education.
Central Texas
Passed a resolution to continue to support the conference Justice for Our Neighbors, legal assistance program, and calling attention to immigration, customs enforcement raids and detentions
Received $10,551 in offering to support four justice ministries:
- Crime Victims Council,
- Methodist Justice Ministry,
- Parents & Children Together, and
- Tarrant County Restorative Justice Center/Home of Greater Joy.
Kansas East — NIA
Kansas West
Conference adopted a resolution on immigration reform that calls for creating a task force to address immigration concerns and develop plans of action. These might include providing material aid, legal services, interpretation, spiritual support, vigils and public witness pointed toward justice and humane treatment of immigrants.
Louisiana — NIA
Missouri
U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Mo., addressed the conference. The United Methodist clergyman is a former mayor of Kansas City, and served for years as pastor of St. James UMC in Kansas City. He will work parttime as a Missouri Conference Assistant to the Bishop for African-American Church Leadership Development.
Nebraska
Guest speaker Bishop Robert Schnase of Missouri Conference challenged the conference saying Baby Boomer’s parents led the charge to keep Sunday off limits to club activities. He said research now shows “motels are full of business people during the weeks, but Friday and Saturday nights belong to sports teams and their families. Even chess club tournaments have their big days on Sunday. Is this a checkmate for church life?”
New Mexico — NIA
North Texas
Passed four important resolutions this year:
- Encouraging churches to continue the commitment to reach the conference’s goal of support for the UMC Global AIDS Fund, (Advance #982345.) North Texas goal is $160,000 by 2012.
- Affirming a plan to establish a conference “Green Team” to resource local church’s Trustees committees with ideas for environmental sustainability of their buildings and sites. This honors our commitment to environmental responsibility and financial stewardship.
- Calling for continued support of Justice For Our Neighbors (JFON), is a faith-driven ministry that welcomes immigrants into our churches and provides quality immigration legal services as part of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). This resolution does not ask for an increase in current funding, but does ask for members of churches to share their gifts and talents with this vital ministry.
- Calling for expanding chaplaincy and prison ministry in North Texas by encouraging churches to explore possibilities of meeting a real need in correctional institutions by ministering to those in prison. There is a need for assistant chaplains and for volunteers to minister through programs such as Kairos and Alpha to local understaffed prison facilities.
Northwest Texas — NIA
Oklahoma
The Conference Board of Church & Society's highlight was formation of the United Methodist Constituent-Advocate Network (UM-CAN) in Oklahoma. UM-CAN’s goal is to have a “constituent/advocate” in each legislative district who will be a face/voice advocating issues with their own legislators from a United Methodist faith perspective per the Social Principles. About 70 delegates signed up to be part of the UM-CAN network during annual conference, with more expressing interest since.
The Conference Board of Church & Society will provide advocacy training during Local Church Leader's Workshops in January and plans to have UM-CAN operational by the Oklahoma legislature's next session in February.
Oklahoma Indian Missionary — NIA
Rio Grande — NIA
Southwest Texas — NIA
Southeastern Jurisdiction
Alabama-West Florida
Adopted a resolution on tax fairness issues in Alabama
Florida
Theme of the conference was “Transforming the World by Cherishing the Creation.” Presentations included Laurel Kearns, associate professor of Sociology of Religion and Environmental Studies at Drew University.
The Rev. Pat Watkins from Virginia served as conference Bible study leader. Watkins is a United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries Church & Community Worker assigned to the Caretakers of God’s creation ministry in the Virginia Conference.
In addition, a “Green Films Festival” was made available to conference members featuring environmental documentaries that examined sustainability and energy use.
Holston
Celebrated the formation of a new “Poverty Action Team.”
Kentucky — NIA
Memphis — NIA
Mississippi — NIA
North Alabama
Reported that the Conference Board of Church & Society’s major accomplishment this year was its regional "Conversations with Bishop Will Willimon on the Iraq War." This involved a series of events that were the result of a petition submitted to the 2006 and 2007 annual conferences that did not have satisfying results. An agreement was reached among the parties to not submit the petition in 2008 in lieu of having several conversations during the 2008/09 conference year.
CBCS used that opportunity and topic to experiment and, it hopes, develop a practice for "Christian Conferencing." The report explains the process and tools used and the results. CBCS continues to develop this practice in addition to debate and dialogue. For more information on this project contact CBCS Chair Chuck Vedane.
North Carolina
Passed a resolution supporting tobacco-free environments.
Passed a resolution supporting overhaul of the national and state criminal justice system.
North Georgia
This year’s conference theme was “Shalom: Christian Disciples Transforming the World Through Health and Wholeness”
Red Bird Missionary — NIA
South Carolina
Joseph Heyward, newly elected president of the Southeastern Jurisdictional Lay Leaders, told the conference that to make a real difference, “we must leave the pews, go out into our neighborhoods, and move the worlds from the pages and into our hearts.”
South Georgia — NIA
Tennessee
Conference Justice for our Neighbors (JFON) ministry was endorsed as a Conference Advance Special.
Feed America First was approved with a contingency.
Conference members dealt with a resolution requiring the display of the American flag and Christian flag and reciting the U.S. “Pledge of Allegiance.” The conference determined that the flag resolution conflicted with Book of Discipline protocols for the opening of conference.
Virginia
Passed recommendations, included in the CBCS report, calling for conversations across the conference about punishment for nonviolent crimes and about economic justice in international loans and trade.
Guest speaker for our Peace with Justice Forum was Tyler Edgar from the National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Program.
Passed resolution on protecting the Chesapeake Bay.
Passed a resolution on energy conservation.
Western North Carolina — NIA
Western Jurisdiction
Alaska — NIA
California-Nevada
Passed the following resolutions:
- Hosting Muslims for Iftar meals on 9/11.
- Urging President Obama and Sec. of State Clinton to appoint envoy to deal with violence in Central Africa.
- Turning from military action in Afghanistan and Iraq to diplomacy.
Co-sponsored a resolution saying that we support the majority opinion at General Conference on changing the wording in the Social Principles on homosexuality to read: “Faithful Christians disagree about homosexuality.” Bishop Warner Brown Jr. ruled the resolution could not be put forward.
Co-sponsored with Methodist Federation for Social Action a dinnerwith Paul Larudee as guest speaker. He addressed the Palestinian/Israeli conflict.
The California-Nevada Conference Immigration Task Force organized an all day train-the-trainer event on immigration ministry, outreach and humane reform.
California-Pacific — NIA
Desert Southwest
Passed resolutions:
“Being in Ministry to All.”
Being a Reconciling and Welcoming Conference.
Human Sexuality, and
A resolution on Solidarity with the Havasupai Tribe.
Oregon-Idaho
Expressed commitment to study and act to abolish the death penalty.
Pacific Northwest
Shalom Agtarap, a pastor in the conference and former intern at the General Board of Church & Society, preached during service led by young adults.
GBCS staff member Linda Bales Todd facilitated “In Defense of Creation” luncheon with Bishop Grant Hagiya, who spoke briefly. Attendees were given opportunity to fill out the form and/or take one home to share with other groups to send in.
Approved following petitions:
- “Caring Communities Program,” local church outreach to persons and families with mental illness; Judy Dirks, author; submitted by Church & Society Team (C&S): 100% concurrence.
- “Immigration,” authored by a team member, submitted by C&S.
- “Torture of Prisoners,” authored by Bob Hughes with letters to U.S. senators and representatives and Judiciary Committee chairs; signed by Bob Hughes and Judy Dirks.
- “Universal Health Care,” authored by team member, submitted by C&S; passed with deletion of “on a single-payer basis in keeping with General Conference resolution.”
- “Elimination of Sentencing Disparities” on crack and powder cocaine, authored by Judy Dirks; submitted by C&S: 100% concurrence.
- “Support for Idaho Human Rights Act Antidiscrimination Amendment,” authored by Judy Dirks; submitted by C&S and Pacific-Northwest Reconciling Ministries Network: concurrence following a strengthening sentence amendment. (For three years, the Idaho Women’s Network has been trying to get the bill printed and out of committee.) Letters were sent immediately following Annual Conference. Letters will also be sent to committee members at beginning of Idaho Session in January.
- “Kairos Prison Ministry,” authored by clergy and laity involved with this ministry. C&S Team worked with the key author on the petition and gave input and support: 100% concurrence.
- Support for Tacoma House, an active place of mission with and to immigrants;
- Two global warming petitions;
- Proposing a Global/World Peace Conference;
- Partnership with the South Congo Area.
Linda Bales Todd was invited to speak to the Laity Session by Amory Peck, conference lay leader and a member of the GBCS Board of Directors. Todd talked about mercy and justice, then four people shared their experiences with mission and advocacy. A young person spoke strongly in support of the Social Principles.
Rocky Mountain
Approved resolution to encourage knowledge of Native American ministry.
Passed resolution urging President Obama to continue to assert leadership towards a diplomatic resolution of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict with a just peace, dignity and security for all concerned.
Yellowstone — NIA
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