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- Annual Conference 2022 kicks off at Lake Junaluska.
- Information from the Friday Conference Plenary Business Session.
- Opening worship with guest preacher Rev. Dr. Edgardo Colón-Emeric, Dean of Duke Divinity School.
- Celebrating the 2020, 2021, and 2022 Ordination and Commissioning classes.
- Means Of Grace podcast live panel discussion at Panacea CoffeeHouse discussing the future of The UMC.
- Join us Sunday, June 19th, following Annual Conference for a Juneteenth Gospel Celebration!
- Don't miss these upcoming webinars and events.
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Annual Conference 2022 Kicks Off In-Person at Lake Junaluska
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Thank you for joining us at Lake Junaluska for the Western NC Conference of The United Methodist Church Annual Conference 2022! Here are some updates, reports, photos, and more from the first few days of AC2022.
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Conference Plenary Business Session
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In emotional remarks to an audience of WNC clergy and lay delegates, Bishop Ken Carter called on United Methodists to remain committed to the denomination as it faces division over the issue of homosexuality.
Bishop Carter, presiding over his first Annual Conference, urged listeners to adopt a counter-cultural mindset that commits the Church to the urgent work of dismantling racism and injustice.
“You are never going to find a church where everyone is in 100 percent agreement with you,” Bishop Carter told the assembly in Stuart Auditorium. “You will never find a pure form of church – that’s not what holiness is. My hope is that as imperfect as our local church is, you will stay, lean into the differences, listen and learn to love God and other people more. I believe that is actually the journey to holiness.”
The Church, he said, should take a lead role in advocating for solutions to urgent national challenges such as racial injustice and gun violence. Bishop Carter noted that his 10 years as bishop in the Florida United Methodist Conference included the Trayvon Martin shooting in Sanford, a mass shooting that left 49 people dead at a gay nightclub in Orlando, and a shooting at a high school in Parkland that resulted in 17 fatalities.
The United Methodist Church, he said, should find ways to integrate doctrines that are ancient with realities that are in the present. “Our Church will do this, because that’s what a living faith is,” he said.
This is a difficult time for the denomination. After decades of rancorous debate over the ordination and marriage of LGBTQ United Methodists, traditionalist groups in May announced plans for a new denomination called the Global Methodist Church.
“If you are here,” Bishop Carter told the audience in Stuart Auditorium, “we’re asking you to remain.”
The afternoon business session stretched for two hours as speakers presented procedural matters and laid out Conference priorities. Ten ordinands, deacons and elders took the stage to answer the Historic Questions that have been asked of Methodist preachers since the time of John Wesley.
Rev. Lynda Ferguson, chair of the Board of Ordained Ministry, celebrated the 32 new local pastors to the WNC Conference.
“This holy work enables congregations and extension ministries to have persons who are trained and educated in Wesleyan doctrines, and able to articulate and live out a call to ministry,” she said.
Bishop Carter’s wife, Pam, drew warm applause after an address centered on her journey to the United Methodist faith. A native of Kernersville, Pam grew up in a family of Baptists.
“I wasn’t always a United Methodist, but I got here as quick as I could,” Pam Carter said.
Despite their joy in returning home to North Carolina, Bishop Carter said the dual appointment brings its share of logistical challenges.
“I do ask for your patience in serving both conferences,” Bishop Carter said. “There is simply a limit sometimes to the work that can be done in two different places.”
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Opening Worship with Guest Preacher Rev. Dr. Edgardo Colón-Emeric
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Opening Worship: Service of Holy Communion of the Western NC Annual Conference took place on Friday morning, June 17 at 10:30am at Stuart Auditorium at Lake Junaluska. We had the pleasure of hearing from guest preacher Rev. Dr. Edgardo Colón-Emeric, Dean of Duke Divinity School, worshiping with the musicians from The Greensboro Ensemble and The Greensboro Korean UMC Praise Team led by Mr. Jarvis Wilson, and partaking in Holy Communion together.
The service consisted of beautiful music led by The Greensboro Ensemble and The Greensboro Korean UMC Praise Team. The Greensboro Ensemble opened with a Choral Call to Worship, performed the Song of Preparation before the sermon, and provided the Communion music. The Greensboro Korean UMC Praise Team shared their talents with us during The Offertory. Both groups moved those in Stuart to their feet in worship and celebration of being together after three years of being apart.
Rev. Dr. Colón-Emeric’s message “After Pentecost” mirrored the 2022 Annual Conference theme of Connect, Imagine, Engage. He encouraged us to Reconnect with Jesus, Reimagine the Mission, and Re Engage the Spirit.
The first of Rev. Dr. Colón-Emeric’s points of “Reconnecting with Jesus” centered around not losing trust and relationship with Jesus. We need some upper rooms in our lives where we can truly connect with the divine and listen. However, “the upper room can never become a fortress” meaning we should never act above those around us but instead walk alongside them.
The second point of “Reimagine the Mission” discussed not being afraid of wounds. “We do not hide from bloody wounds, we dress them.” We are called to reimagine the mission from the margins.
The final point of Rev. Dr. Colón-Emeric’s message was “Re Engage the Spirit”. He talked about how Jesus still dreams for us. “He dreams that we will be one.” The United Methodist people come from a legacy of dreams. We are called to dream for those who are unable to dream. What future can there be for disciples who fear their own?
The Offering from the Opening Worship Service was collected for renovations to Stuart Auditorium and for the Both/And initiative. Learn more about the Both/And initiative HERE.
The service wrapped up with Holy Communion led by Bishop Ken Carter and Rev. Dr. Edgardo Colón-Emeric. They took turns reading The Great Thanksgiving with Rev. Dr. Colón-Emeric reading some parts in Spanish. Everyone in the auditorium took part in Holy Communion together as one.
Thank you to those that planned, led, and participated in Opening Worship at The WNC Annual Conference 2022!
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Celebration of the 2020, 2021, and 2022 Ordination and Commissioning Classes
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In February of 2020, numerous candidates for commissioning and ordination in the WNC Conference received the good news that they had been approved by the Board of Ordained Ministry and would be recommended to the Annual Conference for commissioning and ordination. But, before we could all travel to Lake Junaluska for our annual gathering, news bulletins began talking about a virus spreading rapidly around the globe. Only a few short weeks after these candidates achieved this notable ministry goal, one they had been working towards for nearly a decade, they received word that there would be no in-person Annual Conference in 2020.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the WNCC met virtually for Annual Conference for two years. The candidates for ministry waited.
In the summer of 2021, with strict safety measures in place and a very limited guest list, the ordination and commissioning classes of 2020 and 2021 were finally able to walk across the stage in Stuart Auditorium to kneel before God, the Bishop, their mentors in ministry, their family and friends, and the members of the Western North Carolina Conference as they took on the mantle of ordained ministry.
This summer, as we are finally able to gather once again as the larger body, the Board of Ordained Ministry wanted to honor and celebrate these clergypersons and their unique, and in many ways painful, journey towards ordination and commissioning. That was the backdrop of the 2022 Hats Off Clergy Celebration!
On Thursday evening, WNCC clergy and their families celebrated in a style only the fun-loving people of the WNC Conference can pull off - with popcorn, Pelicans snow cones, a bounce house, lawn games, and of course, a wide variety of fun and festive hats.
To the ordination and commissioning classes of 2020, 2021, and 2022, we say a hearty, “Hats off to you!” We are so grateful for your service in the Western North Carolina Conference and celebrate your devotion to your calling and the God who calls you. Well done, good and faithful servants.
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Did you miss Wednesday's edition of E-News?
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Means of Grace Podcast Panel Discussion
Panacea Coffeehouse in Waynesville is a popular location for morning coffee and midday pick-me-ups. But as an evening gathering place for nearly 75 United Methodists from across Western North Carolina? Not usually. On Thursday evening, however, that’s exactly what it became. Bishop Carter, along with a group of WNCC clergy of various races, ages, genders, and ministry roles invited the members of the Annual Conference to listen in on their conversation about the future of the UMC. Their goal was to answer a question you may have asked yourself a time or two – will there be a place for me in the continuing United Methodist Church.
The conversation began with host, Kara Harvey Chamberlain asking the panel a simple but profound question – What is your faith story? Panelist Rev. Dr. Sam Moore, Yadkin Valley District Superintendent, shared his story of growing up in the church, experiencing a call to ministry, and living full circle as he was appointed to his home church where he became his mother and father’s pastor.
Rev. Melissa Lowe shared her story of struggle and heartache, losing their infant son at 5 ½ months old and learning she had a brain aneurism, among other griefs. What she learned during this time was this – “No question is off-limits with God…just like wrestling with our muscles helps to strengthen them, wrestling with our pain and questions helps to strengthen our faith.”
Later, Kara asked the question on everyone’s minds. With so much division and strife in our world, our churches, our denomination, how do we remain One Church and how can we be sure there is a place for everyone in the continuing UMC?
Rev. Patrick Neitzey shared a story about two former church members – one a young “classic Asheville hippie,” the other retired and more traditional. When the young man learned he had cancer, however, the only person available to give him a weekly ride to his treatments was the retired traditionalist. Each week these two men spent hours in the car together having conversation.
“They expanded each other’s minds,” Rev. Neitzey said. “They didn’t change each other’s minds, but they expanded each other’s minds…In all things, we have never disagreed on the Imago Dei in someone else.”
The word that kept recurring all night, was grace. Grace is what brought them to the United Methodist Church. Grace is what they love about the United Methodist Church. Grace is why they will stay in the United Methodist Church.
We are reminded of these words from St. Augustine: In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love.
Grace is essential. We remain united on that fact. The image of God lies in the eyes of our neighbors. That is essential. We remain united on that. And God’s love is more expansive than we can ever comprehend. In all things, love.
While there is much that divides us, there is so much more that unites us. There is a place for you in the continuing United Methodist Church, and we can’t wait to see how Grace will shine through you.
Want to hear more of this inspiring conversation? The full panel discussion will air on the WNCC podcast, Means of Grace, this Tuesday, June 21, 2022. You can listen to this episode and all past episodes of Means of Grace at www.wnccumc.org/meansofgrace or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Join Us for the Juneteenth Celebration Following AC2022
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Join us Sunday, June 19th, following Annual Conference for a Juneteenth Gospel Celebration in the Nanci Weldon Open-Air Gym at Lake Junaluska. There will be music, worship, food, and fun for the whole family! More info on the celebration HERE.
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Copyright © 2022 Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, All rights reserved.
Where to find us:
Western North Carolina Conference
13924 Professional Center Dr, Ste 200
Huntersville, NC 28078
Mailing Address:
PO Box 2757
Huntersville, NC 28070
Phone: 704.535.2260
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