By Janelle Walker, Director of Communications
The 11th session for the Susquehanna Annual Conference was held on Saturday, October 3, 2020. For the first time in Conference history the event was held virtually. The online session consisted of essential business.
Time of Centering
The conference began with a Time of Centering video produced by Jason Moore of Midnight Oil Productions. The video took a look back at the themes of the quadrium which included a spoken word reading from former District Superintendent, Rev. Dr. Kathleen Kind. Throughout the video we are reminded of the overarching theme of “Better Together”, which was broken down into the more specific themes of Make Us One, One with Christ, One with Each Other, and One in Ministry to all the World. The video ends with words from Bishop Jeremiah Park, discussing the twists and turns of 2020. From the pandemic and the anticipation of General Conference, to ongoing racial injustice, Bishop Park ended on this note “We know that God sent Jesus to let the world know that God loves the world. There’s nothing whatsoever in all creation that can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Indeed, “there is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.” (1John 4:18) Brothers and sisters in Christ, take heart. God’s love in Jesus Christ makes us conquerors of fear. Jesus is in the boat. The living God is among us. Our living God is still doing amazing things among us today. We can do all things through God who strengthens us. Best of all, God who loves us is with us. Amen!”
Annual Conference Session
Bishop Jeremiah Park called the 11th session of the Susquehanna Conference to order. Given the change in format this year, the Conference began by practicing submitting ballots virtually with David Wood and the team at Good News TV.
The conference then moved to the business of organizing the Ecclesiastical Session Revised Rules and Procedures and their adoption. Rules were updated to include stipulations for telephone or online conferencing. Conference Secretary Cindy Weaver motioned to adopt the Rules and Procedures, which were then seconded and adopted. Secretary Weaver also reported that there would be “no consent calendar this year because it has been previously announced that this conference will be handling essential business only. For this reason, motions from the floor will not be in order.”
Rev. Suzanne Elliot, Chair of the Board of Ordained Ministry, moved that those ordained ministers from other annual conferences or Methodist denominations who are approved for appointment in the Annual Conference, while maintaining their conference or denominational membership, be granted voice at this Annual Conference. The motion was approved.
Next, Rev. Elliot, moved that clergy in good standing in other Christian denominations who have been approved to serve appointment or ecumenical ministries within the bounds of the Susquehanna Annual Conference while maintaining their denominational affiliation be granted voice and accorded voting rights within the Annual Conference. The motion was approved.
Rev. Barry Robison, Dean of the Bishop’s Appointive Cabinet, motioned to adopt the agenda. The motion was approved.
Nominations Report
Rev. Judi Herrold, Chair of the Nominations Committee, presented their report. The report had a few additions and corrections. The move to adopt the report was accepted.
Big Picture Financial Team Report
Over the past year, a team of representatives from conference financial committees, Cabinet, and Connecting Ministries sat to examine the sources of conference funds as well as essential expenditures. The team’s goal was to find the best way possible to fund ministry moving forward. Rev. Victoria Rebeck, Director of Connecting Ministries, presented a brief wrap of the team’s findings that shaped the decisions of the Financial Boards.
Equitable Compensation
Rev. William Pipp, Chair of the Commission on Equitable Compensation, presented their report. The motion put forth was to adopt the committee’s recommended parsonage standards and to adopt the committee’s recommendation on no minimum salary increases. The motion was adopted.
Board of Pensions and Health
Rev. Michelle Bodle, Chair of the Board of Pensions and Health, presented several motions in the committee’s report. Motion 1: Setting the annuity rate for 2021 for those with pre-1982 years of service; Motion 2: Years of service and pension of those clergy who retired since 2019 AC; Motion 3: Rental/housing allowances for retired or disabled Susquehanna Conference clergy. All motions were adopted.
Council on Finance and Administration
Rev. Timothy Baer, Chair of the Council on Finance and Administration, presented multiple motions, including the election of Conference Treasurer Mark Knecht, recommended benevolence goals, recommended Special Sunday offerings, and the 2021 budget. All motions were approved. The approved 2021 budget was $10,656,310, which decreased by $1 million from the previous year.
Board of Trustees
Rev. Mark Shover, President of the Board of Trustees, presented the report for the board. There were two disaffiliations approved by the conference (1) Singers Gap United Methodist Church and (2) Waterfall Zion United Methodist Church.
Advance Specials
Rev. Andrew Burd-Harris, Chair of the Conference Board of Global Ministries, present the board’s report. All Advance Specials were adopted by the Conference.
Executive Clergy Session
Bishop Park and Rev. Suzanne Elliot led the Executive Clergy Session online on September 22, 2020. Provisional member clergy who have been approved for ordination by the Board of Ordained Ministry were voted into full membership as elders in the annual conference. Ordination candidates are: Dilip Abayasekara, Timothy Parker, Denise Haskins, David Keyworth, John Mackey, and Robert Marsh. Commissioning candidates are: Tammy Blose, Todd Christine, and Hannah Sledge. Historic questions were recorded prior to the service and shown during the Annual Conference Session. Rev. Gary Shockley, Director of Equipping Vital Congregations was also approved to become a member of the Susquehanna Conference. Ordination was held virtually on November 7, 2020.
Visit www.susumc.org/annual-conference for 2020 Annual Conference information, reports, videos, and more.
