holston annual conference

2022 report

(from Rev. Jonathan Jonas) 


1st Church’s Representation

Our elected lay members this year were Lay Leader Julie George, Charlie Barton, Robert Lawson, and Pat Scruggs. However, as annual conference approached, neither Charlie nor Pat were able to attend, but we are so grateful that Kathryn King was willing to serve as an alternate.


Our clergy members of the annual conference were Jonathan Jonas, Sarah Slack, Matt Hall, and Nathan Irwin, and 1st Church members Russell George, Phil Large, Tim Lomperis, Brad Lunde, and Meredith Simpson represented the Smoky Mountain District as at-large members.


Pray Together

The theme of this year’s annual conference was “Pray Together,” and we began Monday and Tuesday with Bible study sessions led by the Rev. Dr. Tom Albin. We are so proud that our associate pastor, the Rev. Sarah Slack prepared inspiring worship settings for each session and service. Just as we have joined our neighbors across the Holston Conference in reading through the Bible, we anticipate opportunities in the year ahead to pray together, both as a congregation and conference.


Unity and Division

The Judicial Council of the United Methodist Church had previously ruled that no annual conference can decide to disaffiliate from the denomination until/unless the General Conference defines such a process. So, there was no such debate or decision at this year’s Holston Conference. There were eighteen petitions and resolutions submitted, which the committee on petitions and resolutions had consolidated into fourteen because of similar submissions. Several of these related to the upcoming General Conference.


Though we had set aside two hours to consider these submissions, the discussion was so involved that we only acted upon two, and the rest will be referred to conference boards and agencies, according to the conference’s standing rules.


Our bishop ruled out of order a motion from the floor that the Holston Conference ask the Judicial Council to rule whether the postponement of the General Conference was constitutional. The conference did not support the motion maker’s appeal of the bishop’s ruling. Another motion from the floor requested that the Holston Conference treasurer make available each congregation’s current share of the conference’s unfunded pension liability, since any disaffiliating congregation would be responsible for this cost before disaffiliating. The conference supported this motion, and the treasurer has since made available the information requested by the motion.


Conference Budget

The conference council on finance and administration has typically pro-rated allocations to each program ministry team according to expected income. This year’s $8.89 million conference budget funds program ministries fully and reduces administrative costs. The council did not increase compensation for district superintendents and has formed a task force for a comprehensive review of conference staffing, facilities, and related costs. The conference’s personnel resource committee and board of trustees are cooperating with the council in this yearlong effort.


MORE ACTION AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE

DISMANTLING RACISM

One of the most gripping presentations came from our Dismantling Racism Task Force. One concrete step the Holston Conference resolved to take toward dismantling racism is to seek to nominate persons of color to fill 20% of conference board and committee membership.

A.T. Chaplain

Our associate pastor Matt Hall is the chairperson of the conference’s Appalachian Trail Chaplain Task Force, and he led the presentation and commissioning of this year’s trail chaplain, Rachel Ahrens Price, who is known on the trail as “Dragonfly.” We are so humbled and grateful that both Matt “Trigger” Hall and Bert “Wildcat” Emmerson have represented 1st Church and the Holston Conference as Appalachian Trail Chaplains in 2017 and 2015, respectively.

worship

After the disruptions of annual conference routines in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID pandemic, it was wonderful to fill Lake Junaluska’s Stuart Auditorium with the sound of voices raised in worship and adoration. We celebrated milestones in ministry through a service of ordination and commissioning, a service and celebration of retirement, and a memorial service. We were delighted to welcome back our former bishop, James Swanson as guest preacher for our Tuesday evening service.

typical business

We also attended to much of the “regular” business of the annual conference by:

  • electing officers, leaders, and committee members,
  • receiving reports from the conference’s boards, agencies, and committees,  celebrating our campus ministries,
  • sharing mission offerings and hands-on mission kits,
  • hearing state-of-the-conference addresses from our bishop and lay leader,  and setting the dates and location for next year’s annual conference.

1ST UMC DELEGATION

RESPONSES TO ANNUAL CONFERENCE

We asked our Delegates to Annual Conference to give us their insight on what happened at the Holston Annual Conference at Lake Junaluska, NC.  

Below you will find some of the delegate's responses.

REV. JONATHAN JONAS

SENIOR PASTOR AT 1ST UMC

In addition to being a clergy representative, Rev. Jonas was also the speaker for the Peace with Justice luncheon. 


Thinking about the theme, "Pray Together" what did this Annual Conference teach you about prayer? 

 I'm especially grateful for Tom Albin's teaching. Of course, one of the most memorable visual teaching moments was his illustration with coffee stirrer, straw, and snorkel, reminding us that prayer provides the breath for our lives of faith. I was particularly grateful for his reminder of some of John Wesley's teaching about prayer--that it need not be spoken or articulated clearly in word or thought--that even deep desire is prayer. I appreciate those reminders of just how broad a concept prayer is.


WHAT WERE YOUR FAVORITE MOMENTS FROM ANNUAL CONFERENCE?

I'm especially grateful for Tom Albin's teaching. Of course, one of the most memorable visual teaching moments was his illustration with coffee stirrer, straw, and snorkel, reminding us that prayer provides the breath for our lives of faith. I was particularly grateful for his reminder of some of John Wesley's teaching about prayer--that it need not be spoken or articulated clearly in word or thought--that even deep desire is prayer. I appreciate those reminders of just how broad a concept prayer is.


THINKING ABOUT THE BUSINESS SESSIONS, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THEIR EFFECTIVENESS? 

I've bragged consistently and repeatedly about Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett's effective presiding. She led us through the agenda--and through some difficult conversations--effectively and efficiently. We adhered closely to the agenda, but she led with compassion and grace, in such a way that I believe everyone felt that they had an opportunity to be heard. It was clear to me that she had prepared well, and for that reason, she was able to be decisive and deliberate. That leadership inspires confidence. Certainly, there were conversations that we simply could not enter into as fully as everyone might have desired because of time restraints. Even so, I believe that we effectively attended to the most crucial business of the annual conference.


FOLLOWING ANNUAL CONFERENCE, WHAT ARE YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT THE STATE OF HOLSTON AC AND THE UMC DENOMINATION?

During the annual conference session, the members of the annual conference honored and respected each other. They allowed their love for each other to shine beyond differences of opinion or principle. In that respect, I believe the conference session was representative of the churches and people of the Holston Conference. We generally recognize the image of God within each other and realize that we are stronger when we act in love and work in cooperation. A minority of people present at the annual conference seemed more interested in division than cooperation. I feel they are representative of the conference and denomination too. The minority is discontent and bent on division. The majority would gladly continue together in ministry.

ROBERT LAWSON

1ST UMC delegate

Thinking about the theme, "Pray Together" what did this Annual Conference teach you about prayer? 

The importance of prayer in growing understanding of each other.


The Bishop’s address. How we are better together.


Years ago, I attended several Baptist Convention. One side was trying to kick the other out. 
Here the conference was trying so hard to work together with respect toward one another.


Following Annual Conference, what are your feelings about the state of Holston AC and the UMC denomination?

Worried but hopeful because the spirit of the people in attendance was to try to work through our differences.

REV. NATHAN IRWIN

1st UMC MINISTER OF DISCIPLESHIP

Thinking about the theme, "Pray Together" what did this Annual Conference teach you about prayer? 

That it is powerful to gather together in worship and prayer. Prayer is a hopeful practice.


Visiting friends on porches with rocking chairs, views of the lake.


Business sessions did what was necessary; this AC seemed to run rather smoothly.


There was a lot of unity evident at AC. The few who are sowing discord seemed to go away frustrated. 
There is still much uncertainty, but I felt that the majority feel that we can do more together.

REV. SARAH SLACK

1st UmC ASSOCIATE PASTOR

Sarah is on the Annual Conference Design Team.  She helped create and execute all of the visual design elements during Annual Conference including the backdrop and altar designs.


Seeing friends, the Memorial Service, and getting to work backstage once again.


The business sessions were well run and informative.


I’m am hopeful for the future of the United Methodist Church. The mission and ministry of the Holston Conference proves we are better together.

MEREDITH SIMPSON

SMOKY MOUNTAIN DISTRICT (AT LARGE)

Thinking about the theme, "Pray Together" what did this Annual Conference teach you about prayer? 

I really enjoyed Bishop Swanson’s sermon at the Mission worship service. He talked about how Jesus had prayed for us and that really stuck with me. If we’re ever struggling with our importance or purpose in life we can remember that Jesus prayed for us before anyone else.


Bishop Swanson’s sermon and praying together as a group after a difficult discussion and vote.


I found the discussions interesting and I liked the way people were able to have their say as long as it was in the guidelines of the rules. I thought, for the most part, discussions were respectful and was thankful to Bishop Wallace-Padgett for her steady and consistent leadership. There were certainly times I felt more could have been done, but overall I found the sessions encouraging and, since it was my first time being there, very enlightening.


I think the UMC denomination has some difficult times ahead, but I was encouraged by the way the people in attendance spoke and voted their hearts. We didn’t all agree (ever, actually) but we stayed and prayed and learned and it was a very nice thing to see. There are probably some changes coming in the next few years, but I hope we can wish each other well and continue to be God’s people in the world.


Meredith adds:
It might be nice if Lay Members at Large were given a little more compensation for their trip. If it's really important to the Conference to get more diverse folks involved (younger members, women, people of color) it shouldn't continue to hold a conference that is financially unavailable to many of those members.  The current per diem doesn't even cover lodging, much less food, gas or the expense of taking off work. 


REV. MATT HALL

1st UMC ASSOCIATE PASTOR

Matt served as a teller during Monday's session and he spoke on Wednesday on behalf of the Appalachian Trail Chaplaincy Ministry. 


Thinking about the theme, "Pray Together" what did this Annual Conference teach you about prayer?

Prayer works... I prayed to get through Annual Conference and we did!!!


Dinner with the lay members one night and chatting with them about the many things going on. 


We did about what I thought we would do.


I felt better about the Conference and the denomination after Annual Conference than I did going in to the event.