Final Report from South Georgia Annual Conference
(From the South Georgia UMC Website)

South Georgia Annual Conference

Wrap-up



South Georgia Annual Conference

June 6-9, 2004, Macon



Faithful, fruitful and bold were the words resonating through the halls at the South Georgia Annual Conference as members celebrated what God is doing in and through South Georgia United Methodists. The conference convened at the Macon Centreplex June 6-9.



“Live the Vision: Faithful, Fruitful and Bold” was this year’s theme, which follows up from the 2003 session when God’s vision for South Georgia United Methodism was articulated and embraced.



There was a sense of excitement as members heard nine “Vision Celebration Moments” scattered throughout the agenda. These moments provided a sample of the dynamic work God is doing in churches of all sizes and locations and in the various conference ministries that flow out of South Georgia United Methodism.



Members also spent time together in worship with Bishop Paul A. Duffey, retired Bishop. Bishop Duffey was the pastor at Dothan First UMC in the Alabama-West Florida Conference when South Georgia’s own Bishop B. Michael Watson answered the call to ministry. Bishop Duffey preached at both the opening worship service Monday morning and the Monday night ordination service.



Also this year, in conjunction with Annual Conference, nearly sixty youth participated in “Mission Macon,” a service project camp. These youth worked in various setting throughout the community painting houses, feeding the homeless, landscaping, and conducting activities for mentally handicapped individuals. On Tuesday evening, over 500 youth gathered for the first ever Annual Conference Youth Rally. The David Crowder Band led worship and Doug Herman brought the message. A youth presence was further felt as the conference’s summer youth leadership team led the morning worship services at Annual Conference.



In other actions, members:



Engaged in two interactive Bible studies on faithful stewardship led by the Rev. Mike Ricker, clergy member of the South Georgia Conference.

Presented the Rev. Daniel Wandabula, dean of superintendents of the United Methodist Church in Uganda, over $48,000 for Humble Place. Humble Place is a mission devoted to the construction and operation of a comprehensive living facility for orphans in Uganda, East Africa. This money was a collective offering from churches all over South Georgia.

Elected leaders for the next quadrennium.

Approved a budget of $11 million.

Celebrated the progress being made in new and revitalized congregational development, including ten Hispanic ministries.

Presented the Rev. Jim Giddens and Dr. Charlene Black the Denman evangelism awards.

Heard a report from the General Conference delegation. The delegation expressed their continued support for the conference’s Episcopal nominee, the Rev. James Swanson. Rev. Swanson is the first African American to be nominated as a candidate from South Georgia and was also the first African American to lead the delegation to General Conference.

Recognized the faithful service of former staff members and committee members of the Council on Ministries. Last year the conference voted to restructure, replacing the Council on Ministries with the Office of Connectional Ministries.

Passed a resolution expressing support for laws which define marriage as existing only between one man and one woman.

Received $10,156 from the United Methodist Publishing House for the pension fund and then voted to give this money to be utilized for clergy pensions in the central conferences.



Six people were commissioned, and seventeen were ordained – nine as full elders, one as full deacon, three as probationary deacons, and four as associate member deacons. Fifteen pastors retired, and three were recognized for achieving their 50th anniversary in ministry.



Membership stands at 139,917, down 1,419 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 53,537, up 145.