AC DAILY

Friday, June 7, 2024

KEARNEY -- The Great Plains delegation to General Conference recapped their two weeks in Charlotte, North Carolina, and explained some of the outcomes on Friday morning.

“People look at you and see you’re one of the leading annual conferences,” Rev. Adam Hamilton, delegation chair, told conference members, calling General Conference “an exciting time to be a United Methodist.”

General Conference was a watershed moment for LGBTQ rights, as restrictive language was removed from the Book of Discipline, as well as restrictions for same-sex weddings in churches or performed by UMC pastors and taking away prohibitions for queer clergy.

“Very few moments have been as profound in my life,” said Jesi Lipp, a member of the UM Queer Caucus and a laity delegate.

Rev. Amy Lippoldt, chair of the South Central Jurisdiction episcopacy committee, praised the conference for giving her and others roots in leadership.

“You have nurtured us and helped us grow as leaders,” she said. “It has been beautiful, and it has been holy. It has strengthened us for mission and ministry.”

Hamilton said the long-held belief was that the power of the South Central Jurisdiction was centered in Texas, but that has changed.

“Today I say the kingdom of God and the capital of The United Methodist Church is in Kansas and Nebraska,” he said.

Jurisdictional laity elected

Five vacancies in the Great Plains Conference laity delegation to the South Central Jurisdictional Conference were filled on the first ballot Friday morning.

All five received the requisite number of votes, with no further voting needed.

Laity who will join the Great Plains delegation in Rogers, Arkansas, July 10-12, will be, from left:

Ben Jones, director of discipleship at Pratt First UMC.
Jim Oliver, a member of Resurrection, a United Methodist Church, and former member of several boards and committees at Wichita East Heights UMC.
Char Pyle, a youth member of Papillion St. Paul’s UMC.
Mary Brooks, Lyndon UMC, Five Rivers District lay leader and Lay Servant Ministries director for the Five Rivers District.
Liz Collins, a member of Manhattan College Avenue UMC, who has been active at KU Wesley.

Minimum salary gets 3% increase

The minimum salary for clergy will increase by 3% after a recommendation from the personnel committee.

Rev. David Livingston, committee chair, said that from 2020 to 2023, pay for pastors increased 10% while national jobs on average increased 19%.

“It’s the smallest increase we can reasonably request,” Livingston said, keeping budget cuts to the conference in mind.

The new minimum salaries will be:

Full elders and deacons -- $51,540
Provisional deacons and elders -- $48,747
Associate members -- $45,953
Licensed local pastors -- $43,160

Churches celebrate anniversaries

Milestone anniversaries were celebrated for churches in the conference.

Kansas: Chanute (125), Colony (150), Eudora (125), Mankato Harmony (150), Phillipsburg (150), Powhattan (125).

Nebraska: Auburn (150), Boelus Grace (125), Elwood St. Paul (150), Franklin (150), Milligan (100), Republican City (125).

Conard saluted for BOOM work

Rev. Andrew Conard closed out his four-year term as chairman of the Board of Ordained Ministry, which included the largest number of ordinations in conference history a few years ago.

Conard was saluted by his successor, Rev. Changsu Kim, for “leading us through difficult times,” and Conard received a standing ovation.

Clergy honored in retirement

Dozens of clergy representing hundreds of years of mission and service were saluted on their retirement.

They received recognition on the floor of the plenary session Friday afternoon and were guests for a dinner Friday evening.

Clergy retiring are Trudy Kenyon Anderson, Linda Bolz, Thomas Brady, Kristopher Brinlee, Maria Campbell, Lance Carrithers, Richard Chrisman, Robert Clemence, Cathy Cole, DeMerle Eckart, Ed Flener, William Gies, John Green, Pamela Harris, Melinda Harwood, Cynthia Karges, Kelly Karges, Thomas Lucas, Michael Marion, Jo Mead, Jerre Nolte, Richard Randolph, Pamela Savery, Lori Schwilling, Mary Scott,

Lynn Sifrit, David Smith, Paul Smith, Rick Souter, Daniel Spearow, Rebecca Stredney, Sergio Tristan, Lee Wigert, Paul Wilke and Kelly Willoughby.

Retirees from 2020 and 2021 were also recognized: Steven Cole, Lee Johnson, Nancy Lambert, Kenneth Parker, Randy Quinn, Warren Schoming, David Shrum, Geniese Stanford, Debra Tompsett-Welch.

Saturday schedule

8:30 - 9:15 am	Morning Worship with Youth	Silver Ballroom
9:20 - 10:10 am	Business Reports: Districting Task Force	Silver Ballroom
10:15 - 10:25 am	Break	Pre-Function Area
10:30 - 12:00 pm	Post Disaffiliation Support Reports: Congregational Excellence One Matters & Denman Evangelism Diversity, Equity & Inclusion	Silver Ballroom
12:00 - 1:30 pm	Lunch Ordination Rehearsal Non-Program Lunch Mercy & Justice Lunch	? Silver Ballroom Gold (1-3, 7-9) Gold (4-6, 10-12)
1:30 - 3:00 pm	Reports: Clergy Excellence Report Mercy & Justice Communications Oral Histories CFA Budget Action Commissioning of Interns	Silver Ballroom
3:10 - 3:30 pm	Break	Pre-Function Area
3:30 - 5:50 pm	AC Staff Recognition/Reports: Nominations Administrative Services Board of Trustees Petitions & Resolutions	Silver Ballroom
6:00 pm	Ordination Celebration & Dinner