iii. daily proceedings of the new york annual conference · pdf fileiii. daily proceedings of...

2014 New York ANNuAl CoNfereNCe - 39D

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III. DAILY PROCEEDINGS OF THE NEW YORK ANNUAL CONFERENCE

A. ROLL CALL

ClergY MeMbers

Estella Abel, Romana Abelova, Glenn Adone, Ebenezer Aduku, Soon Ahn, Gabriel Akinbode, Mark Allen, Richard E. Allen, Esther Amartey-Amarh, Susumu Ando, Yuri Ando, Harold Andrews, Vera Annum, Jessica Anschutz, Bruce A Anspach, Dale Ashby, Stuart Baker, David Ball, Delores Barrett, Michael Barry, Walter Barton, Lynda Bates-Stepe, Glyger G. Beach, Warren Beaven, Sheila Beckford, Magaly Beltre, Caroline Berninger, Carol Bloom, Brian Bodt, Kimberly Bosley, Melissa Boyer, Anne Bracket, Elizabeth Braddon, Trudy Brady, John Brandon, Adrienne Brewington, Gennifer Brooks, Mendis Brown, Karen Burger, Bradley Burns, Dorothy Caldwell, John Capen, Virginia Carle,Thomas Carney, John Carrington, Johnny Ceasar, Susan Chadwick, Jae-Woong Chang, Noel Chin, Kun Sam Cho, Young-chuel Cho, Jin Choi, Young Choi, In koo Chung, David Clegg, Trudy Codd, Kenneth Coddington, John Cole, David Collins, John Collins, Karen Cook, Dorothea Crites, Joseph Crockett, Jody Cross-Hansen, Doug Cunningham, Leo Curry, Matthew Curry, David Czeisel, Alex da Silva Souto, Diana Jani Darak-Druck, Hermon Darden, Eileen Daunt, Steed Davidson, Delois Davis, Arlene Dawber, R. Randy Day, Ed Dayton, Lorraine De Armitt, Mark Del Giudice, Jacob Dharmaraj, Kathryn Dickinson, Nathaniel Dixon, Cynthia Dodd, Scharlise Dorsey, Carol Downs, Larry Dunlap, Leslie Duroseau, Woody Eddins, Florence Eddins, Gordon A. R. Edwards, Richard Edwards, Karen Eiler, Robert Emerick, George Engelhardt, Martha Epstein, Walter Everett, Joseph Ewoodzie, Camella Fairweather-Porter, Karina Feliz, Charles Ferrara, M Craig Fitzsimmons, Eric Fjeldal, Paul Fleck, Vicky A. Fleming, Vicki Flippin, Sarah Ford, Marlene Francis-Jones, Carl Franson, John Fritz, Beverly Furey, Penny Gadzini, Rafael Garcia, John Gerlach, Caroly Gibson, Cathy Gilliard, Sara Giron-Ortiz, Tom Goodhue, Nathaniel Grady, Hilda Graham, Robert Grimm, Thomas P. Grissom, Roy Grubbs, William Hagerty, Juhye Hahn, Zintack Hahn, Gia Hall, Hugh Hamilton, Youngsook Han-Kim, Richard Lawton Hanse, Kristina Hansen, Philip Hardt, Huibing He, Blair Hearth, Eric Henderson, David Henry, David Henry, Lillian Hertel, Robert Hewitt, Paul Hibbard, Gregory Higgins, Janet Hodge, James Hoffman, Bryan Hooper, Edward Horne, Marion Hubbard, Vera Isaacs, Fredric Jackson, Kent Jackson, Roger Jackson, Roy Jacobsen, Michael Jenkins, Ovid Jermin, Sonia Jermin, Tisha Jermin, Wongee Joh, Cedric Johnson, Sabrina Johnson Chandler, Dorett Johnson-Agu, David Jolly, Edwin Jones, Kwangwon Jung, Miyoung Kang, Won Geun Kang, K Karpen, Mel Kawakami, Tammie-Rae Keeler, Darlene Kelley, Robert Kersten, Kenneth Kieffer, Chi Kim, Churl Kim, Dea Kim, Jay Kim, Jin Kim, Kwang-il Kim, Mark Kim, Moonsook Kim, Suhee Kim, Sungchan Kim, YoungJu Kim, YangHee Christine Kim Stopka, Jack King, Gloria King, Victoria Kittoe, Elizabeth Klein, Robert Knebel, Steven Knutsen, Cecile Koppmann, DaleEllen Krazmien, Margaret Laemmel, Chermain Lashley, James Law,

40 - DAilY ProCeeDiNgs of the New York ANNuAl CoNfereNCe

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Simeon Law, John LeCain, Bridgette LeConey, Dai Hoon Lee, Joonwoo Lee, Koonae Lee, Roslyn Lee, Samuel J. Lee, Sungmu Lee, Won Tack Lee, YongBo Lee, Yongyeun Lee, Robert Leibold, Michelle Lewis, Elizabeth Lines, Bernadette Logan, Hal Low, Thomas MacLeod, Douglas Madlon, Arturo Maine, Cynthia Major, George Mangan, David Mantz, Sandra Mantz, Luisa Martinez, Douglas McArthur, George McClain, Evelyn McDonald, Paul Meador, Tony Mecca, Lori Miller, Robert Milsom, Karen Monk, Paul Moon, James Moore, Jose Mora-Gil, Ann Morgan, Beverly Mary A. Morris, Dorothy Morris, Harold W. Morris, Sr, Jennifer Morrow, Patricia Mott-Intermaggio, Sung Moy, Kevin Mulqueen, Barbara Mungin, Delroy Murdock, Debbi Mygatt, Gertude Nation, Linda Kay Nealon, Will Nichols, Maxine Nixon, Derrick-Lewis Noble, Edward Norman, Randolph Nugent, Marjorie Nunes, Dora Odarenko, Carmen Margarita Ortiz, Robert Osgood, Elizabeth Ott, Gene Ott, Randy Paige, Wendy Paige, Constance Pak, Austin Park, WooYoung Park, Iwy Patel-Yatri, Carole Paynter, Ann Pearson, Steven Peiffer, Zhaodeng Peng, Patrick Perrin, Sharon Petgrave-Cundy, Terry Pfeiffer, William Pfohl, Narcisse Philips, Stephen Phillips, Joseph Piccirillo, Denise Pickett, Allen Pinckney, David Piscatelli, Milca C. Plaud, Janet Porcher, Lucy Porter, Willett Porter, Laurence Powell, Matthew Querns, Jason Radmacher, A. Erik Rasmussen, Darlene E.R. Resling, Richard Rice, Timothy Riss, Hector Rivera, Carol Robinson Beaven, Luonne Rouse, Richard Ryley, Charles Ryu, Guerschon Saint Ange, St. Clair Samuel, Peggy Ann Sauerhoff, Matt Schaeffer, Barbara Schaffer, John Senkewich, Wesley Shand, Bill Shillady, Gunshik Shim, Seungho Shin, Gainus Sikes, John Simmons Jr, Robert Simpson, Heather Sinclair, Carrie Smallwood, William Smartt, Denise Smartt Sears, Bette Sohm, Milagros Solorzano, Sung Song, Robert Sorozan, Michael Sparrow, Karin Squires, Wendy Steed, Dee Stevens, Judy Stevens, James Stinson, Cecil Stone, Louise Stowe-Johns, Ian Straker, Scott Summerville, Alpher Sylvester, Kaz Takahashi, Rhonda Taylor, Thomas Theilmann, John Thomason, Robert Thompson-Gee, Jennifer Tiernan-Bindler, Sara Thompson Tweedy, Godfrey Uche, Joseph Upole, Marva Usher Kerr, Joanne Utley, Chuck Van Houten, James Van Schaick, James Veatch, Thomas Vencuss, Eric Vernon, Elisa M. Vicioso, Javier Viera, Westley Villazon, Martha E Vink, Stephen Volpe, Francis Waite, Russell Waldmann, Robert Walker, Joseph E. Washington, Kirtland Watkins, Julia Weidemann Winward, Jeffry Wells, Elaine E. Welsh, William F. Wendler, Traci West, Marcia White-Smith, Elizabeth L. Williams, Gerald Williams, John S. Williams, Susan Woodworth, Min Seok Yang, Ezra Yew, Hwan Yi, Kenny Yi, Julia Yeon Hee Yim, HyoungDock Yoo, Hyo Jung Yoon, Christopher Yount, Moshing Yuen, Charlie Yun

ClergY NoN-MeMbers

Paul Aquavella, Oliverio Barrera, Stefanie Bennett, Dong Hyun Choi, Wesley Daniel, T Anne Daniel, Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar, Rachel Duncan, Esau Greene, George Haigler, III, Peola Hicks, Jeffrey Hooker, Ronell Howard, Bishop Alfred Johnson, Kelvin Jones, Nelson Kalombo Ngoy, Young Hoon Kim, Teresa Ko-Davis, Hector Laporta, Rose Livingston, Kirk Lyons, Bishop Jane Middleton, Paul Minton, Jean Montas, Marvin Moss, Samuel Nketsia, Kathleen Patterson, Morais Quissico, Beverly Peck Risi, Laurel Scott, Ferdinand Serra, Andrea Smith, Paul Smith, Adrian Todd, Linda Willey, William Windom, Donglong Yang


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lAY MeMbers

Jesse Abel, Elizabeth Abel, Gregory Adams, Kenneth Ahlers, Jennifer Alexander, Betsy Allen, Denise Allen, Janice Allen, Marcia Allen, Stephen Allen, Lisa Alterno, Ginny Anderson, Helen Andrew, Kofi Appram, Marilou Arendt, Rebecca Asedillo, Barbara Ash, Laura Ashby, Estella Ashton, Daniel Asibuoh-Sarpong, Barbara Atchison, Lauriston Avery, Lisa Badore, Bonnie Baier, William Baier, Royston Bailey, Sheila Bailey-Jacob, Andrew Bain, Jeffrey Baker, Joan Barham, Janet Barr, Douglas Barry, Anna Bates, Judith Bathrick, Patricia Bayette, Marie Bell, Shernett Bennet-Gayle, Ledelle Bethel, Martha Bishop, Edward Bjork, Fern Blair Hart, Marcia Blake-Davey, Patsy Boisvert, Shirley Bollin, Kerry Borchardt, Elizabeth Borchert, Florence Bosworth, Lisa Bosworth, Jefferson Boyce, Arrie Brandon, Ruby Branker, Alice Brenner, Elnora Brevard, Mary Brevigleiri, Frederick Brewington, Maria Briscese, Michelle Bromfield, Carlene Brown, James Brown, Paul Brown, Peter Brown, Lorna Browne, Evelyn Brunson, Jimmie Buie, Minerva Burgess, Constance Burkhardt, Diane Burkhardt, Landon Butler, Michael Butler, Amelia Byer, Robert J Canora, Beth Capen, Sarah Capers, Dorothea Carson, Dennis Castiglia, Barbara Castleberry, Ellen Caulfield, Emily Celino, Brenda Charpentier, Kimberly Childs, Patricia Chuppe, David Clemens, Michael Cobb, Thomas Coddington, Priscilla Codere, Leeann Coffin, Diana Collier, Richard Collins, Frank Contrera, John Cordero, Gloria Cowan, Ann Craig, Corville Cupid, Dan Dallaire, Kathleen D’Aries, Patricia Dayton, Thomas Delong, Marcia Demos, Steven Derby, michele dexter, Olga Diaz, Junior Dixon, Susan Dolce, John Donlon, Sharyn Donzella, Cora Doram, Nancy Doram, Linda Douglas Smith, Gail Douglas-Boykin, John Downs, Fred Dymek, Barbara Edwards, Betty Edwards, Frankie Edwards, Jane Elgot, Florence Elmore, Carolyn Hardin Engelhardt, Carl Engelhart, Janet English, Jeff English, Gail Erdie, Jean Etienne, Jerry Eyster, Teresa Fields, Elaine Fiore, Dennis Fisher, Dorothy J. Flournoy, Geoffrey Fowler, Ryan Fraleigh, Shirley Francis, Tiffany M. French, Veronica Fulmore Darby, Veronica Fulmore-Darby, Stacey Gallagher, Betty Gannon, Sandra Gardinier, Alan Garman, Erin Gasbarro, Danny Gastelua, Ruth D. Gathers, Lorraine Gering, Susan Gill, Diane Giugliano, Gale Godwin, Gary Gomes, Ana Maria Gonzalez, Susan Goodman, Holly Beth Gorenbergh, Ethel Grant, Valerie Greenaway, Susan Johns Greenfield, Annette Griffith, Michael Gunther, William Haas, Melvin R. Hall, Omar Hall, Purdy Halstead, Ruth Halstead, Carmen Hamilton, Denise R. Hamilton, Patricia Hanbury, Robert Hancock, Jr., Alfred Hanson, Margaret Hanson, Jennifer Harmer, Patricia Harrington, Gloria Harris, Shirley Harrison, Stanley Hartman, Nancy Hauser, Pauline Healy, Janet Heaney, Peter Hein, Ginny Henderson, Deborah Hervey, Gwendolyn Higgins, Johnella Hill, Joyce Hill, Ruth Hill, Cassandra Hinnen, Melissa Hinnen, James Hisey, George Hoag, Lois Hodlin, Christine Hoff, Judy Hoffman, Judith Holcomb, Diane Hornaday, Alan House Jr, Margaret Howe, Bonnie Huey, Raymond Huey, Robert Hunsinger, Nancy Hutchinson, Lynn Iredell, Joan Isaacs, John Isiminger, Denise Jakaitis, Cynthia Johnson, Joan Johnson, Les Johnson, Marguerita Johnson, Mary Johnson, Teresa Johnson, Donna Jolly, Lawrence Jones, Chulwoo Jung, Susan Kalbaugh, Clara Kearse, Priscilla Kerr, Kalaba Kibwe, Thomas Kiely, Jaewon Kim, Susan Kim, Yong Kim, Rose King, Leslie Kirkwood, William Kirkwood, Eugene Knoth, Valorie Koltiz, Timothy Krauss, Mary Ellen Kris, Catherine Kubik, Judith Lang, Paul Lang, Elizabeth Langan, Richard Lavieri, Valda Lawrence, Lorraine Leak,


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Lillian Leary, Dorlimar Lebron Malave, Carol Lee, Sung-ok Lee, Frank Lehmann, Julien Leotaud, Danielle Levine, Evana Lewis, Christine Lindeberg, Fred Lindlaw, Roena Littlejohn, Theresa Lloyd, Gladis I Lobato, George Love, Rebecca Lowe, Kit Mace, Wes MacKenzie, Donna Madden, Maria Maine, Joan Mallory, Margaret Mouzon, Henry McCarter, Patricia McGarry, Lawrence McGaughey, Hazel McIntosh, Elizabeth McNulty, Ken McQuiller, Judith McRae, Christina Mefford, Bruce Meighan, Linda Mellor, Thomas H Mendenhall, Melodye Merola, Rachel Merva, Ivy Mignott, Arletha Miles-Boyce, Derek Miller, Lesleigh Miller, Jean Miller-Reed, Jeremy Mills, Velma Mitchell, Barbara Moody, Daphne Moore, Tracy Moore, William Morse, Louise Mueller, Misao Naito, Caroline Nanton, Vivenne Nation, Ena Nemley, Samuel Newman, Arthur Ng, Noelle Nichols, Harold Niver, Daryl Norman, Paul Odendahl, Kelly O’Hara, Alice Olosunde, Peter O’Neill, May Ott, Ruth Owens, Joyce Palevitz, Terry Parker, Hemlata Parmar, Bobby Pinckney, Charlotte Patton, Sally Pike, Bobby Pinckney, Judith Pitura, Eric Pottinger, Ron Pramschufer, Angela Pratt-Barrett, Keith Price, Linda Primiano, Gillian Prince, Parker Prout, Charles Pyne, Zamzam Quraishy, Hannah Reasoner, Arden Regnier, Victor Remigio, Karen Reynolds, Bill Richardson, William Richardson, Peggie Richnavsky, Diane Richon, Doris Richter, Yvonne Rivera, Lyle Robertson, Joan Robinson, Gail Ross, Charles Roth, Pat Rush, Kevin Rushlo, Marion Sachdeva, Timothy Sampson, Charles Samson, Clythia Samuels, Barbara Sanborn, Erika Sanchez, Robert Saunders, Stephen Schutter, Ernest M Searle III, Maria-Pia Seirup, Hortense Shand, Ann Shifman-Deibler, Eric Shirley, Vanesta Shoy, Robert Silz, Dennis Simmons, Laurie Simone, Claris Skerritt, John Slater, Renata Smith, Shannon Smith, Ellen Snow, Layton Snow, Geraldine Snyder, Mary Solomon, Jean Stevenson, Barbara Stinson, Kathe Strang, Karen Struble, Margaret Struble, Heather Su, Leonila Sumarsono, Brenda Sween, Lamont Taylor, James Teer, Marianne Terchunian, Kathryn Thomas-Gallagher, Linda Thompson, Amy Tompkins, Ross Topliff, Edwin Tournu, Pat Tripp, Adeline M. Tucker, Mitchell Underwood, Leslie Vachon, Deborah Vail, Sylvia Valentine, Marilyn Van Tine, Alexandra Vanderclock, Ximena Varas, Marco A Vasquez, Laura Veatch, Curtis Velsor, Madeline Verzino, Antoinette Vessey, Carol Ann Voeks, Rhonda Wade, Jane Wakeman, Flora Walmsley Vernon, Ann Wareham, Ruth Welch, Warren Western, Pam Wetherbee, Jacquelyn White-Garman, Warren Whitlock, Bill Wilhelms, Carl Williams, Nancy Williams, Ross Williams, Elaine Williams Nelson, Eric Williamson, Carol Wilson, Elaine Winward, Margaret Wise, Elaine Wood, Robert Wood, Cynthia Wright, Lucia Yew, Michael Zukowski

stAff/MusiCiANs

Hannah Arnett, Harold Baird, Neal Bowes, Steve Brown, John Carlson, Francine Collins, Rita Coughlin, Vanessa Cupid, Jeffrey Dobbs, Doug Drewes, Barbara Eastman, Georgia Eastman, Lorna Ethraim, Alfida Figueroa, Barbara Garofolo, Chan Gillham, Lynda Gomi, Claude Gooding, Gina Grubbs, Nikita Hill, Cindy Hospedales, Patricia A. Hylton, Shani Long, Carolyn L. Mc Nair, Brian McQuaid, Justin Mullens, Cassandra Negri, Gregory Nissen, Devan Oates, Shardenay Palmer, Stephanie Parsons, Beth Patkus, Heman Persaud, Stephania Petit, Peggy Racine, Jerome Roberts, Joseph Roberts, Sam Rosenfeld, MaryLynn Salerno, Olga Savage, Kyra Sims, Jean Strong, Susan Tedesco, Pearl Thane, Raymond Trapp, Sallyanne Truglia, Richard Vernon, Wendy Vencuss, Rosemarie Walker, Ian Wharton, Elizabeth Wheeler, David White


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guests/others

Shigeko Akimoto, Grace Akinbode, Susan Amick, Joe Andreana, Deborah Bass, Dorothee Benz, Timothy Bias, Robert Bobb, Dionne Boissiere, Minnie Brandon, Doris K Brooks, Helene Camara, Wayne Carty, Myrna Clinton, Erma Daley, I Del Giudice, Norma Dixon, Emma Doctor, John Donzella, Sally Evans, Benedicta Ewoodzie, Joan Eyster, Myong Cha Ferrara, Shirley Gerow, Gwendolyn Ball Grissom, Judith Hall, Verne Halladay, Karen Harmer, Patricia Holder, Janice Holleny, Zan Wesley Holmes, Jr., JoAnne Jones, Thomas Kemper, Donald Kirby, Bonnie Knapp, Pamela Lightsey, Joan Meade, Sylvia Miller, Carol Morey, Nancy Osgood, Barbara Payos-Piquant, Scott Porter, Peter Preiser, Leslie Reyman, Nancy Rice, David Rim, Wallace Robinson, Edna Rouse, Jordan Scruggs, Vincent Vail, Alison VanBuskirk Philip, John Vey, Doug Walker, Kadrien Wilson, Nancy Zukowski

ClergY MeMbers exCuseD

Code: W – Wednesday, T- Thursday, F – Friday, S – Saturday, M – Morning, A – Afternoon, E- EveningGlenn Adone: F-S, William J. Baugh, Bruce Anspach: S, Betty Beach-Connell, John K. Best, Thomas F. Beveridge, Carol Bloom: TE & S, Kim Bosley: FE- S, Barbara Brand-James, Duane Buddle, John Calhoun, Bruce Carlson, Thomas P. Carney, George H. Carpenter, Hikari Kokai Chang, Kim Chong, David Czeisel: FE-S, Anne C. Davenport, James H. Davis, Arlene B. Dawber: T-S, Cheryl Driscoll, Kristen Dunn, Camella E. Fairweather-Porter: WA, F-S, Kregg Gabor, Laura Galbraith, Edwin (“Ted”) S. Gault, Sara Giron-Ortiz: FE-S, Sara E. Goold, Mazalleu Gorwin, Roy Grubbs: TAE & S, Roy A Hassel, Arthur A. Hewitt, Kevan T. Hitch, Donald A. Hodges, Robert E. Hullstrung, Amanda Iahn, Neal Irwin, Roger Jackson: TE-FA, David Jefferson, Elizabeth Jones, Kelvin Jones: F-S, Lucy Jones: W-F, Chong il Kim, Kwang-il Kim: W & F, Rachel Ye Kim, Thomas (Gye Ho) Kim, Yountae Kim, Carl F. W. Kohn, Sara Lamar-Sterling, Simeon Law: F-S, Enrique Lebron, Ediberto R. Lopez, Kathleen LaCamera Loughlin, Retta L. Lykens, Richard W. Mellerup, Barbara Melzer, Clayton Miller, Lori Miller: FE-S, Karen Monk: W, Jennifer Morrow: S, Elizabeth Mortlock, Douglas Osgood, Landon Owen, Hwi Joon Park, Song Ha Park, Andrew Peck-McClain, Emily Peck-McClain, William Pfohl: TE-FA, Robert P. Reiners, Anne Rossini, John Roy, Kenneth Ruge, Norma A. Rust, Ernesto Sanchez, Walter H. Schenck, Phillip O. Schnell, Susan Outlaw Stallings, Russell Waldmann: WA, Pauline Wardell-Sankoh, Frank D. Wettsten, Ruth Dunn Widmann, Joyce Wilkerson, Dennis Winkleblack, Enock Yatri

lAY MeMbers exCuseD

Code: W – Wednesday, T- Thursday, F – Friday, S – Saturday, M – Morning, A – Afternoon, E- Evening Monique R. Blount, Mark Brady, James Doe, Mazallen Garvin, Cedric Gayle, Lydia Han, Kathy Hanse, Geri Hoernes, Cynthia Jones, Susan Levenberg, Lori Michaud, Robert G. Miller, Amanda Mountain: W-T, S, Elaine Perkins, Patricia Sawyerr-Adewale, Warren Spencer, Jody Spiak, Kent Terchunian, Virgilia Vassell, Mary Watson, Keng Yee Yuen


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B. MINUTES OF THE 215TH SESSION OF THE NEW YORK ANNUAL CONFERENCE

JuNe 4-7, 2014The Prophetic Church:

Pray about it. Talk about it. Be about it.Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11550

Resident Bishop, New York Area: Martin D. McLeePresiding Bishops: Sudarshana Devadhar and Alfred Johnson

Commissioning, Ordination and Recognition Bishop: Jane Allen Middleton

JUNE 4 | WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON

ClergY sessioN

The clergy met at the Adams Playhouse at Hofstra University beginning at 1:13 p.m. The gathering began with Rev. Bob Walker, assistant to Bishop Martin McLee, announcing that the bishop would not be presiding at this annual conference due to illness; the bishop is “receiving medical treatment under a doctor’s care.” Walker noted that the bishop was in good spirits and was eager to return to his duties when treatment is completed.Walker welcomed Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar, episcopal leader of the New England Conference, who would preside over the clergy session and the work of conference through Thursday morning. Rev. Constance Pak offered a prayer for healing and peace.The session continued with worship. Rev. Kenny Yi, superintendent of the Long Island West District, preached a sermon entitled, “Is It Your Vision or God’s Vision?” using Revelation 1:9-20 as his text. He challenged the clergy to receive God’s vision, to have a “Patmos experience” like the Apostle John. Yi said that the ways to receive God’s vision are to hear the voice of God in this noisy world, to see the glory of God in this dark world, and to experience the power of God in this powerless world. The business of the annual conference, section IV questions 17-82, constituted the agenda of the clergy session. See Journal, pages 82-106.

Clergy Ballot #1: General Conference DelegatesBishop Sudarshana called on Conference Secretary Fred Jackson to introduce and facilitate the first ballot to elect delegates to the 2016 General Conference. A numbered list of 597 eligible clergy names was distributed for paper balloting. The secretary announced that the ballots would be scanned immediately so that the results would be available for the first plenary session. The second ballot would be taken electronically using handheld devices.

The clergy celebrated the sacrament of Holy Communion. The session then adjourned.


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lAitY sessioN

The laity session began at 1 p.m. in the Mack Arena at Hofstra University. Live streaming of the conference via the Internet also began at this time to allow viewers to watch from afar. The laity was greeted by the annual conference music team. After the processional hymn, “Welcome,” and presentations at the stage altar, there was a unique call to worship signaling our connectionalism. After the opening prayer by Peter O’Neill, conference director of lay servant ministries, Susan Kim read Colossians 1:15-23. Renata Smith, conference lay leader, offered words of welcome to the body, and introduced Margaret Howe, Catskill Hudson District lay leader. Howe led a prayer for Bishop McLee, who will not preside at annual conference because of health reasons. The people then sang the first three verses of “The Summons.”Mitch Underwood, the associate conference lay leader, explained the qualifications for a lay delegate to the General and Jurisdictional conferences, and opened the floor for new nominations. In addition to those named prior to the start of conference, the following were nominated: Rashid Warner, Yolanda Evelyn, Omar Hall, Michelle Brownsfield Armstrong, Jaewon Kim and Daisy Chavarez. Those nominated before the conference and their church affiliations are Steve Allen (Hyde Park), Dorothee Benz, (Memorial, White Plains), Frederick K. Brewington (Westbury), Carolyn Hardin Englehardt (Cheshire), Robert Hunsinger (Monroe), Dorlimar Lebròn Malavé (Community, Massapequa), Roena Anderson Littlejohn (Golden Hill), Derek P. Miller (Christ Church, Manhattan), Ximena A. Varas (First, Shelton, Conn.), Warren Whitlock (Christ Church, Beacon), Ross Williams (Darien), Rashid Warner (Butler Memorial), Yolanda Evelyn (Metropolitan Community, Manhattan), Omar Hall (St. John’s, Elmont), Michelle Brownsfield Armstrong (Crawford Memorial), Jaewon Kim (Southold) and Daisy Chavarez (Grace, Manhattan). Underwood invited each nominee to speak for two minutes on the question, “Why Do You Feel Called to be on the Delegation?” The final two verses of the hymn, “The Summons,” were then sung by those gathered.Mary Brevigleiri, Connecticut District director of lay servant ministries, introduced speaker Rev. Ann Pearson. Pearson began by leading those gathered in singing “I’ve Got the Joy.”Pearson spoke of her 13 years as the director of connectional ministries for the conference. She continued on to the subject of congregational reminiscing, when a church remembers how the previous pastor did things. She said the congregation should not try to go back to doing things the same way that the previous pastor did.Pearson shared that she had been raised in a rural farm area of Virginia. The Grange Hall there was a central place where people gathered to pick up farming supplies, to socialize, and to sit in the rocking chairs and reminisce. Years later, a bypass caused the traffic through town to shrink significantly. The Grange Hall eventually closed down, yet those same people sat in their chairs, just rocking their time away and not doing anything to change.We need to cut out just reminiscing; it just pulls us down as a church, and causes stagnation in the church, Pearson said. New people coming into the church will hear


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people just reminiscing and not know what they are talking about. They will not feel that they belong, and may feel they can’t participate in the life of the church.Pearson demonstrated connectionalism with a toy chick that uses electrical energy to chirp. A person can cause the chick to chirp themselves. But they can also make the chick chirp by connecting with someone as the energy going from one person to the other completes the circuit.Smith then presented Pearson with a photo book in recognition for her service to the conference as a montage of those photos was displayed behind them on the screen.The session concluded with a hymn followed by a prayer led by Ximena Varas.

JUNE 4 | WEDNESDAY EVENING

oPeNiNg of ANNuAl CoNfereNCe

Rev. Robert Walker, assistant to Bishop McLee, announced that the bishop would not be at the conference due to medical reasons. Bishop McLee asked three other leaders to preside in his stead: Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar, Bishop Albert Johnson, and Bishop Jane Allen Middleton.Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar is the episcopal leader of the New England Conference. Johnson was elected to the episcopacy in July 1996, and was assigned to lead what were then the two conferences in the New Jersey Area. He retired from the active episcopacy in 2004, and a year later was appointed as the lead pastor to bring together three congregations in Greenwich Village as The Church of the Village.Middleton was an elder and district superintendent in the NYAC prior to being elected bishop in 2004. She served the Susquehanna Conference until retiring in 2012.Bishop Devadhar welcomed the body at 7 p.m., and said he was delighted to open the 215th session of the New York Annual Conference “in the name of God the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” The body stood and sang “And Are We Yet Alive.” Devadhar prayed that the conference would show the love and actions of Jesus Christ, and be guided by the Holy Spirit. As the body began Holy Conferencing, a special prayer was also offered for Bishop McLee’s healing.Devadhar presented the revised schedule for the evening.

orgANizAtioNAl resolutioNs Rev. Fred Jackson, conference secretary, presented the following organizational resolutions: 1. That the 2014 Pre-Conference Reports/Petitions/Resolutions to the New York

Annual Conference – designated as “the Conference Program” – is adopted as the order of business subject to such changes as may be deemed necessary.

2. That the presiding bishop be authorized to adjust the hour of recess.3. That the members of the conference wishing to have visitors or other persons

introduced to the body shall arrange with Conference Secretary Jackson permission for such introduction.


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4. That the bar of the conference is the entire main floor, plus the accessibility area on the mezzanine level, with the exception of the sections designated for visitors.

5. That all personal possessions including pocketbooks, tote bags and etc., are removed from the arena at the close of each session; items left behind will be removed by university security personnel.

6. That the following persons are designated as assistant secretaries for this session: Kent Jackson, Evelyn McDonald, Elizabeth Mortlock, Sung Min Moy, Michael Zukowski, and others that the conference secretary may designate during the session.

7. That all persons with motions, amendments, substitute motions, and etc., have them typed or written legibly for submission to the conference secretary. And that all documents for publishing/distribution are cleared through the conference secretary, during the annual conference session.

8. That all commissions, agencies or task forces that require adopted petitions to be sent to government officials or others, provide correct addresses and persons to help mail those copies to those designated by conference action.

9. That the members of the conference from whom communications have been received be excused from all or part of the session, and their names are incorporated in the record.

10. That the Committee on the Examination of the Conference Journal be authorized to review the daily proceedings and report to the conference secretary on the sufficiency and accuracy of the record.

11. That the journal with the daily proceedings, signed by the president and secretary of the conference, shall be the official record of the 2014 New York Annual Conference.

The resolutions were approved by voice vote. Announcements were given by Rev. Jackson distinguishing those eligible to vote in legislative sections: Members with purple and red name tags may sit inside the bar, and members with green and black name tags must sit outside the bar.

CoNfereNCe rules CoMMittee Rev. Gennifer Brooks, chairperson, drew attention to page 4 of the pre-conference report on which Rev. Jacob Dharmaraj had asked for clarification on the official caucuses. He suggested that all five ethnic caucuses as named in The Book of Discipline be included. Brooks stated that this was the intent of the committee and accepted Dharmaraj’s suggestion.Rev. Tim Riss spoke against the change to Rule 92 on pre-conference booklet page 95 concerning the number of names selected on a ballot. It was moved and seconded. Rev. Brooks said she would support either position.Rev. Edward Horne asked for additional explanation from the committee for striking the words “or less.” Brooks stated that it came to the rules committee that people should be allowed to vote for less. There was enough consensus to go along with the request to strike these words, according to Brooks.Rev. Noel Chin spoke against the motion. The motion failed.


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Rev. Craig Fitzsimmons noted that the next line said people could vote for less, but then their ballot would be invalid. Brooks said line 43 should read, “No more than” the number of delegates to be elected. Rev. Paul Fleck asked for a clarification on Rule 88a: “Was the rule changed?” Brooks stated the eligibility requirements remain the same.Bishop Devadhar called for a vote on the changes proposed by the Rules Committee; the body voted affirmatively.

InstructIons for VotIng DeVIces

Anthony Coismano from Ubiqus provided instructions for using the handheld voting devices. A countdown clock will indicate the time for voting, and then the results will be shown on the screen on stage. For yes/no questions, there is no need to press the send button. Only the “yes” and “no” votes are counted toward the total.When voting for delegates punch in the number of your choices then press send after each one. Delegates to General Conference are elected with a vote of 50 percent plus one.A question was asked, “Can you vote for the same candidate four times?” Coismano replied, “You can do that, but your vote will only count once.”Bishop Devadhar surveyed the body to ensure that all voting members had working devices. He declared that voting would occur tomorrow morning for the laity. Since the results of the first ballot were not yet available, and the numbers assigned to each clergy member were not consistent with the first ballot, Devadhar declared that the second clergy ballot would be held the next morning.

greetiNgs/iNtroDuCtioNs

Rev. James Moore, chair of the Conference Sessions Committee, welcomed the gathered body, and noted that many people had worked to bring the conference together. He encouraged everyone to thank Fred Jackson, Barbara Eastman, and Rev. Charles Ryu and Rev. Heather Sinclair, the worship leaders. All were asked to give a special thank-you to Rev. Ann Pearson, who is retiring at the end of this appointment year, for her many years of service to the conference. Jackson read the results of the first clergy ballot, and there was no election. Rev. Vicky Fleming noted that she had previously withdrawn her name. Jackson apologized and corrected himself by stating that Rev. Fleming, not Rev. Vicki Flippin, withdrew her name.

NoMiNAtioNs for the CoNfereNCe boArD of trustees Chair Melodye Merola brought to the body the pre-conference nominations for the Board of Trustees. She also asked for nominations from the floor. Those previously nominated for the class of 2016, Deborah Bass; class of 2018, David Rim and Alfida Figueroa. All three are laity from the Metropolitan District. Rev. Brooks reminded the body that it needed to vote on closing nominations for the Conference Board of Trustees. So moved, seconded and passed; nominations were closed.Bishop Devadhar declared that since there were technical problems, the laity vote would be held tomorrow.


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oPeNiNg worshiP: MeMoriAl serviCe AND holY CoMMuNioN

Opening worship began at 8 p.m. with singing by the conference music team. A number of costumed characters gave voice to the call to worship, including Rev. Alex da Silva-Souto as John the Baptist and Rev. Jim Moore as John Wesley.The worship celebrants processed to “God of Grace and God of Glory” and “Creator of the Intertwined.” Rev. Heather Sinclair led the centering prayer. A slideshow presentation began a time of confession led by Rev. Charles Ryu. Bishop Alfred Johnson poured water and reminded us of our baptism. Several young people read scripture in many languages as words of assurance. The congregation sang “Glory to God.” Ryu offered words of confirmation and peace, before inviting the congregation to offer the peace of Christ to one another. The conference male chorale sang “We Must Work.”

CelebrAtioN of life Rev. Fred Jackson opened the Celebration of Life service and invited the families of the departed clergy, clergy spouses, and laity to stand and be acknowledged by the congregation. John Carlson played “For All the Saints” on the trumpet. Jackson read the names of those who had passed in the past year, as their photos were projected on the overhead screens:

Clergy: William W. Ross, Sylvester McClearn, Walter W. Pitt, Jr., Roger Floyd, Vincent William Watson, John G. Wall, Hector Manuel Navas, Barent S. Johnson, Alfredo Cotto-Thorner, George Czar, Betty R. McKinney, Madeline McDonald, John Edwin Swords, Jack Larry Sharpe, and Robert W. Smyres. Spouses of Clergy: Geraldine Johnson, Robert G. Titus, Sunghee Lee, Bonnie Jean (Ecker) Pinto, Margaret Rosalie Howlett Jones Monkman, Louise F. Purnell, and Rev. Lewis C. JohnsonWidows of Clergy: Dorothea Dier, Dorothy P. Pollard, Sarah Marion (Williams) Droppa, Lois Anderson, Evelyn Cole Viets Deaconess: Nazgul (“Naz”) WilliamLaity: Ernest L. Swiggett, William Listwan, Douglas Nicholson, Doris Foltz Arnold (retired local pastor), Albert Cooks.Jackson offered a prayer remembering these who have joined the church triumphant.The choir and orchestra from First UMC in Flushing performed “It Is Well with My Soul” in Korean. Rev. Janet Hodge announced that the offering would be received for the Ministerial Education Fund. The choir and orchestra then performed “The Holy City” in Korean as offertory music. The congregation sang the doxology, and Hodge offered a prayer to dedicate the offering. (The offering totaled $5,740.49.) Rev. Robert Hewitt offered a prayer for illumination before reading 2 Corinthians 3:17. Rev. Marcia White-Smith introduced an interpretive movement for the congregation to follow during the second reading of the verse. Rev. Bob Walker introduced guest preacher, Rev. Dr. Zan Wesley Holmes, Jr. Holmes read from Luke 22:14-30, and asked, “Have we checked our egos at the door?”He reminded the conference of the song “We Are the World” for which Quincy Jones gathered 50 of the top musical stars in response to a hunger crisis in Africa. Someone


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asked Quincy Jones how he got them all together. He said one of the things that helped was that he had a sign that said, “Please check your egos at the door.”Moving to the biblical text, Holmes spoke of an argument that broke out among the disciples in the Upper Room. They were arguing about who among them was the greatest in the kingdom. Holmes said that this is one of the great challenges facing the church today.“How can we reclaim a sense of community and compassion in a world of chaos and competition?” Martin Luther King, Jr. said that we all need to learn to live together as sisters and brothers or we will perish as fools. Holmes remembered that at a memorial service in his own annual conference, those who had any connection to the deceased were invited to stand. We are a connectional church. We are connected to each other.One minister’s wife that Holmes knew said that pastors never stay long enough to reap the harvest. The husband reminded her that they reaped the harvest of the labor of others. We celebrate the connection to our brothers and sisters who have died.Holmes shared that since he is now retired, he splits his time between Dallas and Los Angeles. In L.A., he found a church to attend, and was going to enjoy watching others do the work. He left for a speaking tour, and came home to find a message on his answering machine.The associate pastor at the L.A. church had called to remind him that he needed to attend the membership training class. Holmes said, “Does he know who I am?” The voice of God said to me, “Who do you think you are? How did you get that way? I will never put you in a place where you cannot grow some more.” The next Sunday he attended the membership training class. He was the only one, and he learned something new. There is no end to what God can do through us if we check our egos at the door.Holmes related that when he was elected to the House of Representatives in Texas there were only about three African Americans in the legislature at the time. One of them, Curtis, was arrogant, tall, good-looking and irritable, Holmes said. He could get nothing passed. He asked, “Zan, would you put your name on the bill and help me get it passed?” Curtis kept telling people not to vote for the bill. He knew what he was doing. People got on board and voted for the bill.Afterward, Curtis got on the phone and said, “We did it!” He didn’t care who got the credit. All glory goes to God. Jesus said he would give the disciples places of honor even though they had abandoned him. Howard Thurman said that Jesus met them where they were. He treated them like they should have been. It was prevenient grace. We enter the kingdom of God because of God’s grace, not because of anything we have done or have. Following the sermon, there was a series of liturgical dances. Revs. Leslie Duroseau, Sheila Beckford and Tisha Jermin danced to “Hush, Hush, Someone is Calling My Name;” Jeff Dobbs to “We Are Climbing Jacob’s Ladder;” and the Vanderveer Park UMC Praise Dancers danced to Pharrell William’s “Happy.” Then all the dancers joined in “We Are Marching in the Light of God.” The dancers presented the elements as the table was set for Holy Communion.Rev. Jim Moore and Rev. Martha Epstein as John Wesley and Jeremiah, respectively, invited the congregation to the Lord’s Table. Bishops Devadhar and Johnson, along with Ximena Varas, presided over the table. All bread offered was gluten-free. The congregation was invited to go to whichever station the Spirit led them. Johnson offered the prayer after communion.


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Jackson made an announcement, and then Rev. Holmes dismissed all with a benediction. The recessional was “Lord, Speak to Me.” The conference music team sang “Each Can Reach One” for the postlude.

JUNE 5 | THURSDAY MORNING

eArlY MorNiNg serviCe

The newly approved 2014 class of elders offered morning worship and Holy Communion.

bible stuDY

At 8:30 a.m., Rev. Ken Keiffer introduced Rev. Dr. Charles Ferrara, who led the Bible study with the early church described in Acts 2:42-47 as his theme. Ferrara read the conference vision statement: “The New York Annual Conference, through the grace of God, embodies a beloved community of hope, building up a healthy body of Christ, with heart-warmed United Methodists in mission for the transformation of the world.” He offered a list of 10 indicators against which churches can measure their own vitality. A healthy church:• Makes the Bible, God’s Word, central to everything it does• Offers loving fellowship• Makes prayer a priority• Trusts that God can do the supernatural . . . expects miracles because they have

been given the authority to heal the sick through power of Christ• Walks in unity as one in Christ• Operates in an atmosphere of generosity to include giving beyond the local church,

and insuring that financial decisions are not made solely by just one person• Offers excellence in worship . . . the church should not be arguing over the minor

details of worship• Offers small groups where relationships are built, and belonging is nurtured• Seeks to favorably and positively impact the community by sharing their

excitement about their faith, and by becoming a part of that larger fellowship • Knows how to welcome and involve new people into the fellowship without

overwhelming them on the first day.The service began at 9:30 a.m. with the hymn, “We Thy People Praise Thee.” The body was then led through a responsive reading by the district superintendents. This was followed by the hymn, “Forward through the Ages.”

BIshop’s openIng prayer

9:38 a.m. Bishop Devadhar opened the session with prayer.

conference Lay LeaDer’s report

Conference Lay Leader Renata Smith started the report by introducing Mitch Underwood, associate chair, and the Board of Laity and Ann Pearson, director of


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Connectional Ministries, was recognized for her many years of service and inspiration to the NYAC. Smith asked: What street signs describe our work together? Under construction? Detour? Or do not enter?She spoke about how personal agendas need to give way to the greater good of the church. The old guard of the church needs to be under construction, giving way, and detouring to the ways of the younger generation of the church, who have new ideas in the areas of communication, customs and language. The congregation should not keep saying, “We have always done it this way…”Smith’s last sign was “Stop” to signify a rest stop. We all need to take time to rest from work. Churches need to give us the opportunity to recharge our physical and spiritual batteries.

Clergy Ballot #1: General Conference DelegatesThe results from ballot #1 held at the clergy session on Wednesday were announced; 222 valid ballots, 29 clergy received 5 or more.

Clergy Ballot #2: General Conference DelegatesElectronic balloting for General Conference clergy delegates began. After singing, “Spirit of the Living God,” and a prayer by the bishop, 200 ballots were cast. No election.

Rev. Dr. Gennifer Brooks provided a description of which categories of lay members are eligible to vote for General Conference delegates.Jerry Eyster stated that he would like to be a candidate for General Conference, but was not nominated at the laity session. Bishop Devadhar took a standing vote. The nomination was approved, but Eyster will need to receive at least five write-in votes to get on the ballot.Gennifer Brooks announced that 45 secondswere remaining for those who wished to change their legislative sections.

Clergy Ballot #3: General Conference Delegates207 ballots cast. No election.

Laity Ballot #1: General Conference DelegatesAfter singing “Spirit of the Living God,” and a prayer by the bishop, voting began for the laity delegates to General Conference. The first attempt had complications, so the votes were cleared and balloting restarted. Results were: 291 ballots cast. With 154 votes, Frederick K. Brewington was elected.

Bishop Devadhar explained that he was moving deliberately; he wants to make sure everybody understands the proceedings because of our multi-cultural context.The conference secretary announced that Jerry Eyster received 11 write-in votes, enough to have his name added to the next laity ballot.


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CoNfereNCe CouNCil oN fiNANCe AND ADMiNistrAtioN (CCf&A)Gillian Prince introduced Geoff Fowler, the council vice president for finance, to present the 2015 annual conference budget. The presentation is available online at www.nyac.com/conference-budgets.The proposed 2015 budget total is $7,994,407, representing a 3.5 percent increase over 2014. Conference members were encouraged to follow the budget presentation booklet that was included with registration materials.With projected total expenses of $8,527,715 minus $533,308 in income other than apportionments, $7,994,407 remains to be apportioned. The income outside of apportionments represents an increase of 3.4 percent over 2014.Fowler described the shared ministry apportionment process by explaining that church expenses from 2013 are reported in 2014 and form the basis for the 2015 apportionments. Apportionments are based upon the percentage of each church’s expenses in comparison to all the other churches in the conference. For example, if your church’s apportionments equal “x” percentage of the total expenses of all the churches in the conference, then your church will be responsible for apportionments equaling that same percentage of the total funds to be apportioned.Anyone with questions about the apportionment system or about their local church’s apportionments is encouraged to contact Ross Williams, CFO & Director of Administrative Services in the conference office. Prince expressed appreciation to Williams and the members of the CCF&A for their hard work over the last year. Prince concluded her remarks by reciting the lyrics of “Show Me Your Way That I May Walk with You.” Devadhar expressed appreciation for Prince’s leadership and the work of the committee.

Clergy Ballot #4: General Conference DelegatesAfter a prayer by the bishop, 230 ballots were cast. No election.

Laity Ballot #2: General Conference DelegatesThe bishop prayed; 320 ballots were cast, no election.

After a brief break, the band led the singing of “Amazing Grace.” The bishop offered a prayer before the next round of balloting.

Clergy Ballot #5: General Conference Delegates 255 ballots cast. No election.

Laity Ballot #3: General Conference Delegates 332 ballots cast. No election.

rePort of the CoNfereNCe boArD of PeNsioNs AND heAlth beNefits (CboPhb)Rev. William Shillady, chair of the CBOPHB, presented the board’s report. The General Board of Pensions and Health Benefits (GBOPHB) manages $20.4 billion in investments with the investments of the NYAC board a part of this total. We work in connection with the GBOPHB.


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A video from the GBOPHB was shown. The pension plan for United Methodist clergy includes contributions from both clergy and the churches they serve. We work to provide a sustainable pension and health benefits plan for our clergy. In recent years some of the responsibility for decision-making has been transferred to the clergy. Retirees are now provided funds to access the “marketplace” for their health benefits. This has saved the NYAC more than $40 million via a reduction in our past-employment benefit obligations.The health insurance rate for active clergy is going down. This is due in part to a positive turn in claim rates. NYAC health benefits claims have been reduced from $4.8 to $3.5 million in the last year. Another contributing factor is the reduction of benefits available to our pastoral families. In 2015, the CBOPHB will provide a health reimbursement account for active members of HealthFlex; $500 for families and $250 for individuals. This is a onetime disbursement (similar to the one given in 2013). Shillady also announced a “Tip the Scales against Malaria” initiative. For every pound that clergy and their spouses lose in the next six months, the CBOPHB will contribute $1 to the Imagine No Malaria campaign – up to $10,000. Only 15 percent of eligible participants in our conference take part in the wellness plans offered by the GBOPHB. Bishop Devadhar reminded the laity that they are members of the local church pastor-parish relations committee and share responsibility for encouraging their pastors to make healthy living choices.

Conference Lay Leader Renata Smith led us in prayer in preparation for the next round of General Conference balloting.

Laity Ballot #4: General Conference Delegates342 ballots cast. No election.




PetitioN oN loNg-rANge PlANNiNg

Rev. Tim Riss requested permission to include a petition that is within the five-day rule of submitting new material to be presented to the annual conference. A motion to suspend Rule #27 was approved; the motion was in order.Riss summarized his petition, “Establishing a Long-Range Planning Commission.” The proposed commission will be the sequel to the former Strategic Economic Analysis Task Force that was created to “consider long-term issues of financial support and strategic planning for the annual conference.” The task of long-range planning will be the mission of annual conference leaders who will monitor “the progress of the conference toward realizing the vision God has for it.” The body accepted the petition for consideration; the secretary assigned it to legislative section 6 with the number 2014-601.


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ANNouNCeMeNts AND PrAYers

Secretary Jackson announced that pedestrians at conference would like our motoring members to slow down in the rain. The retirees and spouses luncheon is in the Green House. Legislative section 4 will meet in the Cultural Center Theatre.Bishop Devadhar said that it was such a joy to be with the conference yesterday and today. He felt our radical hospitality. He asked that the conference pray for our sisters and brothers in the New England Annual Conference, and continue to pray for Bishop McLee for his speedy healing. He recognized the many gifts in the persons who are working in many capacities, including Rev. Gennifer Brooks, and Beth Capen.Bishop Alfred E. Johnson and Bishop Jane Allen Middleton will be leading and celebrating during the rest of conference.Rev. Walker, on behalf of the conference, said, “You have endeared yourself to us and we want to make you an honorary member of the New York Annual Conference.” Prima Devadhar, spouse of the bishop, was also thanked and welcomed as an honorary member.Rev. Tom Vencuss and the Hurricane Sandy Recovery team offered grace. Vencuss also asked for a round of applause for the work of this team. Session adjourned at 12:17 p.m.

JUNE 5 |THURSDAY AFTERNOONCoordinators: Ian B. Straker & Margaret Peggy” LaemmelLegislative sections met throughout the afternoon in the following campus locations with the following leadership teams: Section 1: Ministries of Witness – Hofstra USAWesley Daniel, chair; Carmen M. Ortiz, secretary; Stephanie Parsons, observerSection 2: Connectional Ministries and Ministries of Nurture – Student Center TheaterSteven Knutsen, chair; Denise Pickett, secretary; Melissa Boyer, observerSection 3: Ministries of Advocacy – Multipurpose RoomJeffry “Jeff” Wells, chair; Kristina Hansen, secretary; Karen Karpow, Yvonne Rivera, Steve Allen, observersSection 4: Leadership /Commissioning – Cultural Center TheaterRobert “Bob” Sorozan, chair; Lynda J. Bates-Stepe, secretary; Camella Fairweather-Porter, observerSection 5: Clergy Care and Conference Finance - ArenaCraig Fitzsimmons and Edward “Ed” Horne, co-chairs; Sandra Mantz and Anthony Mecca, secretaries; Peggy Ann Sauerhoff, observerSection 6: Administration – Plaza Rooms Middle and EastPatrick Perrin, chair; Bette Sohm, secretary; Sara Giron-Ortiz, observer

JUNE 5 | THURSDAY EVENINGPrior to gathering, videos on conference teams raising funds for Imagine No Malaria were shown. Pre-gathering music was provided by First Spanish UMC.


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iMAgiNe No MAlAriA / iNtroDuCtioN of the hArleM wizArDs

The evening session began at 7:05 p.m. with an update on the Imagine No Malaria campaign by Lynda Gomi, assistant to the director of connectional ministries.• Plans are underway for a second skydiving fundraiser in 2015 on World

Malaria Day, Saturday, April 25. Linden Hill Cemetery has pledged a $50,000 matching grant.

• For the youth group that raises the most money, Bishop McLee will visit the church and perform a rap.

• The Board of Pension and Health Benefits will donate one dollar for each pound that NYAC clergy and their spouses lose (up to $10,000) to Imagine No Malaria.

• On Saturday, July 19, the NYAC will host a “Jump, Shoot, and Score against Malaria” event where the Harlem Wizards and the United Methodist “Skeeter Defeaters” will face off at Hofstra University. There will also be a mini basketball camp for children, a drum line band and a parade of churches with their banners. A Harlem Wizard showed off some of their basketball magic that will on display at the game.

• Nearly 400,000 bed nets will be distributed in Sierra Leone this month.

eveNiNg sessioN

Bishop Alfred Johnson presided over the evening session. He stated that it was his delight to be here. He informed the body that Bishop McLee was getting stronger. A group from First Spanish UMC delighted the conference with their beautiful music.

ArChives sPeCiAl reCogNitioN

Two Hispanic United Methodist churches that have served their communities for more than 90 years each were presented special recognition awards by Archivist Beth Patkus and Ms. Leslie Reyman, former chair of the Commission on Archives and History. Honored were: Immanuel and First Spanish UMC, Brooklyn, led by Pastors Mendis Brown and Elisa Vicioso; and First Spanish UMC, Manhattan, led by Pastor Luisa Martinez Buck. Members of both churches were present to receive the recognition along with their pastors.



Clergy Ballot #9: General Conference Delegates222 ballots cast. Rev. Tim Riss elected.

Laity Ballot #7: General Conference Delegates308 ballots cast. Dorothee Benz and Dorlimar Lebròn Malavé elected.

blACk College fuND offeriNg

Veronica Darby presented Kadrien Wilson, a student from Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, N.C., who spoke of her college and its impact on her life. She thanked


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the conference for its contribution to the Black College Fund. Darby said the offertory prayer; $5,010.41 was received for the Black College Fund.

rePort of the CAbiNet

Rev. Adrienne Brewington, dean of the cabinet, introduced the five other district superintendents. Rev. Brewington sang “My Life Is in Your Hands.” She referenced Jeremiah 29:11 and Isaiah 43:18-19. God knows the plans God has for us and God is doing a new thing.“The Cabinet has been living into this,” she said. “It fills them with hope. Vital Signs give us indicators of growth and vitality. There are life stories being told, new disciples being made, disciples involved in small groups, generous giving, and ministry activities for the building up of the community of faith. Vital congregations are God’s way of working out God’s plans for us. In 2012, our vital congregations jumped to 41.5 percent from 29.2 percent in the previous year.”The Metropolitan District hosted a lay leaders’ day to help equip the saints, she said. Clergy also had a day of self-care. They turned off their cell phones. The pastors were restored after a day of basketball and massage, among many things offered.The New York-Connecticut District developed new opportunities for youth, worship opportunities, new cooperative parishes, and other new things.In the Connecticut District, Gaylordsville UMC celebrated the increase of their average attendance from 18 to 65 people. The laity is willing to alter their way of thinking and changed the way they undertook ministry.The Catskill-Hudson District is developing cooperative parishes. An elder and three lay pastoral assistants will serve the newly created White Sulfur Springs Cooperative Parish.In the Long Island East District, the Southold UMC realized that their funds were better spent in making disciples for Jesus Christ than in making building repairs. They voted to merge with the Cutchogue UMC and are seeking to sell their property to make a single strong congregation on the North Shore of Long Island.The cabinet is exploring what it means to be pastoral leaders so that people other than elders are serving churches as pastors – two deacons and one certified lay minister are examples. Five new mission congregations were started this year: Haitian, Korean, Pakistani, Brazilian and Hispanic. One church started to worship on Monday nights with a meal in the social hall. The Cabinet is recruiting new pastors from outside the conference to accomplish new goals. They acknowledged it was a hard year, and they are trying to discern “the new thing God is doing.” They are getting to the place where God is calling them.Brewington invited the body to sing with her, “My Life Is in Your Hands.”



A motion was made by Peter O’Neill, Babylon UMC, to remove from the ballot those laity who receive less than five votes. The motion carried.


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CelebrAtioN of retireMeNt

The retired clergy and their spouses came to the stage as the “Hymn for Retirement of Pastors” was sung. Rev. Robert Walker offered the greetings to those gathered, and noted. This year’s class represents a total of 96 appointments and 426 service years. The conference joined together in an order of farewell. This year’s retirees are:

The Reverends Richard E. Allen, Harold A. Andrews, John Kristian Best, Jr., Duane D. Buddle, Ronald B. Cox, Lorraine A. DeArmitt, Jin Hyoung Kim,Jong Sung Kim, Richard R. Lenz, Lee B. Madinger, Ralph A. Merante,Delroy D. Murdock, Ann A. Pearson, James E. Rush, Thomas H. Theilmann,John William Thomas, Ronald D. Tompkins, Westley R. Villazon.

Bishop Johnson led the conference in prayer and the closing hymn.

serMoN The body sang “Are Ye Able” before Rev. Gennifer Brooks introduced the night’s preacher, Rev. Dr. Zan Holmes. He read Acts 1:3-14, 2:1-4. The title of his sermon was, “Are We Prepared to Honor our Contract with Jesus?”Rev. Dr. Holmes shared that he was serving as a regent on the board of the University of Texas in 1991. There were banquets with local people; one banquet was in Galveston and the city manager was present. George Matthews said that as city manager he determined when the city had to evacuate in a bad storm. It was written in his contract that as city manager he could not leave the city until the storm passed.The disciples had a similar contract with Jesus. He told them to remain in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came upon them. Jerusalem was a cruel and unjust city, but Jesus asked them to stay there until the Holy Spirit came upon them. They were able to honor the contract they had with Jesus.The disciples were a unique and diverse group – that’s a gift to be celebrated. They were also united. Diversity is the key to survival in United Methodism. They found common ground in the making of other disciples for the transformation of the church and the world. The invitation is for everybody. Everybody means everybody. There is no one left out.The Pentecostal power did not come until they faced the Pentecostal task. We want power before purpose. The power is wrapped up in the purpose. People might complain that we could do with more power, money or people. But God is asking, “What are you doing with the power, money or people you have now?” There is no shortage of power. There is a shortage of purpose.Sometimes God waits until we come to the end of our own strength so that God gets the glory. Jerusalem was the disciples’ place of failure. They all failed Jesus in Jerusalem. Jesus ordered them to go back to the place where they gave up. Go back to the place of your breakdown and Jesus will give a breakthrough. When you are stripped down to helplessness, God gives a breakthrough. God will do it because it is about God.


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thursDAY eveNiNg worshiP

The body sang “There’s a Sweet, Sweet Spirit.” Al Hanson from Trinity Boscobel UMC read Joel 2:26-29. Dorlimar Lebròn Malavé led the body in prayer.

Clergy Ballot #11: General Conference Delegates168 ballots cast. Rev. William Shillady was elected.



Laity Ballot #10: General Conference Delegates239 ballots cast. Carolyn Hardin Engelhardt was elected.The four lay delegates to General Conference elected in order are: Frederick Brewington, Dorothee Benz, Dorlimar Lebròn Malavé, and Carolyn Hardin Engelhardt.

Clergy Ballot #13: General Conference Delegates 161 ballots cast. Rev. Noel Chin and Rev. Denise Smartt Sears were elected.The four clergy delegates to General Conference elected in order are: Rev. Timothy Riss, Rev. William Shillady, Rev. Noel Chin and Rev. Denise Smartt Sears.

Announcements were made. The body sang “Spirit of the Living God” and Dr. Holmes offered the benediction.

JUNE 6 | FRIDAY MORNING

eArlY MorNiNg worshiP

Morning worship with Holy Communion was celebrated in the Greenhouse; the class of 2014 provisional clergy members led the service.Bishop Johnson started the session with the members singing, “This is The Day.”

iNAugurAl rev. Dr. williAM PerkiNs leCture Rev. Dr. Gennifer Brooks introduced the speaker, Rev. Dr. Pamela Lightsey of Boston University, who focused on the conference’s theme, “The Prophetic Church: Pray about it. Talk about it. Be about it.”Key points of Dr. Lightsey’s lecture were:• The church is too focused on rules; a quotation by Pope Francis illustrated

this point.• The church is accused of being too involved in politics.• We are moving away from the church adjusting to the status quo, standing as

a taillight behind other community services. The church is acting more as a headlight.

• The church is a community of caring members. Within the body of Christ, there is a community of caring members. The question was asked, “How have you loved


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me lately?” She said that the members of the body must be a community of loving disciples. Yet, we must hold each other accountable.

• We need to look upon the whole person for a measure of goodness. The church needs to look at the whole person, beyond their faults. The church needs to look at an individual spiritually as a whole person, and try to find out what is motivating that person to act the way he or she does. The church needs to be in prophetic ministries that must always include the ministries of life.

• The church needs to be engaged in the politics of the church to remain prophetic. When a prophet comes in contact with the Holy Spirit, he or she comes out of the experience more prophetic. This was a very physical, emotional encounter. “Moses could not just text the Holy Spirit.” The prophet was a minority within a minority. They dealt with facts, not evidence. The prophet spoke with prophetic intensity. Modern day equivalents might be Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mahatma Gandhi.

• The prophetic church as the body of Christ must be internally caring and externally concerned about moral conditions of the world that affect the lives of the people of God.

• The church is under the guidance of the Holy Spirit to help people to accept and confess Jesus Christ.

• Three grains of the Bread of Life — Jesus Christ — are justice, freedom and peace.

MorNiNg worshiP

Worship began at 9:15 a.m. with the hymn, “Many Gifts One Spirit.” The scripture lesson, Acts 2:1-21, was read in their native languages by Rev. Godfrey Uche (Christ, Brooklyn), Chan Gillham (High Ridge Korean), Pastor Karina Feliz (the Highlands), Rev. Herb Miller (Park Slope) and Rev. Iwy Patel-Yatri (Great Hill, Seymour). They led a responsive prayer with the body.Rev. Laurel Scott led the body through the prayers left at the prayer tent over the course of the conference. The service ended with the hymn, “Baptized in Water,” and a benediction by Scott.

busiNess sessioN

At 9:23 a.m. Bishop Johnson opened the business of the day.

CoMMissioN oN religioN AND rACe

Roena Littlejohn, former chair of the Commission on Religion and Race, stated that each summer and fall the commission sponsors the training workshop, “Unseating Racism from Pulpit and Pew.” The training is mandatory for pastors; laypersons may not attend in their place. But Melodye Merola added that the commission is willing to lead workshops in local churches for individual churches or groups of congregations.

CokesburY

Cinda McCain was introduced as the resource consultant for New York for the United Methodist Publishing House, Cokesbury and Abingdon Press. The Common English Bible Study has recently been published. An invitation was given for everyone to visit www.MinistryMatters.com and discover the resources available there.


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reADiNg of APPoiNtMeNts

Superintendent Elizabeth (Betsy) Ott read new appointments for the New York-Connecticut District. Superintendent Denise Smartt Sears read new appointments for the Metropolitan District.(The complete list of appointments will be found in Section V of the 2014 Journal pages 107-126.)

Election of Jurisdictional Conference Lay Delegates Four delegates to be elected. Each ballot was preceded by a time of prayer.

Laity Ballot #1: Jurisdictional Conference Delegates 298 ballots cast. No election.

Laity Ballot #2: Jurisdictional Conference Delegates 303 ballots cast. There were three elections: Roena Anderson Littlejohn, Ximena A. Varas and Ross Williams.

Laity Ballot #3: Jurisdictional Conference Delegates298 ballots cast. No election.

Laity Ballot #4: Jurisdictional Conference Delegates304 ballots cast. There was one election: Rashid Warner.

CorPorAte sessioN

Bishop Johnson entertained a motion to enter the corporate session. The motion was seconded, and it was carried.

CoNfereNCe boArD of trustees

Rev. Virginia Carle, chair, began with an acknowledgement of the day being the 70th anniversary of D-Day. Thanks were given for those who gave their lives then, and recognition of those who serve now. The Board of Trustees makes decisions for what is best for the church in light of the current reality around us. The trustees were introduced by name.At the beginning of this year, trustee funds were transferred into Wespath, a division of the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits. This change made it easier to track our funds and investments. Upgrades and improvements to the conference center will be coming over the next year.The trustees manage a large bequest from the estate of Rev. Raymond and Dorothea Dier. Approximately $3.8 million will be available for Native American and African-American students, and new church starts.Rev. Dr. John Carrington was recognized for his work in the area of real estate for the trustees.The property of First UMC, South Norwalk, Conn., was sold to another church. Thanks were extended to Rev. Joseph Piccirillo, trustee, for his participation.


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Conference Chancellor Laurence McGaughey told the gathering that much of the recent litigation has been in the nature of personal injury. McGaughey reviewed a list of legal matters in which the trustees have been engaged. These included two closed cases and several that are in process. Please refer to paragraph 120 in the Board of Trustees report for details on these matters of litigation.Page 106 of the pre-conference booklet lists properties under management of the NYAC. An outside property manager has been engaged. A review of district parsonages showed that two of them are either not in the center of the district, or are outside the district bounds. The sale of these properties is being considered.Greg Nissen, director of NYAC Camping and Retreat Ministries, shared that the camping program has embraced its relationship with the trustees and CF&A. Communication has improved significantly among the three groups. The restoration of the seawall at Camp Quinipet has been priced out much higher than FEMA originally anticipated, and may cost approximately $700,000.An unsigned contract for the sale of Epworth, valued at more than $3 million, is in possession of the trustees.Rev. Carle brought attention to the new Young Clergy Debt Assistance Program (Young Clergy DAP), which is the realization of a vision of Bishop Martin McLee.A new task force is looking at the chancellor needs within the conference. This task force will investigate the possibility of having several regional “chancellors” to assist and advise on issues that arise.A cabinet representative was invited forward, but there were no closings or other issues from the cabinet to be addressed in the corporate session.Rev. Noel Chin raised a question as to the impact and reasoning for the trustees to remove their funds from the Frontier Foundation. Carle explained that the trustees needed greater accessibility to information about their funds, and the Frontier Foundation could not meet their needs. The decision was not intended to reflect any disparagement on the work of the Foundation.Rev. William Shillady asked for a list of those who would manage the Young Clergy Debt Assistance Program. Carle stated she had no knowledge of anyone being appointed by the bishop at this time. Chin asked about the process for determining the disposition of the two district parsonages. Concern about the timing and financial impact on the conference was expressed. Carle stated that the request came from the cabinet and they have already begun the process of selling these properties.Ryan Fraleigh from Poughkeepsie UMC asked a question about the Young Clergy Debt Assistance Program: “Why was the amount set at $5,000 per grant?” Ross Williams, chief financial officer & director of administrative services, answered that the fund, currently more than $250,000, is intended to benefit the largest possible number of people, therefore a limit of $1,000 to $5,000 per person has been instituted.Rev. Hyoung Dock Yoo, Grace UMC Brooklyn, asked if there would be a “closing ceremony” before Camp Epworth is transferred to its new owner. Carle confirmed that a celebration was being planned to recognize the ministry that has taken place at Epworth and the lives that have been changed.


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Shillady moved that the names of the trustees appointed to the Young Clergy DAP be listed in the nominating report. They may not be available for today’s nominating report, but will be printed in the journal. Rev. Margaret Laemmel from Sharon and Lakeville UMCs brought attention to second career clergy and asked that the young clergy fund or something similar be made available or created to offer financial relief to such clergy. Carle stated that “young” refers to years in ministry, not to chronological age. Therefore, this concern may already be covered.Rev. Paul Fleck, New Milford UMC, expressed concern in regard to the “Freedom from Religion” lawsuit. The concern is whether or not this is being pursued strongly enough. McGaughey acknowledged that a coalition of denominations is working on this and that top-notch legal advice and action is in place.Rev. Adrienne Brewington brought information concerning two mergers that do not need a conference vote of approval. Hempstead UMC and Iglesia Metodista Unida have merged to become Hempstead UMC. Also, Southold UMC and Cutchogue UMC will merge to become North Fork UMC.Bishop Johnson expressed thanks and gratitude to Carle for extending a “welcome home” nine years ago when he came to the NYAC. He stated that he has been in conversation with the trustees about how the Church of The Village might use the building at 48 St. Mark’s Place that once housed the Church of All Nations. “The trustees were extremely cooperative and helpful,” Johnson said.The bishop called for the ballots for the election of trustees to be distributed. The secretary gave instructions for voting and named the nominees. The members voted and the bishop announced the ballot was closed.Shillady moved to adjourn the corporate session. The motion was seconded and passed.The bishop announced a brief break.

Election of Jurisdictional Conference Clergy Delegates Clergy Ballot #1 - Jurisdictional Conference DelegatesPaper ballots with 609 names were distributed. The list included all clergy who had not removed their names nor had been elected as General Conference delegates. Results will be reported later.

serviCe of CoMMissioNiNg DeACoNesses, CoMMissioNiNg AND seNDiNg of uNiteD MethoDist MissioNAries

Rev. Joseph Ewoodzie, conference mission coordinator, began the liturgy.Deaconess Sung-ok Lee, assistant general secretary, United Methodist Women, presented those to be commissioned as deaconesses:• Mary Ellen Kris, Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew. Appointment: Consultant for

Ministry with the Poor, General Board of Global Ministries, New York. • Cecelia Elaine Williams Nelson, New Rochelle UMC. Appointment: Registered

dietician/nutritionist, CityCare, New York. • Jane H. Wakeman, Golden Hill UMC. Appointment: School psychologist,

Bridgeport Public Schools, Bridgeport, Conn.Rev. Tim Riss read Acts 13:1-3, the commissioning of Paul and Barnabas.


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Thomas Kemper, general secretary of the General Board of Global Ministries, presented the missionary candidates who are husband and wife:• Rev. Young-Chuel Cho will serve as director of church development and spiritual

life, Central Russia Annual Conference, Moscow. • Pastor Susanna Cho will serve as pastor of the Korean Ministry of Moscow UMC.The bishop examined, and then commissioned the missionaries by the laying on of hands. Each was presented with an anchor cross, a symbol in early Christianity reminding us to be firmly grounded in Christ as we engage in God’s mission.

reCogNitioNs AND PrAYer

Ross Williams, the conference chief financial officer & director of administrative services introduced the staff of the New York Conference. Rev. Tom Vencuss introduced the Hurricane Sandy Recovery staff.Barbara Eastman, manager of information & technology, in her role as annual conference event manager introduced the various categories of people whose work makes the annual conference sessions possible.Brian Watson and Janelle Daniels from Cuyler-Warren UMC offered grace for the meal. The conference adjourned for lunch at 12:36 p.m. and instructions were given for the afternoon session to convene at 1:55 p.m.

JUNE 6 | FRIDAY AFTERNOONBishop Johnson convened the session at 2:05 p.m.

trustee eleCtioN results

Conference Secretary Rev. Fred Jackson announced the results. Class of 2016: 482 votes for Deborah Bass. Class of 2018: 476 votes for David Rim and 477 votes for Alfida Figueroa. The secretary complimented the work of Sally Truglia, chief teller, for recruiting the team of tellers and certifying the election.

Clergy Ballot #1 Results: Jurisdictional Conference DelegatesThe results from ballot #1 were announced; 223 valid ballots, 31 clergy received 5 or more. There was no election.

Clergy Ballot #2: Jurisdictional Conference Delegates194 ballots cast: Rev. Vicki Flippin was elected.

Laity Ballot #1: Jurisdictional Conference Reserve Delegates292 ballots cast: Jaewon Kim, Stephen J. Allen, Yolanda Evelyn and Omar Hall elected. There were three candidates that received an equal number of votes for fifth place necessitating a second lay ballot for Jurisdictional Conference Reserve Delegate.

Laity Ballot #2: Jurisdictional Conference Reserve Delegates278 ballots cast: Daisy Tavarez and Derek P. Miller elected. The election of six lay reserve delegates was completed.


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Rev. Kenneth Kieffer, superintendent of the Connecticut District, introduced the clergy new to the district and their appointments. He noted that for the first time in our history, a certified lay minister will be serving as pastor of a local church.Rev. Kenny Yi, superintendent of the Long Island West District introduced the clergy new to the district and their appointments. (The complete list of appointments is Section V of the 2014 Journal, pages 107-126)

CoNfereNCe CoMMittee oN NoMiNAtioNs

Melodye Merola, chair of the Conference Committee on Nominations, presented the nominations report. (See pages 112-121 of the pre-conference report and an addendum.)Moved to suspend rule 61 around term limits for the chair of Camps Governing Board, Beth Ann Graf. Approval was given to suspend the rule.Five additional nominations were announced:• Committee on Accessibility, class of 2014: Ximena Varas: lay, Connecticut; and

Emily Hall: clergy, AIEM• Council on Missions, class of 2018: Jill Williams: lay, Connecticut• Commission on Religion and Race, class of 2018: Luonne Abram Rouse: clergy,

LI East; Dorlimar Lebròn Malavé: Lay, LI EastRev. Craig Fitzsimmons made a correction: For three years he has been mistakenly listed as the chair of Committee on Disaster Response, a position that is held by Rev. Wesley Daniel.The nomination report, as amended, was moved for adoption and approved. Rev. Bette Sohm, chair of the Committee on the Examination of the Journal, reminded the body that conference committees and boards need to elect a chairperson within 30 days following the annual conference (Rule 63). Rev. Denise Smartt Sears, was granted a moment of personal privilege; she announced that Rev. Dr. Javier Viera has been appointed as the dean of Drew University Theological School. “Javier has been placed in a position where he will bring the local and vital congregation experience and will now be leading one of our theological schools,” Sears said.Rev. Dr. Gennifer Brooks is now dean of the Association of Chicago Theological Schools and was promoted to full professor.

Clergy Ballot #3: Jurisdictional Conference Delegates213 ballots cast: Rev. Kun Sam Cho elected.

Clergy Ballot #4: Jurisdictional Conference Delegates214 ballots cast: No election.



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Bishop Johnson announced a brief break in proceedings. When the body reconvened, Secretary Jackson made several announcements.


Rev. Jim Moore, superintendent of the Catskill Hudson District, introduced the clergy new to the district and their appointments. A prayer was offered for a lay member who is in ICU following surgery. Rev. Adrienne Brewington, superintendent of the Long Island East District, introduced the clergy new to the district and their appointments. She also introduced Rev. Sungchan Kim, newly appointed superintendent of the Long Island West District.(The complete list of appointments will be found in Section V of the 2014 Journal, pages 107-126.)

geNerAl CoMMissioN oN religioN AND rACe (gCorr)A video by the General Commission on Religion and Race, narrated by Rev. Denise Smartt Sears was shown. The presentation explained the availability of grants to conferences, seminaries, jurisdictions and churches for projects that support the vision of the GCORR and the mission of the UMC in unique ways. “Coloring Beyond the Lines,” a NYAC program to improve cultural competency was highlighted and Rev. Matt Curry shared about the event that was held at Camp Olmstead.

Clergy Ballot #6: Jurisdictional Conference Delegates209 ballots cast: Rev. Sara Thompson Tweedy elected.


legislAtive seCtioN rePorts

Coordinators of the legislative sections were Rev. Ian Straker and Rev. Margaret Laemmel. Straker asked the ushers to distribute the “green sheets.” All of items before legislative section 3 were placed on the consent calendar. Straker moved that all items on pages two and three of the green sheets except item 5005 – the 2015 proposed budget – be ratified by the body. Pastor Susan Chupungco, Sugar Loaf UMC, offered a motion to remove item 1005, “United Methodist Men,” from the consent calendar. The motion carried. Rev. Karen Eiler of Memorial UMC made a motion to amend the report and remove the words in lines 2-3 on page 8, “and provide directions through the ‘Why Men Hate Going to Church Ministry’.” She objected to the sexist content of the book. The motion was carried. Straker moved that the report be accepted with the amendment. The motion was approved.Rev. William Shillady moved that we require the United Methodist Men to meet with the Connectional Table to discuss evangelism with men in appropriate ways. The motion was approved.The leader of section 6, Rev. Patrick Perrin, moved that the body approve the report of the Conference Rules Committee that was approved in the opening session. Section 6, however, did not vote on item 6008. A vote was taken, and the body approved the report.


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Rev. Ed Horne presented the proposed 2015 conference budget (Item 5005). Rev. Kent Jackson wanted to make the body aware that while the 2015 budget shows a decrease in expenditures, salary expenses for conference staff will increase. Horne stated the proposed budget represents a 3.5 percent decrease in apportionments. The bishop asked for a vote on the budget. It passed. Horne then presented the “resolved paragraph” from item 5005, “that the NYAC of the UMC votes to accept our conference budget for 2015 with the understanding that none of these funds will go toward paying for church trials for those charged with violating the Book of Discipline in terms of performing same-sex marriages or for being self-avowed, practicing homosexuals.”Bishop Johnson declared the motion out of order, saying “We do not have the authority to unfund a trial which is a disciplinary right.”The reports of the legislative sections concluded at 4:28pm.


Clergy Ballot #9: Jurisdictional Conference Delegates156 ballots cast: Rev. Milca Plaud was elected.

The four clergy delegates to Jurisdictional Conference in order of election are: Vicki Flippin, Kun Sam Cho, Sara Thompson Tweedy, and Milca Plaud.

Clergy Ballot: Jurisdictional Conference Reserve Delegates175 ballots cast: Constance Pak, Kenneth Kieffer, Adrienne Brewington, Paul Fleck, David Henry, and Edward Horne were elected. The election of six clergy reserve delegates was completed.

iNtroDuCtioNs Rev. Phil Hardt introduced Rev. Timothy Bias, general secretary of the General Board of Discipleship. Mary Ellen Kris introduced Doug Walker, General Board of Church and Society, national coordinator, Office of Civil and Human Rights.

grACe before DiNNer

The clergy spouses sang “Standing on the Promises” as thanks before dinner. The body was dismissed at 5:11 p.m.

JUNE 6 | FRIDAY EVENING

ANChor house PreseNtAtioN

The Anchor House choir sang “This is the Way We Praise Him.” Rev. William Shillady introduced Bishop Johnson who shared a “small world” story about a young lady who attends his church and had also been blessed through the treatment and ministry of Anchor House. An offering of $7,215.02 was received to support the program’s drug rehabilitation ministries. The conference was blessed by another musical selection as the offering was received.


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sPeCiAl reCogNitioN of rev. ANN PeArsoN

Rev. Ann Pearson was escorted to the stage by Rev. Bob Walker, the assistant to Bishop McLee, and was greeted there by her daughter and son-in-law. Her assistant, Lynda Gomi, read portions of letters from Bishops Ernest Lyght and Jeremiah Park, celebrating Pearson’s 13 years of ministry as the conference director of Connectional Ministries. While a slideshow of her ministry was shown, the Westport Bell Choir serenaded Pearson with “Spirit of the Living God” and “Onward Christian Soldiers.” The pictures were part of a book presented to Pearson by the Board of the Laity at the laity session on Wednesday.On behalf of the cabinet, Rev. Adrienne Brewington presented Pearson, who is retiring, with an engraved walking stick as a remembrance of her commitment to “journeying.” The recognition of Rev. Pearson concluded with the presentation of seed packets to the gathering as a symbol of her leadership style to nourish the seeds of ministry with support — while never taking credit for the ministry that blossomed throughout the conference.

sCholArshiPs, AwArDs AND reCogNitioNs

Rev. Sandy Mantz presented the New York Education Society awards. Thanks to NYAC generosity through the United Methodist Student Day offering, the following awards were presented:• $500 book grants: Peter Della-Rocca, Brendan Hughes, Tamara Hunter and

Dominique Paynter• $1,000 scholarships: Daniel Barber, Leah DeLeon, Marissa Downes,

Amy Dunaief, Gordon Edwards, Kyshaun Gamory, Natalie Minard, Carla Phillips and A.J. Tiedeman.

• $1,500 scholarships: Rev. Emily Peck-McClain and Jamela Wright • Conference Merit Award / $1,400 scholarship: Maya Smith• Gloster B. Current, Sr. Scholarship: Brittney Fields• Bishop Martin D. McLee College Scholarship was awarded to Aaron Harewood

by Rev. Adrienne Brewington.

Rev. Keith Muhleman brought greetings from the United Methodist Foundation and gave thanks for the support of the NYAC during his illness. Rev. Robert Knebel, chairman of the foundation board, announced that they would present a new award for the establishment or continuation of a vital ministry. Susan Ezrati, interim director, presented this award to the Higganum UMC for their Open Mike, Soup & Song Coffee House. The grant of $5,000 will enable them to expand this ministry.

MissioN PreseNtAtioN

Rev. Joseph Ewoodzie, mission and outreach coordinator, invited the conference to add a “G” to their church so that they become “GLOCAL” churches. “Let’s Go GLOCAL!” The youth ambassadors who spent time in Cambodia were recognized. The district superintendents were presented with gifts.There are four steps to going “GLOCAL,” according to Ewoodzie. Local churches are encouraged to:1. Support a missionary through a “covenant relationship.” Five dollars per

member is all it takes. Sara from Ecuador and Helen from Cambodia appeared on the screen via live video feeds and greeted us.


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2. Be a part of Volunteers in Mission; the Appalachian Service Project, Hurricane Sandy Recovery, and many other opportunities are available.

3. Support the six yearly special offerings approved by General Conference.4. Pay 100 percent of your shared ministry apportionments.Recognition was received from Africa University in Zimbabwe for submitting the conference’s ministry share. An award was also received from the GBGM and the Advance for the highest total of designated giving in the Northeastern Jurisdiction.

sCholArshiPs, AwArDs AND reCogNitioNs, CoNtiNueD

Renata Smith announced this year’s Shirley Parris Award recipient, Barbara Edwards. Dr. Melvin Hall read the citation and Bishop Johnson presented the award to Edwards. Edwards, lay leader at St. Paul’s UMC in Jamaica, believes anything is possible as long as you trust in the Lord. Her support, dedication and involvement in missions were celebrated.The United Methodist City Society Urban Ministries Scholarships, totaling $30,000, were presented by Rev. William Shillady, Rev. Kenny Yi and Rev. Javier Viera. Recipients and their seminaries are: Jaqueline Carter, Drew University; Lisa Cunningham, Union Seminary; Soryoung Kim, New York Theological School; Melissa Hinnen, New York Theological School; Joyce Lee, Drew University; Lea Matthews, Union Seminary; and Deborah Normandie, New York Theological School.Announcements were made by the conference secretary including that the first meeting of the newly elected General, Jurisdictional and reserve delegates would be held following the adjournment of the evening’s session.Rev. Sandy Mantz presented Harry Denman Evangelism Awards to two laymen in the conference. The late William Listwan, a member of Drew UMC, ministered through Spirit Walkers, a hiking group. His life exemplified the truth of “go and make disciples.” His wife, Heather, accepted the award. The second went to Kevin Rushlo of the East Quogue UMC. “He is the kind of evangelist who goes out and brings people into the church.”

Bishop Johnson expressed gratitude for all who had assisted as he presided over the last day and a half of conferencing. Renata Smith then expressed the appreciation of the conference for the leadership provided by Johnson.

heAliNg serviCe

The service began with the hymn, “Shall We Gather at the River,” followed by scripture readings: John 14:8-14 read by Ross Topliff, Gardnertown UMC; and James 5:13-16 read by Rev. Karen Eiler, Memorial UMC, White Plains.Pastor Debbi Mygatt gave a reflection on anointing, followed by a prayer. Bishop Johnson blessed the oil and then anointed each of the prayer teams. Many members of the conference came forward for anointing. Hymns sung during the anointing included: “God is Here,” “Spirit Song,” “O Lord Your Tenderness,” “Mi Shebeirach” (Hebrew prayer for Healing), “All I Need is You,” “Spirit of the Living God,” “Surely the Presence,” “What the Lord Has Done” and “Freely, Freely.” There were several other numbers sung by the music team while the people accepted the bishop’s invitation to stay as long as the spirit moved them.


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JUNE 7 | SATURDAY MORNING

the serviCe for PreseNtAtioN of liCeNse to loCAl PAstors, CoMMissioNiNg of ProvisioNAl MeMbers, the orDiNAtioN of elDers, reCogNitioN of orDers AND reCeiviNg of A full MeMber The Glory Road Singers from St. James UMC in Kingston, N.Y., opened the service with praise music along with scripture readings. A prelude, “What Gifts Can We Bring?” was provided by the Brass Ensemble.The processional hymns were: “A Mighty Fortress is Our God,” “Lord, We Have Heard You Calling” and “Open the Eyes of My Heart.” Liturgical dancers lead the procession of participants that included clergy and laity. The greeting and prayer were offered by Bishop Jane Middleton. A silent prayer and a unison prayer followed. The dance call to worship was offered by the Spirit Builders troupe to the song, “I Feel the Spirit.”Rev. William Shillady greeted the special guests and introduced them to the body: Bishop F. Herbert and Shirley Skeete, Bishop Alfred Johnson, Rev. David A. Anglada, Lutheran Church of the Epiphany, Hempstead. And he then recognized the other platform guests including Rev. Dr. Pamela Lightsey, Boston University School of Theology; Rev. Timothy Bias, general secretary, General Board of Discipleship; Rev. Godfrey Uche; and Tate Sigworth, a youth from Jesse Lee Memorial UMC.Bishop Jane Allen Middleton greeted the congregation and offered a prayer for Bishop McLee’s healing.The children’s choir from Cuyler-Warren UMC sang “Pass It On,” and the Glory Road Singers sang “Take My Life.”

loCAl PAstors exAMiNAtioN AND liCeNsiNg

Rev. Lydia Lebron-Rivera, on behalf of the registrar for local pastors, read the names of Michael D. Jenkins, Pearlena I. Lobban and Karin L. Squires, as candidates to be licensed local pastors. Bishop Middleton described their ministry, examined the candidates and presented the newly licensed local pastors to the body.The conference music team offered the song, “For Every Mountain.”

PreseNtAtioN of PersoNs to be CoMMissioNeD, orDAiNeD AND reCogNizeD

Renata Smith, conference lay leader, and Rev. William Pfohl, chair of the conference Board of Ordained Ministry, presented a deacon candidate for commissioning. Rev. John Simmons, registrar of commissioning, read the name of the candidate, Kathryn Clegg Dickinson.Smith and Pfohl presented those to be commissioned as provisional elders. Simmons read the names of the eight candidates: Michael H. Barry Jr., Mendis P. Brown, Martha A. Epstein, Michelle Estelle Lewis, Matthew Allan Querns, Milagros B. Solorzano, Michael Benjamin Sparrow and Elisa Margarita Vicioso.


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The 12 persons to be ordained elders were presented by Smith and Pfohl. Their names were read by Rev. Vicky Fleming, the registrar of elders: Delores Marcia Barrett, Sheila Michele Beckford, Delois Davis, Paul Andrew Fleck, Wongee Anda Joh, Bernadette Everette Logan, Halley Low, Beverly Mary A. Morris, Jennifer Lynne Pick, Jennifer Tiernan-Bindler, Gerald Lamar Williams, Jr. and Hwan Christopher Yi.A person to be recognized as an elder and received as a full member from another denomination was also presented by Smith and Pfohl. Fleming read the name of Min Seok Yang.Bishop Middleton asked the congregation to assent to the persons being commissioned, ordained or recognized with a promise to uphold them in their ministry. The response was enthusiastically affirmative. The bishop led all the candidates through the general examination.

ProClAMAtioN AND resPoNse

The prayer of illumination, “Show Me Your Ways,” was sung.The first scripture lesson, 2 Corinthians 3:17 was read in Spanish by Milagros Solorzano. The second passage, Isaiah 1:18, was read by Delores Barrett.The conference music team sang “It Shall Come to Pass.”Bishop Johnson delivered the sermon conceived by Bishop McLee, “Is There a Rhyme to Your Reason?” which began with a Star Trek-inspired video about ordination as the “final frontier.” The “Hallelujah Chorus” followed the video.Bishop Johnson spoke of how we sometimes get lost and overwhelmed like the girl from Kansas. The conference music team broke in with the chant of “Lions and tigers and bears, Oh my!” from the Wizard of Oz.Johnson then spoke of how the congregation wants their pastor to be a professional leader. This was followed by a recitation of how the laity “don’t want no preacher who’s a scrub,” or in other words, a preacher who doesn’t cut it.The ordinands were warned to be careful in terms of boundaries and were told in song to “Stop in the Name of Love.” Johnson told the ordinands about the importance of prayer – to which the music team responded, “I’ll Say A Little Prayer for You.”The body was told that God has the whole world in his care as dancers performed to the hymn, “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.”The bishop shared a story about how a pastor wanted to come and get involved with his church because she needed a “hobby.” He then emphasized that the candidates will need to balance a life within the church with a life outside of the church, to not make the church their entire life. They need to balance their physical and spiritual love.

CoMMissioNiNg of ProvisioNAl MeMbers Bishop Johnson told the candidates to remember their baptism. The candidates, the guests on the platform, and then the main body were told to remember their baptism with a sprinkling of water from Rev. Denise Smartt-Sears and Rev. Kenny Yi. The singing of “I Give Myself Away” in Spanish, English and Korean followed a presentation by the music team.


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Middleton led the liturgy for the commissioning of provisional members, followed by the prayer of commissioning. Simmons invited the candidates to come forward for the commissioning and laying on of hands. This was followed by the hymn, “God is Doing Something Wonderful.” The conference choir offered “I Never Lost My Praise.”

exAMiNAtioN of elDers

As Bishop Middleton highlighted the ministry of an elder, symbols appropriate to that order were lifted for all to see: a Bible, paten and chalice.

lAYiNg oN of hANDs AND PrAYer for elDers

Bishop Middleton called the congregation to uphold the persons to be ordained as elders through silent prayer and the song “Come Holy Spirit, I Need Thee.” Rev. Fleming read the name of each candidate as he or she prepared to approach the kneeler for the laying on of hands and prayer.

reCogNitioN of orDers AND reCeiviNg of A full MeMber

Fleming called the name of Rev. Min Seok Yang. Bishop Middleton recognized his call and ministry in another denomination and welcomed him into The United Methodist Church.The song “God Is Doing Something Wonderful” was sung by the body.

iNvitAtioN to ChristiAN DisCiPleshiP AND orDAiNeD MiNistrY

Lynda Gomi introduced the offering for Imagine No Malaria. She told the body that 1,114 children would die of malaria in Africa on this very day. She noted, that when the UMC began its work in Africa, a child died every 30 seconds; today a child dies every 60 seconds. The NYAC goal is to raise $1.2 million. An offering of $12,703.86 was received for the campaign.

2014 NYAC Commissioning Class Top row: Elisa Margarita Vicioso, Matthew Allan Querns, Milagros B. Solorzano,

Kathryn Clegg Dickinson; Front row: Mendis P. Brown, Michael Benjamin Sparrow, Michelle Estelle Lewis, Michael H. Barry, Jr., Martha A. Epstein


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Bishop Jane Middleton offered an invitation to Christian discipleship and the ordained ministry.The offertory music was “Give To The Lord,” “Si Tuvieras Fe” (If You Only Had Faith), “Lord You Are Good,” “Kanisa Litajengua” (O Who Will Build The Church Now?) and “Every Praise.”The doxological response was “Give Thanks,” and Gomi then offered the prayer of dedication.

ePisCoPAl exhortAtioN to the ProPhetiC CoMMuNitY. In her closing comments Bishop Middleton spoke about how we should be the prophetic church, “We can change the world by our actions in the world” she said.

DisMissAl with blessiNg. Following the bishop’s words, “Go in peace to serve God and your neighbor in all that you do,” the congregation responded, “We are sent in Christ’s name. Thanks be to God!”

MotioN to ADJourN / settiNg the DAte of Next ANNuAl CoNfereNCe

A motion was made and seconded, to officially close the 215th Session of the New York Annual Conference. The motion passed.The 216th session of the NYAC will be held June 10-13, 2015. The recessional hymn was “Marching to Zion.” The conference choir offered a postlude, “Imagine the People of God.”

2014 NYAC Ordination Class Top row: Jennifer Tiernan-Bindler, Wongee Anda Joh, Delois Davis,

Delores Marcia Barrett; Front Row: Jennifer Lynne Pick, Paul Andrew Fleck, Gerald Lamar Williams, Jr., Sheila Michele Beckford, Halley Low;

Not shown: Bernadette Everette Logan, Beverly Mary A. Morris, Hwan Christopher Yi


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Presiding Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar

C. NEW YORK ANNUAL CONFERENCE CERTIFICATES

CERTIFICATE OF PRESIDING BISHOPS & SECRETARY This is to certify that the foregoing minutes are a complete and accurate rendering of the proceedings of the 215th session of the New York Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church (the forty-sixth session of The United Methodist Church and the fiftieth since reunion with the New York East Conference after 115 years of separate existence), held at Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York, June 4-7, 2014, and, as such, the printed records with related data incorporated by reference have been adopted by the Annual Conference as its official record.

CERTIFICATES OF CONSECRATION This is to that at Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York on Friday, June 6, 2014, I commissioned as follows:

Presiding Bishop Alfred Johnson

SecretaryFrederic O. Jackson

Missionaries Young-Chuel ChoSusanna Cho

DeaconessesMary Ellen KrisCecelia Elaine Williams NelsonJane H. Wakeman

Presiding Bishop Alfred JohnsonHempstead, New York

June 6, 2014


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CERTIFICATE OF ORDINATION This is to certify that at Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York on Saturday, June 7, 2014, pursuant to the election of the New York Annual Conference, I ordained, as follows:ELDER’S ORDERS AND FULL MEMBERSHIP

Delores Marcia Barrett Sheila Michele Beckford Delois Davis Paul Andrew Fleck Wongee Anda Joh Bernadette Everette Logan

Halley Low Beverly Mary A. Morris Jennifer Lynne Pick Jennifer Tiernan-Bindler Gerald Lamar Williams, Jr. Hwan Christopher Yi

FULL MEMBERSHIPMin Seok Yang

This is to certify that at Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York on Saturday, June 7, 2014, pursuant to the election of the New York Annual Conference, I commissioned as follows:COMMISSIONED AS PROVISIONAL MEMBERS

Deacon Track: Kathryn Clegg Dickinson

Presiding Bishop Jane Allen MiddletonHempstead, New York

June 7, 2014

Elder Track: Michael H. Barry, Jr. Mendis P. BrownMartha A. Epstein Michelle Estelle Lewis Matthew Allan QuernsMilagros B. Solorzano Michael Benjamin SparrowElisa Margarita Vicioso

RECEIVED LICENSE FOR PASTORAL MINISTRYMichael D. JenkinsPearlena I. LobbanKarin L. Squires

Presiding Bishop Jane Allen MiddletonHempstead, New York

June 7, 2014

iii. daily proceedings of the new york annual conference · pdf fileiii. daily proceedings of...

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