LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. – Speakers on the stage of the Holston Annual Conference yesterday were all on the same page in their hope and passion for a future in shared ministry, all in the name of Jesus Christ.
The second day of this week’s June 9-12 gathering of clergy and lay members included morning-to-night business reports and worship in Stuart Auditorium as well as special events throughout Lake Junaluska.
“We are moving from the disaffiliation season into the future with our heads held high and self confident in who God has called us to be,” Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett said in her morning “State of the Church” report. “We are The United Methodist Church in this region of the world. We are a grace-filled visionary community of believers with a passion for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ for the transformation of world.”
Wallace-Padgett added that Holston has the “audacity to hold in tension personal and social holiness” which are two chapters in the same book and necessities for a bright future. “We truly believe that diverse people like we are in this Annual Conference are better together than separate,” she said to applause.
Watch Monday livestream recordings.
Becky Hall presented the Lay Leader’s Report on successes and challenges of the past year and surprises along the path. “Yea God, show us the way, and hopefully we will follow," she said.
In an afternoon session featuring several reports from General Conference delegates, the Invitation Team and the Strategy Team, the Rev. Kim Goddard encouraged United Methodists of diverse theological backgrounds to stay together rather than go their separate ways.
“Because the greater witness is when we can stand and say to our communities around us: We don’t agree on everything, but this we agree upon. We are better together when we are sharing the one central message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and that’s what we will do,” she said. Goddard is head of Holston’s delegation and co-chair of the Invitation Team.
Del Holley, delegate and member of the Strategy Team and Invitation Team, shared an emotional prayer: “Make us one, one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, that in all we do and say and in every way we respond to those whom you have caused to cross our paths, you would be exalted and your name would be glorified.”
Others also spoke of how United Methodists in Holston are preparing for the future. During the opening Bible study, the Rev. Michael Bowie referenced Holston’s bicentennial celebration when he said it’s time to shift with current realities because “normal is not coming back.”
“We haven’t seen the best of our days because the Bible says our latter will be better than our former,” he said. “If you think 200 years was a good thing, the best is yet to come. Normal is not coming back, Holston, but Jesus is.” Bowie is national executive director for the United Methodist Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century.
During the evening Missions Celebration, Bishop David Graves preached on the prodigal son and how lost people matter to God. A native of Holston Conference, Graves is now resident bishop of the Alabama-West Florida Conference and the South Georgia Conference.
Graves recalled transformative experiences when he was a child and pastor in Holston, a conference known for its strong mission ministry. He lifted up the 30-member choir from Shades of Grace United Methodist Church, a storefront ministry started by the Rev. Will Shewey when Graves was his district superintendent 10 years ago in Kingsport, Tennessee.
“We argue over so much in the church that doesn’t have to much to do with Jesus but has a lot to do with ourselves,” he said. “Friends, it’s time to focus all of our energies on lost people. Lost people matter to God and they matter to us.”
Other highlights:
The Denman Evangelism Award was presented to (clergy) the Rev. Paul Seay, First United Methodist Church and Charles Wesley United Methodist Church in Abingdon, Va.; (lay) Norma Smith, Concord United Methodist Church in Knoxville, Tenn.; and (youth) Lorelia Zeigler, Allen Memorial United Methodist Church, Athens, Tenn.
The Francis Asbury Award for higher education was presented to the Rev. Keith Moore, director of the Wesley Foundation at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga.
Churches collected a total of 4,909 mission kits (food, school and health supplies) for Zimbabwe and Liberia, the Rev. Chris Brown announced. The total surpasses last year’s total by 131 kits. See complete list.
The Rev. Michael Vaughn of the Council on Finance and Administration presented a revised 2024 budget of $7.18 million for the Annual Conference’s consideration, reflecting a $1 million decrease from the budget previously approved. A 2025 budget of $6.78 million is also scheduled to be voted on this afternoon.
Fifty-two clergy and clergy spouses who died within the last year were remembered during the Memorial Service. The Rev. Misti McCreary preached on Elijah and Elisha in 2 Kings 2. “So yes, we are sad, but we also know that their story isn’t over because everyone who has known them, everyone who has served with them … continues their legacy,” said McCreary, associate pastor at First Broad Street United Methodist Church in Kingsport, Tenn.
The Strategy Team is evaluating data and will present a plan for realigning Holston’s nine districts at Annual Conference in 2025, said Mike Eastridge, Strategy Team chair.
The Annual Conference heard reports from John Wells, president of Emory & Henry University, and Tyler Forrest, president of Tennessee Wesleyan University.
Holston’s five camps host about 3,000 campers each summer and 8,000 to 10,000 retreat guests, the Rev. Sarah Varnell and the Rev. Mary Thompson reported. “Each year hundreds of campers make first-time professions of faith at camp,” Varnell said to applause.
A missions offering was taken last night for the New Voices campaign, which will go to support 12 ministries (5 camps, 5 Wesley Foundations, 2 colleges) reaching young people. Total offering will be announced today.
Special events were well attended, including 60 for Meet the Missionaries Dinner; 25 for the Hispanic/ Latino Leadership Dinner; and 35 for Black Methodists for Church Renewal.
More information from Monday at Annual Conference will be provided in future stories. Holston Conference includes 545 United Methodist churches in East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and North Georgia, with main offices in Alcoa, Tennessee.Sign upfor a free email subscription to
