Plans for the May 2020 Annual Conference session were revised due to COVID-19. A one-day business meeting was held on Saturday, May 30, 2020 using conference call technology to care for items that could not be delayed.
VAC 2020 (Friday, May 29) from Great Plains UMC on Vimeo.
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. opens our 2020 revised annual conference session on Friday, May 29, 2020, by leading a worship service that features him preaching about what he calls the "gap time."
Download the transcript.
2020 Revised Annual Conference Closing Worship from Great Plains UMC on Vimeo.
The revised 2020 annual conference session concludes with a worship service that features the bishop preaching about justice, the fixing of appointments, and a celebration of retirees. This service appeared shortly after the conclusion of the teleconference call Saturday, May 30, 2020.
Download a transcript the bishop wrote for the sermon.
Approved during the revised session:
The sale of Camp Comeca near Cozad, Nebraska, for $20,000 to Cozad Camping Ministry. The United Methodist camp, which opened in 1955, had been operating at a $300,000 deficit, the Rev. Bill Ritter, chair of Great Plains United Methodist Camps Inc., said during the call. The sale was approved 879-33, with 23 abstaining.
The ratification of disaffiliation agreements for six churches, all in Kansas: Abilene Emmanuel, Aulne, Bartlett, Benton, Esbon and Norcatur. “As we part, we do so with mercy,” the bishop said in his prayer for the churches. The disaffiliation passed 770-69, with 55 abstentions.
The closing of 14 churches: Beemer and Long Pine in Nebraska, and Burns, Carneiro, Cassoday, Greeley, Iola Calvary, Kansas City Metropolitan Avenue, McGraw (Hoxie), Pomona, Topeka St. Peter, Walnut, Wichita Brookside and Wichita Dawson in Kansas. The closings passed 908-14, with 28 abstaining.
A recommendation from the personnel committee that pastoral salaries at all levels remain the same as 2019-20. The Rev. Craig Hauschild, chair of the personnel committee, said the pay was recommended because of the pandemic precautions that have hit local churches. Minimum compensation will remain $44,921 for full elders and deacons; $42,486 for provisional elders and deacons; $40,051 for associate members; and $37,617 for full-time local pastors. It was approved 814-20, with 7 abstentions.
Read more about the revised annual conference session:
Learn about the clergy and laity events for the revised 2020 session.
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