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2018 Annual Conference Session

The 2018 Great Plains Annual Conference session took place June 13-16 at the Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center in Wichita, Kansas. The theme, "Therefore Go: Proclaim Christ" marked the second year of a four-year theme meant to help clergy and laity of the Great Plains live into active discipleship.

For those wanting to relive the moments, reinforce the messages or reflect on them to fellow church members, here is a multimedia collection of what happened at this year's conference.

VIDEOS

Wednesday, June 13

Afternoon listening session related to the Commission on a Way Forward

• Download the listening session presentation, complete with notes shared by the bishop.

Service of Remembrance and Communion

• Sermon: Rev. Wayne Alloway
• Baptism: Iris Eileen Cannon
• Memorial service, processional
• Offering, communion, benediction

Thursday, June 14

• Worship with Aaron Lee Martin
• Laity session
• Laity address: Courtney Fowler
• Episcopal address: Bishop Saenz
  • Download the bishop's transcript
• Episcopacy Committee
• Trustees report
• Treasurer's report
• Personnel/employee farewells
• Pension and health benefits
• New church development
• History and archives (with 150th anniversaries)
• Dance break!
• Connecting Council
• Congregational excellence
• Communications/UMCOM
• Commissioning of interns
• Clergy excellence
• CFA report
• Campus ministry
• Camping ministry
• Board of Ordained Ministry and introduction of retirees
   

Friday, June 15

Youth leading worship

Workshops (PowerPoints for download will be added as soon as they are received)

• Evangelism Equation with the Rev. Dr. Mark Teasdale
• Anatomy of Peace with the Rev. Nathan Stanton 
• Bloom Where You're Planted with the Rev. Kimberly Pope-Seiberling 
• Contextualized, Holistic Evangelism with the Rev. Heather Lear
• Fresh Expressions with the Rev. Michael Beck
• How to be Practically Christian with the Rev. David Watson (did not record)
• Local Church Marketing Plan Tool with the Rev. Ashleigh Joyner 
• Making New Disciples with the Rev. Bob Crossman 
• VBS Horizon Style with the Rev. Jason Kennedy (did not record; watch for a story about VBS at Horizon Community Church later this summer)

• Commission on a Way Forward presentation

  

• Saint Paul School of Theology
• Constitutional amendment
• Anatomy of Peace
  • Download the PowerPoint presentation used by the bishop and the Rev. Nathan Stanton
• Service of commissioning, recognition and ordination

Saturday, June 16

• Gathering music/devotional
• Nominating Committee
• CFA report
• Kansas/Nebraska UM Foundations
• United Methodist Men
• United Methodist Women
• Resolutions 9-10
• Resolutions 11-13
• Cabinet introduction, fixing of appointments, adjournment

View the daily GPconnect email recap

• Wednesday, June 13, 2018
• Thursday, June 14, 2018
• Friday, June 15, 2018
• Saturday, June 16, 2018

Resolutions

Here are the resolutions for the closings of the churches in Upland, Nebraska; Glade, Kansas; Gardner First Light, Kansas; and Cedar Vale, Kansas. In addition, the church in Gove, Kansas, was closed.

Here are the texts of the resolutions that were discussed on the plenary floor:

• Resolution No. 8: Consider investing in Wespath's "Social Values Choice" suite of funds ​(Failed)
• Resolution No. 9: Advocating for the rights of children living under Israeli occupation (Defeated, 396-374)
• Resolution No. 10: Creation of a covenant partnership between the Great Plains Conference and the Methodist Church of Haiti ​(Approved)
• Resolution No. 11: Our sinful immigration system ​(Approved)
• Resolution No. 12: The call to offer sanctuary (Page 2) ​(Approved)
• Resolution No. 13: Comprehensive immigrant, refugee, migrant and asylum reform ​(Approved)