Reflections on 2008 Annual Conference

What is an Annual Conference?  It has been described as a:

• Family reunion
• Spiritual renewal
• Bureaucratic necessity
• Political arena
• Worship Service
• Geographical territory
• Meeting at Purdue University
• Official meeting where Bishop presides

Our North Indiana Annual Conference is composed of clergy members and lay members (or delegates) selected by local charge conferences (congregations).  There are also "Equalization delegates" selected to balance the more numerous clergy, many of whom are retired, or not appointed to congregations.

Indiana has two Annual Conferences, North Indiana and South Indiana, which are presided over by the same bishop, Bishop Mike Coyner.  This year both conferences are voting on the "Imagine Indiana" recommendation that the two conference merge into one Indiana Conference.  Our conference, North Indiana, voted in secret last week, but the results were not announced until after the South Indiana Conference votes Friday, June 6. Will we have one Indiana Conference?  We will not know until Saturday Morning, when both votes will be announced.

Kokomo Grace Church was represented by several lay members:

Donna Brownfield, Lay Member

Nancy Hefley, Lay Member

David Brownfield, Equalization Member

Chuck Hefley, Equalization Member

Melissa Zimmerman, Young Adult Member

Leanna  Zimmerman, Youth Member

More about our Recent Annual Conference, held May 29-31 at Purdue University:

Observations from Dave and Donna Brownfield

Observations from Pastor Steve Beutler

Observations from Pastor Chris Rogers, found on his blog, "To Be Changed"

Kokomo Grace's own Jim Williams recognized with "Bread and Basin" Award

Newscope Summary Report, written by Dan Gangler

Links to Both Conference Daily Reports, Photos, and Summaries