Each June our region of The United Methodist Church, the Illinois Great Rivers Conference, holds their annual meeting known as the Annual Conference in Peoria, IL. The report that follows is from Bill Hammitt, a Calvary member and one of our lay delegates to this annual meeting.
 
The Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference met June 2-5 at the Peoria Civic Center.  The theme of this year's Conference was Lost in Wonder, Love and Praise.
 
On Wednesday evening, following the singing of Charles Wesley's hymn And Are We Yet Alive?, which has traditionally been the opening hymn throughout Methodism for 261 years, Bishop Gregory Palmer called the Annual Conference to order.  From the opening gavel to the closing on Saturday afternoon, the atmosphere and attitude of the Conference was positive and relaxed under the outstanding leadership of our Bishop.
 
Calvary had seven delegates at Conference this year.  Randy Perry and Lori Harvey were our Clergy Delegates, Larry Bross, Larry Venezia and Bill Hammitt were Lay Delegates representing Calvary.  Jan GodbEy was a District at Large Delegate and John Plattner was a Conference at Large Delegate as Chair of the Conference Board of Pensions and Health Benefits.
 
We were very pleased and proud when the announcement was made that Randy Perry was this year's recipient of the prestigious Denman Award for Evangelism.  Rev. Kent Lolling in nominating Randy said, "His is a compassionate soul."  "It is that quiet compassionate soul that is part of what makes people want to listen to what he has to say and makes him such a good evangelist." Rev. Jennifer Edwards Bertrand said, "Though attractive building and ample parking are not evangelism for the 21st century, it takes a special connection with people-an ability to communicate God's love in a way that it is understood. Randy has that unique ability to connect with children, teenagers and adults by finding an intersecting passion or interest." Rev. Lolling concluded, "Evangelism is a focus not just for him, but something he has instilled into the congregation and the leadership." Congratulations Randy!
 
The total Conference Budget as amended and approved is: $11,699,344, down 1.53% from $11,880,647 in 2010.  Through two budget amendments Conference members restored:  $42,000 taken from the Health and Welfare Agencies of the Church; $10,000 in youth ministry line items for Marked Leadership Camp; and $43,500 to the Conference Camping budget.
 
Of great joy to the People of Calvary was the reappointment of Randy Perry as our Directing Pastor to serve our church for another year.  Grant Armstrong was appointed as our Associate Pastor. A total of 17 individuals were ordained elders and one a deacon in full connection.  Two provisional members were commissioned--one provisional elder and one provisional deacon. Seventeen pastors retired representing 478 years of service to Jesus Christ and His Church.
 
During the Memorial Service the lives of 35 pastors or spouses of pastors and 4 Lay People were remembered.  These people have passed on to the Church Triumphant since we met in 2009.
The session opened each morning with a 30 minute "Morning Manna with Bishop Palmer."  His sermons were very spiritual, inspirational and uplifting.  During one of these sessions when talking about listless churches he said "If you're out of business take down your sign!"  He ended one morning proclaiming "... Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior of the World and the Lord of All."
 
The Conference approved setting up a committee on disability concerns as outlined in the Book of Discipline. A resolution to cut another day from Annual Conference was defeated.  Another resolution to consolidate the business of the Conference into one day was also defeated. The Conference voted to close eight more churches.  The one closest to us was located in Sibley. The Board of Pensions report was approved calling for no change in health and pension assessments from the local churches or individuals.
 
Since the Bishop Hill United Methodist Church was previously placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and designated by the State of Illinois as a State Historic Site, a resolution was approved to authorize the Conference Commission on Archives and History to take the appropriate action to designate the Bishop Hill United Methodist Church as an official historic site of the denomination.
 
I wish to thank you, the People of Calvary, for the privilege of being one of your Lay Delegates to Annual Conference.  Calvary is a wonderful church to represent.
 
 
Bill Hammitt