CONFERENCE SUNDAY UPDATE
Welcome to the 2015 Iowa Annual Conference daily update

Don't miss a single image from the 2015 Annual Conference. Take a look at our Conference gallery on Flickr.
Legislative Action

The first day of the 2015 Iowa Annual Conference Session saw legislative action on four sections of resolutions.

 

The full text of resolutions is available on the Iowa Annual Conference website HERE.

 

In Section 1, there was no action taken on #101 - Welfare. # 102 - Divesting from Companies That Support the Israeli Occupation of Palestinian Territories, and #103 - Rescind 2014 #105 Response to General Conference Inaction, were declared out of order. #104 - Support for an Increase in Family Investment Program (FIP) (new), and #105 - Action Alert #105 Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), were passed on the consent calendar, and #106 - Support for Connectional Table Third Way, was pulled from the consent calendar.

 

For Section 2, Conference Ministries #200 - Episcopal Office Staff, Communications, and Human Resources, #201 - District Staff and Operations, #202 - Clergy Support and #204 -  Office of Pastoral Care and Counseling, passed on the consent calendar. #203 - Connectional Ministries Staff and Operations, was pulled from the consent calendar, no action taken.

 

With Sections 3 - Conference Ministries, and 5 - Central District Connectional Ministries Council, the entirety of both sections was passed on the consent calendar.

 

2016 General Conference election results

2015 Iowa Annual Conference Annual Session attendees elected three delegates to General Conference delegation in 2016 at the Saturday, June 6 session.

 

In the first round of balloting, no clergy member was elected, and Southeast District Field Outreach Minister Phil Carver was elected for the laity.

 

In clergy ballot 2, Southeast District Superintendent Rev. Lilian Gallo Seagren was elected. Also, in the second laity ballot, former Conference Lay Leader Norma Morrison was elected.

 

A third ballot was cast for clergy and laity, with the results to be read Sunday afternoon.  

 

Treasurer's report-financial health of Conference has made marked increase

The financial health of the Iowa Annual Conference has made a marked increase in the last year, according to the Treasurer's Report at the 2015 Annual Conference Session. 

 

Conference Treasurer Terry Montgomery gave his report along with presenting a working budget to Conference Session attendees, emphasizing the substantial oversight undergone by the Conference. 


 
"We are a heavily audited organization," he said.

 

Episcopal Address-Have you received your invitation?

"Jesus has extended to us an invitation," Bishop Julius Trimble told Iowa Annual Conference Session attendees at the outset of his episcopal address. 


 
"Jesus invites us to come close and then go out," he said. "RSVP saying yes is not always easy, but absolutely necessary, if we profess Jesus Christ as our savior and put our whole trust in his grace." 

 

"Jesus is expecting a response from us," said Bishop Trimble.

Late Conference Lay Leader remembered as "unabashedly United Methodist" with a great love for Jesus

The remembrance of late Conference Lay Leader David Decker was a "bittersweet part" of the Laity Session at the 2015 Annual Conference, Conference Lay Leader Margaret Borgen said at the Saturday morning session. 

"It's sad because Dave Decker is not here with us," she stated. "It's sweet, because we smile with every memory."

Conference lay members sang the hymn It is Well With My Soul in memory of Decker, who passed away in August of last year.

 

Conference memorial service: On behalf of a grateful church, thank you

The Service of Gathering and Remembrance at the 2015 Annual Conference Session was one of gratitude toward those who passed away this year, and also a call for those who remain to look beyond death. 

 

The hymn Give Me Jesus brought the faithful to worship for the service, followed by Bishop Julius Trimble reciting Words of Grace from Scripture, Matt. 28:1 CEB, where Christ said:  

 

"I am the resurrection, and I am the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, yet shall they live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die."

 

The Laity Session filled with prayer, song, recognition and remembrance

The Laity Session of the 2015 Annual Conference Session filled Saturday morning with prayer, song, laity recognition and remembrance before the Conference's formal opening. 


After gathering music led by Southeast Field Outreach Minister Phil Carver and Leadership Development Minister Coleen McRoberts, Conference Lay Leader Margaret Borgen called the laity to worship, and First Lady Racelder Grandberry Trimble welcomed them with prayer and words of encouragement.

 

"Go forth and tell a story in love and in joy" opens Laity session

First Lady Racelder Grandberry-Trimble opened the Laity Session at the 2015 Annual Conference Session with prayer and words of encouragement for lay members of the Conference. 


 
"I am excited and enthusiastic about the kingdom of God," she told those in attendance, "and because of that I am also excited about his kingdom people."

 

2015 annual conference session begins

A discussion about the work of the Design Task Force and proposed changes to clergy health benefits began the 172 session of the Iowa Conference.  Nearly four hundred people an orientation session at the Iowa Events Center, the site of the 2015 annual conference. 


 
Bishop Julius C. Trimble, the resident United Methodist Bishop for Iowa declared, "when the Conference is officially called to order tomorrow we will be United Methodists in Iowa for all the world to see as we worship, celebrate, deliberate, and decide."  

Upcoming events
Sunday: Bishop's Fitness 5K Walk/Run
Bishop's 5K Fitwalk: Sunday June 7th the 2nd Ave Pedestrian Bridge across from Wells Fargo from 6:15 am til 8:00 am.  $15 registration fee to raise funds for Bishop Trimble's Poverty to Opportunity Initiative. 

Sunday: Young Clergy Talk with Adam Hamilton
Immediately following adjournment in room 101

Monday: Communications Breakfast - Tools for Increasing Church Vitality
Monday, June 8th, 7:00 am in room 101. Learn with experts from the United Methodist's Communications team about how to make a vital congregation and why that's important. First 50 registrants receive free breakfast but all are welcome.
June 6, 2015 Recap
In This Issue

#IAUMC15
 

 
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