The 27th General Conference of the
Evangelical Methodist Church
Arlington, Texas
31. CALL TO ORDER. Dr. Williamson called the conference to order at 10:45 a.m.
32. INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS. Rev. Jack Conner introduced [Pastor Wally] of Christians in Crisis. [Pastor Wally] related his ministry with the persecuted church around the world.
33. TARAHUMARA MINISTRIES. Rev. Jose Macias shared his ministry among the Tarahumara Indians and the need for additional workers in the churches being started.
34. RECEIVING OF MINUTES. The Minutes from the previous day’s business sessions were distributed. It was moved and seconded to approve the Minutes, with any corrections to be brought to the attention of the Secretary. Approved.
35. BOARD OF TRUSTEES. The chair called for the report of the Board of Trustees, Rev. Bob Baldridge, chairman.
36. BOARD OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION. Dr. Daniel Pacifico gave the report of the Board of Christian Education. Dr. Pacifico gave the progress on the updating and rewriting of the catechism.
a) It was moved to adopt in principle the presented catechism. Seconded and approved.
b) It was moved to allow the Board of Christian Education and the General Council to approve any additions to the catechism during the 2002-2006 quadrennium. Seconded and approved.
37. NOMINATIONS OF GENERAL SECRETARY-TREASURER. The chair opened the floor for nominations for the office of General Conference Secretary-Treasurer. Nominees were: Rev. James Coulston and Rev. Dean McColley. It was moved and seconded that nominations cease. Approved. Ballots were distributed and collected.
38. BOARD OF DISCIPLINE REVISION. Rev. Leroy VanVerth continued the report of the Board of Discipline Revision.
ITEM #4. It was moved to adopt Item #4, to invert the order of the conferences named, making ¶ 81 the local church and General Conference ¶ 84, showing the progression upward of the government of the church from the local to the General Conference. Seconded and Approved.
ITEM #5. It was moved and seconded to provide for Mission Conferences (¶ 81 through ¶ 84). The following change was approved.
¶ 81. “There shall be Annual Church Conferences…”
¶ 82. “There shall be District Conferences…”
¶ 83. There shall be Mission Conferences, which shall operate under and in harmony with the General Conference and shall be constituted with powers, duties, and privileges as are set forth in the Discipline.
¶ 84. “There shall be a General Conference for the international church with powers…”
ITEM #6. ¶ 91 and ¶ 92. It was moved and seconded to add “deacons” and edit to include “deacon” in all paragraphs where “deaconess” occurs. Approved.
¶ 91. “The Constitution provides for one ministerial ordination, that of elder. Elders, members on trial, deacons, and deaconesses…”
¶ 92. “The General Conference shall provide the qualifications, duties, powers, and privileges of elders, members on trial, local preachers, deacons, and deaconesses…”
ITEM #7. It was moved and seconded to add a Mission Conference section to the Discipline, to be a newly numbered 500’s section.
Move for the Question. Following a brief debate, a Call for the Question was moved and seconded. It was approved.
Question. The motion was voted on and approved.
ITEM #7 CONTINUED. Paragraphs 501 thru 510 were read, and moved for adoption. The motion was seconded. (Note: It was agreed to add the words, “within the Mission Conference” in ¶ 508. “¶ 508. Funds other than those raised by the Mission Conference, for budgets and projects within the Mission Conference approved by the General Board of World Missions shall be disbursed according to the policies of the Board.”
Debate ended on paragraphs 501 thru 510 with final disposition pending.
AMENDMENT TO ¶ 504. It was moved and seconded to change the phrase in ¶ 504, “Articles of Faith” to the “Articles of Religion” to be consistent with other disciplinary terms. Approved.
39. ELECTION OF GENERAL SECRETARY-TREASURER. The results of the election of the General Conference Secretary-Treasurer were announced: Rev. James Coulston, 172; Rev. Dean McColley, 29; Abstain, 6.
40. ADJOURNMENT. The session was adjourned with prayer by Rev. Jack Conner.