BUSINESS SESSION VI

July 17, 2002

44. CALL TO ORDER. Rev. Jack Conner called the session to order at 10:10 a.m.

45. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES. The Minutes of the previous day’s business sessions were distributed. It was moved and seconded to approve the Minutes. Approved.

46. ORDER OF THE DAY. Rev. Conner called for the Order of the Day, the election of the General Superintendent. Rev. Victor Caldwell led the conference in prayer. Ballots were distributed. The nominee was Dr. Edward Williamson. The ballots were collected for counting.

46. INTRODUCTION OF MISSIONARIES. Missionaries present in the conference were introduced and briefly addressed the conference: Dr. Leroy Lindsey, Jr., Rev. John Gentry, Rev. Meda Jane Leach and Rev. William Walker.

47. ELECTION OF THE GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT. Rev. Conner announced the vote tally: Yes, 173; No, 9; Abstain, 6. Dr. Williamson was declared the duly elected General Superintendent. Dr. Williamson addressed the conference following his election. Mrs. Loretta Williamson also addressed the conference and introduced their family. Dr. Williamson assumed the chair.

48. EVANGELICAL METHODIST WOMEN. The chair called for the report of the Evangelical Methodist Women, Mrs. Dolores Burns, President. Mrs. Burns moved to ratify the new officers of the General EMW:

President, Mrs. Sonya Penny

Vice-President, Mrs. Jean Thompson

Secretary, Mrs. Dolores Burns

Treasurer, Mrs. Betty Mullinex

Christian Education, Mrs. Karen Nicholson

Missions, Mrs. Phyllis Morris

Local & Community, Mrs. Eilene Pacifico

Rev. Harold Thompson led in prayer for the ministry of the EMW.

49. POINT OF SPECIAL PRIVILEGE. Dr. Williamson introduced his mother, Mrs. Florence Williamson of Parkersburg, WV, who was in attendance, and his sister, from Redmond, WA.

50. SPECIAL GREETINGS. Rev. Jack Conner requested special greetings be sent to Rev. David DeVore, pastor of the Church of the Good Shepherd EMC in Grove, Oklahoma, who recently underwent back surgery.

51. CORRECTION OF MINUTES. Rev. Coulston announced corrections to previously approved Minutes (corrections are reflected in final version of Minutes).

52. BOARD OF DISCIPLINE REVISION. The report of the Board of Discipline Revision continued. It was moved to add a new ¶ 508 was added to the report: “¶ 508. A Mission Conference may not financially obligate the Evangelical Methodist Church or an organizational unit thereof.” The Board of Discipline Revision accepted this paragraph as a portion of their report (NOTE: Subsequent paragraphs will be re-numbered following the new ¶ 508).

¶ 502. It was moved and seconded to amend ¶ 502 to state: “Membership of a church in a Mission Conference shall be allocated by the General Conference.”

Motion Withdrawn. Mr. McCulley withdrew his motion on ¶ 502.

53. TIME LIMIT TO DEBATE. It was moved and seconded to limit debate to 10 minutes per section presented. Approved.

54. DISCIPLINE REVISION. It was moved and seconded to amend ¶ 502 to state: “The geographical and or congregational borders of a Mission Conference shall be determined by the General Conference.” Motion failed.

55. MOVE FOR THE QUESTION. It was moved to Call for the Question to adopt paragraphs 501 through 511, and end debate. The Call for the Question was approved.

Question. The Mission Conference section, ¶ 501 – ¶511, was voted on as amended and approved.

56. CURRENT PARAGRAPH 513. It was moved and seconded that the current ¶ 513 be deleted. The motion received a necessary 2/3’s vote to be held overnight for consideration on Thursday.

57. PARAGRAPH 112. It was moved by the Board of Discipline Revision to add “Mission Conference” to ¶112: “Proposed amendments to the Constitution may originate in the General Conference, a Mission Conference, or a District Conference.” The motion was seconded and approved.

58. DISCIPLINE REVISION. It was moved and seconded to approve revision to ¶ 685, as follows:

¶685 - Revise the paragraph to read as follows, including the office of Deacon. Edit the Discipline to include Deacon in all paragraphs where deaconess appears.

¶685. DEACON/DEACONESS ORDERS. The church affirms that particular persons are called, recognized and set apart beyond the normal role of the believer for servant leadership within the body of Christ and the world. This set-apart ministry is not a substitute for the deaconal responsibility of all believers.

Those called to this ministry of service in the church and world may be set apart to the office of deacon or deaconess. This ministry exemplifies the servanthood of every Christian called to live both in the church and the world. The deacon/deaconess embodies the unity of the congregation's worship with its life in the world by participating with the elder of his or her local church. This is demonstrated in the leadership of worship, working in a serving profession in the church and serving the needs of the poor, the sick, and the oppressed.

A deacon/deaconess must be a member in good standing of the Evangelical Methodist Church and have shown fitness in his or her duties by active service in some Christian work. Before consecration, he or she must be recommended by his or her local church and District Superintendent, have completed the prescribed course of study as recommended by the Board of Ministerial Education and Advanced Studies, have personally met with the Board of Ministerial Relations, be recommended by that Board to the District Conference and receive a majority vote from that Conference. A deacon/deaconess is a member of the District Conference and is amenable to the District Conference for conduct, character and attendance, and shall be under the direct supervision of the District Superintendent.

The Motion was approved.

59. DISPUTE RESOLUTION. Re: Peacemaking: The Board of Discipline Revision moves that the Dispute Resolution Contract and Conciliation Clause be mandatory for all local churches and ministers for the quadrennium. It shall be the duty of each District Superintendent to execute the signing of this agreement by the local churches of his district. At the regular meeting of the 2005 General Council, the matter will be presented again, and on a favorable vote of the Council, this Board will consider PEACEMAKING for insertion in the Discipline.

60. MOTION TO EXTEND DEBATE. Following the time limit for debate, it was moved and seconded to extend debate five (5) minutes. Motion failed.

61. DISPUTE RESOLUTION VOTE. The motion to adopt the Dispute Resolution Contract and Conciliation Clause was voted and approved.

62. ADJOURNMENT. The conference adjourned at 11:50 a.m. for the Evangelical Methodist Men’s Banquet and the noon hour.