Professional Documents
Culture Documents
I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
How do I say goodbye to what we had? The good times that made us laugh, outweighed the badAnd Ill
take with me the memories to be my sunshine after the rain...Its so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.
Thank You Oak Ridge District. Indeed, you are the People of God!
Adam
ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2017
Dr. Adam McKee and his wife Charlotte Holston Annual Conference
Sunday, June 4, 2017 Missions Dinner
2:00pm 4:00pm 5K Run/Walk
First United Methodist Church, Oak Ridge *******************************
May 24, 2017
We hope you will take this opportunity to
For Childcare During AC 2017
stop by and express your gratitude for eight Do you need childcare during the sessions of
years of faithful service in the Oak Ridge Annual Conference?
District. A special presentation to Adam Please contact Tammy McDowell at
and Charlotte will be made during the tmcdowell@lakejunaluska.com or call
(828) 454-6681.
reception at 3:00pm. Deadline is May 24, 2017.
Reservations for childcare cannot be made after the
deadline.
First United Methodist Church Walk in space limited.
1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike
Oak Ridge, TN 37830 ***************************
A Note to Pastors:
If your Lay Member to Annual Conference
has changed, please notify the District Office.
All Clergy, Local Church Lay Members, and At-Large Members to Annual
Conference are encouraged to attend a Pre-Conference Briefing on
Sunday, May 21, 3:00pm at First United Methodist Church in Oak Ridge.
If you are unable to attend the May 21, 3:00pm briefing, you may want to
choose to attend the Pre-Conference Briefing in the Knoxville District at
6:00pm, Sunday, May 21 at Cokesbury North Campus or view the recorded
Johnson City Pre-Conference Briefing from May 7 at http://holston.org/
about/annual-conference/pre-conference-briefings/
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
May 2, 2107
In response to the urgent demands upon our Conference created by limited financial resources and
further proposed cuts to our budget, the Cabinet determined that we could provide an immediate
and short-term benefit by reducing the number of District Superintendents appointed at this session
of Annual Conference for the 2017-2018 Conference year.
Upon thoughtful and prayerful consideration, the Cabinet determined that the appointment of nine
district superintendents would be in the best interest of Holston Conference.
Since we still have 12 districts, this will mean that some district superintendents will concurrently
serve more than one district. I am pleased to announce that this proposal was unanimously ap-
proved by all district superintendents, and we appreciate the willingness of those district superintendents who will be
serving more than one district to accommodate these additional administrative responsibilities.
Although the decision to reduce the number of district superintendents at this Annual Conference was a decision made
by the Holston Conference Cabinet and was separate and independent from the work of the Conference Strategy Team,
the necessity of having to take this action now underscores the importance of having a comprehensive strategic vision
for the future of Holston Conference where circumstances requiring urgent action will no longer be necessary.
The Holston Conference Cabinet is committed to making disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world,
and we affirm that the changes outlined in the Conference Strategy Team report will help us move into the future in a
way that affirms the mission and ministry of the Holston Conference of The United Methodist Church.
DINDY TAYLOR
Resident Bishop
Holston Annual Conference
Each kit must contain the following items packed into a 2-gallon Ziploc bag:
2 bars soap
2 toothpaste (6.4 oz. or less)
2 toothbrushes
1 Childrens Chewable Tylenol
(or any generic Acetaminophen), 80mg/160mg, (30 ct.)
1 washcloth
1 Delsym 12-hour for children/adults (3 oz. or less)
Please give close attention to the medication dosages and packaging sizes and quantities.
$5 per kit should also be included to cover packing and shipping costs.
PLEASE DO NOT PUT MONEY IN THE BAGS!
Each church should write one check payable to: Oak Ridge District
(Ex: 10 kits x $5 = $50.00)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Our 2017 Annual Confer-
ence Mission Offering is the
Ishe Anesu Project for
Underprivileged Children
located in Mutare, Zimba- Change for Children Grants are available to support new and
bwe. That name should existing ministries with economically disadvantaged children
sound familiar to you. Every through Holston Conference churches and related United
year half of the Hands-On Methodist agencies. Envelopes will be collected on Tuesday
Project supplies (food buck- morning June 13th 8:30 - 10:00am in front of Stuart Audito-
ets, school kits, cleaning rium at Holston Annual Conference.
buckets, sewing kits) are shipped to Ishe Anesu. Holston
___________________________________________________
Conference has had a pivotal role in the creation of and the
success of the Ishe Anesu project.
2017 ANNUAL CONFERENCE CHOIR
Your support has enabled numerous children to receive the
assistance they need to survive and thrive in a very difficult You are invited to participate in an
situation. In fact, several of the children that we started with Annual Conference Choir composed
are now attending college and doing very well. We want to of lay and clergy members of the
insure the future of the project and this offering is one way Annual Conference. The choir will
we can do that. Thank you for your generous gift toward sing during the Memorial Service
Ishe Anesu. on Monday, June 12, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. Spouses
who are in attendance for the Annual Conference are
Envelopes will be sent out to churches in each district and also welcomed to participate. The anthems and re-
will be collected Tuesday, June 13 at the Annual Conference hearsal times will be announced soon.
Mission Celebration.
_______________________________________________
When available a recording of the anthem(s) will be
sent to you by email. Please indicate your willingness to
participate and the e-mail address that you would like
Rise Against Hunger the anthem recordings sent to by responding to Lori
(Stop Hunger Now) Sluder at LoriSluder@holston.org no later than
FOOD COMMUNITY May 31st. Please include your name, church, district,
SUSTAINABILITY and e-mail address and if you are clergy or lay.
On-Site Mission Opportunity
___________________________________________________
Come join us for the on-site mission project during Holston's
Annual Conference, June 13, 2017, 12:30 p.m., at Kern
Youth Center, Lake Junaluska (located at the end of the rose
MINISTERS' SPOUSES LUNCHEON
Monday, June 12, 2017 - 12:00PM
walk). We need volunteers to help set-up at 11:30 a.m., as
Long's Chapel UMC - 133 Old Clyde Road
well as participants for food packaging. This event is a lot of
Waynesville, NC 28785
fun for all ages! Children, please bring a parent with you.
Catered by Blue Rooster Southern Grill
Also, we are asking for contributions of $5.00 (or more if Cost $20.00 per person
you wish) to help offset the $3,500 cost of this important First time attendee - no charge
program. However, it is not required to participate in the
packaging process. Contributions can be made at the Infor- Make checks payable to:
mation Desk of Stuart Auditorium, at one of the doors as Holston Conference Ministers' Spouses
you exit the Tuesday morning session, or at the packaging Mail to: Tami Bennington
site. 531 2nd Street
Newport, TN 37821
To sign up to volunteer and/or to participate, go to:
http://events.stophungernow.org/ On-line registration will be available.
HolstonUMCconference Registration Deadline is May 27, 2017
Questions? Contact Lori Sluder at lorisluder@holston.org or For additional information contact Lisa Black
call (865) 293-4146 lisaeblack809@gmail.com or 423-612-7601
Registration:
Regular Registration:
Postmarked by June 9- $275
Walk In Registration: $335
To register, please fill out the Standard Regis-
tration Form found at:
http://holston.org/ministries/youth/programs/
assembly/ and send it with your payment to:
Assembly
PO Box 850
Alcoa, TN 37701
Holston Mission u
Central UMC
Lenoir City, TN
United Methodist Women believe that sustainability is all about choosing life, choosing care, and choosing love. It is about living wisely, justly
and joyfully in each decision we make so that all of us may live with dignity to our full potential, now and for generations to come. For now, it
is important to buy carefully, use and reuse, and find ways to reduce waste wherever possible.
THEREFORE, we ask you to bring your own refillable beverage container to this meeting = Bring Your Own Bottle or Cup (BYOB/C). We will
have coffee and water for your convenience, but we will NOT have bottled water or Styrofoam or paper cups for coffee. We want to do OUR
part for a sustainable environment by practicing Climate Justice.
Now for more about the study leaders. NOTE that the April 2017 issue of Response magazine has a feature article on The Covenant Chal-
lenge.
Spiritual Growth classes will be led by Nellie Bragg, Ginny West Case, and Julie Taylor.
Nellie Bragg is a native Knoxvillian and a graduate of Clinton High School and Emory and Henry College. Following gradua-
tion, she worked in Christian Education and as an elementary teacher in Virginia before becoming an elementary teacher in
the Knox County public school. Nellie is a member of Middlebrook Pike United Methodist Church (Knoxville District) and has
served her local unit in several offices. Nellie has served the Oak Ridge District United Methodist Women as Secretary of Pro-
gram Resources and Coordinator for Spiritual Growth and completed two terms as Holston Conference United Methodist Wom-
en Secretary of Program Resources. She has attended SEJ Quadrennial meetings in Hampton, VA and Birmingham, AL, as
well as United Methodist Women Assembly in St. Louis, MO and Louisville, KY. As a retired teacher of 18 years, she is a member of the Knox
County Retired Teachers Association and was a Girl Scout Leader for 10 years. Nellie loves to sing and is a member of two choral groups. Her hobbies include read-
ing, music, cooking, and blogging. Check Nellies blog out at www.berriesandmore.blogspot.com. Nellie has been married for more than 45 years to Eugene Bragg
and is mother of three daughters, April Bragg, Carol Hanshew, and Joy Hopkins.
Ginny West Case has an A.A. degree from Andrew College, a United Methodist college in Cuthbert, Georgia, a B.A. from Emory University, and an M.A.
from Tennessee Tech University. She was a baby member of the Womens Society of Christian Service (WSCS one of the mother organizations of Unit-
ed Methodist Women). Ginny has worked in marketing, training, & sales for the United Methodist Publishing House and served as Christian Educator for
Asbury Place and First United Methodist Church in Maryville, TN. Her family includes her sons family Robert and Rebecca Case, Jackson, William, and
Thomas and her adopted family of Chris and Amy Probst, Anna Grace, Callie, and Cassie. Her hobbies are reading, loving and caring for grandchil-
dren, art appreciation, social activism, and being an advocate for the vulnerable.
Julie Taylor was born and reared in Eclectic, AL. She has a Masters degree in Christian Spiritual Formation and Leadership from Spring Arbor Uni-
versity, Michigan and a Bachelors degree in Christian Education from Asbury University, Kentucky. Julie is the Executive Director for the National
Farm Worker Ministry (NFWM), a faith-based organization that brings support to United States farm workers as they organize for better wages, decent
living and working conditions and safety. The National Farm Worker Ministry has a 45+ year history of standing with farm workers as they organize for
justice. With 27 denominations, religious orders and groups, NFWM has a long history of connecting the farm workers and their organizers to the faith
community who choose to stand with some of the most marginalized in our society. Julie spent 13 years on their board before taking this position in September
2015. Prior to that Julie worked for the National Office of United Methodist Women, first as the Executive for Child and Family Advocacy. In this position, she
directed their Initiative on Domestic Violence in partnership with United Methodist Men and addressed public education, child labor, farm worker conditions, re-
productive justice and older womens concerns. Her most recent job with United Methodist Women was serving as the Executive for Spiritual Growth. Julies re-
sponsibilities included resourcing faith development, fostering spiritual and theological foundations for the work of United Methodist Women, assisting with leader-
ship training, and helping to produce spiritual growth studies each year. Julies family includes a sister and brother-in-law, three nephews, 2 nieces and a great-
nephew. She loves jigsaw puzzles, writing and wrestling with faith/life issues.
Heather Bennett received her Masters in Sustainability from Lipscomb University in 2014. She has a B.S. in Psychology
from Tennessee Tech University. She began Blessed Earth Tennessee in 2014. The non-profits mission is to inspire and
equip Christians to become better stewards of the earth. She spent the eight years before that with United Methodist
Communications working with Online Marketing, Central Conference Communications Initiative and Nothing But Nets
(now Imagine No Malaria.) Heather is married to Ryan, a United Methodist pastor in the Tennessee Conference. Their son
is 7 years old and in first grade. Heather is passionate about taking care of the earth. She enjoys being outside, listening to podcasts and
learning. Heather is interested in learning more about Biomimicry.
Becky Gantz Hall is a graduate of Tennessee Tech University where she holds a B.S. in Natural Resources. She is currently
the Director of Ministries at Christ UMC in Chattanooga, TN. She is also District Lay Leader, chair of the Conference Congre-
gational Development Committee, the Annual Conference Planning Team, and a Natural Church Development Coach. She has
been a District United Methodist Women President and a Conference United Methodist Women Officer as well as a teacher at
School of Christian Mission and Mission u. She is very involved in community service to include her efforts as a board member
of the Bethlehem Center, chair of the board of Volunteers in Medicine, and other charitable involvement such as mission
teams to Dominica, St. Martin, Liberia, Zimbabwe, Brazil, Nicaragua, Estonia, Kenya, India, Cuba, South Sudan and more.
Becky is married to David; they have two grown children and one grandson.
Anne Travis retired June 30, 2013 after serving Holston Conference for 13 years as Director of Connectional Ministries. In that position,
she had responsibility for age-level ministries (overseeing Children, Youth, Young Adults, and Older Adults), Camp and Retreat Ministries,
and Missions, as well as relating to the program ministry teams of the Conference. Since 2007, Anne has traveled four times to South Sudan,
a ministry that remains a particular interest to her. She served in 2004, 2008, and 2012 as a lay delegate to General and Jurisdiction Confer-
ences representing Holston. Currently, she is employed part-time as the Conference Secretary for the Southeastern Jurisdiction of The United
Methodist Church. An active United Methodist layperson, she attends First Farragut United Methodist Church in West Knoxville. Her daugh-
ter and son-in-law, Clair and Ken Sauer, are both United Methodist clergy serving in the Chattanooga District and parents of two children.
Her daughter and son-in-law, Lindsay and Jim Bedford, live in California with their two children, and Jim will be completing a two-year medical fellowship spe-
cializing in early diagnosis and treatment of children with autism. In semi-retirement, she is enjoying spending time with grandchildren, sewing, and having time
for Bible Study small group ministry at her local church.
Kacye Castenir is a representative of the Maryville District. She lives in Maryville with her husband Daniel Castillo and four
wonderful sons. Kacye and Daniel both serve the St. John United Methodist Church (Hispanic ministry). Kacye worked at
Camp Wesley Woods year round for four years and loved teaching and working with the many different people she met there.
Many of them were from Mexico, so she decided she would study Spanish and move to Mexico. She lived in Mexico and
worked with Volunteers in Mission of the United Methodist Church for several years. She has a degree in Teaching English to
Speakers of Other Languages (T.E.S.O.L). She has also attended FUEL training offered by Holston Conference for youth work-
ers. Kacye says, In our ministries I have been helping Dani with the youth and with the womens ministry by giving small group Bible Studies.
I am also fluent in Spanish, and I work as a translator at a maternity center in Madisonville. Kacye also serves as the Language Coordinator
for Holston Conference United Methodist Women.
Melissa Hutchinson currently serves as the Outdoor Education Director at Camp Wesley Woods, where she coordinates
for public and private schools to spend time outdoors learning about our environment. She has a Bachelor's degree from
the University of Evansville in biology and chemistry, and a Master's degree from Antioch University New England in envi-
ronmental studies and environmental education. Melissa is originally from Indiana and enjoys knitting, gardening, and
hiking with her dog, Blackie.
MAY 2017
18 DISTRICT CLERGY MEETING, First UMC-Oak Ridge, 10:00am
21 PRE-CONFERENCE BRIEFING, First UMC-Oak Ridge, 3:00pm
24 DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR ANNUAL CONFERENCE
24 DISTRICT COMMITTEE ON ORDAINED MINISTRY, District Office, 9:00am
29 MEMORIAL DAY - CONFERENCE AND DISTRICT OFFICES CLOSED
30 HANDS-ON MISSION HEALTH KITS DUE IN DISTRICT OFFICE
JUNE 2017
4 RECEPTION HONORING ADAM & CHARLOTTE MCKEE, First UMC-Oak Ridge, 2:00-4:00pm
11-14 HOLSTON ANNUAL CONFERENCE, Lake Junaluska, NC
24 WESLEY HOUSE GOLF TOURNAMENT, Egwani Farms
21 MOVING DAY FOR TRANSITIONING PASTORS
26-30 HOLSTON CONFERENCE JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH ASSEMBLY, Tennessee Wesleyan College
26-30 DISTRICT OFFICE CLOSED
JULY 2017
4 HAPPY 4TH OF JULY - CONFERENCE AND DISTRICT OFFICES CLOSED
The District Office will be closed July 3 - July 5
20-22 HOLSTON CONFERENCE MISSION u EVENT, Central UMC-Lenoir City
30-8/4 THE ACADEMY FOR SPIRITUAL FORMATION, Emory & Henry College