Bishop's Corner
An Ambitious Conference
By Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker
The 2002 Florida Annual Conference Event proved to
be an ambitious conference. Consider the commitments of the elected
lay members and clergy members to:
Repent of racism and continue to achieve full inclusion of
African-Americans and all ethnic minorities in the life of the church;
Establish a Conference Table of leaders to coordinate the ministries of
the connection and address the fundamental issues facing the conference;
Create an Office of Congregational Transformation to equip existing
congregations to†fulfill a vibrant mission to make disciples of Jesus
Christ;
Propose to the 2003 Florida Annual Conference a strategy for financial
development†in order to fund capital improvements and endowments for
the ministries of the conference;
Purchase
property adjacent to the Warren Willis Youth Camp in Leesburg;
Adopt a design for the construction of the Heritage Center to hold the
archives of the conference;
Require active and retired clergy to participate in the health care
insurance program and to establish an account of $15 million for health
care for the retired clergy in order to secure health care insurance for
the clergy members of the conference; and
Keep attention focused upon the needs of children in poverty by
receiving offerings for the children in Africa, Haiti and Florida.
All of the above are ambitious goals. Ambition is
good when it is directed toward faithfulness to God and service to
others. It is harmful when it is dedicated to self-seeking. These goals
will be pursued in order to strengthen the life and mission of the
church through the Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist
Church. They constitute a challenging agenda for the leaders of the
conference and all the congregations.
While there are significant challenges ahead, we
do not need to furrow our brows and wring our hands. Cheerfully and
courageously the people of God respond to ambitious goals with the
illumination, guidance and power of the Holy Spirit.
|
