jul09_01

The End of A Season

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under
the heaven.

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to
pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to
build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to
dance:

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a
time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep , and a time to cast
away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to
speak;

A time to love and a time to hate; a time of war and a time of peace.
[Ecc 3:1-8]

I'm sorry to say that the time to end this newsletter has come! I
thought that we together could revive it, but it's a no go. I wish to
thank those few who gave me small articles to post but they've been
too few and far between.

I just don't have the time, energy or drive to go it alone any more. So,
this will be your last issue of Reaching Out.

I wish to thank Beth Atkins, Alma Flint, Lisa Ware, Jimmy & Linda
Jenkins, Jam Frame, Doug Smailes and Lorretta Hutchinson for their
contributions of articles and Bob Flint and Joe Mcpherson for their
purchase of stamps to mail out these newsletters.

                   It Happened in June
I heard that a number of things of interest happened in June, such as;
There was a river baptism! Sorry I couldn't be there. There was a
Father/Son dinner which again, sorry, I couldn't be there! Pastor Doug
was Ordained! Sorry, I couldn't be there! There was the West Virginia
Annual Conference! I wasn't there either. However, I was sent some
information about the Conference and I'd like to share what I thought was
the most important news released in the Conference summary!

Members of the West Virginia Annual Conference voted on 32 proposed
constitutional amendments yesterday. Most of the discussion was about
amendment one, which addresses inclusiveness in the church. If passed
by a two-thirds majority of individual voting members worldwide, the
amendment would change the current language in the Book of Discipline
under article IV to *The United Methodist Church acknowledges that all
persons are of sacred worth and that we are in ministry to all.*
* Justin Hull, Calvary & Simpson United Methodist Church in
Moundsville, said his church knows he is a gay man and is
  treated like family. He said he knows the love of Jesus, and would hate
to see anyone denied membership.
*Mark Flynn, District Superintendent in the Greenbrier District, said
voting for amendment one would be like writing a
*blank check as the Judicial Council and later General Conference would
have to interpret its meaning.
*   Before the vote Bishop Lyght called for prayer. *Help us to know your
will, in order that we might do it,* he said.

Conference approved a budget of $11,984,041 for 2010, an increase of
4.45% over 2009. Apportionment payouts are up 5% over the past five
years, according to chair Rev. Ellis Conley.

Fred Jackson, Heaston UMC, Hodgesville, and Ed Evans, First UMC
Welch, were honored with the Torch Award for their contributions to
scouting.

The Bishop*s Award of Excellence in Scouting recipients were:
Pack 295 and Troop 295 from Perry Memorial UMC, Southern District;
Troop 81 from Wesley Kingwood UMC, Potomac Highlands District;
Pack 12, Stout Memorial UMC, Little Kanawha District;
Pack and Troop 47 from Crossroads UMC, Little Kanawha District.

Dr. J.F. Lacaria reported on the Bishop*s Bike Ride, which has raised
$11,700 for economic relief for people living within the WV Conference.
The money will be given to the Conference*s 7 mission projects. He said
26 riders participated, the highest number in the event*s history.
Constitutional Amendment Vote Totals - Voting results follow below for
the 32 proposed Constitutional Amendments of the United Methodist
Church. Please note that ballots were re-counted, what follows is the
certified total: (Sorry, I didn't get a copy of the amendments - maybe Doug
has one if you ask!)
Amendment one, Inclusion: 281 yes; 411 no.
Amendment two, Ethics and Conflict of Interest: 439 yes; 248 no.
Worldwide Nature of the UMC (Amendments 3-5):
     Amendment three: 294, yes; 379, no.
     Amendment four: 291, yes; 381, no.
     Amendment five: 291, yes; 379, no.
Amendment six: Paragraph 15, Representation of New Conferences at
         General Conference: 289 yes; 392 no.
Amendment seven, Worldwide Nature of the UMC: 249 yes; 418, no.
Amendment eight, paragraph 16, Gender: 424 yes; 261 no.
Minimum membership for Jurisdictional Conference
      (Amendment nine): 404 yes; 257, no.
Worldwide Nature of the UMC (Amendments 10 - 14).
Amendment ten: 257 yes; 443, no.
           Eleven: 260 yes; 440, no.
           Twelve: 258 yes; 442 no.
           Thirteen: 258 yes; 442, no.
           Fourteen: 262 yes: 435, no.
Amendment 15, Definition of Annual Conference
Membership determined by General Conference: 189 yes; 498 no.
Amendment 16, Worldwide Nature of the UMC: 259 yes; 439 no.
Amendment 17, paragraph 33,
Lay Members of Committee on Investigation Voting Privileges: 362 yes;
322 no.
Amendment 18, Worldwide Nature of the UMC: 264, yes; 434, no.
Amendment 19, paragraph 35, election of delegates: 475 yes; 206, no.
Worldwide Nature of UMC (Amendments 20-21):
     Amendment 20, 234 yes; 397 no.
     Amendment 21, 229 yes; 400 no.
     Amendment 22, Bermuda: 402 yes; 287 no.
Worldwide Nature of UMC (Amendments 23-32):
     Amendment 23, 232 yes; 397 no.
     Amendment 24, 235 yes; 397 no.
     Amendment 25, 233 yes; 399 no.
     Amendment 26, 233 yes; 399 no.
     Amendment 27, 233 yes; 396 no.
     Amendment 28, 236 yes; 398 no.
     Amendment 29, 233 yes; 396 no.
     Amendment 30, 235 yes; 395 no.
     Amendment 31, 232 yes; 398 no.
     Amendment 32, 235 yes; 395 no.


		Volume 4, Number 6 July 21,2009