New York Annual Conference. Call to the 216th Session of the. Bishop Jane Allen Middleton, Presiding. Conference as a Means of Grace

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1 New York Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church 20 Soundview Ave White Plains, NY Call to the 216th Session of the New York Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church Bishop Jane Allen Middleton, Presiding Hofstra University June 10-13, 2015 INSIDE: Conference as a Means of Grace Scheduling Updates Special Guests Reminders

2 A Call to the New York Annual Conference March, 2015 CALL TO CONFERENCE 1 Jane Allen Middleton Resident Interim Bishop Beloved Sisters and Brothers in Christ, What joy it will be to gather as Clergy and Lay members for the 216th session of the New York Annual Conference from June 10 to 13 at Hofstra University! Our theme this year is Dancing with the Spirit: Conference as a Means of Grace. My prayer is that this will truly be a grace-filled, spiritually renewing encounter with Christ, present in one another and in our midst. One of the great joys will be the fulfillment of our goal of $1.2 million dollars for the Imagine No Malaria campaign! From our opening worship to inspirational speakers including Greg Jones, former dean of Duke Divinity School, and Bishop Ernest S. Lyght, former bishop of the New York Annual Conference, to important decision-making to ordination we pray that our hearts will be strangely warmed. May this be an experience which will carry us into the coming year with renewed vigor to fulfill the mission of the church, to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. A Message from Our Lay Leader Dear Lay Members of the New York Annual Conference, Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord! Annual Conference 2015 is fast approaching. It will be held at Hofstra University June 10-13, Our theme will be: Dancing with the Spirit: Conference as a Means of Grace. Some exciting programmatic changes await us! We will begin on Wednesday, June 10th at 1:00 p.m. with a grand and glorious worship service with all lay members and clergy in attendance. Bishop Jane Allen Middleton, our interim bishop, will preside and will bring the keynote address. The official opening of conference will follow. The Laity Session will be held in the Arena at 7:00 p.m. following supper. We will have an interactive presentation: Caring for the Whole Person: A Holistic Approach. You will come away with the tools that will improve the way you take care of a very important person YOURSELF! The outcome of annual conference will be enhanced by your prayers, presence and participation. As in former years, the laity will have brief morning prayers leading up to annual conference. You will hear more about that at a later date. We are always open to instruction, willing to be wiser every day than we were before, and to change whatever we can change for the better. John Wesley See you at Conference! Renata Smith Conference Lay Leader All God s People in All Places, And in All Times, Are Called to Love And to Serve. Ministry of the Laity

3 2 CALL TO CONFERENCE March, 2015 Meet L. Gregory Jones, Reverend Bill Perkins Lecturer L. Gregory Jones currently serves as the A. Morris and Ruth W. Williams Professor of Theology and Christian Ministry at Duke Divinity School, Senior Strategist for Leadership Education at Duke Divinity, and as Senior Strategist for the Fuqua-Coach K Center for Leadership and Ethics. He also serves as the Strategic Director of the Laity Lodge Leadership Initiative and as the Executive Director of A Foundation for Theological Education. Greg is a gifted speaker, a noted writer, and a trusted advisor who helps leaders imagine new possibilities and shape cultures for organizational success and productivity. He is passionate about re-shaping cultures within and across organizations and has coined the term traditioned innovation to capture how he re-frames complex challenges to seize significant opportunities. He is currently writing a book on Traditioned Innovation. Greg is the author or editor of 16 books, including the co-authored Forgiving As We ve Been Forgiven: Community Practices for Making Peace (with Celestin Musekura, in 2010), the co-authored Resurrecting Excellence (with Kevin R. Armstrong, in 2006), Everyday Matters: Intersections of Life and Faith (2003), and the widely acclaimed Embodying Forgiveness (1995). Jones, an ordained United Methodist pastor, has published more than 200 articles in a variety of publications. Greg is married to the Rev. Susan Pendleton Jones, Associate Dean for United Methodist Initiatives and Ministerial Formation at Duke Divinity School. They are the parents of three children: Nathan, Ben and Sarah, and are grateful for their daughter-in-law, Amy Little Jones. Bishop Ernest S. Lyght, Guest Preacher Bishop Ernest S. Lyght is currently serving as the Bishop in Residence at the Theological School, Drew University. He received the B.A. degree in history from Morgan State University and the M.Div. degree from Drew University. Princeton Theological Seminary awarded him the Th. M. degree and the D.Min. Degree. Bloomfield College (Bloomfield, NJ) awarded him an honorary doctorate degree, as did Centenary College (Hackettstown, NJ) in Bishop Lyght served pastoral appointments in the Peninsula-Delaware Conference, the Southern New Jersey Conference, and the former Northern New Jersey Conference, where he served for ten years as pastor of St. Mark s UMC, Montclair, NJ and seven years as District Superintendent of the Raritan District. Bishop Lyght has served on a variety of conference, community and general church agencies/boards, including the General Board of Church and Society ( ) and the General Board of Global Ministries ( ). He served as a Drew University Trustee from 1983 to 2004, when he was elected as a trustee emeritus. The Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference elected him to the episcopacy in 1996 and assigned him to the New York Area. In 2004 he was assigned to the West Virginia Area. Bishop Lyght served as president of the United Methodist Men s Commission during the quadrennium, and served as a member of the General Council on Finance and Administration. He also served a second two-year term as secretary of the Council of Bishops. Bishop Lyght and Eleanor Bell Lyght have two sons, Eric and Erwyn, and four grandchildren.

4 E VENT DETAILS FOR CONFERENCE Accommodations Housing costs are in addition to your registration fee and are dependent upon the accommodations chosen. Hofstra campus housing costs will be as follows: Single: $51.25 per person per night Double: $41.25 per person per night Hotels are only available by contacting them directly. See the bottom of page 5 for a listing of hotel options and rates. Meals During online registration, you will indicate which meals you will attend. If you have registered and paid for conference, meals in the Student Center from Wednesday dinner through Saturday breakfast are included. Visitors and reserve lay members will be charged for each meal requested unless they have registered and paid to attend the entire conference. Those attending special meals (e.g. the meeting of Church & Society), will be charged an additional fee, since such separate locations incur additional expense to the conference. Retired Clergy Attending the One-Day Session This year there will be a one-day Thursday registration for Retired Clergy/ Spouses which will cost $20 per person; you will register online for this. If accommodations are needed at Hofstra for Wednesday and/or Thursday night, please make that choice when you register online; the prices for housing are listed above. Remittance Payments must be made in one of two ways: 1) by credit card/debit card through PayPal during registration, or 2) by check made payable to NYAC and mailed to NYAC, Attn: Fran Collins, 20 Soundview Ave, White Plains, NY within two weeks of the online registration. Voluntary Contributions over and above registration cost can also be made during the online registration process. Please make this clear in your remittance. We thank you in advance! Refunds will be sent after Annual Conference to those who notify Barbara Eastman (website@nyac.com) and Conference Secretary Fred Jackson (confsecy@nyac.com) by May 29, 2015 of their inability to attend the Annual Conference session. Your notification will serve two purposes: 1) to allow you to receive a refund, and 2) to be excused from all or part of the Annual Conference session. Conference Rules As part of our contract with Hofstra University, there are rules and regulations that we must relay to you. In the online registration form, you will find a link to these rules. Please take the time to review. At the end of the form, you will be asked to acknowledge that you have read and agree to these rules. Legislative Section Changes Sign up for legislative sections will take place during online registration. Changes can only be made at Hofstra in the checkin area up to 10am on Thursday. Questions If you have questions about your registration, please contact the following: Housing/ general questions: Barbara Eastman at or website@nyac.com Accessibility concerns: John LeCain at or john.lecain@nyac-umc.com Payments: Fran Collins at or fcollins@nyac.com (continued on next page) March, 2015 CALL TO CONFERENCE 3 Registration Please register for Annual Conference as soon as possible. The link to the online registration can be found here: Registration closes on May 27, There will be NO onsite registration at Hofstra this year everyone who wishes to attend and receive credentials must register online. Registration fees covering meals and participation costs of the conference are shown below. Your cost depends upon the timing of your registration, providing an incentive to register early. The fees may be paid by check or charged to a credit card via PayPal (no account is needed) you make that choice during the online registration. You will receive a confirmation with a link where you can review all of the options you have chosen, your total charges, and the mailing information for checks. Please print this confirmation information and bring it with you to conference. The fees are as follows: Registration completed prior to May 1, $225 May 1 until May 27, $250 One-day fee for clergy retirees and spouses for Thursday, June 11 - $20 each Your registration is not complete until payment has been received either by receipt of your check or by credit card at the time of online registration. Check-in begins on site at Hofstra, 10am on Wednesday, June 10th in the lobby of the arena. After noon on Thursday, check-in moves downstairs to the business office in the Pride Lounge. Check-in hours at the Arena: Wednesday, June 10-10am to 9pm Thursday, June 11-8am to 9pm Friday, June 12-9am to 5pm

5 4 CALL TO CONFERENCE March, 2015 EVENT DETAILS FOR CONFERENCE (CONT) Display Tables Display Tables are available with reservations through Rev. Ann Pearson. Please send your request to or in writing to: Rev. Ann Pearson, New York Annual Conference, 20 Soundview Ave, White Plains, NY Space is offered to conference and church agencies on a first-come, firstserved basis. What to Bring with You to Hofstra If you are staying on campus in a Hofstra Dormitory: Hofstra will provide you with: One pillow, bed linens, one towel, and one blanket. You should provide for your accommodations: An extra blanket or two Soap, washcloth, flashlight Rooms have only an overhead light, so you may want to bring a table lamp. Hangers for your clothes closet Please note: Telephones in the dorm rooms can only be used to call on campus. To call outside, you must use your own cell phone or calling card from a pay phone. Whether or not you are staying on campus: Comfortable walking shoes A holder for your papers consider a loose-leaf binder and three-hole punch Extra money to contribute to session offerings and/or if you plan to visit the Cokesbury bookstore A sweater (the arena can get cold) Bible for studies and/or meditation When you check in, you will receive the following: Conference booklet containing all reports, petitions and resolutions (the pre-conference booklet will also be available on Name badge color coded for voting Housing/accommodations information (if appropriate) Menus for each meal Campus map Conference telephone directory including emergency information Check-out procedure sheet Brightly colored sheet for permission to speak during sessions All other papers will be found on the Document Tables in the arena or they will be handed out within the bar of the conference. Hofstra Facilities Information The arena is where the Plenary Sessions take place, check-in occurs, and where the Cokesbury bookstore is located. WiFi is available in the arena and other areas of the campus. Cell phones must be turned off in the arena during Conference sessions. The Student Center is where you will find: Dining Hall Many Legislative Sessions Guest Services Desk Lounge Area: Snacks and coffee will be available each evening in front of the Dining Hall immediately opposite the Hofstra bookstore. Volunteers Needed! Please be sure to sign up to help as a baggage handler, hospitality/greeter, stage hand, or usher. See page 6 of this document for more information about volunteering to work with the Worship Committee. Your help will be greatly appreciated! The Blueprint for Wellness Biometric Screening will once again be held during Annual Conference. Active clergy and their spouses who are enrolled in HealthFlex should consider participating and earning $100 per person! This is the first step to completing the Health Quotient and saving on your annual deductibles in Details on registration for this screening to follow. Special Rates for Conference Members at Area Hotels Conference members must contact the hotels directly using the information listed to the right. The number of rooms is limited, and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations Deadline: April 30th if rooms are still available. Make reservations early! Once each hotel books the allotted NYAC reservations, no more reservations may be made at the special rate. Hotels are listed by their approximate distance from Hofstra.

6 SECTION 1: MINISTRIES OF WITNESS Committee on Accessibility, Hispanic American Council, Mission u, Mozambique/New York Sister Conferences Connection, United Methodist Men, United Methodist Women, and petitions related to Witness Ministries. SECTION 2: CONNECTIONAL MINISTRIES AND MINISTRIES OF NURTURE Camping & Retreat Ministries, Camps Task Force, Children s Ministries, Connectional Ministries Vision Table, District Councils on Ministries, Fellowship of Local Pastors and Associate Members, Hispanic Consultant, Hurricane Sandy Recovery Mission, Learning Center, Mission and Outreach Ministries, Older Adult Ministries, and petitions related to Ministries of Nurture. Societies & Institutions: Africa University, Black College Fund, Boston University School of Theology, Candler School of Theology, The Long Island Council of Churches, New York State Council of Churches, United Methodist Frontier Foundation, United Theological Seminary, Wesley Theological Seminary. Note: Submissions from agencies which have no reporting responsibility to the Conference are included herein for information purposes. SECTION 3: MINISTRIES OF ADVOCACY Board of Church & Society, Task Force on Immigration, Justice for Our Neighbors (NYAC-JFON) Immigration Project, Korea Peace Vigil and March (Ecumenical Korea Peace Conference), Commission on Religion and Race, Study Committee for a More Inclusive Church, and petitions related to Advocacy. SECTION 4: LEADERSHIP/ COMMISSIONING Board of Ordained Ministry, Committee on Episcopacy, Conference Lay Leader, Lay Servant Ministries, Parish Nurse/Faith Community Nursing, and petitions related to Leadership/Commissioning. March, 2015 CALL TO CONFERENCE 5 PLEASE READ PRIOR TO REGISTRATION LEGISLATIVE SECTIONS All sections will include reports and petitions received by the conference secretary by the due date of April 29, and petitions to General Conference received by April 15. See submission instructions here: Please see the Conference Rules in the 2014 Journal for exceptions to these deadlines ( - Section X, Rule 27). Listed below are the reports that were presented at the 2014 Conference Session. Go to to view reports for 2015 this will be updated frequently. SECTION 5: CLERGY CARE & CONFERENCE FINANCE Commission on Equitable Compensation, Council on Finance and Administration, CFO & Director of Administrative Services, Board of Pensions and Health Benefits, and resolutions related to Clergy Care and Conference Finance. SECTION 6: ADMINISTRATION Commission on Archives and History, Conference Archivist, Conference Secretary, Commission on Conference Sessions, Committee on Examination of the Conference Journal, Parish Development Missional Priorities (EMLC) Commission, Conference Personnel Committee, Conference Rules Committee, Strategic Economic Analysis Task Force, United Methodist City Society, and petitions related to Administration. CORPORATE SESSION REPORTS & RESOLUTIONS Board of Trustees and Corporate Resolutions are presented in plenary sessions. Long Island Marriott Hotel and Convention Center Miles 101 James Doolittle Blvd, Uniondale Rate: $ occupancy tax For reservations call and provide the agent with the group name NY Annual Conference of United Methodist Church, or go to www. LongIslandMarriott.com and enter NMSNMSA in the group code box under Special Rates and Awards. All rooms are non-smoking. If you use your Marriott Rewards card when making your reservation, you will receive free WiFi. Red Roof Inn Miles 699 Dibblee Dr, Westbury Rate: $ occupancy tax For reservations call , and use the code New York Annual Methodist. All rooms are nonsmoking. LaQuinta Inn & Suites Garden City Miles 821 Stewart Ave, Garden City Rate: $ occupancy tax (Standard room with two beds, or one king bed) For reservations call , select option 1. Ask for the special rate for New York Annual Conference United Methodist Church. Best Western Mill River Manor Miles 173 Sunrise Hwy, Rt 27, Rockville Centre Rate $ occupancy tax For reservations call , and use the code NYAJ.

7 6 CALL TO CONFERENCE March, 2015 Important Agenda Notes Our Opening Worship Celebration and Communion will be held in the arena beginning at 1pm on Wednesday. Clergy Session will be held in the Multipurpose Room of the Student Center at 7:00pm on Wednesday; Laity Session in the arena also begins at 7:00pm Wednesday. Memorial Service and Communion will take place on Thursday at 10:15am in the arena. The Celebration of Retirement will again be held on Thursday at 7pm in the arena. Celebration of the NYAC as a Means of Grace will be held at 8:30pm Thursday in the arena. Morning Worship and communion will still be held at 6:15am both Thursday and Friday in the Greenhouse. Act of Repentance Service The 2012 General Conference resolved that all annual conferences shall hold an Act of Repentance Service as a part of our efforts to create and continue reconciling relationships with Native American people in our churches and communities. This service will be held on Friday, June 12, 8:30 am in the Hofstra Arena. If you are interested in participating in the planning of this, or any other aspect of Annual Conference worship, please contact Heather Sinclair at: heather.sinclair@nyac-umc.com Important Dates & Deadlines: March 1 April 15 April 29 May 1 May 27 May 29 June Early-Bird Registration ($225) for Annual Conference opens: Petitions to the General Conference desiring approval from the annual conference shall be in the hands of the conference secretary at least eight weeks (April 15) before the convening of the annual conference. - Conference Rule 29 (See for guidelines on petitions to General Conference) All Annual Conference reports (not more than 700 words), resolutions and petitions to appear in Pre-Conference Booklet due (Rule 27); send to confsecy@nyac.com. The reports, resolutions and petitions will be periodically posted online beginning late April. Late Registration ($250) for Annual Conference opens Registration for Annual Conference closes. Note: NO ONSITE REGISTRATION AT HOFSTRA Cancellation of registration due in order to receive refund send to website@nyac.com; May 29 Petition to be excused from attending part or all of 2015 Annual Conference session send (preferred) to confsecy@nyac.com 216th Session of New York Annual Conference Call for Relief-Supply Kits! Relief-supply kits help provide care for the most vulnerable people during times of crisis. UMCOR collects six types of kits for global distribution (we are not collecting cleaning buckets at annual conference) for US distribution after storms. These kits will be collected on Wednesday and Thursday in the arena. For information about building a relief-supply kit, go to: Information from the Accessibility Committee Pastor John LeCain, a member of our committee, will be a liaison between individuals with accessibility issues and the conference staff. Please contact John with any questions or concerns you may have regarding accessible accommodations, area transportation, meals, arena/plenary matters or other accessibility concerns that may arise. The Committee on Accessibility looks forward to helping make this Annual Conference an event at which all feel welcome! Please contact John LeCain at john.lecain@nyac-umc.com , P.O. Box 176, Kerhonkson, NY 12446

8 March, 2015 CALL TO CONFERENCE 7 Travel Directions to Hofstra University Most GPS units allow you to select or search for Hofstra University in the Points of Interest section. If you need an address for navigation, use: 900 Fulton Avenue, Hempstead, NY For detailed directions, please visit By Rail Road (from NY City) The Long Island Rail Road provides regular commuter service from Pennsylvania Station in New York City to the Hempstead Station, which is less than two miles from Hofstra s campus. Take the Long Island Rail Road East on the Hempstead Branch to the final stop Hempstead. Depending on the day and time, a complimentary blue Hofstra bus may be waiting at the station to take visitors and students to the Hofstra campus. The bus makes several stops on campus. Otherwise, take a taxi for a short 5-minute trip to the Hofstra Campus. Online, go to for complete Long Island Rail Road information and schedules. By Bus Long Island Bus provides public bus service serving Hempstead, Hofstra University, Nassau University Medical Center, Levittown, Farmingdale, Melville, Sunrise Mall, Babylon, via Hempstead Turnpike. Colonial Square Dorms Campus Map Hofstra USA Mack Arena University Club Student Center N W E S Map Legend