Detroit Annual Conference 2010 Report

 

Theme: Wherever the water flows, life flourishes, life abounds!

 

In a report discussing whether or not to reduce the number of districts from 7 to 6 in our Detroit Conference, we looked at some statistical data. In 1970, the Detroit Conference had 186,851 members in 539 churches. Thirty-nine years later in 2009, we had 94,679 members and 447 churches. A district office costs our conference roughly $210,000 to run. In light of the data, economic times, and trying to be a more efficient conference, our Detroit Annual Conference did vote to reduce the number of districts from 7 to 6, and the bishop will determine the boundaries for the six new districts. The most logical to me is to combine the Detroit East & West Districts since geographically they are the smallest, but that is up to the bishop. 

 

The Detroit Conference in 2009, lost 2% of its membership, meaning it received less members than it took in. Of that 2%, 26% of membership loss was due to death. Which tells us in part we are an aging denomination. As a whole, we as a United Methodist Denomination have much to offer, but it will be important to rethink how we do church and meet the needs of the people in the communities where God has placed us. Historically, we at one time were the most evangelistic and fasting growing church in the U.S. That is not the case today. However, I can tell you 35% of our churches in the Detroit Conference reported an increase in church attendance.

 

Reflecting back on 2009 we also have good news to share in spite of the fact the state of Michigan still leads the way with unemployment and our population has decreased by over 1 million people in the last decade.

 

If you took the average attendance for Sunday morning and divided it by the recorded membership for each church, the Port Huron district had the best average worship attendance of all 7 districts at 57%.  Keep in mind, Romeo is a part of the Port Huron District.

 

The United Methodist Church throughout the United States, is divided into 5 jurisdictions. Michigan is located in the North Central Jurisdiction. Our Detroit Conference was #1 in mission giving and missionary support in the North Central Jurisdiction.

 

I have some new figures for you regarding the Haiti Relief effort through UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief), responding to the earthquake. We raised $19 million as a denomination. Of that amount, the United Methodist Churches in Michigan gave $1.1 million, almost 6%, which I think is significant when you think of our economic situation and we are only one state out of 50. 

 

Speaking of Haiti, if you would like to participate with some hands-on ministry and have an opportunity to make an impact in the lives of others, there is a trip scheduled for Jan.19, 2011 for 10 days to work with a school in Haiti north of Port-au-Prince. I think we as a church would want to support a mission trip like that. Rev. Don Gotham, pastor in St. Clair, is coordinating this trip as he did this last time when the earthquake struck and their team was delayed in returning. Rev. Gotham is affiliated with Simpson Park Camp and he reminded me that he was in my young adult group at the very first church we served in Saginaw where he came to know Christ.  

 

Monies collected during Conference for Haiti & Liberia, including the Haiti hot lunch program and a truck for Liberia totaled $65,684.

 

Of the 447 churches in the Detroit Conference, 50% paid 100%. 11% of the total giving of our 447 churches went to missions & apportionments. Out of the 7 districts in the Detroit Conference, Port Huron District was second highest in giving to apportionments, Saginaw Bay was #1.

 

I close with two amazing stories of giving that was shared at Annual Conference to remind us God is still at work in the world.

 

The first story involves a 17-year-old girl who was not satisfied simply going to church but believed God was asking her to do more. She had a passion for the children of our sister conference in Liberia. She dreamed of Liberian children getting an education. So she raised $5000 which provided for 71 scholarships for children in Liberia to go to school along with paying the teacher’s salary to instruct the students. While at conference she sold t-shirts to raise more scholarship money and ran out of t-shirts.

 

A second story involved a 12-year-old girl from the Plymouth UMC who was involved with the churches annual confirmation class, similar to what we do here. However, at Plymouth, each confirmand chooses a confirmation project. This particular 12-year-old girl decided she wanted to do something significant as a project. So she raised money to build wells for the people of Liberia to have clean drinking water for their villages. She raised $8,168 for 3 wells in Liberia which will provide water for 9,000 people. 

 

If God can use a 17-year-old and a 12-year-old, who answer the call to a God-given dream, what is it that God may be asking us to do here? I’m beginning to think we don’t dream big enough. God is not limited, we limit God don’t we? Our task is not to get God on board with us. Our task is to get on board with God. The Lord knows what is needed in any given community and what will work best. Let us seek God’s heart and will.