Annual Conference Report 2025
Nearly 1500 United Methodist souls, of which 813 were laity, gathered from 44 counties in western NC at Lake Junaluska for the 2025 Annual Conference of the Western North Carolina Conference. This was my first year to participate as a lay delegate, and it was a great adventure. Attending with an experienced and knowledgeable lay delegate of 11 years, Diane Rutledge, took all the stress out of knowing what and how to navigate the conference. She has seen positive changes and increasing unity and diversity within the annual conference over the years. In attending her last conference, Diane was always amazed by the energy and hope engendered by the music, sermons, reflections, and camaraderie among the participants.
The conference theme was Unity Healing New Creation…bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:2-3 NRSV) (see last paragraph). This theme reflects a season of recovery, growth and hope following the Helene disaster where 29 counties were under a state of emergency.
From the start of the conference, I had a sense of the expansiveness of the UMC.
I quickly and consistently had a sense of the down-to-earth goodness of this Christ-focused body. I sensed that the Holy Spirit was already there waiting, and we were all drawing near as we enjoyed wonderful praise music prior to the start of the conference. Subsequently, a procession began with everything from the light, to communion elements, to the shepherd’s staff being brought forward. This initiated a very powerful morning of worship and included a moving sermon by Bishop Tracy Smith Malone entitled “Unity is our Witness.” I forgot all about the outside world of lamentable news. Surrounded by 1500 faithful followers of Christ, I had a great sense that we were one in Spirit. I felt blessed to be present and participate.
A spirit of generosity and caring:
The 2025 Annual Conference Offerings were collected at the opening and closing worship services with the goal of supporting WNCC youth attending the 2025 Harambee Youth Conference and to provide scholarships for children and youth attending WNNC United Methodist Camps. Over $25K was collected, which will support life-changing experiences for young people in WNCC.
A spirit of business, policy, fairness, and a spirit of order, procedure, and fairness:
Clear guidelines were followed for making a speech in regard to items to be voted on. The result was a crisp presentation and discussion followed by voting:
General business included four amendments proposed at the 2024 General Conference:
- Amendment I – Regionalization: There are 7 Central Conferences outside the United States: 3 in Europe, 3 in Africa, and 1 in the Philippines. This amendment would allow the United States to be the eighth conference, with all conferences then called Regions, with the advantage that each Region could modify the Book of Discipline based on culture and context. Sections 1-5 in the Book of Discipline would not be changed.
- Amendment II – Inclusiveness of the Church (inclusion) The United Methodist Church is a part of the church universal, which is one Body in Christ. The United Methodist Church acknowledges that all persons are of sacred worth. The church cannot discriminate against “gender” or “ability.”
- Amendment III – Racial Justice (anti-racism) Article V deals with racial justice. The United Methodist Church proclaims that from God’s goodness and love, God created all persons as God’s unique and beloved children. Racism opposes God’s law, goodness, and love and diminishes the image of God in each person. The United Methodist Church commits to confronting and eliminating all forms of racism.
- Amendment IV – Clergy Delegates (educational requirements) Article IV deals with ensuring that those voting for clergy delegates have completed the denominational standard expectations for theological education. It states they must have a Master of Divinity or an equivalent and have preached for 2 years.
The results of the voting will not be posted until the Fall Conference, after the Annual Conference has had a chance to vote. All world annual conferences must pass each amendment by two thirds for them to be accepted by the Council of Bishops of the General Conference. This paper ballot voting proceeded with quiet, calm unity. Our annual conference will share the votes from our conference in November.
We also voted on the 2026 budget, clergy pension policies, health benefits policies, equitable compensation, reducing pay disparity, and numerous other organizational and leadership items.
A spirit of loss:
We voted to close 12 rural churches where membership can no longer support a pastor.
In addition, on Saturday morning, a deeply moving Celebration of Life service was held not only for deceased Clergy and Diaconal Ministers, but also wives. In all, 53 individuals were remembered. It was a beautiful, deeply moving, and memorable service with bagpipes, VocalSpace sang Bear Me Gently/Be Still My Soul and Rev. Dr. Samuel H. Moore Jr. spoke of these dear souls and the times “We Had Hoped.”
A spirit of recognition:
There were three wonderful stories about how laity saw a need either in the church or in the community and worked together to do transformative work to address the need. I wondered what God is inviting SUMC to do.
A Deaconess was commissioned, and three Certified Lay Minister were recognized.
A spirit of healing:
Many individuals spoke about the UMC being a healing church, noting that Jesus preaches, teaches, and heals. How can we, like Jesus, be a healing church body? This theme of being a healing church permeated the conference, where the gatherers were one in spirit.
A spirit of hope:
At the end of the Saturday afternoon session, Bishop Carter announced that there is the beginning of a process to consider a covenant of mutuality relationship with the Ukraine/Moldova Provisional Annual Conference. Enthusiasm rippled through the room at this announcement.
A spirit of Unity, Healing New Creation
As reflected by Bishop Carter: This theme, Unity Healing New Creation, directs us to reflect on how God is stitching us together into something beautifully new. Inspired by the quilt squares that have been used in the disaster recovery of Hurricane Helene (SUMC has quilt squares because of our recovery work). The logo for the Conference especially reflects this theme. Each pattern square represents a piece of our conference story. The Queen City, the mountains, banjos for our musical heritage, flowing rivers, and beakers symbolizing our many colleges and universities. Our conference is made up of many unique pieces. Each is meaningful on its own. But even more powerful when these pieces are woven together in unity, hope, and love. The visual reminds us of the beauty that emerges when we come together as the body of Christ. We’ve been through a lot as a church, as a region of western North Carolina for last few years. This year, we are going to lean into the power of the Holy Spirit to bring us together to heal our wounds. To send us forth in new ways into a new church and a new world. All of that is God’s work in us. This message was the resultant atmosphere at the entire Conference.
Respectfully Submitted,
Celeste Tolbert, SUMC Lay Leader
Diane Rutledge, BOS Member
