NM Conference News
April 29 - May 5, 2019
In this Issue
  • 2019 Appointments
  • Annual Conference Schedule
  • Court OKs Part of Traditional Plan, Exit Plan
  • Four Corners Ministry Summit
  • Deadline for Baptism Photos is May 5th
  • Donations for Refugees
  • Upcoming Events
2019 Appointments
Appointment's for this week:
District: Big Spring   
Clergy: Cameron Kirkland (FL)
Appointed To: Plains, FUMC/Brownfield, FUMC 
Appointed From: Hamby UMC 
Former Appointees: Wesley Holland/Francisco Escalera 
Announce Date: 4-28-19 
Effective Date: 7-1-19
 
District: Big Spring
Clergy: Ken Peterson (RE) 25%
Appointed To: Coahoma, FUMC
Former Appointee: Linda Bequette
Announce Date: 4-28-19
Effective Date: 7-1-19
 
District: El Paso
Clergy: Rick Snow (SY) 50%
Appointed To: El Paso, Vista Ysleta Ekklesia UMC   
Appointed From: La Mesa UMC  
Former Appointee: Joe Barthlow 
Announce Date: 4-28-19
Effective Date: 7-1-19

Annual Conference Schedule
SCHEDULE
Wednesday, June 12th
12:00 pm – Registration Open
1:00 pm – Early Bird Workshop Session 1
3:00 pm – Early Bird Workshop Session 2
5:30 pm - NCD 5K Giveaway Dinner at St. John's (RSVP required)
Thursday, June 13th
7:30 am – Registration
8:30 am – District Meetings
10:30 am – Opening Worship
11:45 am – Legacy Luncheon (Registration required)
1:30 pm – Business: Living Archives, Memorial, State of the Conference…
3:30 pm – Business: GC Delegation Time, Change Your Questions with Val Hastings…
5:30 pm – Evening Worship
6:30 pm – Poolside BBQ (Registration required)
Friday. June 14th
8:30 am – Morning Praise
9:30 am – Clergy/Laity Session
11:00 am – Lunch Break on your own
1:00 pm – Business: Extension Minister Recognition, CF&A, New Church…
3:00 pm – Business: Laity Address, Pension & Health, Discernment Team, Fixing of Appointments…
5:00 pm – Celebration of Ministry Dinner at St. John’s (Registration required)
7:00 pm – Commissioning & Closing Worship at St. John’s (2626 Arizona NE)

Non-voting guests may join us during the entire conference for a $25 registration fee. Attending the Early Bird Workshops only is free. We hope that you can join us!
Court OKs Part of Traditional Plan, Exit Plan
by Linda Bloom, UMNS
The United Methodist Church’s top court has found that while some provisions of the newly adopted Traditional Plan remain unconstitutional, the rest of the plan is valid as church law.

That was the Judicial Council’s ruling on a requested review of the Traditional Plan, which was approved  during a special denomination-wide legislative session  in February to strengthen enforcement of bans on “self-avowed practicing” gay clergy and same-sex weddings.

In a separate ruling, legislation to provide an exit strategy for local churches wishing to leave the denomination meets three minimum requirements and thus is constitutional “when taken together with the consent of the annual conference” as specifically outlined in the Book of Discipline, the court said.

Both decisions came at the conclusion of  the Judicial Council’s April 23-26 meeting .
Photo by Kathleen Barry, United Methodist Communications.
Four Corners Ministry Summit
The Four Corners Summit, held April 23rd - 25th was a successful time of Holy Conferencing - discussing the blessings and challenges in the Four Corners area and how the three Conferences where it resides can work together.

The Four Corners Ministry Board Members shared how grateful they were for the bishops to take time out of their busy schedules to visit the area and hear their joys and struggles. We will share more detailed information about the summit soon.
Pictured at the Four Corners Ministry Office in Shiprock, NM:
  • Four bishops from NM, Mountain Sky, Desert Southwest & Pacific Northwest, Bishops Bledsoe (& Leslie), Hoshibata, Oliveto & Stanovsky
  • Facilitator, Janice Virtue
  • Chair of the Native American International Caucus for the UMC, Cyndi Kent
  • Director of the Four Corners Ministry & Ordained Navajo Pastor, Rev. Shirley Montoya
  • Ordained Navajo Pastor, Rev. Tweedy Sombrero Navarrete 
  • Pastor of Native Grace in Cortez, CO, Norman Mark (and his wife).
  • Local church Lay Leaders, Harry Johnson of Diwozhibiikooh
  • Director of Connectional Ministries for the Desert Southwest Conference, Rev. Beth Rambikur
  • Pastor of FUMC-Gallup, Rev. Adrianne Coleman
  • Four Corners Board Member, Glenna Kyker Brayton
Not pictured but an integral part of the conversation: Helen Cheromiah, Daryl Junes Joe & Debbie Clark
Facilitator, Janice Virtue helps the group formulate some next steps.
The Four Bishops meet with Provost, Randall Partin to do some coordination.
Bishop Bledsoe wraps the summit up.
Deadline for Baptism Pics is May 5th
We have received 31 Baptism photos for use in a video to be shown during Annual Conference. Thanks to everyone who shared them with us. They are wonderful! If you would still like to send in your pictures, you have until May 5th. Please send them to Alli Newsom, Communications Director at alli@nmconfum.com. Thank you!
Upcoming Events
May
  • Pre-Conference Meeting - May 4 - Asbury UMC, ABQ
  • Pre-Conference Meeting - May 11 - Asbury UMC, Odessa
  • Pre-Conference Meeting - May 11 - Trinity UMC, Roswell
June
  • Annual Conference - June 13-14 - Crowne Plaza, ABQ
July
  • Youth 2019 - July 10-14 - Kansas City, MO