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WELCOME AND GREETINGS FROM OUR BISHOPDear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,Welcome to the annual session of the Florida Conference of theUnited Methodist Church. We join together during these days asdisciples of Jesus Christ and leaders in his mission. This year wewill celebrate our calling to be “On Mission Together,” and ourvision to cultivate courageous leadership, missional engagementand spirit-led innovation.Our conference will be marked by music and worship, study andprayer, debate and conferencing, fellowship and laughter, businessand visioning. We will license, commission and ordain men andwomen for set apart leadership in the church. We will send clergyinto congregational and extension leadership for the coming year.We will elect laity and clergy delegates to the 2020 GeneralConference. We will celebrate extraordinary faithfulness inresponse to natural disasters in our region, and we will process the outcomes of the recent SpecialSession of the 2019 General Conference. And we will return to our local churches, more awareof our connection as Florida United Methodists.Gathering at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, the Annual Conference will begin with thecelebration of Holy Communion. Our keynote speakers will be extraordinary: Bishop Will Willimonof Duke Divinity School will be our conference preacher, and Dr. Dana Robert of Boston Universitywill be our teacher. Dr. Gary Spencer will preach the memorial sermon and Dr. Cynthia Weems,dean of the cabinet, will give the cabinet’s report. Inspirational music will be led by Jarvis Wilsonand Keith Wilson of Atlanta, Georgia.Our offerings will support the re-development of the Wesley Foundation at Florida A & MUniversity, and the launch of a new church inside Lowell Women’s Prison in Reddick.I thank you for serving as a leader in the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. Iurge each of you to attend a meeting in anticipation of annual conference, which will be held inyour district. This will help us to arrive more fully informed and prepared for the important work ofGod. I welcome you again to Lakeland and wish you God’s richest blessings in these days!The peace of the Lord, Ken CarterResident Bishop, Florida AreaThe United Methodist Church[1]

CAMERA READY WORKBOOK REPORTSAll content included in the Workbook is generated by conference departments, committees,ministries, etc. Reports are submitted for publishing as “camera ready.” The Florida Conferencepublishing staff does not edit camera ready reports.[2]

TABLE OF CONTENTSKEY TO NAME BADGE COLORS . 6VOICE AND VOTE . 7MAP OF FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE . 8WELCOME AND GREETINGS FROM OUR CONFERENCE LAY LEADER . 92019 ANNUAL CONFERENCE SPEAKERS . 10Bishop William H. Willimon . 10Rev. Dr. Cynthia D. Weems . 11Dr. Dana L. Robert . 11Rev. Dr. Gary A. Spencer . 12Bishop Kenneth Carter . 13Jarvis Wilson. 14EVENT INFORMATION . 15ANNUAL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE . 18YOUTH SCHEDULE FOR ANNUAL CONFERENCE . 20YOUTH EVENT INFORMATION . 21PROCEDURE AND AGENDA REPORT . 22STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP TEAM REPORT . 23CONFERENCE TABLE REPORT. 24CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON LEADERSHIP . 25STANDING RULES . 73CONNECTIONAL and JUSTICE MINISTRIES . 81REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF CONNECTIONAL MINISTRIES . 81CONNECTIONAL RELATIONS . 84BOARD OF CAMPS AND RETREAT MINISTRIES . 85CONFERENCE YOUTH MINISTRY REPORT. 86BOARD OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND CAMPUS MINISTRY . 87BEYOND 50 . 88WOMEN’S RETREAT DESIGN TEAM . 89COMMISSION ON ARCHIVES AND HISTORY. 91SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE . 93COMMISSION ON RELIGION AND RACE . 94COMMITTEE ON NATIVE AMERICAN MINISTRIES (CONAM). 95COMMISSION ON THE STATUS AND ROLE OF WOMEN . 96THE OFFICE OF MISSIONAL ENGAGEMENT . 97[3]

MISSIONAL ENGAGEMENT . 97METHODISTS UNITED IN PRAYER . 99EAST ANGOLA/FLORIDA PARTNERSHIP . 100MISSIONARY SUPPORT . 101MISSIONARIES WITH COVENANT RELATIONSHIPS . 101FLORIDA CONFERENCE ADVANCE SPECIALS . 102DISASTER RECOVERY MINISTRY . 105UNITED METHODIST VOLUNTEERS IN MISSION . 106HAITI/FLORIDA COVENANT . 107YOUNG ADULT MISSIONAL MOVEMENT . 108CREATION CARE . 109HAITIAN COMMITTEE ON MINISTRY . 110OUTREACH MINISTRIES . 112VITAL CHURCH INITIATIVE . 114CONGREGATIONAL VITALITY. 114SMALL MEMBERSHIP CHURCH COMMITTEE . 115NEW CHURCH DEVELOPMENT . 115CHURCH TRANSITIONS . 116FRESH EXPRESSIONS . 116SUMMARY OF STATISTICS BY YEAR. 118BOARD OF LAY MINISTRY . 119REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE LAY LEADER . 119LAY SERVANT MINISTRIES . 119FLORIDA CONFERENCE UNITED METHODIST MEN . 121FLORIDA CONFERENCE UNITED METHODIST WOMEN . 122MINISTRY OF THE ORDAINED . 124OFFICE OF CLERGY EXCELLENCE . 124BOARD OF ORDAINED MINISTRY . 128BOARD OF ORDAINED MINISTRY RECOMMENDATIONS . 129MINISTERIAL EDUCATION FUND. 130SHADE AND FRESH WATER . 132COURAGE TO LEAD . 132COMMISSION ON EQUITABLE COMPENSATION . 133CONFERENCE BOARD OF PENSION AND HEALTH BENEFITS . 140HOUSING RESOLUTION . 142JOINT COMMITTEE ON DISABILITY. 143PREACHER’S RELIEF BOARD. 144COUNCIL ON FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION . 144FLORIDA CONF. 2020 BUDGET SUMMARY AS RECOMMENDED BY CF&A . 145FLORIDA CONFERENCE 2020 BUDGET DETAIL RECOMMENDED BY CF&A. 146RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2020 . 148GIFTS, SPECIAL OFFERINGS, AND APPORTIONMENTS RECEIVED. 149PERCENTAGE OF 100% CHURCHES IN EACH DISTRICT FOR 2018 . 1502018 HIGHEST APPORTIONMENT DOLLARS PAID . 151[4]

LARGEST PERCENT INCREASE IN APPORTIONMENTS PAID FROM 2017-18 . 152APPORTIONMENTS PAID BY PERCENT . 153COMMITTEE FOR MINISTRY PROTECTION . 1632016 PROPERTY/CASUALTY & WORKERS’ COMP. INSURANCE PROGRAM . 163FLORIDA CONFERENCE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. 164FLORIDA CONFERENCE BOARD OF TRUSTEES – PROPERTY LISTING. 164OUR EXTENDED CONNECTION . 166BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY . 166BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY . 168CHRISTIANS REACHING OUT TO SOCIETY, INC. . 170DUKE DIVINITY SCHOOL . 170FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE. 172FLORIDA UNITED METHODIST CHILDREN’S HOME . 179FLORIDA UNITED METHODIST FOUNDATION. 180GAMMON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY . 182HINTON RURAL LIFE CENTER . 183UNITED THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 184UNITED THEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF PRESCHOOLS . 185UNITED METHODIST CONNECTIONAL FEDERAL CREDIT UNION . 186WESLEY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY . 190RESOLUTIONS . 193REGARDING MINISTERIAL EDUCATIONAL FUNDS . 193AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL OF GOD’S CHILDREN . 193VALUING GOD'S GIFT IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES . 195PLASTIC AND FOAM FREE FLORIDA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH . 196AFFIRMING THE BOOK OF DISCIPLINE’S CURRENT TEACHING ON HOMOSEXUALITY, THEORDINATION OF PRACTICING HOMOSEXUALS, AND SAME-SEX MARRIAGE . 198MAINTAINING OUR BAPTISMAL COVENANT IN THE FACE OF MEDIA INFLUENCE . 200CROSS CULTURAL DIALOGUE GUIDELINES. 202CLERGY NOMINEES FOR 2020 DELEGATION . 204LAITY NOMINEES FOR 2020 DELEGATION . 235CLERGY SEXUAL ETHICS TRAINING FLYER . 259Reports submitted after the Workbook submission deadline will be published on theAC2019 website under Workbook Supplement.[5]

KEY TO NAME BADGE COLORSYELLOW NAME BADGE – Can vote on all matters 1 Lay Members elected by their local church, charge or district; Lay Members by virtue of an office they hold such as District Lay Leader, District President of UMMand UMW, Conference Lay Leader, Conference President of UMM and UMW, etc. Diaconal Ministers and Deaconesses (according to the 2016 Book of Discipline and/or 2016 FloridaAnnual Conference Standing Rules)BLUE NAME BADGE – Can vote on all mattersFD – Full DeaconRD – Retired DeaconFE - Full ElderRE – Retired ElderGREEN NAME BADGE - Can vote on all matters except constitutional amendments and clergyrelationshipsAM – Associate MemberPL – Part-time Local PastorFL – Full-time Local PastorRA – Retired Associate MemberPD – Provisional DeaconRP – Retired Probationary / Provisional MemberPE – Provisional ElderSALMON NAME BADGE – Can vote on all matters except constitutional amendments, clergyrelationships, and delegates to General and Jurisdictional Conference (color used only in election years)FL – Full-time Local Pastor who has not completed Course of StudyPD – Provisional Deacon who has not completed educational requirementsPE – Provisional Elder who has not completed educational requirementsPL – Part-time Local Pastor who has not completed Course of StudyTAN NAME BADGE – No voting privileges on any matters.RL – Retired Local PastorGRAY NAME BADGE - No voting privileges on any matters.AF – Affiliate MemberOF – Full Member Other DenominationOA – Associate Member Other Annual ConfOP – Probationary Member Other Annual ConfOD – Deacon Member Other Annual ConfRO – Retired Other Conf/DenominationOE – Elder Member Other Conf/Denomination SY – Lay SupplyWHITE NAME BADGE (Obtained at Guest Services) – Guests of the annual conference; no votingprivileges on any matters. This includes all non-voting guests such as clergy spouses, lay memberspouses, guests of the conference, exhibitors, staff, and reserve lay members 2 (who have not officiallyreplaced a lay member from their church).1 Except elections for clergy delegates to the General, Jurisdictional and Central Conferences; Matters of ordination, character, and conference relations ofclergy (unless a lay member of the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry and/or Committee on Investigation (par. 602.6))2A Reserve Lay Member who is officially replacing the Lay Member from their church must complete a “Laity Credentials Form.” Forms can be obtained atthe Registration Desk. They will be given their materials and name badge once this form is completed, signed by the pastor or district office representative,and submitted to the Registration Desk.[6]

Clergy Members in full connection (¶ 602.a) Provisional Clergy Members who have completed all of theireducational requirements (¶602.b errata) Provisional Clergy Members who have not completed all of Voice without Voteand conference relations of clergyMatters of ordination, character,Constitutional AmendmentsConference(s)General, Jurisdictional and CentralElections for lay delegates to theCentral Conference(s)the General, Jurisdictional andRecommendations& Conference BusinessYour name tag indicates your voice and vote status at PlenarySessions. Please wear your name tag in a visible location duringthese sessions. Florida Annual Conference Members with both voice(meaning they can speak in Plenary Sessions) and vote (meaningthey can make andamend motions and vote on motions) are as follows:Elections for clergy delegates toVOICE AND VOTE their educational requirements (¶602.b) Associate Clergy Members (¶602.c) † Affiliate Clergy Members (Standing Rules)Local Pastors who have completed Course of Study or an M.Div.degree and have served a minimum of two consecutive years underappointment to a pastoral charge before the election (¶602.d errata) Full- and Part-time Local Pastors who have not completedCourse of Study or an M.Div. degree and/or have not served aminimum of two consecutive years under appointment before theelection (¶602.d) † Elders or Ordained Clergy from other denominations serving under appointment within the Annual Conference (¶346.2)Lay Members: Elected Members representing congregations, Members by Virtue of Office, At-large Members as designated by ‡districts, Youth Members (¶602.4)Official Representatives from other Denominations (¶602.9) Missionaries regularly assigned by the GBGM in nations other thanthe US & Certified Lay Missionaries from nations other than the USserving within the bounds of the Annual Conference (¶602.9) Conferenc

will be our teacher. Dr. Gary Spencer will preach the memorial sermon and Dr. Cynthia Weems, dean of the cabinet, will give the cabinet’s report. Inspirational music will be led by Jarvis Wilson and Keith Wilson of Atlanta, Georgia. Our offerings will support the re-development