Announcements June 18, 2023

The New England Annual Conference consists of the clergy and laity of the ~ 550 Methodist churches in New England and meeting for three days once a year to conduct Conference-wide business, led by our bishop, Bishop Peggy Johnson.  This year’s Annual Conference was June 8 – 10 in Manchester, NH.  Aldersgate was represented by Pastors Bob and Maylis, Bonnie Marden, Sofia R as a youth representative, and Cheryl Ortolf and Peter Smyton as laity reps.  The theme this year was “Draw the Circle Wider Still . . .”

We want to share a few of the highlights from the Conference.  Statistics about the Methodist churches in New England were presented and show a shrinking number of churches and attendance, though the level of participation in missional work and financial giving remained strong.  We were struck by the fact that only 4% of the churches have an average weekly attendance greater than 75 people.  Aldersgate is blessed to be very healthy church compared to many.  The attendees endorsed the Strategic Vision Forward team’s plan to address the declining church membership by seeking ways to expand the use of churches’ buildings and to share resources – people, property, and finances – across small churches.  We sadly agreed for 14 churches’ request to disaffiliate from the denomination due to the NE Conference’s response to the denomination’s doctrine regarding human sexuality.  That doctrine prohibits having openly gay pastors or for Methodist pastors to officiate same sex weddings.  Twelve churches disagree with the NE Conference’s willingness to not follow the doctrine, and two churches felt the Conference was not doing enough to defy the doctrine.  These churches were across all 6 New England states.  There were several actions taken addressing social justice issues, such as land reparations to indigenous people in the region, better financial support to historically Black churches, and increasing training of pastors on intersectionality issues.

 The two biggest highlights for Aldersgate were:

1. The ordination of Maylis as a full Deacon. Her family and over 25 members of our church family were there in person to celebrate, as well as numerous congregants watching on-line, and we were able to embarrass her by making the loudest noise of any group cheering the ordinands 
2. The appointments of the pastors for the church year beginning July 1 were announced. We are thrilled to announce that Pastor Bob has been re-appointed to Aldersgate for another year!!!

We are truly blessed to be led by two very special members of the Methodist clergy!