WNCC adopts budget of $14.4 million for 2011
Aug. 21, 2010 - The Western NC Conference finally has an approved budget for 2011. Conference members voted to adopt the 2011 Budget Proposal that was approved by the Council on Finance and Administration at its meeting earlier this month. At a special called session on Saturday at Lake Junaluska, the conference approved a budget of $14,409,256 that included both WNC Conference and General Church funds. The budget reflects the intent of the conference voiced during the budget discussion at its June meeting, which resulted in these adjustments:

• Maintains a district superintendent’s salary at $93,300 for 2011, resulting in a reduction of $73,183 in this line of the revised budget.
• Maintains strong connectional ties to all Higher Education and Health institutions. The budget includes re-instatement of these institutions to the 2010 Budget level for an amount
• Reduces the Board of Congregational Development by $774,350 from $1 million to 225,650.

     In the CF&A Report, which was adopted, a new fund for the creation of new congregations, New Faith Communities Fund, in which none of the anticipated monies are to be included in apportionments, was approved.
    To ensure that commitments currently made for new church starts are fulfilled, an amendment to the CF&A Report was adopted providing for up to 15 percent of the unrestricted reserves(approximately $548,000) be made available to cover short term cash flow requirements in 2011. These funds would be replaced by funds from Congregational Development and the New Faith Communities Fund.
    A second amendment to the report was adopted for CF&A to include in each annual budget a detailed line item of money appropriated for each “shall” ministry as defined by the Book of Discipline.
    One minor editorial change was noted in the report. Under Conference Funds and Financial Policies, in the line 12b, the reference to “13a” should read 12a.”
    Bishop Larry Goodpaster called for a special session after he studied Decision 785 of the Judicial Council of The United Methodist Church, which reads: “The Judicial Council has ruled consistently that the Annual Conference cannot delegate to any other entity responsibilities which have been granted to the Annual Conference by the Constitution." In June, the conference had voted to refer decisions related to the budget to the Connectional Table. “In light of Decision 785 (and other Judicial Council decisions), and in light of the action taken on June 12, 2010, it is my opinion that the actions of the Western North Carolina Conference related to the budget of 2011 were not consistent with The Book of Discipline,” said Bishop Goodpaster. “Therefore, the actions to refer certain matters to other entities were in violation of the law and the spirit of the Constitution of The United Methodist Church. In essence, this means that our conference does not have a budget for 2011.”
    Prior to Saturday’s called session, the Connectional Table, Conference Staff Relations Committee and CF&A had met to address the concerns of the conference and craft a budget that would incorporate those concerns. [Approved 2011 Budget] [Special Session Page]
[Bishop Goodpaster's Sermon: On Finishing What We Started]

Ray Buckley tells a story from his Native American heritage at the 2010 Gathering of the Laity at Lake Junaluska.

Speakers, musicians inspire at Gathering of the Laity
Aug. 18, 2010 - Joyful music and inspirational preaching rang through the hills around Lake Junaluska on Aug. 13-15 as 822 participants assembled for this year’s WNCC Gathering of the Laity. Retired Bishop Violet Fisher and Storyteller Ray Buckley joined Bishop Larry Goodpaster as keynote speakers.
     Incoming Chairperson for the Gathering of the Laity, John Crane of Gastonia, summed up the messages of the keynote speakers on Sunday as he thanked them:

• Bishop Goodpaster, who reminded us that the practices that transformed the early church still have the power to transform us today.
• Bishop Fisher, who challenged us to accept the calling that God has given each of us to be a living witness, and who reminded us to "turn on the power" of God's Holy Spirit as we seek to faithfully and fully live out our calling.
• Ray Buckley, whose willingness to share of his life's stories taught us to always remember that truly BEING the Church requires so much more than simply being IN the church.

     The combination of heartfelt lay testimonies, challenging sermons, spirited singing and soul warming music made this year’s weekend, as one participant declared, “one of the best lay gatherings ever.” [More]