2016 Rocky Mountain Conference

June 19-12 at the Westin Hotel, Westminster, Colorado

Officiating bishop: Bishop Elaine J. W. Stanovsky

Guest speakers:

Ordination Keynote: The Rev. Hugo Magallanes

Spotlight Presenters: Karen Reyes, Doug Lyons, Michael Rowley, Keyla Antunez

Missions Dinner Speaker: Jorge Domingues

Sand Creek Massacre Descendants: Joe Big Medicine, Gail Ridgely, Henry Little Bird Sr., Alec Sandcrane

Memorable points or quotes by speakers:

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.” – Bishop Elaine Stanovsky in her Episcopal Address on June 9.

“We come to annual conference so that God can work God’s amazing grace in our lives, and we can become agents of that grace in one another’s lives.” – Bishop Elaine Stanovsky in her Episcopal Address on June 9.

During Bishop Elaine’s farewell celebration on June 11, Sand Creek descendant Gail Ridgely gave her an Arapaho name translated to “Warrior of God” and presented her with a shawl.

“How do we – all of us – embrace our vocation of following Christ?” – The Rev. Hugo Magallanes at the Ordination Service on June 12.

Main actions enacted by the conference

Affirmed Membership in the Colorado Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice; approved Mission Shaped Future petition to realign conference boundaries; approved petitions to close four churches: Alameda Heights United Methodist Church, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Merritt Memorial United Methodist Church and DeBeque United Methodist Church.

Resolutions adopted by the conference

7th Annual Valentine’s Resolution on Global AIDS and HIV; A Resolution to Support the Council of Bishops’ Proposal: A Way Forward; Resolution to Embrace the Margins; Resolution on Election of Episcopal Leaders in the West

Number of people ordained, commissioned or received into associate membership, and average age: Six ordained: two deacons, four elders; average age of 41.

Licensed local pastors recognized: 10

Number of people retired: 13

For 2015, membership stood at 58,490, down 1,072 members or 1.7 percent from 2014.

Worship attendance stands at 27,055, down 1,203 or 4.3 percent. Hispanic membership increased by 4.4 percent and Pacific Islander membership was up by 4.5 percent.

Church school attendance stands at 6,522, down 894, but Young Adult and Adult Christian Formation was up 100 (4.8 percent) and 656 (3 percent), respectively.

Professions or reaffirmations of faith for 2015 were 1,360, down from 1,497 or 9.2 percent from 2014.

Worshippers engaged in mission for 2015 was 22,021, up from 19,941 or 10.4 percent in 2014.

— Charmaine Robledo, director of communications, Mountain Sky Area