Officiating bishop: Bishop Peggy A. Johnson
Theme: Co-Creating Justice and Joy
Guiding scripture: Isaiah 58:6-14, The Message
Guest speakers and memorable points or quotes by speakers:
Bishop Peggy A. Johnson, Episcopal Address
The United Methodists in New England, the bishop said, are like the Sower of ancient Israel and the Sower of Jesus’ parable. “You sow with abandon and in great quantity, not wasting time on deciding who is worthy or what you can gain from it, what soil it lands on, or if it will eventually bear fruit or even how much this is going to cost you,” she said.
Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi, guest preacher, Service of Ordination and Commissioning
“God just wants us to work with God. That’s all God wants. And here’s what I really love about God. … God never gets tired of inviting us to work with God.”
Dr. Dana L. Robert, William Fairfield Warren Distinguished Professor, Director of the Center for Global Christianity and Mission at Boston University School of Theology.
“Mission is all about crossing boundaries that separate people from each other, so that the love of Christ moves out of its little silos and becomes an agent of transformation. Typically, we think about those boundaries as cross cultural, as going from the west to the rest. But today, we embrace boundary crossing as intercultural. The idea of interculturality assumes that all boundary crossing is relational. Interculturality means mutuality, and willingness to be changed in relationship with others. Interculturality means bringing Christ forth in the context of mutual relationships. Partners bring different gifts, but always they shape each other.”
Main actions enacted by the conference:
RS-24-213 Fund Black Churches with Equity This legislation establishes a fund for reparations to historically Black churches. The goal is to create a $2 million Reparation Fund to support the initiatives outlined below.
The legislation also calls for:
- Development of educational resources on the history of racism, both in the NEAC and beyond.
- Development of a two-year learning program for congregations/individuals on how to engage in anti-racism.
- Intentional recruitment of and leadership development for Black leaders.
- Development of a Conference-wide strategy to strengthen Black churches and establish new Black faith communities.
- Creation of a Conference Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) team to provide support and accountability.
The actions above would be led by an Implementation Team that will be created by the bishop in consultation with the Connectional Table.
RS-24-214 Support for Immigrant Clergy Development of Strategy In order to support immigrant clergy/candidates, this legislation establishes a Joint Immigration Support Task Force that includes representatives from the Cabinet, Board of Ordained Ministry, Council on Finance and Administration, Board of Pensions and Health Benefits, the Connectional Table, laity and others at the direction of the bishop.
RS-24-219 Repentance, Restitution, and Love Commits to a process of restoring the Covenant Hills camp property in Cabot, VT, to the Nulhegan band of the Abenaki people. The restoration places no conditions on the use of the 270.5 acres.
RS-24-244 Forming a Conference Commission on Queer People's Status Much as the conference commissions on Religion and Race and the Status and Role of Women do for the communities they represent, this commission would “focus on specific aspects of intersectional justice concern … by combining voices when helpful and focusing on one marginalized identity when necessary” to support LGBTQ+ clergy, laity, and candidates for licensed/ordained ministry.
The first step in the creation of the commission, believed to be the first of its kind in The United Methodist Church, is the formation of an Ad-Hoc Team on Queer People’s Status that could bring resolutions to the 2025 Annual Conference session around the composition and scope of the official Conference Commission on Queer People’s Status.
Apology from The United Methodist Church to victims/survivors of sexual misconduct
Following the apology for sexual misconduct by the denomination and a service of lament on June 21, time was opened in the schedule on June 22 for those who wished to share their thoughts and stories. Members of the New England Conference Sexual Misconduct Response and Intervention Team along with Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi stood with each speaker.
Continuing the Conversation — The Response Team has also scheduled a series of small-group opportunities for further conversation during July and early August. “Together we will create brave/safe spaces where people can express feelings, share stories honestly, and begin and continue the healing process.” Learn more about that series here
Number of churches that closed because no longer sustainable (please list each church):
Alford-Housatonic UMC, Alford, MA
Bradley Memorial UMC, Fryeburg Harbor, ME
Epiphany UMC, South Portland, ME
Epping Community Church, Epping, NH
First UMC, North Attleboro, MA
Gilman UMC, Lunenburg, VT
Grace UMC, Westerly, RI
Greensboro Bend UMC, Greensboro Bend, VT
Kingfield UMC, Kingfield, ME
Lincoln UMC, Lincoln, VT
New Hope UMC, North Adams/Williamstown, MA
North Pownal UMC, Pownal, ME
Sanbornville UMC, Sanbornville, NH
Solid Rock Chapel of The Methodist Society, Williamstown, VT
St. Mark’s UMC, Onset, MA
Westport Church, Swanzey, NH
Woodbury UMC, Woodbury, VT
Did the conference approve any churches leaving the conference?
Chilmark Community Church, Chilmark, MA
Hillsboro UMC, Hillsboro, NH
What budget did the conference pass and how did it change from last year?
The 2025 NEAC budget is $6,896,620 – $306,561 lower than the current budget.
“To those of you struggling to maintain your local missions and ministries and meet your connectional commitments, we hear you,” said LaVergne Randolph, incoming chair of CCFA. “This is the first reduction in many years; praise the Lord.”
Number of people ordained, commissioned or received into associate membership:
Ordinands
Deacon
Adama Brown
Elders
Michelle Ann Stiles Ashley
Sungmin Jeon
Sooyoun Kim
Daniel Chung Ho Lee
Juhee Lee
Jamie Dupasquier Michaels
Spencer E. Shaw
Commissionees
Deacons
Samantha Ball
Tallessyn Z. Grenfell-Lee
Karen McLain
Sharon Sagat-Stover
Elders
Eungil Cho
Seth Fortier
Myungso Lee
Number of clergy retired: 9
Luis Benavides
Stephen Dean Sr.
Michael Doran
Aida Irizarry-Fernandez
John Marshall
Paul O'Neil
Sydney Pierce
Gary Richards
Chang-Hee Son
Membership stands at 61,207, down 7% from the previous year.
Worship attendance stands at 14,538, up from 13,810 in 2022.
Church school attendance stands at 1,955, down 582.
Professions or reaffirmations of faith for 2023 were 500, down 75 from 2022
Adults and young adults in small groups for 2023 were 7,429, down 318 from 2022.
Worshippers engaged in mission for 2023 were 9,873, down 225 from 2022.
Beth DiCocco, Director of Communications, New England Conference