July 2012
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West Virginia's New Bishop
For the first time, a woman will be bishop of the West Virginia Area of the United Methodist Church.
The Rev. Dr. Sandra Steiner Ball was elected bishop July 18 by the Northeastern Jurisdiction (NEJ) of the United Methodist Church (UMC), and assigned to the West Virginia Area July 20. Her official duties begin on September 1, 2012.
The NEJ is one of five regional jurisdictions of the nation’s...
mjgarbart asked: When do you anticipate the appointmnets for bishop to be complete and posted?
Episcopal Assignments
We will post the assignments, in real time this morning, here.
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The waiting
After two days and 35 ballots a group of people sit in a room to decide where bishops in the United Methodist Church go. They are tired after a week of Holy Conferencing and voting.
May they draw on the strength of the Holy Spirit in their work this evening.
As for the rest of us:
The waiting is the hardest part Every day you see one more card You take it on faith, you take it to the heart The...
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NEJ Youth Council Elects Co-Chairs
Two 16-year-old high school students were elected co-chairs of the Northeastern Jurisdiction Youth Council at the Youth Convocation preceding the NEJ Conference. Drew Barnhart, left, of Western Pennsylvania and Danielle Ferdinand of New England Conference will work together to lead the group.
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Goin' up Yonder
Julie Conley remembers her kindergarten art gracing the front of her parents’ refrigerator. It was the beginning of a lifelong passion. “I remember looking at art history books from an early age,” she said. “I was very drawn to the impressionists, especially Monet and Cezanne.”
Conley’s impressionist-themed monoprint “Yonder”, was the cover art for the opening worship bulletin on July 18. The...
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WatchMark Webb responds after being elected bishop on the 35th ballot in the NEJ Conference.
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Steiner Ball's Passion: Congregational Development
The Rev. Sandra Steiner Ball, who was elected a bishop on the 5th ballot during the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference on July 18, is passionate about congregational development and has experience working on all levels of the church.
Steiner Ball, 50, currently serves as Director of Connectional Ministries in the Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conference, which endorsed her.
“I love...
A prayer for our church
The Thursday morning worship service at the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference included a deep and moving time of prayers for the people. Rev. Laurel Scott of the New England Conference compiled and incorporated into the liturgy a collection of prayers that were written and submitted by NEJ delegates. The prayers were heartfelt and varied in their calling upon God to bless and heal and inspire...
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NEJ affirms statement of grace and full inclusion
Rev. Scott Campbell, clergy delegate of the New England Conference, submitted to the Northeastern Jurisdiction a resolution stating in part that “the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference affirms its commitment to the civil and ecclesiastical rights and privileges of all persons, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) persons, and declares its passionate opposition to continued...
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Bishop-elect Martin McLee spoke with NEJ...
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Take a listen to Mark Miller’s musical...
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WatchNEJ Youth remind the conference: “We have the power!”
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WatchMartin McLee, from the New England Conference, responds to being elected as bishop in the NEJ.
New England's Martin McLee elected as Bishop
By Alexx Wood
The Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference of The United Methodist Church has elected The Reverend Martin D. McLee J.D. as bishop. With 135 votes needed for election, McLee, 56, was elected in the 21st ballot with 140 votes. Reverend McLee is currently serving as District Superintendent of the Metro Boston Hope District in the New England Conference.
Bishop Peter D. Weaver of the...
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Know Jesus, do something!
Bishop William Wesley Morris preaching now. Fave quote so far on social holiness:
“When you know Jesus, you’ve got to do something! We have to make this world a better place to live.” Bishop also pushing us on the wealth gap between America and the rest of the world. “Is it fair for us to have so much when so many struggle with life’s necessities?”
- Laura...
How about this hospitality?
While awaiting another set of ballot results in the seemingly endless stream of voting today, my mind wandered to some of the other things we’ve been experiencing here at Jurisdictional Conference. I must say, I think West Virginian hospitality is second to none. I have traveled to a lot of places and to a lot of conferences and events, both with The United Methodist Church and in my...
Track the ballots
You can track the ballots with us at NEJ2012.
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Bishops Declare a New Day for the Church
Speaking for the bishops of the Northeastern Jurisdiction, Bishop Jane Allen Middleton declared a new day for the church as people called by Jesus Christ.
“These are extraordinary times to be the church,” she said in the Episcopal Address on Wednesday, July 18. “We are being challenged as never before. Yet, with these times of challenge come extraordinary opportunities to: Rise up! Encounter...
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Annual Conferences don’t revitalize...
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Voting thoughts...
How many of the top 20 episcopacy vote receivers are on the first sheet shown when voting? The sheets should not be rotated by starting from the beginning of the alphabet every time. It seems to be an advantage to be on the first sheet.
- Rev. Scott Knowlton, West Virginia Conference
Rise up, church!
The conference sessions of the Northeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church opened with the Memorial Service and Holy Communion, as hundreds of delegates, volunteers, visitors, episcopal leaders and episcopal candidates gathered for 3 days of worship, fellowship and Holy Conferencing.
Bishop Peter D. Weaver of the New England Conference preached during the opening memorial service,...
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Bishop Lyght, West Virginian
Something funny happens to all of the bishops who come to West Virginia. “They leave here, in their own way, in tears,” Bishop Grove told a group of us as we made final plans for NEJ2012. He would know. He and Mary Lou came back in retirement to live here in the hills with us. For the past several months, Bishop Grove has been an active bishop once again, stepping into service when...
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Coming Home
These are the hills and valleys I call home. I grew up in the Mid-Ohio Valley and spent five years of my young adulthood in Buckhannon. When I moved to Washington, DC twelve years ago, I found a congregation which continued to nurture me in faith much the same way I experienced in the hills and valleys of West Virginia. My congregation is, in a word, quirky. We worship in the round. Passing of the...
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19 sheets of paper
19 sheets of paper. 19 interviews of 25 minutes each. Then I’ll be asked to choose three from among the 19. I’ve never done this before. I must say that it seems to be a daunting task.
The United Methodist Church faces the challenge of carrying an ancient story to an ever-changing world. The Jurisdictional Conference is given the task of choosing the regional leaders who will direct our work....
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WatchRev. David Donathan plays the postlude at Christ Church UMC in Charleston, WV this morning. Donathan will lead music this week at #NEJ12. Look for more about him in the Tuesday edition of the Daily Christian Advocate.
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Green rolling hills of WV...
West Virginia has been called “Wild and Wonderful” and “Almost Heaven.” It only made sense for the prayer scarves delegates will wear during NEJ12 to reflect the beautiful landscape of the mountain state. The layers of green, blue, and dark brown in the fabric represent the rivers, mountains and valleys of West Virginia.
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What is jurisdictional conference?
An excellent description and history of what the Northeast Jurisdictional Conference is from the West Virginia Area’s resident bishop, William Boyd Grove.
The week of July 16-20 will be a big week for The United Methodist Church in West Virginia. The Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference will convene in Charleston to elect, consecrate, and assign bishops and to reflect on the mission of...
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Welcome to NEJ12 in Charleston, WV!
Greetings to all!
The 2012 Northeast Jurisdictional Conference of the United Methodist Church meets in Charleston July 18 - 20. We look forward to seeing you!
The Charleston Civic Center will be the place where business sessions and voting take place.
The Marriott Charleston Town Center is the official hotel of NEJ12 and will also host some items on the NEJ agenda. The hotel is within easy...
