Corpus Christi meeting to decide 18 items

Policy-makers to vote
on new proposal for
workers comp coverage

 

 

 

 

A workers compensation change, sexual ethics update and expanded clergy housing provisions lead the list of items to be considered June 2-5 in Corpus Christi.
Those are among the 18 legislative proposals on the agenda for the 146th Southwest Texas Annual Conference session. The yearly regional policy-making meeting is to convene at Corpus Christi’s Bayfront Plaza Convention Center.
Details of the 18 action items—as well as more than 70 reports for information—are contained in a 122-page Pre-Conference Report. It was mailed this week to clergy and laity representatives of the region’s 148 United Methodist congregations.
More than 1,300 voting members of the annual conference session—half laity, half clergy—are expected to take part in the four-day gathering.
An additional action item from the Council on Ministries is to be presented at the Corpus Christi meeting. That’s a proposal to make “Offering Christ to All” the conference vision statement and adopt the following mission:
“Radiating God’s love, the Southwest Texas Conference empowers ministries to make disciples of Jesus Christ.”
Representatives of congregations in the Austin, Corpus Christi, Kerrville and San Antonio districts are initially to discuss items to be considered in Corpus Christi at district conferences May 16.
Meetings of representatives from congregations in the other three districts are scheduled for May 22 and 23.
The Board of Trustees is proposing to gather all employees of local churches and districts under one workers compensation insurance policy. If approved, the move is expected to save congregations with their own workers compensation policies 10 to 50 percent on annual premiums and provide coverage for congregations that don’t have it.
Premiums are to be paid to the conference starting July 1 or Jan. 1, depending on local insurance situations. Congregations with payrolls of less than $25,000 a year won’t be billed for coverage.
Proposed revisions to the current conference Sexual Ethics Policy for Church Professionals include updated references to the 2000 Book of Discipline and a new training requirement. That provision would:
> Mandate the Board of Ordained Ministries to provide four hours of training on sexual ethics every four years.
> Require all clergy members and church professionals to participate in that training or equivalent instruction.
Failure to participate in the required training would be reported to the staff-parish relations committees where a church professional is appointed or employed.
Further, nonparticipation could be used as evidence against an accused church professional in civil or church actions involving sexual misconduct.
The Board of Pensions is proposing the resolution relating to rental or housing allowances for retired or disabled clergy members. If adopted, this resolution would classify 100 percent of church pension or disability payments to retired or disabled clergy members as housing allowance for income tax purposes.
Other action items in the Pre-Conference Report include:
> Five proposals from the Council on Finance and Administration outlining the 2005 budget and the apportionments to fund them. The proposed $8.2 million spending plan reflects a 2.64 percent increase over the 2004 budget.
> A measure from the Board of Global Ministries establishing Nov. 7 as Harvest Sunday in the Southwest Texas Conference and designating four anti-hunger agencies to receive equal portions of the special conferencewide offering collected on that day.
n A resolution from the Commission on Archives and History recommending the nomination of Freyburg UMC as a United Methodist Historic Site. If approved, the nomination goes to the General Commission on Archives and History in Madison, N.J., for consideration.
> Three provisions from the Board of Pensions concerning clergy retirement and health insurance benefits.
> Nominations from the Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministries for the Austin Wesley Foundation Board of Trustees.
> A proposed change to Standing Rule 37 from the Standing Rules Committee. It would increase membership of the Council on Children’s Ministries from seven to 12.
A consent agenda includes 74 informational reports.
from conference agencies and United Methodist-related institutions that voting representatives receive for printing in the yearly journal.