The West Michigan and Detroit conferences came face to face throughout the year to consider the future of ministry and mission in the Michigan Area. ~MIC photo/Mark Doyal January: In her Michigan Meanderings column, Bishop Deb opened the door to conversations around: “When are our two conferences going to come together?”
For the first time, Leadership Teams from West Michigan and Detroit conferences meet together, exploring questions about “creating a new thing.” February: JFON West Michigan celebrated its 10th anniversary
George Ayoub welcomed as the new interim Executive Camping Director of the West Michigan Conference. March: Bishop Deb and others travel to Zimbabwe for dedication of the Ubuntu Retreat Center at Africa University.
West Michigan was one of 20 annual conferences to pay their General Apportionments in full.
Congregations held Pancake events to raise money for Imagine No Malaria
Announcement made that the West Michigan Annual Conference and the Detroit Annual Conference will share a venue in 2016, coming together in East Lansing at Michigan State University June 8-13, 2016.
April: Bishop Deb names an Area Urban Task Force.
John Boley named Superintendent of the Kalamazoo District, effective July 1, 2014
Bridget Nelson hired to the position of Coordinator of Youth and Young Adult Ministries for Detroit Conference.
UMW from across the Area joined hundreds of others in Louisville for the United Methodist Women’s Assembly. May: Detroit Annual Conference …
- approved a new structure for the Detroit Conference
- ordained one deacon and three elders; 25 clergy retired
- affirms commissioning of missionary Mary Gladstone-Highland
- Imagine No Malaria Ingathering tallied $100,612 in new pledges; $46,269 in cash received
- a resolution calling for grace and love available to all persons was passed then a vote called for a ruling by Bishop Deb was; ruling sent to Judicial Counci; the matter is on the court’s spring 2015 docket
- new Dean of Cabinet is the Rev. Elbert Dulworth.
June: From pancakes to a bike trek, Michigan UMs were busy throughout 2014 raising funds for Imagine No Malaria. ~MIC photo/Mark Doyal West Michigan Annual Conference …
- elected delegates to 2016 General and Jurisdictional Conference: Nichea VerVeer Guy (head of delegation), the Rev. Laurie Haller, the Rev. Kennetha Bigham-Tsai, and Laurie Dahlman (alternates the Rev. Benton Heisler, Laura Witkowski, the Rev. John Boley and Anne Soles)
- Imagine No Malaria Field Rep, the Rev. Molly Turner, announced the Area stands more than half-way ($802,704) in the $1.5 million INM initiative
- the 18-year-old covenant with Haiti and the Michigan Area was renewed
- passed “Support for Ministry of all persons”
- ordained one deacon and five elders; 17 clergy retired
- new Dean of Cabinet is the Rev. David Hills.
Four cyclists–Rob Nystrom, Laurie Haller, Chad Jennings, and Wayne Bank–braved weather, bike-chasing dogs and potholes on a 940 mile pedal for Christ and Imagine No Malaria.
Young people from around the state traveled to Haiti for the third Volunteer in Mission experience sponsored by the Conference Council on Youth Ministries.
Adrian College became the denomination’s third HYLA (Hispanic Youth Leadership Academy) site. July: The Bishop and staff “itinerated” to a new Michigan Area Center in Lansing.
Jennifer Weaver welcomed as the new assistant to the Rev. Dr. William Dobbs.
A tornado hits Kentwood and the Grand Rapids District reaches out to neighbors in need. UMCOR came to Michigan with emergency help for both the Kentwood tornado and the Flooding in greater Detroit. ~photo courtesy of Warren UMC August: Storms flood three counties in southeast Michigan. The Renaissance District mobilizes to assist victims.
Wesley Foundations in the Detroit and West Michigan conferences received a $64,000 grant from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry to support students for service as interns in local churches. September: From the pulpit of Morrice United Methodist Church on September 7, Bishop Deb formally invited all congregations in Michigan to begin next steps toward making two conferences one.
Dr. Mauri Ditzler was inaugurated 16th President of Albion College.
JFON leaders from Michigan Area travel to Washington D.C. for an immigration rally and conversations with congressional leaders. October: Bishop Deb hosted a group of U.S. urban bishops and their staffs in Detroit, visiting entrepreneurial ministries in the city and talking about new life in the church.
The Rev. Dr. William Dobbs announces in his Burning Questions blog his intention to retire in 2015.
The REACH Summit, attended by 325 pastors and laity, launched a network of disciples ready to transform Michigan’s United Methodist landscape in the months ahead.
Michigan’s Communication Director, Mark Doyal, receives top media award for video, “Africa University: One Leader at a Time” The Rev. Melanie L. Carey will be the Clergy Assistant to the Bishop effective July 1, 2015.
November: The Rev. Melanie Lee Carey welcomed as new Clergy Assistant to the Bishop, effective July 1, 2015.
Detroit Conference hosts Liberia Summit with people—Global Ministries staff, pastors, laity, and missionaries– coming together because of their love for Africa and their concern for Ebola.
Bishop Deb interacts with 148 people in three sites—Cadillac, Escanaba, and Midland–sharing dreams, fears, hopes, and concerns about the possibility of birthing one annual conference in Michigan.
The Rev. Duane E. Miller was named interim Superintendent for the Blue Water District as the Rev. Dr. Joanne Bartelt resigns for health reasons. December: The Rev. Dr. Charles S.G. Boayue, Jr. was named the next Superintendent of the Detroit Renaissance District, effective July 1, 2015.
The Rev. Elizabeth A. Hill was named the next Superintendent of the Blue Water District, effective July 1, 2015
Last Updated on February 2, 2024