The Call now comes in many forms: a monthly newspaper, a weekly e-mail, Annual Conference on-site editions, and Facebook. Here are quotes drawing from all versions during the past year -- worth repeating:

 

• "My husband makes his living off this farm. I don’t want to be here, and I don’t want to raise our cattle here.” -- Sandy Gupton, member of Kingston UMC, following the TVA ash spill in Roane County, Tenn. (Jan. 9)

• "Racism was rampant in the congregation. I actually heard a member use the 'N word' in my home on Christmas morning as she described a gift given to her son." -- Rev. Steve Doyal in his commentary, "Smouldering Cauldron" (Jan. 16)

• "This past November, I cast my vote for Obama. I know this disappoints many, but I hope it does not strain our relationship. I am registered as a Republican, and my family tree has a Republican Tennessee governor in it. Does that count?" --Rev. Ray Robinson, in his inaugural commentary, "Please, Mr. President," posted Jan. 22. On, March 21, Robinson died following a car accident.

• “In our effort to help preserve life, we’ve seen life slip through our hands. It hurts as much in Africa as it does in the U.S.A.” -- Danny Howe, in a UMNS article about Holston's sixth mission trip to Sudan. (March 31)

• "Our hope and confidence is in God, who is so extravagant, that while we are down here worrying about what we don't have, God is using gold to pave the streets of heaven for us." --Bishop James Swanson, speaking a the United Methodist Men's Day With the Bishop. (April 2)

• "Are people saying that because our church is in the community, there are no hungry people? Are people saying that because of our church's presence in the community, there is no bigotry or discrimination?" -- Rev. Lovett Weems, in his article, "If Your Church Closed Today" from Interpreter Online (April 10)

• "Greetings in the name of Jesus! I am proud and honored to report that 86 souls honored and praised God this morning at Appalachia UMC located in the Big Stone Gap District." -- Rev. Jason Crabtree, in an an article celebrating the initial list of Easter worship attendances in Holston Conference (April 16)

• "We look at the pastors and churches around us and wonder whom God -- or at least the bishop -- loves most. We set our eyes on greener pastures, where the churches are bigger, the pay is better and the work more fulfilling." -- Rev. Eric Van Meter's commentary, "The Achievement Monster," from the UM Reporter (April 22)

• "It's hard to be upbeat about a recession, but it does present the church with an opportunity to serve and lead." -- Roger Redding, in his Holston Conference Foundation commentary, "Hope in the Face of a New Reality." (May 2009)

• “We should not separate ourselves from those persons who may be the most vulnerable and may need the church at this time.” --Iowa Bishop Julius Trimble, joining other United Methodist leaders in cautioning church members not to overreact to the swine flu epidemic. From United Methodist News Service (May 4)

• "She just hugged me and said quietly, 'I didn't know.'" -- Bishop James Swanson, telling of the reaction he received from Sudanese leader Edina Tomalu, when she saw that he is black instead of white like most Holston Conference mission team members. (May 15)

• "But I knew I could benefit from being here in a conference with such a strong camping ministry. I just wanted to come and be with good people." --Jestie Higgins of Easton, Pa., who chose to work at Camp Lookout after meeting Director Don Washburn at a United Methodist camping certification class in California. (May 22)

• "Larger churches are just small churches in disguise. Why? Because they attempt to become a small church by promoting small groups." -- Steve McMurray, Thornspring/Wesley Memorial UMC, after participating in the "Great Small Churches" conference at Gray UMC. (May 2009)

• "I want you to go back to your congregations and quit poor mouthing. You serve a God who is extremely able." --Bishop James Swanson in his Annual Conference "State of the Church" report, which projected historically low apportionment giving. (June 16)

• "If you accept this invitation, please bring your checkbook with you. I promise that I will ask you to do more than you are doing – both here and abroad." --Rev. Kenny Faught, in a pastoral column to LaFollette UMC (July 1)

• "After a lengthy discussion, they overwhelmingly approved a direct invoicing report that will remove pensions and health insurance from the apportionment formula, instead allowing local churches to pay directly for those costs beginning in 2011." --From the wrap-up report from Annual Conference 2009. (July 2009)

• "For youth who have not grown up in a church or who struggle with faith, things that are too 'churchy' can be intimidating for them." --Remy Kerry, youth member at Eden UMC, in The Call's first Facebook Q & A. (July 17)

• "Now I do think a pastor has the right to have political views. They’re human beings. But Paul cautions us to be careful about what we say or do in order to minister to people." --Bishop James Swanson on the perils and possibilities of using Facebook (July 30)

• "The sad thing is, we don’t owe a lot of money. But in this day and time, cash flow is everything." -- Jim Henry, Hiwassee College Board of Trustees chair, on the college's ongoing struggle to regain accreditation (Aug. 6)

• "The tithe is just the floor and not the ceiling. And if you think your congregation doesn't know you don't tithe, then you are crazy. They know everything about you." --Rev. Cliff Amos of the Holston Conference Foundation, in a workshop held at Calling All Men. (Aug. 12)

• "At some point, Congress will make a health-care decision primarily based on cost, political expediency, and compromise. I don’t have that luxury. Whatever our representatives and senators do, it won’t be enough to help everyone, and even if it is, I still believe God calls me to care for others." --Bishop James Swanson in his column on the U.S. health care debate (Sept. 4)

• “They tried to say it was a hate crime, but we were pretty sure it was an electrical fire. If anything, the community has shown love through all of this." -- Rev. Mark Dowell, pastor at St. Elmo UMC, following a devastating fire. (Sept. 4)

• “As Christians, we don’t grow by sitting in pews. We grow once our butt leaves the seat and we get out into the streets and start doing things.” -- Rev. Jeremy LaDuke, in a UMNS/UMTV article and video about The Remedy's ability to reach young adults in Maryville District (Sept. 23)

• "We've got too many preachers who've gone astray, asking for more and more money. It they were truly on fire for God, they wouldn't be worrying about the money." -- Daniel Bradley, sawmill worker and aspiring local pastor in Tazewell District (September 2009)

• "Nothing is easy." --the Revs. Boo and Phyllis Hankins, commenting on their frustration in trying to accomplish goals during their two-year assignment in Sudan. (Sept. 25)

• "We've got to deal with a sickness that's loose in our communities -- something that seeks to kill rather than heal." --Bishop James Swanson, at a Clergy Gathering focused on domestic violence. (Oct. 16)

• "In five or 10 years, without question, Cokesbury West will be the largest of our three campuses." --Rev. Steve Sallee on the recent launch of the Hardin Valley congregation. (Oct. 30)

• "I did not come into the ministry expecting a mansion to be provided. I also didn't expect to have to live with my family in a museum." --An anonymous clergy member in the commentary, "It's a Parsonage, But It's Not My Home." (Nov. 6)

• "We stereotype our own situations and say, 'That cannot happen here.' Why not?" --Sam Jones, member of Colonial Heights UMC, on the phenomenal success of a church led by Adam Hamilton in Leawood, Kansas. (Nov. 18)

• "If there is anything I have learned from liberals and conservatives, it's that you can have great answers and still be mean ... and that just as important as being right is being nice." -- Shane Claiborne in his Esquire article, "What if Jesus Meant All That Stuff?" (Nov. 18)

• "World peace, Jesus's coming, and a pasta drying rack." -- Response from Michael Boggan when he and several others were asked, "What are you Looking for?" (Dec. 10)

• "It's like the Berlin Airlift around here." -- Heidi Hutchinson of Jubilee Project, responding to church responses to Hancock County's annual Christmas outreach. (December 2009)