ALCOA, Tenn. (May 8, 2017) -- Representing their congregations, church leaders in four districts attended the first of 12 meetings yesterday to prepare them for the upcoming Annual Conference in June.

Members in the Johnson City, Cleveland, Big Stone Gap, and Chattanooga Districts gathered in their respective regions for the "Pre-Conference Briefings." In each meeting, district superintendents shared highlights of the June 11-14 meeting in Lake Junaluska, N.C., as well as videos about the offering for Zimbabwe and a strategic proposal for reorganizing the Holston Conference.

A 30-minute video prepared by the Strategy Team presented seven changes in the way Holston Conference will approach the future. The changes include “re-sizing” districts from 12 to nine, pruning committees and teams, mandating clergy support groups, organizing “missional hubs” in each district, deploying conference staff where needed, and reorienting staff and missions around the denomination's Four Areas of Focus.

The Annual Conference will vote on the Strategy Team report during its June 11-14 meeting.

> See printed Strategy Team report
> See 30-minute video

A representative of the Strategy Team was present at each district meeting to answer questions from the audience about the proposal. The team will also host a “chat room” on Monday, June 12 at Annual Conference during the lunch break (12:30-1:30 p.m.) in the Terrace Hotel Auditorium.

Church members attending the “Pre-Conference Briefings” were also informed that the proposed 2018 budget is $9.074 million. In addition, the Board of Pensions and Health Benefits will propose partial funding of the retiree health insurance supplement through the direct invoice for health insurance. The 2018 rates for the local church will be set at $9,120.

The "Book of Reports," which includes more information about the budget, retiree health insurance, Annual Conference schedule, petitions and resolutions, is expected to be posted online by May 11 at AC.Holston.org.

The remaining Pre-Conference Briefings are scheduled for May 21 and May 23: 

ABINGDON: Sunday, May 21, 3 p.m. at Pleasant View
KINGSPORT: Sunday, May 21, 3 p.m. at Colonial Heights
KNOXVILLE: Sunday, May 21, 6 p.m. at Cokesbury
MARYVILLE: Sunday, May 21, 3 p.m. at First Alcoa
MORRISTOWN: Sunday, May 21, 3 p.m. at Trinity (Morristown)
OAK RIDGE: Sunday, May 21, 3 p.m. at First Oak Ridge
TAZEWELL: Tuesday, May 23, 6:30 p.m. at First Bluefield
WYTHEVILLE: Sunday, May 21, 3 p.m. at First Chiswell

See recorded video from May 7 Pre-Conference Briefing in Johnson City District.

See also: Bishop Taylor announces plan to appoint nine superintendents