It was my privilege to serve as the presiding officer for the APPALACHIAN QUADRENNIAL CONFERENCE Session, June 18 & 19, 2010. The Conference was hosted at the Appalachian Conference Campgrounds, Dublin, Virginia. This historic gathering marked the celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Appalachian Conference as it is known today.
The Appalachian Conference had its humble beginnings on April 5, 1910, at a meeting held in Roanoke, Virginia. Within the next six months, four other churches: Piedmont, Radford, Pulaski, Virginia and one in Montcalm, West Virginia joined this group to form the Virginia Conference Fire-Baptized Holiness Organization. Less than one year later, on January 31, 1911, the Fire Baptized Holiness Church of Iowa and the Pentecostal Holiness Church of North Carolina consolidated to form the Pentecostal Holiness Church. Adopting the governmental policies of the PHC, the Virginia Convention of the Fire Baptized Holiness Convention changed its name to the Virginia Convention Pentecostal Holiness Church commonly known today as the Appalachian Conference, IPHC.
In celebration of its Centennial, the Appalachian Conference commissioned Dr. C. R. Conner [former Assistant Conference Superintendent, Conference Archivist and Pastor, Family Worship Center, Pulaski, Virginia] to write a commemorative history of the Conference, titled, “I Love To Tell The Story”, Centennial Celebration, The Appalachian Conference, International Pentecostal Holiness Church, 1910-2010. Dr. Conner is to be commended for his scholarly work.
To commemorate this anniversary, the Conference celebrated its Centennial, Tuesday through Friday in conjunction with it’s annual camp meeting. The Opening Service on Tuesday evening featured the “The Hoppers” in concert. Dr. Ron Phillips preached the evening camp-meeting services [Wednesday-Friday] in addition to teaching morning sessions on Wednesday and Thursday for “Ministers and Laymen.” Each evening service had a designated 100 Year Celebration emphasis. The Friday evening service was also designated as the Global Outreach Service. Rev. Steve Cofer served as the official World Missions Ministries representative for this service and did a super job of communicating the vision and passion of World Missions Ministries!
When the Quadrennial Business Sessions convened we had a peak registration of 472 delegates in addition to visitors in attendance.
The Conference in session elected the following persons as Executive Council members:
* Bishop Preston Mathena, Conference Superintendent [1ST Ballot Election]
* Rev. Mike Dodson, Assistant Conference Superintendent
* Rev. Frank Neff, Conference Secretary
* Rev. Gary Cope, Conference Treasurer
* Rev. Wanda Myers, Member at Large [First lady elected to the Conference Executive Council formerly known as Conference Board in the 100 year history of the Appalachian Conference]
* Rev. Larry Meadors, Member at Large
* Rev. Steve Willis, Member at Large
Ministerial Credentials were issued as follows:
Ordination (17) –
* Rick Becker
* Tim Cline
* George Close
* Tim Collins
* Miguel Escobar
* Gary Frazier
* Tina Frazier
* Wesley Galford
* William Harman
* Richard Johnson, Sr.
* Amy Lambert
* Kenneth Pauley
* Edgar Sorto
* Timothy Stalnaker
* Chris Stansell
* Ronnie Stuart
* Dennis Wyer
License (4)
* Travis Randel Dye, Jr.
* Jeffery Hatfield
* David Needham
* Zachary Royer
It was an honor as the Presiding Officer to recognize the following Conference attendees:
* Bishop James and Faye Leggett, former General Superintendent, GBA and GEB member, and President, Holmes Bible College
* Mrs. Esther Underwood, wife of beloved former General Superintendent, B. E. Underwood
* Rev. Edward and Freda Wood, former Executive Director of Stewardship Ministries, GEB, GBA member and former Conference Superintendent
* Rev. Glennard and Dorothy Quesenberry, former Conference Superintendent and GBA member
* Rev. Walter Lee and Ann Wood, former Conference Superintendent, GEB and GBA member
* Rev. Tony and Sharon Atkinson, former Superintendent, Ephesians 4 Network Ministries Conference, GBA member and Bishop’s Millennium Initiative Member
* Rev. Mike and Debie Dodson, General Finance Committee Member and Bishop’s Millennium Initiative Member
* Rev. Larry and Gloria Meadors, General DMD Council Member and Conference DMD Director
* Bishop Preston and Kathy Mathena, General WMM Council Member
* Rev. W. A. Mills, General Men’s Ministries Board Member and Bishop’s Millennium Initiative Member
· Dr. Michael and Pam Stewart, President, Emmanuel College
· Rev. Steve Cofer, Director of Itineration and Coffee House Ministry, WMM
· Rev. Johnny Upton, Vice-President, IPHC Loan Fund, Inc.
* Rev. John and Jerry Talmage, former Missionaries to South Africa
This Conference marked the conclusion of the service and tenure of Bishop Ken Kingrea as Conference Superintendent and Ms. Juanita as its First Lady. They had collectively decided that they would officially retire from full-time ministry service after having served as Conference Superintendent for the past 9 years. Bishop Kingrea has served as a credentialed minister with the Appalachian Conference, IPHC since 1973.
When Bishop Kingrea was first appointed Superintendent upon the election of Rev. Edward Wood as the Executive Director, IPHC GMC Stewardship Ministries in 2001, the Appalachian Conference had just birthed the Ephesians4Network Ministries Conference. There were 134 remaining churches in the Conference. From that time until now, the Conference has experienced unprecedented growth.
In his final State of the Conference Report, Bishop Kingrea reported that the Appalachian Conference is on track to have a church membership of 200 by the end of 2010. Bishop Kingrea’s legacy as Superintendent will be marked by three distinct priorities/emphases: Prayer, Unity/Team Ministry, and a focus on the Harvest. Bishop Ken Kingrea is a Prince of a man!
On Saturday, the Conference honored the Kingrea’s with a catered lunch reception. Prior to the reception the Conference presented the Kingrea’s with numerous gifts, cards and a love offering.
May God’s GRACE saturate this next season of service for Ken and Juanita and may they be able to celebrate their ministry legacy together for many years--they are special gifts!
[Editor's Note: It is always a joy to receive reports from Bishop Talmadge Gardner. I know his late father, the Rev. Dr. Jimmy Gardner is proud of him, as well as his mother, Esther. Talmadge pays attention to every detail, and I like that. I wish I could have been there for this conference. Melvine and I have found a peaceful spirit in the Appalachian Conference whenever we go there. They are some of the finest people in the world. The ride up I-77 and I-81 is absolutely beautiful. The Shenandoah Valley is sheer beauty. I believe when God created Virginia He was showing off. I write that with great respect for our Creator. I really like Bishop Preston Mathena. He will be a great conference superintendent. He is a man with a passion for souls.]
Posted on
Thu, July 8, 2010
by Hugh Morgan