LAKELAND — While struggling with issues currently before the Florida Conference, delegates to the Dare to Share Jesus 1999 Florida Annual Conference Event were also asked to consider issues facing the 2000 General Conference and choose the individuals they want to represent the Florida Conference at the global conference of the United Methodist Church.

During the election process, several delegates addressed the conference and asked attendees to elect a delegation that would reflect the Florida Conference’s blend of cultures, genders and ages. Two candidates voluntarily withdrew from the election and asked their supporters to vote for other candidates who would represent the diversity of the conference.

According to the Rev. James Harnish, chairman of the elections procedures committee, the Florida Conference delegation to the Jurisdictional and General conferences is made up of 41 men and 24 women. Among the 33 clergy delegates are two deacons.

Included in the delegation are 51 Anglos (77 percent), seven African-Americans (11 percent), seven Hispanics (11 percent) and one Asian-American (1 percent). By contrast, the population of the Florida Conference is 67 percent Anglo, 17 percent Hispanic, 14 percent African-American and 2 percent Asian or other, according to a 1998 demographic study of the conference done by the Percept Group.

Mary Alice Massey, the conference lay leader and member of Southside United Methodist Church in Jacksonville, was elected to lead the delegations to both conferences. The Rev. Richard Wills Jr., pastor of Christ Church United Methodist in Ft. Lauderdale, was asked by Massey to assist with that responsibility. Keith Ewing, administrative assistant to the bishop, will serve as the delegations’ secretary.

In addition to Wills and Ewing, the 11 other clergy delegates to the 2000 General Conference are: Teresa Hill, Jacksonville; James Harnish, Tampa; Philip Roughton, Ormond Beach; William Barnes, Orlando; James Jennings, Sarasota; Deborah McLeod, Ft. Lauderdale; Dan Johnson, Gainesville; Aldo Martin, Lakeland; David Brazelton, Tampa; Jorge Acevedo, Cape Coral; and Charles Courtoy, Lakeland.

In addition to Massey, 12 other lay delegates were elected to General Conference. They are: T. Terrell Sessums, Tampa; Katie McEntire, West Palm Beach; Lynette Fields, Orlando; Rodell Roberts, Jacksonville; Betty Sue Mason, Tampa; Ressie Mae Bass, Miami; Russ Tabbert, Hernando; Pasco Cade, Seville; Leland McKeown, Brooksville; Nelida Morales, Miami; Joyce Waldon Bright, Orlando; and Frank Furman Jr., Pompano Beach.

Delegates to General Conference will also attend the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference in 2000. Delegates elected to the Jurisdictional Conference will serve as alternates to the General Conference delegation and will be called as needed in the order in which they were elected.

The 13 clergy delegates to Jurisdictional Conference are: Geraldine McClellan, Gainesville; David Dodge, Lakeland; Riley Short, Lakeland; George Hunter III, Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Ky.; Joseph MacLaren Jr., Winter Park; David McEntire, West Palm Beach; Anne Burkholder, Melbourne; Lawrence Rankin, Lakeland; William Pickett, Orlando; John Green, Sarasota; Kendall Taylor, West Palm Beach; Migdalia Icaza-Willetts, Miami; and Pamela Ann Cahoon, West Palm Beach.

The 13 lay delegates to the Jurisdictional Conference are: Emily Ann Zimmerman, Jacksonville; Joseph Ha, Cooper City; Jody Parks Moxley, Titusville; James Yost, Tampa; Alex Shanks, Lakeland; Manuel Rodriguez, Orlando; Annie Woods, Cocoa; Bud Fowler, Oviedo; Dorothy Collins, Tierra Verde; Jimmy Garret Sr., Ocala; John Dowell, Tampa; Manuel Garcia, Rockledge; and Jack Inman, Winter Park.

Event attendees also elected seven reserve delegates each to serve as alternates to Jurisdictional Conference. The clergy reserve delegates are: Marta Burke, Coral Gables; Jose Bove, Lakeland; Walter Edwards, Leesburg; Michael Oliver, Vero Beach; Montfort Duncan Jr., DeLand; Clarke Campbell-Evans, Miami; and Matthew Hartsfield, Tampa.

The seven lay reserve delegates are: June Johns, Merritt Island; Barbara Stricklin, Lake Worth; Judith Pierre-Okerson, North Miami; Lois Yost, Tampa; Glenna Brayton, Orange Park; Opal Winebrenner, Opa Locka; and Owen Bliven, Hudson.

Among the issues lay nominees considered highly important were homosexuality, the inclusion of youth and minorities in the life of the church, the structure of the church in the new millennium, the Book of Discipline, and general church finances.