1. President, Midwest Conference
Melvin L. Jenkins, Esq.
President, Midwest Conference

2. Introduction
To: Bishop Clement W. Fugh, Presiding Prelate of the Fifth Episcopal District; Mrs. Alexia B. Fugh, Episcopal Supervisor; Dr. Willie Glover, Connectional Lay President; Connectional Officers; Mr. Simeon Rhoden, President, Fifth Episcopal District Lay Organization; Fifth District Lay Officers; Presiding Elders; Pastors; Clergy; Delegates; Visitors and Friends
Team Midwest began the conference year with our" Annual Unity Worship Service" for the Kansas City area at Ebenezer AME in October We then held a similar service for the Wichita Cluster at St. Paul AME, Wichita, Kansas in November. My hat goes off to the local Presidents (Sister Gwendolyn Boyd, Ebenezer AME, Kansas City and Sister Barbara Cooper, St. Paul, Wichita) for a job well done in coordinating with the host pastors, Rev. Brenda Hayes, Ebenezer AME, Rev. LeSean Tarkington, Grant Chapel, and Rev. Godfrey Patterson, St. Paul AME. The events were well attended by laity and Pastors in the surrounding areas.
We began the new year with our "Commitment Service" at Willis Chapel AME, January 22, We are thankful to Rev. Roger D. Jackson, Presiding Elder of the Midwest South District for a being our speaker and the Rev. Clifton St. James, Pastor and the members of Willis Chapel for their gracious hospitality.
Team Midwest attended the Bishop's Mid-Year Planning Meeting in Denver, Colorado, March 14-16,2017. Thanks to all who supported 'The Evening of Elegance", a program that supports the 5th District Scholarship Fund. For the first time, the Midwest Conference Lay Organization sold 26 (twenty -six) of the 30 tickets given to us. A special thanks to our Pastors of the Midwest Conference for your support.
MWCLO attended the Midwest Omaha District Planning Meeting, April 6-8, I am happy to report that at that meeting we formed a Midwest- Omaha District lay Organization. Dr. Marilyn Farr-Johnson was elected to serve as Chair of the Organizing Committee. This newly formed organization is committed to hold one major function prior to the meeting of the Annual Conference. let us give them our love and support as they move forward.
On that note, MWCLO has been invited to Quinn Chapel AMEC in Independence, Kansas to organize a functioning lay organization. Team Midwest will take a caravan of lay and others to Quinn to organize and fellowship in the great city of Independence.
Team Midwest will continue to work with the Presiding Elders and ministers in those areas without organized lay organizations to organize such organizations. The lay Executive Board has expressed the need to move beyond the metro Kansas City area to make the presence of Team Midwest felt in all of Kansas, Nebraska, and the portion of Missouri that we serve. That is the way we roll.

3. Lay Projects/Accomplishments Recommendations for Conference/District
Statistical Report
Lay Projects/Accomplishments
1. Number of Local Lay Organizations in the Conference: 44
2. Number of Churches in Conference: 54
3. Total number of members in Lay Organization: 250
4. This is an Increase/Decrease Over Last Year: XX
Number of Persons to This Convention: 10
Number of Persons Deceased This Year: 10
Number of Churches Visited Last Year: 15
See introduction page.
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Recommendations for Conference/District
To consider holding conference conventions every two years.
To consider more joint training with Pastors and Lay.
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Budget
District Budget Paid Prior to Convention: $2,200.00
District Budget Paid On-Site at Convention: $ 3

4. Questions