REPORT TO THE SEJ COMMITTEE ON COORDINATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY

AND SEJ COUNCIL ON FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

JULY 2013

Name of Agency or Ministry Southeastern United Methodist Agency for Rehabilitation, Inc. (SEMAR) Core Mission: Why do we exist? What outcomes are we seeking?

Since 1969, SEMAR has been committed to continuous ministry with persons with disabilities of all types as well as chronic and terminal illness. The Articles of Incorporation of SEMAR contain six purpose statements to which the Board of Trustees has attempted to be faithful:

1. To insure that the world values the gifts of persons with disabilities through community engagement, resource development, education, and training.

2. To develop, provide, operate, manage, or assist in developing protective, affordable and accessible housing that will enable persons with disabilities to maximize their human potential and to live in community as independently as possible.

3. To develop, provide, operate, manage, or assist in developing supportive services to maximize the potential of those with disabilities.

4. To encourage and assist all organizations that are exempt from the Americans with Disabilities Act to provide access to their facilities, churches, and institutions.

5. To develop, provide, operate, manage or assist in developing employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.

6. To defend the rights of and seek justice for persons with disabilities as provided by law.

A core mission of SEMAR has been to assist churches in creating accessible environments for persons with disabilities to worship, fellowship, and grow in their Christian faith. Creating an environment of acceptance within our United Methodist communities creates opportunities to share God’s grace to all people. SEMAR has attempted to embody the life of Jesus Christ by removing barriers so all people can worship and participate fully in the life of the church.

Fruitfulness: How do you measure the impact of your ministry?

SEMAR began as a ministry of Dr. Robert Pitzer (Bob) in Atlanta, Georgia, developing programs for children with disabilities within the local church. Bob soon realized the need for continuing care for persons of all ages. Thus began the work of SEMAR in assisting annual conferences in the development of

community living options and support services for persons with developmental disabilities. SEMAR celebrates its work with and continuing connections to the following ministries:

• The Baddour Memorial Center within the Mississippi Conference

• UMAR started by the Western North Carolina Conference

• Wesley Glen Ministries established by the South Georgia Conference

• Heart Havens, Inc. of the Virginia Conference

• United Methodist Residential Alternatives (UMRA) of the North Alabama Conference, now operating as Promise Homes

• Asbury Homes, Inc. in the North Carolina Conference

• Aldersgate Special Needs Ministry of the South Carolina Conference

• Aldersgate Homes, Inc. of the North Georgia Conference.

• Wesley Group Home Ministries developed by the Florida Conference

• SEMAR/Act One of the Tennessee Conference. In addition to these ministries specifically for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities, SEMAR continues to work in partnership with Givens Estates (Western North Carolina Conference) on The Senior Residences at Lake Junaluska. SEMAR did not create these homes and apartments serving thousands of individuals and families across the jurisdiction, but assisted in developing the vision and leadership to make it all possible. Over the years, SEMAR has continued to support these Conference agencies as community needs and governing regulations have changed. Yet, the charge of SEMAR has been far greater than building homes. The overarching goal has been to build awareness of the need for the Church to include all people without regard to their ability levels. Over the years, SEMAR has:

• Been a resource for Disability Awareness Sunday material shared across the country,

• Worked with local churches to provide Accessibility Audits and assist with design and funding to make their churches accessible for all,

• Provided educational and training resources on general accessibility and disability awareness, and

• Served as an at-large member of the United Methodist Task Force on Disabilities, now the UM Committee on Disability Ministries.

Plans and Goals for 2013-2016: What is your ministry plan?

The SEMAR Board has struggled for many years to overcome difficult challenges which began in the mid-2000s. The faithful few who remain on the Board of Trustees, several of whom have served for 14 or more years, feel we have done our due diligence to work through many trials. While we have

attempted with God’s help to discern a new vision for SEMAR, identify funding streams, and recruit additional members of the Board of Trustees, we sadly have come to the conclusion that it is time to allow disability ministries in the Southeastern Jurisdiction and across the General Church to emerge in new forms. With that said, the Board of Trustees met in Atlanta at the end of November, 2012, at which time we seriously began a conversation about dissolution of the corporation. We spent time together celebrating the many years of SEMAR’s fruitful work: Sunday School classes and other services for children and adults with intellectual disabilities in local churches, Disability Awareness Sunday materials, accessibility audits and assistance to local churches that helped make them more accessible, recognition of individuals and churches advancing disability ministries, and establishment of residential ministries in many conferences of the jurisdiction. Yet the challenges of the past few years still greatly influence SEMAR’s current situation. We see great potential, however, in the fact that more Annual Conferences have active disability committees and that the UM Committee on Disability Ministries is stronger than ever with growing support across the church. There is also a more active caucus for clergy with disabilities on the national church level. The recommendation to dissolve was formally submitted for consideration to members of the SEMAR Board of Trustees on January 15, 2013, as per the corporation’s By-Laws. Formal action was taken on February 6, 2013. With deep regret, there was a unanimous vote to dissolve SEMAR and adopt a plan of dissolution. The Board of Trustees will continue to function for one year to carry out operations and activities related to the transfer of assets, the termination and winding-up of affairs of the corporation in an orderly manner. Financial Plan: How are you financially sustaining this ministry?

The SEMAR Board of Trustees has reviewed financial data for the last quadrennium. This data has been maintained and all reporting generated by Joint Management and Development, SEMAR’s contracted management firm. A copy of the data has been forwarded with this report. SEMAR’s inability to carry forward sustained initiatives to fund its ministry is one of the main reasons for the decision to dissolve.

Governance: Who are the stewards of this ministry?

After due deliberation, the Board of Trustees of The Southeastern United Methodist Agency for Rehabilitation, Incorporated (SEMAR), a North Carolina non-profit corporation, determined that dissolution of the corporation would be in the best interests of the corporation. At the time of this action, the names and addresses of the Trustees of the corporation were:

Mrs. Martha E. Stokes, Chair Virginia Conference (Adult Lay – Female - Anglo) Rev. Eric Pridmore, Vice Chair

Mississippi Conference (Adult Clergy – Male – Anglo – Person with Disability) Rev. R. Stan Beck, Secretary/Treasurer

Kentucky Conference (Older Adult Clergy – Male - Anglo) Rev. James Cason, Jr. South Georgia Conference (Adult Clergy – Male - Anglo) Rev. Roger Hopson Memphis Conference (Adult Clergy – Male - African American) Mrs. June Johns Florida Conference (Older Adult Lay – Female - Anglo) Management Consultant: Mr. J. Michael Dyson Joint Management and Development

The plan of dissolution filed with and accepted by the North Carolina Secretary of State’s Office follows this report. The Board of Trustees is working with the legal firm of Ellinger & Carr, PLLC, in Raleigh, NC, on the transfer of sponsorship of properties owned by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). We continue to be in close communication with Givens Estates (Western North Carolina Conference) and Asbury Homes, Inc. (North Carolina Conference) as we work through this plan for dissolution.

Requests

The SEMAR Board of Trustees expresses our appreciation to all those who have offered support and guidance to our Board, especially since 2005. The jurisdiction has done so very much to ensure that the ministries of SEMAR have continued, and for this, we are most grateful. As a board, we take comfort in knowing that the general purpose of the ministry of SEMAR will continue in new ways, building upon the tremendous legacy of Rev. Bob Pitzer. We ask that you continue to lift the mission and ministry of full participation for all persons with disabilities in the life of our local churches in your prayers as well as the SEMAR Board as we finalize our work and celebrate the many years of fruitful ministry that has impacted thousands of individuals and local churches across the jurisdiction.

Plan of Dissolution and Distribution of Assets of the

The Southeastern United Methodist Agency for Rehabilitation, Incorporated (SEMAR) The Board of Trustees of The Southeastern United Methodist Agency for Rehabilitation, Incorporated (SEMAR), at a special meeting duly convened on the 6th day of February, 2013, pursuant to notice given in accordance with the applicable law, a quorum of the board being present at all times, having considered the advisability of voluntarily dissolving the corporation, and it being the unanimous opinion of the Board that dissolution is advisable and in the best interests of the corporation, and the Board having adopted, by unanimous vote, a plan for a voluntary dissolution of the corporation, does hereby recommend that the corporation be dissolved in accordance with the following plan. 1. Upon resolution of the Board of Trustees adopting this plan of dissolution, the board shall

submit the plan and Articles of Dissolution to: a. The Department of the Secretary of State of the State of North Carolina pursuant to §55-

14-02, §55-14-03, and §55-14-04 of the General Statutes of North Carolina for nonprofit corporations.

b. The Committee on Coordination and Accountability of the Southeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church based upon SEMAR’s covenantal relationship with the jurisdiction.

2. No approval of the dissolution of the corporation is required by any government agency or officer. In addition, there are no members of the corporation.

3. Liabilities and obligations of the corporation will be paid and/or discharged from remaining funds on hand until the funds are depleted. This includes any accounting and legal fees, incurred related to the dissolution procedure.

4. The following assets held by the corporation will be transferred as outlined below. This

transfer is required by reason of the dissolution. These transfers will be carried out in accordance with the article of dissolution in the SEMAR Articles of Incorporation (dated October, 10, 2002). The corporation is currently the sponsor under U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) operations guidelines of three projects: Section 811 projects in Jackson, TN (SEMAR-Act One) and Pembroke, NC (Goremont, Inc.) and a Section 202 project in Waynesville, NC (The Senior Residences at Lake Junaluska, LP). SEMAR will request transfer of the sponsorship of each project to the agencies noted below in order that HUD requirements can be met in a seamless manner. a. HUD sponsorship of SEMAR-Act One and resulting actions of SEMAR as required

under the Articles of Incorporation of SEMAR-Act One will be transferred to the current Board of Trustees of SEMAR-Act One (a corporation in the State of Tennessee).

b. HUD sponsorship of Goremont, Inc. and actions of SEMAR as required under the Articles of Incorporation of Goremont, Inc. will be transferred to the current Board of Directors of Asbury Homes, Inc., a registered corporation in the State of North Carolina and agency of the North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church. The SEMAR Board of Trustees under its authority in Section 7 of the Articles of Amendment

for Goremont, Inc. (dated September 22, 2003) will name a transition board of three members to direct the work of Goremont, Inc. until the transfer of sponsorship is complete. The ultimate goal will be that the Asbury Homes Board of Directors serve as the Board for Goremont, Inc. and become the HUD sponsoring organization.

c. HUD sponsorship of The Senior Residences at Lake Junaluska, L.P. and actions of SEMAR as required under the Articles of Incorporation of The Senior Residences at Lake Junaluska, L.P will be transferred to Givens Housing Corporation (Givens Estates), a registered corporation in the State of North Carolina and agency of the Western North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church and corporation in the

4. The SEMAR Board of Trustees will work with the United Methodist Committee on

Disability Ministries to transition components of its prior work to the Committee, including continuation of the Pitzer Award which recognizes outstanding leadership, dedication and commitment to persons with disabilities across the southeastern United States.

5. This plan of dissolution will be carried out within one year from the date of the resolution to

dissolve. From and after the effective date, the corporation shall not engage in any business activity, except for operations and activities related the transfer of its assets, the termination and winding-up of its affairs in an orderly manner, and its withdrawal from the states or other jurisdictions, if any, in which it is qualified to transact business, all in accordance with this Plan and applicable law.

6. The officers of the corporation, or any of them, shall do all acts and things provided for in

this Plan and any and all other acts and things that they, or any of them, may deem necessary or advisable to effectuate the liquidation and dissolution of the corporation and to carry out fully this Plan in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina.

Certification I, R. Stan Beck, Secretary of the Board of Trustees of The Southeastern United Methodist Agency for Rehabilitation, Incorporated (SEMAR) hereby certify under penalties of perjury that a special meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Corporation was duly held by teleconference on Wednesday, February 6, 2013, at 2:00 PM EST and the within Plan of Dissolution was duly submitted and passed by a unanimous vote of the Trustees.