Day Six: May 16, 2016
Ester Participates in Deaconess & Home Missioner Consecration
As part of the opening worship service at General Conference on Monday, May 16, 2016, United Methodist Deaconesses and Home Missioners were consecrated into ministry. Clara Ester, a retired deaconess in the Alabama-West Florida Conference, participated in this joyful moment by offering opening words and assisting in consecrating these servants. Click here for more. Photo by Luke Lucas, AWF.
Furr Elected as SEJ Representative for Commission of the General Conference
Dr. Steve Furr, AWF lay leader and delegate head, was elected as the Southeastern Jurisdictional Representative for the Commission on General Conference today, May 16, 2016. Furr joins twenty-four delegates from other jurisdictions and central conferences who were also elected. He was nominated by the SEJ College of Bishops. These delegates serve for an eight-year term. According to the Book of Discipline, The Commission of the General Conference "shall select the site and set the dates of the General Conference up to four quadrennial in advance and shall send an official notice to all elected delegates announcing specifically the opening day and hour of the General Conference and anticipated time of adjournment." Click here for more.
Day Six General Conference Celebrations
(UMNS) - As Africa University approaches its 25th anniversary, delegates to the 2016 General Conference took a few moments Monday afternoon to celebrate the Zimbabwean school. “You and The UMC have answered a call to witness through this transforming ministry,” Munashe Furusa, vice chancellor of Africa University, told delegates.
United Methodist Women called attention to the plight of poor and marginalized communities struggling with water contamination during a lunchtime rally May 16 at the Oregon Convention Center plaza. The event was part of the UMW Day celebration during General Conference, commemorating UMW’s upcoming 150th anniversary.
The May 16 session also contained celebrations for The United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry, the church’s Four Areas of Focus and the 250th anniversary of John Street Church in New York City. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.
Clergy-related Petitions Pass GC2016
(UMNS) - A few petitions affecting United Methodist clergy either were approved by General Conference 2016 or are highly likely to be, having made it onto the consent calendar. But a renewed effort that would have begun the process to remove the constitutional bar to end guaranteed appointment for ordained elders failed in committee, as did an “early ordination” petition. More here.
Five Elected to Judicial Council
(UMNS) - United Methodists from Norway and Mozambique are among the new members of the denomination’s Judicial Council. Delegates to General Conference 2016 filled open positions for two clergy and three lay members on the nine-member council during elections on May 16. More here.
COSROW Worship Service Provides Uplifting Opportunity on Pentecost
The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women held a 10am worship service on the day of rest and Pentecost, Sunday, May 15, 2016. Bishop Joaquin Nhanala welcomed those in attendance and also gave one of two reflections, along with Bishop Debbie Wallace-Padgett of the North Alabama Conference. Rev. Jackie Slaughter, pastor at Metropolitan UMC in the Montgomery-Prattville District and AWF Jurisdictional Delegate, played drums for the Holy Communion and the Song of Sending. Dawn Hare, General Secretary of COSROW, said, "Bishops Debbie Wallace-Padgett and Joaquina Nhanala led a Holy Spirit filled worship service for the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women as we celebrated Pentecost and sought to find the quiet center listen to God."
AWF Portland Dinner Hosts Delegates and Friends
Alabama-West Florida Delegates and friends gathered for a time of dinner and fellowship. The dinner, planned by Dr. Lawson Bryan, was held on Monday evening, May 16, 2016, at Stanford's Restaurant in Portland, OR. In addition to the delegation, several clergy members in the AWF Conference made the trip to see the action of general conference. Rev. Jack Allen, associate minister at Montgomery FUMC, has been in town to witness this quadrennial meeting. "One of the great joys of experiencing General Conference with my fellow Candler students has been the ability to hear how decisions being made affect other conferences in The United Methodist Church beyond Alabama West-Florida. It has certainly pushed me to think beyond my own local setting and think about the global church." Dr. Bryan gave special thanks to the fifty churches in the conference who generously sponsored the meal.
AWF Delegate Prayer & Profile
"Dear God;
Thank you for Mondays and for this new week that we are beginning. Thank you for the opportunity to share the grace that you have shown to us with others. Thank you for my sisters and brothers of the AWF conference. Please be with us as we seek to chart a course that is faithful to you.
God speed."
-Dawn Wiggins Hare
Dawn is an AWF lay delegate from Monroeville FUMC in the Baypines District. She serves as the General Secretary of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women. She has served on three general conference delegations and four jurisdictional conference delegations.
AWF Photo Galleries from General Conference
Luke Lucas, AWF Communications Specialist, is covering general conference through photography. He is capturing our delegation and friends at work. Click here to see galleries.
Tomorrow's Highlights
Streaming Schedule (Reminder: All times are Pacific Standard, UTC-7)
- 8:00 AM: Worship (10:00AM CDT)
- 9:00 AM: Reports (11:00AM CDT)
- 10:20 AM: Calendar Items & Conference Business (12:20PM CDT)
- 2:00 PM: Calendar Items & Conference Business (4:00PM CDT)
- 4:20 PM: Calendar Items & Conference Business (6:20PM CDT)
- 6:03 PM: "Missing in Action" - United Methodist Men (8:03PM CDT)
- 6:10 PM: Closing Devotion (8:10PM CDT)
General Conference 2016: Live Stream Archives
On-demand and downloadable versions of the daily General Conference plenary sessions, worship, and addresses are now available. View here.
Stay Connected
Live stream: Follow the action with live streaming video. Don’t miss a minute of the big event.
Social Media: The GC Twitter account will show a real-time conversation. Follow @UMCGC to get the 4-1-1 and join the global conversation using the hashtag #UMCGC. For AWF tweets, use #AWFGC. Follow General Conference on Facebook to stay well informed.
Digital Lounge: Stay clued in by visiting the digital lounge to watch interviews with notables and newsmakers, as well as folks who are out of the spotlight but critical to the event’s success.
Mobile App: The General Conference mobile app has everything you need in the palm of your hand.
United Methodist News Service: United Methodist News Service will be posting breaking news stories all day, every day, as well as in-depth coverage and analysis. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter or, subscribe to the UMNS daily digest and get the news in your inbox; then click to learn more.
GC Website: Find everything in one place at the General Conference website for an easy, user-friendly experience.
Miss One?
If you were unable to catch the action of General Conference, click on the daily archive below for Alabama-West Florida Conference daily updates.
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Thursday, May 12, 2016
Friday, May 13, 2016
Saturday, May 14, 2016
