April 24, 2024

AWF in the News

General Secretary Leads Central Conference Delegate Training

Dawn Wiggins Hare, General Secretary of the Commission on the Status and Role of Women (COSROW), wears many hats in the denomination and will certainly be among the busiest in the next two weeks. Hare was tasked with chairing the Central Conference Delegate Training on Sunday, April 21 in Charlotte, NC. This three-day, pre-conference orientation was an effort by the general secretaries, the Commission on General Conference and the Council of Bishops to help bring equity to delegates from across the Central Conferences. This event was organized to feature subjects requested by the delegates. “Our goal was to be factual, honest, and unbiased in our presentations,” stated Hare. She continued, “Knowledge is power and our goal was to empower each delegate to have factual information to be able to vote their conscience.” Hare presented in several sessions. One specifically focused on presenting to Central Conference female delegates about safety, boundaries, and finding their voices. More here. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Delegates and Volunteers Begin Work at Conference

Delegates and volunteers began their work on the first day of General Conference. The day started with delegate training and continued with Opening Worship. The first plenary session was held in the afternoon to organize the business of the conference and to hear reports from the Commission on General Conference and Committee on Agenda and Calendar. "This first day was mostly procedural and about becoming oriented to the pattern, rules, and technology of General Conference," Stated Dr. Geoffrey Lentz, delegate. He continued, "The highlight of the day was the powerful opening worship service, where Bishop Bickerton asked the delegates to commit to the United Methodist Church and to recommit our lives to Christ." Click here to see comprehensive list of AWF volunteers at General Conference. Photos by Joscie Cutchens and friends of the conference.

Ester Presents to Women Delegates Prior to GC Opening

Clara Ester addresses a briefing for women delegates to the 2024 United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. The briefing was hosted by United Women in Faith and the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women. Ester stated, "We had a four-women panel (Asian American, African American, Hispanic and Native American) to share their struggles and pains due to being people of color. We had a Q and A, small-circle discussions and recognized and shared the stories that United Women in Faith Conferences received from the Charter for Racial Justice funds. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Connectional News

Bishop urges ‘spirit of hope’ as General Conference begins

(UMNS) - Council of Bishops President Thomas J. Bickerton opened the postponed 2020 United Methodist General Conference on April 23 with a bold question: “Do you want to be in this room?” He was speaking to delegates from Africa, Europe, Asia and the U.S. who are gathering to consider major proposals that could dramatically change the denomination. “Are you willing to move forward in a spirit of hope and embrace a season of reformation, commit to the revitalization of The United Methodist Church and work for a culture marked by compassion, courage and companionship?” Bickerton asked. More here.

Regionalization moves on to full General Conference

(UMNS) - Legislation to put the different geographical regions of The United Methodist Church on equal footing has crossed a significant threshold. Meeting just ahead of General Conference, the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters advanced five petitions representing the bulk of proposed worldwide regionalization. That means the petitions have cleared the first hurdle faced by all legislation at General Conference — making it out of committee. More here.

Church court's elections up to General Conference

(UMNS) - The United Methodist Church’s top court said only General Conference can determine how to handle the elections of the court’s membership. In a separate decision, the Judicial Council also ruled that agency board members elected at the 2016 General Conference can be elected to serve another four-year term beginning at the close of this General Conference. The rulings were among five the Judicial Council released April 23, the first day of General Conference — the denomination’s top lawmaking assembly that draws lay and clergy delegates from four continents. More here.

Praying for our Delegation and Bishop

As a way to help the delegation, the conference has asked clergy and laity from around the conference to sign up for a date to pray for our delegation and bishop. Thank you for filling up the calendar; additional slots have been added. Click here to sign up.

Resources

Guide to General Conference
An important resource for delegates, church members, and journalists, this guide contains information about the conference schedule, the legislative process, and background. View guide here.

Agenda
This agenda outlines the daily schedule of the 2024 General Conference in Charlotte, NC. View agenda here. View abbreviated agenda here.

Advance Edition of the Daily Christian Advocate
The ADCA contains all legislation submitted for consideration by the delegates at the upcoming General Conference. View ADCA here.

Agenda Highlights

The General Conference meets for 10 days. The agenda runs from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm or later with the exception of Sabbath on Sunday, April 28. The days include legislative committee meetings, reports, addresses, plenary sessions, celebrations, and worship. (Find the proposed agenda here.).

Agenda highlights include, times below are Eastern.:

Episcopal Address - Wednesday, April 24, 8:30 am (delivered by Bishop Jonathon Holston)
Young People's Address - Wednesday, April 24 10:55 am
Laity Address - Thursday, April 25, 8:45 am
Elections to Commission on General Conference, General Agencies, Judicial Council - Monday, April 29
Celebration of 80th Anniversary of UMCOR - Tuesday, April 30
Closing Worship - Friday, May 3, 6 pm

Today's Schedule

*8:00 - 8:30 A.M. - Worship

*8:30 - 10:35 A.M. - Plenary Session
Episcopal Address
Monitoring Report
Report on Social Principles Revision
Nominations

*10:55 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. - Plenary Session
Young People's Address
General Book of Discipline Report and Dialogue
Financial State of the Church
Jurisdictional Study Committee

2:00 - 4:30 P.M. - Organization of the Legislative Committees

*event is live streamed; all times are Eastern