Dear Lay/Clergy member to Annual Conference,
As we draw nearer to the 2021 Annual Conference session, I want to provide you with a few important details.
The electronic clergy session is set for Tuesday, June 1 from 10 am - noon via Zoom webinar, and the one-day electronic Annual Conference session is set for Monday, June 7 beginning at 8:30 am via Zoom webinar. While we anticipate concluding our business by mid-afternoon, we ask that you please plan your day for a 5 pm adjournment. Thank you for your continued flexibility!
In addition to the business session, an online Retiree Recognition Service will take place Tuesday, June 1 at 7 pm to honor and recognize clergy retiring in 2021. An online Memorial Service to remember clergy and clergy spouses who have passed away in the past conference year is set for Thursday, June 3 at 7 pm.
Those approved for provisional membership or full connection at the clergy session will be commissioned or ordained in a local church setting on Sunday, June 6. The Service of Ordination with Commissioning will be live streamed so the entire conference may share online in this important worship experience.
These worship services and recognitions will be streamed so that you may participate online. All links will be available at www.sgaumc.org.
We invite all South Georgia United Methodists to join us in celebrating all that has been accomplished in the last year of ministry. Voting members of the Annual Conference will be sent credentials and a secure Zoom link in the week prior to the June 7 session. Guests who would like to watch the Annual Conference session may do so by visiting the conference website.
Below are additional details you will find helpful. More information can always be found on the conference website at www.sgaumc.org/annualconference.
I am excited about the plans that have been put in place by Bishop Bryan and our Annual Conference program committee. Please reach out to me if I may be of assistance as you prepare for the 2021 Annual Conference Session.
We truly are Alive Together at the Table!
Meredyth Earnest
Conference Secretary
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BOOK OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS | Available May 3 Business items for the 2021 Annual Conference session are contained in the Book of Recommendations and Reports (BOR). The purpose of the BOR is for delegates to have the necessary recommendations and reports to read and study prior to the conference session. The BOR will be made available on May 3. An email notification will be sent.
CONFIRMATION OF LAY MEMBER(S)
Pastors: please take the time now to check the Local Church Dashboard and ensure that the correct person(s) is listed as your delegate(s) and that your delegate(s) has a regularly-checked email address provided. Especially important in a virtual meeting format, email addresses allow us to deliver communication to delegates, along with the necessary individual voting credentials. If you need assistance with this process, please contact your District Office.
PARTICIPATING IN THE JUNE 7 ANNUAL CONFERENCE BUSINESS SESSION
The June 7 Business Session will be held via Zoom webinar. Clergy and lay members to the 2021 Annual Conference session will receive a secure meeting link to participate. This link will be sent via email on June 2, along with voting credentials. In order to participate, delegates must have an internet-connected device such as a desktop or laptop computer (with speakers), tablet, or smartphone. Delegates will access the session using a web browser (i.e. the platform used to get on the Internet, such as Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari, etc.). A webcam is not necessary. Only videos of conference leaders and presenters will be shown during the session. Members of the Annual Conference may speak, ask questions, or raise points of order verbally once recognized by the Bishop. If your device does not have microphone capability you can still communicate via a chat feature. Delegates must also open a separate tab in his or her internet browser window to be able to vote, or choose to utilize a second internet-connected device, such as a smartphone or tablet, as a voting device.
DELEGATE TRAINING
We strongly encourage all delegates to attend an online training session to learn how to participate in both the clergy session and the Annual Conference session. There will be two opportunities for training on how to participate in the electronic conference, how to be recognized, and how to use your personal voter identification number to cast your votes. These identical trainings, conducted by GNTV, will be held on May 27 at 7:00 pm and May 28 at 9:00 am.
2021 ANNUAL CONFERENCE SESSION TIMELINE
- May 1 - Lay members must have email address on record in the church dashboard
- May 26 - Clergy / BOM members receive Clergy Session voting credentials by email
- May 27 - Online meeting platform & voting training* - 7 pm
- May 28 - Online meeting platform & voting training* - 9 am
- June 1 - Clergy Session - 10 am
- June 1 - Retirement Recognition Service - 7 pm
- June 2 - Laity & clergy receive Annual Conference voting credentials by email
- June 3 - Memorial Service - 7 pm
- June 4 - Last day for any voting credential changes/additions
- June 6 - Service of Ordination with Commissioning - 5 pm
- June 7 - Annual Conference Session - 8:30 am
*Delegates are encouraged to attend one of these sessions. The two training sessions will be identical in format and content.
