Tuesday, April 30, 2024
General Conference Update: South Georgia Edition
General Conference delegates hit the ground running as the legislative assembly’s second week began on Monday. During the April 29 morning worship service at General Conference bishops consecrated 26 laypersons, including three central conference members, to a lifetime of service as deaconesses and home missioners. Among those consecrated as a deaconess was South Georgia's own Lauri Jo Upchurch. Soon after the morning's business session began, news spread of a mass shooting in Charlotte, just a few miles from where General Conference is taking place, and the plenary session paused as delegates prayed for victims and the community.
The United Methodist Church in Africa is getting two additional bishops, but not the five originally planned by the 2016 General Conference. Debate - especially over the number of bishops to add - took up much of the day both before and after lunch. Delegates voted 645-96 to add the two African bishops, increasing their number from 13 to 15. They also voted 692-43 to adjust the boundaries of the three central conferences on the continent; starting in 2025, there will be four.
Delegates heard a number of reports throughout the day, including United Women in Faith, Wespath, Africa University, the University Senate, Higher Education and Ministry, Abundant Health Initiative, and United Methodist Men.
The South Georgia Conference - delegates, volunteers, and observers - gathered for a dinner to wrap up the day on Monday.
Highlighting the Connection
Mrs. Allison Lindsey, lay delegate, and Dr. Jimmy Asbell, clergy delegate, share a few highlights of the Connection from Monday's meeting. Watch video
Lauri Jo Upchurch consecrated deaconess in The United Methodist Church
Lauri Jo Upchurch was consecrated as a deaconess in The United Methodist Church on Monday, April 29, 2024. Twenty-six laypersons, including three central conference members, were consecrated to a lifetime of service as deaconesses and home missioners during Monday morning’s worship service of the 2020 postponed General Conference in Charlotte, NC.
Deaconesses and home missioners are laypeople who are called by God to be in a lifetime relationship in The United Methodist Church for engagement with a full-time vocation in ministries of love, justice, and service. Together they form a covenant community that is rooted in Scripture, informed by history, driven by mission, ecumenical in scope, and global in outreach.
Upchurch serves as lay supply pastor of Bethel UMC and Surrency UMC in the South Central District. In addition, she is the President of Backstage Ministries, Inc. in Baxley, Ga. She is also active in the South Georgia Conference United Women in Faith and is a member of the Conference Worship Committee. Read more
United Women in Faith and United Methodist Men highlighted on Monday
Bishop James Swanson helps give a report on United Methodist Men during the 2024 United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.
Representatives of United Women in Faith captivated attendees with a presentation highlighting the organization’s substantial contributions to advocacy and education. Sally Vonner, United Women in Faith’s top executive, detailed the organization’s far-reaching impact: It supports nearly 90 community centers across the U.S. and gives millions to women’s projects around the world. It trains women leaders and transforms through education. It has a new online digital community, a new national membership model, new podcasts and webinars — even a new name.
Towards the end of the day, retired Bishop James Swanson and retired Bishop Gary Mueller unveiled a new logo for a new United Methodist Men. They shared how men's ministry in the UMC is moving beyond pancake breakfasts to getting out into the community through Scouting and other transformative ministries. The new logo can be seen on Bishop Swanson's shirt in the photo above.
Votes of Note
- (UM News) In the April 29 morning session, delegates approved a wide-ranging consent calendar containing more than 100 petitions related to the United Methodist Book of Resolutions. Some petitions included amendments, while others were to simply retain or readopt existing resolutions. Because of the four-year delay of General Conference, the entire Book of Resolutions needs to be readopted, and any resolution not acted upon at this General Conference will expire.
Some of the approved items include several regarding climate change, calls for faithful lending practices and electoral campaign finance reform, the rights of farm workers in the U.S., caring for Native people, opposition to racial profiling, and an endorsement of the observance of Children’s Sabbath.
- (UM News) General Conference approved a plan to add two more bishops in Africa, increasing the number from 13 to 15 and to adjust the boundaries of the Central Conferences on the continent so there will be four African Central Conferences rather than three. (Read more)
Schedule for Tuesday, April 30
Today's agenda includes:
8:00 - 9:30 A.M. - Worship
9:30 - 10:00 A.M. - Plenary Session
- Monitoring Report
- Administrative Committee Reports
- Consent Calendars
10:20 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. - Plenary Session
- Calendar Items & Conference Business
1:30 - 3:40 P.M. - Plenary Session
- Recognition of Retiring Bishops and Presentation of New Episcopal Leadership
- Calendar Items & Conference Business
4:00 - 6:30 P.M. - Plenary Session
- 80th Anniversary of UMCOR and Migrant Ministries
- Calendar Items & Conference Business
- Evening Devotion
What's happening at General Conference
Wrap-ups from United Methodist News
Conference Updates
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Spotted in Charlotte
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