News

Registration Opens for March 14 Gathering of Clergy

Register now to attend a day of soul-satisfying worship and re-affirmation of your call to ministry, Wednesday, March 14, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church in Alamo, California. This day of worship and renewal for all clergy and candidates – in all orders of ministry, active and retired, appointed and not-currently-appointed – features worship and music leaders Mark Miller and Marcia McFee and is sponsored by the California-Nevada Annual...

Briefing Previews General Conference Issues

This is look at issues explored at a recent Pre-General Conference News Briefing in Tampa, Florida. A separate story, which will be posted on umc.org, will focus on the proposal to restructure the Church. TAMPA, Fla. (UMNS)—Diverse issues presented at a recent three-day briefing signaled the workload ahead for the lawmaking body of The United Methodist Church, which meets this spring.   More than 300 delegates, communicators, and others who will be part of the 2012 General...

Marcia McFee 'Brings' General Conference to Lake Tahoe

Last chance to sign up for Elevation Retreat discount Marcia McFee's Elevation Worship Leaders' Retreat will take place at Lake Tahoe just a few days after she completes her work as worship leader for General Conference in Tampa, Florida.    "I will be ready to celebrate and tell stories of what will hopefully have been an amazing 28 (yes!) worship experiences there," McFee says. "Examples will abound from my time there as it relates to how we offer life-giving,...

UMs Asked to Pray for 50 Days for General Conference

By Cate Monaghan Director of Communications, CA-NV Annual Conference "If The United Methodist Church wants the will of God to be done, the people of The United Methodist Church need to be more persistent in their prayer." – the Rev. Tom Albin, Dean of the Upper Room, GBOD   General Conference 2012 will be bathed in prayer, according to the opening preacher at the Pre-General Conference News Briefing, hosted by United Methodist News Service (UMNS), taking place this...

Remember the Future: 30 Days of Preparation for General Conference

Join Bishop Robert Schnase for "Remember the Future: 30 Days of Preparation," a series of reflections as The United Methodist Church prepares for General Conference 2012. These daily meditations explore hope, purpose, leadership, and making and becoming disciples of Jesus Christ. Beginning March 26, a new essay by Bishop Schnase will be posted daily on the Ministry Matters website. Each essay will explore a key topic or scripture, and suggest ideas for deeper reading and...

Louisiana Delegation Endorses Bishops' Document Calling for UMC Renewal

The General and Jurisdictional Conference Delegation of the Louisiana Annual Conference recently endorsed a document from the Council of Bishops titled, "For the Sake of a New World, We See a New Church: A Call to Action." The document outlines suggested changes in The United Methodist Church, some of which will require General Conference legislation, while others will not. The Rev. Ellen Alston, head of the Louisiana delegation said, "While our members have many ideas...

Educational Project Aims to Bring Insight to UM Denomination's Future

DALLAS—Aiming to bring alternative visions for the future of The United Methodist Church, an informal collaboration of faith-based groups and individuals has introduced a new educational website called United Methodist Insight. Located at http://um-insight.net, United Methodist Insight gathers in one location information, perspectives, and resources regarding significant issues that will come before the 2012 United Methodist General Conference. The global legislative...

General Conference Rule Changes Proposed

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—The Rules Committee of the Commission on the General Conference has announced its recommendations for changes to the Plan of Organization and Rules of Order, which provides the governance structure for the 2012 General Conference. The changes will be presented to delegates for consideration at the opening session. "Our goal was to create a hospitable environment and an efficient structure for all delegates," said Judi Kenaston, committee chair. "Some of...

COMMENTARY: The Price of Repentance

By Anita Phillips* The 2012 General Conference will be a turning point for The United Methodist Church. I'm not referring to budget discussions or organizational changes, but to the planned "Act of Repentance to Indigenous Peoples" that will test the fragile relationship between the denomination and Native peoples.   As a Native American United Methodist, I view the Act of Repentance as a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it will be a time when delegates to the top...

Bishops Endorse Church Restructure Proposals

By Heather Hahn November 2, 2011 | LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. (UMNS) United Methodist bishops voted overwhelmingly Nov. 1 in favor of proposals to restructure the denomination and redistribute up to $60 million in church funds.   The vote specifically endorsed a letter, titled "For the Sake of a New World, We See a New Church: A Call to Action," detailing changes — some requiring action by General Conference, some not.   "We see a new church," the bishops'...

MFSA Director to Talk 'GC' in 'S.F.' on Oct. 22

Jill Warren, the new national executive director of the Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA), will be at Jones Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco on Saturday, Oct. 22, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., to discuss with California-Nevadans what is planned for another progressive "Common Witness" at the 2012 General Conference. MFSA, an organization that is independent from The United Methodist Church, for years has been credited with organizing the most effective tracking of...

Volunteer Marshals and Pages Needed for General Conference

Approximately 150 volunteer marshals and pages are needed at The United Methodist Church's 2012 General Conference in Tampa, Fla. April 24-May 4, 2012. Marshals serve in the visitor and reserved seating galleries, assist visitors and special guests and check credentials for proper authorization.   Pages assist delegates, secretarial staff, Bishops, members of the Judicial Council and official visitors as well as distribute approved materials and deliver printed information.   Mar...

Choirs May Audition on Line for Chance to Perform at General Conference

United Methodist choirs and ensembles are invited to apply to share in worship at General Conference in Tampa, Florida April 24-May 4, 2012. Please submit a letter of application to gc2012worship@gmail.com, including a brief bio and a link to a YouTube video of your group. The deadline for applications is July 31, 2011.   "As always, we look forward to having musicians and artists from across the connection involved in leading the people of God in worship at General...

Lay Delegate Candidate Profiles, Voting Eligibility for Clergy Delegates

Profiles of the Lay Delegate nominees for General and Jurisdictional Conferences have been posted on the ACS 2011 Lay Delegate Candidates page (click on "Annual Conference Session," the first item under "Quick Links" on the right side of the Home Page at cnumc.org, and select "ACS 2011 Lay Delegate Candidates"). Standing Rules provide that additional nominations may be made at the Opening Session of Annual Conference Session on Wednesday, June 15, if supported by...

Young People Presenters, Ministry Examples Sought for General Conference

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (GBOD) — Examples of the many voices and diverse ministries of United Methodist young people are being solicited by the Young People's Ministries division of the General Board of Discipleship (GBOD) to be featured in a presentation at the 2012 General Conference. Two young people also are being sought by Young People's Ministries (YPM) to host the video/pictures of ministries from around the world at the 2012 meeting, April 24-May 4 at the Tampa Convention Center....

Nomination Instructions for General and Jurisdictional Conference Delegates Have Been Sent

California-Nevada Annual Conference Secretary Kristin Sachen has prepared nomination instructions for 2012 General Conference and Jurisdictional Conference delegates, which were emailed on April 20 to all churches, clergy, and laity for whom an email address is on file. The instructions also have been posted on the 2011 Annual Conference Session page on the Conference website (scroll down to "Resources"). Delegates will be elected at this year's ACS.   Cal-Nevada has been...

Dates Set for Pre-General Conference News Briefing

TAMPA, Fla. (UMNS) – United Methodist Communications has set January 19-21, 2012, as the dates for the Pre-General Conference News Briefing. The briefing is held every four years before General Conference – the denomination's top lawmaking assembly – convenes. Communicators and leaders of delegations gather for a two-day orientation and information-sharing workshop on issues which will be discussed at General Conference.   The briefing will take place at the Tampa...

General Conference Petition Submissions Now Being Accepted

Petitions for consideration by the 2012 General Conference may be submitted to the Petitions Secretary through September 27, 2011.  According to church law, "Any organization, clergy member, or lay member of The United Methodist Church may petition the General Conference …"   Detailed instructions for submitting a petition are available on the General Conference website at gc2012.umc.org. Petitions must be typed and may be submitted via email to petitions@umpublishi...

Church Court Clarifies Voting Eligibility

By Linda Bloom* DALLAS (UMNS) When United Methodists, this spring, start electing clergy delegates to the denomination's top legislative meeting, several new groups will be eligible to vote for those representatives.   The new categories of electors for the 2012 General Conference were clarified by the denomination's Judicial Council in a specially-called session Feb. 12. The nine-member council serves as the church's "supreme court."   The new categories –...

Court to Hear Delegate Election Issue

A UMNS Report By Linda Bloom* The United Methodist Judicial Council has called a Feb. 12 meeting to consider a request related to how clergy delegates are elected to the denomination's top legislative gathering.   Annual Conferences (regional groups) will elect representatives to the next General Conference, scheduled for 2012 in Tampa, Florida, during meetings this spring and summer. The nine-member Judicial Council typically meets during the spring and fall.   The United...