News

5/4/2024

There's a bright hope for the future of The United Methodist Church. That’s the message shared by the United Methodist Council of Bishops' new president, Bishop Tracy S. Malone (pictured), and immediate past president, Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton. Against a backdrop of the “Cross and Flame,” the two bishops shared their thoughts about what comes next following the close of the postponed 2020/2024 General Conference in a video titled "Bright Hope for Tomorrow.” Each expressed optimism and talked ...

5/4/2024

United Methodists’ understanding of General Conference can range from unaware to deep appreciation, from captivated to concerned. Help your congregation better know what General Conference is, its purpose, and its impact with the help of the tips and resources provided by the North Georgia Conference and United Methodist Communications.  "General Conference is about more than legislation, it's about building community with the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of...

5/3/2024

The Financial Administration legislative committee considers actions to be taken by the plenary. Photo by Paul Jeffrey/UM News. The General Conference overwhelmingly passed a budget May 3 that is more than 40% lower than the 2016-2020 budget. Debated in committee and twice on the floor of General Conference, by the time the final vote was cast on May 3, many were calling the work a strong example of holy conferencing. The final budget builds in two scenarios based on the financial health of ...

5/2/2024

Adapted from an article by Heather Hahn of UM News With the vote on May 2, delegates have adopted the entire slate of revised Social Principles submitted by the United Methodist Board of Church and Society. The Social Principles represent the denomination’s public stands on issues of the day and are not church law. The Social Principles are for the whole church and will not be subject to change by regional conferences. After more than an hour and a half of conversation on the floor of the ...

5/2/2024

Michelle is pictured with two of her Tuckston UMC church family who traveled to Charlotte for her commissioning This morning Michelle Joyce Kunce from the North Georgia Conference was commissioned by the General Board of Global Ministries as a missionary of The United Methodist Church! Michelle grew up United Methodist and joined Tuckston UMC in Athens as a college student. She soon took part in a mission trip with the church to Brazil to work with the "Shade and Fresh Water" program of the ...

5/1/2024

Delegates hug after the 2024 United Methodist General Conference voted to remove The United Methodist Church’s prohibtion on the ordination of clergy who are “self-avowed practicing homosexuals." Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News. Adapted from a story by Heather Hahn, UMNews This morning, via consent calendar, General Conference voted to remove the language from the Book of Discipline that prohibited the ordination of clergy who are “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” — a prohibition that was ...

5/1/2024

As a Bishop, it is hard not to be moved by the spiritual and emotional implications of what is happening at this historic General Conference. As you look at the voting, and the decisions being made, these delegates from all over the world are harbingers of a new expression of United Methodism. They desire to be a connectional church. They want to move forward. They want to be the Church. So many of us have tried to give voice to the pain of friends, family, and acquaintances who have been ...

4/30/2024

PHOTO ALBUM By Sybil Davidson Today and tomorrow, North Georgia United Methodists and UMCOR are introducing their Disaster Response Solar Trailer to delegates, visitors of the General Conference, members of the media, and passersby. Technical experts from the trailer team, Chris Hansen and Tom Staigle, along with Rev. Scott Parrish, Conference Disaster Response Coordinator and Mission Specialist, are on hand greeting conference-goers in front of the Charlotte Convention Center. They're joined...

4/29/2024

North Georgia United Methodists may have glimpsed Bishop Robin Dease on the General Conference live stream, in a photo from worship, or in our delegation's group shot. Having attended General Conference as a delegate since 2012, she is experiencing General Conference 2024 in a new way.  "This has been a wonderful General Conference, a real Holy Spirit moment in the life of our church," said Bishop Dease. "There has been a spirit of collegiality and compassion." While the General Conference is...

4/29/2024

Deaconess Esther Lloyd Stevenson (center) was consecrated during morning worship. Photo: Tonya Murphy   During April 29 morning worship at General Conference, bishops consecrated 26 laypersons as deaconesses and home missioners.  Among those was Esther Lloyd Stevenson of the North Georgia Conference. She is a member of Rivertown UMC in the Central North District. Deaconesses and home missioners are approved by United Women in Faith and have a continuing relationship to The United Methodist ...

4/29/2024

Bishop Connie Shelton of the North Carolina Conference leads a prayer for victims of a shooting in east Charlotte on Monday, April 29.The General Conference paused its legislative proceedings to pray. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News As United Methodists gathered in Charlotte, a tragic shooting took place in another part of the city. News reports share that three members of a U.S. Marshals task force were killed, and five other officers were wounded, one critically. A suspect also was killed. The...

4/29/2024

North Georgia United Methodists and UMCOR have the privilege of introducing the Disaster Response Solar Trailer to delegates and visitors to the General Conference. The trailer is en route to Charlotte today and will be on display April 30 and May 1 in the Layby area by the main entrance of the Convention Center. Visitors to the trailer can learn about the practical applications of solar energy in disaster response scenarios. Device charging stations and complimentary coffee, brewed using solar...

4/25/2024

Bishop Tracy Smith Malone reads the results of a delegate vote in favor of a Worldwide Regionalization plan as she presides over the United Methodist General Conference on April 25. The body voted 586 to 164 for an amendment to the denomination’s constitution that will now go before annual conference voters for potential ratification. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News. Today the General Conference passed legislation that aims to give The United Methodist Church’s different geographic regions equal...

4/24/2024

A class of 20 Candler students led by retired Associate Dean of Methodist Studies Anne Burkholder and Professor in the Practice of Practical Theology and Methodist Studies Tom Elliott is gathered at General Conference for two weeks. Not only are the students observing the decision-making process, they are also researching and tracking legislation and meeting with legislative committees, delegates, and petition sponsors. This is the first Candler class to get this opportunity in eight years.  ...

4/24/2024

PHOTO GALLERY On Wednesday, the 14 General Conference legislative committees convened. Much of this week’s work is centered around these committees as they review the more than 1,000 petitions before them. The first order of business was for each legislative committee to elect a chair, vice-chair, and secretary. Then, if the legislative committee votes to have subcommittees, chairs would be elected for those. UMC.org explains the legislative committees this way: Petitions are numbered and ...

4/24/2024

Rev. Dr. Beth Sanders, superintendent of the North West District, has been nominated as a candidate for election to the Judicial Council of The United Methodist Church. The members of the Judicial Council are elected by the General Conference.  The election is scheduled for Monday morning, April 29.  Members of the Judicial Council often have a legal background like Sanders, who practiced law in Atlanta for seven years before answering a call to ministry.  The Judicial Council is the highest ...

4/23/2024

Bishop Robin Dease has named Murphy-Harpst as the 2024 North Georgia Annual Conference Special Offering.  Churches are invited to collect the offering any time before Annual Conference. One person from each local church will have an opportunity to present a check from their church during the Service of Remembrance on Thursday, June 13, or checks may be submitted to the Conference Treasurer's Office.  Over the last 100 years Murphy-Harpst Children's Centers has provided hope and healing to ...

4/23/2024

Rev. Jasmine Smothers on the floor of General Conference (Photo: Rev. Orlando Evans)  Rev. Jasmine Smothers, clergy delegate from the North Georgia Conference, has been elected chair of the Committee on Presiding Officers. This key administrative committee of the General Conference is composed of 12 members, one from each central conference and jurisdiction. The committee is responsible for selecting and notifying the presiding offers of each plenary session throughout General Conference. ...

4/22/2024

Young adults (and any interested adults over 18) who are interested in experiencing General Conference in person are invited to join the Road Trip to Charlotte! The North Georgia Conference Center for Congregational Excellence has secured camp cabins at Camp Thunderbird, part of the Greater Charlotte YMCA, for the second week of General Conference.  Register today! This trip will be from Monday, April 29, to Friday, May 3. The $260 registration fee includes 4 nights lodging, continental ...

4/20/2024

As the General Conference of The United Methodist Church begins in Charlotte, North Carolina, several North Georgia United Methodists have already been volunteering their time to make the global gathering a success.  In addition to our delegation of 10 lay and 11 clergy members (see the Delegation here), others from North Georgia are serving as marshals, pages, IT support, recorders, worship participants, and more. Many from our Conference will also attend to observe and participate in The ...