North Georgia Conference Board of Laity
Election of Lay Delegates to Jurisdictional Conference
Elections for lay delegates to the Jurisdictional Conference are needed at this time as the North Georgia Conference does not have a full delegation to the 2024 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference in July. A significant number of lay persons on both the General and Jurisdictional Conference delegations left the church in 2023 and were no longer eligible to serve. Barring prohibition by the General Conference, it is the intention of the North Georgia Conference Board of Laity to fill the vacant slots in the Jurisdictional Conference roster to ensure adequate representation for the laity of North Georgia in the Jurisdictional proceedings.
Delegates to represent the North Georgia Conference at the 2024 Jurisdictional Conference will be elected by the lay members of 2024 North Georgia Annual Conference session. Persons interested in offering themselves as candidates for election must meet the qualifications as outlined in the Book of Discipline:
“The lay delegates to the General and Jurisdictional or central conferences shall be elected by the lay members of the annual conference or provisional annual conference without regard to age, provided such delegates shall have been professing members of The United Methodist Church for at least two years next preceding their election, and shall have been active participants in The United Methodist Church for at least four years next preceding their election, and are members thereof within the annual conference electing them at the time of holding the General and Jurisdictional or Central Conferences.”
- Paragraph 36, Article V, 2016 Book of Discipline
This election, if permitted by General Conference, will be for the purpose of filling vacancies only. Previously elected members of the General and Jurisdictional Conference delegation who remain eligible will continue to serve.
It is the Board of Laity’s desire to offer this candidacy opportunity to all eligible lay members and to inform interested persons of the qualifications, expectations, and expense involved in the process. This advanced notification and information will hopefully provide opportunity for prayerful consideration of this important decision.
Self-nomination as a candidate requires preparation prior to the 2024 Annual Conference, including a 300-word biographical sketch and application, speech preparation, and attending the candidate forum on the first day of Annual Conference.
The Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference will be held July 10-12, 2024 in Lake Junaluska, NC.
The Board of Laity appreciates all persons who give consideration to offering themselves for election. This is an important commitment.
A Laity Candidates Handbook will be produced by the Conference Board of Laity and contains information about each candidate along with the candidate’s photograph. Candidates may register using the online form found at www.ngumc.org/LayCandidate2024. The Board of Laity requests this information be submitted between April 15, 2024 and May 15, 2024. All materials must be received by the Lay Election Committee not later than midnight on May 15, 2024 to be an official lay candidate and for the candidate’s information to be included in the Candidate Handbook. The Board of Laity will provide a copy of this handbook to each lay member to the 2024 Annual Conference in advance of the Conference.
The Board of Laity requests that you prayerfully consider your candidacy and your ability to serve in this important season. Your willingness to serve our Annual Conference and our United Methodist Church in this way is appreciated.
Peace and Grace,
Nathaniel H. Abrams, Lay Leader, North Georgia Annual Conference
Graylin Ward, Elections Coordinator
Please complete the form linked below and follow all instructions for submission.