Bishop Dease Names Disaster Response and UMCOR as the 2023 Annual Conference Special Offering

Bishop Robin Dease has chosen UMCOR (the United Methodist Committee on Relief) and our Conference Disaster Response efforts as the 2023 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 1, or checks may be submitted to the Conference Office. 

Part of the offering will be used in our Conference tornado recovery efforts as UMCOR guides us in our local own disaster response.

In 2023 tornadoes have caused significant damage across North Georgia. When multiple tornados struck in January, UMCOR approved a solidarity grant in less than 24 hours, allowing the Conference to respond immediately. Our Conference launched its first long-term recovery effort in Griffin and surrounding communities, even as our response continues in West Point and Troup County after a devastating tornado in March. 

As the humanitarian relief and disaster response arm of The United Methodist Church, UMCOR assists United Methodists and churches to become involved globally and locally in direct ministry to persons in need. 

UMCOR and our trained ERTs are also at work in Florida, Mississippi, and Kentucky. Working alongside established partners, UMCOR has distributed more than $2 million in humanitarian aid to support the Ukrainian people. UMCOR is at work in Turkey and Syria and in Madagascar and Mozambique.

Our giving to UMCOR makes God's love tangible to survivors of all kinds—be it from war or conflict, hurricane, famine, earthquake, or flood. And, thanks to your generosity on UMCOR Sunday to cover the cost of doing business, 100 percent of gifts go to the response for which they are designated. 

Please indicate gifts as Fund #1140 Annual Conference Special Offering. Checks will be received during Annual Conference session or may be mailed to:

Conference Treasurer's Office
PO Box 102417
Atlanta, GA 30368-2417

In addition to our Special Offering for Disaster Response and UMCOR, an offering for The North Georgia Conference Ministerial Education Fund will be received at the Service of Licensing, Commissioning, and Ordination. 

MEF is funded by United Methodists to provide scholarships to seminary and undergraduate students, course-of-study for local pastors, and license to preach school. MEF is a general church-apportioned fund of which 25 percent is retained by our conference. But 100 percent of the giving to the Annual Conference Ordination Offering will go to United Methodist seminary and course of study students in the North Georgia Conference. 

Please give generously to the Annual Conference Special Offering and to the offering during the Service of Licensing, Commissioning, and Ordination.