Q&A: Special Session of the North Georgia Annual Conference

10/26/2023

Bishop Robin Dease has called a special session of the North Georgia Annual Conference for Saturday, November 18, 2023. The session will be held at The Classic Center in Athens beginning at 10 am. Below are answers to questions about the Special Session.

Updated November 16

Q: When and where is the called session?
Saturday, November 18, at 10 a.m. at the Classic Center in Athens, Georgia. The session will be held in the Grand Hall, lower level.
 
Q: What is the purpose of this session of the Annual Conference?
Called in accordance with ¶603.5 of the 2016 United Methodist Book of Discipline, the sole purpose of the special session is to vote on the ratification of local church disaffiliation requests per ¶2553 of our Book of Discipline.

Q: Will any other matters will be discussed?
No. No other matters may be considered at the Called Session of the Annual Conference.
 
Q: Who attends?
Elected lay members of the June 2023 Annual Conference Session will again serve as the voting lay members for the called session in November. Clergy membership of the annual conference is defined in ¶32 of our Book of Discipline. 

Of course, no local charge will be deprived of its lay member due to death, serious illness, or cessation of membership. Under such circumstances, another lay member may be elected by the charge conference.  Please note: if a clergy member or lay member of the June 2023 conference has since withdrawn membership from The UMC, he or she is no longer eligible to vote. 
 
Q: What if I cannot attend?
There are no excused absences (Book of Discipline ¶602.8). Clergy who cannot attend are to send an email to Max Vincent, Conference Secretary. Laity from local church are to notify the pastor. Laity who are district at-large members should notify their District Superintendent.
 
Q: Do I need to register?
Yes! Lay and clergy members of the Annual Conference must register for the special session. Online registration was open from October 23 to November 13. 
 
NOTE: We will only pre-print name badges and assign voting cards for those who pre-registered online. If you do not pre-register online, you will need to complete the full registration process and wait for your name badge to be printed and voting card to be assigned on site in Athens. 

Q: Will the North Georgia Conference utilize the full Classic Center (like we do in June)?
No. Other events will be happening in the Classic Center both Friday, November 17, and Saturday, November 18. The North Georgia Conference will only have use of the Grand Hall. 

Q: When will the Trustees Report be available?
The Trustees report is available at www.ngumc.org/November-2023-special-session. Please continue to check this page regularly for updates and important information. 
 
Q: When can I pick up my credentials and voting card? What are the hours for the on-site portion of registration?
On site registration, where you will pick up your name badge and voting card, will be at the Classic Center in
Grand Hall 4 & 5.
  • Friday, November 17, 5 to 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, November 18, beginning at 8 a.m. 
    (Registration will continue through the day, and will move to the Voter Assistance Table inside the Grand Hall at 11 a.m. Please be in line by 9:30 a.m. to ensure you are ready to begin at 10 a.m.)
Q: How long will the meeting last?
We anticipate that the session may last 4 to 6 hours. 

Q: What about travel arrangements?
We do not have reserved blocks of rooms. If your travel time requires you to stay overnight, you can find information about Athens-area hotels at www.visitathensga.com.
 
Q: What about child care?
Childcare registration has now closed to allow us to confirm staffing and prepare for the children. 
 
Q: Where do we park?
Note that we encourage all who are able to carpool. 

Members of the Annual Conference may park at the Classic Center parking deck or at the Clarke County Courthouse parking deck (located at the corner of E. Hancock Street and N. Thomas Street across from the Classic Center). Please print the “Annual Conference Parking Permit” at www.ngumc.org/November-2023-special-session.

Q: What about lunch?
Each member of Annual Conference may pre-purchase one lunch from Chick-fil-A through your online registration. There will not be time to leave the Classic Center for a meal. We will pause for a brief lunch break and will consider this a working lunch. 

Members who prepaid for their meals may pick up their lunch during this break in Grand Hall Pre-Function area (just outside the doors of Grand Hall).
 
Chick-fil-A will also offer breakfast and lunch options for purchase on-site in the Classic Center room Grand Hall 6. 

Q: Athens on a Saturday during football season?
There is not a UGA football home game on November 18.
 
Q: Will the session be live streamed?
Yes. The special session will be live streamed at www.ngumc.org/November-2023-special-session.
 
Q: Are visitors permitted?
Yes. Visitors may sit in the area marked Guest Seating. There are not visitor name badges or visitor registration. Note that visitors will be on their own for lunch. Chick-fil-A concessions will be available at the Classic Center. 

Q: Will there be a Worship Service during the called Special Section?
We will close our Special Session with a parting litany. 

Q: What is the process for voting we will use at the Special Session?
The Trustees Report will be presented in the Consent Agenda format. 

Q Will all voting delegates remain eligible to vote the full Special Session?
Yes
 
Q: How can I stay informed and connected?
There are several ways to stay connected to information about the 2023 Special Session of the Annual Conference:

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