Preparing for General Conference

With General Conference set to begin this month, the South Georgia Conference delegation has been meeting to pray, study, and discuss legislation as they continue to prepare for the global gathering, set for April 23-May 3 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

General Conference is the top policy-making body of The United Methodist Church, which meets once every four years. However, because of the pandemic, the last regular session of General Conference was nearly eight years ago. The conference can revise church law, as well as adopt resolutions on current moral, social, public policy, and economic issues. It also approves plans and budgets for church-wide programs.

More than 1,000 legislative petitions will be before the lay and clergy delegates when they meet for the denomination’s assembly. The theme for the international gathering, which draws delegates and other church leaders from four continents, is “…and know that I am God” from Psalm 46.

A General Conference Primer is available to help communicate about General Conference in your local church.

The South Georgia Conference delegation to General Conference is chaired by Rev. Doreen Smalls. There are 862 delegates to the postponed 2020 General Conference from around the world. Of the elected delegates, 55.9% are from the U.S., 32% from Africa, 6% from the Philippines, 4.6% from Europe (including Russia) and the remainder from concordat churches that have close ties to The United Methodist Church. The South Georgia Conference has 8 voting delegates. 

In a focused effort to prepare for the upcoming General Conference session, the South Georgia Conference is launching a month-long Conference-wide prayer initiative, “Hear Our Prayers.” It will begin the day after Easter - April 1 - and run through the end of the General Conference session - May 3.

Psalm 4:1 says: “Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.” Each day laity and clergy will be asked to pause and pray for our church’s mission and for the upcoming conference at 4:01 pm. 

Daily prayers will be posted on the conference website at www.sgaumc.org/hearourprayers and on the Conference social media channels (Facebook and Instagram).

Rev. Doreen Smalls, chair of the South Georgia delegation to General Conference, says the delegation has been preparing and praying and is thankful for the prayers of the conference.

“As we prepare to do our work this month, and then as we travel to Charlotte and work each day representing South Georgia while we are there, we covet your prayers,” said Rev. Smalls. “God has great plans for the people called United Methodists, and I’m thankful this delegation has a voice in helping shape our future as we act with confidence and hope in the power of the Holy Spirit.”