South Georgia United Methodists elect delegates to General and Jurisdictional Conferences
By Kelly Roberson
During the 2023 annual conference session, held June 4 through June 6, South Georgia United Methodists elected delegates to fill vacancies in its delegation to both the postponed 2020 General Conference (to be held in 2024) and the 2024 Jurisdictional Conference.
Because of the pandemic and then scheduling challenges, the 2020 General Conference was postponed and will now meet April 23-May 3, 2024, in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Judicial Council ruled that conferences may hold elections to fill vacancies in its delegation due to the lapse in time between election and service. Lay and clergy who were elected in 2019 and who remain part of the South Georgia Conference continue to serve on the delegation.
These persons previously elected and continuing to serve are: Laity - Richard Shinhoster, member of ConneXion United Methodist Church in Savannah; and Clergy - Rev. Doreen Smalls, superintendent of the Northwest and Southwest Districts; Dr. Scott Hagan, superintendent of the Coastal and Northeast Districts; and Rev. Alaina Harrison, deacon in the South Georgia Conference.
In total, the South Georgia Conference is allowed four (4) clergy and four (4) lay delegates to General Conference and an additional four (4) clergy and four (4) lay delegates to complete the Jurisdictional Conference delegation. Two (2) alternate clergy delegates and two (2) alternate lay delegates to the Jurisdictional Conference also serve on the delegation.
The first two members of the jurisdictional delegation are also considered alternate delegates to General Conference and will prepare to attend that conference as well. The two additional alternate delegates who were elected will attend Jurisdictional Conference.
To deal with vacancies created, during this year’s Annual Conference session, South Georgia laity elected three lay delegates for the General Conference delegation and an additional four for the Jurisdictional Conference as well as 2 alternates. South Georgia clergy elected one clergy delegate for the General Conference delegation and an additional four delegates for the Jurisdictional Conference as well as two alternates.
General Conference Delegates
Along with Rev. Smalls, Dr. Hagan, and Rev. Harrison, Dr. Jimmy Asbell, senior pastor of Vineville United Methodist Church in Macon, will now serve on the General Conference clergy delegation.
In addition to Shinhoster, the laity delegation now includes Allison Lindsey, member of St. Mark United Methodist Church in Douglas; Patsy Thomas, member of M.L. Harris United Methodist Church in Columbus; and Karen Forrester, member of Bainbridge First United Methodist Church.
Jurisdictional Delegates
The clergy Jurisdictional Conference delegation includes Dr. Ben Martin, senior pastor of Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church in Savannah; Rev. Michael Culbreth, senior pastor of ConneXion United Methodist Church in Savannah; Rev. Tony Crosby, senior pastor of Vienna and Shiloh United Methodist Churches; and Rev. Stephen Grantham, senior pastor of Isle of Hope United Methodist Church in Savannah.
Dr. Ben Gosden, senior pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Savannah; and Rev. Precious Hawkins, senior pastor of Asbury United Methodist Church in Savannah, were elected alternate Jurisdictional Conference clergy delegates.
The Jurisdictional Conference laity delegation includes John Ray, member of Statesboro First United Methodist Church; Denise Rooks, member of Harper’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Baxley; Dana Goshorn, member of Mulberry St. United Methodist Church in Macon; and Scott Cleaveland, member of Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church in Savannah.
Scott Lewis, member of Bemiss United Methodist Church in Valdosta, and Mark Allen, member of Isle of Hope United Methodist Church in Savannah, were elected alternate Jurisdictional Conference lay delegates.
About the conferences
The General Conference is the global gathering of The United Methodist Church where mission and ministry priorities are established and the Book of Discipline is reviewed for possible revisions. The General Conference is the policy setting body of United Methodism.
The purpose of the Jurisdictional Conference is to coordinate the connected ministry and mission of this region and to elect and assign Bishops for leadership in the Church. The 2024 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference will meet July 10-13, 2024, at Lake Junaluska in North Carolina.
Heads of the delegation
Leading the General Conference clergy delegation is Rev. Doreen Smalls. Rev. Smalls served on the Jurisdictional Conference delegation in 2016 and was elected to serve on the General Conference delegation in 2019.
Richard Shinhoster will lead the General Conference laity delegation. Richard served as a delegate to the 2012 Jurisdictional Conference and an alternate delegate to the 2012 and 2016 General Conference. He was elected as an alternate delegate to General Conference in 2019.
“Richard and I are honored to lead the delegation with other faithful and committed individuals who are ready to serve for such a time as this,” said Rev. Smalls, who has been a United Methodist all of her life. “I have witnessed and experienced the joys and the struggles of the church, and I don’t think that God has brought us this far to leave us. I am hopeful and confident for the future because of God’s grace and power.