We invite you to join Annual Conference 2021 virtually. Watch the livestream at live.nccumc.org or in the NC Conference app. Lay and Clergy members, you will access the conference via the login information you will receive before the beginning of Annual Conference.
The Annual Conference theme this year is “Like a Well-Watered Garden,” a reference taken from Isaiah 58:11. Bishop Hope Morgan Ward will preside over her last Annual Conference, as she plans to retire effective September 1, 2021.
Annual Conference will begin on Wednesday for the Clergy and Laity Executive sessions. Clergy will meet at 10 a.m. and will use their personal log-in credentials to enter the session. Laity will meet at 12 noon on Wednesday. The Laity Executive session will be livestreamed at live.nccumc.org or can be accessed through the NC Conference app.
The Thursday morning session will begin with the Opening Worship and Memorial Service, a time to worship and remember clergy and clergy spouses who have died since the last in-person Annual Conference in 2019.
After a lunch break, the afternoon session will begin with a recognition of clergy who retired in the class of 2020. Next, financial reports, including the proposed 2023 conference budget, insurance, pension, and equitable compensation, will be presented and voted on. The proposed 2023 budget reflects a $78,170 reduction from the budget approved for 2022. Following the financial reports and vote, the conference will honor clergy retiring in the 2021 class.
During the conference, you will have the opportunity to give to the Special Offering to UMCOR.
The closing business of the day will include the fixing of 2021-2022 appointments, a moment of thanksgiving for Gray Southern and Gil Wise, who will be moving out of District Superintendent (DS) positions, and a welcome to incoming DSs Chris Brady and David Blackman.
The Committee on Episcopacy will end the conference by honoring Bishop Ward for her faithful service over these past nine years. A time you don’t want to miss!
On Friday, June 18, four Ordination services will be at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. for the classes of 2020 and 2021. Each service will be livestreamed.