The North Carolina Annual Conference met in Greenville, NC on June 13-15, 2024. A total of 1,102 persons attended the conference, which worshiped around the theme of Disciple Making, Leader Forming, and Peace Building. Bishop Connie Mitchell Shelton presided over the NC Annual Conference as the episcopal leader.
The conference began with executive sessions for the clergy and laity. In the laity session, panelists shared how their areas of ministry are committed to being United Methodists of action. In the clergy session, members approved the ordination of 14 persons (1 deacon, 12 elders, and 1 changing from order of deacons to order of elders) and the commissioning of 16 persons (1 deacon and 15 elders).
Following executive sessions, Bishop Shelton officially convened the annual conference and invited members to join together in communion. Conference attendees were encouraged to wear black in support of Thursdays in Black, a global movement for a world without rape and violence.
During the Disciple Making plenary session, we celebrated the connectional work of our laity, churches, and ministries. We thanked Home Missioner Steve Taylor for his faithful leadership as Executive Director of Connectional Ministries upon his upcoming retirement. Rev. Bruce Edward Petty (clergy), Stacie A. Holmes (laity), and Jolie Grace Sullivan (youth) were honored as the recipients of the Harry Denman Evangelism Award.
Rev. Jeff Campbell, Chief Executive Officer / General Secretary of Discipleship Ministries, shared about the general agency’s work, highlighting “SeeAllThePeople,” an intentional disciple-making system designed for United Methodist churches and new video storytelling resources offered on the agency’s website. Campbell then presented the One Matters Award to Ware’s Chapel UMC in Washington, NC.
Thursday evening was an opportunity for gathering and fellowship with ice cream, karaoke, and a book signing event by clergy authors from our NC Conference.
On Friday, the Leader Forming Plenary Session included a number of presentations celebrating the work of the denomination and the conference. During the Office of Clergy Life report, a new program called The Ester Project was announced. Designed to fill a gap for individuals responding to their call to ministry – either before or after completing the Residency in Ordained Ministry program, this offering has been made possible by a grant from The Duke Endowment.
Following the grant announcement, members of Annual Conference celebrated The Duke Endowment, its history, and its impact on rural United Methodist Churches and communities across the Carolinas for 100 years.
We remembered 19 clergy and 26 spouses at the All Saints Celebration and Memorial Service. Rev. Jon Strother, Beacon and Sound District Superintendent, shared a message, “We Belong to the Lord,” with those assembled, bringing the good news of resurrection life by leading them through profound examples of creative mediums which express the truth of belonging.
The Friday afternoon session began with the celebration of 37 clergy retirees, followed by the Peace Building Plenary Session. Rev. Molly White, Rev. Dr. Joey Shelton, and Rev. Seyun Hwang shared stories of peace-building work. “Until our hearts are broken open to the hurt, the suffering, the injustice, and the violence in the world, the foundation of our peacebuilding can be nothing more than obligation: doing good because that’s what we should do or that’s what the Bible tells us to do. But if your heart is broken and never closes, then you begin to understand that peacebuilding is not only an obligation. Peacebuilding is a genuinely human and Christ-like way to encounter and embrace our neighbors. Peacebuilding is the daily way that Christian disciples actively love the world,” said Rev. Molly White.
The financial reports were presented as a group by the Conference Council on Finance & Administration, Insurance Committee, Board of Pension, Commission on Equitable Compensation, Joint Committee on Clergy Medical Leave, and Board of Trustees on Friday afternoon. The conference members approved the motions to adopt all of the reports.
During Annual Conference, eight Resolutions were brought before the body.
The last day of Annual Conference 2024 began with a Service of Lament, Confession, and Hope regarding clergy sexual misconduct, led by members of the NC Conference Commission on the Status and Role of Women. After the service, the body adopted the Nominations report for district and conference committees presented by Dr. Christine Dodson. The Statistician’s report was presented by Rev. Dennis Peay and adopted by the conference body.
After the fixing of appointments and the conclusion of business, 47 persons publicly proclaimed their calling to ministry during the Ordering of Ministry Service. In the sermon, Rev. Dr. Sangwoo Kim, Associate Dean for Vocational Formation, the Senior Director of the Methodist House, and an Administrative Faculty member at Duke Divinity School, encouraged each person to live in a place of curiosity, courageousness, and commitment.
Many mindful health opportunities were offered throughout the Conference, including Blueprint for Wellness Screenings, health screenings by East Carolina University Health and Shepherd’s Care, and a collection of UMCOR’s Menstrual Hygiene Kits.
Two special offerings were received during Conference, including the offering for The Gary Wayne Locklear Mission Endowment in the Opening Worship and Communion service and Professors in Methodism in the Ordering of Ministry service.
Data and Statistics:
- Membership for 2023 was 145,899, down 16,098 from 2022.
- Average attendance at the principal weekly worship service stands at 28,514, down 13,271 from 2022.
- Professions or reaffirmations of faith for 2023: 1,257, down 392 from 2022.
- Adults and young adults in small groups for 2023: 19,917, down 8,845 from 2022.
- Worshippers engaged in mission for 2023: 31,609, down 11,168 from 2022.
- The Conference approved a budget of $11,279,314 for 2026, a 7.56% decrease from what was approved for 2025.
- The Annual Conference voted to formally close 11 churches.
- 113 churches in the NC Conference are committed to being Lighthouse Congregations.
- 37 clergy entered retired status.
- 12 elders, 1 deacon, were ordained, as well as 1 changing from order from deacons to order of elders, with an average age of 40; 16 provisional members were commissioned, with an average age of 34; 8 local pastors were licensed, with an average age of 44; 1 deaconess was commissioned; and 8 lay ministers were certified.
- Annual Conference 2025 will be June 11-14 in Greenville, NC.
Recordings of all plenary sessions and worship services are available on the NC Conference app or at nccumc.org/ac2024/watch/. You can view photos from the three-day conference online in the Annual Conference 2024 album on Flickr.