In a memorandum released on November 2, the Judicial Council of The United Methodist Church reversed its earlier decision calling for an additional General Conference sometime between 2025 and 2027.
Announcements
UMC Bishops To Meet, Elect New Officers, Discuss Future
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church will meet November 6-11, 2023, at Lake Junaluska Assembly, North Carolina, in the United States to discuss the future of the denomination, prepare for the General Conference to be held in April/May 2024, elect new officers and address other timely topics.
More than 100 bishops from Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America will be in attendance during the meeting that will also include honoring departed colleagues, continuing work to dismantle racism, promote discipleship; and strengthen mission strategies in the global denomination.
The bishops will also continue discussions about the future of the episcopacy in an ever-changing landscape, preparations for presiding at General Conference and reviewing key legislative items such as the regionalization proposals.
“This is an important time for the bishops of the church to discern together the direction our leadership will take as we consider the upcoming General Conference and beyond. Now is the time for deep listening, earnest prayer, and deliberate action as we focus on what the next expression of The United Methodist Church will be,” said COB President Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton of the New York Area.
The meeting opens on Monday, Nov. 6, with a Memorial Service to remember and honor bishops and spouses who have died since the bishops met last time May of this year. Among those to be memorialized are Bishop Marshall L. Meadors, Mrs. Etta Mae Mutti, Mrs. Zoe Wilson, Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar, Bishop Melvin Talbert and Bishop Thomas B. Stockton. Others will be memorialized at the Spring 2024 meeting.
The plenary session will open on Tuesday, November 7, with the Worship Service of Hope and Healing that will incorporate the presidential address by Bishop Bickerton.
Election of officers
The bishops will elect a new president, president-designate, and secretary of the Council. The current officers are Bishop Thomas Bickerton, president; Bishop Tracy Smith Malone, president-designate; and Bishop L. Jonathan Holston, secretary. The new officers will take office at the end of the April 2024 COB meeting during the General Conference and will serve for two years.
Also to be elected will be the COB executive secretary and the COB ecumenical officer. The executive secretary serves as the operations officer of the Council and collaborates closely with the president to monitor actions of the Council and Executive Committee. The ecumenical officer is responsible for relationships with other denominations and/or ecclesial bodies. Both serve four-year terms and take office on September 1, 2024. Bishop Bruce Ough and Bishop Sally Dyck are the current holders of the positions, respectively.
The COB meeting will be livestreamed via COB Facebook.
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Media Contact:
Rev. Dr. Maidstone Mulenga
Director of Communications – Council of Bishops
Click to email
(202) 748-5172 (Office)
AC 2023: Board of Laity Feedback
In this video, John Hall, Conference Lay Leader, reflects on the recent Annual Conference gathering, highlighting the importance of the laity’s role in the church’s disciple-making process. In the Laity Executive Session, lay members were encouraged to share how we can participate in the disciple-making process of engaging, connecting, equipping, and sending. The Board of Laity collected over 500 responses. They are analyzing and categorizing this feedback and plan to share a summary report with the conference by year-end. Laity, thank you for your active participation in and contributions to the life of our Annual Conference.
Transcript
Hello friends – I’m John Hall, and I’m honored to serve as your Conference Lay Leader.
We came together at Annual Conference earlier this year to share in the life and work of our church. A part of that gathering was our Laity Executive Session, where we heard stories from across our conference of how our laity is living their faith story. We heard stories of the disciple-making process from Bishop Shelton, as she reminded us that discipleship begins with relationship. We heard stories of engaging, connecting, equipping, and sending.
We also asked each of you to share with each other how each of us could participate in this disciple-making process – we asked the question, “What do you and your church family need to fulfill God’s vision of engaging, connecting, equipping, and sending?” You were asked to share your thoughts with each other, as well as write them on Post-it notes.
Your conference Board of Laity has collected those notes, and let me share some thoughts with you.
We see you
There were 627 laity from across our conference who were registered for our Annual Conference gathering in June. We celebrate each and every one who took time from their busy lives to come to Greenville and participate in the fellowship and life and work of our church.We hear you
We collected over 500 replies during our ‘sharing session,’ stories of encouragement, and ways to move forward in our churches.We’re here with you
Your Board of Laity is actively working through your notes, categorizing and organizing the data, and developing action plans. Our plan is to have a summary report ready to share with you by the end of this year. We will also share these findings with our conference leadership team and cabinet.Once again, thanks for your active participation in our Annual Conference this year and for sharing your thoughts with each other and with us. Continued blessings on your ministry!
United in Love, United in Giving: District Christmas Offering Supports Project AGAPE and Professors in Methodism
This year, we have the opportunity to support two vital ministries through the District Christmas Offering: Project AGAPE and Professors in Methodism. All funds received will be divided evenly between the two ministries.
Project AGAPE
Peace is not the absence of conflict – it’s the presence of love.
As we celebrate the gift of the Prince of Peace, we extend our gifts to the Armenian people. On September 19, 2023, Azerbaijan launched a directed attack on Stepanakert and its surrounding villages. Thousands of refugees are physically and emotionally vulnerable.
With winter approaching, Project AGAPE needs funds to purchase warm comforters and other supplies for refugees. Your gift demonstrates that God remembers them and that God’s people care. In a time of war, may we join the Prince of Peace extending our love across the world.
Professors in Methodism
How do you say “thank you” to a teacher or preacher for the impact they’ve had on you?
Extend their teaching and preaching with a Christmas gift in their honor or memory for Professors in Methodism!
Our siblings outside of the U.S. do not have the same opportunities to be shaped by Wesleyan scholars and Methodist professors as we do. During this important season in the life of the UMC, we need principled Christian leaders rooted in a Wesleyan mindset of joining knowledge and vital piety. We need professors who teach Methodist history, theology, and polity for a new generation of clergy in each of our United Methodist-related schools and faculties of theology around the world.
Your Christmas gift will create opportunities for Wesleyan scholars to instruct and form clergy and lay leaders in our Central Conferences. Your honor/memorial gift can also extend gratitude to a teacher or preacher who impacted you! Every gift shapes a leader, and every leader shapes a future.
Visit the District Christmas Offering page to make your contribution, learn more about the campaign, and find resources you can share with your church and community.
Youth Ministries October Updates
Sign up for Pilgrimage, before the cost goes up!
Whether you are planning to attend Pilgrimage in person or online, you still have time to register. But the price goes up starting November 1! Register on the Pilgrimage website – registration is done by the local churches, and youth and adults register together as a group.
Find more online at the Pilgrimage Social Media accounts.
Brainstorm about the future of Pilgrimage
Join Conference Youth Ministries Director, Jason Villegas, on Saturday afternoon in the Nash ballroom at 1:00 pm or 2:30 pm. There will be a time to brainstorm fundraising ideas for Pilgrimage 2024 to keep the event accessible to all youth in the NCCUMC. If you cannot attend and would like to share your ideas, please fill out our Google Form.
BIPOC Youth Dinner at First UMC
For all ethnic and racial minority youth, there will be a meal together at First UMC, Rocky Mount, on Saturday from 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm. Please come and enjoy a meal sponsored by Race Equity and Justice Ministries.
Relational Discipleship Kickstart Cohort moved to January
We are inviting adult youth leaders and volunteers to consider signing up for a cohort to work through a new resource called “The Relational Discipleship Kickstart,” which is being developed through our partner organization TENx10. This resource is a ten-step process that will help orient youth leaders around relational discipleship radically focused on Jesus, and it is focused more on the purpose and people than programs.
Note: this is the same cohort that was originally considered for starting in November.
National Association for Mental Illness Conversation
A church member from White Plains UMC, who is a mental health professional, is going to speak to the Raleigh Area Youth Workers (YoWo) group at 11:30 am on November 16 at Millbrook UMC, specifically about a National Association for Mental Illness (NAMI) group soft launching at WPUMC this winter. It is in preparation to be fully running at the start of next school year, and the conversation will pay attention to what it looks like to start those groups in local churches. If you’re interested in attending, contact Jackie Lytton at jackie@millbrookumc.org.
Local Church Property Insurance Renewals
Property insurance renewals are approaching and the market landscape may differ from your last renewal.
The Treasurer’s Office held an information session in September to discuss trends in church property insurance. Watch the session to learn ways your church can prepare for renewal season.
View property insurance providers and agents referred by other clergy or laity within the NC Conference.
The North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church gives no assurance of the professional abilities of these insurance providers but provides their contact information as a resource for you based on the recommendation of your peers. Please be sure to exercise your judgment when choosing a property insurance provider, as we cannot accept responsibility for their performance.