At their meeting last week in Lake Junaluska, The Council of Bishops made plans to call a special General Conference in 2026. This meeting will not conflict with the Judicial Council’s recent reversal of their decision to hold a General Conference sometime between 2025 and 2027, as that decision only applied to regular sessions of General Conference.
General Conference
Judicial Council Reverses Call for Extra General Conference
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.
Information for General Conference Volunteers
We look forward to the opportunity of the North Carolina Conference to co-host the 2024 General Conference in Charlotte. Due to unforeseen circumstances, there has been a delay in providing a sign-up link for those wishing to serve as volunteers. Although we cannot give an exact date as to when the link will be available, please be assured that it is still coming and you are still needed!
We extend our deepest appreciation to those of you who have let us know of your willingness to serve and for your patience as we wait for confirmation that the software system is up and running. When it’s ready, we will let you know.
Trish Archer
Emily Innes
Co-Chairpersons,
General Conference Host Committee
General Conference petition submission opens and logo revealed as planning continues
The Commission on General Conference gathered in Florence, Kentucky for an in-person meeting held May 21-24, 2023. During the meeting, the event’s updated logo was revealed. Upon conclusion of the gathering, the window for petition submissions was opened.
Petitions must be received by mail, email, or via the official online General Conference 2024 Petition Submission Form by the Petitions Secretary no later than 11:59pm / 23:59 CDT, Wednesday, September 6, 2023. Instructions for preparing petitions can be found at: bit.ly/GC2024petitionform.
Judicial Council Rules on GC 2024 Delegation Election
In a ruling published on December 12, the Judicial Council, the United Methodist Church’s highest court, has ruled that no new delegate elections are needed for the upcoming General Conference in 2024. The quadrennial gathering will be held in Charlotte, NC, beginning in late April 2024.
Other information from the ruling:
- Those same delegates can also vote in the jurisdictional and central conferences following GC 2024.
- The number and allocation of delegates among annual conferences remains unchanged from what the General Conference commission determined for GC 2020.
- Legislation already properly submitted to the coming General Conference will not need to be resent.
- New legislation can also be submitted.
You can read the full story from UM News and also read the full text of the Judicial Council’s ruling.
General Conference 2024 to be held in Charlotte
It was announced today that General Conference 2024, the global gathering of United Methodists, will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina. The gathering will take place from April 23 – May 3 at the Charlotte Convention Center. The North Carolina and Western North Carolina Conferences will co-host the event.
Bishop Fairley, speaking about the announcement, said “We bathe this gathering in deep prayer while also praying for each delegate who will seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we spend time in Holy Conferencing. It is my prayer that the same spirit will empower and encourage us to see the possibilities and live the promise.”
Featured image: Unsplash / Dominic Sansotta