UPDATE: Registration for the clergy processional is now closed. A new tradition will begin at Annual Conference 2017. This spring, Bishop Sue, the Cabinet, and the Board of Ordained Ministry invited all clergy, including local pastors, to register to participate in the Service of Ordination and Commissioning at Annual Conference on Wednesday, June 14, at 7:30 pm in the Classic Center Theater.  (Note that registration is now closed.) Participation will involve forming a processional to accompany...

Dr. Deb McFarland of the Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University, and a member of Glenn Memorial UMC, will be the keynote speaker at the Annual Conference Laity Dinner on Wednesday, June 14, in the Athena Ballrooms of The Classic Center.    "Dr. McFarland will focus on the value of public health projects by organizations like The United Methodist Church such as clean water, Imagine No Malaria, Abundant Health, and other public health initiatives," said Conference Lay Leader Bill ...

Pictured: Rev. Cyndi McDonald and Rev. Pam McCurdy of the Visuals Team display an altar frontal for the Service of Ordination. It is handmade from t-shirts sent in by those being ordained and Christmas cards. The piece celebrates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on those called to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.   There is rich tradition at the North Georgia Annual Conference, but with each session, there are also exciting updates and changes to look forward to as we gather for our United...

Cokesbury announced today that it is bringing a new consultative retail experience to Annual Conferences this year with the new Cokesbury Ministry Resource Center. Focused on equipping leaders to build disciples, the Ministry Resource Center will offer the opportunity for more personalized consultations with church leaders in order to match products with their specific ministry needs. Features of the Ministry Resource Center include: Showcases highlighting new and classic resources ranging ...

With a theme of "Show Your Work: Worship that Inspires Action," there's no better time to get in on the "Action" than the 11th Annual North Georgia Conference 5K Walk/Run in historic downtown Athens! The event will benefit youth mission and service opportunities in the churches of our conference through the Youth Service Fund. For decades, the Conference Council on Youth Ministries has raised funds to help support unique ideas that place emphasis on ministry with and for young people in local ...

Now is the time for HealthFlex participants to complete their Blueprint for Wellness diagnostic screening. Schedule an appointment at a Quest Diagnostic facility between April 1 and July 31 or register for an on-site appointment during Annual Conference in Athens June 13-15.  By taking part in the Blueprint for Wellness, clergy and staff learn about their health, earn $100 PulseCash, and up to 120 Wellness Points (depending on your screening results) on your path to 150 Points (and $150 more in...

In June, Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson will nominate Jim Thornton as our next North Georgia Conference chancellor. Thornton is an attorney in LaGrange and a life-long member of LaGrange First UMC. He serves as the part-time mayor of LaGrange and has practiced law there for 20 years. He’s a graduate of United Methodist-related LaGrange College and Emory University Law School and also serves as attorney for LaGrange College. While he is active in his home church, Thornton has also served in ...

Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson has named the Ministerial Education Fund as the 2017 Annual Conference Special Offering. The Ministerial Education Fund has helped thousands of men and women become pastoral leaders in The United Methodist Church. Chances are seminary students from your congregation or the pastor of your church was a recipient of MEF. It is nurtured and funded by United Methodists to provide scholarships to seminary and undergraduate students, course-of-study for local pastors, and ...

Rev. Sharma Lewis hears that she has been elected bishop. Photo by Matt Brodie / SCUMC By Sybil Davidson In an historic election, the Rev. Sharma Lewis of the North Georgia Annual Conference has been elected bishop by the Southeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church. She was elected on the first ballot at the jurisdiction’s quadrennial meeting at Lake Junaluska, N.C.  Rev. Lewis is the first African-American woman elected bishop in the Southeastern Jurisdiction.    "I was called ...

Lake Junaluska cross after sunset. Photo by Ansley Brackin. With the primary task of electing and assigning bishops, the 2016 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference will meet July 13-15 in Lake Junaluska, NC. The 2016 Conference theme is Hope and Unity in Christ, based on Hebrews 6:18-19a. The five jurisdictional conferences of the UMC meet once every four years to cover business related to their regional jurisdictions in the United States. Equal numbers of laity and clergy, elected by each ...