A UMNS Photo by Mike Dubose The Commission on the General Conference has just announced its decision to further postpone the 2020 General Conference until Aug. 29 – Sept. 6, 2022 in Minneapolis, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the safety of mass gatherings and travel. In response to the further postponement, the Council of Bishops (COB) is calling a Special Session of the General Conference to be convened online on May 8, 2021. The purpose of the Special Session will be limited to...

As a member of the team that worked with mediator Ken Feinberg to produce the Protocol on Reconciliation and Grace Through Separation and Restructuring, Rev. Tom Berlin has received a number of questions about both the Protocol and accompanying legislation. In this 20 minute video he answers those questions.  Watch at https://revtomberlin.com/talking-about-the-protocol/. 

Photo: Many of the SEJ heads of delegations for the 2020 General Conference gathered in Atlanta in December. The clergy and lay heads of 2020 General Conference Delegations from the Southeastern Jurisdiction released a statement last week affirming the work of those who developed the “Protocol of Grace & Reconciliation Through Separation." In the statement, which they sent to the Commission on General Conference, the Delegation Heads call for the Protocol be among the first legislative items ...

BY SCOTT HUGHES Pray – Be in prayer, as individuals and as a church community, for General Conference, delegates, and for discernment. Use The Upper Room prayer guide:  Be Still and Know: 40 Days of Prayer for General Conference. Get information from trusted news services. Check the North Georgia Conference General Conference webpage, www.ngumc.org/GC2020, regularly. Sign up for Conference e-newsletters.  Sign up for the Daily Digest from the UM News Service. United Methodist News Service ...

The members of the North Georgia Conference Delegation have endorsed the Rev. Dr. Byron E. Thomas as their episcopal nominee.    Rev. Dr. Thomas is currently senior pastor of Ben Hill UMC in Atlanta. He is chair of the North Georgia Conference Delegation to the 2020 General and Jurisdictional Conferences.  Rev. Dr. Thomas has served as Senior Pastor of Ben Hill UMC since June 2013 where his focus has been on strengthening the link between spiritual formation and missions. Placing a premium on ...

The Commission on the General Conference has unveiled the logo for the 2020 General Conference to accompany the theme, “…and know that I am God,” based on an excerpt from Psalm 46:10. The entire verse reads: “Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations. I am exalted in the earth.” (NRSV), although the verse number may vary in non-English translations. United Methodist Communications designed the logo, which is used to maintain a consistent visual identity for the 2020 ...

General Conference organizers chose “…and know I am God” as the theme of the 2020 United Methodist General Conference, but not before discovering the Psalm’s words and even its verse numbers vary by translation depending on the language. Read about the fascinating discussion in this UM News Service report at https://www.umnews.org/en/news/biblical-comparison-shapes-gc2020-theme

(Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS. Combined choirs of Centenary College and Martin Methodist College sing at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference.) (UMC.org) United Methodist choirs, worship ensembles and liturgists from around the world have an opportunity to be part of the worship experience of the 2020 General Conference. Creatives may apply to share their talents while leading the church body during The United Methodist Church’s top legislative assembly meeting May 5 -15, 2020 in ...

The North Georgia Annual Conference has elected its Delegation to the 2020 General and Jurisdictional Conferences of The United Methodist Church. All are invited to join the delegation in prayer and fasting on Thursdays from July 1, 2019  through the General Conference in May 2020.  Clergy Members of the Delegation (General Conference) Byron Eric Thomas Philip Daniel Schroeder Patricia Alice Rogers Jasmine Rose Smothers Glenn Leland Ethridge (NOTE: will not attend General Conference due to ...

(Photo: Mike DuBose, UMNS) On April 26, the United Methodist Judicial Council ruled that certain parts of the Traditional Plan passed by the 2019 Special General Conference are constitutional. Other portions of the plan were ruled unconstitutional. The portion of the legislation deemed constitutional will take effect in the U.S. on January 1, 2020.  The Judicial Council ruled that the exit strategy passed by the General Conference is constitutional. This legislation goes into effect ...