What's New at Annual Conference

Take a look at some of the great things going on at Annual Conference this year! The North Georgia Annual Conference takes place June 10-12 at The Classic Center in Athens, GA.

Stay Connected with Hashtags

Stay connected with everyone at Annual Conference this year with our 2014 hashtag, #NGAC14. In honor of our theme we will also be using the hashtag #Together. Use these to share photos, tweets, and posts on social media to document your Annual Conference experience.
 

Sign Language Interpreter at Ordination and Memorial Service

A sign language interpreter will be present at the Ordination Service and the Service of Remembrance. Please tell an usher if you would like to sit in an area to easily see the interpreter. 
 

UMCOR Kit Collection

UMCOR Kit Collection by United Methodist Women supports the annual conference theme highlighting children, youth and young adults. United Methodist Women will assemble UMCOR kits in their local circles, units and districts. They will focus on kits that meet the special needs of these age groups: birthing kits, layette kits, school bags. The kits must be packed in boxes and labeled as to the type of kits and number included in each box. If extra supplies are sent, those should also be clearly labeled. Monetary gifts to UMCOR will also be accepted as funds are always needed for shipping and purchasing extra supplies. Bring completed kits to the Classic Center and unload at the trailer located in the parking lot behind the Foundry Building.


 

Electronic Voting

We’re going electronic! Thursday, June 12, during Session Six, we will use an electronic voting system in preparation for the 2015 General and Jurisdictional Conference delegate elections. This will enable us to become familiar with and test the system, and introduce our lay and clergy members to the electronic voting procedures. The orientation is scheduled immediately following the morning devotion on Thursday. All lay and clergy members must attend this orientation. The orientation is essential to educating our members to the process, conducting test ballots, and preparing members to use the devices throughout the day on Thursday.
 

Rally Day

On Wednesday, June 11, you may ask yourself, what’s with all of the blue? This year, Annual Conference will host a Rally Day. Ministry leaders involved with children, youth, young adults, camps, and campuses have been invited to attend this special day at The Classic Center in Athens to show support for their ministry areas by taking part in presentations, Grow Day Camp tours, workshops, and networking. We want to show our appreciation to those who carry out these vital ministries and give them a chance to see Annual Conference in action.

Guests who registered by May 23 will receive a free, blue “Together We Make Disciples” t-shirt to show their pride during Rally Day! We had over 200 eager attendees sign up early!
**Rally Day guests must park at the UGA parking deck.
 

Childcare

We want worry-free parents. Childcare at Young Harris Memorial UMC is provided exclusively for the infant, toddler and preschool-aged children (6 months-rising Kindergartners) of those participating in the 2014 Annual Conference Sessions of the North Georgia Annual Conference in Athens.

This loving and creative environment will coincide with all morning and afternoon sessions of Annual Conference, and feature engaging and age-appropriate crafts and activities designed with Christian formation in mind. As an added bonus, parents get access to free parking in the YHMUMC lot with a complimentary shuttle to and from the Conference Center for drop off and pick up. Find more information and register at the link below.
REGISTER for ChildCare
 

GROW Day Camp

Your kids just may have more fun than you do at Annual Conference! Grow Day Camp will be hosted by Young Harris Memorial UMC during the week of Annual Conference. This weekday camp is not only open to any students within the Athens community, but also to the elementary students of those participating in the 2014 North Georgia Annual Conference Sessions. Come for 3 days, come for all 5! Either way, you'll have a blast.

Grow Day Camps, a sister ministry of Glisson Camp & Retreat Center, will bring the flavor of summer camp to YHMUMC. Campers from rising 1st to rising 6th grade will get to try their hand at various camp activities such as archery, nature study, and belayed tree climbing (pending availability) as well as engage in worship and Bible study outdoors. On Thursday the day-campers will take a field trip to Glisson for a day of hiking, lunch by the falls, and some time by the pool.

You don’t want your children to miss this opportunity. Grow Day Camps creations relationships with the local community by aiding the church in outreach and evangelism. Everyone involved is on a path to becoming a valuable leader to their own community. Counselors are E.L.I. program participants, an upper high school leadership program. Staff is made up of Glisson and E.L.I alumni who oversee the camp site by day and mentor the E.L.I. counselors by night.

Rally Day participants can sign up to tour the Grow Day Camp site to learn more about the program and meet some of the counselors.

As an added bonus, parents get access to free parking in the YHMUMC lot with a complimentary shuttle to and from the Conference Center for drop off and pick up. Find more information and register at the link below.
REGISTER for Grow Day Camp
 

Wednesday Evening Workshop

Workshops These will be panel and participant discussions reflecting the needs of children, youth and young adults in congregations of every size and ethnicity in North Georgia. Each will be moderated by Conference staff and leadership.

Select One

Camping Ministry: Partnering with Congregations to Make Disciples Parthenon 1
Amazing ministry happens every summer at camp! Come and learn more about how our conference summer camping ministries can complement the work of your congregation in faith formation with the children and youth in your community. Get to know about Glisson, about our new Grow Day Camps and ELI (Experiential Leadership Institute. Hear about GO! (Glisson Outfitters – a resource for Adventure Camping for your church.) Learn some of our camping practices to take back to your congregation, and about a variety of programs our camp staff can bring to your church.

Campus Ministry: Connecting with College Students through the Local Church Parthenon 2
Hear how your local church might offer ministry to and with college students in your own community. Learn what issues are important to college students and meet some of those who are actively engaged in college ministry on local campuses. Let’s share ideas about how your congregation can keep in touch with those away at college.

Ministry with Children and their Families: Let’s Start at the Very Beginning  Grand Hall 1 & 2
Ministry with children and their families is where the disciple-making process begins. How does your congregation celebrate the children in your midst - in the sanctuary and in the community? Join us as we share ideas from diverse perspectives – large, small, ethnic, cross cultural, city and rural. Let’s talk about how children can be integral contributors to the whole faith community.  

Young Adult Ministry in Your Community  Athena A-D
 Your church can help the young adults in your community become involved in social and mission outreach. Find out how to encourage this age group into being an active part of your church no matter how many young adults you have. 

Ministry with Youth: Igniting Youth Ministry in Your Congregations  Grand Hall 4 & 5 
As children enter their teen years, our faith communities have a unique opportunity to provide continuing nurture to these growing disciples. How can your congregation catch on fire for the youth in your midst?