Due to the continued threat of COVID-19, Annual Conference 2021 will be held virtually through Zoom webinar. Several important services will be by invitation only to honor the work of pastoral candidates.
The Zoom clergy session will be held on Sunday, May 23, 2021, from 4:00-6:00pm and the Zoom four-day annual conference session will be held June 6-9, 2021. Two of the four days will be morning-only sessions (Tuesday and Wednesday). A non-voting live stream option will be available for guests.
A working agenda for the annual conference is available by clicking here.
The theme for Annual Conference 2021 is, "Come to the Table" based on Luke 24:35.
Registration will be through Zoom and will be live in February. If you are unfamiliar with Zoom, please consult this brief instructional sheet.
The 2021 ordinands and commissionees will come before the Zoom clergy session and the annual conference to answer Wesley's historic questions and be approved. Two services will be held at Frazer Memorial UMC during the conference. These services will be by invitation only to ensure COVID safety precautions.
The retiring clergy will be honored virtually in the Board of Ordained Ministry Report.
The memorial service will be held at Frazer Memorial UMC on Monday, June 7. Although the presence of families is a special moment, we will not be able to accommodate guests this year. All surviving families may watch through the live stream link. We will remember those who died from April 30, 2019-April 30, 2021.
This year’s missional offering will be a collective effort of four conference ministries. Acts 1:8 reads, “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Following the movement of the Spirit and seeking to be Christ’s witnesses to our community, nation, and throughout the world, we ask that you choose from the following four mission endeavors to support during this annual conference: Blue Lake Camp, Communities of Transformation, AWF Disaster Response Ministry, or Teaming with Tanzania. More details on how to give will be available closer to the conference. Thank you for helping us to be a witness for Christ in all these places.
The awards typically presented at annual conference will be given if a committee made a selection. All awards will be announced through a single presenter and complete recipient profiles will be posted online and in the daily recap.
The working Book of Reports will be available mid-April. Should you wish to order a hard copy, that link will also be available soon. It is essential that you review this publication before logging onto annual conference.
Please note that the deadline to submit proposed changes to the conference standing rules is February 1, 2021. Please make your submissions to Rev. Kathy Knight at pastorkathy@bellsouth.net.
The following elements of annual conference will not occur this year:
-UMCOR kit collection;
-Exhibit displays;
-Guide to Annual Conference, including insert advertisement (a pre-conference pdf packet will be sent to all clergy and lay members with necessary information);
-Guests and clergy spouses will need to utilize the live stream option.
Information will continue to be added to www.awfumc.org/ac2021. We look forward to seeing you through Zoom webinar on Sunday, May 23, 2021 (clergy), and on June 6-9, 2021 (annual conference session).
Mary Catherine Phillips
Director of Communications