With General Conference upon us, the United Methodists of Alabama-West Florida have taken a hands-on approach to participation in the upcoming conference. Not only does the annual conference have a brilliant
delegation to represent itself, it also boasts several volunteers from across the annual conference who will make the trip to Charlotte, North Carolina to give of their time and energy.
Dr. Gene Lammers, Rev. Sheila Bates, Rev. Kelli Hitchman-Craig, and Rev. Ashley Meyer are four key volunteers who will represent Alabama-West Florida at the General Conference. Rev. Ashley Meyer will be serving on the General Conference Secretary’s staff, working with the coordinator of the calendar. Dr. Lammers, Rev. Bates, and Rev. Hitchman-Craig will participate in the conference through their volunteer work with the General Commission of the Status and Role of Women (GCSRW), which oversees monitoring in both committee and in plenary sessions. These volunteers will collect statistical data about the makeup of our global connection while also continuing their work of assisting the church to uphold our standards of inclusivity both in representation and in voice. Monitoring, which happens at all levels of conferencing, is just one way that the church safeguards representation and participation for women, racial, and ethnic groups.
Reflecting on her role at General Conference, Rev. Sheila Bates said, “I really, truly want our church to be inclusive, including women and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color), so being able to monitor for GSCRW is my way of faithfully showing what God is calling the church to do and how the church is supposed to be.” She continued, “It’s our opportunity to look at the challenges before us and how God would have us to grow.” Rev. Bates concluded, “I love being able to build upon our connection and meet new people—a lot of people talk about issues and problems, but fail to talk about the ways that General Conference builds community.”
Dr. Lammers and Rev. Meyer are returning volunteers, both having served at previous General Conferences as volunteers. Dr. Lammers shared, “I volunteered as marshal in 2019, and this is a follow up of that experience—I want to be present for what may happen.” He continued, “I prayed about how I might participate in this General Conference, so I put myself forward to be elected as a lay delegate and was elected as an alternate. Following that, I was looking to be involved in the first week of conference and Dawn Wiggins-Hare, General Secretary at General Commission on the Status and Role of Women plugged me in with monitoring.” His greatest hope for this General Conference is “that it will be a more uplifting and spiritual conference than we’ve had in a long time.”
When asked how she became involved as a General Conference volunteer, Rev. Meyer explained, “In 2012 received a phone call from a seminary friend asking if I could go to conference and help—and I felt like it was just random enough that I needed to follow that.” She shared, “I was asked to bring my gifts, character, integrity, and joy to the situation, and what a joy to be invited to participate in something because of who you are.” Rev. Meyer works with the General Conference Secretary staff, where she is actively engaged with delegations, committees, conference officials, and translators. Meyer joked, “It is the epitome of ‘other duties as assigned.’” She continued, “I like it because I get to go and help— we help the delegates achieve their work and I find that to be really joyful work.”
Rev. Meyer concluded on a hopeful note. She laughed, “My best advice for how to prepare for General Conference is simple: wear comfortable shoes and dresses with pockets.” “Coffee gift cards are so helpful, too,” she shared, “because so much of the work that is required to make conference happen is done without any financial support.” She continued, “But more seriously, prayer is huge… especially when the climate of the room becomes elevated. The way you can help is simply to cover it with prayer. We join Rev. Meyer as we pray for General Conference, our delegates, and our volunteers.
- Dr. Gene Lammers is a lay member from the Southwest District. He has been married to his wife, Cecilia, for 43 years and has 4 children and 6 (almost 7!) grandchildren. Dr. Lammers is a geriatrician and currently serves as a professor of Internal Medicine at USA. He is a lifelong United Methodist who has attended and served 7 United Methodist congregations during his life.
- Rev. Sheila Bates is an ordained Elder in the Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference. She currently serves as the Executive Pastor of Impact Church in Atlanta, Georgia. She will serve as the District Superintendent of the Southwest District. Her previous appointments in addition to Impact UMC include lead pastor at Cokesbury UMC (Pensacola), Dauphin Way UMC (associate), director of faith and leadership formation at the General Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry (GBHEM) and director of Tuskegee Wesley Foundation. She was ordained an elder in the United Methodist Church in 2018. Bates completed her undergraduate work at Suffolk University and her seminary work at Gammon Theological Seminary. She has one adult daughter, Kira.
- Rev. Ashley Meyer is an ordained Elder in the Alabama-West Florida Conference and serves as the Executive Director of United Ministries in Pensacola, Florida. United Ministries primarily serves families with dependent children in financial crisis who are at risk of homelessness by providing financial assistance and engaging in community partnerships to promote stability. They offer hope, encouragement and spiritual support, operating as an agent of grace in the world. Rev. Meyer is a graduate of Birmingham Southern College as well as Duke Divinity School.
- Rev. Kelli Hitchman-Craig is an ordained Elder in Alabama-West Florida and currently serves as an Associate Pastor at Auburn United Methodist Church. She is married to Patrick and they have one beautiful dog, Florence. Rev. Hitchman-Craig is an Atlanta native and a graduate of Duke Divinity School.
If this article leaves you feeling inspired to volunteer for monitoring at the AWFUMC Annual Conference, contact
Rev. Kelli Hitchman-Craig to get started.
Click here to see comprehensive list of AWF volunteers.
