April 24, 2012

Keep Our Delegates in Your Prayers Over the Next Two Weeks

General Conference 2012April 24 is the first big day of General Conference and Bishop Linda Lee and our delegates are there already hard at work. Our lay delegates to General Conference include Lisa King, Dorthy Radley, and William Stimeling. Our clergy delegates to General Conference include Dan Dick, Amanda Stein and Steve Zekoff. Other Conference representatives are also there in a variety of capacities, including Judy Vasby, Steve Polster, Sam Royappa, Gail Burgess, John Lawson, Jennifer Southworth, Jorge Mayorga Solis, Mary Beth Byrne, Donna Veatch, Jerry Lipka and Deborah Thompson (Michele Virnig will be joining the group next week). Please keep them all in your prayers as they faithfully represent our Wisconsin Conference during this important event in the life of our Church, when the top policymaking body of the worldwide United Methodist Church meets to determine the denomination’s future direction for the next four years.

In total, nearly a thousand delegates and an estimated 2,500 visitors will gather at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla. today through May 4th for the Conference. The theme of the 2012 conference is “Make Disciples of Jesus Christ to Transform the World.” During the 11-day session, delegates from around the world will consider more than 1,100 legislative petitions, set policies, approve plans and budgets, and handle other business. As in the U.S. Congress, the bulk of General Conference business is conducted in legislative committees, which receive petitions, debate them and determine whether to approve, amend, combine or disapprove them for recommendation to the full body of General Conference. The committee work is conducted this week, and the voting process will be conducted next week.

General Conference 2012 officially opens at 3 p.m. Central Time today with a worship celebration. All Bishops, including Bishop Linda Lee, with be serving Holy Communion. Preaching will be Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster of the Charlotte (N.C.) Area and president of the Council of Bishops. You can view the live video streaming at gc2012.umc.org. Boston area Bishop Peter Weaver will deliver the Episcopal Address during a plenary session beginning at 7:00 a.m. Central Time on Wednesday, April 25, followed by the Laity Address and Young People’s Address. Delegates will also participate in “An Act of Repentance toward Healing Relationships with Indigenous Peoples.” The service is intended to begin the process of reconciliation between The United Methodist Church and indigenous peoples. It will take place on Friday, April 27, at 6:30 p.m. Central Time.  “We Need a River: A Plenary Celebration and Challenge of the Mission and Ministry of The United Methodist Church” will take place Sunday, April 29, at 6 p.m. Central Time. Delegates and guests will hear about the many ways in which The United Methodist Church is in mission and ministry around the world.

It was also announced by UMCOM today that there will be a surprise Malaria Mosquito Dance Mob on the floor of the Conference at 9 a.m. Central Time April 25 to raise awareness for the effects of malaria. This coincides with World Malaria Day, which is a worldwide observance for the global community to recognize, stand together and fight a preventable disease that claims the life of a child every 60 seconds.

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Best regards,

Michele Virnig, Wisconsin Conference Director of Communications