What is the Annual Conference? Sometimes we who have been Methodists for a while forget that newcomers and visitors to our church don't know. Actually it can be a bit confusing. Our "state" organization is referred to as the Florida Annual Conference. It actually covers all of Florida with the exception of the panhandle. They are in the Alabama-North Florida Conference. Then to make it more confusing, once a year we have the annual meeting of our conference and that is also referred to as the Annual Conference. Every clergy in the United Methodist Church is in connection with an annual conference and go to the annual conference (meeting) once a year. For every clergy person there is also a lay person who will go as a delegate so that there is an equal number of clergy and lay people. Your delegate to conference is Don Prince.
What do we do? There is obviously business to be conducted, resolutions to be adopted, the budget of the Florida Annual Conference to vote on, reports to be heard and lots of other business. But more importantly it is a time for us to come together as the total body of the church in Florida and meet together, share experiences and catch up with our friends that we haven't seen in a year. There are also workshops to inform us of more effective ways of doing ministry. The most exciting part of the conference is that this is the time when new elders are ordained in a very moving ordination service. It is worth the trip just to see that. This year, Joe is excited to have been selected to go as a delegate-at-large for our district. Every conference is divided into districts. Florida has nine districts and we are in the South East District. Retired clergy still have a vote, therefore there are at-large delegates from each district to balance that out and keep the voting equal between clergy and lay people. Are you asleep yet? All of this is to say that I will not be in the office for the remainder of this week, June 8-12. However, I will be checking my messages on my cell phone periodically so I will still be reachable. Eric Rolfe will be debuting with the sermon this Sunday and I plan to be back to cheer him on. Come out and support him as well. See you Sunday!
