Welcome

• Lilla Marigza, moderator, United Methodist Communications

View Welcome, Opening Prayer and Greetings

Opening prayer

• Christine Flick, delegate, Southern German Conference, and member, Commission on the General Conference

Greetings

• Kim Simpson, chairperson of the Commission on the General Conference
• Dan Krause, general secretary/CEO of United Methodist Communications

General Conference overview (VIEW)

Go in-depth to learn about how General Conference works; the legislative process; legislative committees; the path of a petition; the Advance Daily Christian Advocate and DCA; voting and more.

• Rev. Gary Graves, secretary of the General Conference
• Rev. Abby Parker Herrera, petitions secretary of the General Conference
• Brian Sigmon, editor of The Daily Christian Advocate

Watch the General Conference overview

Robert’s Rules of Order

The parliamentary process will be explained and questions answered.

• Maurice S. Henderson, parliamentarian of the General Conference 

Watch presentation on Robert's Rules of Order

Welcome and Orientation to Charlotte, North Carolina

Hear from the hosts of General Conference and pay a virtual visit to the Queen City.

• Bishop Kenneth H. Carter Jr., resident bishop, Charlotte Area (Western North Carolina Conference)
• Bishop Connie Mitchell Shelton, resident bishop, Raleigh Area (North Carolina Conference)
• Wanda Musgrave, co-chair, host committee, Western North Carolina Conference
• Rev. Trish Archer, co-chair, host committee, North Carolina Conference

Watch the Orientation to Charlotte, NC

Legislation: Our witness – Part 1

General Conference will act on proposals addressing the treatment of vulnerable people by the church, including an apology to victims and survivors for sexual misconduct and an update to the resolution on sexual misconduct. A proposal to add “gender” to Paragraph 4 of the Constitution also will be covered.

• Dawn Wiggins Hare, general secretary/CEO, General Commission on the Status and Role of Women;
• Bishop James E. Swanson, interim general secretary/CEO, General Commission on United Methodist Men;
• Sally Vonner, general secretary/CEO, United Women in Faith;
• Sung-ok Lee, connectional officer, United Women in Faith (for Q&A)

Watch Legislation Overview 1

Legislation: Our witness – Part 2

Major items for General Conference will include the Revised Social Principles; a constitutional amendment regarding racism; an apology to indigenous people and Native people of Hawaii; renewing the Book of Resolutions; and resolutions related to climate change, conflict, immigration and other topics.

• Rev. Giovanni Arroyo, general secretary/CEO, General Commission on Religion and Race;
• John Hill, interim general secretary/CEO, General Board of Church and Society;
• Sam Hodges, news reporter, UM News, United Methodist Communications

Watch Legislation Overview 2

Closing prayer

• Paul Gomez, delegate, Desert Southwest Conference, and manager, Hispanic/Latino Seeker Communications, United Methodist Communications

Watch our closing prayer

Welcome

Opening prayer

• Rev. Harriet Bryan, delegate, Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference, and senior pastor, Madison Street United Methodist Church, Clarksville, Tennessee

View Welcome and Opening Prayer

Tips for first-time delegates

For first-time delegates and veterans alike, this session will provide practical information on traveling to General Conference; what to expect when you arrive; meals; financial reimbursements; available medical care resources; and where to go for help.

• Sara Hotchkiss, business manager of the General Conference;
• Rev. Ken Nelson, delegate and annual conference secretary, South Carolina Conference

Receive Tips for First-Time Delegates

Legislation: Our connection

Legislation related to the structure of the church will include regionalization plans; separation plans that were originally submitted for 2020; the creation of a new central conference; a proposal for adding bishops; and changing the makeup of the Connectional Table. This session will also look at our connection beyond the denomination with a proposal for full communion with the Episcopal Church.

• Judi Kenaston, chief connectional ministries officer, United Methodist Connectional Table;
• Dr. Kasongo Peniel, member, Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters;
• Heather Hahn, assistant editor, UM News, United Methodist Communications

Watch Legislation Presentation

Our ministry plans

Leaders in the church’s work to serve diverse communities will give overviews of the Asian-American Language Ministry Plan, the Korean Ministry Plan, the Native American Comprehensive Plan, the National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry, the Pacific Islander Ministry Plan and Strengthening the Black Church for the 21^st Century.

• Bishop LaTrelle Easterling, Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware conferences;
• Dr. Michael L. Bowie, national director, Strengthening the Black Church for the 21^st Century;
• Rev. Paul H. Chang, executive director, Korean Ministry Plan;
• Rev. Chebon Kernell, executive director, Native American Comprehensive Plan;
• Dr. Dana Lyles, director of multiethnic ministries, General Board of Global Ministries;
• Rev. Dr. Lydia Muñoz, executive director, National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry

  View Presentation from our Ministry Plans

Legislation: Our leadership

General Conference will consider diverse legislation addressing leadership in the church, including proposals affecting clergy; a global young people’s network; a new retirement program from Wespath and more.

• Andrew Q. Hendren, general secretary/CEO, Wespath Benefits and Investments;
• Rev. Dr. Trip Lowery, associate general secretary, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry;
• Christopher Wilterdink, executive director of congregational vitality and intentional discipleship, Discipleship Ministries;
• Rev. Taylor Burton Edwards, director, Ask The UMC, United Methodist Communications
• Dale Jones, managing director, church relations, Wespath (for Q&A)

Learn about Leadership Legislation

Our budget 

Adopting a budget is a primary task of General Conference. This session will familiarize you with the budget being proposed and how the approval process works.

• Rev. Moses Kumar, general secretary and treasurer, General Council on Finance and Administration;
• Rick King, chief financial officer, General Council on Finance and Administration
• Brandy Bivens, chief communications and marketing officer, General Council on Finance and Administration

Watch the Budget Presentation

Our community together: Engaging in dialogue on difficult topics

How can we embody Christ for one another amid disagreements? As the church, we have practical, faith-based tools that can help us engage in dialogue on difficult topics. A panel organized through the Courageous Conversations ministry at Discipleship Ministries tells more.

• Rev. Dr. M. Scott Hughes, associate general secretary, Discipleship Ministries;
• S. Micheal Pope, lay leader, California-Nevada Conference;
• Rev. Dr. Karin Walker, senior pastor, Fallston United Methodist Church, Fallston, MD

Learn about Engaging Around Difficult Topics

“Looking Ahead to General Conference”

• Bishop Thomas Bickerton, president, United Methodist Council of Bishops

Hear from Bishop Bickerton

Closing prayer and adjournment

• Rev. Gary Graves, secretary of the General Conference
• Rev. Gary Henderson, delegate, East Ohio Conference, and chief relationship officer, United Methodist Communication

Join in our closing prayer