Commission on the General Conference & The Upper Room
For Immediate Release
April 1, 2024
Prayer guide available for General Conference\
The Upper Room, a ministry of The United Methodist Church, has created A Guide to Prayer for The United Methodist Church General Conference in preparation for the meeting of the legislative body in Charlotte, North Carolina April 23 - May 3.
The devotional guide features contributors from around the world sharing personal experiences that offer new perspectives of how God is at work. The free guide can be used individually or by groups. It is available online at UMCGC.org in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, French and Kiswahili.
“Regardless of our language, physical stance, or the manner in which we pray, we raise our voices in hopeful prayers of unity, mission, and ministry through Jesus Christ for our church,” said Kim Simpson, chair of the Commission on the General Conference. “You may already be familiar with The Upper Room daily devotional guide, but we pray that using this content in a new way to prepare for General Conference will give you the opportunity to know God more deeply. We are grateful to the staff of The Upper Room for providing this guide for our enrichment.”
The daily readings in the prayer guide begin with April 7 and continue through April 23, the start date of General Conference. Publisher Kimberly Orr of The Upper Room said the hope is that the readings, reflections and prayers will offer a path of preparation for holy conferencing at the event.
“In the spirit of John Wesley — who championed unity in diversity —may we intently listen to one another’s stories, share our joys and sorrows with compassion and find common ground in our shared mission of spreading God’s love and grace as we work creatively to make disciples for the transformation of the world,” said Orr.
The Upper Room will provide and staff an on-site prayer room throughout General Conference to offer space and support for quiet reflection and prayer, as well as a booth in the exhibit hall with resources.
Additional resources will be available soon at UpperRoom.org/umc2024.
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About General Conference
The General Conference is the top policy-making body of The United Methodist Church, and meets once every four years to determine the denomination's future direction, consider revisions to church law, and approve plans and budgets for church-wide programs. The next meeting will be held April 23-May 3, 2024, at Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
About The Upper Room
The Upper Room® is a global ministry dedicated to supporting the spiritual life of Christians seeking to know and experience God more fully. From its beginnings as a daily devotional guide, The Upper Room has grown to include publications, programs, prayer support, and other resources to help believers of all ages and denominations move to a deeper level of faith and service. Learn more at UpperRoom.org.
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