GENERAL CONFERENCE 19 – Listening Sessions for Fall of 2018

Why is there a special General Conference coming February 23 – 26, 2019 in St. Louis, only a year before the regularly scheduled 2020 session in Minneapolis?  How might my church be affected by this talk about choosing among a One Church, Connectional Conference and Traditionalist plan?  Will other possibilities emerge? Change is coming for The United Methodist Church and there will be meetings this fall to help Wisconsin UMs understand what is being proposed.

Formed following authorization by General Conference 2016, the Commission on a Way Forward identified three possible options, or plans, for our denomination as we move into the future. Read press release  Read report in English  The Council of Bishops has recommended adoption of the One Church plan.

The Wisconsin Delegation to GC 2019 is hosting nine educational and listening sessions around the state to allow feedback about the proposals. These sessions for interested clergy and laity will each last between 60-90 minutes.  The dates and locations are:

  • Sunday, September 30, 3:00 pm, Webster Grace UMC, 25603 Muskey Avenue.

  • Monday, October 1, 7 pm, Eau Claire Lake Street UMC, 337 Lake Street.

  • Saturday, October 6, 10:00 am, Wausau Wesley UMC, 1101 Elm Street.

  • Tuesday, October 9, 7:00 pm, Onalaska UMC, 212 4thAvenue North.

  • Saturday, October 20, 10:00 am, Kaukauna Peace UMC, 2300 E. Wisconsin Avenue.

  • Tuesday, October 23, 7:00 pm, Waukesha First UMC, 121 Wisconsin Avenue.

  • Thursday, October 25, 7:00 pm, Sun Prairie UMC, 702 North Street.

  • Saturday, October 27, 10:00 am, Janesville Cargill UMC, 2000 Wesley Avenue.

  • Saturday, November 3, 10:00 am, Dodgeville UMC, 327 N. Iowa Street.

 

In addition, invitations have been extended to Conference boards, agencies and other groups to provide their feedback to Delegation members.

The purpose of all this information gathering is for the Delegation to hear from the diversity of membership which makes up Wisconsin United Methodism. The desire is to better understand thinking and feeling within our annual conference about our denomination’s future.

The Wisconsin Conference Delegation to the 2019 General Conference consists of six voting delegates, along with reserves. Clergy are Dan Dick, Sam Royappa, Steve Zekoff and first reserve Amanda Stein.  Lay delegates are Lisa King, Barbara Dick, Gail Burgess and first reserve Katie Crise.  There are additional reserves who would serve should any of these eight be unable to attend.  In order elected, they are clergy Jorge Mayorga, Dan Schwerin, Jeremy Deaner, George Kafer and Jenny Arneson; laity Tom Popp, Judy Vasby, John Lawson and Julie Schubring.  All remain engaged in the Delegation’s preparations for the upcoming General Conference.

Rev. Steve Zekoff

Clergy Delegate to General Conference

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