South Georgia Annual Conference
Thursday, June 7

The morning opened with music led by the Conference Youth Summer Leadership Team followed by a Bible Study presented by Rev. Hugo Magallanes, Director of Hispanic Ministry for the South Georgia Conference. 

Business Session 

During the business session today, the conference:

•  heard the results of the balloting for the at-large positions to the Conference Nominations Committee.  Elected as clergy representatives were Rev. Shane Green and Rev. Leland Collins.  Elected as lay representatives were Mr. Steve Rumford, Mr. Carl Childs, Dr. James Crosse, Dr. Charlene Black , Mr. Sam Baker, and Mr. Harry Shearouse.

•  heard the report of the South Georgia United Methodist Foundation. The Foundation presented new bylaws and Articles of Incorporation to govern the Foundation.

• heard the result of the sixteenth ballot: Rev. Ramon Hernandez was elected to the Jurisdictional Conference clergy delegation. The seventeenth ballot was taken.

• approved the means by which undesignated funds recently received by the Conference Trustees will be allocated.  

• heard the result of the seventeenth ballot: no election. The eighteenth ballot was taken.

• expressed appreciation to Dr. Edwin Chase for his service as Conference Pastoral Counselor on December 31, 2006 .  Rev. Deborah Wight-Knight , who was appointed as the Conference Pastoral Counselor effective January 1, 2007 , updated lay and clergy members to several important items related to the Pastoral Counseling Services. 

• heard the result of the eighteenth ballot: no election. The nineteenth ballot was taken.

• highlighted two outreach ministries undertaken by Albany First UMC this year.  Project Redemption is refurbishing a home and helping a family re-establish itself.  Sunday Supper with our Neighbors is reaching several hundred poor persons each week.

• celebrated New and Revitalized Congregational Development within the bounds of the South Georgia Conference. Dr. Tim Bagwell, director of NRCD, shared that the congregations under the umbrella of NRCD have a combined average worship attendance of 4,455.  This is equal to a district's average morning worship attendance.  Also during the report, an amendment to the policy regarding the disposition from the sale of closed or abandoned churches was approved. 

• heard the result of the nineteenth ballot: no election. The twentieth ballot was taken.

• heard about a new effort called United Methodist Leadership Scholars, which is intended to increase the number of students enrolling and benefiting from an education in a United Methodist college or university.

• recognized Rev. Jay Tucker who is concluding a very fruitful ministry at Georgia Southern University Wesley Foundation and moving into the pastoral ministry.

• highlighted the significant ministry of Epworth By The Sea. Dr. Charles Adams, Epworth Superintendent, introduced the Square Foot Club, which will help pay for the newly acquired property near Epworth.

• heard the result of the twentieth ballot: Rev. Jimmy Cason was elected to serve on the Jurisdictional Conference clergy delegation. A motion was passed that the top three vote recipients be elected as alternates to the Jurisdictional Conference without the requirement of the majority vote. The twenty-first ballot was taken.

• heard the results of the twenty-first ballot: Rev. Marcia Cochran, Rev. Beverly Flowers , and Rev. Ronnie Wills were elected to serve as alternates to the Jurisdictional Conference clergy delegation.

•  celebrated with individuals who have received awards from various agencies and ministries throughout the conference. Click here for a list of awards and award recipients.

•  watched a video highlighting the projects in which members participated during the Day of Service.

•  showed appreciation for the hard work and gracious hospitality of the Savannah Local Arrangements Committee as well as the tellers who worked hard during this year's election.

• accepted an invitation from Rev. Ronnie Culpepper, Columbus District Superintendent, Dr. Hal Brady, senior minister of St. Luke in Columbus who will chair the local arrangements committee, and Mr. Mark Shelnutt, member of St. Luke , to go to Columbus for the 2008 Annual Conference session.

Service of Sending Forth  

Annual Conference 2007 ended with a Service of Sending Forth as Bishop Watson gave a challenge and the new appointments were read. 

The 2008 Annual Conference will be held in Columbus June 8-11, 2008.