•  adopted a conference Safe Sanctuaries policy.

•  heard the result of the fifth ballot: The Honorable J. Taylor Phillips was elected to the General Conference laity delegation.

•  heard the Cabinet Report given by Rev. Jimmy Cason, dean of the Cabinet.

•  was introduced to a new evangelism DVD resource prepared by the Conference Outreach Team. This “ By All Means” training resource is intended to assist local church leaders in training members to share their faith in today's culture. 

•  approved the District Study Task Force with an amendment from the Conference Personnel Committee that the Conference Pastoral Counselor be moved to a full time position.

•  approved a motion to “empower and direct the Bishop and Cabinet to form a study committee of four persons to engage in dialogue with the North Georgia Annual Conference study committee of four persons.  These persons and this committee are charged to study conference lines between the two annual conferences and bring to each of the 2008 sessions of the Annual Conferences a recommendation." 

•  heard the result of the sixth ballot: Rev. Mike McAfee was elected to the General Conference clergy delegation and Mr. Steve Rumford was elected to the General Conference lay delegation. The seventh ballot was taken.

•  greeted Major General Bill Caldwell, spouse of Rev. Stephanie Caldwell, and showed their appreciation for his service. Major General Caldwell is an American military officer who until May 2007 served as chief spokesman and Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Effects for the Multi-National Force in Iraq . It has been announced that Caldwell will become the future commanding general of the Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth in 2007 and promoted to the rank of lieutenant general.

Memorial Service
A Memorial Service for those faithful servants who have served in our Conference was held on Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 .  Dr. Don Kea was the preacher for the service.  Communion was served following the naming of the honored deceased.  Those being remembered included: 

Ministers
Samuel V. Taylor
Lawrence Edward Houston
J. Paul Barrett
Carlton H. Donaldson
Jacob Sanchez Quiambo
Clarence L. Cawthon
Lucien Willis Miller, Jr.
L. Keith Turner
George Roy Richter
W. Carlton Carruth
Ronald O. Clark
John Sedwick Wetzel
William A. Sanders
Robert W. Hendrix
Norman Ashworth

Spouses
Evelyn Haisten
Rose M. Allen
Lillian Jeanette McClellan
Bessie Leigh Dent
Bobby Fulford
Cleo W. Underwood
Sophia Scott
Lois T. Nance
Harry White, Sr.
Mattie Mae Mathis
Anne Zeigler
Ruby Drake
Jane Wall Cariker
Jewel H. Penland
Gertrude G. Christian
Harriet Dunlap
Jessie Seckinger
Elia M. Harrell

Business Session

During the business session this afternoon, the Conference:

•  heard the results of the seventh ballot: Mr. Steve Rumford was elected to the General Conference lay delegation. The eighth ballot was taken.

•  highlighted the service of our men and women in uniform who are serving in extension ministries. Chaplain Lt. Col. Matt Woodbery, US Army, addressed the conference expressing his appreciation for the support of this Annual Conference while he has been deployed overseas.  He introduced a video report from Chaplain Captain Wyne Hutchings, US Army, who is serving in Iraq to show how souls and circumstances are being redeemed through this extension ministry.

• approved the Equitable Compensation report as amended.

• heard the result of the eighth ballot: Dr. Brad Brady was elected to the General Conference clergy delegation. The ninth ballot was taken.

• took action on the church closing of Nichols UMC while also celebrating the impact this church has had on many people in the South Georgia Conference.

• highlighted the significance of Disaster Response Work Teams through a Vision Celebration Moment. Mr. Chris Cumbest from the Mississippi Conference was present to give an update on the tremendous need for work teams in Mississippi and how South Georgia United Methodists can be involved.

• heard the results of the ninth ballot: Mr. Richard Shinhoster and Mrs. Lee Bush were elected to the Jurisdictional Conference lay delegation. The tenth ballot was taken.

• greeted Bishop Bevil Jones, retired, Jan Love, Dean of Candler School of Theology and Dr. Walter McGelvey, President of Gammon School of Theology.

• celebrated the ministry of Alice Smith, editor of the Wesleyan Christian Advocate. Alice will be retiring this month after being part of the voice of South Georgia United Methodism for 25 years, 7 of those as the editor of the Advocate. Jim Nelson will be the new editor of the Advocate beginning July 1.

• heard the results of the tenth ballot: Rev. Robert Beckum was elected to the General Conference clergy delegation. The eleventh ballot was taken.