March 28, 2019: Leadership Forum Meeting
The Foundation for the Future Task Force has worked since December to monitor the current situation in the global church and to make plans for what comes next. The full scope of the work of the Task Force will be presented to the Leadership Forum at the regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, March 28. The Leadership Forum includes leaders from the Board of Laity, the UMM, the UMW, the conference Personnel Committee, the Board of Ordained Ministry, the conference Trustees, conference finance, communications, congregational development, ministerial services, conference pastoral counselor, the DS’s, and agency representatives. These people have been charged with discerning the path God would have our conference walk, and this is certainly a time when we need their wisdom.
The Leadership Forum will hear a report from the Task Force and offer input that will shape the work still to be done. While the work of the current task force is now complete, in order to provide consistency as we move forward, the Bishop will recommend to the Leadership Forum that the already established Task Force be endorsed to continue meeting to monitor the ongoing situation leading up to General Conference in 2020.
March/April 2019: District Meetings
Every district has a district conference scheduled this Spring. Bishop Bryan will create a video highlighting the information provided today that can be shown at each district conference.
April 2019: Publication of Book of Recommendations and Reports for the 2019 Annual Conference Session
The Book of Recommendations and other information needed for Annual Conference will be published online in April and May. This information will include a proposed plan for the payment of pension liability and a proposed gracious exit plan for a church considering exiting the UMC. It will also include any resolutions that were submitted to the Conference Secretary by March 15.
April/May 2019: Task Force Meetings
The Task Force appointed by the Leadership Forum will continue to meet as needed in April and May.
May 2019: Pre-annual Conference Briefings
We will hold pre-annual conference briefings in each district in May.
June 2-5, 2019: Annual Conference Session
The South Georgia Annual Conference Session will be held in Columbus June 2–5. During this time we will elect delegates to General Conference in 2020. We will also vote on the proposed pension liability plan, a proposed gracious exit plan, and the other business as usual.
Fall 2019: Task Force Meetings
The Task Force appointed by the Leadership Forum will continue to meet through the fall as needed.
November 2019: Leadership Forum Meeting
Leadership Forum will meet on either November 12 or 13 and receive a report from the Task Force.
November/December 2019: Information Meeting
The Leadership Forum will lead a meeting of the Annual Conference at which time the conference will receive updates and make necessary decisions. This meeting will occur after the materials for General Conference 2020 have been published.
Winter/Spring 2020: Task Force Meetings
The Task Force appointed by the Leadership Forum will continue to meet as needed through the end of 2019 and into 2020.
May 5-15, 2020: General Conference
General Conference is scheduled for May 5–15, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minn.
June 7-10, 2020: Annual Conference
Our Annual Conference will be held in Columbus again next year. It is scheduled for June 7 – 10. At this time, we will receive reports from the delegation that attends General Conference next year and as an Annual Conference we will process that information and make any needed decisions.
July 13-17, 2020: Jurisdictional Conference
Jurisdictional Conference will be held at Lake Junaluska July 13 – 17, 2020.
May 18, 2016: General Conference asks bishops to find a way forward.
October 24, 2016: Council of Bishops announces members of the Committee on a Way Forward.
January 23-26, 2017: First meeting of the Commission on a Way Forward is held in Atlanta.
January 14-21, 2018: South Georgia Conference Week of Prayer for the Commission on a Way Forward.
January - April 2018: District Dialogues
District Superintendents and District Lay Leaders lead district sessions for laity and clergy to discuss the Commission on a Way Forward's three sketches.
March 19-22, 2018: Commission on a Way Forward, Meeting #8
Purpose: Based on the Council of Bishops feedback, the Commission will create a final draft report to send to the Council of Bishops.
April 29 – May 4, 2018: Council of Bishops Meeting
Purpose: Receive the final draft report from Commission on a Way Forward. Consider, amend, and vote on final report to go to the 2019 Special Session of General Conference. Additionally, the Council of Bishops will draft talking points for Bishops to use at Annual Conferences as well as a press release to release to the church.
May 14-17, 2018: Commission on a Way Forward, Meeting #9
Purpose: Receive final report from the Council of Bishops and plan for the Commission to support Bishops and provide presentations to Delegations as needed.
May 18, 2018 (no later than): Final Report Completed
Final report is sent to publisher and translators to translate and put into full electronic release format (total time needed to translate and paginate will be based on size of report)
May 23-25, 2018: Judicial Council Meeting
June 6 - 8, 2018: Petition Submission
Petitions for the 2019 special session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church may be submitted to the petitions secretary through July 8. Read press release | Instructions for submission
July 31, 2018: Final Report Released in all 4 official languages of General Conference
Final report in full release format is officially sent to the Secretary of the General Conference and released electronically by the Council of Bishops to the whole church.
Summer and Fall of 2018: Preparation
Delegations meet to read report and prepare.
August and September of 2018: District Meetings
Bishop Bryan holds district meetings for laity and clergy to discuss the final report from the Council of Bishops.
August 16 - Northwest District | 6:30 pm - 8 pm at St. Luke UMC, Columbus
August 20 - Northeast District | 6:00 pm - 8 pm at Pittman Park UMC, Statesboro
August 27 - South Central District | 6:30 pm - 8 pm at Valdosta FUMC
September 6 - Coastal District | 6:30 pm - 8 pm at Hinesville FUMC
September 9 - North Central District | 6 pm - 7:30 pm at Riverside UMC, Macon
September 18 - Southwest District | 6:30 pm - 8 pm at Avalon UMC, Albany
October 2018: Delegation Listening Posts
Delegation provides opportunities for South Georgia United Methodists to share their thoughts on the Way Forward.
October 11 The Chapel, Brunswick 10 am – Noon
October 17 Centenary UMC, Macon 10 am – Noon
October 25 Cordele First UMC 10 am – Noon
October 23-26, 2018: Judicial Council Meeting
December 2018: Foundation for the Future Task Force
Formation of the South Georgia Conference Foundation for the Future Task Force
Meetings: December 7, January 7, January 24, February 8, February 18, March 3-4
February 23-26, 2019: Special Session of the General Conference
Laity and clergy delegates will prayerfully consider and act upon a way forward.
March 9, 2019: Information Session
An information session will be held at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton, GA to talk about the outcome of the 2019 called General Conference Session.