*UMNS story by Rich Peck

www.umns.umc.org

TAMPA, Fla. (UMNS) -- Nearly 1,000 United Methodist delegates gathered April 24 beside Tampa Bay for a 10-day conference to consider 1,200 petitions that will determine the manner in which the 12.1-million-member denomination orders its ministry, structures its agencies and addresses social justice issues for the next four years.

Delegates from the United States, Europe, Africa and the Philippines opened the session with the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper and an address by Charlotte (N.C.) Area Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster, president of the Council of Bishops.

In keeping with the seaside location of the Tampa Convention Center, worship services over the next two weeks will recall the many occasions Jesus' ministry occurred by the Sea of Galilee. Sights and sounds from three large screens across the front of the assembly hall enable delegates to feel as if they are seated on a seaside.

In the opening service, Goodpaster recalled how James and John, the sons of Zebedee, "just walked off the job and went off with this itinerant rabbi from Nazareth.

"Like the first four by the Sea of Galilee, we have gathered beside Tampa Bay to clean and mend our nets," said the bishop. "It is our business because once every four years we have this need to get together to amend and fix the nets we know as United Methodism."

Goodpaster suggested that the analogy of net fishing may make some church members uncomfortable. "Our tendency has been to fish for only one fish at a time -- a certain kind of person, namely one who is like us -- whatever 'us' is. But the mission on which Jesus sends us is to embrace, and live out the good news of God's love for all the world, and for all people wherever and whoever they may be. It is our mission. And immediately."

 Visit the official General Conference page (gc2012.umc.org), the United Methodist News Service page (umns.umc.org) and the General Conference blog page (gc2012conversations.com) to follow stories as they break during The United Methodist Church's legislative assembly. To listen to sounds of the event, go to the GC2012 podcast page.

Visit http://www.gc2012conversations.com/ to read blogs and leave comments.

The Digital Lounge is "where United Methodist leaders and newsmakers pull up a chair for a casual conversation about what's going on behind the scenes of General Conference."

Videos are updated daily.  Click here to visit The Digital Lounge of GC2012.

Despite one of the two young people scheduled to present the Young People's Address being denied a Visa to attend GC2012 in person, the two young people worked through the wonders of modern-day technology to present an empowering message: Charged...Rooted...United!

Click here to listen to an audio podcast of their presentation or view the entire morning plenary session video here.  The Young People's Address uses video throughout, which you will be able to see in the archived video of the morning plenary session.

A UMNS Report  

TAMPA, Fla. (UMNS) - Five African teenage refugees who survived a massacre and committed to a new life in Christ as they were baptized in a chilly New Hampshire river are part of what United Methodist Bishop Peter Weaver calls a "resurrection revolution."

Delivering the Episcopal Address to the 2012 General Conference April 25, Weaver, who oversees the denomination's New England area, pointed out that New Testament scholar N.T. Wright called the mission of the church the "outworking" of resurrection.

View photos from General Conference on the United Methodist News Service's Photostream:

Sunday, 4/22

Monday, 4/23

Tuesday, 4/24 

• General Conference 2012 officially begins
• First Service Recalls Jesus' Seaside Ministry
• How To Increase Accountability 
• Bishop has sole authority, top court says
• Reframing the Call to Action
• Faith communities can overcome AIDS epidemic
• Look at governance, not programs
• Q&A: Music, worship at General Conference
• GC2012: Bishops limit meetings, shift roles
• Bishops urged to bring peace to GC2012
• Do we understand how the church works?
• The plan for congregational vitality
•  Pension-plan decisions affect generations
•  Book of Resolutions guides church ministry
• Perspectives on sexuality debate
• GC2012: Will the UMC say 'I do' to all?  

 Additional News Stories can be found here.

The  Pre-Annual Conference Packet is now available for downloading online.  It includes the following:

Section I - General Site, Badge and Meal Information, Bishop's Offerings, Secretary's Welcome, Conference Agenda, etc.

Section II - Annual Reports of the Committees, Task Forces, Boards and Agencies

Section III - Recommendations to the 2012 Annual Conference

*Note: Clergy members will not be mailed a legislation packet as per 2006 Annual Conference mandate.  Lay Members will be mailed the packet during the week of April 23, 2012.

Visit the Annual Conference webpage to download the packet by section: http://www.gnjumc.org/pages/detail/449.  Scroll down on the page to find the section labeled "2012 PRE-CONFERENCE LEGISLATION PACKET"

Registration instructions for the 2012 Annual Conference were mailed to all Lay Members on Wednesday, February 8th.  The registration packet which also contains the Conference agenda, hotel/meal instructions and driving directions was not mailed to Clergy Members in keeping with a 2006 Annual Conference mandate to reduce postage costs. Clergy may obtain their registration materials at the Conference website (http://www.gnjumc.org/pages/detail/449 ). 

Registration is available at the Online Event Registration site with credit/debit card, or by mail with paper form and check.

To encourage timely registration this year, a Late Fee has been added to those registrations received after March 30, 2012 deadline.  Our hotel contracts require room assignments be made on a rotating basis; early registration does not necessarily mean that you will be housed in an onsite hotel!

If you have questions regarding housing or meals, please send an e-mail to gnjacreservation@aol.com.  All other questions regarding the conference should be directed to Dr. Michael Harriott: 973-441-3765 or  conferencesecretary@comcast.net  

The 2012 Greater NJ Annual Conference will be held at the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania on May 31st to June 2. It is exciting to see the various ministries represented, and we encourage you to be creative and showcase your particular ministry with informative displays. Please register by May 6th, 2012 To ensure your space. Spaces will be granted to registrants in the order they are received. Requests received after the spaces are filled will be put on a waiting list on a space-available basis. We thank you in advance for your work in interpreting the mission and ministries of the Annual Conference.

To download the registration form and for additional information visit: http://www.gnjumc.org/news/detail/55

You can also find additional information about Annual Conference, as it becomes available, at http://www.gnjumc.org/pages/detail/449

The Sessions Team is looking for local churches or groups who would be willing to be of service to the Annual Conference in collecting leftover food at lunch time during the sessions on May 31-June 2. The understanding is that the collected food would be taken to food banks and/or soup kitchens or the like for distribution to those in need. If you are willing to perform this ministry on any or all of the days of Annual Conference, please contact Glenn Ferguson, Site Team Co-Chair, at mumc.pastor@comcast.net.

June 9, 2012 

Greetings in the precious and mighty name of our Lord Jesus the Christ!

I would like to invite all conference-wide leadership to gather for a "Conference Day of Learning: Our Celebration of God's Call to Serve" event at Calvary Korean United Methodist Church in East Brunswick on Saturday, June 9^th, 2012. In our celebration, there will be worship with an "installation" of all newly elected committee members of the Annual Conference, panel discussion with representatives from various General Boards and Agencies, and group workshops.

The schedule of the day will look like:

Worship                     9:00 am - 10:15 am

Panel Discussion    10:15 am - 11:15 am

Group Workshop      11:15 am - 12:30 pm  

More detailed information will be provided soon.

The main speakers for our worship and panel discussion will be Ms. Erin Hawkins (General Commission on Religion and Race) and Mr. Thomas Kemper (General Board of Global Ministry). Let us come, celebrate, and be equipped so that we can serve the people of God, that have been entrusted with our service and leadership, more faithfully and effectively.

Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." (Mt. 9:37) However, with God's grace, we have hundreds and hundreds of "workers" who are willing to work in God's vineyard to bear many fruits in this Annual Conference. Thanks be to God!

Rev. Sung H. Ahn, Director of Connectional Ministry

Greater New Jersey Annual Conference

Spark12 is looking for creative, innovative projects that push the boundaries of what we think of when we consider ministry at work in the world. Spark12 supports justice oriented, community-based projects proposed by young people who are actively looking for a way to move that dream into reality. If you are a young adult (18-35) who has been looking for a way to get your idea off the proverbial ground, you may want to see if Spark12 is for you. If you are no longer a young adult, please consider sharing this possibility with those you know.

We are looking for people who are able to provide a vision with some depth - you'll need to be able to clearly explain how your project will transform the world. In addition, we expect you to have the drive and focus to turn your vision into reality. Starting something new is always hard work, but we know it can be easier when people are willing to walk alongside you for a while.

The application is available now. Submit your project idea by June 29, 2012. Inspire us with your vision.

May 9, 2012

4:00 - 5:00 p.m. eastern time
  

 
You may also visit our website for webinar details:
www.unitedmethodistinsurance.org/events/church-insurance-webinar-1/
 

Cooperative School of Christian Mission 2012 Events: 

"That All May Have Life"

July 6 to 8, 2012  Georgian Court University
Lakewood, NJ 

July 20 to 22, 2012  Kean University
Union, NJ

What is Cooperative School of Christian Mission?

•  General Conference 2012 opening worship
•  Accountability takes center stage
•  Working toward an AIDS-free world
•  Only bishops can set conference dates
•  Wisdom of the ages
•  O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing
•  Reframing the 'Call to Action'
•  Look at 'governance,' not programs
•  Join the virtual conversation

•  Keepin' up with GC2012
•  Chancellors caution about restructuring
•  Change to Call to Action plan expected
•  Bishops restructure, limit council meetings
•  United Methodists have 'knowledge gap'
•  Call to Action - and passion
•  Spanish-language resources

•  GC2012: 'Set-aside' bishop a wise move
•  GC2012: 'Guided by business or mission?'
•  Native American Ministries Sunday
•  World Malaria Day coming
•  GC2012: Immigration rally April 28
•  Shari L. Rates to preach on 'Day 1'
•  Worship resources for Mother's Day
•  Korean caucus concerned about guaranteed appointments
•  Church planting campaign on fast pace
•  UMC.org covers General Conference

•  Pan-Methodist vote set for GC2012
•  Bishops urged to bring peace to GC2012
•  'What if' no guaranteed appointments?
•  Clergy proposals fall short
•  U.S. food aid policies must change
•  UMC.org covers General Conference