2025 Annual Conference
2025 Annual Conference
“Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise.”
Jeremiah 17:14 NRSVue
The 2025 Annual Conference for The United Methodists of Greater New Jersey is
May 18-20, 2025, at the Wildwood Convention Center, NJ.
The 2025 Pre-conference Workbook is coming soon.
Voting and Badge information
Rules of Order
Agenda for Sunday, May 18
| 1:00 p.m. | Open Registration & Fellowship Exhibits |
| 4:00 p.m. | Clergy Executive Session – Ballrooms Laity Session – West Hall |
| 5:00 p.m. | Clergy Dinner – Ballrooms Laity Dinner – East Hall |
| 7:00 p.m. | Commissioning and Ordination Worship & Service of Passage – West Hall |
Agenda for Monday, May 19
| 7:00 a.m. | Breakfast on your own Group prearranged breakfasts |
| 7:45 a.m. | Communion on the Beach – Convention Center Deck Ocean Side |
| 8:15 a.m. | Praise and Worship – West Hall |
| 8:30 a.m. | Early Morning Bible Study – West Hall |
| 9:15 a.m. | Organizing the Conference |
| 9:30 a.m. | Welcome from the Mayor of Wildwood |
| 9:30 a.m. | State of the Church Report |
| 10:00 a.m. | Business and Legislation – GNJ Parental Leave Policy and Procedures; Resolution for DCOMs To Receive Full Demographic Info; Amend Rule 13; GNJ Arrearage Policy; Adjusting Threshold for Journey of Hope; Transparency for a Safer GNJ; Safe Sanctuaries 2025; Discount for Retired Clergy and Survivors; Church Closures |
| 11:00 a.m. | Service of Remembrance |
| 12:00 p.m. | Lunch – East Hall and East Deck Bishop’s Luncheon with memorial service families |
| 1:30 p.m. | Praise and Worship – West Hall |
| 1:45 p.m. | Business and Legislation – Pension and Health Benefits Recommendations 2025; 2026 Budget; Constitutional Amendments; Additional Moving Expenses for GNJ Clergy Appointed out of State; Resolution for Timely Dispersal of Conference Journal; Resolution for Clergy Meetings at Annual Conference; Resolution for a Comprehensive Nominations Report; Bereavement Leave for All Clergy and Lay Staff |
| 3:00 p.m. | Financial Taskforce Report |
| 3:30 p.m. | Monitoring Report |
| 3:45 p.m. | Cabinet Report |
| 4:30 p.m. | Mission Project |
| 5:45 p.m. | Adjourn for the Day |
| 6:30 p.m. | Retiree & Ordinand Dinner Dinner for groups and individuals at the convention center (pre-arranged) |
Agenda for Tuesday, May 20
| 7:00 a.m. | Breakfast on your own Group prearranged breakfasts |
| 7:45 a.m. | Communion on the Beach – Convention Center Deck Ocean Side |
| 8:15 a.m. | Praise and Worship – West Hall |
| 8:30 a.m. | Early Morning Bible Study – West Hall |
| 9:00 a.m. | Reading of the Appointments – West Hall |
| 9:30 a.m. | Business and Legislation – Trustees Enabling Resolution; Nominations & Leadership Report; Advanced Specials; Minimum Equitable Salary; Parsonage Standards |
| 11:00 a.m. | Closing Worship with Holy Communion |
| 12:30 p.m. | Optional Joint Communion with EPA&GNJ led by Bishop Moore-Koikoi (Ballroom) |
| 1:00 p.m. | Refreshments available |
GNJ Annual Conference Focus Groups
Order of Elders – The Order of Elders Coordinating Committee would like to invite all active and retired Elders to a continental breakfast on Monday, May 19, at 7am, as an expression of gratitude for the work you do to God’s glory, and to provide a time for connecting with and supporting one another. We will affirm officers for 2025-2026 and discuss engagement opportunities for the upcoming year. To attend you must register when you sign up for the Annual Conference.
Drew Theological School – All are welcome to attend! Come and join us for a continental breakfast on Monday, May 19, at 7am. To attend you must register when you sign up for the Annual Conference. Registration is limited to 50 people.
UM Stewardship Foundation of GNJ – Continental breakfast – Monday, May 19, at 7am.
Join us for a continental breakfast as we present on developing multiple income streams for your congregation so that you can fund and sustain your ministry. Learn about the resources offered by the UM Stewardship Foundation of GNJ, helping you grow planned giving and leverage your facilities for impact and income. Sharing in this breakfast presentation will provide high returns on the investment of your time. You will walk away with crucial information and next steps toward an integrated funding model for your church. Rev. Brian Roberts, MDiv, MBA is the host. To attend you must register when you sign up for the Annual Conference. Registration is limited to 40 people.
Hispanic Latino Committee – is hosting dinner on Monday, May 19th, at 6:00pm. This year we will be celebrating our Hispanic/Latino pastors’ New Appointments, Commissions and Ordinations from 2025, Retirements, Moving to another Conferences, and more! The National Plan of Hispanic Latino Ministry is subsidizing a substantial part of the cost for this dinner. To attend you must register when you sign up for the Annual Conference.
Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century – SBC21 is hosting a dinner gathering for lay and clergy people of African descent on Monday, May 19, at 6:00pm. To attend you must register when you sign up for the Annual Conference.
Information for the Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference can be found here.
For more Information, please contact:
