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Annual Conference - Tuesday, June 9

South Georgia Annual Conference
Tuesday, June 9

Day of Service
Conference members scattered across the Columbus community for a Day of Service Tuesday morning. Opportunities ranged from knitting prayer shawls to preparing casseroles for the Ronald McDonald House, from participating in a blood drive to painting walls at a women's shelter, from sorting items at a clothing bank to writing letters to soldiers in hospitals, from baking cookies for local EMT workers to yard work at a home for troubled teens. The Day of Service was a way members were able to be a witness of faith in Jesus Christ by serving through word and deed. Members of the South Georgia Annual Conference made a positive impact on the community as they lived out God's vision that every soul and circumstance be redeemed. The Columbus Local Arrangements Committee coordinated this Day of Service.  Over 400 people participated in the Day of Service.
 
Memorial Service
A Memorial Service for those faithful servants who have served in our Conference was held on Tuesday afternoon at 2:00.  Dr. Hugh Davis was the preacher for the service.  In his sermon Dr. Davis said, “Because of their witness, we will all walk that path that leads to life.” Communion was served following the naming of the honored deceased. 

Those being remembered included:
Ministers
Lee Jones
Reginald O. Edenfield
Emory Corbett
Hilda O’Neal
Constance Walker
W. Edward Huff
Marvin R. Leggett
Willie A. Smith, Sr.
Orman P. Sloat
Burch Beckum
Walter Scott McCleskey, Sr.
Robbins Dorsey
James David Aycock, Sr.
Herbert L. MaGill
Ronald Kenneth Webb
William H. Ford
Edward Emmett Deen

Spouses
Gladys Boyd
Marvilene Grimes
Mary Irene Prickette
Josephine Howell
Sarah M. Clary
Betty A. Jennings
Edna Pauline Tipton
Annie Lois Green
Alma Louise Erwin
Roy C. Funk
Carolyn McKeithen Looney
 
Business Session
During the business session this afternoon, the conference: 
 
·         celebrated through “commercials” the ministries of: Wesley Glen, the Methodist Home for Children and Youth, Native American Sunday, and Natural Church Development. 
·          
·         approved a resolution called “Every Church Gives,” which encourages that every church gives to the conference –related health and welfare agencies, asking each church, as a whole, through its constituent groups (classes, circles, etc.) or members individually, to give financial support to each of the conference-related health and welfare agencies. 

 
·         were blessed by another Bible study led by Dr. Evelyn Laycock.

 
·         voted on the 32 Constitutional Amendments (report of the ballot will be read Wednesday morning).

 
·         heard the report of the Chair of the Conference Personnel Committee. Debbie Hudgins, chair, reported on the committee’s efforts to assess the personnel needs of the Annual Conference and find creative ways to best utilize the financial resources available to best serve the Conference. To that end, the decision was move to discontinue the Congregational Specialist pilot project.
 
·         received the report of the Board of Pensions and Health Benefits.  
 
·         approved the consent calendar and the nominations report.

 
Evening Worship Service
The Conference participated in a celebrative Worship Service at St. Luke UMC Ministry Center. This worship experience was designed around the story of the Wedding in Cana. In the opening miracle, Jesus celebrated the joining of lives together in marriage. In the same way, we celebrate our union with Christ as we share our stories of life together. Many diverse examples of dynamic ministries being conducted all across the Conference were highlighted. Bishop King called the conference to magnify and multiply these examples of God’s redemptive work as we seek to glorify God and bear more fruit.