Annual Conference News By Pastor Kim Montenegro

There is so much that happens at Annual Conference! When you hear the term “annual conference,” it could be referring to any one of three things. The annual conference is a regional body, an organizational unit and a yearly meeting. Many of these yearly meetings happen in the U.S. in May and June.

Each year an equal number of clergy members and lay members attend their conference's annual conference session for worship, fellowship, and to conduct the business of the conference, which may last 3-5 days. These sessions include reports of past and ongoing work; adoption of future goals, programs and budgets; ordination of clergy members as deacons and elders (my personal favorite); and election of delegates to Jurisdictional and General Conferences (every 4 years). The bishop presides over these meetings.

This year we elected Jeffery Kah-Jin Kuan (the President of Claremont School of Theology), Elizabeth Brick (the pastor at the United Methodist Church of Rancho Cordova), Staci Current (the District Superintendent of the Bay District) to represent the clergy of the California Nevada Annual Conference at General Conference. Micheal Pope (our conference Lay Leader), Emily Allen (our conference agenda chair), and Rebecca Bernstein (an attorney) are the laity who were elected. Below is a graphic of the complete slate elected for General as well as Jurisdictional delegates and reserve delegates.

It is these leaders that will represent us and our views nationally. Please join me in praying for them. We ask their minds to be fully present as they work together to see the vision God is providing us with. May their hearts be made soft to see those who are weak and need protection. I ask gracious God they put you first in all they do.

Based on our size we have one representative who represents Fair Oaks United Methodist Church at Annual Conference, currently, it is Bill Floyd. Bill has been a faithful servant over the years serving in this role. If you are interested in stepping into this role, I would ask you prayerfully to consider if you are willing to serve your church family in this way. Next year, annual conference will be in Modesto, June 12th -15th over the weekend, so more people are able to attend. If you are willing to consider this, please let the Church Office know so that we can nominate you.

Blessings,

Pastor Kim