A Time of Connection

News April 23, 2018

Freed 2 Lead is grounded in scripture as we consider the words of Paul in Ephesians, “The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” We are all gifted. We are all called to respond in ministry. Some of us are called to lead others in ministry. The theme for the 2018 Missouri Annual Conference is Freed-2-Lead where clergy, laity and guests will be exposed to ways to develop and strengthen leadership in supporting our local churches in fulfilling our mission in making disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

As we come together June 8-10, we will encounter our theme, Freed-2-Lead, throughout the events and activities of the weekend. Besides our business, we will have worship experiences, exposure to some meaningful learning times and celebrate our years of partnership with the Mozambique Initiative. We will also have the chance to show generous hearts as we celebrate ministries through the collection of special offerings. This year our collections will support The Mozambique Initiative, Pathway Out of Poverty and Puerto Rico Disaster Response.

There are some important tips for laity to be aware of for this year’s Annual Conference:

We have moved from a four-day format to three-day format, beginning on Friday morning and ending on Sunday afternoon.
The laity session will be offered in district rooms so please know your district name and note the room assignment in the workbook.
As part of registration you can make your selection for a learning workshop to assist in preparation for handouts and room assignments.
This year’s hub for Annual Conference information is www.moacinfo.com. The mobile-first website can be added to the home screen of your mobile device. The most up-to-date agenda can be found on the site.

Annual Conference for me is always a demonstration of our connectional system as United Methodists. In attendance will be over 1,200 clergy, laity, retired clergy, ministry partners and guests from inside and outside our conference. This gathering time provides a snapshot of the connections that are alive in our conference, in our jurisdiction and across the globe.

We are a connectional system. If you are attending Annual Conference, I challenge you to meet three new people and share your experiences with ministry in the local church. Live out the benefits of our connectional system by connecting with other individuals in local churches. If you are not attending Annual Conference, I invite you to participate in our connectional system from afar. Pray for all those attending, and pray for the worship leaders and presenters. Participate through watching some of the sessions online. Ask questions when your lay person returns from annual conference.

First-Timer Laity Lunch

Join us on Friday, June 8 at 11:30 AM

If this is your first time attending annual conference, be sure to RSVP for the First Timer Laity Lunch with your registration. If you missed this opportunity, you can edit your registration by May 20 to be included in the lunch. The lunch will give you the opportunity to learn about what to expect for the weekend and meet other first-time attendees.