General Conference Listening Sessions

Conference Listening Sessions in Preparation for General Conference

With General Conference coming in April 2012, and Jurisdictional Conference coming in July 2012, it is important that the elected delegation of both clergy and laity hear from all persons in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference who would like to speak to the issues which will be discussed, debated, and voted at General Conference in Tampa, FL next spring.   Each of these listening sessions will be identical in their structure, and will be held in various parts of the Annual Conference in order to accommodate the most number of persons. 

The first of the listening sessions will be on November 19, 9:00 am to 12:30 pm,  at Somerton UMC, 13073 Bustleton Ave., Philadelphia, PA  19116 (Northeast Philadelphia).

Each of the listening sessions will follow this basic format:

·         First Hour: Issues related to human sexuality and the church

·         Second Hour: Issues related to clergy appointments, such as itinerancy. 

·         Fifteen minute break

·         Final Session: Any other issues pertinent to General Conference

Other listening sessions include:

·         January 7 ,9:00 am to 12:30 pm at Schuylkill Haven: First UMC, 420 Saylor Street, Schuykill Haven, PA 17972.  

·         February 13, 6:30 to 9:00 pm at Allentown: Asbury UMC, 1533 Springhouse Road, Allentown, PA  18104.  

·         March 12, 6:30 to 9:00 pm at Ephrata: First.  Please note: If using mapquest.com or a GPS do not enter the church address (68 N. Church St., Ephrata, PA), enter the intersection (Church St., and Locust St., Ephrata, PA)

Anyone in the Annual Conference, lay or clergy, wishing to attend these sessions are welcome!  Groups wishing to make presentations at one or more of the sessions should be in touch with Delegation Chairperson Dr. Mary White at mwhite9891@aol.com.  Please notify Dr. White at least a week ahead of the listening session.  

The General Conference Delegation: 

Laity:

GC and NEJ: Mary White, Judith K. Ehninger, Thomas Gibson, Ruth A. Daugherty, Brenda Tildon
NEJ: Jordan Harris, Candace Carter, George Hollich, Elisabeth (Lisi) Santos Fisher, Ann Jacob
Alternates: Lenora Thompson, Jason Perkowski, Jane Bonner

Clergy: 

GC and NEJ: James B. Todd, Robin M. Hynicka, Lillian C. Smith, Dawn Taylor-Storm, Tracy L. Bass 
NEJ: Doris K. Dalton, Alan J. Smith, Joseph DiPaolo, Christopher Kurien, Andrew Foster
Alternates: Dorothy Watson-Tatem, Michele Wright Bartlow and Bronwyn Yocum

KEY:

GC and NEJ: These delegates will attend both the 2012 General Conference and the 2012 Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference.

NEJ: These delegates will attend 2012 Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference.

Alternates: Will serve as a delegate at the 2012 Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference if one of the elected delegates cannot attend the NEJ Conference.

2012 General Conference (GC) will be held April 24-May 4 in Tampa, FL.

2012 Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference (NEJ) will be held July 18-20, 2012 in Charleston, WV.