San José, Costa Rica
September 20-26, 2024
General Conference 2024
Latest News
The Global Methodist Church’s Transitional Leadership Council has announced the Convening General Conference will be held in San José, Costa Rica, September 20 – 26, 2024. The delegates of the South Georgia Provisional Annual Conference (SGAGMC) met on February 10th at Harvest Church, successfully electing General Conference Delegates to participate in this historic event to help form our new denomination and set its direction for many years to come.
The full minutes of the called annual conference will be available shortly. A summary of the elected delegates are listed below:
Laity GC Delegates and Alternates
Brad Folsom
Steve Rumford
Larry Nesbitt
Debbie Towson
Dev Watson
Patty Tucker
Jennifer Cowart (Alternate)
Debbie Hudgins (Alternate)
Bob Shuman (Reserve)
Warren Budd (Reserve)
Clergy Delegates and Alternates
Jay Hanson
Jimmy Towson
Scott Tucker
David Thompson
Jim Cowart
Jennifer Thompson
Rich Wardwell (Alternate)
Anthony McPhail (Alternate)
Isaac Salgado (Reserve)
Allen Cason (Reserve)
The general conference will be allocating the first round of delegates in March. Our current estimation is that we will receive approximately 5-6 clergy delegates and 5-6 lay delegates. We ask that you continue to pray for the Global Methodist Church, its leaders, and all the delegates from across the country and the world who will be traveling to Costa Rica this fall.
General Conference Delegate Requirements
Lay delegates shall have been professing members of the Global Methodist Church, or its predecessors, for at least two years. Clergy GC delegates will be members in full connection and in good standing of the Global Methodist Church, or its predecessors, who have served a minimum of two years preceding their election. Inactive Deacons & Elders cannot be elected as delegates to General Conference. Valid Deacons & Elders (appointed clergy from other denominations) cannot be elected as delegates to General Conference. Senior Status clergy who are either inactive or active are eligible to be elected as delegates to General Conference.
General Conference delegates will be required to participate in extensive pre-conference work in the late Spring and Summer in preparation for General Conference, including placement on committees researching and analyzing petitions. General Conference delegates must have a passport and the ability to travel to the General Conference, September 20-26, 2024 in Costa Rica. All delegates (laity and clergy) must be able and willing to pay for all expenses of the trip. While the SGAGMC desires to subsidize some portion of the cost of the trip and has budgeted funds for this purpose, there is currently no guaranteed subsidization and nominees must be capable and willing to cover the expenditure. While exact costs are unknown currently, the general expectation is $4K-6K per delegate.
Book of Doctrine & Discipline: ¶ 611.6, ¶ 416.2, ¶ 418
Voting
Process
Both clergy and lay delegates shall be elected by a minimum of fifty percent of votes cast plus one, with clergy voting for clergy delegates and laity voting for lay delegates. Voting will be administered via an online system utilizing each annual conference delegate’s personal cell phone, tablet or computer. Separate votes will be held for clergy and laity sessions. Voting will continue until the full count of necessary delegate candidates reaches 50% + 1 vote. This process will be repeated until approximately 12 clergy and 12 laity have been elected. The order of election will determine the priority of the delegate candidate list.
Book of Doctrine & Discipline: ¶611.6
Frequently
Asked
Questions
How many delegates will the Annual Conference be allowed?
The first allocation of delegates will be communicated in March. The current early estimate is we will receive 5-6 clergy delegates, and 5-6 laity delegates, plus a number of reserve delegates.
I have a question that’s not answered on this page?
Contact us at info@sgagmc.org.