Three S.C. UMs learn about issues, legislation at Pre-General Conference Briefing

Three South Carolina United Methodist leaders headed to a Pre-General Conference Briefing in Portland, Oregon Jan. 20-22.

The Rev. Kathy James, director of Connectional Ministries for the South Carolina Conference, as well as Communications Director Matt Brodie and Advocate Editor Jessica Brodie, spent three days learning about topics that will be considered by the denomination’s legislative body when it meets May 10-20 in Portland.

Hosted by United Methodist Communications the briefing was a time of preparation for the 2016 General Conference and was geared toward delegates, church and secular journalists and other interested parties.

At the briefing, attendees learned how General Conference will operate and how it will be different from previous conferences, as well as discussed major legislation, Christian conferencing and key activities—such as rule 44, which is being proposed for General Conference to enable the whole body to engage in legislative discussion.

The briefing was also an opportunity for attendees to get to know each other and to become familiar with the 2016 General Conference host city and venue.

James, who is a member of the Jurisdictional Conference delegation (see sidebar), will be sharing what she learned at the briefing with the rest of the delegation when they meet next.

In addition to the event held in Portland, there will be Pre-General Conference International News Briefings in the following countries: Manila, Philippines, Feb. 5-7; Zimbabwe, Feb 12-15; Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Feb. 19-22; Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, Feb. 26-29; and Samara, Russia, March 6-9.

General Conference is the top policy-making body of The United Methodist Church and meets once every four years to determine the denomination’s future direction, consider revisions to church law and approve plans and budgets for church-wide programs.