It's that time of year!  Charge Conferences start on September 12 and end on December 5.  This year, the DS will be conducting individual conferences for each charge.  Schedules have been distributed to the clergy, as well as the new format.  At each conference the DS will offer a brief devotional followed by the business of approving required reports.  Following the business portion, she will conduct a roundtable discussion on what your church has accomplished and what your goals are for the future.

 

As usual, there are a list of required reports that must be completed and turned in to the DS at the Charge Conference.  All of those reports are available online through Data Services.  (For more information on the reports, see the Reports Due section of this website.)  There will be 2 Charge Conference training sessions held on Tuesday, September 7 at the District Office.  The first will be at 1:00 pm and the second at 7:00 pm.  Please call Denise to make a reservation. At the training, you will learn how to go onto Data Services and complete the required Charge Conference reports.  The training is open to both clergy and laity.

 

 

 Youth & Children's Events

Taressa Thompson, District Youth & Children's Coordinator, has been hard at work planning a variety of events for children, youth, and the adults who work with them.  Sunday, September 12 is the date for a Safe Sanctuary Policy Writing Workshop.  Also, in September there will be an event for adults who work with children and youth in the small to medium sized churches.  See the Children & Youth page of this website for more information and registration forms.

 

North Georgia Advocate
The Advocate is a twice-monthly publication of the North Georgia Conference that provides local church stories of faith and discipleship, practical ideas for church ministry, glimpses into lives that inspire clergy and laity, news relevant to North Georgia United Methodists, details on upcoming events, regular contributions from Bishop Watson and others, Sunday school lessons and lectionary and the national United Methodist Reporter.  Each district has been challenged by the Bishop to increase their subscriptions by 100.  Each church should have several members who subscribe to the Advocate.  If you wish to subscribe, click here for a subscription form.

 

All persons seeking approval as Local Church Lay Speaker or Certified Lay Speakers must complete a Lay Speaker Annual Report form and turn in to the pastor prior to Charge Conference.  The forms can be completed online through Data Services (http://data.ngumc.org) or you can print a copy of the form from the Lay Speaking  page of this website.  In addition to completing the form and being approved at Charge Conference, lay speakers must also meet class requirements and then be approved by the District Board of Laity.