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The Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church part two

© Susan Padezanin

The date for holding annual conference is set by the bishop, but the annual conference or its committee sets the place. However, the bishop and superintendents have the power to change the place if necessary. Special sessions may be called in two ways: by the annual conference after consulting with the bishop or by the bishop if three fourths of the superintendents agree to it. Such a special session can act only on the matters specified in the call.

The annual conference has power to adopt rules and regulations as long as they are not in conflict with the Discipline. For instance, an annual conference may adopt stricter requirements for clergy membership than those provided in the Discipline, but it may not adopt lesser requirements. Furthermore, the conference has the power to inquire into financial deficits and membership problems of local churches and to require that the pastor and lay members appear before an appropriate committee to discuss the matter.

The conference business largely consists of hearing the reports and acting on the recommendations of the various boards and agencies of the conference. It also includes election of personnel to the various boards and agencies, and the adoption of conference budgets for the year. A Holy Communion service is traditional in most conferences, with regular devotional services throughout the conference time. The service of ordination and a final service ending with the reading of the appointments for the next year are traditional, although some bishops are now reading the appointments early in the conference on the theory that this relieves tension.

The annual conference is different things to different people. There are some members who feel it is dry, boring and a waste of time and money. But the majority of lay and clergy members find the sessions exciting and often inspirational, a real exercise in participatory democracy. It is true that sometime a few of the clergy do most of the talking on the floor of the conference, but this need not be the case when members of the conference, lay and clergy, make it their business to become knowledgeable on issues before them and on matters of procedure.