Convening Annual Conference
October 13-14
Clergy Session Oct 12
Reynoldsburg, Ohio


“Becoming One” is an important reminder of who we are and Whose we are as we cast a clear and compelling vision for our future, lift up the values upon which we are building our movement, and celebrate the ordination of up to 150 clergy as Deacons and/or Elders.
We look forward to this intentional gathering designed to foster healing, cast vision, offer sound instruction, and inspire us as we move forward.
Registration Closes September 25
Conference Overview




Clergy Session
Thursday, October 12
Ordinands meet with Bishop Webb at 10 am. After lunch there is a clergy session, followed by a clergy & spouses dinner (buffet) and evening retreat.
Conference Session
(Clergy and Lay Delegates)
Friday, October 13
An opening worship service begins at 9 am and is followed by a mid-morning roundtable discussion. Boxed lunch is at 11:30 am and is followed by a Vision-Casting session at 1pm and a business session for all delegates at 2 pm. Afternoon breakout sessions begin at 3:30 pm, then participants will have time for dinner on their own before returning for a 7 pm worship/communion service.
Saturday, October 14
A morning worship and teaching service begins at 8:30 am, followed breakout sessions. Boxed lunch is at 11:30 am. The worship and ordination service begins at 1pm.
Conference Speakers
Registration, Hotel and Area Information
Registration
Clergy (and spouses) attend Oct 12-14. The Thursday evening dinner is an additional cost. Boxed lunches are provided Friday and Saturday.
Lay delegates (one delegate per appointed clergy from each congregation/charge) attend Oct 13-14. Boxed lunches are provided in the Conference registration fee. Dinner on Friday is on your own.
Hotels
The conference planning committee has arranged room block rates with five area hotels. Click below to find information on those hotels. The room blocks are held for a limited time only. Reserve soon!
There are also a few additional hotels listed in case you’d like other options.
Local Area
Click the link below for information on nearby restaurants and attractions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Clergy
Lay Delegate (One lay delegate per appointed clergy from each congregation/charge. You must be the elected lay delegate.)
Lay Equalization Delegate (This is limited to lay members of the Conference Council, Board of Ministry, Council on Finance and Administration, Conference Sessions, and the Committee on Nominations who are NOT lay delegates from their local church/charge. Will register via a Lay Equalization Delegate registration form.)
Guest (Please know that seating in the Worship Center (the main plenary and worship space) will be limited to clergy and lay delegates with limited in-room overflow. All sessions will be live-streamed and there is on-site overflow seating.)
Spouses (register at spouse rate)
Yes. A spouse can choose to attend the conference on Friday and Saturday for $75. The clergy & spouse dinner on Thursday is an additional $30. Spouses are also welcome to come only to the clergy & spouse dinner ($30) and the ordination ceremony (no fee). On the registration form, you can choose which to purchase ( spouse conference registration, clergy & spouse dinner, or both).
Yes. As a founding organization, we're creating new processes, structures and materials for the event. There are costs for materials, space and building costs, technical and A/V support, and more.
Early bird rate through September 1 is $125 for clergy and lay delegates to attend the conference. Spouses can register for the conference for $75.
The clergy/spouse dinner on Thursday is an additional $17 pp/$34 per couple.
After Sep 1, the conference registration rate is $175.
Boxed lunches on Friday and Saturday are included. The clergy/spouse dinner on Thursday is an additional purchase on the registration form. Dinner on Friday is on your own. See our Local Information page for restaurant ideas.
On the registration form, you'll simply check and purchase the clergy dinner. The form will also allow you to check that you'll attend the ordination (no fee).
You'll find an area hotel on your own. Click on the hotel button above for a list of area hotels and contact information. We've negotiated discounted rates with a few hotels. Your see those listed first. Discount room rates are valid for a limited time. Reserve your hotel soon. See area hotels here.
The Conference begins Friday Oct 13 at 9am. Clergy will attend on Thursday, Oct 12.
We encourage car pooling.
Reynoldsburg Community Church faces Graham Road (1636 Graham Road). To reach our main parking lot/conference parking, you'll drive behind the building to the large parking area. Some additional designated spaces will be available on the church lawn. The entrance to the conference is next to the parking lot - look for our signs and the portico covered entrance.
We'll also have some overflow parking available at Church of Christ (across the street on Graham Road). We'll have signs directing you to the best building entrance to use from there.
We have quite a few restaurants nearby including quick choices like Chipotle, McDonalds, Chik-fil-a, Culvers, and more. There are also eat-in options like Smokey Bones, Olive Garden, O'Charleys, Longhorn, Bob Evans, Panera, and more. We'll soon post information on area restaurants and their proximity on the visitor information link on this page.
Senior Status Clergy who are currently serving as Presiding Elders or on the Conference Senior Status Clergy who are currently serving as Presiding Elders or on the Conference Council have both voice and vote.
Paragraph 416 of the Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discpline gives Senior Status Clergy who are within seven (7) years of the effective date of their alignment with the GMC to have voice and vote provided they notify the Conference Secretary 90 days prior to the annual conference session. A waiver to permit this notice to occur within 30 days (in lieu of the required 90 days) was recently obtained from the TLC of the GMC since numerous UMC clergy would not be eligible to retire until September 1st due to a variety of challenges involved in the disaffiliation process.
By September 15, 2023: Send notification that you are a senior status clergy member attending the Annual Conference to Conference Secretary Janet Lord at jflrd425@aol.com.
You must be the elected lay delegate from your church to register as a delegate for the conference.
God is good. God is faithful.
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23