2020 Annual Conference – Saturday, September 19
Frequently Asked Questions for Annual Conference 2020What will be included in the agenda for the virtual Annual Conference session?The basic agenda will be posted on the website no later than August 19th. The basic agenda will include voting on essential items of business including, but not limited to: a proposed change to the Standing Rules to allow for virtual voting, the nominations report from the Conference Committee on Leadership, the election of the Conference Lay Leader, approval of the recommended 2021 Apportionment Budget from our Conference Committee on Finance and Administration, a report from the Cabinet on church closures, a report from our Board of Trustees, and other essential business. The full detailed agenda will be available online prior to the annual conference session on September 19th.
What about agenda items we aren’t able to include this year?Items and resolutions that were to be considered at our 2020 Annual Conference but are not considered essential business items will either be referred to the appropriate conference entity or taken up as postponed agenda at the 2021 Annual Conference.
What about Ordination?On Saturday, September 12th, Bishop Carter will lead an outdoor Service of Commissioning for the new probationary clergy members at 1 PM; at 3 PM, he will lead an outdoor Service of Ordination for the newly ordained elders and deacons; and at 4:30 pm, Bishop Carter will lead an outdoor service of Installation of our two new District Superintendents.
Will there be a Laity Session?Yes, the Board of Lay Ministry will host a virtual laity session from 10 AM to Noon on Saturday, September 12th. Registration for the laity session will be pulled from the Annual Conference Session registration. All eligible registered lay members to annual conference will receive an email to register for the September 12 Zoom webinar after September 1. The laity session will conclude with a livestreamed service led by Bishop Carter to commission two new deaconesses.
When will we celebrate Retirements and the Service of Remembrance?Celebrating retirements and remembering the saints who have gone before us are treasured times for our Conference. Retirees will be recognized at 11:30 am on September 19th and at 1:30 pm we will remember the names of the clergy and clergy spouses who passed away. Both services will be livestreamed for guests to view and will be included in the Zoom webinar for conference members.
Will there be registration for Virtual Annual Conference?Yes. Each member will be required to register for Annual Conference by September 1st. There is a two-step registration process. The first step is to register here. Once your conference membership has been verified by our Conference Secretary and Conference staff, you will receive an email to register for the Zoom webinar. The Zoom registration will have a unique code that is linked to your email address. Please do not share it with anyone.
I normally attend Annual Conference as a guest/visitor. How can I attend this year?If you are a guest, please watch via livestream. A link to the livestream will be provided on our website.
I'm a lay member of AC2020. How do I get voting credentials for the virtual Annual Conference?To participate in Annual Conference 2020 with voting privileges, lay members will be required to register with a unique personal email address no later than September 1st. For security purposes, a two-step registration process has been established. The first step is to register here. Once your conference membership has been verified by our Conference Secretary and Conference staff, you will receive an email to register for the Zoom webinar. The Zoom registration will have a unique code that is linked to your email address. Please do not share it with anyone.
I was asked to serve as a Lay Member to AC2020 when it was scheduled for June. My church is now closed. Am I still a Lay Member to AC?Yes. Even if your church closed earlier this year, we are asking everyone selected to serve as a AC2020 Lay Member to continue to serve at our virtual AC event on September 19th.
I was a AC2020 District Lay Member At Large but have since moved to a different district. Am I still able to attend as a district Lay Member?Yes. Even if you are now living in a different district, we are asking everyone selected to serve as a AC2020 Lay Member to continue to serve at our virtual AC event on September 19th.
I am a lay member to annual conference and can no longer attend. What should I do?Please contact your district office.
I'm a clergy member of the conference. How do I get voting credentials for the virtual Annual Conference?Clergy members must also register for Annual Conference 2020 by September 1st. For security purposes, a two-step registration process has been established. The first step is to register here. Once your conference membership has been verified by our Conference secretary and Conference staff, you will receive an email to register for the Zoom webinar. The Zoom registration will have a unique code that is linked to your email address. Please do not share it with anyone.
I am a clergy person with voice but no vote, can I register for the ZOOM Webinar?If you know you don’t want to be heard from the floor, we ask that you simply attend via the livestream link and not register to attend the Zoom webinar. If you want to be able to speak or ask questions, please register for the Zoom webinar.
How do I indicate that I am a retired clergyperson in the registration?Select the church you attend most or “Retired” (3rd item in dropdown list)
My spouse is also a voting member. Can we register together?If you use the same email address to register, you will only be counted as one attendee/voter. All members should register and login separately in order to cast separate votes.
What technology do I need to participate in a virtual Annual Conference?Members and guests will need an internet-connected device such as a desktop or laptop computer, tablet, or smart phone. You will access the Zoom webinar session using a web browser. Click here for step-by-step instructions on how to join the webinar. (This cannot be done until you have registered with FLUMC and your conference membership has been verified by our staff.)
Will there be a Pre-Conference Orientation?Yes! There will be two Pre-Conference Orientations for all districts via Zoom Webinar on Thursday, August 20th at 6 pm and Tuesday, September 1st at 6 pm. After September 1st, a recording of the orientation webinar and slides will be posted to flumc.org/ac for those unable to attend.
I had a hotel reservation in Lakeland. Should I cancel it?Yes. Each individual should cancel their own hotel reservation.
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