This year · June 18–20, 2026 · The Classic Center, Athens
160th Session of the North Georgia Annual Conference
The full schedule, hour by hour. Business and votes are highlighted — the items that decide something link to the explainer for what they are and how they work.
Wednesday, June 17
- 4:00 pmClergy Executive SessionBusinessThe clergy members meet on their own to vote on matters of ordination, character, and conference relationship. Closed to non-clergy.Business
Thursday, June 18
- 8:00 amYouth Members / Offering Assignments — Grand Hall 1Check-inLogistics — members register, confirm their seating, and pick up materials and voting credentials.Check-in
- 8:30 amLay Candidate Forum — Grand HallQ&ALay people standing for election as delegates introduce themselves and answer questions before voting begins.Q&A
- 9:45 amPre-Service MusicWorshipA service of worship — singing, prayer, and proclamation. All are welcome.Worship
- 10:00 amSession One — Opening Worship (Preacher: Bishop Robin Dease)WorshipA service of worship — singing, prayer, and proclamation. All are welcome.Worship
- 10:45 amCall to Order — 160th SessionBusinessThe presiding bishop formally opens the session — the business meeting of the whole conference, clergy and laity together.Business
- 10:50 amOrganization of ConferenceBusinessThe opening business that formally constitutes the conference: setting the bar of the house, adopting the agenda, and seating its members.Business
- 11:00 amStanding Rules Committee — to presentBusiness
- 11:10 amConsent Agenda — to presentBusiness
- 11:20 amVoting Demonstration & Ballot #1Vote
- 11:30 amBoard of Ordained Ministry: Presentation of CandidatesBusiness
- 11:45 amHistoric Examination for Admission into Full ConnectionBusinessThe bishop puts Wesley's historic questions (“Have you faith in Christ? Are you going on to perfection?…”) to those being admitted as full clergy members — a tradition dating to the earliest Methodist conferences.Business
- 12:10 pmReport of Ballot #1 · Ballot #2Vote
- 12:30 pmAdjournmentAdjournThe formal close of the session, ending the conference's work.Adjourn
- 2:00 pmSession Two — Call to OrderBusinessThe bishop reconvenes the conference for the next block of business.Business
- 2:15 pmReporting and Balloting continueVote
- 2:30 pmCommittee on Nominations — to presentBusiness
- 2:50 pmNorth Georgia Housing and HomelessBusinessAn item of conference business — a report, presentation, or proposal brought before the body. It may simply be received, or it may lead to a vote.Business
- 3:05 pmSalary Equalization Task Force UpdateBusinessAn item of conference business — a report, presentation, or proposal brought before the body. It may simply be received, or it may lead to a vote.Business
- 3:20 pmMurphy HarpstBusinessAn item of conference business — a report, presentation, or proposal brought before the body. It may simply be received, or it may lead to a vote.Business
- 3:35 pmCommon Table Report: One Georgia Task ForceBusiness
- 5:15 pmAdjournmentAdjournThe formal close of the session, ending the conference's work.Adjourn
- 7:30 pmSession Three — Service of Licensure, Commissioning, and Ordination (Preacher: Bishop Héctor A. Burgos-Núñez)WorshipThe service in which the bishop licenses local pastors, commissions candidates as provisional members, and ordains deacons and elders, laying hands on those entering ministry.Worship
Friday, June 19
- 7:30 amService of Holy Communion — Grand Hall 2-3WorshipAn early-morning communion service open to all before the day's business begins.Worship
- 8:15 amGathering MusicWorshipA service of worship — singing, prayer, and proclamation. All are welcome.Worship
- 8:30 amSession Four — Call to Order & Morning DevotionBusinessThe bishop reconvenes the conference and the day's business opens with a brief devotion.Business
- 8:45 amReporting and Balloting continueVote
- 9:00 amCFA Report (2027 Budget)Business
- 9:30 amBarnes Evaluation and Administration TeamBusiness
- 9:45 amDisaster ResponseBusiness
- 10:00 amBlessing of Mari Ellyzsa Valencia (Global Ministries)WorshipThe conference prays over and sends a missionary serving through the General Board of Global Ministries.Worship
- 10:10 amUnited Methodist Men & Scouting MinistryBusinessAn item of conference business — a report, presentation, or proposal brought before the body. It may simply be received, or it may lead to a vote.Business
- 10:25 amUnited Women in FaithBusinessAn item of conference business — a report, presentation, or proposal brought before the body. It may simply be received, or it may lead to a vote.Business
- 10:40 amConsent Agenda — remove any requested itemsBusiness
- 10:55 amPension and Health BenefitsBusiness
- 11:30 amRecognition of RetireesRecognitionThe conference honors the clergy retiring this year, marking their years of service and the close of their active appointments.Recognition
- 12:00 pmAdjournmentAdjournThe formal close of the session, ending the conference's work.Adjourn
- 2:00 pmSession Five — Service of Remembrance (Preacher: Vance Ross) & Conference Special OfferingWorshipA worship service honoring the clergy and lay members who have died since the last annual conference, with a special offering received.Worship
- 3:30 pmCall to Order of Business SessionBusinessThe bishop reconvenes the conference for the next block of business.Business
- 3:40 pmTrusteesBusiness
- 3:55 pmConference Safe Sanctuary PolicyBusinessThe conference's policy for protecting children, youth, and vulnerable adults from abuse in ministry settings.Business
- 4:10 pmEquitable CompensationBusiness
- 4:25 pmWellroot Family ServicesBusinessAn item of conference business — a report, presentation, or proposal brought before the body. It may simply be received, or it may lead to a vote.Business
- 4:35 pmWesley WoodsBusinessAn item of conference business — a report, presentation, or proposal brought before the body. It may simply be received, or it may lead to a vote.Business
- 4:45 pmLaity AddressBusinessThe Conference Lay Leader addresses the body on behalf of the laity — the church members who are not clergy.Business
- 5:00 pmStanding RulesBusiness
- 5:10 pmProperty ResolutionsVote
- 5:30 pmAdjournmentAdjournThe formal close of the session, ending the conference's work.Adjourn
- 7:30 pmSession Six — Voting Session (subject to cancellation if voting has concluded)Vote
Saturday, June 20
- 7:30 amService of Holy Communion — Grand Hall 2-3WorshipAn early-morning communion service open to all before the day's business begins.Worship
- 8:20 amGathering MusicWorshipA service of worship — singing, prayer, and proclamation. All are welcome.Worship
- 8:30 amSession Seven — Call to Order & Morning Devotion (Bishop Dease)BusinessThe bishop reconvenes the conference for its final day, opening with a brief devotion.Business
- 8:45 amEpiscopacy CommitteeBusiness
- 9:00 amNorth Georgia Camping and Retreat MinistriesBusinessAn item of conference business — a report, presentation, or proposal brought before the body. It may simply be received, or it may lead to a vote.Business
- 9:15 amCommittee on the Status and Role of WomenBusiness
- 9:30 amFaith Connection Federal Credit Union ScholarshipBusinessAn item of conference business — a report, presentation, or proposal brought before the body. It may simply be received, or it may lead to a vote.Business
- 9:40 amGeorgia United Methodist FoundationBusinessAn item of conference business — a report, presentation, or proposal brought before the body. It may simply be received, or it may lead to a vote.Business
- 9:50 amUM Commission on Higher Education — Francis Asbury AwardRecognitionA moment to honor people or ministries for their service.Recognition
- 10:00 amFuture Dates & Sites of Annual ConferenceQ&AA time for questions and answers — no vote is taken, but you can learn how something works before it comes to the floor.Q&A
- 10:15 amMarian Wilder Award — Aldersgate HomesRecognitionA moment to honor people or ministries for their service.Recognition
- 10:20 amCommittee on Nominations — to VoteVote
- 10:30 amService of Word and Table & Fixing of Appointments (Preacher: Max Vincent)WorshipClosing worship with Holy Communion (“Word and Table”) in which the bishop formally fixes the clergy appointments — who will serve which church — for the coming year.Worship
- 12:00 pmAdjournment of the 160th SessionAdjournThe bishop declares the annual conference closed until it gathers again next year.Adjourn
Source: 2026 NGC Annual Conference Session Handbook + Agenda Update (page 12)
Notes from the floor
Bishop started strong with her sermon. “The shepherd has to smell like the sheep.”
— gthomasmartin, Jun 18, 2026
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