Now that the 2022 Annual Conference is only a few weeks away, this year’s sessions planning team wanted to update members on their preparations.
The Laity Session will kick off the weekend beginning Friday, June 3 at 7:00 pm. (Music begins at 6:45.) The Board of Laity’s goal for the session is to have an evening of worship and inspiration, celebration, practical information about laity related projects and to build friendship among lay conference attendees. There will be a report from the Episcopal Office, celebrations of newly Certified Lay Speakers and School for Lay Ministry graduates, recognitions, and awards. Even as we acknowledge the struggles and uncertainties in daily life, in the world and in the church, their theme is one of HOPE!
This year’s worship planning teams have worked hard to put all the pieces in place to worship God and inspire folks by “making hope real.”
The worship team is mindful that this is a new year, venue, and gathering in a hybrid format. The group aims to value each person with worship that reimagines past services for this new time and place. At times, they have chosen to simplify things with the thought that they can expand what they do another year.
Bishop Julius Trimble will call the session to order beginning on Saturday, June 4 at 9:00 am. His opening worship is titled “Hope is a Good Thing.”
The Waukee United Methodist Church Worship Band will perform Saturday’s music.
The remainder of the day will be the business of annual conferencing, including hearing reports from the Treasurer’s Office, the Council on Finance and Administration, the Bishop’s Operational Team, the Iowa Methodist Foundation, the Delegation, the Antiracism Task Force, and other general legislation and reports.
One adjustment to the new space will be a combination of the Ordering of Ministry and Retirement service on Pentecost Sunday. “Called and Claimed for Hope,” A Service for the Ordering of Ministry, will begin at 9:00 am on June 5. Bishop Kiesey and Bishop Trimble will follow the cross and lead a procession of people being acknowledged this year, including retirees, those being recognized, newly commissioned and ordained.
The other members and guests will sit among the tables and bleachers during this time of worship and identify each of their unique callings for ministry. Attending clergy can bring vestments or symbols of their calling to place on themselves during the service. Likewise, all laity are invited to bring symbols of their ministry through baptism and commitment of the prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness.
The Des Moines First United Methodist Church will perform Sunday’s music.
The remainder of the 2022 session on Sunday will be general legislation and reports, including the United Methodist Publishing House and the General Board of Global Ministries, fixing appointments, closed churches, nominations, and voting on the final budget.
The team believes that there’s a gift to consecrating a new space. God wasn’t limited to Hilton or the Iowa Events Center. God is with us, and as we worship, in this holy space.
You can find more details about the 2022 Iowa Annual Conference Session below. We will continue to send updates as the 2022 Annual Conference Session approaches.
ANNUAL CONFERENCE MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT
The Council on Finance and Administration (CFA) has continued using the Contingency Plan for the Iowa Annual Conference, limiting certain expenditures. With the Contingency Plan in place, there will be no mileage or per diem reimbursement for the Session June 3 - 5, 2022. This involves retirees as well as equalization members. Please contact your District Administrative Assistant if you wish to change your attendance from in-person to online as a result of this information. CFA is hopeful that apportionment receipts will improve so that this contingency plan is no longer necessary.