The 2018 Iowa Annual Conference Session begins Friday night. Gathering under the banner of “Creating Difference Makers – In New Communities of Faith,” the 175th Iowa Annual Conference feature a teaching session by Rev. Christian Coon, Lead Pastor of the Urban Village United Methodist Church in Chicago, worship sermons by Rev. LaTonya Calderon (Retirement Service), Bishop Bruce Ough (Memorial Service), and Iowa’s Resident Bishop, Bishop Laurie Haller (Ordering of Ministry).
Complete information is available on the Conference website at: https://www.iaumc.org/AC2018.
Nine workshops will feature learning opportunities focused on discipleship pathways, mental health, Justice For Our Neighbors, mission education, and benefits. More information and registration can be found here: https://www.iaumc.org/ac2018-w.
Reports from the Conference Treasurer, the Alignment Team, and the Iowa United Methodist Foundation will be included in the agenda for Friday evening thru Monday afternoon event, which is being held in the Iowa Events Center/Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines.
Rev. Bill Poland, Director of New Communities of Faith will discuss the Conference-emphasis. Mission education, the Black College Fund, Conference Camping and Retreat ministries, “One Matters” evangelism award, and a celebration of the ministry of the Diakonos are also among the items slated. Legislative action will focus on the mission and ministry of more than 156,000 members, 767 congregations, and many related organizations. A budget for 2019 will also be presented for discussion and approval.
The entire 2018 Iowa Annual Conference session will be available to watch via live-stream from the home page of the Conference website (www.iaumc.org). SCHED, a mobile app available on Apple and Android platforms and computer browser (https://iowaconference2018.sched.com) will provide up-to-the-minute schedule information, speaker bios and meeting locations, with any changes viewable in real-time. Video and audio recordings of the worship services and major presentations, on flash drive, will be available, for order in the Treasurer’s office during the Annual Conference session.