UNY delegation takes time to fellowship at General Conference

By Maidstone Mulenga
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4/25/2012


UNYAC photo by the Rev. Heather Williams.

Even in the midst of the hustle and bustle work of the General Conference, there is time to pause and break bread together. And that is exactly what members of the Upper New York (UNY) Annual Conference did on Wednesday evening, April 25.

Nearly 50 people from the Conference – including 16 delegates, four reserves and scores of others who are working as pages, marshals and other roles – gathered at Spain Restaurant in downtown Tampa, Fla. to share a meal.

Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Marcus Matthews and his wife, Barbara, joined the group. Bishop Matthews told the gathering that he was proud of each one of those who were representing the UNY Annual Conference in any capacity at the General Conference. He urged them to work diligently in all they do in order to ensure the smooth running of the General Conference.

The official delegation from the UNY Annual Conference has 16 seated delegates: Scott Johnson, Bill Gottschalk-Fielding, Stephanie Deckard, Ted Anderson, Christine Doran, Darryl Barrow, Shirley Readdean, Rebekah Sweet, Julius Archibald Jr., Larry Baird, Gregory Forrester, Michelle Bogue-Trost, Michael Huber, Sherri Rood, Paul Sweet and Holly Nye. The four first reserves are: Brooke Conklin, William Allen, Hudda Aswad and Sung Ho Lee.


UNYAC photo by the Rev. Heather Williams.
Others from UNY who are attending the 2012 General Conference include Conference staffers who are covering the event and dozens of volunteers, including pages, members of standing committees, translators and others. Some are already in Tampa and other will be arriving this weekend. Among them are Mary C. Anderson, Dick Barton, Mary Bradley, Kristen Dart, Gary Doupe, Nola Greig Anderson, Rebecca Lo Kohler, Rebecca Laird, DeeAnne Lowman, Sherri Mackey, Karen Marshall, Maidstone Mulenga, Nina Nichols, Vicki Putney, Sue Shields, Blenda Smith, Megan Stowe, Heather Williams, Sara Baron, Anita Youtzy, Beth Quick, Beth DiCocco, Ashley VanSickle and Nelson Reppert.

The General Conference is the top policy-making body of The United Methodist Church, and meets once every four years to consider revisions to church law, as well as adopt resolutions on current moral, social, public policy and economic issues. It also approves plans and budgets for church-wide programs for the next four years. The 2012 meeting is taking place until May 4 at the Tampa Convention Center.

Click here to view more photos of the dinner.