Leaders prep for last conference with Bishop Hayes
The preacher for every worship service will be Bishop Robert E. Hayes Jr. on May 30-June 2 during Annual Conference in Oklahoma City.
He’ll bring the Word both mornings and evenings, beginning with the Memorial/Communion program at 7 p.m. Monday at OKC-St. Luke’s.
Bishop Hayes will retire at the end of August, after 12 years leading the Oklahoma Area, which encompasses both the Oklahoma and Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conferences.
Six advance district meetings will inform delegates about proposals for the 2017 Apportionments; changes in active clergy health benefits, including a choice among five insurance plans; and nominations to general boards.
- April 10 — Northern Prairie District — Perry UMC, 3 p.m.
- April 17 — Cimarron District — Woodward-First UMC, 4 p.m.
- April 21 — Crossroads and Heartland Districts — OKC-St Luke’s, 7 p.m.
- April 23 — Lake Country District — Coalgate UMC, 3 p.m.
- April 24 — Wichitas District — Anadarko-First UMC, 3 p.m.
- May 1 — Council Oak and Green Country Districts — Tulsa-Asbury UMC, 3 p.m.
Special meals/receptions:
Monday, May 30 —
- Deacons 20th Anniversary Luncheon
- Candler School of Theology Alumni Reception
Tuesday, May 31 —
- UMMen Breakfast
- UMWomen Breakfast
- Laity Luncheon
- Clergywomen Luncheon
- Perkins School of Theology Luncheon
- Asbury Seminary Luncheon
- Phillips Theological Seminary Alumni Lunch
- Saint Paul School of Theology Luncheon
- Duke Divinity School Luncheon
Wednesday, June 1 —
- Missions Breakfast
- Oklahoma UM Historical Society Luncheon
- UM Rural Fellowship and Small Membership Churches award luncheon
Registration hub: www.okumc.org/annual_conference
Attention, Annual Conference delegates:
Take notice of these items as you prepare for the 2016 meeting in Oklahoma City on May 30-June 2. Registration and information online: www.okumc.org/annual_conference
1) Ministry booths, displays — and Cokesbury book sales — will move to a new location: the first floor of OCU’s Kramer School of Nursing (West). That building is directly east of the Freede Wellness Center. sessions — Major programming starts Monday afternoon at OKC-St. Luke’s — well before the evening worship.
• 1 p.m., Laity Session
• 1:15 p.m., Clergy Executive Session
• 3 p.m., Service of Reconciliation, with Native American storyteller and author Ray Buckley, and affirming Oklahoma United Methodists’ commitment to authentic connection with Native brothers and sisters.
2) celebration — Ticket required for the program and worship on Tuesday evening, celebrating Bishop Robert and Dee Hayes, at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St.
• Tickets are free but limited in number. They must be reserved when you register online for Annual Conference.
3) food trucks — For your Tuesday supper, patronize the food trucks that will be parked near the Freede Center. This dining option will allow time for you to travel from OCU to the museum for the evening events.
4) HEALTH SCREENING — The retired clergy book sale and the health screening also will take place in Kramer School of Nursing (East).
5) meals — Price is $7 for any meal in the OCU cafeteria at the Tom and Brenda McDaniel Student Center. Order tickets when you register online or purchase at the cafeteria entry; tickets are not packaged with the dormitory housing signup.
6) UMCOR kits — For 11 years, emergency supply kits for UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) have been collected during Annual Conference. Priority needs this year are Health and School Kits. UMCOR also is asking for packages of cloth diapers, prefolded or plain. Trucks will be parked at OCU in the lot north of the Freede Center and, on Monday, in St. Luke’s south parking lot during registration hours. Questions? Contact Kristin, Office of Mission, kterrell-wilkes@okumc.org, 405-530-2029.
7) clergy photos — Portrait photos of all clergy — active and retired — will be taken upstairs in the Freede Center, in the space previously used for displays and book sales
Bible verse for the conference: "Under God’s control all the parts of the body fit together ... So when each separate part works as it should, the whole body grows and builds itself up through love" (Ephesians 4:16).