wfn.org | 1997 Annual Conferences

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (3488 notes).

Note 3486 by UMNS on March 13, 1997 at 16:40 Eastern (7525 characters).

 Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency
of the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn.,
New York, and Washington.

CONTACT: Linda Green                          132(10-21-71B){3486}
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470            March 13, 1997

1997 United Methodist annual conferences
to ordain first permanent deacons
                                 
     
     NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) -- The first permanent deacons,
authorized by the 1996 United Methodist General Conference, will
be ordained as regional U.S. conferences begin their series of
annual gatherings in May.
     The 66 U.S.annual conferences will begin with the Red Bird
Missionary Conference in Primrose, Ky., May 9-10, and close with
the Baltimore-Washington, California-Nevada, California-Pacific,
Pacific Northwest and Yellowstone conferences the last week of
June.
     The 51 conferences in Europe, Africa and the Philippines have
already begun and are held throughout the year.
     The 1996 General Conference, the denomination's top
legislative body, created the new order of deacon. Before that,
the office was part of a two-step ordination process in which the
deacon was understood to be a transitional or probationary
position enroute to becoming a fully ordained elder. 
     Officials in the section on deacons and diaconal ministries
of the churchwide Board of Higher Education and Ministry,
anticipate that annual conferences will ordain approximately 500
deacons in full connection this year.
     Another item on the agenda of many annual conferences will be
proposals for congregational reorganization.  Responding to
requests from local churches that current structural requirements
are burdensome, the 1996 General Conference gave congregations
permission to structure themselves in the way that allows them
most effectively to carry on their ministry. 
     The annual conference sessions also will include ordaining 
elders, recognizing retirees, establishing budgets, approving
programs of mission and ministry, addressing social concerns, and
worship.
     Each conference session will be presided over by a bishop who
will appoint pastors to churches and ministries within the
conference or to agencies and positions outside the bounds of that
annual conference.
     U. S. annual conference meeting dates and places are:

NORTH CENTRAL JURISDICTION
Dakotas, June 5-8, Bismarck, N.D.
Detroit, June 3-6, Adrian, Mich.
East Ohio, June 16-20, Lakeside, Ohio
Illinois Great Rivers, June 8-11, Springfield, Ill.
Iowa, June 6-9, Ames, Iowa
Minnesota, June 5-8, St. Cloud, Minn.
North Indiana, May 29-31, West Lafayette, Ind.
Northern Illinois, June 7-10, De Kalb, Ill.
South Indiana, June 11-13, Bloomington, Ind.
West Michigan, June 10-13, Albion, Mich.
West Ohio, June 9-12, Lakeside, Ohio
Wisconsin, May 29-June 1, Stevens Point, Wis.

NORTHEASTERN JURISDICTION
Baltimore-Washington, June 20-22, Washington, D.C.
Central Pennsylvania, June 13-15, Grantham, Pa.
Eastern Pennsylvania, June 5-7, King of Prussia, Pa.
New England, June 12-15, Wenham, Mass.
New York, June 4-7, Hempstead, N.Y.
North Central New York, May 28-31, Liverpool, N.Y.
Northern New Jersey, May 28-31, Hackettstown, N.J.
Peninsula-Delaware, June 13-15, Wilmington, Del.
Southern New Jersey, June 9-12, Ocean City, N.J.
Troy, May 29-June 1, Poultney, Vt.
West Virginia, June 12-15, Buckhannon, W.Va.
Western New York, June 5-7, Houghton, N.Y.
Western Pennsylvania, June 13-15, Grove City, Penn.
Wyoming, June 5-8, Scranton, Pa.

SOUTH CENTRAL JURISDICTION
Central Texas, June 1-4, Waco, Texas
Kansas East, June 5-8, Baldwin City, Kan.
Kansas West, May 29-June 1, Hays, Kan.
Little Rock, June 8-11, Hot Springs, Ark.
Louisiana, June 2-5, Shreveport, La.
Missouri East, June 11-13, Columbia, Mo.
Missouri West, May 28-30, Columbia, Mo.
Nebraska, June 3-6, Lincoln, Neb.
New Mexico, May 29-June 1, Odessa, N.M.
North Arkansas, June 1-4, Conway, Ark.
North Texas, June 1-4, Plano, Texas
Northwest Texas, June 5-8, Abilene, Texas
Oklahoma, May 26-30, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Oklahoma Indian Missionary, June 5-8, Anadarko, Okla.
Rio Grande, June 11-14, Abilene, Texas
Southwest Texas, June 4-7, Corpus Christi, Texas
Texas, May 26-29, Houston, Texas 

SOUTHEASTERN JURISDICTION
Alabama-West Florida, May 25-28, Montgomery, Ala.
Florida, May 28-31, Lakeland, Fla.
Holston, June 8-11, Lake Junaluska, N.C.
Kentucky, June 1-5, Bowling Green, Ky.
Memphis, June 1-4, Paducah, Ky.
Mississippi, June 2-4, Jackson, Miss.
North Alabama, June 4-7, Birmingham, Ala.
North Carolina, June 9-12, Fayetteville, N.C.
North Georgia, June 10-13, Dalton, Ga.
Red Bird Missionary, May 9-10, Primrose, Ky.
South Carolina, May 25-28, Spartanburg, S.C.
South Georgia, June 8-10, Macon, Ga.
Tennessee, June 8-11, Pulaski, Tenn.
Virginia, June 19-22, Hampton, Va.
Western North Carolina, June 4-8, Lake Junaluska, N.C.

WESTERN JURISDICTION
Alaska Missionary, June 5-8, Anchorage, Alaska
California-Nevada, June 18-22, Sacramento, Calif.
California-Pacific, June 18-22, Redlands, Calif.
Desert Southwest, June 5-8, Mesa, Az.
Oregon-Idaho, June 12-14, Salem, Ore.
Pacific Northwest, June 18-22, Tacoma, Wash.
Rocky Mountain, June 5-8, Fort Collins, Colo.
Yellowstone, June 17-22, Billings, Mont.

OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES (incomplete list):
Austria Provisional, May 7-11, Wien-Funhaus, Austria
Bicol Provisional, May 14-17, Naga City, Philippines
Bulacan, May 28-June 1, Bulacan, Philippines
Bulgaria Provisional, Hottanza, Bulgaria, Sept. 4-7
Central Luzon, May 20-24, Dagupan City, Philippines
Central Zaire, June 16-23, Lodja City, Zaire
Czech & Slovak Republics, April 30-May 4, Praha, Czech Republic
Denmark, June 25-29,  Holstebro, Denmark
Estonia Mindanao Provisional, Feb. 5-9, Tagum, Davado del Norte,
          Phillipines
East Philippines, April 2-6, Cainta, Rizal Philippines
Estonia Provisional, April 10-13, Tallinn, Estonia
Finland-Finnish Provisional, July 2-6, Oulu, Finland
Finland-Swedish Provisional, June 4-8, Vasa, Finland
German East, June 4-8, Zwickau, Germany
German North, April 23-27, Oldenburg, Germany
German South, May 27-June 1, Backnang, Germany
German Southwest, June 11-15, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Hungary Provisional, May 21-25, Budakeszi, Hungary
Middle Philippines, May 21-25, Nueva Ecija, Philippines
Mindando Philippines, March 19-23, Cotabato, Philippines
Mozambique, Dec. 8-14, Maputo, Mozambique
Northern Philippines, May 13-17, Cagayan, Philippines
North Central Philippines, May 27-31, Isabela, Philippines
Northeast Philippines, May 6-10, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines
Northeast Zaire, June 5-12, Kindu, Republic of Zaire
Northwest Philippines, June 3-7, IIocos Sur, Philippines
Norway, June 18-22, Porsgrunn, Norway
Palawan Philippines Provisional, March 5-9, Puerto Princesa City,  
    Palawan, Philippines
Philippines, May 7-11, Manila, Philippines
Poland, April 23-27, Ostroda, Poland
Russian Provisional, May 22-25, Pushkin, Russia
Southwest Philippines Provisional, May 12-16, Occidental Mindoro,  
     Philippines
Sweden, June 11-15, Mullsjoe, Sweden
Switzerland-France, June 4-8, Zurich, Switzerland
Upper Zaire, May 27-31, Kisangani, Zaire
Visayas-North Mindanao Philippines, April 2-6, Cagayan de Ora
     City, Philippines
West Middle Philippines, April 17-20, Mexico, Pampanga,
     Philippines
West Zaire, May 14-21, Kinshasa II, Zaire
Yugoslavia/Macedonia Provisional, Oct. 1-5, Strumica, Republic of
     Macedonia

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