wfn.org | General Conference 2012 Theme and Logo Selected

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

General Conference 2012 Theme and Logo Selected

?Make Disciples of Jesus Christ to Transform the World?

> United Methodist Communications
> Office of Public Information
> 810 12th Avenue S.
> Nashville, TN 37203
> www.umcpresscenter.org

> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
> June 24, 2010

Nashville, Tenn.:  The Commission on the General Conference has selected ?Make 
Disciples of Jesus Christ to Transform the World? as the theme for The United 
Methodist Church?s 2012 General Conference, scheduled for April 24-May 4 in 
Tampa, Fla.

[]The theme echoes the mission of The United Methodist Church to make disciples of 
Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world as a way of aligning the General 
Conference with the denomination?s central mission­so that the conference is 
not a one-time event, but a part of the ongoing ministry of the church.

A committee of representatives from the Commission on the General Conference 
and the Council of Bishops was charged with making recommendations for a theme 
and logo to the full commission for approval. Once a theme was selected, the 
United Methodist Publishing House?s design team developed logo proposals for 
consideration.

?We sensed that people across the church are longing for clarity about our 
mission, and we believed that the theme of the General Conference should 
reinforce and celebrate that mission,? said Jim Harnish, a member of the 
commission and chair of the committee. ?We hope that the Spirit of God will use 
this theme to unite and energize our people to fulfill this mission and enable 
us to set clear priorities for the use of our resources.?

The logo which complements the theme depicts a graphic image of the cross 
(representing the presence of Jesus Christ at the center of our mission) with 
circles extending from the cross
(expressing energy and movement into ministry in the world) imposed against a 
bright sun and blue water (representing Tampa, Fla. as the conference site). 
The imperative verbs ?make? and
?transform? underscore the urgency of the mission and call for active  response.

The Commission also announced that the official General Conference 2012 website 
will be http://gc2012.umc.org. The site is expected to be available by early 
fall.  A graphic of the logo and a more detailed interpretation of the theme is 
available here.

About General Conference 2012

General Conference is the top policy-making body of The United Methodist 
Church. The 1000-member assembly 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 
churchwide programs for the next four years. The 2012 meeting will take place 
April 24-May 4 at the Tampa Convention Center.

> Media contact:
> Diane Degnan
> ddegnan@umcom.org
> 615-742-5406 (w)
> 615-483-1765 (c)