AC2023 Schedule

The 2023 Session of The Western NC Annual Conference will be held June 15-18, 2023 at Lake Junaluska, NC. All business sessions and worship services will take place in Stuart Auditorium. The schedule below will be updated as we confirm dates/times of sessions, worship services, and events.

Theme: GRACE, CONNECTION, HOLINESS

ONGOING

John Wesley Sightings
Prayer Wall - Live & Digital
Illustrated Ministries

THURSDAY, JUNE 15

3pm - Executive Session of Clergy Members (¶ 605.6 – “The actions of the clergy session shall be for and on behalf of the annual conference”)

4:30pm - Celebration of the 2023 Ordination, Commissioning, and Licensing Classes

5:30pm - Dinner Recess

FRIDAY, JUNE 16

10:30am - Opening Worship: Service of Holy Communion
                     Rev. Dr. Candace M. Lewis, President-Dean Gammon Seminary, preaching
                     Offering: New Churches in Ukraine and Trauma Responsive, Healing Centered Faith Communities

12pm - Lunch Recess

1:30pm - Conference Plenary - Business Session
                         Opening Hymn and Prayer
                    Welcome from Lake Junaluska
                    Procedural Matters, Elections for Conference, and Consent Calendar
                    Committee on Nominations
                    Plan of Organization and Rules of Order
                    Lay Delegate Elections
                    Historic Wesley Questions for Ordinands
                    Committee on the Episcopacy

3pm - Break

3:30pm - Bible Study led by Rev. Dr. Martyn Atkins, Former General Secretary of the Methodist Church in Great Britain and President of the Conference

4:15pm - Order of the Day: Recognition of Retiring Clergy

5:30pm - Dinner Recess and Connect at AC Friday Fun Night 

SATURDAY, JUNE 17

8:30am  - Annual Meeting of the Membership of the UM Foundation of WNC

8:45am - Conference Plenary - Business Session
                        Opening Prayer
                   Lay Delegate Elections (as needed)
                   Conference Council on Finance and Administration
                         2024 Conference Budget
                   Conference Board of Pension and Health Benefits
                   Commissioning Lighthouse Churches and Emerging Church Pastors

10:30am - Break

11am - Worship Service: Celebration of Life
                         Rev. Laura Auten, Uwharrie District Superintendent, preaching

12:30pm - Lunch Recess

2pm - Conference Plenary - Business Session
                   Centering Prayer
                   Lay Delegate Elections (as needed)
                   Cabinet Resolutions
                   Cultivating Thriving Communities
                   Petitions

3:15pm - Break

3:45pm - Conference Plenary - Business Session
                        Centering Prayer
                   Lay Delegate Elections (as needed)
                   Cultivating Thriving Communities
                   Petitions

5:30pm - Dinner Recess

7:30pm - Worship Service: The Ordering of Ministry
                  Bishop Kenneth H. Carter, preaching

SUNDAY, JUNE 18

10am - Closing Worship Service
                  Bishop Kenneth H. Carter, preaching
                 Offering: New Churches in Ukraine and Trauma Responsive, Healing Centered Faith Communities
                 Fixing of the Appointments and Sending Forth
                 Adjournment of the 2023 Annual Conference, sine die

12pm - Annual Conference is adjourned