General Conference schedule
Jump to the details for each day: July 6 | July 7 | July 8 | July 9 | July 10 | July 11 | July 12 | July 13
Friday, July 6
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. | Arrival and registration | Dunckel Gym |
| 9:00 a.m.– 5:00 p.m. | Free Methodist World Missions – “Enter Their World: The Global Local Church Vision
Casting Conference" /
This pre-General Conference event, a time of inspiration, information
and interaction, is designed for local and conference missions leadership.
Registration fee is $15 per person. For a registration form, go to
www.fmwm.org/gc07 or call 800.342.5531, ext. 240. |
SAFMC |
Saturday, July 7
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 6:30 – 8:30 | Breakfast | Dining Commons |
| 8:00 | Registration | Dunckel Gym |
| 8:30 – 9:30 | Committee chair orientation | Fieldhouse Room 218 |
| 8:30 – 10:00 | Workshop: Building a Dynamic Children’s Ministries: A New Approach to Church
Growth – Maureen Keirnes /
Learn how to develop a reputation in your community
through Outreach events, dynamic Sunday am programming and team building.
Participants
will come away with specific proven ideas and resources. |
SAFMC Chapel |
| 8:30 – 10:00 | Workshop: Scriptwriting – Adam Schnell /
A good script can make you laugh, make you cry
and sometimes just make you think. But where do you start? How do
you put those thoughts
down on paper? This workshop will walk you through the process that
I use to create church dramas, right from sermon notes to final draft. |
|
| 10:00 -12:00 | Worship/Pastoral Address/Prayer Organizing Plenary Session |
Fieldhouse |
| 11:30 – 1:30 | Lunch | Dining Commons/Food Court |
| 12:00 – 1:30 | Marston Memorial Historical Center Lunch / "Edward Payson Hart: Barrister of Holiness" by
Dr. Jon Kulaga. Open discussion at end; bring your own lunch. |
Kresge Student Center / Ralph Carey Forum (RCF) |
| 12:15 – 1:30 | Missions Power Lunch / Come Hear reports of God's mighty power at work around the world. Presenter Dr. Art Brown Free Methodist World Missions Director. Purchase your lunch in the dining commons or food court and bring it to the Fireside Room in the Kresge Student Center. | Kresge Student Center / Fireside Lounge |
| 1:00 – 2:30 | Workshop: Creative Development of Family Ministries in your church – Maureen Keirness /
Learn how to build a Family Ministry program that equips parents
and provides venues for families to grow spiritually |
SAFMC Chapel |
| 1:30 – 2:30 | Organizing Plenary Session | Fieldhouse |
| 2:00 – 3:30 | Workshop: Acting 101 – Adam Schnell / You know you've got dialogue to memorize, but isn't there more to it than that? You bet! This block will cover acting basics, from staging fundamentals and character development, to unearthing your script's motivation and working with a dramatic ensemble. | SAFMC – Room 210 |
| 2:45 | Group picture for delegates. | Fieldhouse |
| 3:00 – 4:30 | Committees | Locations TBA |
| 4:30 – 6:30 | Dinner | Dining Commons/Food Court |
| 5:00 – 6:30 | Free Methodist World Missions Dinner / Everyone is invited to attend this event honoring those who have served 15 or more years as Free Methodist missionaries. Cost is $15 per person and registration deadline is June 15. For a registration form, go to www.fmwm.org/gc07 or call 800.342.5531, ext 240. | SAFMC – CFC |
| 5:00 – 7:00 | Clergy Womens' Dinner.
All Free Methodist Clergy women (CMC, lay pastors, deacons, elders
- retired or active) are invited. This is a time for fellowship,
encouragement and networking. Please purchase you own meal from
the dining commons or food court and bring to the RCF. |
Kresge Student Center / Ralph Carey Forum (RCF) |
| 7:00 – 8:30 | Celebration – Free Methodist World Missions / Parade of Flags – Bishop Ildo Swartele de Mello, Brazil Provisional General Conference | Fieldhouse |
| 8:30 | Spring Arbor University Welcome Reception / As General Conference gets underway, SAU invites all attendees to a welcome reception. This is an opportunity to become acquainted with other conference attendees and celebrate the week ahead. No RSVP necessary. We hope to see you all there. | Dining Commons and University Plaza |
Sunday, July 8
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 6:30 – 9:30 | Breakfast | Dining Commons |
| 7:30 – 8:00 | Communion – sponsored by MMI & WMI | White Auditorium |
| 10:00 – 11:30 | Morning Worship – Bishop Gollapalli John, India Provisional General Conference | Fieldhouse |
| 12:00 – 1:30 | Lunch | Commons / Food Court / Outtakes |
| 12:00 – 2:00 | International Child Care Ministries – Lunch. This will be a special time of fellowship and sharing as we hear from formerly sponsored child Pastor Eliador Devariste from Port-au-Prince, Haiti and Rev. Polly Ho from Hong Kong. Attendees must have pre-paid tickets. If you should have any questions, please contact Ann VanValin at the International Child Care Ministries display in the Fireside Room in the Kresge Student Center. We are looking forward to this time together! | SAFMC – CFC |
| 1:30 – 5:00 | Homecoming Receptions & Fellowship | Locations: See below |
| 1:30 – 3:30 | Seattle Pacific University Reception / All alumni and friends are welcome to the SPU Reception! President Eaton will bring greetings at 2:00 p.m. | White Library – upstairs |
| 1:30 – 4:00 | Greenville College Alumni & Friends Reception / Formal greeting by president at 2:30. A shuttle service will be provided throughout the reception time. The pick up location will be at the Ganton Art Gallery. | The Lloyd Ganton Home 7373 Carter Rd., Spring Arbor |
| 1:30 – 5:00 | Association of Human Service Ministries Reception
/ Please join us for this come and go reception. |
Exhibit booth |
| 1:30 – 5:00 | Friends of Oakdale Christian Academy Reception / Ministry updates by President Dan Fisher at 2:30 and 4:30; Student testimonials at 2:45 and 4:45. Please join us for this come and go reception. | White Auditorium Lobby |
| 2:00 – 4:00 | Free Methodist Medical Fellowship and Parish Nursing Reception / Greetings from Parish Nursing Board and from Dr. Tim Kratzer, president of Free Methodist Fellowship will be at 2:30 p.m. | Spring Arbor Free Methodist Church – Fireside Room |
| 2:00 – 4:00 | Friends of Hope Africa University and Olive Branch Mission – Africa Reception / Join us for a special reception, featuring "Hope Africa" singers, courtesy of "Spirit Revival" Music Ministry, Olive Branch Missions. University update will be at 2:30 p.m., Olive Branch--Africa update will be at 3:00 p.m. | Kresge Student Center / Fireside Lounge |
| 2:00 – 4:30 | Asbury Seminary Reception / Asbury Theological Seminary is hosting a "drop in" reception. At 3:00 p.m. there will be a presentation. Everyone invited! | White Library – downstairs |
| 2:00 – 5:00 | Central Christian College of Kansas Reception. President Dwight Reimer will bring greetings and an update from the college at 2:30 and again at 4:30 pm. | University Hall Lobby |
| 2:00 – 5:00 | Free Methodist Foundation Open house. This time of fellowship, open to everyone is an opportunity to meet
the people behind the ministry of the Free Methodist Foundation,
while learning how God is using the Foundation to resource ministries
and people around the world. |
Free Methodist Foundation |
| 3:00 – 5:00 | George Fox Seminary Reception / Enjoy a visit with friends from WES and George Fox. Meet Jules Glanzer, dean of the seminary. | Exhibit Booth 10 |
| 3:00 – 5:00 | Roberts Wesleyan College & Northeastern Seminary Reception / President John A. Martin will bring greetings and campus update at 3:30 p.m. and again at 4:00 p.m. | Kresge Student Center / Ralph Carey Forum (RCF) |
| 3:30 – 5:00 | Spring Arbor University Alumni Reception. All alumni and friends invited. RSVP is required. Send to lynnem@arbor.edu. Dr. Beebe will give a campus update at 4:15. | Ganton Art Gallery Lobby |
| 4:30 – 6:30 | Dinner | Dining Commons / Food Court |
| 7:00 – 9:00 | Celebration Service – Bishop Richard Snyder | Fieldhouse |
Monday, July 9
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 6:30 – 8:30 | Breakfast | Dining Commons / Food Court |
| 7:00 – 8:15 | Bishops and Spouses Breakfast | Kresge Student Center / Ralph Carey Forum (RCF) |
| 8:30 – 9:30 | Women’s Ministries International – Registration & Orientation | SAFMC Chapel |
| 9:00 – 9:30 | Worship / Word / Prayer. Devotional Speaker: Josh Morey | Fieldhouse |
| 9:30 – 12:00 | Women’s Ministries International – First Sitting | SAMFC Chapel |
| 10:00 – 11:30 | Workshop: Technology on a Shoestring / Workshop leader Rob Blair will demonstrate ways to stay on the cutting
edge in media without the need for any large budget provisions |
Whiteman-Gibbs – Room 15 |
| 10:00 – 12:00 | Teen Activities | SAFMC CFC Room 3 & 4 |
| 10:00 – 12:00 | Committees | Locations TBA |
| 11:30 – 1:30 | Lunch | Commons / Food Court / Outtakes |
| 12:00 – 12:30 | Men's Ministry International lunch meeting – part 1: Speaker Rev. Lucien Behar
– Belgium and Europe / Each day we will have a special speaker and
emphasis on a unique aspects of MMI. Bring your lunch from the Food
Court or visit the Dining Commons at 12:30 p.m. |
Fieldhouse upstairs room 218 |
| 12:15– 1:30 | Mission Power Lunch – Bring your own lunch! / Come Hear reports of God's mighty power at work around the world. Presenter David Yardy Asia Area Director. Purchase your lunch in the dining commons or food court and bring it to the Fireside Room in the Kresge Student Center. | Kresge Student Center / Fireside Lounge |
| 12:00 – 1:30 | Marston Memorial Historical Center Lunch / Dr. Howard Snyder speaking on Populist Saints, B.T. and Ellen Roberts and the First Free Methodists. Open discussion at end; bring your own lunch. | Kresge Student Center / Ralph Carey Forum (RCF) |
| 1:30 – 4:30 | Committees | Locations TBA |
| 2:00 – 3:30 | Workshop: Oh the Places You'll Go: Children's Ministry with A Purpose /
Led by Rebecca
Schnell. Are you passionate about ministry for kids, but feel like you're
not sure what's next, or what you should be doing? In this workshop
we'll talk about the importance of determining the vision of what
your Children's Ministry can be, like Dr. Seuss says, "Your
mountain is waiting. So...get on your way!" |
Whiteman-Gibbs Room 15 |
| 2:00 – 4:00 | Workshop: Building a Winning Team Through Understanding Personality Styles and Spiritual Gifts / Led by Rev. Earl Habecker | SAFMC – Room 210 |
| 2:30 | WMI Tea. $12. All women are invited, however this event is by ticket only at a cost of $12. We will start promptly at 2:30; you will want to be on time. | Arbor Hills Country Club 1426 Arbor Hills Drive Jackson, MI 49201 |
| 4:30 – 6:30 | Dinner | Dining Commons / Food Court |
| 5:00 – 6:30 | Free Methodist World Missions Asia fellowship dinner / This dinner is open to all persons interested in the Asia ministries and is an opportunity to meet the Asian Bishops, delegates and guests. Please get your dinner and bring it to the Fireside Room in the Kresge Student Center. This time together will be hosted by Bishop Joe James and David Yardy. Following the meal there will be greetings and introductions. | Kresge Student Center / Fireside Lounge |
| 7:00 – 8:30 | Celebration Service – Missionary Rev. Phyllis Sortor | Fieldhouse |
Tuesday, July 10
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 6:30 – 8:30 | Breakfast | Dining Commons / Food Court |
| 7:15 – 8:15 | Breakfast Workshop on Education for Internationals / Get your breakfast tray in the Dining Commons and come downstairs to the Ralph Carey Forum. Spring Arbor University’s (SAU) International Initiatives Committee warmly welcomes internationals delegates for a brief time of sharing about education. We want to hear how SAU could be of service to your young people and we want to share some ideas of how we might help. From us, you will first learn about the application process to SAU for international students. Secondly, you will hear about summer and January English Camps where high school students can experience an introductory study of American Culture and also English as a Second Language (ESL). Thirdly, you will explore how SAU can hold Orientation weeks for Christian students (coming to study anywhere in the U.S) to the realities of surviving and thriving as a Christians in American academia. Please join us! | Kresge Student Center / Ralph Carey Forum (RCF) |
| 9:00 – 9:30 | Worship/Word/Prayer.
Devotional Speaker – Thad Roller |
Fieldhouse |
| 8:45– 12:00 | Women’s Ministries International – Second Sitting | SAMFC Chapel & rooms 101-104 |
| 10:00 – 11:30 | Workshop: Promoting Health and Healing in the church / Led by Lynn Sue Pierce. | Whiteman-Gibbs Room 15 |
| 10:00 – 12:00 | Plenary Session | Fieldhouse |
| 10:00 – 12:00 | Teen Activities | SAFMC CFC Room 3 & 4 |
| 11:30 – 1:30 | Lunch | Commons / Food Court / Outtakes |
| 12:00 – 12:30 | Men's Ministry International lunch meeting – part 2: Speaker . Sammy Luna - Dominican Republic / Each day we will have a special speaker and emphasis on a unique aspects of MMI. Bring your lunch from the Food Court or visit the Dining Commons at 12:30 p.m. | Fieldhouse upstairs room 218 |
| 12:15– 1:30 | Missions Power Lunch / Come hear reports of God's mighty power at work around the world. Presenter Jerry Coleman Europe Area Director. Purchase your lunch in the dining commons or food court and bring it to the Fireside Room in the Kresge Student Center. | Kresge Student Center / Fireside Lounge |
| 12:00 – 1:30 | Assoc. of Human Service Ministries lunch / All are welcome! Grab your lunch in the dining room in the Kresge Student Center and head to the Ralph Carey Forum down stairs to find out what is happening in Human Service ministry within the Free Methodist Church of North America and to see how AHSM can help you strengthen or launch a human service ministry in your church or area. Organizations involved in AHSM include: The Birth Connection, Butterfield Memorial Foundation, Clawson Manor/New Life, Deaconess Pregnancy and Adoption Services, The Heritage Group, Life Line Homes, The LYN House, Oakdale Christian Academy, Olive Branch Mission, Warm Beach Senior Community, Woodstock Christian Life Services. | Kresge Student Center / Ralph Carey Forum (RCF) |
| 1:30 – 4:30 | Plenary Session (elect Bishops) | Fieldhouse |
| 1:30 – 4:30 | Women’s Ministries International – Second Sitting | SAFMC Chapel & rooms 101-104 |
| 2:00 – 3:30 | Workshop: You had me at Hello or Not: Children's Ministry first impressions / Led by Rebecca Schnell. Find out how you can make great memories for kids and their families, starting from day one. From creative ways to appreciate and welcome guests, to what you need to be looking at with fresh eyes, this workshop promises to send you home with lots of great ideas to make your ministry a place people want to return. | Whiteman-Gibbs Room 15 |
| 4:30 – 6:30 | Dinner | Dining Commons / Food Court |
| 5:00 | FM Chaplains Dinner / This time of fellowship, and inspiration is open to everyone but reservations are required. This is an opportunity to meet our new Endorsing Agent and Director of Chaplain Ministries, Rex Carpenter. You will also have an opportunity to meet with chaplains from many areas of ministry: military, hospitals and health care, police and fire, correctional facilities, mental health, retirement communities, and more. God is doing great things in the ministry of chaplaincy. Reservations are required two weeks in advance by contacting David Nicholson at opendoorch@netdirect.net | Kresge Student Center / Ralph Carey Forum (RCF) |
| 5:00 | Europe Fellowship Information Dinner / Bring your meal to the Fireside Lounge and join with Europe Area Director Jerry Coleman and other European missionaries and leaders for an informal time of fellowship. Find out more about how the Kingdom of God is being re-established in the continent that was once the "bastion of Christianity". | Kresge Student Center / Fireside Lounge |
| 7:00 – 8:30 | Celebration – Bishop RogerHaskins | Fieldhouse |
| Following service | Bishops reception. / You are invited to come to this traditional General Conference event to meet our North American Bishop couples, along with their counterpart guests from other countries. | Fieldhouse |
Wednesday, July 11
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 6:30 – 8:30 | Breakfast | Dining Commons / Food Court |
| 7:30 – 8:45 | Human Resources / FMCNA Pension Plan Breakfast with workshop /
Breakfast of Champions: This complimentary breakfast is open to all "champions" who
are serving and interested in learning more about the FMCNA pension
plan. Come and get your pension "Wheaties"! Come hear about how your pension plan works and how it supports you in your
future years. Learn how to plan for your financial future by using
the pension plan, as well as other financial tools such as tax deferred
annuities and financial profiles. Already retired and have questions?
There will be a question and answer time available. Come hear from
Human Resources and Free Methodist Foundation representatives. Breakfast
will be hosted by the FMCNA Human Resources department. Pick up your
ticket for breakfast just outside the dining commons, get your breakfast
in the dining commons and bring it to the Ralph Carey Forum. |
Kresge Student Center / Ralph Carey Forum (RCF) |
| 9:00 – 9:30 | Worship / Word / Prayer. Devotional Speaker: Joanne Colon | Fieldhouse |
| 8:45 – 12:00 | Women’s Ministries International – Third Sitting | SAMFC Chapel & rooms 101-104 |
| 10:00 – 11:30 | Workshop: Oral History /
This workshop introduces participants to oral history policies and
guidelines. Join us for a discussion of the costs, the ethics,
and the uses of oral history as well as some of the many resources
available to amateur oral historians. |
White Library – lower level |
| 10:00 – 11:30 | Workshop: Keeping the Balance: Keys to Healthy Living / Led by Lynn Sue Pierce | Whiteman-Gibbs Room 15 |
| 10:00 – 12:00 | Committees | Locations TBA |
| 10:00 – 12:00 | Teen Activities | SAFMC CFC Room 3 & 4 |
| 12:00 – 12:30 | Men's Ministry International lunch meeting – part 3: Speaker Dr. Blake Wood - The Middle-East and Creative Access / Each day we will have a special speaker and emphasis on a unique aspects of MMI. Bring your lunch from the Food Court or visit the Dining Commons at 12:30 p.m. | Fieldhouse upstairs room 218 |
| 11:30 – 1:30 | Lunch | Commons / Food Court / Outtakes |
| 12:00 – 1:30 | Marston Memorial Historical Center Lecture
/ Bring your own lunch! Retired missionary,
Dr. C. Albert Snyder will be sharing, "Weeping May Endure for a Night: A Spiritual Journey". Open discussion at end. |
Kresge Student Center / Ralph Carey Forum (RCF) |
| 12:15 – 1:30 | Missions Power Lunch / Come Hear reports of God's mighty power at work around the world. Presenter, David Roller, Latin America Area Director. Purchase your lunch in the dining commons or food court and bring it to the Fireside Room in the Kresge Student Center. | Kresge Student Center / Fireside Lounge |
| 1:30 – 4:30 | Plenary Session | Fieldhouse |
| 1:30 – 4:30 | Women’s Ministries International – Third Sitting | SAMFC Chapel & rooms 101-104 |
| 2:00 – 3:30 | Workshop: Pieces in the Puzzle- More than Just Sunday School teachers / Led by Rebecca Schnell | Whiteman-Gibbs Room 15 |
| 4:30 – 6:30 | Dinner | Dining Commons / Food Court |
| 7:00 – 8:30 | Celebration Service – Bishop Joe James | Fieldhouse |
Thursday, July 12
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 6:30 – 8:30 | Breakfast | Dining Commons / Food Court |
| 9:00 – 9:30 | Worship / Word / Prayer. Devotional Speaker: Tasha Hodgens | Fieldhouse |
| 10:00 – 11:30 | Workshop: Women in Ministry of hospitality and assimilation / Led by Dottie Miller | SAFMC – Room 210 |
| 10:00 – 12:00 | Teen Activities | SAFMC CFC Room 3 & 4 |
| 10:00 – 12:00 | Plenary Session (committees if needed) | Locations TBA |
| 12:00 – 1:30 | Men's Ministry International lunch meeting – part 4. Evangelists, Church Planters, and Disciplers making the Gospel practical and MMI Quadrennial General Assembly / Election of Officers and Plans for the next Quadrennium. Each day we will have a special speaker and emphasis on a unique aspects of MMI. Bring your lunch from the Food Court or visit the Dining Commons at 12:30 p.m. | Fieldhouse upstairs Room 218 |
| 11:30 – 1:30 | Lunch | Commons / Food Court / Outtakes |
| 12:15 – 1:30 | Missions Power Lunch / Come Hear reports of God's mighty power at work around the world. Presenter Henry Church, Africa Area Director. Purchase your lunch in the dining commons or food court and bring it to the Fireside Room in the Kresge Student Center. | Kresge Student Center / Fireside Lounge |
| 1:30 – 4:30 | Plenary Session | Fieldhouse |
| 2:00 – 3:30 | Workshop / Author Russell Veldman will provide an overview of the new Classic Catechism published by Light and Life Communications with practical suggestions for using it with children, teens, new converts, ministerial candidates and more. | Whiteman-Gibbs Room 15 |
| 4:30 – 6:30 | Dinner | Dining Commons / Food Court |
| 7:00 – 8:30 | Celebration Service – Bishop David Kendall | Fieldhouse |
Friday, July 13
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 6:30 – 8:30 | Breakfast | Dining Commons / Food Court |
| 9:00 – 10:30 | Plenary Session | Fieldhouse |
| 11:00 – 12:00 | Communion | Fieldhouse |
| 11:30 – 1:30 | Lunch | Commons / Food Court / Outtakes |