{"id":25615,"date":"2020-10-25T15:41:07","date_gmt":"2020-10-25T19:41:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=25615"},"modified":"2020-12-17T12:49:40","modified_gmt":"2020-12-17T17:49:40","slug":"greater-nj-ready-to-conference-virtually-10-5-20","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=25615","title":{"rendered":"2020 Annual Conference Takes Courageous Steps (10\/6\/20)"},"content":{"rendered":"

The annual conference is when leaders from the churches of Greater NJ get together to celebrate our ministry and to plan the church business for the coming year. We approve resolutions and commit towards working for social justice. This year, the Covid virus prevented us from meeting together in person. Instead of gathering in the Wildwood convention center, we used Zoom and YouTube to meet “virtually.” The celebration and business of our Greater NJ Annual Conference was still conducted. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Consistent with these unsettling times, the theme of this year’s conference was “Courage.” Bishop Schol’s Episcopal Address and \"\"Ordination sermon called us to embrace challenges and fears, and then to take the courage that God provides. God’s courage empowers us not only to continue, but to forge ahead in new ways. <\/span> <\/em><\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t“Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.” \n(1 Chronicles 28:20)\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div> \n

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Pitman UMC Journal<\/span><\/h3>\n

The details from the conference are presented on the Greater NJ Conference’s website, but we’ll start out by sharing some observations from those who represented our church at the conference (Lay Member Larry Bakely and Sr. Pastor Jim Bolton). All of the pictures are screen captures taken while the conference was in process…<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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The following depiction does not attempt to convey the details of the resolutions; only the observations of one who was “present.” For details, visit the Conference website summary by clicking the following button (text of the summary is also pasted below this section).<\/span><\/p>\n

Greater NJ Annual Conference<\/span><\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n

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Virtual Format<\/span><\/h4>\n

This year’s conference was held at the Conference’s Missions and Resource Center (in Neptune NJ), and the music and other portions were “fed in” from other locations. Usually, voting members are seated “within the bar” in the convention center, and anyone else can sit in the visitor’s sections. \"\"Additionally, the conference is live streamed on the Conference website.<\/p>\n

In this year’s “virtual” conference, two platforms were used. All of the voting members were given Zoom invitations. Unlike the usual Zoom meetings where you can see every attendee (via the “Brady Bunch” gallery), a “one way” format of Zoom was used in which users could view a broadcast and vote (when necessary) using Zoom’s “Raise Hand” button. When it was time to discuss a piece of legislation, members used the Chat tool to request to make a speech. The video and audio from the Zoom users was controlled by the conference technical team. It was all “virtual”, but Robert’s Rules of Order were still there!<\/p>\n

In addition to Zoom, YouTube broadcast the entire conference. Voting members used Zoom, non-voting “visitors” watched on YouTube.<\/p>\n

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Music and Worship<\/span><\/h4>\n

In the “normal” conference, every session opens with a time of worship lead by the conference band. This year was no different. We didn’t have the usual worship and teaching sessions, but every Zoom session began with songs of worship. The music was performed “off site” and added into the Zoom video\/audio mix. This year’s band (as in recent years) was lead by Conference worship leader, Lan Wilson<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\t\t