United Methodist Churches are organized into Annual Conferences. Isle of Hope UMC is in the South Georgia Annual Conference. The South Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church met in Columbus, Georgia June 7-10.  As the name Annual Conference indicates, this is a meeting which occurs once each year, unless there is a need to call a Special Session. Attending  the Annual Conference  this years were our Lay Members Art and Matra Jordan. Dean and Betsy Hines, our other Lay Members were scheduled to attend, but Dean became ill and they could not be present.  Our pastors, Dick Reese, Frank Parr, Meg Procopio, and Rob Grotheer were also in attendance. The Conference, along with other business matters,  voted on 32 Amendments to the Constitution of the United Methodist Church and heard a report from a Task Force proposing to build an Administrative Office Building for the Conference. You can check out the work of the Conference on the website: www.sgaumc.com
 
As a result of the Conference, several changes are taking place. Rob Grotheer will become the pastor of the College Place UMC in Brunswick, Georgia effective June 17. If you wish to send Rob and Gayle a note, their new address will be: 3890 Altama Ave., Brunswick, GA 31520. Here at Isle of Hope UMC, Jocelyn Chiu and Mackay Lee will serve as Assistant Youth Directors during the next 12 months while we begin  a search for a Youth Minister. Alex Simmons, Jeremy Akin, and Richard Lee will serve as Interns with children and youth this summer.
 
Bishop James King and the South Georgia Cabinet also announced that Dick Reese, Meg Procopio, and Frank Parr will continue as pastors of Isle of Hope United Methodist Church for the 2009-2010 Conference year. Pastors in the United Methodist Church are assigned for one year at a time, although the same assignment can continue  for several years.
 
Another new addition to our staff here at Isle of Hope UMC is Lindsay Bradley. She will be the Worship Leader for the new non-traditional  Worship Service. There will be some preview services in August, with the new Service meeting on a weekly basis starting in September.
 
The busy summer schedule is now in full swing! Your support is needed in many ways: (1) Find your place in worship regularly during these months; (2) Pray for the continued work of the church in the midst of several changes; (3) Be faithful with your financial support. The summer is often the time when so much is going on, and our offerings tend to lag behind the needs. Please be regular in your gifts; and (4) Find your place of service in the many activities that are just ahead.
God wants to do the work of His church through you and me. Let us covenant together  to be faithful to Him and His church. We are workers together with Him.
 
                                                                   Dick Reese