We are excited to announce the VIRTUAL AC2024 Pre-Conference Workshops.
As you will see, there is a wide variety to choose from.
Once you have decided, there is a registration link at the bottom of the page where you can register for all the workshops you would like to attend.
ALL Pre-Conference workshops are virtual.
Closing the Gap – Racial Disparities in Clergy Compensation
Monday, May 20th 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Presenter: Bishop’s Task Force on Antiracism
Facilitators: Revs. Lee and Jana Hall-Perkins, Conference Antiracism Co-Coordinators
We will review trends in clergy salaries over the last few years, examine the contributing factors to racial pay gaps for clergy, and conclude with practical steps for closing the gap.
“To Kill A Mockingbird” book study
Monday, May 20th 11:15 a.m. – Noon
Presenters – Panel to include Rev. Dr. Sharon Austin, Rev. Dr. Jennifer Stiles-Williams and Rev. Erwin Lopez and joined by moderator Alice Williams.
Wondering how to approach the topic of anti-racism in your church? Why not host a book study as a way to open the discussion? Join us for both a "How To" and an "Experiential Moment" as members of the Beloved Community host a discussion on Harper Lee's famous work, "To Kill A Mockingbird". During this 45 minute session we will take you through the process of hosting a book study as well as demonstrate a panel discussion on this well-known book, stage play, and movie. To get the most from our time together please take the time to watch the movie, see the play, or read the book prior to this session so you are familiar with the storyline and able to join us in the discussion.
Renewal and Resilience: Disaster Recovery Ministries, in Your Church and Community.
Monday, May 20th 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Presenters:
Trish Warren, Conference Disaster Response Coordinator
Haley Shoemaker, Hurricane Ian Recovery Coordinator.
“Renewal and Resilience: Disaster Recovery Ministries in Your Church and Community" is a comprehensive workshop aimed at equipping clergy and laity with the necessary tools and strategies to effectively prepare for disasters, respond to disasters, and support recovery efforts.
The workshop highlights the role of The Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church in providing essential aid and comfort during times of crisis. Participants will learn about best practices for disaster preparedness, response, and long-term recovery, drawing upon both spiritual and practical resources to foster healing and restoration in affected communities. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities inherent in disaster recovery ministries, empowering them to mobilize their congregations and engage with local partners to build stronger, more resilient communities.
Living Socially Principled Lives
Monday, May 20th 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Host: Rev. Dr. Sharon Austin and Rev. Sharon Bowers
Presenter: Rev. Dr. Robert E. Vaughn, Jr.
Join The Rev. Beth Bostrom, FL Conference Social Justice Chairperson, and Dr. Sharon Austin, Director of Justice Ministries (and ECD DS), as they welcome the Rev. Dr. Robert E. ‘Rob’ Vaughn, Jr., Retired Elder, Virginia Conference, for a discussion on the Social Principles.
When he retired in 2023, he’d served the Community of Faith United Methodist Church for 25 years. Dr. Vaughn is a member of The General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church. He was a General Conference delegate and Vice Chair of Legislative Committee Church and Society 2. He has served on his annual Conference Sexual Ethics Response Team as a Co-coordinator and Trainer for 24 years, as a consultant on Deaf Ministry, and on the Conference Board of Church and Society.
He served his last congregation for 25 years and was a neighbor of Bishop Berlin’s. He is a graduate of Wesley Theological Seminary and holds a PhD in Sexuality Education from the University of PA. He serves on numerous community, district, conference, general church boards and agencies. He is a prolific author of papers and curricula on human sexuality and is a renowned workshop leader, panelist, and speaker.
It’s Expensive To Be Poor
Monday, May 20th 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
Presenter:
Lynette Fields, MSW, Executive Dir, Poverty Solutions Group
Have you ever stopped to wonder the costs of being poor? It costs more to maintain a bank account, pay for security deposits and move into a new apartment. It can cost more to buy a car. Those with lower incomes pay a higher percentage of their income on food and gas. During this workshop, we will reflect on the causes of poverty and why it is so difficult for individuals alone to navigate their way out of poverty. We will discuss the prevalence of predatory lenders in low-income communities and how even public benefits make it harder for you to get ahead. We will also discuss together how churches might consider innovative ways to assist those navigating poverty.
Mission Perspectives: Navigating Mission Work
Tuesday, May 21st 11:00 - Noon
Presenter: Molly McEntire, local and global non-profit leaders
Discover a fresh perspective on missions at our dynamic workshop! Dive deep into global and local outreach as seasoned nonprofit leaders guide you through interactive sessions. Explore innovative approaches to mission work, collaborative strategies with nonprofits, and the importance of cultural sensitivity. Don't miss this opportunity to revolutionize your mission outlook and amplify your impact. Sign up now for an enlightening experience!
Redeeming Sacred Space for Poverty Alleviation
Tuesday, May 21st 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Presenter: Rev. Mary Lee Downey & Rev. Esther Rodriguez
Churches in the US hold and occupy a significant amount of prime real estate, and they typically spend approximately 23% of their annual budget maintaining those spaces. When spaces can no longer be maintained, these congregations often choose to sell their property, surrendering ground set apart for a sacred purpose and building community to the whims of capitalism. Meanwhile, poverty is on the rise in our communities. As working-class and low-income people are left behind by rising living costs, we see a growing demand for missional outreach to our neighbors who are experiencing poverty.
A promising opportunity exists for a partnership between Churches and non-profit organizations to revitalize community spaces and meet the needs of our neighborhoods. Hope Partnership has been doing this work in Osceola County, and other organizations around the country are also thinking creatively about how to redeem under-utilized church property to make missional impacts in their communities. This workshop will explore how we can be good stewards for the good of the kin-dom in the here and now.
Just Average Joes: A Simple, Sustainable Model for Men’s Discipleship Groups
Tuesday, May 21st 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Presenter: Warren Pattison, Rev. Michael LeBlanc and members of the Conference Men’s Ministry Redesign Team
Learn about "Joe Groups" a simple, impactful, replicable, and sustainable model for men's groups in your congregation. Pioneered by men's leaders at The Portico and Hyde Park UMC in Tampa, Joe Groups are groups of 5-7 "average Joes" who delve into scripture, lift each other up in prayer, and walk through life side by side. Discover how you can use this model to lead the average Joes in your community into deeper discipleship.
The Beloved Community – The Age of Christian Nationalism
Wednesday, May 22nd 9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
Hosts: Rev. Dr. Sharon Austin, Alice Williams, Rev. Erwin Lopez
Guest Presenter: The Rev. Sharon Bowers
The Rev. Sharon Bowers who will lead us in a conversation about Christian Nationalism through the lens of the book, The Bible Told Them So: How Southern Evangelicals Fought to Preserve White Supremacy by J. Russell Hawkins. Rev. Bowers will also join us for the AC Beloved Community Dinner. Rev. Bowers is a member of the Holston Conference.
Reverend Bowers brings over 30 years of experience in full-time ministry and has a long-established history of being a champion of diversity. She is the founder and CEO of Character Based Leadership Institute, Inc., an innovative leadership and personal development ministry helping Christians and others lead and live with character. Reverend Bowers most recently served at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville as the Executive Director of the Wesley Foundation.
How to prepare for a personal or group retreat
Wednesday, May 22nd Noon – 1:00 p.m.
Presenters:
Rev. Drew Weseman, Rev. Laura Baber & Rev. Dr. Debbie Daley-Salinger
What is a personal retreat? How do I plan one for myself? These are some of the questions we will be exploring in this workshop. We will cover both personal spiritual retreats as well as sermon planning retreats in line with the Bishop’s Wesleyan Rooted series. Click here to watch the video.
DART Rethinking Justice Workshop
Wednesday, May 22nd 1:30 – 3:00
Presenters: UMC and DART leaders
Join together with clergy and laity from United Methodist Churches across the conference as we study scripture and reflect on what it means to answer God's call to do justice in our local communities. This workshop will also give you practical next-steps on how to start or strengthen the justice ministry in your church.
Lessons in Leadership Panel
Wednesday, May 22nd 3:30 – 4:30
Presenter: Featuring Dr. Anne Kerr
Florida Southern College (FSC) has been blessed with amazing leadership over the years, including Dr. Anne Kerr who joined the FSC family in 2004 as President. Over the past 10 years she has helped to lead FSC to top tier status among liberal arts colleges and universities in the US. In 2022 she was recognized as one of Florida's Top 100 Women Leaders and in 2023 she was selected as one of the prominent Florida 500 as one of our state's most influential leaders. Join FSC board members Rev. Alex Shanks and Alice Williams as they talk with Dr. Kerr about her legacy of leadership, key lessons learned, and her hopes for the future.
UMC Polity for Laity
Wednesday, May 22nd 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Presenter: Carlene Johnson
Have you ever wished there was a Schoolhouse Rock video explaining United Methodist polity and governance the way they explained the US government? While we can't promise as quick a video, nor as many catchy songs, in this workshop we will provide a broad introduction to how our church is structured and how it operates. A quick gallop through United Methodist history will lay the foundation for our discussion about General Conference: what happens, how it happens, and why it matters for both the local church and our Annual Conference.
Being Church in the 21st Century: How to Form Community through Fresh Expressions
Friday, May 24th 10:00 – 1100 a.m.
Presenters:
Jessica Taylor, North Central District Cultivator
In our changing culture, the church is being called outside the building to form spiritual communities in ways that are relational, contextual, and rooted in the love of Jesus. We know the church doesn't need a building to nourish and change lives, so what does it look like to gather, connect, and grow in ordinary places like parks, cafes, and dinner tables? How do we form incarnational ways of being church?
Creation Care: Plastic and Foam Free FLUMC
Friday, May 24th Noon – 1:00 p.m.
Presenter: Florida Conference Creation Care Team
Learn how small changes at your local church will add up to make a big impact in helping the planet. Many agree that plastic and foam pollution is a big problem, but have we considered how much of this waste we are creating at our own churches? There is a better way! Our Creation Care Task Team shares resources and inspiration at monthly webinars and you can learn more at www.flumc.org/creationcare.
God Calling: Thoughts on Laity and Call
Friday, May 24th 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Presenters:
Molly McEntire, Conference Missional Engagement Team Lead
Derrick Scott, Conference Co-Lay Leader
Alice Williams, Conference Co-Lay Leader
Clergy are not the only ones who are called to serve! Each of us have been given skills, talents, gifts, and graces that can be put to use in our churches, missions, ministries and communities. In this session we will talk about some of the ways we, as laity, can find calling and purpose though active engagement in the work of the church. We will explore the formal paths for laity such as Lay Servant Minister, Deaconess, and Lay Leader roles as well as informal ways that you can find your place and calling. Come join us for an entertaining look at what it means to answer God's call!