Annual Conference 2024
June 19-21, 2024 in Hot Springs, AR
_______________________
A PRAYER FOR ANNUAL CONFERENCE
God of welcome and witness, hospitality and harvest,
We give you thanks that you have made your home among us.
As we gather together as the people called United Methodists,
Seeking a home in you and one another,
We pray that we may discover home not only in this place
But wherever you send us.
On gravel roads and city streets,
In community centers and gas stations,
Under bridges and beside hospital beds,
May we experience and share the presence of your
Beloved kingdom that comes near
In Jesus Christ through the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Embassy Suites Hotel & Spa
(0.29 Miles)
400 Convention Blvd.
Hot Springs, AR 71901
501-624-9200
Suites, Complimentary Breakfast, Manager’s Reception, Spa, Indoor Pool, Fitness Center, Free Parking
Code: UMC
Single: $161 + tax
Double: $171 + tax
Triple: $181 + tax
Quad: $191 + tax
Hotel Hot Springs
(0.3 miles)
305 Malvern Ave.
Hot Springs, AR 71907
877-623-6697
Renovated and Remodeled Guest Rooms, Refrigerator & Microwave in all Rooms, Complimentary Breakfast available 6:30 am to 9:30 am, The Inside Track and Lounge, Shuttle Service to Popular attractions within City Limits, Complimentary WIFI. Single Occupancy: $129 + tax Double Occupancy: $139 + tax Triple Occupancy: $149 + tax Quad Occupancy: $159 + tax Code: UMC2024
The Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa
(0.7 Miles)
239 Central Avenue
Hot Springs, AR 71901
(800) 643-1502 or (501) 609-2533 Thermal Mineral Water Bathhouse, Full-Service Beauty Salon,
Full-Service Dining Facilities, Starbuck’s, Two Swimming Pools, and Hot Tub Single Occupancy: $115 + tax
Double Occupancy: $125 + tax
Double Tree by Hilton
(5.9 miles)
4813 Central Avenue
Hot Springs, AR 71913
501-525-1391
Mini Refrigerator, Microwave, Iron & Ironing Board, Hair Dryer, Safe, Free Parking, Free Wi-Fi, Lakeside pool, Lake View rooms available, Made Market Restaurant
Tuesday – Thursday
King Standard: $179.00+ tax
Double Queen Standard $159.00 + tax Friday
King Standard: $299.00+ tax
Double Queen Standard $279.00 + tax
Courtyard by Marriott
(4 miles)
200 Marriott Court
Hot Springs, AR 71913
501-651-4366
Complimentary on-site parking, Free High Speed Internet, Fitness Center, Pool, Microwave Oven, Mini Fridge
King or 2 Queen: $124 + tax
Code: AUMAUMA for Kings or AUMAUMB for Double Queens
Holiday Inn Express
(5 miles)
206 Mehta Court
Hot Springs, AR 71913
(501) 463-5600
Hot/Cold Breakfast Buffet, Heated Indoor Pool, 24 Hour Gym, Free Wi-Fi, Outdoor patio with fire pit, Free Parking
Monday thru Thursday
Single: $127.80 + tax
Double: $118.30 + tax
Friday
Single: $161.10 + tax
Double: $165.60 + tax
Arkansas Conference Reaffiliation Policy
Arkansas Conference Committees Nominations Report
Supplement to the PCJ – Board of Laity Pre-Conference Journal Report
Supplement to the PCJ – Gammon Theological Seminary Report
Jurisdictional Pool Nomination Form
Letter to Conference about the Jurisdictional Pool Nomination
2024 Annual Conference Registration Form
2024 South Central Jurisdictional Conference Self-Nomination Form (Alternate Laity)
May 31 • Display Space Deadline (including booth payment)
June 18 • Exhibitors set up begins at 12 pm – 6 pm
June 19 – 20 • Conference opens at 8 am – 5:30 pm
June 21 • Conference concludes at 8 am – 5 pm
Please contact Bailey Thomas (bailey.thomas@arumc.org) if you have any questions.
We will not provide chairs for vendors, please bring your own chairs.
2024 Annual Conference Special Events
Wednesday, June 19
12 p.m. – United Women in Faith – $20
First UMC, 1100 Central Ave, Hot Springs, AR
Contact: Betty Cook (870) 942-6461, jbcook@windstream.net
**Transportation from the Convention Center will be provided.
6 p.m. – AR Black Methodists for Church Renewal Dr Negail Riley Dinner – $50
“Celebrating Freedom Fighters,” please dress in African attire in the spirit of Juneteenth
Hall D, Hot Springs Convention Center
Contact: Maxine Allen, mallen@arumc.org
6:30 p.m. SMU Perkins School of Theology Alumni, Students & Friends – Self-pay
Rolando’s Nuevo Latino Restaurant, 210 Central Ave, Hot Springs, AR
Contact: Daniel Thueson, daniel.thueson@arumc.org
Childcare during the Annual Conference of ARUMC will be provided by Camp Tanako staff at FUMC Hot Springs for under 5 year olds. Children over 5 years old will go out to Camp for the day. If you have any questions, please contact Kayla at 501-617-8652 or kayla.hardage@tanako.org.
June 10, 2024
This year during the Arkansas Annual Conference we will be electing one lay delegate, one clergy alternate delegate, and two lay alternate delegates to fill vacancies in the current jurisdictional conference delegation for the South Central Jurisdictional Conference to be held July 10-12, 2024, in Rogers, Arkansas. The list of current delegation members and the vacancies to be filled can be seen below.
On May 9 an opportunity was given for eligible clergy and lay members of the Arkansas Conference to self-nominate for these open positions, with a June 3 deadline to be received in order to post online. Those completed forms received by the deadlines can be found below. The number at the top of each form will be the number used in order to vote for that particular individual.
Paragraphs 36-38 of the 2016 Book of Discipline delineate the eligibility and election requirements for General and Jurisdictional Conference delegates. To be clear, self-nominations are not required to be considered for election, and there will be an opportunity provided on the first day of the Annual Conference to receive further nominations from the floor, including self-nominations. Voting to fill the vacancies will begin on Thursday and will continue until completed during the regular scheduled business sessions of the Conference.
Jurisdictional Pool Nomination Form
Clergy Self-Nominations
Laity Self-Nominations
2024 Jurisdictional Conference Delegation – with Vacancies
Clergy Delegates: | Laity Delegates: |
Mark Norman – C | Karon Mann – C |
Michael Roberts – NE | Todd Burris – C |
Lynn Kilbourne – C | Regina Norwood – C |
Jessica Teegarden – C | Sarah Argue – C |
Natasha Murray – SE | Brandon Bates – NW |
Hammett Evans – C | Amy Forbus – C |
Katie Pearce – NE | Asa Whitaker – NE |
Pam Estes – C | _________________ |
Clergy Alternates: | Laity Alternates: |
Lauren DeLano – C | ___________________ |
________________ | ___________________ |
Bishop Delores J. Williamston, a Kansas Army National Guard veteran, serves as bishop of the Louisiana Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. She was assigned to the Louisiana Conference at the South Central Jurisdictional meeting in Houston on November 3, 2022.
Early Life
Bishop Williamston was a 22-year veteran of the Kansas Army National Guard, where she served as a technician and eventually became chief supervisor of the account and finance operations at the U.S. Property and Fiscal Office in Topeka. Her rank upon retirement from the National Guard was sergeant first class.
Education
Bishop Williamston left high school before graduation, only to return for her GED. Her education continued, and she later received a bachelor’s degree in management, a Master of Divinity, and a Doctor of Ministry degree in 2023.
Previous Ministry
Bishop Williamston was ordained as an elder in 2010 and previously served in the Great Plains Conference as the superintendent for the Hays, Hutchinson, and Salina Districts. She also served as Director of Clergy Excellence and Assistant to the Bishop.
Prior to beginning her service with the Great Plains Conference, Williamston served churches in Independence, Salina, Mentor, and Topeka in Kansas.
Ordination
Bishop Williamston earned her Master’s of Divinity from Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri, with a specialty in Black Church ministries and evangelism. In 2023, she obtained her Doctorate of Ministry from Philips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Fun Facts
Bishop Williamston, a breast cancer survivor, has one son, seven grandchildren, and one pet, Shih Tzu, named Oden Oldie Buster Inky-Do Slick-Rick Houdini Fluffy-Pants Mister Williamston. She loves to watch birds fly and nest but has no idea what kinds of birds she’s watching. For relaxation, Bishop Williamston likes to bike ride and complete paint-by-numbers panels.