Special Session October 2023

Announcement of Online Special Annual Conference Session

Bishop Laura Merrill, with the concurrence of the District Superintendents and in accordance with ¶603.5 of The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, has called for a Special Session of the Arkansas Annual Conference to be held Sunday, October 15, 2023, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm via zoom in the event of a request by the conference Board of Trustees to present disaffiliation agreements for consideration by the annual conference.

This special session has been called to address the following issue, and is limited to addressing only this issue: 

The consideration of ratification of disaffiliation agreements from the Conference Board of Trustees with various congregations of the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church, in accordance with ¶2553 of The 2016 Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, the Principles adopted at the 2021 Arkansas Annual Conference Session and Judicial Council Decision 1379. 

All current clergy members of the Arkansas Annual Conference, including appointed local pastors, are authorized to participate. Lay members authorized to participate are those lay members or alternates who are last seated at the June 2023 Annual Conference Session as provided by ¶602.5 of The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church. Any lay member unable to attend because of death, serious illness or cessation of membership who cannot be replaced by an alternate to the June 2023 Annual Conference Session may be replaced by a lay member duly elected by the charge conference.