FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why is Annual Conference in St. Charles?
This will be the second time Missouri Annual Conference Session will take place in St. Charles. It was in Branson in 2022 and in Springfield for 15 years before that. The process of site selection can be a complicated one. There are several moving parts to the Annual Conference Session. With 1,200-plus attendees, including lay and clergy voting members, retired clergy, staff, exhibitors and guests, the event can swell to 1,400 participants for celebration, learning and business. Peer learning emphasizes substantial breakout rooms for workshops and smaller learning experiences. Read more at moumethodist.org. See the rubric and evaluation event planners use to narrow site options.
How can I best prepare for Annual Conference in St. Charles?
There will be three Know-Before-You-Go emails sent to registered members in advance of the session that will provide critical information prior to your arrival. Please read them. We also suggest becoming familiar with the Conference workbook when it is available in early- to mid-May. That workbook includes all the business the session will be voting upon. In addition, since the Conference is in a new space, we encourage you to arrive to the property early with ample time to get parked, familiarize yourself with the new property and get seated in time for our start on Friday morning.
My church is a part of a pastoral charge or cooperative (or collaborative parish). Who attends as the lay member?
A pastoral charge of two or more churches may be designated a circuit or cooperative parish (⁋205.2). Each charge served by a clergy person under appointment shall be entitled to as many lay members as there are clergy members under appointment. The lay members shall have been members of The United Methodist Church for the two years preceding their election and shall have been active participants in The United Methodist Church for at least four years preceding their election (⁋⁋32, 251.2). This provision can be waived for young persons under 30 years of age. As with pastoral charges of two or three churches with one appointed pastor, that charge sends one lay member to annual conference, meaning the churches on the charge must decide who will be sent from among all the churches. They can bring an alternate lay member for breaks but only one lay person will be seated in the bar with voice and vote (on all matters that lay members may vote upon).
How will voting be conducted during the session?
Voting for the 2024 session will be conducted in-person using voice or hand voting unless the session deems otherwise (i.e., roll call). Registered clergy and lay members with voting privileges should be the only people seated within the “bar” of the Exhibit Hall unless given express permission from the bishop during the Establishment of the Bar on the first day of the session. A translator as well as our tech crew will be granted permission to be in the bar. All other guests should be seated in the guest seating section.
For delegation elections, registered clergy and lay members with voting privileges will be given their voting credentials at registration on-site in St. Charles. For delegation voting, we will utilize online ballots. The link to this ballot will be distributed on the nametags of eligible, attending voting members. Clergy and lay members who are unable to attend in-person are invited to watch the event online but will not be granted voting privileges.
What are my voting privileges?
We have an easy chart to help clergy and laity of different statuses understand their voting privileges. If you have questions about your voting rights, please see your District Superintendent. Check out the voting credentials chart here.
Are we voting for delegation?
We will vote via personal smart phone devices to fill vacancies in the jurisdictional delegation to attend the 2024 Jurisdictional Conference on July 10-12 at Central UMC in Rogers, Arkansas. Elections will be determined by plurality. Those candidates receiving the most votes on a single ballot will be seated in the order of election. We are electing for two clergy delegation vacancies and one laity delegation vacancy. We will not be electing reserves for the Jurisdictional Conference delegation.
But what about voting for vacancies on the jurisdictional delegation for the jurisdictional conference to be held in Rogers, Arkansas, in July 2024?
Again, the short answer is No. Judicial Council Decision 1472, referenced above, only referred to General Conference, not jurisdictional conference. The issue of filling vacancies on jurisdictional delegations can’t be determined until the next regular session of General Conference, which will convene prior to any future sessions of Jurisdictional and Central Conferences. The next regular session of General Conference is the one in Charlotte April 23-May 3, 2024. Missouri cannot hold elections to replace delegate vacancies on the jurisdictional delegation until General Conference provides direction. Missouri General and Jurisdictional Conference delegations can be found here. At the time of this publication in Feb. 2024, Missouri had two clergy vacancies on the jurisdictional delegation.
When will we vote for the delegation that goes to the 2028 General Conference?
The Missouri Annual Conference traditional elects their delegation the year before the regular session of General Conference. In the case of the 2028 General Conference, we anticipate electing delegates during the 2027 Missouri Annual Conference.
I can't attend MOAC24, what do I do?
Clergy members are expected to attend annual conference as a condition of their appointment. If you have a conflict that makes you unable to attend, please send a request to your District Superintendent and cc: Rev. Rebecca Dunger Peak, Annual Conference Secretary at moac-secretary@moumethodist.org.
How do I get my Conference Workbook and Journal?
We are not printing hard copies of the Conference workbook any longer. It will be available for downloading in early May on this website (MOACinfo.com), and you will be able to print it if you so choose. Please note the workbook is often 100+ pages. The cost of a Conference Journal is not included with registration. If you wish to receive a printed Journal, please indicate this on the appropriate line of the registration form, adding $40.00 to your registration fee. The Journal is available for free on the Conference website in pdf form once published. If you are not attending the session but want a Journal, you MUST pre-order it and pay the appropriate fees. To be good stewards, we will not print “extra” journals.
Will there be a vendor exhibition space or sponsorship opportunities?
We will have a vendor exhibition space in the communal area in the St. Charles Convention Center. You can find more information and register for an exhibitor space on the Exhibitors page of this website. Please note the exhibitor space will not be housed in a room that can be locked at the end of the session each day, and exhibitors will need to make their own security provisions.
What meals are offered during the session?
There are several special meals offered throughout the session by invitation only. If you are in one of those special groups (e.g., retirement class, memorial families, commissioners, ordinands, first-time lay members, etc.,) you will receive special correspondence. If you think you should have received communication about this, we encourage you to reach out to your pastor or to your District Superintendent, and they can put you in contact with the correct ministry area. There will be 90-minute to two-hour windows for lunch each day. There will be concessions available at the St. Charles Convention Center for your convenience. Most participants drive to offsite lunch locations.
Why wasn’t I invited to the small membership church luncheon?
Small membership churches are vital to the Missouri Annual Conference. It is “who we are.” That said, we had to draw a line in the sand somewhere, and we chose 40 people or less in average weekly worship attendance as reported in the 2023 year-end statistics. If you weren’t invited, it is because your church worships more than that on average each week or your church intends to close this year and will be voted upon at the June session. Approximately 400 churches worship 40 or fewer people each week according to our churches’ reported statistics. Emails were sent to pastors appointed or assigned as well as to the lay member to annual conference of these churches. If the small membership church is a part of a charge, the entire charge is invited since the lay member to annual conference represents the entire charge. To meet the expectations of the host site, the RSVP deadline for this event is Thursday, May 2. Please contact Sidney Everhart at severhart@moumethodist.org with further questions.
Will there be childcare on-site?
We will offer childcare on-site at the St. Charles Convention Center on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 7-9, 2024, during the Annual Conference Session. Childcare will be coordinated by Candice Edington and supported by additional childcare workers. Our childcare staff are all Safe Gatherings certified. To register for childcare, use the link on the Attend page. Childcare is open to children birth to completion of 8th grade. Childcare is $20 per child, per day and will be open 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. Lunch will be served every day.
What is the sensory room?
The sensory room has dim lighting and ambient music and provides space for quiet rest and the opportunity to get away from the large crowds and sounds of Annual Conferences. There will be three semi-private spaces for naps/short period of stillness, a sitting area, and space for sensory appreciation with sensory items.
When is clergy session?
Clergy session will be in-person this year. The time is TBD as the Annual Conference agenda is finalized.
What is the expectation around masking at Annual Conference 2024?
Because we continue to be in a pandemic, masking and social distancing is always encouraged. The Annual Conference design team will continue to follow state and local guidelines, as they have for the past four years. Mask-wearing and social distancing may be a requirement rather than an encouragement depending on coronavirus positivity rates in the state.
Will we be seated classroom-style with tables on the plenary floor?
Given our conference size, we will be seated theater-style with chairs only.
What accessibility services are available?
There will be an accessibility station at registration that we encourage you to visit to see how we can assist with accommodation. Our registration includes a section to share with conference planners your needs related to hearing, sight, mobility, etc., needs.
Who can attend the first-time lay luncheon on Friday?
In registration, you have the chance to note if it is the lay member’s first time attending in seven years or more. Those who fall into that category are invited to an orientation luncheon before the session begins which provides information on best practices for the Annual Conference experience and how to share the news of the session with the local church.
What do I do in case of emergency?
If there is a medical emergency or the threat of imminent danger, conference attendees should dial 9-1-1 and stay on the phone with emergency personnel. If able, please notify a member of the hospitality team (blue vests) that you or someone else have called 9-1-1.
Will Cokesbury be present at MOAC24? Can my book be sold via Cokesbury on site?
Due to the toll the pandemic has taken on United Methodist Publishing House and Cokesbury, they will not be able to attend any Annual Conferences again this year. Cokesbury has created an online portal for annual conferences. Please see Cokesbury’s special offer for annual conferences.
Is there a special collection for Festival of Sharing?
Festival of Sharing will not be holding a collection of items at Annual Conference 2024. Churches are encouraged to assemble or collect kits and deliver to one of the Sharefest events in September and October. Most requested items are Missouri personal hygiene, paper products and food boxes. The digital Festival booklet with kit contents and packing directions can be accessed on our media page. Questions? Contact festival@socket.net.
Can I get my Wespath pension projection or Quest Wellness Screening while at Annual Conference?
Wespath and Quest Diagnostics will not be on site for the 2024 session. If you would like to schedule a virtual pension consultation with a Wespath representative, you can register for a consultation in May or June. These are 30-minute one-on-one, virtual consultations. Please take advantage of this opportunity to see what your pension account could be in your retirement. Additionally, Quest Diagnostics’ Blueprint for Wellness biometric screening is a valuable tool for identifying health concerns and finding ways to improve your well-being. It’s the first step on your path to wellness with Wespath. To learn more about accessing this health benefit, visit www.wespath.org/health-well-being/well-being-programs/blueprint-for-wellness.
Are pets allowed at Annual Conference?
Pets are not allowed at Annual Conference due to the size of the event and the variety of allergies and anxieties related to animals. Service animals, as defined by the Department of Justice’s published revised final regulations implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), would be allowed and should be noted in the Accessibility section of Event Registration. Registered members and guests may be asked to provide documentation to ensure that their service animal meets the ADA’s definitions. Questions about this provision should contact the Office of Connectional Ministries at (573) 441-1770.
When and where is the 2025 Missouri Annual Conference Session?
June 6-8, 2025, at the St. Charles Convention Center, 1 Convention Center Plz., St. Charles MO, 63303. Visit MOACInfo.com for more information as the dates draw near.
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How do we register?
To register most efficiently, please use the buttons on the Attend page. You can register multiple people at the same time. Payment will be required at the time of registration. Registration fees are $155 for early bird (before April 15); $175, April 15 – May 1; and $200 after May 1. As a retiree or student pastor not serving a church, your registration fee if registered before May 1 is $0. If you register after May 1, retirees and student pastors not serving a church will be charged a $50 late fee for registration.
Who do I talk to if the registration fee is an economic hardship?
If you are unable to pay for any reason, please contact the registrar Heather Dease, hdease@moumethodist.org.
Do guests need to register for MOAC24?
Guests like clergy spouses or family, interested agency partners, or additional laity beyond your approved lay member(s) to Annual Conference can register. Please note, guests can choose “guest status.” All worship services and open business sessions will be livestreamed and available to anyone via this website (MOACinfo.com) and the Conference Facebook page. Closer to June 7-9, we will post links to the livestream on a dedicated page on this website.
How do I register for my hotel?
We have contracted with various hotels in St. Charles. There is not a group housing system in St. Charles, so reservations will be made by the individual directly with the hotel property or via a link provided by the hotel. Registration for the session is separate from your hotel reservation. There is ample, FREE, uncovered parking for commuting attendees at the St. Charles Convention Center.
Is the conference hotel rate available for early arrival and late departure?
Yes, the conference hotel rates are valid up to three days before and three days after our event, depending on availability.
Where do I park?
For those staying at the Embassy Suites, there is parking on the hotel side. For attendees staying offsite at other hotels or lodging, there is ample free, uncovered parking onsite at the Convention Center.
Are we voting on disaffiliating churches?
No. Paragraph 2553 is no longer a part of The United Methodist Book of Discipline. It was removed during the Postponed 2020 General Conference held in spring 2024.
Where can I find details about the Celebration of Ministry worship service?
If you are participating in the worship service, or are attending the service as a guest of someone being honored, find more information about Ordination in this news post and about Commissioning in this news post.
I’m retiring at this Annual Conference. Where can I find information about the retirement worship service?
We will recognize retirees during the Service of Recognition worship service at the 2024 Annual Conference Session, held June 7-9 at the St. Charles Convention Center. The Annual Conference agenda and schedule is still in flux as we await the decision of the Judicial Council on whether or not we'll hold delegation elections. Once we know, we will update you on the exact time and date of the worship service. As always, the service will be livestreamed. Read more in this news post about retirement celebrations at Annual Conference.
Are laity recognized during MOAC’s Retirement Service?
The retirement service recognizes a change in relationship status to the Missouri Annual Conference. As a reminder, no one ever “retires” from discipleship or from their membership vows of prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. A certified lay minister or supply pastor may be included in the retirement service at annual conference if meeting the following qualifications:
Assigned to a church/charge
Paid service of 5 years or more
Ending assignments to churches permanently (in the case of retirement)