All the information provided here can be found at the website for the General Conference. By all means visit it and get up on your knowledge before you head out to the meeting in Atlanta.

www.2008generalconference.com

Also, the AME Zion Website is up and running and has been since August. If you're not up on that, visit that site as well.

www.amez.org

Lastly, whenever you get around to it, inform other Zionites about the meeting and what happens there or just invite them to this event so they can read up on it.

What is the General Conference?


The General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church is the supreme ruling law-making body of the church while in session. Only the General Conference can change legislation once adopted by it in regular or special session.

It is composed of the Bishops, as ex-officio presidents, according to the rank of election, and an equal number of ministerial and lay delegates, elected by each of the Annual Conferences of which they are members. The General Conference meets quadrennially (every four years), but may have extra sessions in certain emergencies.

The business of the General Conference is to hear reports from the Bishops, General Officers as to their labors during the quadrennial, revise and amend the rules when necessary for the general interest of the Connection, set off annual conferences, ratify or reverse the decision of the lower court, and to try charges against a bishop during its setting. Additionally, when necessary the General Conference elects bishops and General Officers where vacancies exist.

Reviewing its work during the past quadrennial, the church, through the General Conference and the Board of Bishops, speaks out on the issues facing the church, nation and the world and sets its course for the next quadrennial.


How The General Conference Works


Meets Every Four Years

General Conference, which convenes every four years, is the top policy-making body of The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Church law states that no person or organization except the General Conference has authority to speak officially for the denomination when in session (The Book of Discipline 1996, Par. 509.)


Conference Meeting Site

The meeting sites are bided on among the church's geographic U.S. jurisdictions. The 2004 conference was held in Greensboro, North Carolina.


Delegation Half Clergy, Half Lay

Church law provides for delegates to the General Conference to be --half clergy, half lay. It mandates that each annual conference must have at least one delegate from each order. Beyond that, a conference's representation is based the number of lay members and clergy members in the conference.


Conference Revises Book of Discipline

The conference revises The Book of Discipline (book of church law) and adopts resolutions on various current moral, social, public policy and economic and administrative issues. It also approves plans and budgets for church-wide programs for the next four years. The delegates can propose amendments to the church's Constitution but those must be ratified later in the annual conferences. General Conference also elects members of the Judicial Council, the church's "supreme court", and the Church Department heads.


Sources of Legislation

Primary sources of legislation are resolutions and proposals from church agencies, members and organizations. Resolution deadlines vary, depending on the source, but none may be submitted more than 120 days prior to the opening of the conference. Any organization, ordained minister or lay member of the church may petition through resolutions submitted to a delegate to the General Conference.

As in the U.S. Congress and state legislatures, the bulk of General Conference business is conducted in legislative committees which receive the resolutions; debate them; and determine whether to approve, amend, combine, or disapprove them for recommendation to the full body of General Conference.

General (church-wide) agencies propose resolutions or changes in legislation affecting their respective policies and operations. These, along with resolutions from annual conferences will be housed on the website of the General Secretary-Auditor.


Bishops Don't Vote

Members of the Board of Bishops attend the General Conference but do not vote. A bishop presides at each plenary session. Each bishop usually serves during one morning, afternoon, or evening session. All bishops, active and retired, attend the entire conference.

Also attending the conference will be all 13 general church department heads and people serving administrative and staff functions at the General Conference.


Wednesday, July 16, 2008
9:00 A.M. The Quadrennial Sermon
1:00 P.M. Lunch
2:30 P.M. Organization of General Conference
6:00 P.M. Dinner
7:00 P.M. Welcome Program
8:00 P.M. Quadrennial Address


Thursday, July 17, 2008
8:30 A.M. Devotion
8:45 A.M. Reports of the Bishops
1:30 P.M. Lunch
2:45 P.M. Afternoon Session - Devotion
3:00 P.M. First Reading of the 2008-2012 Budget
4:30 P.M. Committee Meetings
6:00 P.M. Dinner
7:30 P.M. Devotion
7:45 P.M. Greeting from President of Livingstone College
Greeting from President of Hood Theological Seminary
Reports of General Officers, Presidents and Other Representatives


Friday, July 18, 2008
8:30 A.M. Devotion
9:00 A.M. Reports Continued
Second Reading of the 2008-2012 Budget
1:00 P.M. Lunch
2:30 P.M. Devotion
2:45 P.M. Report of the Revision Committee
4:00 P.M. Committee Meetings
6:00 P.M. Dinner
7:30 P.M. Devotion
7:45 P.M. Legislative Session


Saturday, July 19, 2008
8:30 A.M. Devotion
8:45 A.M. Legislative Session
1:00 P.M. Lunch
2:30 P.M. Devotion
2:45 P.M. Elections
6:00 P.M. Dinner
7:30 P.M. Devotion
7:45 P.M. Business Session
10:00 P.M. Committee Meetings


Sunday, July 20, 2008
8:30 A.M. Sunday Church School
10:00 A.M. Worship Service
1:00 P.M. Lunch
3:00 P.M. Memorial Service
3:30 P.M. Anniversary Service Overseas Missions
4:30 P.M. Dinner
7:00 P.M. Christian Education Anniversary Service


Monday, July 21, 2008
8:30 A.M. Devotion
Legislative Session / Report of Committees
1:00 P.M. Luncheon in Honor of Retiring Bishops
2:30 P.M. Devotion
2:45 P.M. Report of Committees
5:30 P.M. Dinner
7:00 P.M. Devotion
7:15 P.M. Report of the Revision Committee
Reports of Committees Continued


Tuesday, July 22, 2008
8:30 A.M. Devotion
8:45 A.M. Final Presentation and Distribution of General Conference Minutes
Installation Service for General Officers
Legislation Continued
1:00 P.M. Lunch
2:30 P.M. Consecration Service
Unfinished Business of 48th Session of the General Conference
Motion for Adjustment