The Annual Conference Organizing (ACO) team works to identify and strengthen creation care teams in annual conferences. The team facilitates sharing of information and best practices through jurisdictional networking meetings.
ACO has also developed training materials, such as handouts for annual conference meetings to promote the work of the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement, as well as webinars to aid the work of annual conference teams. In 2023 efforts will focus on establishing and strengthening district creation care teams.
In 2022 the AOC team focused efforts on drafting questions for episcopal candidates prior to jurisdictional conferences and promoted ongoing conversations on creation care with current bishops. A workgroup has been formed to draft model resolutions for both annual conferences and General Conference, with the intention of distributing these early in 2023.
A second workgroup has begun to address diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts within our own Creation Justice Movement. In 2023 liaisons will be identified to build more intentional connections with underrepresented groups within The United Methodist Church and beyond.
See the Annual Conference Connections Page for more information. Contact Karen McElfish at james.mcelfish@verizon.net if you are interested in joining this team.