Free Methodist Church In Canada General Conference 2011

What is General Conference?

Free Methodist Churches are governed by a general conference. The highest governing body of the Free Methodist Church is the World Conference, which is composed of representatives, both lay and clergy, from all countries with a Free Methodist General Conference.

As the church in each country develops, its status progresses from Mission District to Annual Conference to General Conference. There are currently 13 General Conferences in the world, which are linked together through the articles of religion and common constitution of the first two chapters of the Book of Discipline and the World Conference.

A general conference is responsible for the churches within a geographic region or cultural group. They exist to enhance and co-ordinate the vision and mission of the annual conferences and churches that make up the general conference.

A general conference consists of clergy and lay representatives elected by the member churches or annual conferences. The first General Conference of the Free Methodist Church in Canada was held on August 6, 1990, and the evangelical vision of historic Methodism was reaffirmed – to preach the Gospel to the lost, to raise up congregations of deeply committed Christians, and to call believers to lives of holiness and devoted service to others. Canadian general conferences consist of all ordained clergy and lay delegates elected by the local churches based on the membership of the church.

General Conference 2011 will be held May 20-23, 2011, at the Toronto Airport Marriott Hotel. The theme of the conference is based on Hebrews 12:1-2 (The Message), “We’d better get on with it… strip down, start running, never quit – eyes fixed on Jesus.” Visitors are welcome for any of the sessions to observe the proceedings.

Kingsview Free Methodist Church will be represented by Pastors Darrin Lindsay and Howard Olver, and by Delegates Lois Tomc, Claudette Powell and Victor Carrasco, with Tim Gonyou as Reserve Delegate.

One of the high points of every General Conference is the Sunday morning Worship Celebration at 10:00 a.m. It is an opportunity to worship with people from Free Methodist Churches across Canada. Bishop Keith Elford will be preaching.

There will not be any worship service at Kingsview Church that Sunday because we want everyone to attend the General Conference Worship Celebration. Due to the cost and shortage of parking, we encourage people to car pool and we will provide shuttle service from the Kingsview Church parking lot. The service will be held in the Grand Ballroom of the Marriot Hotel.