Greetings from the Lay Leader's Corner.

Spring is here, the landscape is greening up and God continues to reveal his handiwork. It is time to take inventory and plan for the days ahead. The Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church is doing just that. As I write this article, representatives of our Conference are attending General Conference, planning the future of the United Methodist Church in the world at large.

Cinda and I are looking forward to attending the Michigan Annual Conference at the end of this month at the Grand Traverse Resort in Acme Michigan. The MAC is a gathering of equal numbers of Clergy and Lay members of the Conference to do the Corporate business of the church. All clergy in good standing in the Conference, whether active or retired, are required to attend. Cinda was elected at our Annual Charge Conference last Fall as your Lay Representative to Annual Conference and I was chosen to be an Equalization Representative to Annual Conference by our District Lay Leader. Note, because there are more clergy attendees than there would be lay representatives elected by local congregations, and equal numbers of each are required by The Book of Discipline, a number of lay people need to be chosen on a district-by-district basis to “equalize” the numbers, thus, the Equalization Representatives. Well, that was a lot of explanation of why both Cinda and I will be attending as your representatives, but I felt it is important for you know.

Also important for you to know is what “business” will be before us and what your part is in accomplishing that “business”. There are eleven Resolutions that have been presented and a budget for the Conference to consider. Three of the Resolutions and the budget will come before the entire voting body to be considered for discussion and vote. The remaining eight will first go through Legislative Committees for consideration before coming before the entire body. It is that process you can help with.

On May 22 and 23, four Legislative Committees will meet separately via Zoom to consider those pieces of legislation, two per committee. Pastor Daniel, Cinda and I will each be assigned to one of those groups, but no two of us to the same group. The pieces of legislation and budget have been posted in the RCUMC narthex for your examination. Also, you can access the Michigan Conference web sight and find them there. You are strongly encouraged to examine these documents and provide Pastor Daniel, Cinda, and/or me with your thoughts, feelings, and wisdom. Cinda and I will be in the Fellowship Hall each Sunday after service to discuss your questions and or comments. It is through your input, prayers, and God’s guidance that we will do God's work at Annual Conference.

You will be able to follow the actions of Annual Conference as it happens via the Conference website, YouTube, and Facebook page. There is much more to Annual Conference than the legislative sessions; worship, fellowship, information booths on a myriad of topics, seeing old friends, and making new friends. A round-up of each day's activities will be published in Newsletter form the following day on the web sight and Facebook page as well. At a time to be determined after the Annual Conference there will be a time set aside to present a report to the congregation from those of us that attended. Peace be with you,

Your lay leader,

Timothy Locker, Sr.