06.02.25

FLAC25 Lay Member Update

Hello, beautiful People of God!

We are just a couple of days away from our Annual Conference gathering in Lakeland! I can’t wait to see you on the campus of Florida Southern College as we celebrate, pray, worship and learn together. May we all be Awakened to Grace!

While I’ve been part of many Annual Conferences over the years - as a local church lay member, a district at large lay member, and a District Lay Leader - this will be my first as the Conference Co-Lay Leader. I am deeply grateful for the mentorship of Derrick Scott III and Alice Williams as I have tried to sip from the firehouse of their leadership wisdom and energy.

In recent editions of the Laity Space Newsletter, we’ve shared tips for preparing for Annual Conference. Remember to visit the Laity Space Annual Conference Landing Page, download and setup the Whova app on your smartphone or tablet, and have your phone or tablet ready to go to access the workbook and vote on Constitutional Amendments. Pro Tip - access to power outlets in the auditorium is limited. In addition to your wired device charger, bring a portable battery charger for your devices. If you have an extra, bring one to let your neighbor borrow.

Like you, over the next few days, I will be finalizing my preparation for Conference. I’ll be reviewing important reports, going over notes, and above all, spending time in prayer. God is always with us, though, due to my own preoccupations and distractions, I sometimes miss what God is up to. So, before all the excitement and energy and connection with beloved siblings in Christ at AC25, I am spending some time in silence and contemplation. I am opening my mind and heart, seeking to be fully present to the Presence of the triune God, available to recognize and fully enter what Thomas Merton called “the sacrament of the present moment.” I need God’s grace so I can be aware of what God is doing in us, among us, and through us as we open ourselves to be fully Awakened to Grace!

If there is anything Derrick or I (Warren) can do to support you as we prepare for this year’s conference, please let us know.

We’ll see you in Lakeland in a few short days!

Faithfully,

Warren Pattison

Conference Co-Lay Leader

Preparing for Annual Conference

BONUS EPISODE: From the Rooftop by Bishop Berlin
As we prepare for Annual Conference 2025, we are delighted to share Bishop Tom Berlin's message "From the Rooftop" that was given at the regional gatherings in May 2025. We believe this message is timely and call to the laity to join Jesus on the balcony. Enjoy this bonus episode. Listen HERE.

FLUMC News: FLUMC readies to be Awakened By Grace
Clergy and Lay Members throughout The Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church will gather for Annual Conference from June 4-7 at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. Under the theme of “Awaken To Grace,” attendees will enjoy fellowship and worship. Eligible voting members attending the Annual Conference will consider four constitutional amendments and other business. Read the article by Joe Henderson HERE.

What Lay Members should know about Annual Conference
ResourceUMC offers a primer for lay members to Annual Conference. Annual conference sessions are yearly gatherings, typically held in late spring or early summer, of United Methodist charges within a specific region. Each charge sends its appointed clergy and a lay member for each clergy member. For first-time lay members, these sessions can be both exciting and overwhelming. Here's what you should know before attending. Read the article HERE.

You are receiving this email because you are a lay member to the Florida Annual Conference 2025 Session. Laity Space is the online information hub for the laity of the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church.