The North Carolina Provisional Annual Conference
Called Session for the Election of General Conference Delegates
April 12-13, 2024
Information and Guidance for Voting
§1 A Call to Prayer and Fasting –
Service in the Annual Conference and General Conference is
a spiritual task. The election of leaders is a spiritually significant work. Prior to this called
session of our Annual Conference, we invite you and your congregation to enter a season
of fasting and prayer for the lay and clergy members of the annual conference to discern
God’s guidance in their voting, and for God to raise from our Annual Conference a godly,
Spirit-filled leadership as General Conference delegates.
§2 Schedule and Location of our called session of the NC Provisional Annual Conference –
• Central Methodist Church, 300 South Main Street, Asheboro, NC 27203
• Clergy Session, Friday April 12, 2024 at 1:00 PM; Registration will begin at
11:00 AM.
• Laity Session, Saturday, April 13, 2024 at 10:00 AM; Registration will begin at
8:00 AM.
§3 Lay and Clergy eligibility for voting –
• The NC Conference Lay Equalization Plan gives every NC Global Methodist
Church at least one voting lay member of the Annual Conference regardless of the
status of the appointed pastor.
• Churches with more than one pastoral appointment have as many lay members as
there are appointed clergy.
• Rules for eligibility – https://www.gmcncpac.org/2024-special-called-session-1
§4Lay and Clergy candidates are listed on the Conference website. Follow the links for
• Lay Self-Nomination bios – https://www.gmcncpac.org/laity-nominations
• Clergy Self-Nomination bios – https://www.gmcncpac.org/clergy-nominations
• Ballot Identification Numeric Codes are assigned to every self-nominated
candidate. The voting process will use the Ballot Identification Number for a
candidate in lieu of his/her name.
• To apply for a Ballot Identification Numeric Code for an eligible candidate, see
below at §7.
§5 The scope of our work –
• North Carolina has been assigned 24 voting General Conference delegates, 12 lay
persons and 12 clergy persons in the first distribution of delegates. This number
may increase after June 1.
• We are also to elect six (6) alternate delegates, three (3) lay and three (3) clergy,
who are to attend the General Conference in order to give relief to the delegates
from time to time.
• Finally, we are to elect 18 reserve delegates, nine (9) lay and nine (9) clergy.
Reserves are available in the order of election to serve should our number of
delegates increase or should we need to fill vacancies that may occur.
• To be clear, should our voting delegate number increase after June 1, persons
move into the newly available spots in the order of election. Alternate delegates
become voting delegates; reserve delegates become alternate delegates.
§6 The pattern and procedures of our voting –
• Voting is by a handheld electronic device. You will receive your device during
registration. It is specifically registered to each lay and clergy member, and it must
be returned at the conclusion of the daily session.
• Balloting will be divided into three categories of elections. We will elect 12
voting delegates; we will be elect three (3) alternate delegates; and finally, we will
elect nine (9) reserve delegates.
• We will use what has been termed by some as a “Roman Balloting Method.”
Members vote for the total number of persons remaining to be elected on each
ballot. On the first ballot, all members will vote for 12 distinct candidates. As
persons are elected, the number of votes diminishes on each subsequent ballot
until all 12 are elected. The process is then repeated for alternates next, and then
for reserves.
• Valid ballots must vote for the full number announced to be elected. Voting
for too many or too few will invalidate the member’s vote on that ballot. Voting
for the same person more than once per ballot will also invalidate one’s vote on
that ballot.
• Election is by one vote over 50% of the valid ballot. For example, 400 voters
casting 400 valid ballots would require 201 or more votes for election. It is
possible for multiple persons to be elected on each ballot.
• The voter will use the Ballot Identification Numeric Code (BIN) for each
preferred candidate. The BIN is used in lieu of the preferred candidate’s name.
The numeric code corresponding to a preferred candidate is entered into the
handheld electronic device.
§7 One does not have to be self-nominated in order to be elected. Anyone who meets the
qualifications of the Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline ¶611.6, which are posted on
the Webpage, may be elected.
• Self-nomination testifies to one’s willingness to serve if he/she is elected.
• Persons who are elected but who did not self-nominate will have the balance of
the day of election and up to 48 hours from election to discern whether or not to
serve. (Conference Rules, 6.4)
• If an elected person discerns not to serve as a delegate, alternates and reserves, in
the order of their elections, will be given the opportunity to serve Christ as a
delegate. (Conference Rules, 6.5)
• All eligible clergy members of the annual conference have been assigned an
identifying numeric code (BIN) that is used in balloting.
• Eligible lay members from our NC churches number into the thousands. Persons
desiring to have an Ballot Identification Numberic Code (BIN) assigned for an
eligible lay member will need to attest to the eligibility of the lay member. Once
verified, an identifying numeric code (BIN) will be assigned.
• The process will be greatly assisted if the prospective lay or clergy candidate gives
the voter consent to be on the ballot.
• The “Request for Ballot Identification Number” form is below these instructions.
§8 Those elected begin their service immediately. All who are elected, including alternates and
reserves, serve as members of the delegation with all the responsibilities thereof. The preparation
of the entire delegation is essential for at least two reasons: in the event that one is drawn into the
voting or alternate pools he/she is conversant with the materials and questions before the General
Conference; and a fuller understanding of the Global Methodist Church is developed for future
leadership.
• On the day of election, delegation members should remain upon adjournment in
order to complete an information/contact sheet and receive information essential
for his/her service.
• Persons who are elected but are not present in the called session, will be
contacted by the Conference Secretary to inform them of their elections; to
acquire the information/contact sheets; and to convey the essential information for
their effective service.
• Organization of the delegation will follow. The first meeting is by ZOOM,
Thursday, April 18, 7:00 p.m.
• Guidance from the Episcopacy/Directors Team is for the first elected clergyperson
to chair this delegation with the first elected layperson to be vice-chairperson.
Thereafter, the leadership alternates between lay and clergy. The 2026 General
Conference will be lay led.