how do you become a delegate to the general conference if you are new to the structure of your church?

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2004

Answers

Delegates are elected at he Annual Conference preceding the General Conference. There is some Church membership qualifications however.

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2004

Lay Delegates usually come from those persons who are active in the Organized Lay, The Year preceding the General Conference, at least three months prior to the time the Annual Conference is to be held. Those persons in the Local Congregation eighteen and above, elect an Electoral College Delegate. Those who are 18 to 30 also elect a Youth/Young Adult Delegate.

At the seat of the Annual Conference, the Electoral College is held-- one for the Ministers and one for the Lay. Credentials must be approved that one is in fact the Electoral College Delegate from his or her respective Local Church. This might or might not be the same person who is the Annual Conference Delegate. From the Local Church delegates the election proceeds until, based on population, the allotted quota of General Conference delegates from the Annual Conference has been reached.

All Elections are by secret ballot and must be certified, with credential attesting to the same. Each person elected at the Local Church and Annual Conference must receive one more than half of all ballots cast. Ballots must be kept on hand in case a dispute or contest of the voting process occurs.

-- Anonymous, February 08, 2004