KENTUCKY UNITED METHODIST TO MEET IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY

NEWS RELEASE

Contact:
Cathy Bruce
Kentucky Annual Conference
Of the United Methodist Church
7400 Floydsburg Road
Crestwood, KY 40014

Crestwood, KY - The 2009 Kentucky Annual Conference session will take place June 3-6, 2009. Worship and plenary sessions will be held at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, KY. The theme this year is "Called by Christ, Sent by The Spirit: Effective Leaders."

Approximately 1200 clergy and lay persons will converge in Northern Kentucky for 4 days of holy conferencing. Bishop Lindsey Davis, Resident Bishop of Kentucky, will deliver the sermon at the opening worship service on Wednesday, June 3 at 2 p.m. at the Convention Center. As well as being the kick off to the conference the opening worship will honor the 20 clergypersons and 14 clergy spouses that died in the past year.

Bishop Michael Coyner, Resident Bishop of the Indiana Area, will assist Bishop Davis as we celebrate Holy Communion during the opening service.

Later on Wednesday Bishop Coyner will deliver the sermon at the Service of Ordination and Commissioning. Twenty-seven people will either be commissioned or ordained into ministry.

The Retirement Celebration is scheduled for Thursday afternoon; we will celebrate the service of seven retiring clergy members as they retire from the active ministry. Thursday also marks the first full day of legislative action by the delegates to the conference. Something of note at this year's Annual Conference, we will vote on 32 Constitutional Amendments.

After a full day of legislative action, Thursday evening, June 4, will bring a free night for the delegates. Two service projects have been planned for 6:30-8 p.m. Delegates can choose from either working at a free book distribution being held at the Ida Spence Mission, 5th & Greenup, Covington, or helping at the Cook Out for Covington celebration being held at Grace Community Church, 2401 Benton Rd., Covington.

Friday evening will bring Mission and Ministry night, where we will celebrate the church's commitment to providing aid to all in need. The Conference will close Saturday morning with bible study, worshipful work and the reading of appointments.

The mission of the Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau is that of an aggressive sales, marketing, service and informational organization whose primary responsibility is to positively impact the Northern Kentucky economy through conventions, meetings and visitor expenditures. The direct economic impact of visitors' spending in Campbell, Kenton and Boone Counties in 2008 was $306 million.