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ALCOA, Tenn. (9:30 a.m., Feb. 14) — You can keep up with breaking news of General Conference from a Holston perspective by simply typing in GCNews.blog on your browser.

Or, you can sign up for a GC News email that will provide highlights and connect you to the blog every morning beginning Friday, Feb. 22. Sign up here.

You can also follow this blog through your WordPress account.

The General Conference session will be held Feb. 23-26 in St. Louis. The Holston communications staff, Rev. Tim Jones and Annette Spence, will arrive in St. Louis on Feb. 20 for meetings and preparation with other United Methodist communicators. We’ll keep you connected with not only the news but also photos, videos and info from our delegation.

If you want more news and more detail, be sure to also follow United Methodist News Service at UMNS.org.

District gatherings set for March 3

ALCOA, Tenn. (11:30 a.m., Feb. 13) — District offices have announced locations for worship and briefings that will follow General Conference.

Each district will meet March 3 at 3 p.m. to pray together and learn from Holston delegates who will have arrived home from General Conference. On Feb. 23-26, twelve delegates (plus four alternates) will represent Holston in St. Louis.

The 3/3@3 gatherings will be held at:

New River: St. Paul UMC, Wytheville
Clinch Mountain: Lebanon Memorial UMC
Appalachian: First Broad Street UMC, Kingsport
Three Rivers: Gray UMC
Mountain View: First UMC, Morristown
Smoky Mountain: Fairview UMC, Maryville
Tennessee Valley: Powell UMC
Hiwassee: Keith Memorial UMC, Athens
Scenic South: St. John UMC, Chattanooga

Delegates help explain GC to local media

ALCOA, Tenn. (6 p.m., Feb. 12) — Local media throughout the Holston area are beginning to publish stories about General Conference in response to press releases and other resources provided by Holston Conference communications staff.

On Feb. 4, WATE in Knoxville aired this story featuring the Rev. Wil Cantrell, Holston delegate and associate pastor at Concord United Methodist. The reporter, Don Dare, is a member at Fountain City United Methodist.

See UMC to vote on issues concerning human sexuality

On Feb. 11, WJHL in the Tri-Cities aired this story featuring the Rev. Carol Wilson, senior pastor at Munsey Memorial United Methodist, and the Rev. Randy Frye, senior pastor at First Broad Street United Methodist.

See UMC prepares to vote on sexuality

Cantrell, Wilson, and Frye are among 12 Holston delegates, plus four alternates, who will travel to St. Louis Feb. 23-26 for the special session of General Conference.

The Rev. Tim Jones, Holston director of communications, is continuing to speak with media. The resulting stories will be shared here through “GC News.”