Event Information

Annual Conference is an exciting time to celebrate what God is doing throughout the Free Methodist Church and we want you to be part of it. Find out how you can make the most of the Annual Conference Experience.

Attend Annual Conference

If you are attending in person, you’ll find everything you need to enjoy a wonderful day together.

Watch Online

Watch live with us on May 14, 2022, or watch at any time through our archived video links.

Voting

If you are a voting member of the Free Methodist Church in Southern California, it is both your honor and responsibility to vote for our church leaders. Find out how.

Standing Rules

Our standing rules provide a structure for how we do business and make decisions at Annual Conference. Read the complete set of rules online.

Boards and Committees

Free Methodists are a diverse group of believers, hailing from all walks of life. Our leadership across the Southern California conference mirrors that diversity through a commitment to an equal mix of clergy and lay leaders (non-clergy), the empowerment of traditionally underrepresented people, and the engagement of communities across the broad socioeconomic spectrum that makes up Southern California.

Superintendents

Superintendents provide for vision alignment and implementation, leadership development, and guidance for the administration and growth of the church.

Board of Administration

The standing administrative committee of the conference, established to create and manage policy of the entire conference within the limits of the Book of Discipline.

Nominating Committee

Responsible for preparing for the annual conference a list of nominations for positions vacated by either resignation or expiration of terms.

Ministerial Education & Guidance Committee

Responsible for qualifying, guiding, counseling, and mentoring candidates for ordination as they prepare for ministry.

Ministerial Appointments Committee

Responsible for appointing qualified ministers to ministries and monitoring progress and growth.

Kingdom Ministry Group

Develops sustainable and vital Free Methodist Societies by sponsoring church planting projects and caring for societies requiring revitalization.

Finance Committee

Reviews and recommends action on all matters concerning financial actions of the local church and the conference at large.

The Management Group

Provides oversight for The Management Group, a for-benefit corporation of the FMCSC that provides bookkeeping and administrative services for eligible ministries.

Membership

We like to say that “it’s good to belong.” Within the Free Methodist Church, our elders are members of a ministerial tradition that seeks to disciple effective church leaders and grow ministries.

Incoming Leaders

Join us in welcoming our new Ministerial Candidates and incoming Elders for 2022.

Ministerial Members

Meet our elders serving throughout Southern California and beyond.

Annual Conference Delegates

Our delegates vote for leaders, provide feedback during decision making, and are an essential part of Annual Conference each year.

Memorials

We remember those who have gone on to be with Christ and celebrate their impact on the Kingdom of God.

Greetings from Special Appointments

Not every elder is appointed to a traditional church ministry. Hear from elders who serve in unique ministries around the world.

Incoming Leaders

Conference Membership
Serving Together

Many of the Elders within the Free Methodist Church (FMC) serve as husband and wife teams. Kate and Leif Wallace Nunneley were ordained together at Annual Conference 2021.

Back to Incoming Leaders

Oriero, Serena

Riverside, California Avenue Christian Fellowship

Incoming Conference Ministerial Candidate

I was raised in the church. My grandfather was a Free Methodist Elder and for many years was the director of the campground in Oak Glen. I spent my childhood attending all the youth camps and having many wonderful God experiences while at camp. This time definitely shaped who I am, but it wasn’t until I was an adult that I truly learned who God was and the intimate relationship He wanted to have with me. I was in my twenties when I truly experienced God and all His goodness. Growing up in the church, I always knew what it meant to follow Jesus and be a child of God, and I carried that knowledge into adulthood. But, as I began to study deeper and be in ministry, I became more aware of the deep intimate relationship God desired to have with me and that following Him was a much deeper relationship than just excepting Him as my Saviour and professing I was a child of God. Today I make a choice every day to follow Him. To lay down my life for Him, pick up my cross, and say, “Whatever you want, Lord, I am yours.”

How did the Spirit guide you to your current ministry and what has God called you to do through your ministry?

My husband and I had left the Free Methodist church in the mid-’90s and were part of a team that planted a church. We spent years with that ministry until the special needs of our youngest son became too much to handle while in ministry. After a few years of not attending anywhere regularly, we knew we needed to be back in church. I felt drawn to return to the church I was raised in and within a couple weeks we knew we wanted to serve in ministry under Pastors Soo Ji & Joe. After three years of ministering alongside them, God opened my eyes to the call He had placed on my heart as a little girl to be a pastor. I had never seen woman pastors growing up and really never understood why I would feel like I was called to be ordained. I also struggled with feeling like it must be to late to answer this call now, I have grandchildren, I must be to old for this. Pastor Soo Ji and Pastor Kari both assured me that the time is now and reminded me that God doesn’t make mistakes, His plan is always the perfect plan. I am still working out what the actual call for me to do in ministry is but what I do know is that I want to able to be the person that my daughters, grand daughter, sisters, nieces, all look at and know that whatever God has called them to do in ministry, being a woman doesn’t have to stop them.

How did you come to first be involved with the Free Methodist Church and why have you chosen to continue your ministry in the Free Methodist Church?

I was raised in the Free Methodist Church. I have chosen to return and continue in ministry with the Free Methodist Church because I love the values of the FMC. The Five Freedoms of the FMC are why we came back and why we stay. I believe we still have some work to do in order to look like we are living out these values, but I see the forward progress and am excited to continue to be a part of it.