North Georgia Conference of the United

North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church said it is set to host an informational webinar on the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

According to the church’s website, the informational webinar will be held on Sept. 7, Wednesday, from 2 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.

The church said clergy and lay people from all denominations are welcome to the webinar.

The webinar will go over the requirements for workers for religious and not-for-profit organizations as well as the procedure for getting credit for current or previous employment towards the 120 months required for loan forgiveness, according to the church.

The church said Scott Filter from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will be a featured presenter.

Participants may register at the link provided by the church on its website.

Helpful Notes from Center for Clergy Excellence

The employee verification form cannot be signed by any office within the Annual Conference Office, according to the church.

Each local church where the clergy member has served must complete the employment verification form due to the local church being a paying entity, the church said.

The church said the board of trustees chair, or the chair or member of the church financial staff should sign the document to attest that the clergy member was truly employed by and paid by the church.

No matter the loan program, repayment strategy, or whether the payment was made in whole or on time, any past period of payback will be considered a qualified payment under the new temporary regulations, according to the church.

However, individuals still require a qualifying job, the church said.

Borrowers holding Direct Loans, those who have consolidated into the Direct Loan Program, and those who consolidate into the Direct Loan Program by Oct. 31, 2022, are all subject to this modification, it added.

Structure, Leadership

A division of The United Methodist Church is known as the North Georgia Conference, according to the church.

The North Georgia Conference is governed by Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson and consists of eight smaller geographic divisions known as "districts," the church said.

The church said the conference's main office is in Atlanta.

It added that the North Georgia Annual Conference is a gathering that takes place every year, usually in June, where the clergy and laity of the North Georgia Conference come together for worship and business.

The North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church seeks to develop principled Christian leaders, engage in ministry with the poor, improve global health, advocate for justice, and respond to disasters.

At the moment, it is the largest United Methodist Conference.

With 11 million members worldwide, the United Methodist Church actively engages with the world to open hearts, open minds, and open doors, according to the church.

The church said the primary focus of John Wesley and the early Methodists was on living a Christian life and acting on their faith and love.