Upon arrival, we invite everyone to check in at the registration desk to pick up a nametag and other items. If you have not already paid your registration fee, you may pay via check or credit card only.
Upon arrival, we invite everyone to check in at the registration desk to pick up a nametag and other items. If you have not already paid your registration fee, you may pay via check or credit card only.
Bishop Bruce Ough, host bishop for the 2020 General Conference, will bring the sermon in this opening worship led by Raymond Trapp, General Conference worship leader.
Speakers: Bishop Bruce Ough, Dakotas-Minnesota Episcopal Area Raymond Trapp, Worship and Music Director for General Conference 2020
The Dakotas-Minnesota Host Team will share how the church is preparing for General Conference visitors, as well as opportunities for enjoying your stay in Minneapolis.
Speakers: Becky Boland, Co-chair, Dakotas-Minnesota Host Committee The Rev. Jim Haun, Chair, Dakotas-Minnesota Host Committee
The theme of General Conference provides a touchstone for remaining centered in God’s grace and also a guide for our interactions at the assembly.
Speakers: The Rev. Tom Albin, Director of Spiritual Formation and Congregational Life, The Upper Room, Discipleship Ministries Kim Simpson, Chair, Commission on General Conference Kara Oliver, Executive Director, The Upper Room Center for Christian Spiritual Formation, Discipleship Ministries
Delegates will deal with many proposals at General Conference. This session offers an overview of the proposals being brought by groups to address the church’s structure. Other legislative efforts will come to light with the release of the Advance Daily Christian Advocate after the briefing.
“New Denominations of Methodism” (Indianapolis Plan) Speakers: The Rev. Kent Millard, President, United Theological Seminary The Rev. Darren Cushman Wood, Senior Pastor, North United Methodist Church, Indianapolis
Speakers: The Rev. Alka Lyall, Pastor, Broadway United Methodist Church, Chicago The Rev. Jonah Overton, Lead Pastor, Zao MKE Church, Milwaukee The Rev. Alex da Silva Souto, Pastor, New Milford (CT) United Methodist Church The Rev. Dr. Jay Williams, Lead Pastor, Union UM Church, Boston
Speakers: The Rev. Keith Boyette, President, Wesleyan Covenant Association The Rev. Junius Dotson, General Secretary/CEO, Discipleship Ministries Jan Lawrence, Executive Director, Reconciling Ministries Network
Speakers: The Rev. Kennetha J. Bigham-Tsai, Chief Connectional Ministries Officer, Connectional Table Barbara Boigegrain, General Secretary, Wespath Benefits and Investments
A panel of speakers from the central conferences will offer perspectives on the choices facing the church, the hopes and dreams of people in their areas, and whether they have felt included in the development of proposals for the church’s future.
Speakers: Bishop John Wesley Yohanna, Nigeria Episcopal Area The Rev. Ole Birch, District Superintendent, Denmark Annual Conference The Rev. Igmedio Domingo, District Superintendent, Manila Area The Rev. Betty Kazadi Musau, Director of Communication, North Katanga Episcopal Area
Panel moderator:Isaac Broune, UM News, United Methodist Communications
Representatives for the different restructuring proposals and central conference perspectives will answer questions from the audience in this moderated discussion.
Panel moderator: Sam Hodges, UM News Reporter, United Methodist Communications
A panel of legal, financial and pension experts will discuss what delegates should know about The United Methodist Church’s structure as they consider legislation to change it.
Speakers: Andy Hendren, Chief Legal Counsel, Wespath Benefits and Investments The Honorable Pam Liston, President, United Methodist Church Conference Chancellors Association Bryan Mills, Interim General Counsel, General Council on Finance and Administration
Panel moderator: The Rev. Taylor Burton-Edwards, Ask The UMC, United Methodist Communications
One of General Conference’s primary responsibilities is to approve a budget. Representatives of the General Council on Finance and Administration and the Connectional Table will explain the budget and how it was developed.
Speakers: The Rev. Rachel Birkhahn-Rommelfanger, Assistant Connectional Ministries Officer, Connectional Table A. Moses Kumar, General Secretary, General Council on Finance and Administration The Rev. Lyssette Perez, Member, Connectional Table Budget Allocations Committee, and President, MARCHA The Rev. Steve Wood, Lead Pastor, Mount Pisgah United Methodist Church, Alpharetta, Georgia
Panel moderator: Sharon Dean, Chief Officer of Communications and Marketing, General Council on Finance and Administration
United Methodist ministries will be on display in the area outside the plenary hall. Briefing participants can visit booths, learn more about legislative priorities for different agencies and organizations, and get insight into ministries that are changing lives.
Upon arrival, we invite everyone to check in at the registration desk to pick up a nametag and other items. If you have not already paid your registration fee, you may pay via check or credit card only.
The General Conference leadership team will guide us through the legislative process, sharing insights on how petitions are handled, parliamentary procedures, voting, and other vital topics.
Speakers: Susan Brumbaugh, Coordinator of the Calendar, General Conference The Rev. Gary Graves, Secretary, General Conference The Rev. Abby Parker Herrera, Petitions Secretary, General Conference Sara Hotchkiss, Business Manager, General Conference
Morning moderator: Mary Catherine Phillips, Director of Communications, Alabama-West Florida Conference
The United Methodist Church’s top court plays a critical role at General Conference. An expert explains how the Judicial Council has had a major impact on past assemblies.
Speaker: Sally Curtis AsKew, Former Member, Judicial Council
Work on a General Book of Discipline, the addition of new episcopal areas in Africa, and the restructuring of U.S. jurisdictions will be discussed in this panel.
Speakers: Bishop Gregory V. Palmer, Ohio West Episcopal Area Fred Brewington, Chair, Jurisdictional Study Committee George Howard, Director of Connectional Engagement, General Board of Global Ministries The Rev. Deanna Stickley-Miner, Director of Connectional Ministries, West Ohio Conference
Panel moderator: Heather Hahn, UM News Reporter, United Methodist Communications
Communicators will discuss the hands-on work of communicating about General Conference. This session will include information on resources available to help communicators, brainstorming with General Conference veterans, and practical tips for providing coverage on site in Minneapolis and remotely from home.
Featured communicators: Mark A. Doyal, Director of Communications, Michigan Conference Doreen Gosmire, Director of Communications, Dakotas Conference Christa Meland, Director of Communications, Minnesota Conference
This interactive session will engage conversation, seek to create common ground, and extend grace to help guide delegates to prepare spiritually for the journey. Wisdom, compassion, and courage are needed to help us listen deeply, respond faithfully to God and one another. Diverse leaders will share practical tools that spiritually equip delegates for dialogue with one another through making challenging decisions about The United Methodist Church.
Speakers: The Rev. Scott Hughes, Executive Director of Congregational Vitality and Intentional Discipleship, Discipleship Ministries The Rev. Dr. Jacqui King, Director of US Connectional Relationships, Discipleship Ministries Alma Pérez, Director of Hispanic/Latino Resourcing, Discipleship Ministries Mighty Rasing, Director of Central Conference Relationships, Discipleship Ministries
The United Methodist Church’s ethnic initiatives will share how the church is engaging people for Christ and building community across cultural boundaries.
Speakers: Bishop Minerva Carcaño, San Francisco Episcopal Area Bishop Gregory V. Palmer, Ohio West Episcopal Area The Rev. Jorge Domingues, Executive Director of Connectional Ministries, California-Nevada Conference The Rev. Chebon Kernell, Executive Director, Native American Comprehensive Plan Toska Medlock Lee, Interim Director, Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century The Rev. John Oda, Program Manager, Asian American Language Ministry Plan Manuel Padilla, Interim Executive Director, National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry The Rev. Lyssette Perez, Pastor, Oasis United Methodist Church, Pleasantville, NJ and President, MARCHA Monalisa Tuitahi, Executive Director, Pacific Islander Ministry Plan
Panel moderator: The Rev. Gustavo Vasquez, Director of Hispanic/Latino News, UM News, United Methodist Communications
Leaders with three general agencies will discuss legislation to address the treatment of women and girls, as well as a proposed apology for victims and survivors of sexual misconduct in the church.
Speakers: Harriett Jane Olson, General Secretary/CEO, United Methodist Women Dawn Wiggins Hare, General Secretary/CEO, General Commission on the Status and Role of Women Gilbert C. Hanke, General Secretary/CEO, United Methodist Men
Panel moderator: Kathy L. Gilbert, UM News Reporter, United Methodist Communications
Afternoon moderator: Charmaine Robledo, Director of Communications, Mountain Sky Conference
Young adult leaders will give an overview of proposals to change young people’s ministries in the church.
Speakers: Bethany Amey, Board Member, Division on Ministries with Young People, Discipleship Ministries Jani Djamba, Board Member, Division on Ministries with Young People, Discipleship Ministries Venus Mae Gatdula, Board Member, Division on Ministries with Young People, Discipleship Ministries and Connectional Table Maggie Taylor, Co-chair, Division on Ministries with Young People, Discipleship Ministries
Panel moderator: Paul Gomez, Manager, Hispanic/Latino Seeker Communications, United Methodist Communications
Delegates will consider the first major overhaul of the church’s Social Principles in nearly 50 years.
Speaker: The Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe, General Secretary/CEO, General Board of Church and Society
Moderator for Social Principles and Social Witness combined panel: The Rev. Thomas Kim, Director of Korean/Asian News, UM News, United Methodist Communications
A proposed constitutional amendment on racism and resolutions on immigration and voter suppression are among the topics that General Conference will consider.
Speakers: Bishop Minerva Carcaño, Chair, United Methodist Interagency Task Force on Immigration Erin Hawkins, General Secretary, General Commission on Religion and Race
Moderator for Social Principles and Social Witness combined panel: The Rev. Thomas Kim, Director of Korean/Asian News, UM News, United Methodist Communications
A significant pension plan change for clergy, along with an update from the Study on Ministry, will be among several items directly affecting clergy at General Conference.
Speakers: Bill Kavanaugh, Chief Operating Officer, Wespath Benefits and Investments The Rev. Dr. Tom Rand, Member, Study of Ministry Commission, and Lead Pastor, Sylvania (Ohio) First United Methodist Church
The Council of Bishops is proposing a resolution to implement a full communion relationship with the Episcopal Church. Other legislation includes a resolution to adopt a new doctrinal teaching, “Sent in Love: A United Methodist Understanding of the Church.”
Speaker: The Rev. Dr. Kyle R. Tau, Ecumenical Staff Officer, Faith & Order and Theological Development, Council of Bishops
If it’s not communicated, it didn’t happen. This panel of delegates and communicators will provide delegates with best practices for sharing about General Conference before, during, and after the assembly, including handling media interviews. As we leave the briefing, let’s begin telling the story.
Speakers: The Rev. Andy Call, Church of the Saviour United Methodist Church in Cleveland Rick Wolcott, Director of Communications, East Ohio Conference The Rev. Byron Thomas, Ben Hill United Methodist Church in Atlanta Sybil Davidson, Director of Communications, North Georgia Conference Paul Black, Director of Communications, Illinois Great Rivers Conference
Panel moderator: Diane Degnan, Director of Public Relations, United Methodist Communications
