Registration and Info
The Minnesota Conference will gather at the River's Edge Conference Center in St. Cloud. Live streaming will allow non-voting members to watch the sessions remotely.
Wednesday, May 31 - Thursday, June 1, 2023
Celebration of Life in Ministry - May 31, 7 p.m.
Annual Conference Registration
Things to know in 2023:
- This year, for the first time, those watching the live stream will have three options available to them. In addition to the traditional live stream, there will be one providing English closed-captioning of proceedings, and one providing Spanish subtitles of spoken words. Viewers can choose to see spoken words closed captioned in English or translated in Spanish on-screen. Stay tuned for more info on how to access the live stream of your choosing.
- Payment is required at the time of registration, via credit or debit card. This is being implemented to save resources and fees. Contact Gail Johnson for assistance if this presents a problem.
- Conference begins mid-morning Wednesday and ends Thursday before dinner. You may only need to stay over one night. Plan accordingly.
- You must be present in-person to vote.
- Annual Conference registration closes on May 1 at 11:59 p.m. No late registrations can be accepted.
Who should register?
- Everyone who will be at the River's Edge Convention Center needs to register. This includes clergy, laity, workers, and guests. The exception to this is: guests at the Celebration of Life in Ministry (Wednesday at 7 p.m.).
- Registration fees begin at $75 for guests and those not being sent by a specific church and $250 for voting members sent by a local congregation. Adding optional meals or printed materials adds to these fees.
Questions? Contact Gail Johnson.
Preparation
Conference materials—agenda, legislations, budget and reports—will be available for download by April 29. Additional materials are added the week prior to conference. Printed copies can be ordered during registration and will be sent to you or available for pick-up on site.
Each member of the 2023 Annual Conference Session is asked to participate in a virtual pre-conference webinar. This is an opportunity to discuss the legislation that will be acted upon during the conference. It is key that participants take this time to get their questions answered. Some important information about the sessions:
- Sessions will be hosted by district superintendents; you are encouraged to attend the one for your district (or supervising DS) but may attend whichever session best fits your schedule.
- Connection information is included with your confirmation email and will be sent via email to each registered participant in advance of these sessions.
- A recording of one session will be available on the conference website for those who cannot participate live.
- The pre-conference webinars will take place via Zoom from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. CT on the following dates (you'll be asked to sign up for one when you register for Annual Conference)
- Monday, May 1 – River Valley led by Michelle Hargrave
- Tuesday, May 2 – Twin Cities led by Dan Johnson and Cynthia Williams
- Monday, May 15 – North Star led by Laurie Kantonen
- Wednesday, May 17 – Southern Prairie led by Fred Vanderwerf and Woojae Im
FAQs
What if I cannot attend in-person?
The Annual Conference Session will be streamed to the Minnesota Conference Facebook page in English and to other pages with English closed captioning and Spanish subtitles. You will be able to watch the translation of your choosing at no cost. A Facebook account is not necessary to access the livestream.
Are visitors allowed?
- Guests are able to register and attend the conference in-person. They are not able to vote and will not be recognized to speak during session.
- A recording of a pre-conference workshop will be made available to watch prior to the conference.
- Video recordings of the key sessions will be made available after the event.
When are clergy being honored?
- Saints will be remembered during the opening worship session, which begins at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 31.
- Clergy who are retiring, being ordained and licensed, and being welcomed as local pastors will be recognized at the Celebration of Life in Ministry worship service, which begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 1.
What about COVID-19?
All members are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated and boosted. To keep others safe, do not attend Annual Conference if you have any symptoms of COVID-19. And please be respectful of those who wish to wear masks and/or maintain some distance while conversing. Several tables will be designated for those preferring to be masked so they can be with others making the same choice.
