“I am asking every Minnesota congregation to continue to carefully and prayerfully develop a plan for how to return to in-person worship in a gradual manner while adhering to our Phased Re-Gathering Plan for Churches, which aligns with state recommendations. As we continue to navigate this challenging season, let us remember that God is with us.”
Bishop Bruce R. Ough, Resident Bishop, Dakotas-Minnesota Area
Learn more and develop your plan
As the COVID-19, or coronavirus, pandemic makes its way around the world, churches can play a key role in preventing the spread of the illness. This page and the pages linked below will be regularly updated with new information and resources as the COVID-19 outbreak and response continues to unfold in Minnesota.
Latest update: All Minnesotans are required to wear face masks in public spaces. Minnesota is currently in phase III of a “Stay Safe MN” order, which strongly encourages continued caution and asks that all workers who can work from home continue to do so. Bishop Ough is asking all congregations to adhere to the Phased Re-Gathering Plan for Churches and use it to guide them in developing a detailed and phased plan for how you might safely bring people together.
This plan intentionally aligns with the phased plan released by the Office of Gov. Tim Walz. The detailed recommendations are driven by our Three Simple Rules.
As the economy and various businesses and organizations begin to re-open, here are some resources to consult and considerations to bear in mind as you think about returning to in-person worship.
We've gathered many helpful resources on live streaming, virtual meetings, church finances, and church best practices during this unprecedented time.
A variety of pre-recorded sermons and other liturgical video resources are available to download, share, stream, or otherwise use in your online worship services.
We are answering your questions and posting the responses here.
Congregations are adapting and finding new ways of doing and being church without in-person worship services and gatherings.
Find a few ways in which the Minnesota Conference is responding to COVID-19, including canceling conference events, suspending operations for 30 days at Dakotas-Minnesota United Methodist Camp and Retreat Centers, and organizing a COVID-19 response team.
Finding trustworthy information can be difficult. Here are accurate sources for info at the national, state, and Minnesota Conference levels. Also, find info on the postponement of the 2020 General and Jurisdictional Conferences.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act establishes a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that will provide low-interest loans for companies and nonprofits (including churches)—a portion of which can be forgiven if the organization meets certain criteria, such as retaining workers. View responses to some frequently asked questions about the PPP.
We are sending out frequent email updates amid the coronavirus outbreak. Click to see all past emails.
Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
122 West Franklin Avenue, Suite 400 Minneapolis, MN 55404
(612) 870-0058