After hearing about autistic kids being unwelcome at church activities, Rachel Casper decided to create a specialized VBS for kids on the spectrum.
The NCJ Committee on the Episcopacy recommends having nine active bishops in 2023, with the Dakotas and Minnesota sharing one.
“It was well worth the time, effort, and money needed,” said Rev. Katherine Cornell, who serves Asbury UMC in Duluth.
The Central Appalachian Missionary Conference, the Minnesota Conference, and GCFA have partnered to address Kentucky flooding.
Here’s a look at this year's 13 incoming clergy—what drew them here, what they’re excited about, their spiritual gifts, what they appreciate about The UMC, and some fun facts.
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Nearly 20 churches received a grant for a book study, and the impact on each congregation has been significant. You can still apply for a grant
Some churches created a display of empty chairs to remember and honor those who died at the hands of a gunman at Robb Elementary.
Highlights from two full days of worship, discerning, and celebrating that you can bring back to members of your congregation.
In his letter, Bishop David Bard urges us to pray, and to take action to address our society's problem with violence.
Bishop David Bard: “Journeying together toward beloved community: May this be the Minnesota Conference.”
Attendees looked ahead, shared their hopes and dreams, approved key legislation, acknowledged churches that are closing or leaving, and thanked retirees.
“The world needs the ministry of Jesus Christ through the church,” Bishop David Bard told honorees. “This matters. Tonight matters.”
Rev. Cynthia Williams: “In the midst of a pandemic, a denomination separating...God has been faithful and you, the people of God, have stepped out in faith.”
Data reveal we’re nowhere close to reflecting the diversity of our state at any of the three levels examined: local churches, clergy, and conference staff.
After last weekend's mass shooting, Bishop David Bard urges us to pray for those who mourn and to have difficult conversations about race and hatred in the U.S.
The more than 700 pillows that members donated will go to several organizations that serve people experiencing homelessness.
The interns, who are both in seminary, will spend two months "trying on" ministry and working with clergy mentors.
MNsource will be a place for United Methodist church leaders throughout the state to both share and access excellent resources.
Bishop Bard is seeking nominations for Cabinet-level positions and a Transition Table to consider conference staffing, structure, and resourcing.
Betty Fuller, 100, has been a Minnesota Methodist since birth; she looks back on her life of faith and shares her prayer for the world and dream for the church.
Bishop Laurie Haller was granted a six-month medical leave, during which time Bishop Deborah Kiesey will assume episcopal leadership in Iowa and the Dakotas.
Scarves will be given to all delegates and guests at General Conference 2024, where Dakotas-Minnesota United Methodists will be recognized.
Through leading a praise music worship service at his church, Dean Roush heard God’s call to something bigger and is becoming a licensed local pastor.
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The May 24-25 gathering will include inspiring worship, a banquet, conversations about who and where we are, and celebrating clergy milestones.
Kathy Huber started seminary about 18 years ago and is now fulfilling a longtime call to pastoral ministry.
We will continue to engage in creating a post-pandemic church, living into our vision, embodying our values, and making a place at the table for everyone.
The 2020 General Conference will be further postponed to 2024 due to COVID-related and governmental policies/constraints.
Reflections from Pastor Volodymyr Prokip, who leads a student ministry in Ukraine, and Bishop Eduard Khegay, who leads the Eurasia Episcopal Area.
Bishop David Bard calls upon all Minnesota United Methodists to pray for peace in Ukraine—at their worship services this weekend and into Lent.
Miron Carney is a mayor and a lobbyist with a most interesting resume, but he recently embraced a longtime call upon his life: pastoring a local church.
Bishop David Bard introduces a new set of COVID-19 guidelines and encourages us to continue to act out of love for neighbor and care for our community.
Filling in for her pastor led to Pam Cook becoming a certified lay minister and then serving Peace United Church in Long Prairie as its lay pastor.
The total amount remitted to the conference totaled $5.3 million—approximately 83 percent of the $6.4 million apportioned budget and up 2.1 percent from 2020.
Following the incident, Bishop David Bard calls for prayer and for reform in policing, policies, procedures, and training.
Virtual participants heard about a call to ministry, reflected on "aha" moments, watched a music video, and played an interactive game of Clue.
United Methodists will contribute $30 million to a $3 billion Boy Scouts of America Survivor Trust Fund, and the Minnesota Conference will raise $286,132.
Every month, roughly 60 volunteers serve 440 families in need through a food distribution—which has completely transformed the congregation.
Diane Owen will support and resource clergy around the five areas of well-being—emotional, financial, physical, spiritual, and social.
Offering Sunday School via Zoom has enabled Atwater’s kids to stay connected to God and the church and allowed those from other geographic areas to join in.
Bishop David Bard urges vaccination and masking, and advises church leaders to consider moving worship and other in-person gatherings online.
The Minnesota Methodist Foundation and Dakotas Methodist Foundation have formalized their partnership and are poised to continue to grow and expand.
Pokémon Go players frequent church locations, and by installing a welcoming sign, this church in Savage is connecting with new people!
The 18,000-square-foot, two-story building will house a new $4 million dining and meeting center. It should be ready in summer 2022.
The funding, which requires a $250,000 match, will be used to help clergy be healthy and whole in light of pandemic-related challenges and stressors.
The covenant, using United Methodist baptismal vows as a framework, calls on the jurisdiction to fight racism and create a culture that affirms LGBTQIA+ people.
Delegates spent the majority of their time on three big topics—dismantling racism, the future of episcopal leadership, and the future of the UMC.
More than 30 Minnesota United Methodist youth packed shoeboxes full of Christmas gifts for children in need.
The College of Bishops decided to extend the current coverage of episcopal areas in the jurisdiction until at least November 2022.
Clergy gathered around the state to swap pandemic stories and provide encouragement to one another during this difficult season of ministry.
The church is making videos for nonprofits, has hired a community-based justice director, and is giving artists a platform to express themselves.
Bishop Bard encourages vaccinations and masking, and says the United Methodist tradition does not support religious exemptions for vaccinations.
Minnesota youth groups are invited to pack 500 shoeboxes filled with Christmas gifts for children in need. You can join in the effort.
A tree stump and speeches given from atop it reminded members of Hill City UMC that the congregation is alive and still has work to do.
Rev. Rachel Gilmore offers some examples and tips for creating missional communities, which reach non-church-goers outside of church buildings.
Twenty-five congregations throughout the state donated 6,000 pounds worth of supplies in response to an urgent call from UMCOR.
Rev. Amy Strom's simple invitation to her congregations to go kayaking strengthened relationships and created new connections within the community.
Young adults are invited to participate in a virtual showing of "Push" about the lack of affordable housing, and then volunteer at Simpson Housing Services.
Tanner will help churches improve their digital ministry while also developing systems and teams that move us forward with technology as an annual conference.
A total of 923 campers had a safe and enjoyable summer experience thanks to extra precautions that the camps took amid COVID-19.
Three churches share how they are supporting teachers and students as they return to school. Church-school partnerships are a key way to love our neighbors.
Apply now for Investing in Congregations, Dare to Reach, and Digital Campus grants!
Eight Minnesota United Methodists who feel strongly about Line 3 share how their faith informs their perspectives.
The local seminary praised the bishop for committing to a lifetime of anti-racism work, and leading with theological grounding, wisdom, and skill.
Common concerns that clergy have voiced are exhaustion, difficulty in accessing resources, and inability to easily access mental health care.
After making the difficult decision to close, the church used funds from the sale of its building to support local organizations and a new house church network.
Bishop David Bard has turned the dial on the Phased Re-Gathering Plan from blue to yellow because the state positivity rate has reached 5 percent.
Participants learned about local efforts to fight food insecurity, support those experiencing homelessness, and raise awareness about water pollution.
Here’s a look at the incoming clergy—what drew them here, what they’re excited about, their spiritual gifts, their hopes for the UMC, and some fun facts.
These strategies for reaching people include prayer boxes, intentional neighboring, community surveying, and interest groups.
Two recent graduates share how the program has impacted them, and two incoming students talk about what they are hoping to learn.
Emmanuel Adeyemo completed his Ph.D. and will soon return to Nigeria to help increase food production there.
The tornado, health, and cleaning kits will be distributed to disaster-ravaged areas around the world where they are needed most.
Eight youth participated in a new, six-day “Games Galore and More” camp at Northern Pines Camp in Park Rapids in June; its positive impact has stayed with them.
This pilot program will provide support and accountability for all Minnesota clergy’s development and well-being.
Three days of annual conference turned into a summary of key points to share with members of your congregation!
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The resolution calls on dismantling racism, opposing white supremacy, and advocating for racial justice.
Bishop Bard talked about roadmaps and, drawing on Mark 7: 24-30, he shared four lessons for the work of the church and our work as the Minnesota Conference.
Billups shared practices for being peacemakers as we seek to bridge the significant divides around us and talked about why and how to tell our Jesus stories as we seek to disciple others.
In a moving ordination and commissioning service that hundreds of people attended online, five clergy were recognized for taking a new step in ministry.
Minnesota lay people learned three ways to move difficult conversations forward and deepen relationships in the 2021 Laity Session.
Each intern is spending two months at a host church and with a clergy mentor while gaining experience in a wide variety of ministerial contexts.
Rev. Laquaan Malachi, who serves North UMC in Minneapolis, reflects on how we might take steps in faith and discern God speaking to us.
Rev. Dr. Ron Bell, lead pastor of Camphor Memorial UMC in St. Paul, reflects on the trauma and transformation that he experienced after George Floyd was killed.
Clergy attendees celebrated milestones, approved candidates for membership, heard from guest speaker Tod Bolsinger, and had conversations by district.
Amid declining COVID-19 case rates and increased vaccinations, we are transitioning to the blue phase of our Re-Gathering Plan.
Watching the live stream, attending Laity Session, and gathering at host sites will provide meaningful ways to learn and connect.
Rev. Dana Neuhauser's role will include teaching on anti-racism, resourcing cross-racial and cross-cultural clergy appointments, and supporting clergy of color.
Seven Minneapolis-St. Paul area clergy share their reactions to the verdict and reflect on where we go from here.
Bishop David Bard responds to the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial and encourages us to continue the work of dismantling racial inequity.
Rev. Rich Zeck talks about what it's like to minister in this time and place and shares ways that United Methodists can assist.
As the Derek Chauvin trial takes place and the Twin Cities reacts to Daunte Wright's death, Bishop David Bard urges us to continue the work of racial reckoning.
Amid an increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, we will remain in the orange phase of our Re-Gathering Plan.
Share your creative ministry and blooper videos for the 2021 Annual Conference. Choose one of two thank you gifts if your creative ministry video is selected.
Rheingans has taken ministry out of the building and onto campus, formed a partnership with Centennial UMC, and empowered students to lead.
COVID-19 and several key practices the church implemented shifted its focus outward and helped it serve and connect with its community in new ways.
The bishops decided it was not in the best interest of The United Methodist Church to hold the one-day special virtual conference at this time.
Bishop Bard decries the recent violence, reminds us that all persons are created in the image of God, and encourages us to offer prayers for Asian-Americans.
Four area participants reflect on how the program equipped them for effective ministry and navigating the COVID-19 pandemic.
The conference will not immediately change the dial on our Phased Re-Gathering Plan but plan to do so right after Easter, barring a new surge in cases.
The Community Healers team is providing encouragement to health care workers, creating healing spaces, and helping plan an interfaith healers worship service.
Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
122 West Franklin Avenue, Suite 400 Minneapolis, MN 55404
(612) 870-0058