Members voted Thursday to approve a 2018 apportioned budget totaling $6,177,090, representing a 1.2 percent increase over 2017.
Four people shared TED-style talks, a difference-maker was honored, and members approved several pieces of legislation.
Remembering those who have died, honored retiring clergy, and celebrating licensed local pastors and those being commissioned and ordained.
Discipleship begins when churches reconnect with the “why” of their processes and develop mature disciples that can repeat the processes with others.
Bishop Ough explores the signs that our congregations are growing in vitality and talks about what it means to be an Acts 2 Congregation.
Like Paul and Silas, modern church leaders who hope to turn the world upside-down must be confident risk-takers, secure in their identity as children of God.
Rev. Jeanine Alexander and Denise Hoek were each recognized with a Denman Award for Reaching New People.
Rev. Jeanine Alexander, Denise Hoek, and Aitkin UMC were recognized for the ways they have impacted their communities and reached new people for Christ.
Annual Conference attendees learned about and celebrated a variety of Holy Spirit breakthroughs in our midst.
"Let us continue to strive for the day when truth and justice are neither delayed nor denied for any of God’s children."
After attending a workshop led by Hilltop UMC, First UMC launched 11 small groups last fall; 85 people between the ages of 12 and 90 participated.
An archive online catalog contains documents, photographs, and other material that brings the conference's rich history to life and makes it accessible.
Bob Lucas, vice president of operations at Smith Engineering and member of Delano UMC, is living out the call to “heal a broken world” in a unique way.
The Apple Valley campus, located inside a movie theater, has consistently been averaging about 100 in worship since its Feb. 12 launch.
By listening to the needs and desires of a Liberian couple in the congregation, Fridley UMC launched a new service to reach out to its Liberian neighbors.
The Judicial Council said the consecration of a gay bishop violates church law, and Bishop Ough responded by urging United Methodists to pray and trust God.
The meeting, set for Feb. 23-26, will be limited to acting on a report by the Council of Bishops, based on proposals from the Commission on a Way Forward.
Dozens of members of the Monticello church stop what they're doing at the same time each day to pray, and amazing things have started happening.
Meet the 2017 class of ELI Project interns. The ELI Project identifies, encourages, and supports young adults who are exploring a call to ordained ministry.
The awards were given by the United Methodist Association of Communicators. Members of the secular media served as judges.
Owen will oversee the implementation of a $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. that was awarded to the area late last year.
On March 8, two Minnesota staff members transitioned to an area-wide function. People can still contact either conference about camping.
In 2016, Minnesota churches remitted 87.7 percent of the requested apportionments, enabling life-changing mission and ministry locally and worldwide.
Bishop Ough and several other Minnesota United Methodist leaders braved the cold and jumped into frigid Lake Koronis to show their support for Camp Minnesota.
At the 2017 Annual Conference, we will focus on what it means to be an Acts 2 church and to fully claim our identity as people of Pentecost.
Seven Minnesota United Methodists were recently commissioned as Earthkeepers and have begun working on projects to transform their communities and the world.
Church planter Josh Meyers describes North Summit as “a community of weird people” and a place for them to “work out their faith and become stronger in Christ.”
“Today, I stand with colleagues...to strongly denounce President Trump’s widespread attack on immigrants and refugees.”
Sydney Colton invited 15 friends to a camp-themed birthday on Jan. 7. They were instructed not to bring gifts and instead invited to donate to Camp Minnesota.
The 2016 Love Offering is helping adolescents in the Dominican Republic grow and become vital members of the community.
After spending a year exploring the possibility of joining forces and becoming a multi-site church, the two churches voted unanimously to combine.
“HCI encourages a climate of possibility,” said Rev. Heather Klason. “HCI helps you be really creative to reach people for Jesus Christ.”
Rev. Barb McKewin spends Wednesday afternoons leading kids using a Sunday School curriculum, and seven youth participated in a Christmas program.
Applications are being sought for 2017 interns and host churches—and will be accepted through Feb 15.
God is constantly seeking to interrupt our lives; commanding our attention; disorienting us; calling us to make room for God in our hearts and our lives.
The funding will be used for financial literacy training and debt-reduction grants, and to equip clergy to foster a theology of generosity.
"We must stand against the meanness and hatred that is upon us. We must stand for what is best in us as people of God."
Nuckols will take part in re-forming the Common Table and helping the conference live into the recommendations from the FACT report.
On behalf of the Council of Bishops, Bishop Ough wrote a congratulatory letter with a prayer and a plea for the nation to unite to President-elect Donald Trump.
Clergy from Minnesota said they went to bear witness and to stand with their Native American brothers and sisters who are seeking to protect their sacred land.
The youth, who came from 36 churches, were reminded that they are gifted by God and that they are blessed to go out into the world and serve others.
More than 20 families are now participating in the life of the Maplewood church—and as a result, the congregation’s Sunday School has doubled in size.
Hundreds of clergy from a range of faith traditions are gathered for a “Stand with Standing Rock” event featuring singing, prayers, and readings.
The Council of Bishops set forth actions to involve the whole church in prayer and conversation.
“I believe it is critical that this Commission begin with relationship-building, trust-building, and deep listening,” said Dave Nuckols.
Jody Thone will be responsible for creating and delivering a comprehensive system of leadership development from recruitment to deployment.
There are three types of certification that laity can pursue; training sessions are offered all year.
Prayers, financial donations, meals, and health kits are all needed in the areas impacted by Hurricane Matthew, which has taken the lives of more than 1,000.
The Minnesota Council of Churches is partnering with tutoring and mentoring programs to encourage congregations to mentor children not thriving at school.
Bishop Emerson S. Colaw, who served in Minnesota from 1980 to 1988, died Tuesday at age 94 in Ohio.
Fast-growing Embrace Church, which has a campus in Minnesota, celebrated its 10th birthday and launched its sixth campus earlier this month.
Among the recommendations provided by denominational group that studied the health of the conference is to embrace our evangelistic task.
Months after launching, one of the conference's new church starts baptized 18 in Long Lake; each adult vowed to bring one more person to Christ before winter.
United Methodists, including Bishop Ough, have visited the site of the Dakota Access Pipeline protests and offered support to the Standing Rock nation.
Twenty-nine churches received an Investing in Congregations grant in 2016, applications are now being accepted for 2017.
After spending the summer serving as interim director of Northern Pines Camp in Park Rapids, Leslie Hobson recently became its permanent director.
Are you seeking a fresh vision, eager to become more vital, and looking for new ways to reach people? Maybe it's time to prepare for a revitalization process.
Mergers and new ministry models are helping several rural churches in the conference to re-imagine their futures and “be” church in a new way.
Two congregations that have strong small groups share what they're doing, and how participants growing in faith while becoming more connected to each other.
Six churches share what they did to minimize their impact on the environment and achieve double-digit reductions in their carbon footprint.
The church used part of a legacy gift from a longtime, mission-minded member to purchase supplies for 100 health kits, which they then assembled for refugees.
Refugee Services will put its $31,000 Love Offering gift toward starting a housing fund to help refugees coming to Minnesota find a place to live.
Centennial and St. Anthony Park are combining, with St. Anthony Park becoming a second campus of Centennial; worship there will launch later this year.
Rev. Judith Banya returned to her hometown in Sierra Leone two years ago. With the support of OC Ministries she is making a substantial impact.
Are you hungry for a community of peer support and learning? Then it may be time for a Clergy Compass Covenant Group.
In the wake of the Orlando shooting, Northern Light Church sent 200 "love letters" to Orlando—one of which arrived in the mailbox of a United Methodist pastor.
“The building will continue to be a place of prayer, peace, and justice work in the inner city,” said Rev. Paul Marzahn, the nonprofit's president.
Eight clergy and laity from Minnesota were elected to serve on various committees through 2020.
The extensive coverage of the North Central Jurisdictional Conference was thanks to a first-of-its-kind collaboration among the jurisdiction’s communicators.
Rev. Art Scanson has handcrafted more than 15 crosiers for bishops in the North Central Jurisdiction; the process; each crosier takes 100 hours.
In a brief video message, Bishop Ough expressed joy after learning about his reassignment and talked about what's ahead for the next four years.
Bishop Ough has been reassigned to the Dakotas-Minnesota Area through 2020, and newly minted Bishop David Alan Bard will go to the Michigan Area.
Bishop Michael J. Coyner delivered a powerful message to the new bishops and gave them words of wisdom to take with them to their new assignments.
David Bard reflects on what's changed since he was elected bishop, what's ahead, and what he'll take with him as he prepares to leave Minnesota.
Delegates spent Friday praying and listening, and they approved a resolution related to human sexuality as well as a budget and a new budget process.
At a time when actions are dividing our churches, our communities, our nation, and our world, “our gifts [from God] are to serve the whole and not the parts.”
Delegates elected a fourth bishop and bid a fond farewell to faithful episcopal servants who are retiring.
“Some of our blessings are seemingly in conflict with those of other sisters and brothers. Get over it! We’re part of the same faith community.”
Handheld electronic voting devices have made plenary voting a much faster, simpler, and more efficient process.
The delegation rallied behind Bard, working to spread the word about his gifts and qualifications, and his election was as much their victory as it was his.
“I pledge with God’s grace and the help of God’s spirit and all of your help to work to make The United Methodist Church the best it can be...” said Bard.
“Can we all get along is another side of Jesus’ command to love God and love neighbor. The behavioral question plagues our communion.”
All 17 episcopal candidates were asked to describe the approach they would take if a complaint was brought against one of their pastors.
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The purpose of the forum was to provide insight on episcopal candidates’ understanding of racial and cultural relationships within the church.
"We call upon the people of the United Methodist Church to enter into the challenge and complexity of this present moment."
Let us use this tragedy as an opportunity to redouble our efforts to work for justice, stamp out institutional racism, and affirm the value of all human life.
Representatives from 11 conferences, including Minnesota, will gather next week to elect bishops and others at the 2016 North Central Jurisdictional Conference.
Cindy Saufferer, elected to a second term, said “UMW helps women find their voice and go out in the world to advocate for justice in God’s mission field.”
Wondering how to summarize three packed-full days as you report back to your church?
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Among the legislation approved was a resolution in response to the recent Pulse nightclub shootings in Orlando, Florida.
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Members of the 2016 Annual Conference Session voted Thursday to approve a 2017 apportioned budget totaling $6,106,460.
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Three individuals and two churches were recognized for the ways they have made a difference in their communities.
Remembering friends and colleagues who have died, honored retiring clergy, and celebrating licensed local pastors and those being commissioned and ordained.
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A brief look at some of the key initiatives that the conference has been engaged in over the past year and the fruits of those efforts.
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Miles shared her perspective and experiences when it comes to evangelism, service, and unleashing God’s generosity.
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Evangelism and reaching new people are vital elements to the future growth of our churches, our conference, and our denomination.
God has given us all great gifts to go forth and fertilize...to spread our manure around!
Conference attendees spent much of day one discussing issues that are important to them and enjoying fellowship in a more laid-back atmosphere.
This year, 35 Urban CROSS campers are working on 32 projects. On Wednesday, campers and area residents came together for a community powwow.
Great leadership is the ability to contextualize. Here are six elements that, when combined, will produce results in nearly any size congregation.
Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
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