Conference theme: “Encounter. Transform. Respond. The Emmaus Experience.”

In the Emmaus Road story, the impossible becomes possible as the world is made right again through encounters with the resurrected Christ who brings healing, reconciliation and hope. Bishop Lanette Plambeck, in her inaugural Episcopal Address, reminded Minnesota United Methodists that this story about the two disciples on the road is our story, too. During this challenging time in The United Methodist Church, Bishop Lanette issued an invitation: “I wonder if you would just join with me in leaning in — leaning in to one another in this room and declaring that there is indeed enough love for all of us.” She reminded those gathered and watching online: You are loved. You are a child of God and a person of worth. There are no exceptions.

Drawing on Luke 24:13-35, the theme of this year’s Minnesota Annual Conference Session was “Encounter. Transform. Respond. The Emmaus Experience.” The gathering took place at the River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota, May 31-June 1. This post-resurrection story where everything has changed and the implications are still unclear mirrors the time and space we are living in as a church. We, like the two disciples, are on the road, asking deep questions, and trying to make sense of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus today. And we, too, are finding that we encounter Christ in transforming ways when we do.

As this year’s teaching session speaker, the Rev. Dr. Michael Beck helped attendees explore what it might look like to “do” church differently. Beck is co-pastor of two Florida churches and a network of “fresh expressions” led by laity that gather in various community venues and public spaces around shared interests and hobbies. He talked about fresh expressions as a new movement of Christian communities where people with no connection to the church are finding life and encountering Christ. Dinner church whereby people gather to share a meal is an easy starting point for a fresh expression, Beck said. Some of the other fresh expressions he’s involved with take place in a tattoo parlor, at a restaurant, in a virtual reality space, at dog park, and even at Tesla charging stations. “Just listen and just love and serve and build relationships, and see what God does with that,” Beck urged. “Sometimes a church will emerge, sometimes it won’t. We fail a lot and then we build upon that and we try new experiments.”

Another guest at this year’s Annual Conference was Bishop William (Bill) McAlilly of the Nashville Episcopal Area, who reminded attendees that we are a connectional church. In his connectional address, he spoke about what it means to live with courage and boldness. This includes knowing and living our “why” as Christians, loving God and our neighbor, and leaning into the future with “holy boldness” — not knowing exactly what’s in store but trusting that God is with us, he said.

Four moving worship services throughout the two-day gathering celebrated a variety of milestones in ministry: 14 clergy entering retirement, four people ordained as elders, two commissioned as provisional members, three local licensed pastors completing their five-year course of study, 13 people authorized to serve as local pastors, two individuals commissioned to the office of deaconess and home missioner, and 24 clergy and spouses who died over the past year.

Seven individuals, three churches, and one organization received awards for the ways they have made a difference in their communities and across Minnesota. Two of the individuals are planting Hispanic ministries that are reaching new people with the good news of Jesus (watch a video on one planter, Pastor Celia Navas, who has a most amazing story).

During the legislative session, hundreds of voting members approved all pieces of legislation before them, including resolutions opposing assault-style weapons, addressing the Israeli detention of children, and supporting both a U.S. Regional Conference and the removal of all discriminatory policies and harmful language related to sexual orientation from the Book of Discipline. The latter three resolutions involve petitioning the next General Conference to take further action.

Members also ratified the terms of disaffiliation agreements made between the Minnesota Annual Conference Board of Trustees and 14 local churches that have discerned that their path goes a different direction from the Minnesota Annual Conference: Akeley UMC, Central UMC (Verndale), First UMC (Ortonville), First UMC (Raymond), First UMC (Windom), Hawick UMC, Hewitt UMC, Korean Evangelical UMC (Hopkins), Money Creek UMC (Houston), Olivet UMC (Robbinsdale), Salem UMC (Pipestone), Sebeka UMC, Verndale UMC, and Villard UMC. After the vote, Bishop Lanette asked Minnesota United Methodists to keep these congregations in their hearts and to pray that even as we part ways, they may continue to live out their faith and serve as a beacon of light and hope for all.

Additionally, members formally approved the discontinuance of one church that has closed over the past year: West Concord UMC, which was in existence from 1884-2022.

With minimal discussion, conference members overwhelmingly approved a 2024 apportioned budget totaling $5,480,000, with an uncollectible contingency of $375,000 for a total apportioned budget of $5,855,000. This budget is flat as compared to the 2023 approved budget.

Conference members, on behalf of their churches, also gave just over $40,000 to the 2023 Love Offering, which will address growing mental health needs in Minnesota. Nearly two-thirds of the offering will fund a new grant for churches that have partnerships with mental health services offered in local schools or communities, and 30% will be distributed to three Minnesota nonprofits engaged in mental health education and advocacy.

—Christa Meland, Director of Communications, Minnesota Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church

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