General Conference 2026 is now less than one year away (Aug. 30 – Sept. 5, 2026). Your Upper Midwest Conference delegation has been meeting monthly (on Zoom) to pray and prepare together to represent you well in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Pray for your delegation especially as we learn the new Global Methodist process for nominating and electing our bishops! These servant leaders are now elected by the General Conference, after being successfully nominated by annual conferences. Each annual conference can select one nominee from their own conference, and one from outside their conference. (You can learn more about that process here)
Along with a new process for the election of episcopal leaders, there is a new support system of both encouragement and accountability for Bishops — an “Area Episcopal Committee”. This committee is composed of one clergy and one lay person from each annual conference for which that Bishop has oversight (so around 14 persons). Please pray for us as we discern a clergy and lay person from our conference to serve on this Committee. (If you have suggestions for these persons, please contact us through the email below.)
Pray also as we begin to look at legislation for General Conference over the coming months; as a new denomination we are making important decisions about our doctrine, structure and ministry priorities. Over the next few months as we receive this information, we will be sharing about resolutions and important discernment in upcoming newsletter articles here.
Finally, please pray for the health and well-being of our delegation team members and their families, so that we are able to travel to South Africa.
We have a NEW Webpage for updates and ways to connect and communicate with us. You can also email us with questions, encouragements, and your prayers at gcdelegates@uppermidwestgmc.org.
