In discussion with various stakeholders, and visiting with multiple other conferences, the Dakotas Conference Sessions Committee made the decision that the best plan is to move to a virtual annual conference. The virtual annual conference will take place in a webinar format, Saturday, October 10, at 10 a.m.- 12 p.m. central time, (9 -11 a.m. mountain time) and 1-4 p.m., central time, (12-3 p.m. mountain time). 

The agenda will include all necessary business items—the 2021 budget proposal, nominations, Board of Ordained Ministry Report, Board of Pensions Report, Dakotas United Methodist Foundation report, and the consent calendar. There will be an opening and closing worship. We will hear all that we have accomplished in the past year in the missional report. Bishop Ough will deliver the episcopal address and will celebrate our Miracle Offering. We will also include time to celebrate Bishop Ough’s ministry among us as he prepares for retirement on December 31, 2020.

The Celebration of Life in Ministry Service will not be held as part of AC 2020 but will be live streamed at a date to be determined. During the service newly licensed pastors will be recognized, two candidates will be commissioned, one person accepted as a full member, retirees will be honored, and those who have gone onto glory will be memorialized.

The virtual annual conference will be facilitated by GNTV media ministries. Voting will take place in the polling feature of the Zoom webinar platform. Everyone who votes must have their own device—desktop computer, tablet, laptop, or smart phone.

If you have limited internet access, or are worried about technical challenges, you can bring your device to a host site. The host sites at selected churches will have protocols in place for social distancing.  

In order to make sure people have time to hear and process the information, as well as ask questions, we would hold virtual pre-conference gatherings in September. These gatherings will inform delegates about the 2021 budget proposal, the nominations report, the consent calendar and any other items in the Conference Workbook. The pre-conference gatherings will be presented in a webinar format that will allow time for a question and answer time.

Three orientation or training sessions will be available for all participants to log in and practice using the features of the webinar format such as voting, the Q and A feature, and raising their hand to speak.

Registration will be required for all voting members and will open in early August. Specific dates for pre-conference gatherings and training sessions will be available at that time.

Guests will be able to view the 27^th Session of the Dakotas Annual Conference on Facebook and also the Dakotas Conference website.

It is going to be a jam-packed, one-day virtual event. Come join us as we seek to Be the Light, Live Hope!