Bismarck, North Dakota. The three-day conference session is a time for Dakotas United Methodists to worship and enjoy fellowship, learn from teaching sessions, seek God’s guidance as we make decisions about ministry direction, determine budgets, ordain and commission clergy, and receive the bishop’s clergy appointments.

Annual conference is not just for clergy and lay members, it is for anyone who would like to attend as a guest.  Register now at this link. Here are six things you will not want to miss.

Pre-Conference Workshops– There are five different 90-minute workshops being offered on Wednesday, June 7 at 1:30 p.m. and at 3:15 p.m.  Topics include: The style and strategies of a multiplying leader, Avoiding a volunteer vortex, Navigating our changing world and communities, Church financial myths and The power of Breakthrough Prayer. Click here for a detailed description.

Rev. Junius Dotson— Rev. Junius B. Dotson, General Secretary of UMC Discipleship, is preaching at opening worship on Thursday, June 8 at 8:30 a.m.  He will be our teaching speaker on Friday, June 9 at 9:45 a.m. Dotson, who was elected to the position in April 2016, is an ordained elder in the Great Plains Conference and formerly served as senior pastor of Saint Mark United Methodist Church, a 3,500-member, multi-campus church in Wichita, Kansas. “Discipleship has always been my passion,” said Dotson.  Click here to more about Rev. Dotson.

Festival in the Park—On Thursday evening, June 8, beginning at 5:45 p.m., participants will enjoy food – hamburgers, brats and more – and fellowship at Sertoma Park in Bismarck.  The park has a zoo and an amusement park.  However, United Methodists will bring their own amusement and entertainment including: the Fargo First African praise team providing music, a  1 mile, 2 mile and 3 mile walk, lawn games, bean bag toss tournament, and a sand volleyball match between the Dakotas Conference youth and the cabinet. You can also sign up for a riverboat cruise when you register.

Kids Count Miracle Offering—You will not want to miss Bishop Bruce Ough’s episcopal address at worship on Friday, June 9 at 8:00 a.m.  The Kids Count Miracle Offering will be collected at this worship. This year’s offering, “Kids Count Miracle Offering,” has both a hands-on and a financial component.  The goal is to raise $100,000 for grants for church-school partnerships and to help new worshipping congregations send the children in their target communities to our United Methodist camps, as wells as have 10,000 volunteer hours pledged for Kids Count Miracle Offering.

Celebration of Life in Ministry Service— On Friday, June 9, at 7 p.m., in a Celebration of Life in Ministry Service, we will remember United Methodist friends and colleagues who have died over the past year, honor clergy who are retiring, and celebrate those who were commissioned and ordained. The service will be held at the Legacy United Methodist Church, built in 2015. Bishop Ough is preaching and music will be led by the Legacy UMC worship team.

Baptismal Remembrance and Fixing of Appointments Service—United Methodists across the Dakotas will remember their baptisms, commission Rev. Keihwan Ryoo to the mission field, formally announce and fix the appointments of clergy to churches and bless those entering their first appointment. Rev. DeAnn Eidem, Rapid City Canyon Lake UMC, will deliver the sermon.  Music for this worship service, as well as the services on Thursday and Friday morning, will be led by Rev. Taylor Johnson, Sioux Falls First UMC.

Come to Bismarck and connect with United Methodists from across North and South Dakota and beyond.  The fee to register as a visitor is $5 per day plus the cost of any meals.

Pre-Conference Video: Welcome to Bismarck from Dakotas UMC on Vimeo.