Business at the 29th Session of the Dakotas Annual Conference will occur during the plenary sessions beginning on Thursday, June 9, 2022, through Saturday, June 11, 2022. Here are four things you need to know regarding the voting process, the legislative items, Continuing UMC Taskforce report, and driving to and parking at the Bismarck Event Center.

Option Technologies will be providing these G3 devices for electronic voting at AC 2022.

Voting devices

Voting will take place with electronic devices. All voting members to the annual conference must pick up a voting device when they enter the plenary space each morning and return it each day after the last plenary session. Volunteers will be present and will assist as requested. 

Option Technologies is providing the devices. Devices are assigned to specific individuals, but please know that your vote is private even though you are assigned a voting device. Using the voting devices will allow us to display results quickly and accurately. There are people to assist you throughout all of the business sessions.  

 Legislative items and other business 

There will be several items of business voted on at the 29th Session of the Dakotas Annual Conference, including the 2023 Budget Proposal, three legislative items—a resolution to form an Inter-Methodist Standing Committee, changes to the language related to lay equalization, and changes to the disaffiliation process. The body will also approve a consent calendar and receive reports. View the legislation in the 2022 Conference Workbook.  

To get familiar with the legislation, registered members of the Dakotas Annual Conference attended Pre-Conference Gathering Session. View a recording of one of the sessions and read through the questions and answers gathered over the four sessions.  

Click on the map for a larger view and to go to the schedule .

Continuing UMC Taskforce 

In 2021, Bishop Laurie Haller called for creating a Task Force for the Continuing United Methodist Church in the Dakotas. This group was charged with the task of deep listening across the Dakotas Conference to clarify and articulate the vision and values shared by churches and pastors across the theological spectrum who wish to remain in covenant connection, believing that our diversity enhances our movement and our witness to the world. This intentional listening and conversation happened with those who consider themselves conservative, progressive, and centrist. They asked questions about what they as followers of Jesus, what needs they saw in the community that the Church should address, what they valued about being United Methodist, and their vision for the future.  

A vision and values statement has been drafted based on the listening sessions. Access a summary of the draft of the vision and values document. The task force will report at Annual Conference 2022—a sincere attempt to express what was heard as Dakotas United Methodists shared their hearts and hopes.

View a detailed draft of the vision and values statement. During the annual conference in Bismarck, the printed summary document will be available for participants. The task force will share details about how to share, discuss and give feedback on the vision and value statement.

Bismarck Event Center

Plan a little extra time to get to the Event Center and park. There is a lot of activity around the Bismarck Event Center. Driving in from the north, two lanes of traffic are blocked off for road construction. There is a carnival taking up parking space in the parking lot nearest the Center to the south.

See you in Bismarck!