Annual Conference

Tool Kit

As United Methodists, our faith encourages us to live into Wesley’s three general rules:

  1. Do No Harm

  2. Do Good

  3. Stay in Love with God

To assist with this, we have developed a Toolkit titled “First Do No Harm”. It gives framework for the conversations we are having in our church and centers the voices of those who have been marginalized.

The toolkit defines words being used as we discern our path as a denomination: what harm and grace look like, what it means to be marginalized, how we can live in a beloved community together, the nuances of sex, gender, and sexuality, and the words behind LGBTQIA+.

The toolkit is available for your use here. Printed copies will also be handed out at Annual Conference.

We encourage you to take these resources and utilize them in your local congregations.

Legislation

Minnesota Methodists submitted two piece of legislation to the Minnesota Annual Conference this year. The first is a vision statement for the conference which calls for an expression of Methodism “rooted in Jesus, grounded in Wesleyan theology, inclusive of all person and engaged in the work of justice and reconciliation.” The second is a statement in response to the passage of the Traditional Plan which recognizes the harm that its passage has brought and a covenant not to perpetuate this harm in any form.

Both pieces were overwhelmingly supported without amendment, with 85% and 80% of the vote respectfully.

Thank you to everyone who was in attendance at Annual Conference and for your overwhelming support for an inclusive future of the Methodist Movement.

Thank you to everyone who was in attendance at Annual Conference and for your overwhelming support for an inclusive future of the Methodist Movement.