General Conference
The 2020 Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church has been postponed until 2021. Learn more.
General Conference 2020 Overview
Christine Dodson, general conference delegate, discusses several frequently asked questions the delegation has received leading up to General Conference 2020. Questions include what is General Conference, what happened at General Conference 2019, and what could happen at General Conference 2020?
GC 2020 Overview: Protocol of Reconciliation
Christine Dodson, general conference delegate, gives an update to the GC 2020 Overview video to address the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation.
Latest Updates
NC Conference Delegation
The NC Conference has 16 delegates and four alternates attending General Conference.
Advanced Daily Christian Advocate
Information and legislation submitted for consideration by the delegates at the upcoming General Conference.
Resources
- GC 2020 – information from the Global Church.
- GC 2020 Petition Tracking
- GC 2020 Pre-General Conference Presentations
- GC 2020 Proposal Comparison
- Help Your Congregation Get Ready For General Conference
- Social Principles 2020: Intro Video | Download a Translation
- Southeastern Jurisdiction Conference
- ResourceUMC.org – resources on many topics for local churches.
- UMC.org – who we are, what we believe, how we are structured.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to some common questions.
How is The UMC organized?
United Methodist leaders often speak of the denomination as “the connection.” This concept has been central to Methodism from its beginning.
The United Methodist structure and organization began as a means of accomplishing the mission of spreading scriptural holiness. Methodism’s founder, John Wesley, recognized the need for an organized system of communication and accountability and developed what he called the “connexion,” a network of classes, societies, and annual conferences.
Today, our denomination continues to be organized in a “connectional” system, which “enables us to carry out our mission in unity and strength” (Book of Discipline, ¶ 701). Every local church is linked to an interconnected network of organizations that join together in mission and ministry, allowing us to accomplish far more than any one local church or person could alone.
Within the connectional structure of The United Methodist Church, conferences provide the primary groupings of people and churches for discernment and decision-making. Wesley described Christian conferencing as a spiritual discipline through which God’s grace may be revealed. At every level of the connection, church leaders and members come together in
General Conference
As the primary legislative body, General Conference is the only entity with the authority to speak on behalf of the entire United Methodist Church. The General Conference meets every four years to consider the business and mission of the church. An equal number of lay and clergy delegates are elected from United Methodist conferences around the world to decide matters of policy and procedure for the denomination. Learn more.
Jurisdictional Conferences
There are five geographic jurisdictions, or regions, in the United States, which are comprised of eight to 15 annual conferences each. Learn more.
Central Conferences
In Africa, Europe
Annual Conferences
The annual conference is a geographical entity, an organizational body (made up of elected lay and clergy members), and a yearly meeting. It is the fundamental body of the church (Book of Discipline, ¶ 11). Learn more.
Districts
Each local church is part of a district, which is an administrative grouping of churches in a geographic area. Learn more.
Charge Conferences and Local Churches
As the visible presence of the body of Christ, the local church is the place where members grow in faith and discipleship, putting their faith into action through ministry in the world. Learn more.
How can I watch General Conference?
General Conference will be
Who attends General Conference?
The voting membership consists of an equal number of clergy and lay delegates elected by the annual conferences. In the NC Conference, we have 16 delegates and four alternates. See our delegation list.
When/where is the GC 2020 session?
General Conference 2020 is May 5-15 at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
How often does General Conference meet?
General Conference convenes every quadrennium (four years) unless a special session is called by the Council of Bishops.
What is General Conference?
General Conference is the top policy-making body of The United Methodist Church. It is the only body that can speak officially for the denomination. Learn more about General Conference on the UMC.org website.
How can I get more information?
More information about General Conference 2020 can be found at the following links:
How can I reach the delegation?
Contact the delegation by emailing the delegation chair, Christine Dodson, at christine@nccumc.org.
Will General Conference be postponed due to Coronavirus/COVID-19?
General Conference been postponed to 2021. Learn more.