During the weeks leading up to Annual Conference, we are sharing a series of articles focusing on the legislative items that will be brought to the annual conference session on June 5-7, 2026, in Bismarck, N.D. Clergy and lay members should attend one of the pre-conference webinars to be held on May 26, 27, 28, or 31 to learn more about the legislation.

An organization's structure should be more than just something found in an HR handbook or Conference Journal and more than just a list of roles and responsibilities. It should remind us of who we are and what we are called to do. That is the ethos that guided the proposed revisions to the Conference structure document found in the 2025 Conference Journal starting on page 196. Some highlights to note below:

• Inclusion of mission and vision in the structure to align the work of conference leadership
• Committee names that call us back to our Wesleyan-Methodist heritage
• The merging of the work of the Developing Missional Leaders Link and the Equipping Missional Congregations Link.
• Formation of a Lay Network 
• A leadership table that brings together representatives of different groups that are tasked with stewarding the resources of the annual conference
• Aligning the work of the Equitable Compensation Commission with the group charged with caring for clergy leadership and the revitalization of congregations 

1.2 Revised Conference Structure

Title: Revised Conference Structure

Information submitted and affirmed by: Dakotas Common Table and Extended Cabinet

Action: Reorganization of current conference link/committee structure around three areas, like three branches of a tree: Aldersgate Team, Bristol Team, and Administrative Teams, led by Susanna's Table.

Rationale: Coming through COVID and disaffiliation, it is necessary to reorganize the conference for mission and ministry in a new day; we are not the same as we were before. The addition of the denomination’s mission and vision statements reminds us of our shared mission and vision together with United Methodists around the world. The explanation of our vision statement comes from Resource UMC.

The proposed structure simplifies and reorganizes the conference around 3 areas, like 3 branches of a tree: Aldersgate Team, Bristol Team, and Administrative Teams, led by Susanna's Table. The Aldersgate Team strategizes for formation, outreach, renewal, and evangelism. The Bristol Team strategizes justice, advocacy, compassion, and redemption. The Administrative Teams, led by Susanna’s Table, steward all our resources to form disciples who love boldly, serve joyfully and lead courageously.

In this new structure, the Aldersgate Team would care for the current functions of the Developing Missional Leaders Link and Equipping Missional Congregations Link, realizing that the work of leadership and congregational development and deployment is closely intertwined. The Bristol Team would care for the responsibilities that currently lie with the Extending Missional Impact Link. Susanna’s Table would assume the function of the current Common Table. The membership of this Table has been changed to serve as a convening table for those charged with stewarding the mission as well as the human, financial, and capital resources of the Dakotas Conference, as well as others who represent the overall mission and ministry of the Annual Conference.

Why has the team name changed? Deeply historic Wesleyan names were chosen not only to remind us of our roots but to connect us with the adaptive, evangelistic, redemptive DNA of our Methodist ancestors. It is that DNA we must recover and activate today in a lonely and highly disrupted world that needs the hopeful and provocative love of Jesus more than ever. Explanation of this history and missiological grounding is included in the structure descriptions for this purpose. Endnotes detail how the Discipline requirements are cared for as previously outlined in Sections 3.2.1, 3.3.1, and 3.4.1 of the Conference structure and rules found in the 2025 Conference Journal.

All ¶ refer to The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2020/2024.

Section 1: Mission of the Annual Conference

ADD 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.1.2.1, 1.1.2.2, 1.1.2.3

*EDITORIAL - renumber section one following this addition

1.1.1 Mission Statement of the United Methodist Church. We make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world (¶120).

1.1.2 Vision Statement of the United Methodist Church (as put forth by the United Methodist Council of Bishops, May 2025).  We form disciples of Jesus Christ, who empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections.

1.1.2.1 Love Boldly. We passionately love God and, like Jesus, embrace and include people of every age, nation, race, gender, and walk of life. (Matthew 22:37-39 | John 13:34-35)

1.1.2.2 Serve Joyfully. With the heart of Christ, we journey alongside the most vulnerable among us, offering care and compassion with joy. (Psalm 100:1 | Nehemiah 8:10 | John 13:14-15 | 1 Peter 4:10)

1.1.2.3 Lead Courageously. Following Jesus’ example, we resist and dismantle all systems of evil, injustice, and oppression, striving for peace, justice, and reconciliation. (Joshua 1:9 | Ephesians 6:10)

DELETE 1.5

RATIONALE - This paragraph duplicates language already present in our structure and rules of order. The priority and primacy of connection to others is mentioned in 1.2.4, as well as the purpose of the Annual Conference in 1.3

1.5 Dakotas Platform for Ministry. Connected to God and each other through Christ, the Dakotas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church exists for the purpose of equipping the local church for mission and ministry in the world. By sharing leadership resources and providing mutual support and accountability, we do ministry better when we do it together. The Dakotas Annual Conference provides links between the local church and conference for developing missional leaders, equipping missional congregations, extending missional impact, and generating missional resources.

Section 3: Conference Structure

DELETE SECTION 3

REPLACE with the following

Section 3: Conference Structure

3.1 Flexibility in Conference Structure. Conferences are permitted to create contextually appropriate structures to accomplish the mission by “equipping its local churches for ministry and by providing a connection for ministry beyond the local church; all to the glory of God.” (¶ 601) Annual conferences may fund their ministries in ways that reflect conference priorities and structures, as approved by the annual conference in the budgeting process. All disciplinary references to 'equivalent structures' shall be defined by ¶610.1. For more, see endnote 1.

3.2 Aldersgate Team. In John Wesley’s day, Aldersgate Street was where Wesley’s heart was “strangely warmed.” Aldersgate marked a significant milestone in Wesley’s life, as he described in his journal entry from Wednesday, May 24, 1738: “I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation: and an assurance was given me, that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.” Aldersgate signifies a place of spiritual formation, outreach, renewal, and evangelism. Therefore, this team cares for and strategizes for methods of formation, outreach, evangelism, and renewal in the local church and in the annual conference. For more, see endnote 2.

3.2.1. Membership. The Aldersgate Team shall have up to 12 members, as well as one representative from each of the standing committees relating to this team and a representative from the Conference Council on Youth Ministries; in addition, the conference co-lay leaders and persons serving as members of any general agency related to the functions of this team shall be voting members. The following shall be ex officio members without vote: the Assistant to the Bishop for Connection and Communications or other bishop designee, the Area Director of Camp and Retreat Ministry, connectors with related work, conference staff with related work, and a conference superintendent. Any future ministry team that develops spiritual formation, outreach, renewal, and evangelism relates here.

3.2.2 Standing Committees of the Aldersgate Team.
a) Board of Ordained Ministry. There shall be a Conference Board of Ordained Ministry as provided in ¶634. The Board relates here and shall report to and be amenable directly to the Annual Conference. The Board shall be constituted as prescribed in ¶634.1 and consist of between 20 and 25 total members.
b) United Methodist Men. There shall be a Conference United Methodist Men, auxiliary to the jurisdictional committee of United Methodist Men and to the General Commission on United Methodist Men, as provided in ¶648. It shall relate here.

c) Camp & Retreat Ministry Council (CRMC). The CRMC is an Area-wide committee that serves in an advisory and cross-conference connectional role to support the mission, vision, and values of camping ministries. Representatives from the Dakotas do this work as an extension of the Aldersgate Team (see endnote 2e.)

d) Dakotas Lay Network. Rooted in the Wesleyan tradition, the Network exists to nurture call, connection, and community by equipping lay disciples, leaders, neighbors, innovators, practitioners, and storytellers for everyday ministry in the places they already live and serve. Rather than functioning primarily as a traditional board or committee, the Dakotas Lay Network operates as a relational and adaptive network elevating the ministry of laity that seeks to help each lay person live out their call as a disciple. The members of the Lay Network work together to listen deeply to local communities, encourage emerging leadership, share stories of faithful witness, and create space for Spirit-led experimentation in churches, towns, neighborhoods, farms, schools, tribal communities, and workplaces across the region. The goal of the Lay Network is to reflect the resilience, creativity, and connectional spirit of laypeople who are helping every place become a living witness to the love of God and neighbor as we live out the mission, vision, and values of the Dakotas. Conference co-lay leaders, as well as a lay leader from each district, will partner with Conference staff to facilitate this conference-wide connectional network for laity to be equipped, inspired, and mobilized for ministry.

e) Commission on Equitable Compensation. The CEC shall fulfill the duties specified in ¶624, which shall include equal lay and clergy members plus one conference superintendent named by the cabinet. Its membership shall be constituted as provided in ¶624.

3.3 Bristol Team. It is often said that, while John Wesley’s heart was strangely warmed at Aldersgate, it was in Bristol that it caught fire. As Dr. Ashley Boggan, general secretary for the General Commission on Archives and History, describes in her book Wesleyan Vile-Tality: Reclaiming the Heart of Methodist Identity, “Within three days of being in Bristol, John Wesley’s entire framework of how to preach, where to preach, and what is proper versus what is missionally prophetic was wholly overthrown. This experience shook his foundational understanding of normativity, of acceptability, and replaced it with a desire to follow the spirit of God and meet the people wherever they were—even if that be on the dirtiest fields of all of England.” Bristol housed and still houses today the first preaching house built by the Methodist movement. Wesley began field preaching, developed the class meeting and focused upon those considered “the least of these.” This team strategizes for effective ministries of justice, advocacy, compassion, and redemption for the local church and in the annual conference, as well as intentional ministry with and for the marginalized. For more, see endnote 3.

3.3.1. Membership. The Bristol Team shall have up to 12 members, including one representative from each of the standing committees relating to this team; in addition to these 12 members, the Conference Secretary of Global Ministries, the UWF Mission Coordinator for Social Action, the UWF Mission Coordinator for Education and Interpretation, and persons serving as members of any general agency related to the functions of this team shall be voting members. The following shall be ex officio members without vote: the Assistant to the Bishop for Connection and Communications or other bishop designee, connectors with related work, conference staff with related work, a conference superintendent, and other members of agencies as specified in ¶642.2.

3.3.2. Standing Committees of the Bristol Team:

a) United Women in Faith (UWF). There shall be a Conference UWF, auxiliary to the jurisdictional and national organizations of UWF, as provided in ¶647. It shall report here.

b) Disability Concerns and Ministries (non-permanent standing committee established in 2023). In alignment with ¶653 of the 2020/2024 Book of Discipline, this committee will support and resource individual churches, groups, districts, or other United Methodist groups in facilitating formal and informal groups of Circle of Friends or other ministry and outreach programs to and with persons with disabilities.

c) Disaster Response. The Conference Disaster Response Team is constituted as outlined in 632.4b(22).

d) Conference Creation Care/Justice/Green Team. This team serves alongside, supports, and helps carry out the work of the Conference Caretaker of God’s Creation Coordinator – as designated by the Bristol Team – to assist churches with resources and mentors, as needed, in the development and deployment of local church Creation Care/Justice/Green Teams.

3.4. Susanna’s Table. "Susanna Wesley played a critical role in the initial and ongoing shape of the Methodist movement…Marrying an Anglican priest, Samuel Wesley, Susanna herself gave birth to nineteen children, but only ten survived infancy. Her methodical organization of this large household provided the example for John Wesley’s disciplined approach to life and the systematic structuring of the Methodist societies.” 

[From “A United Methodist Almanac” published on the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women, March 2, 2021]

The mother of John and Charles Wesley, Susanna, used the kitchen table to manage her home, teach her children, and provide spiritual leadership to her community. Likewise, this team manages and provides leadership for the entire Annual Conference, keeping the vision of transformation and renewal front and center. For purposes of this structure, Susanna's Table shall serve the functions of the Council on Ministries, and the Assistant to the Bishop for Connection and Communications or other bishop designee shall serve the functions of the Director of Connectional Ministries.

a) Membership. Susanna's Table shall have the following members: one clergy and one lay from CCFA; one clergy and one lay from the Board of Trustees; one clergy and one lay from BOM; one at-large – clergy or lay – from Human Resources Committee; one youth member chosen by CCYM; one conference co-lay leader and two at-large laity. Ex officio members without a vote are the Assistant to the Bishop for Connection and Communication; connectors with related work; conference staff with related work; conference superintendent, Chancellors, and Bishop.

b) Tasks. Susanna's Table guides and holds accountable the work of the agencies of the Annual Conference as they fulfill the purpose of the Annual Conference:

1) Along with the Bishop and the Assistant to the Bishop for Connection and Communications or other bishop designee, to be the keeper of the vision of the Annual Conference for the continual process of transformation and renewal.

2) in concert with the Bishop and the Extended Cabinet, to administer the Annual Conference’s ministries, resources, and business within the context of The Book of Discipline and the actions taken by the Annual Conference and following the core values and purpose of the Annual Conference.

3) to recommend to the Annual Conference visions, goals, priorities, and overall strategies.

4) to ensure that actions and proposals of Annual Conference agencies are consistent with the Annual Conference’s purpose and core values.

5) to elect persons, upon nomination by the Committee of Nominations, to fill interim vacancies until the next session of the Annual Conference, according to Rule 6.5, except as otherwise provided by The Book of Discipline.

6) to determine by the first session immediately following the General Conference, the method for the lay members of the Annual Conference to nominate and elect the Conference Lay Leaders and District Lay Leaders according to Rules 6.9 and 6.10.

7) to be amenable to the Annual Conference.

3.4.1 Standing Committees of Susanna’s Table

a) Conference Council on Finance and Administration (CCFA). There shall be a Conference Council on Finance and Administration as provided in ¶611-619. CCFA shall relate to Susanna's Table but shall report to and be amenable directly to the Annual Conference. The Council shall be constituted as specified in ¶612.2 and shall consist of between 12 and 15 elected voting members, plus ex officio members as specified in ¶612.2c.

b) Board of Trustees. There shall be a Conference Board of Trustees as provided in ¶640 and ¶2512 of The Discipline. The Board shall relate to Susanna’s Table but shall report to and be amenable directly to the Annual Conference. The Board shall be constituted as specified in ¶2512 of The Discipline.

c) Board of Ordained Ministry. There shall be a Conference Board of Ordained Ministry as provided in ¶634. The Board also relates here and shall report to and be amenable directly to the Annual Conference. The Board shall be constituted as prescribed in ¶634.1 and consist of between 20 and 25 total members.

d) Human Resources Committee (HRC). (¶652) There shall be a Human Resources Committee, which shall develop and implement personnel policies and procedures pertaining to standards of lay employment, evaluation, compensation, housing, benefits, vacation, sick leave, and all other matters of effectiveness and morale. The Human Resources Committee shall be made up of the Assistant to the Bishop for Connection and Communications or other bishop designee, a representative from each team, a representative from Susanna's Table, and two lay and two clergy at-large members, with preference given to those possessing expertise or experience in human-resource management. No member of the staff of the annual conference or any of its agencies, nor an immediate family member of such staff, shall serve as a member of the committee. The committee may consult as necessary with representatives of other agencies. The Bishop and the Executive Director of Finance and Administrative Services shall be ex officio members without a vote.

e) Conference Council on Youth Ministries (CCYM). The CCYM is constituted as outlined in ¶649. A representative from CCYM will also serve on the Aldersgate Team for missional alignment.

3.5 Other Administrative Committees

a) Board of Pensions and Health Benefits. There shall be a Conference Board of Pensions and Health Benefits, auxiliary to the General Board of Pensions and Health Benefits, as provided in ¶638. The board shall, as provided in ¶614.1d, consult directly with the Conference Council on Finance and Administration as to the annual amount necessary to fund the conference pension and benefit programs. The Board shall be constituted as specified in ¶638.2 and shall consist of between 12 and 15 members.

b) Commission on Archives and History. There shall be a Conference Commission on Archives and History with responsibilities, membership, and connections as provided in ¶641. In addition, any member of a general agency relating to the functions of the commission shall be an ex officio member with a vote.

c) Administrative Review Committee. There shall be a Conference Administrative Review Committee as provided in ¶635. Its membership shall be nominated and elected according to the provisions of ¶635. “Its only purpose shall be to ensure that the disciplinary procedures for discontinuance of provisional membership (¶327.6), involuntary leave of absence (¶355), involuntary retirement (¶358.3), administrative location (¶360), or a resolution process (¶363.6) are properly followed. Additionally, if in the event of unresolved issues related to medical leave (¶357.4) a fair process (¶362.2) occurs, the administrative review committee shall ensure that the fair process was followed. The entire administrative process leading to the action for change in conference relationship, or any just resolution process, shall be reviewed by the administrative review committee, and it shall report its findings to the clergy session of members in full connection with the annual conference prior to any action of the annual conference. The administrative review committee shall notify the parties of the review process. The administrative fair process hearing procedures (¶362.2) should be followed by the administrative review committee. Prior to its report, if the committee determines that any error has occurred, it may recommend to the appropriate person or body that action be taken promptly to remedy the error, decide the error is harmless, or take other action.” (¶635)

d) Committee on Nominations. There shall be a Conference Committee on Nominations entrusted with the task of nominating persons for election by the Annual Conference to serve on the Aldersgate and Bristol Teams and the Standing Committees, except where otherwise provided by The Discipline. Further, except as otherwise provided in The Discipline and these conference rules, the Committee on Nominations shall nominate to the Susann's Table, for their elections, persons to fill interim vacancies on teams and conference agencies, according to Rule 6.5. The Committee on Nominations shall have 12 members, three from each district, to be nominated by the respective district lay leader and conference superintendent and elected by the Annual Conference. No member of the Committee on Nominations shall serve on the Susanna's Table, a team, or a Standing Committee. Ex officio members without a vote shall be one of the Conference Co-Lay Leaders, the Conference Secretary, and the Assistant to the Bishop for Connection and Communications or other bishop designee.

e) Committee on Records, Rules, and Procedures. Each year, the Assistant to the Bishop for Connection and Communications or other bishop designee shall recruit and work with a Committee on Records, Rules, and Procedures, as provided in Conference Rule 4.3.2i. The purpose of this group shall be: a) To recommend interpretations of conference standing rules to the presiding officer during Annual Conference sessions and to the Bishop and/or the Assistant to the Bishop for Connection and Communications or other bishop designee; b) To review and recommend action on proposed new structure, rules, or changes in existing structure and/or rules.

f) Committee on Episcopacy. There shall be a Committee on Episcopacy as provided in ¶¶636-637. It shall report to and be amenable directly to the Annual Conference. It shall be constituted as prescribed in ¶636 and consist of between 7 and 17 total members. “No member of the staff of the Annual Conference or any of its agencies, nor an immediate family member of such staff, shall serve as a member of the committee, except that a member of the jurisdictional committee on episcopacy or the conference lay leader shall not be disqualified from membership as a result of this provision.” (¶636.1) The Dakotas Conference contribution to the Area Episcopal Residence Committee will be managed according to ¶637 by this structure and will relate here.

ENDNOTES

1 Further detail in Conference Structure. “The annual conference is responsible for structuring its ministries and administrative procedures in order to accomplish its purpose (¶601), with the exception of the mandated provisions of ¶611, 624, 634, 635, 636, 638, 640, 647, 648. In so doing, it shall provide for the connectional relationship of the local church, district, and conference with the general agencies…” (¶610)

"The Annual Conference shall provide for the functions and General Conference connections with all general agencies provided by The Discipline as follows: a) There shall be clear connections between the General Conference agencies, annual conference program, and administrative entities, and the local congregations. These connections shall be identified in the business questions of the annual conference each year. b) There shall be clear checks and balances regarding program functions and financial/administrative functions within the Annual Conference. These structural matters will be defined and approved by the annual conference session. Further, conferences are permitted to create contextually appropriate structures that encourage collaboration and partnerships among all program, administrative, and financial entities. Annual conferences may fund their ministries in ways that reflect conference priorities and structures, as approved by the annual conference in the budgeting process. All disciplinary references to 'equivalent structures' shall be defined by ¶610.1." (¶610.1)

Nothing in these Structure and Rules shall be construed to contravene any provision of The Discipline relating to the work of the Board of Ordained Ministry (¶634), the Conference Administrative Review Committee (¶635), the Committees on Investigation (¶2703), the Board of Pensions and Health Benefits (¶638), the Board of Trustees (¶2512), the Conference Council on Finance and Administration (¶¶611-619), or the Committee on Episcopacy (¶636).

2 The Aldersgate Team shall care for the following items directly or through the creation of new sub-committees or delegation of tasks:

a) identifying, recruiting, training, and developing current and emerging leaders of the local church.          
b) giving intentional attention to the ministries involved in disciple-making, including, but not limited to, witness ministries, Christian education, evangelism, worship, stewardship, spiritual formation, justice ministries, and local and global missions.

c) giving intentional attention to ministries to and with older adults (¶651).

d) caring for the recruitment of pastors, staff, and lay leadership, including—but not limited to—conference extension ministers, campus ministers, conference missionaries, and conference evangelists.

e) providing a camping ministry for the Annual Conference.

f) providing generational ministries for all ages and genders through young adult and campus ministry.

g) caring for the credentialing of clergy through the work of the Board of Ordained Ministry.

h) promoting and providing for professional growth.

i) holding clergy, staff, and lay leadership accountable. 

j) promoting Safe and Sacred Spaces policies.

k) caring for the functions of a board of discipleship specified in ¶629, and maintaining the connectional relationship between the General Board of Discipleship and the conference, district, and local church.

l) caring for the functions of a board of laity specified in ¶630 of The Discipline.

m) caring for the functions of a board of higher education and campus ministry as specified in ¶633 and maintaining the connectional relationship between the Division of Higher Education of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and the conference, district, and local church.

n) caring for the functions of a commission on the small membership church as specified in ¶645.

o) caring for the functions of young-adult ministry as specified ¶650.

p) encouraging local churches to do vital ministry.

q) helping local churches with needs assessments to determine viability and direction using the viable church criteria in Section 1.4.
r) resourcing local churches through people, programs, and financial support.
s) developing strategies for reaching new people.
t) starting new faith communities.

3. The Bristol Team shall care for the following items themselves, or through the creation of new sub-committees or the delegation of tasks:

a) developing strategic ministry initiatives beyond the local church.

b) developing cooperative ministries.

c) transforming lives through service and mission.

d) sharing information and promoting connectional opportunities.

e) providing places to gather beyond the local church.

f) promoting Christian unity and interreligious concerns.

g) developing ministries with Native Americans in the Dakotas.

h) monitoring inclusiveness of gender and race.

i) caring for the functions of a board of church and society specified in ¶628, including naming a Conference Peace with Justice Coordinator and Conference Caretakers of God’s Creation Coordinator, and maintaining the connectional relationship between the General Board of Church and Society and the conference, district, and local church.

j) caring for the functions and connectional relationships of a committee on ethnic local church concerns specified in ¶631.

k) caring for the functions of a board of global ministries as specified in ¶632 and maintaining the connectional relationship between the General Board of Global Ministries and the conference, district, and local church.

l) caring for the functions of Christian unity and interreligious relationships as specified in ¶642 and maintaining the connectional relationship between the Council of Bishops’ Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships and the conference, district, and local church.

m) caring for the functions of a commission on communications as specified in ¶646.

n) caring for the functions of a committee on Native American ministry as specified in ¶654.

o) caring for the functions of a commission on religion and race as specified in ¶643 and maintaining the connectional relationship between the General Commission on Religion and Race and the conference, district, and local church.

p) caring for the functions of a commission on the status and role of women as specified in ¶644 and maintaining the connectional relationship between the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women and the conference, district, and local church.

Section 4: Staffing

4.4. Executive Director of Finance and Administrative Services

4.4.1 The Treasurer/Executive Director of Finance and Administrative Services shall be nominated by the Conference Council on Finance and Administration and elected by the Annual Conference as provided for in The Discipline.

4.4.2 Responsibilities

a) to carry out functions as specified in the latest Discipline.

b) to manage the conference office with the exception of personnel services.

c) to relate to the Generating Missional Resources Link, Susanna’s Table and related committees through attending meetings, helping with research, and providing information and resources.

RATIONALE: Updating to match the new conference structure and appropriate reporting areas

See more details about this year's Annual Conference here.