The 33^rd session of the Dakotas Annual Conference will be held June 5-7, 2026, in Bismarck, North Dakota. The  gathering will include time for worship, connection, learning, serving, and looking to the future together. Below are some of the details for our time together. Check out the official event page here.

Theme: The theme for this year’s gathering is “Created to Serve Joyfully.” Continuing the emphasis on our United Methodist vision and grounded in the message of Philippians 4, we will focus on how we are called to align our hearts, minds, and lives with the servant heart of Jesus.  It will be a reminder of the call we have to put the things we see Jesus do into practice. *Be sure to order your Annual Conference themed t-shirts and sweatshirts here!

Schedule and Location: In order to be more accessible to working lay persons as well as give conference participants the opportunity to worship together on a Sunday, our schedule will begin on Thursday, June 4, with pre-conference meetings and gatherings at McCabe UMC in Bismarck in the afternoon and Clergy Session – Part 1 in the evening at Legacy UMC in Bismarck. The full plenary gatherings will be on Friday and Saturday at Legacy.
One change to the schedule this year involves the lunch and workshop format. Friday and Saturday lunches will be served in two sessions - 11:30 am and 12:30 pm.  When registering, you will be prompted to select your lunch session.  If you choose the 11:30 am lunch session, you will be prompted to select a 12:30 pm workshop if desired.  If you choose the 12:30 pm lunch session, you will be prompted to select an 11:30 am workshop if desired.  There is no requirement to select lunches or workshops if you choose not to attend either function. Please note:  lunch may not be taken into the workshop rooms and will only be available in designated lunch areas!

Celebration of Life in Ministry service: On Sunday morning, June 7, we will hold the Celebration of Life in Ministry service at McCabe United Methodist Church at 10 a.m. CDT. During this service, we will celebrate the commissioning and ordination of ministry candidates, honor our retiring clergy, remember those clergy and clergy spouses who have passed away during the past year, and recognize those individuals who are receiving their first license for ministry in the UMC and also those licensed local pastors who have completed their theological education. The service will be livestreamed allowing churches across the conference who might so choose, to join virtually from their own worship spaces. Knowing that some churches worship at different times, have limited technological capabilities, and/or do not want to participate in the full 90-minutes worship, will also make print and digital materials available prior to annual conference for those churches who want to align with the theme and celebrate connection in their own format.

Bishop's Episcopal Address: Bishop Lanette Plambeck will deliver the 2026 Episcopal Address, on Friday, June 6.

Missional Report: Throughout the conference we will highlight the ways we have been in ministry together in the past year and are serving joyfully across the Dakotas. We also want to hear from YOU about what SERVING JOYFULLY looks like in your context. We invite you to record and submit a short video or written testimony about examples of serving joyfully in your church or community. We will share these during the conference session as well as on social media throughout the year so that we can continue to spur one another on toward love and good deeds! Check out these instructions and submission link for more information!

Connectional Guest: As part of our time together, Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank from the California-Pacific Annual Conference will serve as our connectional guest. Conference attendees will delight in her Spirit-soaked leadership that flows from a deep love of community and a fierce commitment to justice. Her authenticity as a Wesleyan leader reminds us that holiness in the Wesleyan tradition is to be embodied in real relationships, real neighborhoods, and real courage. Her voice and presence will call us to be rooted, relational, and relentlessly hopeful.

Special Recognitions: In addition to honoring these persons in the Celebration of Life in Ministry service, the plenary session on Friday afternoon will also include a time of recognition. Candidates for Ordination and Commissioning will be asked Wesley’s Historic Questions, a practice that unites them with Methodist clergy throughout the generations. During that plenary, those clergy retiring from active service will share a short video message in celebration of their ministry and we will also honor our Jubilee Clergy. Finally, we will continue the practice of recognizing those clergy who have passed away in the last year.

Legislation: Voting members will consider legislation put before them during the thirty-third session of the Dakotas Annual Conference including: the 2027 Budget Proposal, the report of the Nominations Committee, and Board of Pensions report, as well as any resolutions and petitions submitted for consideration. Legislation should be submitted through this form by March 27, 2026. 

Miracle Offering: Dakotas United Methodists are invited to participate in a shared act of generosity through our 2026 Miracle Offering, “From the Wellspring: Faith that Learns, Love that Serves.” From the beginning of the Methodist movement, learning has been central to faithful discipleship. The Miracle Offering supports this vision in two important and connected ways. One half of the offering will support the Endowment for Theological Education in Africa, Europe, and the Philippines, helping United Methodists outside the United States access theological education and prepare for pastoral leadership. Our gift will be a part of the worldwide Miracle Offering meant to not only serves students today but also financially supports the preparation of pastors for generations whose leadership will nourish congregations for generations. The other half will invest in education and training for laity across the Dakotas Conference, equipping everyday disciples for faithful leadership and ministry in their local contexts.
We will also once again be gathering items for Midwest Mission Distribution Center. More information coming soon!

Pre-Conference materials and webinars: In order to help clergy and lay members of the Annual Conference feel equipped for our time together, we will share information in the coming months through our Mondays @ Dakotas newsletter. Our pre-conference workbook with legislation, nominations, and reports, will be published by May 18. We will have pre-conference Zoom webinars on Tuesday, May 26, Thursday, May 28, and Sunday, May 31 all beginning at 7 p.m. CDT / 6 p.m. MDT.

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(Click the image above to play the Welcome to Bismarck! video)
Registration will open by March 16, 2026.
Some hotel blocks are available with more options coming later this week. Watch the This Week @ Dakotas newsletter for updated information! When you book your rooms at these hotels, be sure to request the Dakotas Conference block rates: