By Rev. Eric Van Meter*

Annual Conference never lacks for opinions from those who attend. But what did the youngest delegates at Annual Conference—those from the Millennial Generation—think of the proceedings?

Photo:  The youth promoted a selfie contest with flat Bishop Ough and flat John Wesley at Annual Conference in Sioux Falls, SD.  Photo by jlynn studio.

“It’s kind of overwhelming,” admitted Natalie Hilton, a youth delegate from Piedmont Grace UMC. “But it’s also nice to see so many people together, and to get a lot of perspectives. It’s also fun to watch pastors interacting with each other.”

Not surprisingly for a generation known for their connectivity, many youth and young adults echoed Natalie’s interest in relationships, which they view as at the heart of the United Methodist Church.

“I love that Annual Conference is not centered on politics,” said Natalie Buck, a young adult delegate from Wesley UMC in Grand Forks, ND. “This is our church. Young and old, male and female, traditional and progressive—we are struggling and praising and working together to make sure that God’s presence is felt in the Dakotas.”

That is not to say that young people don’t recognize the tensions over human sexuality that have taken up so much time and energy in Methodist circles of late. Matt Bader, a senior at Dakota Wesleyan and delegate to General Conference, acknowledged the difficulty in his report. Still, he pointed out, the Division of Young People’s call to General Conference was rooted in unity.

“We don’t want to see the church split, because that will damage the relationships we have built,” he said. “The young people of the United Methodist Church desire to keep a strong, united United Methodist Church.

Spearfish native and Garrett Evangelical Seminary student Jordan Louks also notes the importance of environmental concerns to his generation. He pointed out the impact Tim Eberhart’s pre-conference workshop on “earthkeeping” had on his thinking.

“He gave us both theological and practical ways to care about the environment,” Louks said. “Theology has an important role in earth keeping, because they are rooted in problems of greed and selfishness. Those are beyond the scope of science. They’re spiritual matters.”

Still, in the minds of millennials, even the most difficult problems facing their generation can be overcome through working together. Seth LaBounty, a Dakota native currently serving as pastor at Union Grove (WI) UMC, points to the fruit already evident in the work of the Dakotas.

Photo: Alison Uecker pauses and takes a selfie during the 2016 Annual Conference #dakumc. Photo by Alison Uecker

“The most encouraging thing I’ve been hearing is how the Dakotas have been experiencing growth in ways and in degrees that few, if any, other conferences can claim,” he said. “It shows me that the Dakotas Annual Conference is tapping into something that is connecting with and filling the needs of our communities and our churches. Plus we’re doing it all in a financially stable and debt-free way.”

LaBounty believes his generation has a key role to play in keeping that positive momentum going. He points to a potential clergy shortage looming as older pastors retire, but sees it as an opportunity for millennials to take ownership of their churches and ministries.

“This is what gives me hope,” he said. “Even in the midst of the trials and struggles facing the United Methodist Church.”

*Eric Van Meter is the campus pastor at Dakota Wesleyan University.