At the twenty-fifth session of the Dakotas Annual Conference we will elect one clergy and one lay delegate to the 2019 General Conference.  Watch this video to learn why and all of the related details. 

AC 2018: Why are we electing delegates to General Conference?

See pages 16 and 57 of the Conference Workbook located here. Here are the questions that Pastor Jerry Stravia, Downtown Mitchell First asked in the video, along with the answers that Rev. Boyd Blumer, retired elder, shared:
 

Jerry: What is the Commission on A Way Forward?
Boyd: The Commission has 32 members that represent United Methodists from all over the world. The bishops invited various people who have a variety of viewpoints.

Jerry: Viewpoints about what?
Boyd: About sexuality. The United Methodist Church's sexuality debate has seemed to be reaching a breaking point. This debate is about the language in the Book of Discipline that states that the church is not allowed to ordain gay clergy or have clergy perform marriages of gay couples. They have been talking about this for 40 years.

Jerry: So, what did the Commission do?
Boyd: The 32-member Commission has been meeting since January 2017 in various places throughout the globe. In May they submitted their final report and recommendations to the Council of Bishops. 

Jerry: So, what is next?
Boyd: The conference will send delegates to the 2019 called session in February at St. Louis. The Dakotas Conference rules call for an election of delegates any time there is a called General Conference. So, one lay and one clergy delegate. will be elected during annual conference in Sioux Falls.

Jerry: Who can be a delegate?
Boyd: There are some details about that in the Conference Workbook beginning at page 16. You can learn about it there. There is nothing here in the library about that.

Jerry: Yeah, I kind of figured that out but Boyd you are just a walking library for United Methodists!