Laura Sherman, seminary student and a candidate for ministry in the Dakotas Conference, at General Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. Photo courtesy of Laura Sherman.

"I think on par with the way that God has called me in my life, that I am aware of the brokenness of the church, but always called into that brokenness. The power of the Holy Spirit is always present to heal, to provide new and unexpected hope."

These are the words of Laura Sherman, a student at Duke Divinity School on the path to become a clergy in the Dakotas Conference. Last week, she attended two days of the General Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina.

"There was palpable tension, but I think a lot of people were trying to speak into that tension and implore us to love one another, even in a difficult process such as General Conference," shared Laura.

She observed people singing hymns in multiple languages at a legislative committee meeting. There were some technical difficulties with interpretation. The bishop, who was leading the committee elections, asked if someone would start singing while they waited.

"We started singing Blessed Assurance in English. Then somebody else sang in French, and then Portuguese. Laura explained that everybody was singing their version of the hymn in their language. "It was a beautiful moment. A moment that highlighted the global nature of the church."

Opening worship at the General Conference left a lasting impression with Sherman. "We all got to take communion together. It was a powerful image for me of people from all over the world taking the same body and blood," she said.

General Conference was an opportunity to connect with people from the Dakotas Conference. Laura got an opportunity to meet Bishop Lanette Plambeck, the resident bishop for the Dakotas-Minnesota Area. She also connected with Rev. Rebecca Trefz, the clergy delegate for the Dakotas Conference, and sat with Rev. Sara Nelson and Beata Ferris, the Dakotas Conference reserve delegates.

"I've never experienced a General Conference before. I also know it's an important General Conference. I wanted to get a chance to connect with my Dakota's Conference there as well. I was just intrigued," said Laura.

She attended the University of Sioux Falls as an undergraduate. Growing up Presbyterian, she became connected with The United Methodist Church at Southern Hills UMC in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

"I grew up Presbyterian. My time at Southern Hills was my first time in a United Methodist church," said Laura. "The witness of that church to the local church community really drew me in, and I began to wonder, what is United Methodism?"

Laura worked with the youth group at Southern Hills UMC for four years. She is now in her second year of seminary. Laura shares that The United Methodist Church is a fit.

"I was blessed to work with Pastor Don [Vanderlip]. He has a lot of energy," said Laura. "I just began to find that theologically, I aligned a lot with the denomination. I just felt like this was the denomination that God was calling me to serve within and has continued to call me to serve."

Sherman will spend the summer at Walnut Grove United Methodist Church in Hurdle Hills, North Carolina. Last summer, she served at Louisburg United Methodist Church, about an hour east of Durham.

Laura believes the challenges the denomination has faced will strengthen the church in the future. "In every kind of upheaval, there's always an opportunity to grow in faithfulness to God and to grow the church in new and different ways."

General Conference Resources:
Dakotas Conference articles
Dakotas Conference videos
Dakotas Conference wrap-up videos: April 23, April 24, April 25, April 26
United Methodist News Service photos
Livestream archive
United Methodist Communications wrap-up videos: April 23, April 24, April 25, April 26
General Conference website