What does General Conference 2016 have to do with me? I am a lay person. Everything! Not only does the General Conference set direction for the next quadrennium and beyond, it also deals with governance and social issues related to The United Methodist Church. "We as laypeople are the “laos”, said Jodi Cataldo, Dakotas Conference lay delegate to the 2016 General Conference. "We are the people of God! We ARE the Church!"

Photo: Jodi Cataldo, Dakotas Conference lay delegate to General Conference 2016 in Portland, Oregon.  File photo.

The United Methodist Church’s top legislative body will meet at the Oregon Convention Center, the largest convention center in the Pacific Northwest, on May 10-20, 2016.

General Conference is the top policy-making body of The United Methodist Church which meets once every four years.The conference can revise church law, as well as adopt resolutions on current moral, social, public policy and economic issues. It also approves plans and budgets for church-wide programs. 

The Dakotas Conference elected two delegates and two alternate delegates for the 2016 General Conference: Rev. Rebecca Trefz, clergy delegate; Jodi Cataldo, lay delegate; Rev. Roger Spahr, alternate clergy delegate; Matthew Bader, alternate lay delegate.

"I feel as your lay delegate to General Conference 2016, it is important that you as the laity of The United Methodist Church in the Dakotas Conference are aware of what is on the table," said Cataldo.  There are key pieces of legislation that have been proposed for consideration at the 2016 General Conference.  Cataldo notes that laity will want to pay attention to:

• Issues related to human sexuality

• Issues related to racism and inclusiveness

• Plans for restructuring of the denomination

• Worldwide nature of the church/general Book of Discipline/global church structure

• Change of Lay Servant Ministries’ categories to Certified Lay Servant, Certified Lay Speaker and Certified Lay Minister

• Partnering of National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministries Lay Missioner Program with Certified Lay Ministry

• Requirement for Lay Supply to become Certified Lay Ministers or candidates for ministry after one year

• Term limits for local church lay leaders

• Establishment of a lay order for deaconesses and home missionaries

• Lay leader involvement in appointment-making

• Consideration for alternative models for the conception of a local church

• Permissiveness in annual conference structure

• Issues around aging, retirement and health benefits for laypersons

• A new UMC hymnal

• Environmental stewardship

• And, of course, budget

"Please take seriously Bishop Ough’s challenge to pray for General Conference 2016 and the delegates," said Cataldo.

Everyone throughout the Dakotas Conference is invited to sign up for the 24 Hour Prayer Vigil for the 2016 General Conference.

Bishop Ough's Prayer for 2016 General Conference

Almighty and gracious God, as we prepare for General Conference in Portland, have mercy on your church, troubled and divided. Pour out your heavenly blessings; redeem, restore and remold your church until we are made new, that we may be one in Christ for the sake of the world. Instill within delegates humble hearts and discerning minds that hunger and thirst for your righteousness and justice, and your vision for our future. Through the decisions and spirit of General Conference, renew in the whole church a passionate longing for the coming of your kingdom, and unite us in one mission: to reach and make new disciples of Jesus for the transformation of the world. Amen.