MN Annual Conference

Structure

The Minnesota Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church is the regional organization of United Methodist congregations in Minnesota. The United Methodist Church is the third-largest Christian body in the United States.

The annual conference offices are located at 122 W. Franklin Ave., Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55404; telephone: (612) 870-0058.

The churches of the annual conference are organized into four geographic districts: Aurora Sky, Headwaters, Prairie Winds, and River Bluffs. Four conference superintendents are appointed to oversee churches and pastors across the four districts.

Every year, lay people and clergy come together for an annual conference session, where they determine mission priorities, ordain ministers, hear challenges to grow in faith and witness, and celebrate how they have brought God's love to others in Minnesota and around the world.

Minnesota Annual Conference Facts and Figures

• Number of Congregations: 295 (+2 second campuses)
• Total membership: 43,494
• Average weekly worship attendance (in-person and online): 26,080

Cabinet Statement on Racial Justice

In December 2020, the Minnesota Conference Appointive Cabinet released a statement on racial justice and reconciliation that lists specific commitments and actions members will take to acknowledge the sins of racism and injustice and work to transform our Church, our Conference, our communities, and our world into the “beloved” community. Access the statement.

History

The Minnesota Conference will celebrate its 170th anniversary in 2026.

The Minnesota Conference was founded in 1856, though the work began earlier in 1837 with missions to Native Americans and pioneers.

Forerunners of United Methodism in Minnesota include the Methodist Episcopal Church (1856), the Church of the United Brethren in Christ (1857) and the Evangelical Church (1868) and encompassed several language groups in the early years besides English: German, Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, and Finnish. Today we include Korean, Hmong, and Spanish speakers.

Early outreach focused on establishing congregations but also educational institutions, principally the founding of Hamline University in 1854. Beginning in the late 19th century and into the 20th, we established many mission projects in our state, country, and the world.

Our conference archive documents and makes the full story available.

Please contact Archivist Heidi Heller for more.

List of historical sites

Need more information?

Contact Director of Communications Christa Meland (612-230-6132) if you seek more background information on the Minnesota Annual Conference. If you are a reporter on deadline or have an urgent matter outside of regular business hours, call her on her cell phone at 612-599-2023.