Posted at www.minnesotaumc.org between 4/8/26 and 4/14/26.
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Upcoming Conference Opportunities

Summaries of official district and conference events happening soon, listed in chronological order. Click links to see complete information, or see the entire conference calendar.

Annual Conference 2026

Award Nominations: Due April 30. Nominations are now being accepted for two awards: the The Foundation for Evangelism Laity Award and the The Jeanne Audrey Powers Ecumenism Award for Healing a Broken World. Help raise up accomplishments from the past year.

Announcement Slides: If you are part of a ministry or action team, or another United Methodist-affiliated group, and have an announcement that you'd like to be displayed during breaks at Annual Conference, please submit brief copy (50 words max) and an image or QR code graphic (optional) to communications@minnesotaumc.org no later than May 1.

Pre-Conference Webinars: May 19 or 21, 6:30-8:30 p.m., online. Each member of the Annual Conference Session is expected to participate in a pre-conference webinar to explore legislation and other key items. Register when you register for Annual Conference.

Day of Justice: June 15, River's Edge Convention Center, St. Cloud. Laity and clergy are invited to attend this Day of Justice to explore The UMC's Social Principles and participate in workshops that delve deeper into specific principles. Register when you register for Annual Conference.

Annual Conference: June 16-18, River's Edge Convention Center, St. Cloud. Register before May 29. The theme of the Annual Conference is “Created to Serve Joyfully.” The scripture focus will be Philippians 4. 

Conference Events

The Laity Collaborative 2026: Online. The Laity Collaborative is a learning community focused on equipping laity and unleashing the power of the Holy Spirit throughout the Minnesota Conference. Access a series of learning sessions and resources.

• Community Organizing with Rev. Dana Neuhauser: April 14, 6-8 p.m.
• Caregiving for All: April 23, 6:30-8 p.m.

"My Body is Not a Prayer Request" Book Study: Tuesdays, April 14-May 19, 6:30-8 p.m., online. The Minnesota Conference's Disabilities Ministries Committee, in partnership with the Office of Racial Equity and Justice, invites you to this conference-wide virtual book study.

The Garden: BIPOC Clergy Only Event: April 15, 2-3:30 p.m., online. Utilize “The Garden” as an internal mapping tool to recognize when mental health interventions are necessary. This session enhances self-awareness and community support, offering guidance to navigate challenging emotional landscapes.

Native American Ministries Sunday: April 19. On this Special Sunday, your gifts will help strengthen Native American ministries and provide scholarships for Native Americans pursuing ordained or licensed ministry. Make plans to participate in this offering!

DK-MN Clergywomen's Retreat: April 26-28, Lake Poinsett Camp, Arlington, South Dakota. Enjoy serene surroundings, worship, and company of United Methodist clergywomen. The theme is "Crafting Prayer: Exploring creative ways to connect with God." Register by April 10.

Monthly Embodied Practice Sessions: April 27, May 18, and then every fourth Monday in 2026, online. Clergy, engage in these monthly facilitated opportunities to slow down, care for yourself, and receive support. Join every month, or just when it fits. Watch this short video invite from the facilitator.

Practical Church Leadership Certificate Program: July 2026-July 2027. Apply by May 1 for this online certificate program from Dakota Wesleyan University, designed to increase capacity to be an effective church leader and improve financial stewardship and human resource skills.

Conference Grants

Love Boldly Mental Health Ministry Grant: These funds, coordinated by the Minnesota Conference Mission Promotion Team, will help churches offer support to their communities. Congregations can begin or expand partnerships with local mental health services or use the funds as seed money for new or expanded mental health ministries. Access guidelines / Apply

Investing In Leaders Resource Grant: This grant for clergy goes towards educational debt reduction. First time and renewal applications are available. Applicants must complete personal financial education and work with a financial loan repayment counselor.

Phase I Racial Justice Grant: The Minnesota Church and Society Team offers a grant of up to $300 to help your church purchase books for a group study on racial justice. If you received this grant before, you may apply again. Access guidelines / Apply

Phase II Racial Justice Grant: The Minnesota Church and Society Team offers a grant of up to $3,000 for churches that have already received a Phase I Grant to now create a sustainable justice program.  Access guidelines / Apply

Special Giving

Emergency Response Donation:  Please consider supporting congregations and communities in the Minnesota Conference as we respond to crisis and emergencies. Current critical needs are in response to immigration enforcement, with these donations helping to provide assistance for urgent basic needs such as food, housing, transportation, and legal support.

Support Immigrant Neighbors: Many have asked how they can help support the Minnesota Conference's efforts to serve our immigrant neighbors at this time. If you would like to give financial support, enter your contribution under "Racial Justice Initiatives - Racial Justice: Where Needed Most" and type "immigrant care" in the text box.

Classifieds

Summaries of only the most recently posted events and Classified items. Please click links to see full items. View the local church events calendar, or read all Classifieds, including those listed in previous Bulletin Board issues.

Submit a Local Church Event or Classified Ad: Submit before Tuesdays at 11 a.m. to be included in that week's Bulletin Board. Contact Karla Hovde with questions or to edit submissions.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

Feed My Starving Children Mobile Pack: April 16-18, various shift times, Cross Winds UMC, Maple Grove. Help pack over 100,000 meals with Feed My Starving Children. Registration is now open. 

Steering Away from Dead-End Decision Making to Grow Your Church: April 21, 1-2 p.m., online. This webinar will help church leaders recognize the subtle ways dead-end decision-making shows up in congregations—and how to move beyond it.

Effective Communication to Grow Your Church: April 23, 10-11 a.m., online. The webinar  will look deeper at ways to effectively communicate to the church and outside the walls of the church.

Hospitality & First-time Guests: April 29, 10-11 a.m., online. This webinar focuses on practical ways for you and your church to connect with first-time guests and grow your overall hospitality.

Wesley Celebration: May 7, 6-8 p.m., Good Samaritan UMC, Edina. Join the Wesley Foundation for their annual dinner to celebrate the stories, students, and supporters who make Neon, the U of M campus ministry, possible.

Duke Divinity School Summer 2026 Study Leave Registration: Registration is now open at Duke Divinity School summer study leave in Durham, North Carolina. Give yourself time to read, reflect, research, or just relax with this study leave opportunity for ministry professionals. 

Positions Available

Mental Health Connector: The Dakotas-Minnesota Area is seeking a mental health connector to resource local churches in the Dakotas and Minnesota Conferences in developing ministries for emotional and mental health. This is a contract position (25 hours per month) and is remote with flexible working hours.

Camp Minnesota Job Openings: Camp Minnesota has a variety of job openings available at Camp Koronis, Northern Pines Camp, and KoWaKan Ministries. Positions available include counselors, food service, lifeguards, housekeeping, and more. 

Worship Music Leader: Redeemer Lutheran Church in White Bear Lake is seeking a worship music leader to lead worship service on the 1st and 3rd Sundays. 

Office Administrator & Publications Coordinator: Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Minneapolis is seeking a full-time office administrator & publications coordinator. 

Director of Finance and Administrative Services: The Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference is seeking a strategic and collaborative leader to serve as director of finance and administrative services.

For Sale

Multi-Function Copier: Homestead UMC in Rochester is offering a well-maintained Kyocera TASKalfa 3553ci multi-function copier for sale. 

Seeking

Clergy Robe and Deacon Stole: Rev. Kay Schroder Hacklander is looking for her clergy robe and deacon stole. It may have been left on a coat rack at Annual Conference where the clergy hang their robes, sometime between 2022 and 2025.

Grants and Scholarships

Minnesota Scholarships: Scholarships are available for seminary students and for students pursuing other fields of study such as licensed local pastors and certified lay leaders, the deaconess program, Christian education, Christian music/worship education and church administration. Funds are also available for undergraduate students. Apply by May 15.

Action Fund Grants: The UMC's General Commission on Religion and Race offers this grant for local congregations, districts, and campus ministries. Initiatives should address immigration in the U.S. and promote equity and justice in the church and community. Apply by May 15.