Three Ways to Survive (and Enjoy) Annual Conference
June 9, 2026
We are in annual conference season for most of the United States right now. Here is a quick and practical survival guide for this season. Maybe it will help you not just survive but enjoy the conference.
What is the Annual Conference?
Annual conference is both a regional body of churches and the yearly gathering of that body. Most people use the term “annual conference” to refer to the yearly meeting where clergy and lay delegates gather for worship, fellowship, business, and ministry.
The annual conference is composed of equal numbers of clergy and laity. Retired status clergy do have voting privileges. Since there is usually more total clergy than lay delegates from each church there are equalization delegates of laity.
The delegates have several responsibilities where they vote on things like annual conference legislation, financial oversight, clergy credentialing, and shaping mission and ministry.
During the conference there is beautiful worship, ordination, clergy sessions, laity sessions, and a business session.
Three Ways to Survive Annual Conference
#1 Come Expecting
One of the best moves to make is to come to conferences expecting to meet Jesus in new and fresh ways.
You can meet Jesus and have deep time with the Lord anywhere. However, there is something special about meeting with other believers and worshipping together.
You should also come expecting to make a new friend. As a matter of fact, I might even start praying for God to help you make a new friend each day of conference. You never know when you might meet your next pastor or someone who shares a similar passion for an area of ministry you have. It helps knowing you are not alone in the journey of Methodism.
#2 Be Prepared
A good delegate is a prepared delegate.
Make a cup of coffee and spend a couple of hours going through your pre-conference materials. This is a great way to familiarize yourself with the location, budget, and schedule of the conference. Most conferences will release a preconference journal. Take some time going through these materials.
Also, pack appropriately. Bring your conference journal printed out or on a tablet to access during the conference. If you are in a hot and stormy climate, bring a water bottle and umbrella. Pack a light jacket in case your meeting rooms are cold. Make sure to bring your Bible and notepad. Bonus points if you are a conference speaker and you invite the conference to turn in their Bibles!
Think through how you can be prepared for a great conference.
#3 Thank Your Bishop
Being a bishop in the Global Methodist Church is not the easy job it was in our previous connection. Some of our bishops spend more than 25 weeks of the year traveling. This may be the only chance you get to see them.
Don’t try to become best friends with the bishop but make sure to say hello, tell them where you are from, and thank them for their service to your conference and God’s kingdom.
Don’t stop at the bishop, thank your conference superintendent, your presiding elder, and other delegates you meet. Cultivating a spirit of gratitude and appreciation will help you enjoy the conference even more.
These are just a few of the tips I have. What else do you recommend to help survive annual conference?
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About David Wesley Donnan
I write online about Methodism, devotional insights, and personal reflections. My primary goal is to organize my thoughts and explore meaningful topics. Along the way, I hope my writing inspires and encourages others on their journey.
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