Annual Conference 2022

Part 2 of Annual Conference is Coming - October 21st and 22nd 
 

The theme “At This Table” will carry through the October legislative sessions of the Mountain Sky Annual Conference when laity and clergy members meet online in October.

Everyone who registered for part 1 of Annual Conference in Helena, MT (or as an online participant) is automatically  registered for the October sessions. There is no need to register again.

However, for all clergy and lay members who have not registered, we will have an open registration period between September 1 and October 10, 2022. This is a required annual event for all clergy, and it is highly recommended that each local church have one laity member to represent them.

The October legislative sessions will include:

• Presentations on the mission and ministry of the Mountain Sky Annual Conference
• Annual legislation including the budget, nominations report, and guiding policies
• Voting on petitions, including church disaffiliations 
• Confirming episcopal nominees for the upcoming Western Jurisdictional Conference (Nov 2-5th in Salt Lake City, UT)
• Visioning and commitment toward the future of the MSC!

All legislative items are due by September 23, 2022. You can utilize the link below to find the 2022 petition form (can be used for petitions or resolutions). All legislative items will be published Oct 1 along with an email to give further session details.

You can utilize these resources to learn more:

• The landing page for Annual Conference: https://www.mtnskyumc.org/ac22
• Registration: https://www.mtnskyumc.org/registration-ac2022
• October 21st and 22nd Draft Agenda: https://www.mtnskyumc.org/october-agenda-ac2022 
• Petitions & Legislation: https://www.mtnskyumc.org/elections-legislation-ac2022
• MSC Episcopal Candidates: https://www.mtnskyumc.org/msc-episcopal-candidates-ac22

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A Call to Annual Conference From Bishop Karen Oliveto

February 3, 2022

Dear family members of the Mountain Sky Conference,

   When I was a child, my mother’s voice would ring out from our kitchen door, “Karen! Time for dinner!” I would drop what I was doing to take my seat at our kitchen table. The one rule we had at home was that we didn’t miss dinner—it was the place where the members of my family reconnected after our busy days, where bruised spirits were consoled, where our hunger for acceptance was filled, where laughter and joy permeated the space.

  Consider this your call to take your place at the table as United Methodists from across the Mountain Sky Conference come together at St. Paul’s UMC in Helena for Annual Conference, June 16-18, 2022.

  While we will offer AC as a hybrid this year (both online and in-person), it has been a long time since we have been able to see one another face to face. How wonderful it will be to be in each other’s presence, to sit at table, to deepen old friendships and make new ones, and to grow together as the Body of Christ.

  At the supper tables of my childhood, there was always room for one more. And it was always a “come as you are” meal. Sometimes, the conversation would grow heated as family members voiced their differing opinions. But we all stayed at the table together, and the love we had for each other—even as we disagreed—was always present.

  Bring your full self to our time together in Helena as we live and grow together as the early church once did:

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” Acts 2:42

Blessings,

Bishop Karen Oliveto

Versión en Español aquí

Una llamada a la Conferencia Anual de la Obispa Karen Oliveto

A Welcome to Annual Conference from your Co-Lay Leaders

General Information

Registration Overview

   Welcome to the 2022 Annual Conference Session of The Mountain Sky Conference! This year, sessions will happen in-person June 16-18th in Helena, Montana at Helena United Methodist Ministries (HUMM). This includes St. Paul’s UMC and Covenant UMC. We will partner with GNTV to bring sessions to those in-person and those who choose to attend online. The second half of the Annual Conference will occur Oct 21-22nd in an online-only format to focus on the legislative work of the Mountain Sky Conference. As a clergy or laity member, you are expected to attend both sessions to complete the business of the annual conference this year.

Annual Conference Registration is now open!

Please register as soon as possible to help our staff and volunteer teams know how many people will be attending in–person and how many will attend online. Hotel blocks are also now open and available for you to make an individual reservation - some hotel blocks will expire on April 1 - book now! As always, we recommend sharing a room as it makes your stay more cost-effective. 

A note to laity members: consider encouraging someone you know to attend conference with you as an equalization member - all districts are seeking nominations for lay equalization members (please contact your pastor or district office to inquire).

Helena, Montana is excited to host the June 2022 Mountain Sky Conference Annual Conference Sessions. You will find rich information on Helena’s Visitors Bureau website: https://www.helenamt.com/

Where should I stay?

  We were able to get blocks at many hotels, but we know it is the high tourist season and many of our hotel blocks will expire April 1, 2022. All of our hotel partners have details on the MSC 2022 AC hotel page, found here: https://www.mtnskyumc.org/hotels-ac2022

  Please book your lodging now if you are a laity or clergy member to Annual Conference and you plan to attend in person. It helps our conference if you use the Mountain Sky Conference hotel blocks as these rooms are at special rates, they have the flexibility to be canceled, and they are close to our event spaces. 

What will happen at these sessions?

  The June sessions of the conference will include a welcome dinner, opening worship, clergy session, laity session, a plenary session for legislative business, vision exploration with Bishop Karen, district lunches, the memorial worship service,  meet-ups for many groups, special meals, and Ordination worship! Plenary sessions and all regular legislation will take place online on Oct 21-22, 2022 at part 2 of the MSC Annual Conference. 

Where will Annual Conference sessions be held?

  The June sessions will be held primarily at St. Paul’s UMC and Covenant UMC in Helena. Together, these churches are known as HUMM (Helena United Methodist Ministries). There will be an option to participate online instead of in person.

  At this table, all are welcome to experience the great love of God. Let us come together as the Mountain Sky Conference!

Please contact MSC Event Manager, Jared O’Kegley-Gibson, at registration@mtnskyumc.org to inquire about hosting a meal, sponsoring this year’s Annual Conference, or with general questions.