News

The 2022 Iowa Conference Journal, Clergy-Laity Directory, and Book of Resolutions are now available at www.iaumc.org/Journal. If you have forgotten the login information for the Clergy Lay Address Directory, please email Lisa Steel. If you would like a printed copy, it can be purchased directly through Lulu Publishing. 

At the 2022 Annual Conference, a resolution regarding Opposition to Unjust Theology Regarding the Holy Land was passed.  This resolution called for the establishment of a task force to identify the biblical and theological reasons for opposing Israel's treatment of the Palestinian people and then submit a report to the 2023 Annual Conference with recommendations for action. We are looking for both clergy and laity to serve on this team. The United Methodist Church has previously spoken out on ...

The AC2022 Memorial Service to honor those before us will be held on Sunday, October 30, 2022, at 2:30 p.m. at Des Moines New Hope United Methodist Church located at 4525 Beaver Ave., Des Moines, IA. Bishop Laurie Haller will give the message and the service will include music by the quartet Sweet Harmony.  This service will not be livestreamed but it will be recorded and posted at https://www.iaumc.org/ac2022-memorial-service soon after. Please, RSVP if you plan to attend by clicking here. The ...

By Amy Johnson, Pastor of Osceola United Methodist Church Why does hope matter? Can't we just continue onward with faith in God and assurance of salvation? What is so special about having hope?   If you give me a moment of personal privilege, I would like to share a witness about the power of hope in one life. An amazing friend taught me long ago that the only vulnerability anyone is authorized to share is their own, and the Bishop once laid hands on me while demanding, "take thou authority." ...

The 2022 Annual Conference acted on several pieces of legislation during its session. Everything can be found in the Pre-conference Manual. Below the legislation you will find the Conference Monitoring Report. Legislation Section 1 Action Item #101 (p. 18) - Amend Standing Item #24 Fund Balances and Conference Unrestricted Reserves Passed 629-62 to remove line 40. Action Item #103 (p. 23) - Amend Plan of Organization 2115.75 Plan of Organization change Passed 616-72 to add new descriptive...

Full videos from Annual Conference 2022 are below and split into half-days. Click here to see the agenda for each day. Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon  

View photos from the service View the full service View Bishop Kiesey's sermon  |  Read Bishop Kiesey's sermon View the Pentecost Singers  

 

The 2022 Iowa Annual Conference Session is being presided over by Bishop Deborah Lieder Kiesey (retired bishop for Michigan and Iowa resident) and Bishop Julius Calvin Trimble (Indiana's resident bishop, formerly Iowa's), while Iowa resident bishop Laurie Haller is on medical leave. Bishop Kiesey called the session to order at 9:00 am on June 4, 2022.  The Waukee United Methodist Church Worship band provided fun and uplifting music, and youth Paul Anthony Conner of Burns United Methodist Church...

The Laity Session once again kicked off Annual Conference 2022 in its first hybrid format.   One of the highlights is celebrating new Certified Lay Ministers and School for Lay Ministry graduates.   “Congratulations is not a big enough word for the milestone we mark with you today,” said Conference Lay Leader Margaret Borgen. You heard a call, you responded, you followed through on a long path. We are confident that God will use each one of you in a wonderful way.” See an album of images from ...

At clergy session every year Ordination anniversaries are recognized. We applaud and thank the following clergy for their service to local churches, the conference and the world. Please join in thanking these individuals for their service to the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Ordination anniversaries are as of when the individual obtained their final ordination status. 1947 – 75 years Lyle William Lieder 1952—70 years Robert P. Robinson 1957—65 years Lloyd Edward ...

Here is a link to a Preliminary Ballot for nominees to serve on our Conference Level agencies for 2022-2026. There are some openings for which interested candidates are still being sought. Please take a careful look at the Preliminary ballot and submit the appropriate Leadership Pool Form to indicate interest in serving. An updated ballot will be available in the week prior to the Annual Conference session. For questions, please contact Barb Oakland at [email protected] or 563-542-3583. 

Now that the 2022 Annual Conference is only a few weeks away, this year’s sessions planning team wanted to update members on their preparations.   The Laity Session will kick off the weekend beginning Friday, June 3 at 7:00 pm. (Music begins at 6:45.) The Board of Laity’s goal for the session is to have an evening of worship and inspiration, celebration, practical information about laity related projects and to build friendship among lay conference attendees. There will be a report from the ...

2022 Iowa Annual Conference Session Well-Being Activities  Contact: Kae Tritle, RN, Well-being Coordinator at [email protected] The Wellness Screening Event at the 2022 Iowa Annual Conference Session is open to conference employees, and all clergy and spouses. This includes all local pastors, part-time pastors, commissioned, probationary, extension and retired clergy, elders, deacons, and ministry candidates even if you aren’t on the conference insurance.   When: Saturday, June 4, 2022 from 6:00 ...

The Iowa Annual Conference 2022 Session planning team is pleased to announce Bishop Julius Trimble, resident bishop of the Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church, and the former resident bishop of Iowa, will be the presiding bishop over the Iowa Annual Conference in June.  Bishop Trimble will be preaching the Opening worship on Saturday, June 4 at 9:00 a.m. and will preside over the plenary sessions for June 4 and June 5. Bishop Deb Kiesey who is the interim bishop while Bishop ...

Have you ever wanted to be a part of something bigger than the local church? Have you ever wanted to serve your church brothers and sisters in Christ? This opportunity might be for you! The Diakonos (Greek for a servant) Leadership Development program application is open for 12 high schoolers from around the state to assist during the Iowa Annual Conference 2022 session from June 3 – 5.  Diakonos will help deliver communications, directions, aide and assist those attending, learn about the ...

Iowa Annual Conference attendees are strongly encouraged to reserve your hotel room as soon as possible, as reservation deadlines are nearing. Any leftover rooms in the conference reserved blocks will be released at that time. Many people are still waiting to see what happens with the COVID-19 pandemic and have not made a decision at this time, however, most hotels blocks have a 24 hour cancelation policy. You can view the hotel information here. Attendees may also change Conference ...

The 2022 Iowa Annual Conference will have a virtual display booth area on its website this year. Organizations are invited to submit information here. Cost to outside organizations is $35, and free for Iowa Conference ministries. Organizations and ministries may also submit video sponsorships to be played during the virtual conference session. Videos should be 2 minutes or less in length, submitted as mp4 files, and be ready to play - the conference does not provide editing services. Due to the...

The Retirement Service that was scheduled for Thursday, May 12 at 4:00 p.m. has now been rescheduled to be included in the Ordering of Ministry Service on June 5 at 9:00 a.m. (note earlier start time) This change was made after retirees raised concerns that the original date and time would limit the possibility that family, friends, and parishioners could be present. In development is an Elijah/Elisha service of Word & Table that will include the recognition of those retiring and be a part of ...

Midwest Missions is sending their truck to the 2022 Iowa Annual Conference session on June 4-5 for drive-up and drop-off donations to "Fill The Truck!" Specific items they are asking for are donations of gently used non-electric tools, liquid dish soap, liquid laundry detergent, and liquid all-purpose cleaners. They will also be accepting any other donations they normally accept. Midwest Missions has a list of those items and kits on their website. In addition to the Midwest Missions' Fill the...

The March 19 AC2022 Town Hall meeting has been postponed until the fall of this year to facilitate a fourth Town Hall to respond to the delay of the General Conference until 2024. We will send a new Zoom registration for the fall Town Hall. The new Town Hall will be via Zoom on Saturday, April 2, 2022, from 9:00 – 10:00 AM. Current information from the North Central Jurisdiction will be presented and time to respond to questions. Please register here. The rationale for postponing is so Bishop ...

The third Town Hall meeting scheduled for Saturday, March 19, at 9:00 a.m. has been postponed until the fall of this year to facilitate a fourth Town Hall to respond to the delay of the General Conference until 2024.  Plans are being made to present current information from the North Central Jurisdiction and respond to questions. This Town Hall is scheduled for Saturday, April 2, 2022, from 9:00 – 10:00 AM via Zoom.  Links to register will be provided with further information on the Town Hall....

Your Iowa Conference Nominations Coordinating Committee continually seeks new people with high energy, amazing gifts and professional talents to serve on conference level boards, committees and commissions. Nominating yourself is a way to tell us you are interested in serving the United Methodist Church on a broader, conference-wide level.   The Leadership Pool form is easy to fill out, will help you discern your spiritual gifts, ways you would like to serve, and give you detailed information ...

The 2022 Iowa Annual Conference session planning team has been working on securing blocks of rooms near the MidAmerican Energy RecPlex in West Des Moines. Note, there are quite a few events taking place the same weekend as AC2022 so we have secured several blocks of rooms, but please contact them as soon as possible if you need accommodations for June 3 - 5. The Laity Session begins at 6:00 pm on June 3 and the Sunday, June 5 session is scheduled to adjourn at 5:00 pm. Although this is not an ...

Three virtual Pre-2022 Annual Conference Town Halls meetings are being held in early 2022 to update everyone on how the Iowa Annual Conference continues to align with our Strategic Priorities. Leaders will give reports, and a time for Q&A will be available at the end.   Priority 2: Directing Our Resources to Our Common Goals (Alignment)  Script from the Council on Finance and Administration Script from the Board of Pensions Script from the Board of Trustees Download the video of the meeting ...

The Bishop and Cabinet decided at their February 15, 2022 meeting that it is not an appropriate time for a large group of people (75 or more) to gather at the Conference Center for a full-day meeting. Therefore, the Bishop’s Circuit Leaders Gathering scheduled for March 19, is being rescheduled for September 24, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. The virtual Town Hall meeting will continue as planned from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. on March 19, 2022. “We were looking forward to hearing directly from...

To submit new items and resolutions to be included in the Annual Conference 2022 Pre-Conference Manual, please fill out this form and attach a Microsoft Word document to it. Submitted documents will be routed to the appropriate board or agency and they may contact you if they have any questions or concerns. Submissions are due by Monday, March 14. Subscribe to AC2022 Updates: https://iaumc-email.brtapp.com/subscribe AC2022 Information Site: https://www.iaumc.org/ac2022 AC2022 News and Updates: ...

Three virtual Pre-2022 Annual Conference Town Halls meetings are being held in early 2022 to update everyone on how the Iowa Annual Conference continues to align with our Strategic Priorities. Leaders will give reports, and a time for Q&A will be available at the end.   Priority 1:  Equipping Ourselves and Others as Transformational Leaders (Development) Script from the Conference Connectional Ministries Council Script from the Board of Camps Download the video of the meeting Email questions ...

UPDATE: Please note that the third town hall is now March 19, 2022. Three virtual Pre-2022 Annual Conference Town Halls meetings are being held in early 2022 to update everyone on how the Iowa Annual Conference continues to align with our Strategic Priorities. Leaders will give reports, and a time for Q&A will be available at the end.    Priority 1:  Equipping Ourselves and Others as Transformational Leaders (Development) The Saturday, January 8, 2022, Town Hall meeting will be from 9:00 – ...

View the Livestream here → Bishop Laurie Haller invites all clergy and laypersons in the Iowa Conference to an Epiphany Eve Address and Worship Service, “A Different Way: Celebrating God’s Hope Made Real.”   The address will be Livestreamed on Wednesday evening, January 5, 2022, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. You can view the Livestream here (new link). It will be recorded and available at https://www.iaumc.org/leading-now.   The worship service is based upon the Gospel Lesson for the ...

We are excited to announce preliminary details about the 2022 Iowa United Methodist Conference Session, including a brand new location and some additional dates.    The 2022 Iowa Annual Conference Session will be held in a hybrid format on Saturday, June 4, and Sunday, June 5. The session will take place in person at a new venue in West Des Moines and will also be offered virtually for those who choose to participate that way.   The 2022 session will be held at the MidAmerican Energy RecPlex ...

Equalization for 2022 Annual Conference Each charge receives one lay member to Annual Conference.   A charge served by more than one clergyperson is assigned an additional lay member for each additional appointed clergy.  Persons appointed to a charge who are from another annual conference, another denomination, are supervised and/or certified laypersons, or who are Temporary Pulpit Supply are not considered clergy for purposes of equalization and will not be in the total clergy count for that ...