UMC Next

UMC Next | May 20-22, 2019

Wednesday, May 20-22, United Methodists from across the United States will gather for conversation on the future of the denomination. The priority of the gathering is to allow participants to speak freely and plainly, offer ideas, and find a shared space with one another as they consider God’s calling for the future of the UMC. The group will report its progress each evening through a daily briefing to all interested parties. Lay and clergy leaders from every annual conference will be in attendance. There are more than 600 leaders expected.

At the close of the session on May 22, United Methodist News Service, other media outlets, and communicators are invited to attend a press conference with a panel of participants to debrief the 3-day gathering. UMCNext will close with a worship experience and will begin the press conference at 1:00 pm CST in the Foundry Hall (Building B) on The Church of the Resurrection Leawood campus, 5001 W. 137th Street, Leawood, Kansas.

Members of the press are invited to attend the closing worship experience and the press conference in person or via a live stream here at umcnext.com. Questions for the panel may be submitted through the website during the live stream. Individual interview requests of panelists must be arranged in advance.

There are plans underway for a larger gathering in September 2019 also to be held at the Church of the Resurrection. Media will be invited to attend all meetings of the September event. Details will be sent after the May 20-22 gathering. #UMCNext https://umcnext.com/