Did the gathering have a theme or slogan, and if so, what was it?
Connected in Vision
Officiating bishop: Bishop Kennetha J. Bigham-Tsai
Guest speakers and memorable points or quotes by speakers:
Learning Session – Building Beloved Community
Main actions enacted by the conference:
Resolution against Conversion Therapy - https://www.iaumc.org/newsdetail/iowa-united-methodists-pass-resolution-opposing-conversion-therapy-19835118
Approval of Action Item #302 – Sale of Conference Center – PCM pg 38
Is the conference planning any new initiatives?
New Communities of Faith – Greenhouse Initiative
Did the conference take any action related to the upcoming General Conference?
We elected clergy and lay delegates and alternate delegates for General Conference.
Did your conference approve redistricting or redrawing of conference lines? If so, please share details. No, we did not.
Is your conference planning to merge with another conference or conferences?
No.
Number of churches that closed because no longer sustainable (please list each church):
11 Local Closed Churches
Carter Lake
Cedar Rapids, Sharon
Davenport, Faith
Des Moines, Christ
Des Moines, Jordan
Duncombe
Indianola, Farmers Chapel
Norway
Oxford
Turin
Woolstock
Has your conference adopted a reaffiliation policy, and if so, did any churches return?
No.
Any special annual conference set:
No
What budget did the conference pass, and how did it change from last year?
Resolutions adopted by the conference:
Resolution against Conversion Therapy - https://www.iaumc.org/newsdetail/iowa-united-methodists-pass-resolution-opposing-conversion-therapy-19835118
Names of delegates for both General Conference and jurisdictional or regional conferences, and designation of lay or clergy:
News Story about clergy and lay delegates
Was there a push at your conference to elect younger delegates? If so, how many delegates under 35 were elected and what are their names and ages?
No push.
Kade Rogers (Laity) – 29
Myah Ford (Laity) – 20
Blessing Cunigan (Laity) – 19
Number of people ordained, commissioned or received into associate membership, and average age:
Ordained – 3
Provisional Elders – 2
Course of Study Graduates – 2
Transferred Membership – 2
Transferred Membership from other Methodist Denomination - 1
Number of clergy retired:
- 2 Full deacons retired within this last conference year
- 10 Full Elders that retired within the last conference year
- 1 associate member
- 8 local pastors
- Total 21
Membership stands at 97,825, down from 100,284 the previous year.
Average worship attendance stands at 21,191 (online 15,091), down from 21,711 (online 17,208) last year.
Average church school attendance stands at 4,827, down from 5,124 last year.
782 professions or reaffirmations of faith for 2025, down from 907 in 2024.
The number of adults and young adults in small groups for 2025 is 10,407, up from 9,916 in 2024.
Worshippers engaged in mission for 2025 were 16,538, down from 17,354 in 2024.