General Conference

The General Conference is the highest legislative body of The United Methodist Church. It is the only body that can speak for the denomination. General Conference holds the responsibility to revise The Book of Discipline and The Book of Resolutions. General Conference usually meets every four years. Delegates are United Methodists—half of them clergy and half of them lay—elected by their annual, missionary, or provisional conference. The total number of delegates at General Conference must always fall between 600 and 1,000 people. Every conference is allowed to send at least two.

The General Conference that was scheduled for 2020 have been postponed to April 23 to May 3, 2024. It will take place at the Charlotte (NC) Convention Center.

Jurisdictional Conference

The United Methodist Church in the United States is divided into five areas known as jurisdictions: Northeastern, Southeastern, North Central, South Central, and Western. Outside of the United States, these bodies are called Central Conferences. They meet every four years, usually during the summer following General Conference, to elect new bishops and select members of general boards and agencies. Some jurisdictions provide some program and leadership training events to support the annual conferences. Northern Illinois Conference is part of North Central Jurisdiction.

Northern Illinois Delegates

Read NIC News updates from the delegates

2023-2024 Delegate open meeting schedule

General Conference 2024 delegates

• Lay Delegates
  • Lonnie Chafin
  • Nadia R. Kanhai
  • Adrian Hill, vice chair
• Clergy Delegates
  • Rev. Alka Lyall, chair
  • Rev. Luis Reyes
  • Rev. Gregory Gross

North Central Jurisdictional Conference 2024 delegates

• Lay Delegates
  • Rita L. Smith
  • Nancy Pendergrass
  • Ronnie Lyall
• Clergy Delegates
  • Rev. Hwa-Young Chong
  • Rev. Jacques Conway
  • Rev. Brian Gilbert
    • Alternates: Rev. Britt Cox and Rev. Rachel Birkhahn-Rommelfanger

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NIC Members of the NCJ Episcopacy Committee

• Ronnie Lyall (Lay)
• Brian Gilbert  (Clergy)