United Methodist Church to Host 2028 General Conference in Two Locations

The United Methodist Church (UMC) has announced that its 2028 General Conference will be held simultaneously in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Harare, Zimbabwe. This marks the first time the denomination’s quadrennial lawmaking assembly will take place across two locations. The Commission on the General Conference stated that the dual-site approach aims to better accommodate African delegates, citing travel complications and visa accessibility as primary factors for selecting Harare.

Organizers noted that the two sites will operate concurrently to allow delegates to conduct church business in real time. The decision follows extensive research by an Alternative Task Team, which sought to address the needs of a diverse, global membership. The UMC has experienced significant growth in Africa while membership in the United States has declined. The denomination remains characterized by theological diversity, with African congregations often maintaining more conservative stances on issues of sexual ethics compared to the predominantly progressive North American population.