Volunteer Resources

2026 General Conference

Volunteer Roles

The 2026 General Conference will bring together brothers and sisters from around the world to worship, pray, and shape the future of our denomination. We invite you to join us in making this event a warm, welcoming, and Spirit-filled experience for all who attend.


Volunteers are essential to the success of General Conference. We are seeking dedicated individuals to help in a variety of roles, including:


  • Registration 
  • Hospitality 
  • Administrative 
  • Prayer Team and Worship Support
  • Marshals


As you prayerfully consider how you might serve, we encourage you to review the full roles and responsibilities linked here and submit your application to be part of this significant event.


The volunteer portal closed on January 26, 2026, so the team is no longer accepting applications for volunteer teams. Volunteers will be notified of their selection on or after February 2. We look forward to seeing you in Johannesburg!

Assistant to the Secretary


This volunteer will assist the legislative committee secretary and record wording changes in the database as each petition is acted upon during legislative committee session and plenary. Eight persons will be needed from August 30-September 1, one for each legislative committee. Three persons may continue until September 5, rotating on the platform for each plenary session. Unique requirements include computer and keyboarding skills for typing into a database and attention to detail. Assistant to the secretary volunteers are non-paid positions. All expenses relating to airfare, hotel and meals are the responsibility of the volunteer. Most breakfasts are included in the hotel. Lunches will be provided at the Sandton Convention Center August 30 - September 5. Dinner will be provided at the Sandton August 30, August 31 and September 2. 

Credentialing


These volunteers will be present in the conference plenary sessions to verify credentials and manage delegate substitutions. Credentialing volunteers are non paid positions. All expenses relating to airfare, hotel and meals are the responsibility of the volunteer. Most breakfasts are included in the hotel. Lunches will be provided at the Sandton Convention Center August 30 - September 5. Dinner will be provided at the Sandton August 30, August 31 and September 2. 

HOSPITALITY 


Volunteers will welcome and assist attendees before, during and after the conference. Some team members will be positioned at the airport to welcome individuals and help them to navigate to the conference transportation. Team members will be available during the conference to answer questions and provide directions. Those serving at the convention center will need to be familiar with the information contained in key documents (like the Pre-Conference Journal, maps, schedules, and the Plan of Organization and Covenant for Our Life Together) to be able to answer attendees’ questions readily and accurately. After the conference, some team members will be available to help those who need assistance when checking in at the airport. Being multilingual in English and another official conference language (Portuguese, Spanish, French, Korean, and/or Kiswahili) would be a great bonus. Volunteers serving as greeters must arrive by August 26. Hospitality team volunteers are non-paid positions. All expenses relating to airfare, hotel and meals are the responsibility of the volunteer. Most breakfasts are included in the hotel. Lunches will be provided at the Sandton Convention Center August 30 - September 5. Dinner will be provided at the Sandton August 30, August 31 and September 2. 

INTERPRETER


When the AI translation is not active, interpreters will be needed for the six official GMC languages (English, Korean, French, Portuguese, Spanish, and KiSwahili), but especially Kiswahili to English during plenary and legislative sessions. Those serving in this role are expected to make themselves available as needed. Interpreters will receive reimbursement for travel, lodging, and meal expenses, as well as a limited stipend. 

MARSHALS 


Ensure a welcoming, secure and safe environment for those attending conference. Marshals will be responsible for all access points including the delegate voting area. Applicants for this position, please indicate if you have experience or certification in security/law enforcement, marshaling, ushering and/or CPR. Marshal team volunteers are non-paid positions. All expenses relating to airfare, hotel and meals are the responsibility of the volunteer. Most breakfasts are included in the hotel. Lunches will be provided at the Sandton Convention Center August 30 - September 5. Dinner will be provided at the Sandton August 30, August 31 and September 2. 

OFFICE SUPPORT 


As a volunteer Office Support team member, you will assist with vital administrative and logistical tasks to ensure the smooth operation of the Global Methodist Church General Conference 2026. This behind-the-scenes role supports conference planning staff, delegates, and attendees while helping maintain an organized, welcoming, and spiritually uplifting environment. Office support team volunteers are non-paid positions. All expenses relating to airfare, hotel and meals are the responsibility of the volunteer. Most breakfasts are included in the hotel. Lunches will be provided at the Sandton Convention Center August 30 - September 5. Dinner will be provided at the Sandton August 30, August 31 and September 2. 

PAGES


Critical front-line support staff empowering delegates to get recognized to speak, make motions, and navigate basic technical challenges. Pages also serve as ushers, count votes, convey messages, run basic errands within the convention center, assist non-English-speaking delegates, distribute official written materials, perform tear-down duties at the end of the conference, and perform other duties as needed. Being multilingual in English and another official conference language (Portuguese, Spanish, French, Korean, and/or Kiswahili) would be a great bonus. Page volunteers are non-paid positions. All expenses relating to airfare, hotel and meals are the responsibility of the volunteer. Most breakfasts are included in the hotel. Lunches will be provided at the Sandton Convention Center August 30 - September 5. Dinner will be provided at the Sandton August 30, August 31 and September 2. 

PARLIAMENTARIAN


Act as a consultant on parliamentary process for Legislative Committee chairs and presiding bishops, assisting chairs and presiding bishops to keep track of where they are in the process of motions and amendments, etc. Help develop training on basic parliamentary procedures. Should ideally have been formally trained in parliamentary procedure, if not certified as parliamentarians. Requires two Zoom meetings to be held over the summer. Hotel, Flight and per diems will be paid by the GMC. Will arrive in Johannesburg on August 27. Some volunteers in this role will only need to work through the first three days of the conference and may return home on September 2. 

PRAYER TEAM 


Prayer team volunteers for General Conference have two possible levels of involvement: 1) an onsite prayer team commits to serving on a rotating schedule in the prayer room throughout the duration of the conference, as well as serving as needed in responding to altar calls; and 2) an altar call prayer team, available only during worship services to respond specifically to altar calls. This allows for individuals to participate in other conference opportunities such as, delegate/ alternate, Mission Experience. All prayer team volunteers will be expected to attend a preconference ZOOM training. The vision for the prayer room is to invite the Presence of the Lord into all our conference gatherings and to provide a sacred space where people can meet with the Lord throughout the conference. A pre-conference conversation with a member of the General Conference prayer committee will help determine the best placement for volunteer applicants. Multilingual applicants are highly encouraged! Prayer team volunteers are non-paid positions. All expenses relating to airfare, hotel and meals are the responsibility of the volunteer. Most breakfasts are included in the hotel. Lunches will be provided at the Sandton Convention Center August 30 - September 5. Dinner will be provided at the Sandton August 30, August 31 and September 2. 

Prayer Team Volunteer Training

REGISTRATION


Check in attendees before conference and hand out badges, lanyards, and colored wrist bands. Capable of operating provided tablets for registration processes. Some team members will be available during the conference to respond to issues, such as replacing lost badges, assisting delegation heads and credentialing alternates. Being multilingual in English and another official conference language (Portuguese, Spanish, French, Korean, and/or Kiswahili) would be a great bonus. Must arrive by August 26 and stay through August 30. Registration volunteers may transition to hospitality through the rest of the conference. Registration team volunteers are nonpaid positions. All expenses relating to airfare, hotel and meals are the responsibility of the volunteer. Most breakfasts are included in the hotel. Lunches will be provided at the Sandton Convention Center August 30 - September 5. Dinner will be provided at the Sandton August 30, August 31 and September 2. 

VOTING SUPPORT


Set up and manage the voting system software for use in plenary sessions. This includes typing in motions to be voted on both in advance and during the plenary sessions (so must be proficient with computer skills including fast typing and data entry). Manage the distribution of voting devices in coordination with the credentials team, handle battery changes between sessions if needed. Develop training for the pages and delegates regarding use of the voting devices. Provide support for technical questions and issues related to the voting system. Work well as a team with others. Voting team volunteers are non-paid positions. Expenses related to airfare and travel are the responsibility of the volunteer. Hotel and meal expenses in Johannesburg will be paid by the GMC. 

WORSHIP SUPPORT


The Worship Support Team ensures the seamless execution of all worship services. Responsibilities include stage and altar setup, preparing communion elements, and coordinating with the Production Team to equip speakers and liturgists. Additionally, musically inclined team members can support the worship ministry by singing in the choir for Opening Worship and potentially providing music for prayer and communion services. Worship support team volunteers are non-paid positions. All expenses relating to airfare, hotel and meals are the responsibility of the volunteer. Most breakfasts are included in the hotel. Lunches will be provided at the Sandton Convention Center August 30 - September 5. Dinner will be provided at the Sandton August 30, August 31 and September 2.