The ministry leadership of the Desert Southwest Conference is shared by over 300 people who serve on our many committees, task forces, teams, and working groups. Once more we are changing our nominations process for conference leadership. Listed below are the conference committees seeking new members, click on the committee name to see a full description of the work of this team. If you are interested in applying for one of these leadership opportunities, please click below to fill out our leadership application. The term of service for a conference committee is four years and not more than eight (there are a few exceptions). The normal term of service for the positions below are July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2023. Because of the commitment involved in conference committee work volunteers are invited to participate on one committee at a time (there are a few exceptions).

Leadership Application

• Administrative Review  – This committee ensures that the disciplinary procedures for discontinuance of provisional membership, involuntary  leave of absence, involuntary retirement, or administrative location are properly followed.   Additionally, in the event of unresolved issues related to clergy change in relation Administrative review committee ensures a fair hearing and reviews entire process.  Nominated by Bishop, elected by clergy session.
• Archives and History – Archives and History collects, preserves, and makes the historically significant records of the Desert Southwest Annual Conference accessible; they maintain an archival depository; they encourage and assist the local churches in preserving their records.  Open nominations, elected by Annual Conference.
• Camping and Retreat Ministries –  To nurture and equip people of all ages as disciples of Jesus Christ, and work for positive transformation in our world by directly providing and resourcing local churches to offer uniquely immersive experiences designed to nurture Christian faith through the utilization of our camp and retreat facilities.  Open nominations, elected by  Annual Conference.
• Children and Poverty – This committee works to ensure that society’s most vulnerable members are given voice and advocacy in the example of being a courageous church loving like Jesus acting for justice and united in hope.  Open nominations, elected by Annual Conference.
• Christian Unity & Interreligious Relationships –  The committee works to be a bridge between the Desert Southwest Annual Conference and other Christian denominations, as well as to promote openness of mind toward other living faiths.  Elected by Annual Conference.
• Church and Society – the roots of the Wesleyan tradition are found in sweeping social change and justice movements, Church and Society works to put our faith in action.  Open nominations, elected by Annual Conference.
• Clergy and Lay Leadership Development – this team develops and pioneers leadership practices, seminars, and culture for the church today, additionally this team facilitates the annual conference nominations process.  Open nominations, elected by Annual Conference.
• Disaster Preparedness and Response
• Episcopacy
• Equitable Compensation – The Commission on Equitable Compensation supports full-time clergy serving as pastors in the ministry settings of the Desert Southwest Annual Conference.  Open nominations, elected by Annual Conference.
• Ethnic and Local Church Concerns
• Finance and Administration – To develop, maintain, and administer a comprehensive and coordinated plan of fiscal and administrative policies, procedures, and management services for the Desert Southwest Conference.  Open nominations, elected by Annual Conference.
• Global Ministries
• Health and Caring
• Higher Education and Campus Ministry – The purpose of Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry is to give oversight, guidance and support to the four campus ministries in the Desert Southwest Conference.  Open nominations, elected by Annual Conference.
• Hispanic Ministries Committee – To help strengthen existing Hispanic ministries, to assist in planting new Hispanic congregations, to identify, equip and deploy leaders in ministry.  Open nominations, elected by Annual Conference.
• Investigations– To facilitate the investigations process in the event of an officially filed complaint against a member (clergy or lay person) of the DSC.  Nominated by Board of Ordained Ministry, Board of Laity, and Bishop, elected by Annual Conference.
• Lay Ministry Board
• Lay Servant Ministry
• Native American Ministries
• New Faith Communities – To develop  and support new ways of being a vital church, specifically around supporting and resourcing “new expressions of church”.  Open nominations, elected by Annual Conference.
• Pensions and Health Benefits – Board of Pension and Health Benefits ensures the interests and carries out the work of providing for and contributing to the support, relief, assistance, and pensioning of clergy and their families, other church workers, and lay employees of the institutions, organizations, and agencies within the Desert Southwest Annual Conference.  Open nominations, elected by Annual Conference.
• Personnel
• Religion and Race – Responding to ways we can help create vital congregations that are an expression of cultural diversity.  Open nominations, elected by Annual Conference.
• Rules – Committee helps to create alignment between our practice of ministry and our conference regulations.  Open nominations, elected by Annual Conference.
• Sessions
• Spiritual Formation – Spiritual Formation supports, equips, nurtures, and partners with local churches to engage spiritual formation practices that are fruitful in making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.  Open nominations, elected by Annual Conference.
• Status and Role of Women
• Trustees – To oversee the ownership and disposition of conference-owned property; and to administer the conference-wide insurance program.  Open nominations, elected by Annual Conference.
• Vital Faith Communities – To cultivate communities of vital disciples by encouraging churches to experiment with new and creative ways of being a courageous church, loving like Jesus, acting for justice, uniting in hope.  Open nominations, elected by Annual Conference.