The central governing body of the Connexion is the Methodist Conference which meets in June or July each year in a different part of the country. It represents both ministers and laypeople, and determines church policy. The conference is a gathering of representatives from each district, along with some who have been elected by the conference and some ex officio members and representatives of the youth assembly. It is held in two sessions: a presbyteral session and a representative session including lay representatives. The 2019 conference was held in Birmingham. The 2020 conference took place as a virtual meeting due to the COVID-19 pandemic.