A Letter to the Global Methodist Church

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ.



On March 11–12, leaders of the Global Methodist Church gathered in Atlanta, Georgia for a historic meeting of the Assembly of Bishops, Connectional Council, Commission Chairs, and Executive Staff. This was the first time these leadership groups have all met together in person, and it was a moment we will not soon forget.

What pictures of these meetings cannot capture is the deep joy of laboring side by side with brothers and sisters from around the world to nurture a Church that only a few years ago existed as a vision. Over these days together, we experienced a spirit of hope, shared purpose, and growing clarity as we prayed, worshiped, discerned, and worked together for the good of the Church we love.

A significant part of our time together focused on deepening collaboration across the leadership structures of our church. While each body has a distinct calling, our work is deeply interconnected as we shape the culture of leadership for this new global church. We are learning together what it means to lead as servants, to cultivate trust across cultures and continents, and to steward faithfully the responsibility the Church has entrusted to us in this season.

At the forefront of this leadership is the Assembly of Bishops, who are entrusted with guarding the faith, upholding the doctrine of the Church, and providing both spiritual and temporal leadership for our movement. The Connectional Council enacts the will of the General Conference, carrying forward the vision and overseeing the work of the Church between conferences. The Connectional Commissions advance specific aspects of the Church’s mission and ministry through resourcing and equipping conferences and local churches.

Together, these leadership bodies are not siloed in their work but are called into shared discernment and collaboration for the sake of the whole Church.

During our time in Atlanta, we also engaged in meaningful work around the strategic planning process for the Global Methodist Church. Those involved in that work were present and actively collaborating with key leaders, helping to shape a clear and faithful path forward for our denomination as part of the ongoing work of the Connectional Council.

Yet faithful leadership requires more than simply carrying out separate responsibilities. It requires shared spiritual discernment.

We have found it essential to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit together, not as isolated groups, but as a community of leaders entrusted with the care of a global Church. This work is not easy. The Church faces real challenges and difficult decisions. But as we prayed and worked together in Atlanta, we experienced a remarkable sense of unity in Christ. Even in the midst of complex conversations, we sensed that clarity is emerging as we hold fast to our shared mission and our unity in the Spirit.

Our time together also turned our attention toward the upcoming General Conference of the Global Methodist Church, which will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa, August 30–September 5.

A General Conference is always a remarkable gathering in the life of the Church. It is part family reunion, part revival-filled worship, and part working conference where we prayerfully consider decisions about the doctrine, structure, and future direction of our denomination. The work of shaping our shared life together is immeasurably important, and we know those decisions will be bathed in prayer.

But we also recognize a deeper truth: legislation alone cannot transform hearts. The technical work of the Church cannot by itself usher in the culture of the Kingdom of God.

Our prayer is not that we would leave Johannesburg with a thicker Book of Doctrines and Discipline to script every detail of our life together. Our prayer is that we would emerge from Johannesburg with deeper holiness, stronger unity, and a renewed commitment to the mission God has entrusted to us. We are committed to a nimble Church that flows with the flexibility of a movement even as we align around the shared doctrinal commitments of the historic Church.

Those of us who gathered for our Convening General Conference in Costa Rica in 2024 witnessed something extraordinary. That gathering defied expectations with its passionate worship, spirit of revival, and humble, collaborative work. It launched the Global Methodist Church into what has already become an exciting season of rapid global growth.

In the two years since Costa Rica, many churches and conferences have joined our global family. Today, the Global Methodist Church includes more than 7,000 congregations around the world. By the time we gather in Johannesburg, nearly one-third of those present will represent churches that have joined since that Convening Conference. For that reason, it is vital that we meet one another face to face with open hearts, ready to welcome brothers and sisters in Christ into this shared mission. This work is culture-shaping and identity-forming, rooted deeply in historic Wesleyan faith and in our shared desire to follow Jesus faithfully in every context.

As we prepare for the upcoming General Conference, we call the churches and members of the Global Methodist Church to join us in prayer.

Pray that those who come to Johannesburg will do so with humility and openness. Pray that we would be listeners and learners, especially from those whose cultures and experiences differ from our own. Pray that we would not arrive prepared with arguments striving for preferred outcomes, but that we would seek together the mind of Christ.

Pray also that we would not simply be visitors to another part of the world, but that the witness and growing relationships of the global Church would expand our vision of the Kingdom of God in ways we have not yet imagined.

We left our time in Atlanta deeply encouraged. The unity we experienced there is not something we take for granted; it is a gift of God’s grace. What began only a few years ago as a shared vision is now taking visible shape in congregations, conferences, and communities across the world.

May the Lord who has begun this good work among us bring it to completion. May we walk humbly together, watching over one another in love, holding fast to the faith once delivered to the saints, and seeking above all the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. And may God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, make us a people whose life together bears witness to the transforming grace of Jesus Christ for the sake of the world.

With gratitude and hope,

Bishop Mark Webb, Dean of the Assembly of Bishops

Dr. Rev. Jessica LaGrone, Chair of the Connectional Council

Rev. Mike Schafer, Chief Connectional Operations Officer