Meeting Minutes List

Describe the item or answer the question so that site visitors who are interested get more information. You can emphasiConferences Commission
Meeting Minutes
November 6, 2025
Members Present: Clark Atkins, Lori Smith, Bradley DeHaven, Mickey Wheeler, Bishop Scott Jones, Wilton Odongo, Elizabeth Sullivan, Bishop Leah Gregory, Stephanie Malone, Virgilio Olonan
Guest: Dr. Max Wilkins, Kingdom Advancement
Loving
I. Joys & Concerns
a. The meeting was called to order at 7:02 am.
b. Celebration of new grandbabies; lifting up those needing healing; discussion of global elections and genocide.
II. Opening Prayer
a. Bradley DeHaven opened the meeting with prayer.
Learning
I. Emerging Opportunities in Latin America (Dr. Max Wilkins, Kingdom Advancement) a. A proposal for establishing Latin America as an emerging area, to include countries like Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Dominican Republic, will be discussed. Clark Atkins mentioned ongoing interviews with potential leaders from these countries, and the potential benefits of designating these areas.
b. Dr. Max Wilkins highlighted the success of the GMC in Panama, which has seen 700% growth in the number of churches in 18 months. Clark Atkins raised concerns about cultural and political considerations in the region. Dr. Max Wilkins responded that there are no significant political issues among the included countries, as they have successfully collaborated in the past. Bishop Scott Jones emphasized the importance of personal relationships in the development of these Methodist communities, while Bishop Leah Gregory questioned whether the current system of regionalization is suitable for these emerging conferences. Max advised against declaring some areas independent too early, as this could hinder growth, and suggested allowing the conferences to develop at their own pace.
II. Sharing from Oasis Convening Conference (Bishop Scott Jones, Kevin Ryoo, Lori Smith, & Elizabeth Sullivan)
a. Elizabeth Sullivan described her visit to a conference at the Oasis Annual Conference. b. Bishop Scott Jones reported on the maturing of the conference.
III. Sharing from Western Europe Leadership Gathering (Clark Atkins) a. Clark Atkins shared about a leadership gathering in Barcelona that brought together representatives from various European countries, fostering collaboration and ordaining new leaders.
IV. Sharing from Mexico AC Convening Conference (Bishop Leah Gregory)
a. Bishop Leah Gregory shared her positive experience at the Convening Conference in Mexico, where she witnessed rapid church growth and a strong sense of community among young adults.
Leading
I. Approve Minutes from 04 September 2025 Meeting
a. Motion made by Mickey Wheeler to accept the minutes. Second by Elizabeth Sullivan. Approved.
II. Reports
a. Commission Chairs Meeting Report
i. Clark Atkins shared updates from a recent gathering of commission chairs and council chairs, highlighting the need to reduce U.S.-centric perspectives and find a balance between structure and bureaucracy.
III. Old Business
a. Recommendations for Approval of Clergy Applications
1. 204 clergy applicants (200 from South Asia; 1 from Haiti; 1 from Ireland; 1 from Germany; and 1 from the United Kingdom) were presented for approval 2. Bradley DeHaven made a motion to accept the clergy recommendations from the GED Team and India BOM. Second by Elizabeth Sullivan. Approved. b. Recommendations for Approval of Church Applications
1. 239 churches in South Asia were presented to be approved as GMC churches. 2. Virligio Olonan made a motion to accept these churches. Second by Bradley DeHaven. Approved.
c. Nile Valley TCAT Training Funds Disbursement Approved via Email
i. The Commission acknowledged the approval of training funds for Nile Valley TCAT via email
ii. Bishop Scott Jones reported on the progress of the Mid-South Annual Conference's partnership with Nile Valley.
IV. New Business
a. Thailand AC Conference Application
i. The Commission then considered an annual conference application from Thailand, which has already convened and proposed one district, though some committees are still in development. Their US partner is West Plains AC.
ii. Motion made by Bishop Scott Jones. Second by Lori Smith. Approved. b. Zimbabwe AC Conference Application
i. The Commission then considered an annual conference application from Zimbabwe, which has already convened. Their US partner is Heartland AC. Motion made by Mickey Wheeler. Second by Elizabeth Sullivan. Approved. c. Oasis AC Conference Application
i. The Commission then considered an annual conference application from Oasis, which has already convened. Their US partner is South Carolina AC. Motion made by Bradley DeHaven. Second by Bishop Leah Gregory.
Approved.
d. TCAT Changes to Ethiopian Nazrawiyan Emerging Area
i. Bishop Scott Jones requested a change to the TCAT of the Ethiopian Nazarene conference.
ii. Motion made by Lori Smith. Second by Elizabeth Sullivan. Approved. e. Ethiopian Nazrawiyan AC Conference Application
i. A merger of two Ethiopian church conferences, with Bishop Scott Jones explaining the need to unify them under a single Ethiopian conference
structure, was proposed. Their US partners are Great Lakes AC and Heartland AC.
ii. Motion made by Lori Smith. Second by Bradley DeHaven. Approved. f. Latin America Emerging Area Request
i. Dr. Max Wilkins presented a request to designate certain countries in Latin America and the Caribbean as an emerging area for Global Methodist Church. The proposal includes the following countries: Guatemala, Honduras, El
Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, Paraguay,
Chile, and Dominican Republic.
ii. Motion was made by Mickey Wheeler. Second by Lori Smith. Approved. g. Request to Designate Bhutan as a Mission Area.
i. This was requested by Bishop Carolyn Moore.
ii. Motion was made by Lori Smith. Second by Virgilio Olonan. Approved. h. Proposal to Connectional Council RE: Representation from Emerging Areas (with established leadership) at GC
i. Clark presented the proposal, which would allow 2 representatives from organized emerging areas with recognized leadership groups (i.e. TCAT,
leadership council, etc.) to attend General Conference 2026 with voice but no vote, funded by general church funds.
ii. Motion made by Mickey Wheeler. Second by Bishop Scott Jones. Approved. V. Closing Prayer/Adjournment
a. Prayer by Wilton Odongo
b. Meeting adjourned at 9:05 am.ze this text with bullets, italics or bold, and add links.