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
October 15, 2026
Current Members Present: Bill Brown, Clark Atkins, Bishop Scott Jones, Bradley DeHaven, Elizabeth Sullivan, Lori Smith, Mickey Wheeler
Future Members Present: Kirsten Mains, Mike Morrissey, James Massaquoi, Jonathan Lee, and John Howard
Others Present: Teresa Marcus,
The meeting opened in prayer at 7:00 AM Central Daylight Time. Joys of an upcoming wedding and the building of a church were shared. Concerns for medical procedures, recovery from injuries, and work related meetings were shared. It was a joy to have the new members of the 2026-2032 Conferences Commission present. Their term will begin on November 1, 2026.
Lori Smith reported on her trip to Vietnam. She enjoyed seeing pastors whom she helped interview for ordination. She participated in the ordination service. She noted the need for further teaching on doctrine, polity and sacraments for most emerging area pastors.
Bishop Scott Jones shared a proposal regarding the extension of the Oasis Conference into the missional area Egypt. Additional funding for the extension will need to come from a group of donors in the South Carolina Annual Conference and the Conferences Commission. The need for funding is expected to last for 3 years. Motion Approved unanimously. It was also decided that future allocations for future budget
years for the ongoing work will be the work of the new commission.
A review of the first-run 2027 budget was shared, and the request is approximately $82,900. This includes travel, training events, and gathering grants for emerging areas; and one in-person commission meeting, possibly coinciding with Beyond These Walls in late February with travel support for members from outside the United State, along with some contingency funds. The 2027 budget will be approved by the new Conference Commission once it begins meeting in November.
The 2026-2032 Conferences Commissions will have their first meeting on Monday, November 2, 2026, at 8:00 AM US Central Standard Time. Mike Schafer will convene the meeting and facilitate the election of new officers.
The meeting closed with a time of reflection and thanksgiving from the outgoing members of the 2024- 2026 Conferences Commission. Mickey Wheeler offered a closing prayer.
Meeting Adjourned at 8:22 AM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori Smith, Secretaryze this text with bullets, italics or bold, and add links.