Meeting Minutes List

Describe the item or answer the question so that site visitors who are interested get more information. You can emphasiCONNECTIONAL COUNCIL
Dr. Jessica LaGrone Dr. Daniel Topalski Dr. John Beyers The Rev. Mike Schafer Chair Vice Chair Secretary Connectional Operations Officer
CONNECTIONAL COUNCIL
MINUTES
April 27, 2026 | 9:00 AM EST | Via Zoom
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Members Present: Asaba Chin Ali (Southern Nigeria), Harrison Bell (Alabama Emerald Coast), John Beyers (North Georgia), Arturo Cadar (Trinity), Bulus Audu Daniel (Southern Nigeria), Debra Davis (Trinity), Gene Floore (Alabama Emerald Coast), Erik Grayson (South Carolina), Sam Gregory (West Plains), Jeff Jernigan (North Georgia), Maxim Kvyatkovskiy (Central Russia), Jessica LaGrone (Trinity), Paul Lawler (Mississippi–West Tennessee), Tesia Mallory (Allegheny West), Cara Nicklas (Heartland), Henriette Okele (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Eugene Paik (Korean American), Vida Mei Rivera (Mega Manila), Bishop Mark Webb (USA)
Members Not Present: Bishop Kimba Evariste (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Dan Gildner (Allegheny West), Daniel Topalski (Bulgaria)
Staff Members Present: Matthew Conover (Executive Director of Finance), Mike Schafer (Connectional Operations Officer)
Staff Members Not Present: Dianne Burnett (Executive Director of Communications)
Guests Present: Clark Atkins, Simon Mafunda
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Executive Summary
The Connectional Council of the Global Methodist Church met on April 27, 2026, by Zoom, continuing its faithful work of governance, General Conference preparation, conference development, legislative readiness, episcopal leadership nomination, kingdom advancement discernment, and strategic planning in service to the Church’s mission: to make disciples of Jesus Christ and spread scriptural holiness across the globe.
The Global Methodist Church exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ and spread scriptural holiness across the globe.
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 AM EST and was presided over by Chair Jessica LaGrone. Sam Gregory opened the meeting in prayer, grounding the Council’s work in dependence upon the wisdom, grace, and guidance of God. The Council’s deliberations reflected a Church moving with focus and urgency toward the 2026 General Conference while continuing to strengthen its global structure, leadership systems, and missional capacity.
The Council approved the April 13, 2026 meeting minutes following a motion by Bulus Audu Daniel and a second by Sam Gregory. The minutes were unanimously approved, continuing the Council’s commitment to accurate recordkeeping, institutional continuity, and responsible corporate governance. Faithful minutes preserve the Church’s memory, clarify its decisions, and strengthen trust across the connection.
A significant action of the meeting concerned the revision of the General Conference Plan of Organization. Mike Schafer presented the revision on behalf of the General Conference Commission, and the Council unanimously approved it. This action represented another important step in preparing the Church for orderly, faithful, and fruitful holy conferencing. As the Global Methodist Church moves toward its 2026 General Conference, careful attention to process, organization, and shared covenantal life will help the Church deliberate with clarity, fairness, and spiritual maturity.
The Council then received recommendations from the Conferences Commission, presented by Chair Clark Atkins. The Council unanimously approved changing the name of the Western Europe Emerging Area to the Aldersgate Europe Emerging Area, comprising England, Scotland, Portugal, Spain, France, Finland, Romania, and Albania. This action gave the emerging area a name deeply rooted in Methodist history while recognizing the developing shape of Global Methodist ministry in Europe.
The Council also unanimously approved assigning Alberta and the Northwest Territories of Canada to the Heartland Conference as missional areas. This decision reflects the Council’s commitment to supporting mission fields with appropriate connectional alignment and practical oversight.
In addition, the Council unanimously approved recognition of the Southern Africa Emerging Area, comprising Botswana, Madagascar, and Namibia, and also unanimously approved recognition of the Burundi Emerging Area. These decisions represent continued global development and demonstrate the Church’s desire to provide structure, encouragement, and connectional support for emerging regions of ministry. Each emerging area reflects not only organizational growth, but the spread of gospel opportunity across nations and communities.
The Council also received a report from the Legislative Task Force. Sam Gregory, task force chair, presented updates to four revised General Conference petitions for approval. The Council unanimously approved the updated petitions. This action reflected careful legislative preparation and a desire to help the 2026 General Conference address important matters with clarity, consistency, and connectional responsibility.
The Council then considered nominees for the Global Episcopacy Committee. The slate of lay nominees was unanimously approved and included Don Bourland (Mississippi–West Tennessee), Patrick Chibhagidhi (Zimbabwe), David Folsom (South Georgia), Tyson Heins (Heartland), Sarah Maher of (Allegheny West), and Ievgenii Semashko (Bulgaria). The slate of clergy nominees was also unanimously approved and included Jason Burnham (Trinity), Robin Parr (North Georgia), Chris Ritter (Great Lakes),
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Joanne Turmalip Valenzuela (Mega Manila), Aaron Opa Yankee (Grain Coast), and Kira Yufereva (Central Russia).
These nominations represent a significant step in preparing for episcopal leadership and oversight in the Global Methodist Church. The breadth of the nominees reflects the Church’s increasingly global identity and its commitment to faithful, representative, and discerning leadership. Strong episcopal structures are essential for a growing worldwide Methodist movement, and the Council’s action helped prepare the Church for responsible discernment at General Conference.
The Council also considered a Kingdom Advancement Commission matter. Paul Lawler presented a Kingdom Advancement Executive Director staffing request and job description. Harrison Bell moved to refer the matter to the Assembly of Bishops with a request for guidance, and Paul Lawler seconded. The motion was unanimously approved. This action reflected the Council’s desire to strengthen kingdom advancement while seeking appropriate episcopal wisdom regarding staffing, structure, and strategic alignment. The Church’s work of evangelism, church planting, global mission, and missional mobilization requires both urgency and order.
The Strategic Planning Task Force was also addressed. Bishop Mark Webb moved to add two persons, one from the United States and one from outside the United States, to the Strategic Planning Task Force, with nominees forwarded by the global Conference Superintendents. Paul Lawler seconded, and the motion was unanimously approved. This action strengthened the strategic planning process by broadening representation and ensuring that both U.S. and non-U.S. perspectives help shape the Church’s future direction.
The meeting concluded with prayer offered by Artie Cadar and adjourned at 10:35 AM EST. Detailed Minutes
CALL TO ORDER
• Time: 9:00 AM (Eastern Standard Time)
• Presiding: Jessica LaGrone, chair
• Opening Prayer: Sam Gregory
APPROVAL OF APRIL 13, 2026 MINUTES
• Bulus Audu Daniel moved to approve.
• Sam Gregory seconded.
• Unanimously approved.
BUSINESS ITEMS
• REVISION OF GENERAL CONFERENCE PLAN OF ORGANIZATION
• Mike Schafer presented a revision to the General Conference Plan of Organization on behalf of the General Conference Commission.
• Unanimously approved.
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• CONFERENCES COMMISSION
• Clark Atkins, chair, presented the following proposals:
• Change name of the Western Europe Emerging Area to the Aldersgate Europe Emerging Area (England, Scotland, Portugal, Spain, France, Finland, Romania, and Albania).
• Unanimously approved.
• Assign Alberta and Northwest Territories of Canada to the Heartland Conference as Missional Areas.
• Unanimously approved.
• Recognition of the Southern Africa Emerging Area (Botswana, Madagascar, Namibia).
• Unanimously approved.
• Recognition of the Burundi Emerging Area.
• Unanimously approved.
• LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE
• Sam Gregory, chair, presented updates to four revised General Conference Petitions for approval.
• Unanimously approved.
• NOMINATION OF GLOBAL EPISCOPACY COMMITTEE MEMBERS
• Lay Nominees (alphabetical order):
• Don Bourland (Lay/Mississippi West Tennessee)
• Patrick Chibhagidhi (Lay/Zimbabwe)
• David Folsom (Lay/South Georgia)
• Tyson Heins (Lay/Heartland)
• Sarah Maher (Lay/Allegheny West)
• Ievgenii Semashko (Lay/Bulgaria)
• Unanimously approved.
• Clergy Nominees (alphabetical order):
• Jason Burnham (Clergy/Trinity)
• Robin Parr (Clergy/North Georgia)
• Chris Ritter (Clergy/Great Lakes)
• Joanne Turmalip Valenzuela (Clergy/Mega Manila)
• Aaron Opa Yankee (Clergy/Grain Coast)
• Kira Yufereva (Clergy/Central Russia)
• Unanimously approved.
• KINGDOM ADVANCEMENT COMMISSION
• Paul Lawler presented a Kingdom Advancement Executive Director staffing request and job description.
• Harrison Bell moved to refer to the Assembly of Bishops with a request for guidance.
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• Paul Lawler seconded.
• Unanimously approved.
• STRATEGIC PLANNING TASK FORCE
• Bishop Mark Webb moved to add two persons (one USA, one non-USA) to the Strategic Planning task force with nominees forwarded by the global Conference Superintendents. • Paul Lawler seconded.
• Unanimously approved.
CLOSING
• Next Meeting: Monday, May 11, 2026, at 9:00 AM (EST)
• Concluding Prayer: Artie Cadar
• Adjournment: 10:35 AM EST
Minutes prepared by John Beyers with the gracious assistance of Sam Gregory.
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