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 28, 2025 | 9:00 AM EDT | Via Zoom
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Members Present: Asaba Chin Ali (Southern Nigeria), Harrison Bell (Alabama Emerald Coast), John Beyers (North Georgia), Audu Daniel Bulus (Southern Nigeria), Arturo Cadar (Trinity), Debra Davis (Trinity), Gene Floore (Alabama Emerald Coast), Dan Gildner (Allegheny West), Erik Grayson (South Carolina), Sam Gregory (West Plains), Jeff Jernigan (North Georgia), Jessica LaGrone (Trinity), Paul Lawler (Mississippi–West Tennessee), Tesia Mallory (Allegheny West), Cara Nicklas (Heartland), Daniel Topalski (Bulgaria), Bishop Mark Webb (USA)
Members Not Present: Bishop Kimba Evariste (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Henriette Okele (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Eugene Paik (Korean American), Vida Mei Rivera (Mega Manila)
Staff Members Present: Dianne Burnett (Executive Director of Communications), Matthew Conover (Chief Financial Officer), Mike Schafer (Connectional Operations Officer)
Executive Summary
The Connectional Council of the Global Methodist Church met on April 28, 2025, by Zoom, continuing its faithful work of governance, global development, financial stewardship, General Conference preparation, and connectional coordination in service to the Church’s mission: to make disciples of Jesus Christ and spread scriptural holiness across the globe.
The meeting opened with prayer offered by Tesia Mallory and was presided over by Chair Jessica LaGrone. The Council’s work reflected a shared commitment to careful order, missional momentum, and prudent administration as the Global Methodist Church continues to mature as a worldwide connection.
The Council approved the April 14, 2025 meeting minutes, following a motion by Erik Grayson and a second by Sam Gregory. This action continued the Council’s pattern of responsible recordkeeping and corporate accountability, ensuring that the official work of the Church is documented with clarity and trustworthiness.
A significant action of the meeting was the unanimous approval of the formation of a Mexico Transitional Conference Advisory Team. This decision represents another important step in the continued global
The Global Methodist Church exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ and spread scriptural holiness across the globe.
expansion and development of the Global Methodist Church. It reflects the Council’s commitment to helping emerging conferences organize faithfully, develop responsibly, and participate fully in the connectional life of the Church.
The Council also unanimously approved Brian Ebel (Mid-South) as a new clergy member of the Ministry and Higher Education Commission. His addition strengthens the Church’s ongoing work of clergy formation, theological education, ministry development, and leadership preparation. As the denomination grows, the work of equipping faithful leaders remains central to its future health and fruitfulness.
The Council received a General Conference update from Mike Schafer, who reported that the meeting venue and hotel contracts had been unanimously approved by Connectional Council email vote. Plans were moving toward public announcement of the selected city and dates. The Council also considered and unanimously approved a request from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to conditionally carry over its 2024 delegation list to the 2026 General Conference, as forwarded by the Assembly of Bishops and approved by the General Conference Commission. This action reflected the Council’s desire to support fair representation, practical continuity, and faithful participation in the upcoming General Conference.
The Council gave substantial attention to recommendations from the Finance, Administration, and Pension Benefits Commission. It unanimously approved the recommendation for a Global Methodist Church international subsidiary, an important structural step for strengthening the denomination’s global administrative capacity. The Council also approved a global travel reimbursement policy for staff, bishops, and commission members, as amended to specify the standard IRS mileage reimbursement rate. This action supports consistency, fairness, and accountability in connectional service.
The Council further approved a finance disbursement policy, as amended, including language clarifying temporary delegation authority through a Global Operations Designee designated by the Connectional Operations Officer. This policy strengthens financial controls and provides clearer procedures for responsible administration. The Council also approved bank account resolutions, as amended, adding Molly Williams to specified Bank of America accounts, removing former signers, and clarifying current authorized signers. These actions reflect careful financial stewardship, sound internal controls, and the continued professionalization of denominational operations.
The Council then reviewed plans for the upcoming in-person Connectional Council meeting in Atlanta, scheduled for May 8–10, beginning with dinner at 6:00 PM. A Zoom option will be available, ensuring broader participation for those unable to attend in person. The Council also noted plans for a fall meeting in October or November and an early 2026 meeting with the Connectional Council and the Assembly of Bishops, likely in Atlanta. These planned gatherings point toward deeper collaboration, strategic alignment, and continued connectional strengthening.
The meeting concluded with prayer offered by Artie Cadar and adjourned at 10:05 AM. The next meeting was scheduled for Monday, May 11, 2025.
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Detailed Minutes
CALL TO ORDER
• Time: 9:00 AM EST
• Presiding: Jessica LaGrone, chair
• Opening Prayer: Tesia Mallory
APPROVAL OF APRIL 14, 2025 MEETING MINUTES
• Moved by Erik Grayson
• Seconded by Sam Gregory
o Unanimously approved.
BUSINESS ITEMS
1. Formation of Mexico TCAT
• Moved by Cara Nicklas
• Seconded by Artie Cadar
o Unanimously approved.
2. New Member of Ministry & Higher Education Commission
• Brian Ebel (Clergy/Mid-South)
o Unanimously approved.
3. General Conference Update
• Mike Schafer announced that the meeting venue and hotel contracts were approved unanimously by Connectional Council email vote.
o Mikes hopes to publicly announce the city selected and dates this week.
• Jessica LaGrone presented the request of the DRC to conditionally approve carrying over the 2024 delegation list to 2026 as forwarded by the Assembly of Bishops and approved by the General Conference Commission.
o Moved by Debra Davis
o Seconded by Tesia Mallory
o Unanimously approved.
4. Finance, Administration, and Pension Benefits Commission Recommendations
• Recommendation for GMC International Subsidiary
o Moved by Jeff Jernigan
o Seconded by Dan Gildner
▪ Unanimously approved.
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• Global Staff, Assembly of Bishops, Commission Member Travel Reimbursement Policy o Moved by Sam Gregory
o Seconded by Erik Grayson
▪ Bishop Mark Webb moved to amend to specify the standard IRS mileage reimbursement rate.
▪ Seconded by Cara Nicklas
• Amended Motion unanimously approved.
• Finance Disbursement Policy
o Moved by Debra Davis
o Seconded by Paul Lawler
▪ Cara Nicklas moved to amend the job title for Mike Schafer
▪ Seconded by Sam Gregory
• Unanimously approved.
▪ Sam Gregory moved to amend Temporary Delegation to read: “Global Operations Designee as designed by the Connectional Operations Officer.”
▪ Seconded by Harrison Bell
• Unanimously approved.
o Twice amended document unanimously approved.
• Bank Account Resolutions
o Moved by Dan Gildner
o Seconded by Sam Gregory
▪ Matt Conover moved to amend as follows:
• Add Molly Williams, Bookkeeper to “GMC Bank of America
accounts ending in 9415 and 0823”.
• Remove Richard Van Giesen, Keith Boyette and Roberto
Worthington from signing authority on said Bank of America
accounts so that the signature card reflects:
• Michael Schafer – Date of Hire: 8/15/2024
• Matthew Conover – Date of Hire: 2/16/2025
• Janelle Rhodeback – Date of Hire: 9/5/2023
• Molly Williams – Date of Hire: 2/25/2025 as current signers on the
Bank of America ending in 9415 and 0823.
• The minutes document needs to be printed/wet-signed/dated by
Mike Schaefer with his title at the bottom.
o Moved by Paul Lawler
o Seconded by Daniel Topolski
▪ Amended document unanimously approved.
5. Upcoming In-Person CC Meeting
• Atlanta Details May 8-10
o Beginning with Dinner at 6:00 pm.
o Zoom option will be available.
• Fall meeting (October or November) with the Connectional Council
• Early 2026 meeting with the Connectional Council and the Assembly of Bishops likely in Atlanta
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CLOSING
• Next Meeting: Monday, May 11, 2025, at 9:00 AM EST • Concluding Prayer: Artie Cadar
• Adjournment: 10:05 AM EST
Minutes Prepared By: John Beyers
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