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
February 9, 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), Dan Gildner (Allegheny West), Erik Grayson (South Carolina), Sam Gregory (West Plains), Jeff Jernigan (North Georgia), Jessica LaGrone (Trinity), Paul Lawler (Mississippi–West Tennessee), Cara Nicklas (Heartland), Henriette Okele (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Eugene Paik (Korean American), Bishop Mark Webb (USA)
Members Not Present: Bishop Kimba Evariste (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Maxim Kvyatkovskiy (Central Russia), Tesia Mallory (Allegheny West), Vida Mei Rivera (Mega Manila), Daniel Topalski (Bulgaria)
Staff Members Present: Dianne Burnett (Executive Director of Communications), Matthew Conover (Executive Director of Finance), Mike Schafer (Connectional Operations Officer)
Invited Guests Present: Tom Lambrecht, General Conference Secretary
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Executive Summary
The Connectional Council of the Global Methodist Church met on February 9, 2026, by Zoom, continuing its prayerful and purposeful work of governance, General Conference preparation, ministry formation, communications development, conference organization, and financial administration in service to the Church’s mission: to make disciples of Jesus Christ and spread scriptural holiness across the globe.
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 AM Eastern Standard Time and was presided over by Chair Jessica LaGrone. Paul Lawler opened the meeting in prayer, grounding the Council’s deliberations in dependence upon the wisdom, grace, and guidance of God. The Council’s work reflected a Church moving steadily toward the 2026 General Conference with urgency, order, and global vision.
The Global Methodist Church exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ and spread scriptural holiness across the globe.
The Council approved the January 26 meeting minutes following a motion by Sam Gregory and a second by Dan Gildner. The minutes were unanimously approved, continuing the Council’s commitment to careful recordkeeping, institutional continuity, and responsible corporate governance. Faithful minutes help preserve trust, clarify decisions, and strengthen accountability across the connection.
A significant portion of the meeting focused on preparation for the 2026 General Conference. Tom Lambrecht, General Conference Secretary, presented a revised delegate allocation. Harrison Bell moved that Tom Lambrecht poll unresponsive annual conferences and request accurate full-time equivalent numbers as of January 1, 2026, by Wednesday, February 11, 2026, with the Connectional Council to vote on final General Conference allocations by email. Bishop Mark Webb seconded the motion, which passed with seventeen in favor and one opposed. This action reflected the Council’s desire for accuracy, fairness, and faithful representation as the Church prepares for a historic global gathering.
The Council then received a recommendation from the Ministry and Higher Education Commission regarding distribution of the Ministerial Training Fund. Presented by Commission Chair Debra Davis, the proposal was unanimously approved. This action represents an important investment in the formation of faithful clergy and ministry leaders. A Church committed to spreading scriptural holiness must also be committed to preparing leaders who are biblically grounded, theologically faithful, spiritually mature, and equipped for ministry in diverse global contexts.
The Council also received and unanimously approved a Global Methodist Church Brand Proposal presented by Dianne Burnett. This action strengthened the Church’s communications framework and public identity. In a growing global denomination, clear branding is not merely visual; it serves the deeper work of communication, connection, recognition, and witness. A coherent brand helps the Church speak clearly about who it is, what it believes, and why its mission matters.
The Council considered several recommendations from the Conferences Commission. It unanimously approved the request from the Assembly of Bishops to add Cuba to the Latin America/Caribbean Emerging Area. This decision reflects the Church’s continuing commitment to global mission, regional development, and connectional support for emerging fields of ministry.
The Council also unanimously approved the request from the Northeast and Virginia Annual Conferences that Washington, D.C. be transferred from the Northeast Annual Conference to the Virginia Annual Conference. This action reflected careful attention to conference boundaries and the practical organization of ministry within the connection.
In another significant step, the Council unanimously approved the proposal that the convening Angola Annual Conference’s geographic boundaries comprise the Republic of Angola. This action further demonstrated the continued growth of the Global Methodist Church in Africa and the Council’s commitment to supporting regional identity, local leadership, and faithful annual conference development.
The Council also received a recommendation from the Finance, Administration, Pensions, and Benefits Commission to replace Commission member Herman Dick with Joy Perry. The recommendation was unanimously approved, strengthening the continuing work of financial administration, benefits oversight, and connectional stewardship.
The meeting concluded with prayer offered by Matt Conover and adjourned at 10:01 AM EST.
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Detailed Minutes
CALL TO ORDER
• Time: 9:00 AM (Eastern Standard Time)
• Presiding: Jessica LaGrone, chair
• Opening Prayer: Paul Lawler
APPROVAL OF JANUARY 26, 2025, MEETING MINUTES
• Sam Gregory moved approval.
• Seconded by Dan Gildner.
• Unanimously approved.
BUSINESS ITEMS
1. General Conference Update
• Revised General Conference Delegate Allocation presented by General Conference Secretary Tom Lambrecht.
• Harrison Bell moved that Tom Lambrecht poll the unresponsive Annual Conferences to respond with accurate FTE numbers as of January 1, 2026 by Wednesday, February 11, 2026. The Connectional Council will vote on final General Conference Allocations via email.
• Seconded by Mark Webb.
• 17 in favor. 1 opposed.
2. Ministry and Higher Education Commission
• Ministerial Training Fund Distribution presented by commission chair Debra Davis • Unanimously approved.
3. GMC Communications
• Global Methodist Church Brand Proposal presented by Dianne Burnett.
• Moved by Debra Davis.
• Seconded by Paul Lawler.
• Unanimously Approved.
4. Conferences Commission
• Request from the Assembly of Bishops to add Cuba to the Latin America/Caribbean Emerging Area.
• Unanimously Approved.
• Request from the Northeast and Viginia Annual Conferences that Washington, D.C. be transferred from the Northeast Annual Conference to the Virgina Annual Conference. • Unanimously Approved.
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• Propose the convening Angola Annual Conference’s geographic boundaries comprise the Republic of Angola.
• Unanimously Approved.
5. Finance, Administration, Pensions, and Benefits Commission
• Recommendation to replace FAPB commission member Herman Dick with Joy Perry. • Unanimously Approved
CLOSING
• Next Meeting: Monday, February 23, 2026, at 9:00 AM (EST) via Zoom
• Concluding Prayer: Matt Conover
• Adjournment: 10:01 AM EST
Minutes prepared by John Beyers with the gracious assistance of Sam Gregory.
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