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
January 20, 2025 | 9:00 AM EST | Via Zoom
Members Present: Asaba Chin Ali (Southern Nigeria), John Beyers (North Georgia), Debra Davis (Trinity), Gene Floore (Alabama Emerald Coast), Dan Gildner (Allegheny West), Jessica LaGrone (Trinity), Paul Lawler (Mississippi-West Tennessee), Cara Nicklas (Heartland), Vida Mei Rivera (Mega Manila), Daniel Topalski (Bulgaria)
Members Not Present: Bishop Kimba Evariste, Henriette Okele (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Bishop Mark Webb
Staff Present: Dianne Burnett (Executive Director of Communications), Matthew Conover(Interim Chief Financial Officer), Mike Schafer (Connectional Operations Officer)
Executive Summary
The January 20, 2025 meeting of the Global Methodist Church Connectional Council reflected a growing spirit of unity, prayerful leadership, and mission-focused stewardship. Building upon the historic inaugural meeting, the Council continued the work of organizing its common life for the sake of the Church’s calling to make disciples of Jesus Christ and spread scriptural holiness across the globe.
The meeting opened with prayer and the unanimous approval of the January 6, 2025 minutes, signaling the Council’s continued commitment to faithful governance, orderly procedure, and shared responsibility. New members were welcomed into the work of the Council and its commissions, strengthening the breadth of representation and expanding the leadership capacity needed for the Church’s global mission.
Throughout the meeting, the Council demonstrated a clear desire to lead as a unified connectional body. The emphasis on knowing one another, praying for one another, and functioning as a cohesive leadership team revealed the Council’s conviction that the Church’s work is strengthened when leaders are joined not only by structure, but by trust, prayer, and common purpose.
Significant actions were taken to affirm commission leadership, clarify commission identity, broaden participation, and strengthen the Church’s organizational foundation. The Council affirmed leaders for key commissions, approved interim use of the name “Commission on Kingdom Advancement,” encouraged broader international lay representation, and received updates on staffing, finance, operations, communications, and future General Conference planning.
The Global Methodist Church exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ and spread scriptural holiness across the globe.
The Council also addressed practical matters with strategic seriousness, including webinar follow-up, staff organization, future hiring, legal authorization, and preparations for the 2026 General Conference. These discussions reflected a Church seeking to build wisely, communicate effectively, steward resources faithfully, and prepare responsibly for its next season of global connection and conference life.
This meeting revealed a Council committed to both mission and maturity. Its work was marked by prayer, collaboration, accountability, and a growing awareness of the Church’s global identity. As the Global Methodist Church continues to take shape, the Connectional Council is moving forward with gratitude for God’s guidance, confidence in Christ’s lordship, and renewed dedication to serve the whole Church for the advancement of God’s Kingdom.
Detailed Minutes
CALL TO ORDER AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES
• Time: 9:01 AM EST
• Call to Order: Jessica LaGrone, chair
• Open Prayer: John Beyers
• Approval of Minutes: Gene Floore moved to approve the January 6, 2025 minutes. Cara Nicklas seconded. Unanimously approved.
NEW MEMBER INTRODUCTIONS
• New Commission members were introduced: Debra Davis (Trinity/Lay), Dan Gildner (Allegheny West/Clergy), Paul Lawler (Mississippi-West Tennessee/Clergy), and Vida Mei Rivera (Mega Manila/Lay).
• Jessica LaGrone highlighted the priority of the Connectional Council members knowing each other, praying for each other, and functioning as a unified leadership team representing the whole Global Methodist Church.
BUSINESS
• Commission Updates:
o Affirm election of Debra Davis (Trinity/Lay) as chair of the Ministry and Higher Education Commission. Unanimous affirmation.
o Confirm election of Clark Atkins (Trinity/Clergy) as Chair of the Conferences Commission. Unanimous affirmation.
o Gene Floore moved a proposed name change for the Commission on Evangelism, Church Multiplication, Missional Mobilization, and Disaster Response to the Commission on Kingdom Advancement. Daniel Topalski seconded.
o Paul Lawler suggested it would require a vote of the 2026 General Conference. o Paul Lawler and John Beyers suggested a friendly amendment that a notation, via asterisk, indicating “also known as the Commission on Kingdom Advancement,” be inserted into documentation during the interim.
o Gene Floore accepted the friendly amendment.
o Unanimously approved.
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• Membership Recommendations and Diversity Discussion
o Jessica LaGrone outlined recommendations for new members to the Ministry and Higher Education Commission, including two clergy and three laity, while noting that they are awaiting an additional clergy name from Africa.
o Cara Nicklas expressed concerns about the high percentage of U.S. members and proposed that the commission seek more international lay candidates before finalizing the membership. o Cara Nicklas moved to approve two clergy, one laity and send back to commission with a request to broaden nominations for additional laity.
o Paul Lawler seconded.
o Unanimously approved.
• “Connectional Conversations” Webinar Follow-Up
o Mike Schafer explained the technical difficulties faced during the January 16, 2025 “Connectional Conversations” webinar, which limited attendance to 100 participants (with 1,200 registering) due to a misconfiguration of the Zoom account.
o Dianne Burnett shared a second webinar with a Q&A format to better accommodate participant questions and ensure a smoother experience is being organized.
• Staff Organization and Hiring Updates
o Mike Schafer is creating job descriptions and an organizational chart to improve the staff structure and organization.
o Mike Schafer announced the elimination of the General Conference Business Manager position in favor of a large event project manager.
o Two finance positions are being advertised, a Controller and a Bookkeeper, while plans are in place to hire an executive Director of Operations.
• General Conference Commission Resolutions Discussion
o Jessica LaGrone presented two motions from the General Conference Commission: o One to extend the 2026 General Conference from five to seven days to facilitate in-person legislative committees.
o A second to empower 2024 General Conference delegates to vote on the location and duration of the 2026 General Conference.
o Mike Schafer explained the issues with the original choice and discussed the current considerations for two other potential African cities.
o The committee engaged in discussions about the logistics and implications of these motions. o Cara Nicklas moved to poll the 2024 General Conference delegates about changing the duration of the 2026 General Conference and its location within Africa.
o Unanimously approved.
• Authorization for Legal Representation
o Jessica LaGrone presented a resolution to authorize Connectional Operations Officer Mike Schafer to execute contracts on behalf of the Global Methodist Church.
o Daniel Topalski moved to authorize. John Beyers seconded.
o Unanimously approved.
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• Future In-Person Connectional Council Meeting
o Jessica LaGrone led a conversation on organizing an in-person Connectional Council meeting outside the U.S. to accommodate all members. May was proposed as a suitable timeframe. o A poll to be circulated among Connectional Council members.
CLOSING
• Next Meeting: Monday, February 3, 2025, at 9:00 AM EST
• Concluding Prayer: Daniel Topalski
• Adjournment: 10:27 AM EST
Minutes Prepared By: John Beyers
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GLOBAL METHODIST CHURCH Members
CONNECTIONAL COUNCIL
2025-2027
Clergy/Lay
Email
Annual Conference
John Beyers
Clergy
drjohnbeyers@bellsouth.net
North Georgia
Dan Gildner
Clergy
dgildner@gmail.com
Allegheny West
Jessica LaGrone
Clergy
jessica.lagrone@asburyseminary.edu
Trinity
Paul Lawler
Clergy
paull@christchurchmemphis.org
Mississippi-West Tennessee
Henriette Okele
Clergy
lokotookele@yahoo.fr
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Daniel Topalski
Clergy
daniel.topalski@methodist.bg
Bulgaria
Asaba Chin Ali
Lay
asabac.ali29@yahoo.com
Southern Nigeria
Debra Davis
Lay
debra.davis56@gmail.com
Trinity
Gene Floore
Lay
Genefloore@cox.net
Alabama Emerald Coast
Cara Nicklas
Lay
CNicklas@mcalisterlaw.com
Heartland
Vida Mei Rivera
Lay
bundoks@gmail.com
Mega Manila
Assembly of Bishops
Representatives
Bishop Kimba Evariste
kkimbae@globalmethodist.org
Bishop Mark Webb
mwebb@globalmethodist.org
Staff Representatives
Note: Voice but without Vote
Dianne Burnett
dburnett@globalmethodist.org
Exec. Director of
Communications
Matt Conover
mconover@globalmethodist.org
Interim Chief Financial Officer
Mike Schafer
mschafer@globalmethodist.org
Connectional Operations Officer
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