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
June 22, 2026 | 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), 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), Maxim Kvyatkovskiy (Central Russia), Jessica LaGrone (Trinity), Paul Lawler (Mississippi–West Tennessee), Cara Nicklas (Heartland), Henriette Okele (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Eugene Paik (Korean American), Vida Mei Rivera (Mega Manila), Daniel Topalski (Bulgaria)Bishop Mark Webb (USA)
Members Not Present: Bishop Kimba Evariste (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Tesia Mallory (Allegheny West),
Staff Members Present: Dianne Burnett (Executive Director of Communications), Matthew Conover (Executive Director of Finance), Mike Schafer (Connectional Operations Officer)
Guests Present: Clark Atkins
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Executive Summary
The Connectional Council of the Global Methodist Church met on June 22, 2026, by Zoom, continuing its faithful work of leadership discernment, General Conference preparation, church multiplication, global conference development, and strategic planning 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 9:01 AM EDT and was presided over by Chair Jessica LaGrone. Vida Mei Rivera opened the meeting in prayer, grounding the Council’s deliberations in dependence upon the wisdom, grace, and guidance of God. The meeting reflected a Church approaching the 2026 General Conference with purposeful preparation, global vision, and a continuing commitment to faithful connectional leadership.
The Global Methodist Church exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ and spread scriptural holiness across the globe.
The Council approved the May 25, 2026 meeting minutes following a motion by Bulus Audu Daniel and seconded by Dan Gildner. 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 shared memory, clarify its decisions, and strengthen transparency and trust throughout the connection.
A significant item of business concerned the continuing search for a General Conference Secretary to succeed Tom Lambrecht at the close of the 2026 General Conference and to serve at the 2032 General Conference. The Council received an update regarding the search process and the applications received. A vetting subcommittee composed of Dianne Burnett, Debra Davis, and Cara Nicklas was appointed to assist with the careful review of candidates.
The General Conference Secretary will serve an important role in the orderly preparation and conduct of the Church’s global gatherings. The formation of a vetting subcommittee reflects the Council’s commitment to diligence, fairness, and thoughtful discernment. As the Global Methodist Church prepares for General Conference, capable and trusted leadership will be essential to supporting clear processes, accurate documentation, and faithful Christian conferencing.
The Council also discussed the work of the Legislative Task Force regarding the structure of the General Conference Nominations Committee be brought to the next Connectional Council meeting. This continuing work is vital as the Church prepares leaders to serve across its commissions, committees, and connectional structures. Faithful nominations require more than filling positions; they require prayerful attention to character, competence, spiritual maturity, global representation, and commitment to the mission of the Church.
The Council then received a recommendation from the Lilly Grant task force to engage a United States Director of Church Multiplication who would help facilitate a “churches planting churches” strategy. The recommendation was unanimously approved.
This action represents a meaningful investment in the future growth and missional vitality of the Global Methodist Church. The vision of churches planting churches places multiplication within the life of local congregations rather than treating church planting as the responsibility of a distant institution. Healthy congregations are invited to become sending congregations, developing leaders, gathering new communities of faith, and extending the witness of Jesus Christ into new places.
The appointment of a Director of Church Multiplication can help provide leadership, coordination, training, and encouragement for this work. The goal is not growth for its own sake, but the multiplication of biblically faithful, Wesleyan congregations committed to evangelism, discipleship, scriptural holiness, and community transformation.
The Council also received recommendations from the Conferences Commission. Clark Atkins, chair of the Commission, requested authorization for Vietnam and Mozambique to convene annual conference meetings. Both requests were unanimously approved.
These actions mark important steps in the continuing global development of the Global Methodist Church. Authorizing annual conference meetings in Vietnam and Mozambique recognizes the growing strength of Methodist ministry in these nations and provides opportunities for worship, fellowship, leadership development, discernment, and connectional organization.
Each new annual conference gathering bears witness to the expanding reach of the gospel and the emergence of faithful leaders across the global Church. These developments remind the connection that
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the Global Methodist Church is becoming increasingly international not only in aspiration, but in its actual life, leadership, and mission.
The Council also confirmed its upcoming Zoom meeting with the Strategic Planning task force, scheduled for June 25, 2026, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM EDT. This meeting will provide an important opportunity to continue discerning the Church’s mission, vision, culture, and strategic priorities.
Strategic planning is most faithful when it remains rooted in prayer and directed toward mission. As the Church prepares for General Conference and future leadership transitions, the strategic planning process will help align its resources, structures, and ministries around the central work of evangelism, discipleship, church multiplication, global mission, and the spread of scriptural holiness.
The meeting concluded with prayer offered by Mike Schafer and adjourned at 10:08 AM EDT. Detailed Minutes
CALL TO ORDER
• Time: 9:01 AM EDT
• Presiding: Jessica LaGrone, chair
• Opening Prayer: Vida Mei Rivera
APPROVAL OF MAY 25, 2026 MINUTES
• Bulus Audu Daniel moved to approve.
• Dan Gildner seconded.
• Unanimously approved.
BUSINESS ITEMS
• 2032 GENERAL CONFERENCE SECRETARY
• Update on the search process and applications received for the 2032 General Conference Secretary, and the appointment of a vetting sub-committee: Dianne Burnett, Debra Davis, Cara Nicklas.
• LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE
• Bring recommendation to the next Connectional Council meeting.
• LILLY GRANT TASK FORCE
• Recommend engaging a United States Director of Church Multiplication to facilitate “churches planting churches.”
• Unanimously approved.
• CONFERENCES COMMISSION
• Clark Atkins, chair, requests authorizing Vietnam and Mozambique to convene Annual Conference meetings.
• Unanimously approved.
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• ZOOM MEETING WITH THE STRATEGIC PLANNING TASK FORCE • June 25, 2026 at 2:00 – 4:00 PM EDT
CLOSING
• Next Meeting: Monday, July 13, 2026, at 9:00 AM EDT
• Concluding Prayer: Mike Schafer
• Adjournment: 10:08 AM EST
Minutes prepared by John Beyers with the gracious assistance of Sam Gregory.
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