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
March 23, 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), Tesia Mallory (Allegheny West), Cara Nicklas (Heartland), Eugene Paik (Korean American), Bishop Mark Webb (USA)
Members Not Present: Bishop Kimba Evariste (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Henriette Okele (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Maxim Kvyatkovskiy (Central Russia), 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 Attending: Clark Atkins, Laura Ballinger
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Executive Summary
The Connectional Council of the Global Methodist Church met on March 23, 2026, by Zoom, continuing its faithful work of governance, prayerful discernment, ministry formation, conference development, and General Conference preparation 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 EST and was presided over by Chair Jessica LaGrone. Eugene Paik 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 increasing
The Global Methodist Church exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ and spread scriptural holiness across the globe.
clarity toward the 2026 General Conference while continuing to strengthen its global structures, spiritual life, and connectional mission.
The Council approved the March 11–14, 2026 meeting minutes following a motion by Sam Gregory and a second by Gene Floore. 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 throughout the connection.
A significant and spiritually encouraging moment came through the presentation of the Global Methodist Prayer Network. Laura Ballinger (Great Lakes), chair of the Prayer Network, presented the work of the group and prayed over the Connectional Council. This moment reminded the Council that the Global Methodist Church must be more than well-organized; it must be deeply prayerful. The Church’s mission cannot be carried by structure alone, but by the power, presence, and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The Council then received a report from the Ministry and Higher Education Commission. Chair Debra Davis presented the Ministerial Training Fund Formula and Requirements, including a $2,100 minimum Annual Conference Board of Ministry distribution and the requirement that recipients be enrolled in institutions satisfying Global Methodist Church ordination requirements. This action reflected the Church’s continuing commitment to forming faithful clergy and ministry leaders who are biblically grounded, doctrinally sound, Wesleyan in conviction, and prepared for fruitful service across diverse ministry contexts.
The Council also received recommendations from the Conferences Commission, presented by Chair Clark Atkins, concerning Venezuela, Uganda, and Myanmar. The Council unanimously approved the Plan of Union with The Methodist Church of Venezuela and unanimously approved the convening of the Venezuela Annual Conference. These actions marked a meaningful moment of connectional welcome and ecclesial unity, reflecting the Church’s desire to receive faithful partners into the Global Methodist connection with clarity, charity, and proper order.
The Council also unanimously approved the convening of the Uganda Annual Conference, another significant step in the global expansion and organization of the Global Methodist Church. This action reflects continued growth in Africa and the Council’s commitment to supporting regional leadership, contextual ministry, and faithful conference development.
In addition, the Council unanimously approved establishing a Myanmar Transitional Conference Advisory Team. This decision provides structure, support, and connectional guidance for emerging Methodist ministry in Myanmar. As the Church grows in new and developing areas, Transitional Conference Advisory Teams help provide needed oversight, encouragement, and preparation for future annual conference development.
A major portion of the meeting focused on preparation for the 2026 General Conference through the review of General Conference Administrative Committee nominations. The Council unanimously approved the recommended nominees for the Agenda Committee, Credentials Committee, Journal Committee, and Reference Committee. These actions reflected careful preparation for the orderly work of General Conference and the importance of trusted leadership in guiding the Church’s legislative and procedural life.
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The Council then considered the Nominations Committee. Erik Grayson moved to add Holly Joy (Heartland), and the motion was unanimously approved. He also moved to add Henriette Okele (Democratic Republic of Congo), and that motion was unanimously approved. These additions strengthened the breadth and representation of the committee’s work.
The Council further approved the formation of an Advisory Team to serve alongside the Nominations Committee with voice but no vote. The Advisory Team will include two to three Conference Superintendents, two to three bishops, distributed globally, and two to three global staff persons, providing counsel regarding the slate of proposed commission members to be presented at General Conference. This action reflected the Council’s desire for wisdom, representation, and global perspective in preparing leadership recommendations for the wider Church.
The Council also approved motions assigning facilitation responsibilities for the administrative nominations process. Mike Schafer and a bishop designated by the Assembly of Bishops will facilitate the work of the administrative nominations committee. Bishop Mark Webb and Mike Schafer were also authorized to recruit two Conference Superintendents and two Assembly of Bishops representatives to serve on the Advisory Team. These actions provided clarity, coordination, and accountability for an important General Conference preparation process.
The meeting concluded with prayer offered by Debra Davis and adjourned at 10:57 AM EST. Detailed Minutes
CALL TO ORDER
• Time: 9:00 AM (Eastern Standard Time)
• Presiding: Jessica LaGrone, chair
• Opening Prayer: Eugene Paik
APPROVAL OF MARCH 11-14, 2026 MINUTES
• Sam Gregory moved to approve.
• Gene Floore seconded.
• Unanimously approved.
BUSINESS ITEMS
1. GLOBAL METHODIST PRAYER NETWORK
• Laura Ballinger (Great Lakes/Clergy), chair of the Global Methodist Prayer Network, presented the work of her group and prayed over the Connectional Council.
2. MINISTRY AND HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION
• Chair Debra Davis presented the Ministerial Training Fund Formula and Requirements. • $2,100 minimum Annual Conference Board of Ministry distribution.
• Recipients must be enrolled in institutions that satisfy GMC ordination
requirements.
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3. CONFERENCES COMMISSION
• Chair Clark Atkins presented recommendations for Venezuela, Uganda, and Myanmar.
• Venezuela
• Request to approve The Plan of Union with The Methodist Church of Venezuela.
• Unanimously approved.
• Request to approve convening the Venezuela Annual Conference.
• Unanimously approved.
• Uganda
• Request to approve convening the Uganda Annual Conference.
• Unanimously approved.
• Myanmar
• Request to approve establishing a Myanmar Transitional Conference Advisory Team.
• Unanimously approved.
4. GENERAL CONFERENCE COMMISSION
• Review General Conference Administrative Committee Nominations
• Agenda Committee
• Unanimously approved as recommended.
• Credentials Committee
• Unanimously approved as recommended.
• Journal Committee
• Unanimously approved as recommended.
• Nominations Committee
• Erik Grayson moved to add Holly Joy (Heartland).
• Artie Cadar seconded.
• Unanimously approved.
• Erik Grayson moved to add Henriette Okele (Democratic Republic of Congo).
• Harrison Bell seconded.
• Unanimously approved.
• Erik Grayson moved to form an Advisory Team to serve on the Nominations Committee, with voice but no vote, composed of two to three
Conference Superintendents and two to three Bishops, distributed
globally, and two to three global staff persons, to provide advice regarding
the slate of proposed commission members to be presented at General
Conference.
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• Paul Lawler seconded.
• Unanimously approved.
• Harrison Bell moved that Mike Schafer and a Bishop designated by the
Assembly of Bishops facilitate the work of the administrative nominations
committee.
• Jeff Jernnigan seconded.
• Unanimously approved.
• Bishop Mark Webb moved that Mike Schafer and he (Bishop Webb) recruit two Conference Superintendents and two Assembly of Bishops
representatives to serve on the Advisory Team.
• Harrison Bell seconded
• Unanimously approved.
• Reference Committee
• Unanimously approved as recommended.
CLOSING
• Next Meeting: Monday, April 13, 2026, at 9:00 AM (EST)
• Concluding Prayer: Debra Davis
• Adjournment: 10:57 AM EST
Minutes prepared by John Beyers with the gracious assistance of Sam Gregory.
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