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
May 25, 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), Dan Gildner (Allegheny West), Erik Grayson (South Carolina), Sam Gregory (West Plains), Maxim Kvyatkovskiy (Central Russia), Jessica LaGrone (Trinity), Paul Lawler (Mississippi–West Tennessee), Cara Nicklas (Heartland), Bishop Mark Webb (USA)
Members Not Present: Bishop Kimba Evariste (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Gene Floore (Alabama Emerald Coast), Jeff Jernigan (North Georgia), Tesia Mallory (Allegheny West), Henriette Okele (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Eugene Paik (Korean American), 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)
Guests Present: Tom Lambrecht
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Executive Summary
The Connectional Council of the Global Methodist Church met on May 25, 2026, by Zoom, continuing its faithful work of governance, General Conference preparation, translation access, kingdom advancement discernment, commission evaluation, conference leadership support, and strategic planning coordination 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. Bishop Mark Webb 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 preparing for
The Global Methodist Church exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ and spread scriptural holiness across the globe.
General Conference with increasing attention to global participation, clear communication, accountable leadership, and mission-centered structure.
The Council approved the May 11, 2026 meeting minutes following a motion by Paul Lawler and a second by Sam Gregory. 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 across the connection.
A significant action of the meeting concerned language translation for the 2026 General Conference. Tom Lambrecht, General Conference Secretary, proposed full human translation of General Conference documents into French and Spanish, with full AI translations to be provided in Amharic, Kiswahili, Korean, Russian, and Thai. The Council unanimously approved the proposal.
This action represents a meaningful step toward a more fully global Church. Translation is not merely a technical service; it is an act of hospitality, justice, and connectional care. By providing General Conference materials in multiple languages, the Global Methodist Church strengthens participation, deepens trust, and helps delegates engage the work of holy conferencing with greater clarity and confidence.
The Council also received follow-up regarding the Assembly of Bishops’ recommendation concerning the Director of Kingdom Advancement position. Bishop Mark Webb moved to table the discussion and requested greater detail on the job descriptions, along with recommendations from the Strategic Planning Task Force, the Lilly Grant team, and the Kingdom Advancement team. Cara Nicklas seconded, and the motion was unanimously approved.
This action reflected the Council’s desire to proceed with wisdom, coordination, and careful discernment. The work of kingdom advancement is central to the Church’s mission, touching evangelism, church planting, global mission, and missional mobilization. Because of its importance, leadership decisions in this area require clarity of role, alignment with strategic priorities, and collaboration among those entrusted with shaping the Church’s future.
The Council then continued its work on the evaluation of Global Methodist Church commissions. Harrison Bell presented an update related to BDD ¶802.2 as a self-evaluation from commission members. Bishop Mark Webb moved to seek additional input on commissions from the general staff, Conference Superintendents, and members of the Assembly of Bishops. Dan Gildner seconded, and the motion was unanimously approved.
This action strengthened the Council’s commitment to evaluation, accountability, and continuous improvement. Commission work is vital to the life of the denomination, and broad input will help the Council better understand effectiveness, challenges, alignment, and areas for growth. A healthy global Church requires commissions that are missionally focused, well-coordinated, and accountable to the wider connection.
The Council also received a recommendation from the Conferences Commission regarding commission membership. William Brown (Heartland) was unanimously approved to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Kathryn Chittenden. This action provided continuity for the work of the Conferences Commission and strengthened the Church’s ongoing attention to annual conferences, emerging areas, missional areas, and global conference development.
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The Council also noted the upcoming Zoom meeting with the Strategic Planning Task Force, scheduled for June 25, 2026, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM EST. This meeting will provide an important opportunity for the Council to engage the strategic planning process as the Church continues discerning its future priorities in evangelism, discipleship, mission, leadership development, and global growth. Strategic planning, when grounded in prayer and faithful discernment, helps the Church steward its opportunities with clarity, courage, and conviction.
The meeting concluded with prayer offered by Maxim Kvyatkovskiy and adjourned at 10:15 AM EST. Detailed Minutes
CALL TO ORDER
• Time: 9:00 AM EST
• Presiding: Jessica LaGrone, chair
• Opening Prayer: Bishop Mark Webb
APPROVAL OF MAY 11, 2026 MINUTES
• Paul Lawler moved to approve.
• Sam Gregory seconded.
• Unanimously approved.
BUSINESS ITEMS
• LANGUAGE TRANSLATION PROPOSAL
• Tom Lambrecht, General Conference Secretary, proposed full human translation of General Conference documents into French and Spanish. Full AI translations will be provided for Amharic, Kiswahili, Korean, Russian, and Thai.
• Unanimously approved.
• ASSEMBLY OF BISHOPS RECOMMENDATION
• Follow-up on a recommendation on the Director of Kingdom Advancement position recommended by the Assembly of Bishops.
• Bishop Mark Webb moved to table the discussion and requested greater detail on the job descriptions and a recommendation from the Strategic Planning taskforce, the Lilly Grant team, and the Kingdom Advancement team.
• Cara Nicklas seconded.
• Unanimously approved.
• EVALUATION OF GMC COMMISSIONS
• Harrison Bell presented an update on BDD ¶802.2 as a self-evaluation from commission members.
• Bishop Webb moved to seek additional input on commissions from the general staff, Conference Superintendents, and members of the Assembly of Bishops.
• Dan Gildner seconded.
• Unanimously approved.
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• CONFERENCES COMMISSION
• Addition of William Brown (Lay/Heartland) to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Kathryn Chittenden (Lay/Heartland).
• Unanimously approved.
• ZOOM MEETING WITH THE STRATEGIC PLANNING TASK FORCE • June 25, 2026 at 2:00 – 4:00 PM EST
CLOSING
• Next Meeting: Monday, June 22, 2026, at 9:00 AM EST
• Concluding Prayer: Maxim Kvyatkovskiv
• Adjournment: 10:15 AM EST
Minutes prepared by John Beyers with the gracious assistance of Sam Gregory.
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