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
October 12, 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), Erik Grayson (South Carolina), Sam Gregory (West Plains), Jeff Jernigan (North Georgia), Maxim Kvyatkovskiy (Central Russia), Jessica LaGrone (Trinity), Bishop Paul Lawler (Mississippi–West Tennessee), Cara Nicklas (Heartland), Henriette Okele (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Vida Mei Rivera (Mega Manila), Daniel Topalski (Bulgaria), Bishop Mark Webb (USA)
Members Not Present: Bishop Kimba Evariste (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Dan Gildner (Allegheny West), Tesia Mallory (Allegheny West), Eugene Paik (Korean American)
Staff Members Present: Dianne Burnett (Executive Director of Communications), Matthew Conover (Executive Director of Finance), Mike Schafer (Connectional Operations Officer)
Members-Elect Present (with voice but no vote): Luciano Pereira da Silva (Panama), Gabi Kopas (Central Europe), Tammy Stott (North Carolina)
Invited Guest: Gary Clore
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Executive Summary
The Connectional Council of the Global Methodist Church met on October 12, 2026, by Zoom, continuing its faithful work of connectional governance, ministry development, financial stewardship, organizational evaluation, and leadership transition in service to the Church’s mission: to make disciples of Jesus Christ and spread scriptural holiness across the globe.
The Global Methodist Church exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ and spread scriptural holiness across the globe.
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time and was presided over by Chair Jessica LaGrone. John Beyers opened the meeting in prayer, grounding the Council’s deliberations in dependence upon the wisdom, grace, and guidance of God. As the current Council approaches the conclusion of its term, the meeting reflected a spirit of responsible stewardship, thoughtful evaluation, and commitment to preparing the Church for its next season of global leadership.
The Council approved the September 28, 2026 meeting minutes following a motion by Cara Nicklas 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.
The Council first received a presentation concerning Endorsing Ministries. Gary Clore outlined a ministry expansion and succession plan, including a request for funding a part-time associate director position. Gene Floore moved to refer the proposal to the Ministry and Higher Education Commission for further consideration. Debra Davis seconded, and the motion was unanimously approved.
This action reflected the Council’s commitment to strengthening specialized ministries related to the United States armed services, pastoral counseling, or ministry coaching while ensuring thoughtful succession planning and responsible allocation of resources.
The Council then considered the budget-building process presented by Matt Conover on behalf of the Finance, Administration, and Benefits Commission. Harrison Bell, Gene Floore, and Matt Conover were appointed to put together a proposed budget for the Connectional Council (for their approval at our next meeting) which passed with unanimous approval.
A significant portion of the meeting was devoted to reviewing evaluations of the Church’s connectional commissions. The Council approached this work through two questions: What findings were remarkable or surprising, and how should the findings inform the commissions’ future work?
This conversation represented an important exercise in organizational reflection and accountability. Rather than focusing exclusively on completed activities, the Council sought to consider the effectiveness, clarity, challenges, and future direction of the commissions entrusted with significant responsibilities in the life of the Church.
The review of the Conferences Commission revealed strong favorability and clarity of goals. Discussion also raised important questions concerning the Commission’s relationship with established annual conferences and the value of seeking input beyond commission membership. These observations highlighted the importance of maintaining clear responsibilities while encouraging broader connectional participation and communication.
The review of the Discipleship, Doctrine, and Just Ministry Commission pointed toward the need to develop resources that can better support the Church’s theological, disciplinary, and discipleship responsibilities. This emphasis reflected the importance of translating doctrinal commitments into practical resources that equip congregations and leaders for faithful Christian ministry.
The Ecumenical Relationships Commission review prompted reflection on the Commission’s purpose and focus. As the Global Methodist Church continues to develop relationships within the wider Christian community, clarity regarding the Commission’s responsibilities will be important for maintaining theological integrity and constructive ecumenical engagement.
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The Finance, Administration, Pension, and Benefits Commission review raised concerns regarding the financial burden that providing insurance places upon local congregations. The Council also discussed changing the term “Pension” to “Retirement” in the Commission’s name. These observations reflected the importance of evaluating administrative structures and benefits programs in light of their practical effects on congregations and those who serve them.
The review of the General Conference Commission identified concerns regarding trust and raised the need to examine the technology used in the current voting system. These matters are particularly important for maintaining confidence in the Church’s legislative and electoral processes.
The Kingdom Advancement Commission and the Ministry and Higher Education Commission were also included in the commission-by-commission review, although no specific observations or recommendations were offered.
One broader concern emerged regarding the practice of individual commissions establishing their own finance committees. This observation raised an important question about consistency, coordination, and financial oversight across the connection. As the denomination matures, careful attention to the relationship between commission-level financial practices and the Church’s broader administrative structures will remain essential.
The commission evaluation process reflected a willingness to examine the Church’s developing systems with humility, candor, and constructive purpose in order to recognize strengths, clarify responsibilities, strengthen relationships, and prepare for more fruitful ministry.
As the current Connectional Council approaches the conclusion of its service, these evaluations carry particular significance. The wisdom gained through the Council’s experience can become an important gift to those who will assume leadership on November 1, 2026. The opportunity before the Council is not merely to complete its remaining responsibilities, but to help ensure that the next generation of connectional leaders inherits a clearer understanding of the Church’s strengths, challenges, opportunities, and unfinished task of making disciples of Jesus Christ and spreading scriptural holiness across the globe.
The enduring measure of the Council’s work will not simply be the decisions it has made, but the faithfulness, fruitfulness, and global witness those decisions help make possible.
With gratitude for God’s sustaining grace and confidence in His continued guidance, the Connectional Council moves toward the completion of its term with a lasting conviction: leadership is entrusted for a season, but the mission of Jesus Christ continues from generation to generation.
May the work faithfully begun become a foundation upon which others will build, so that disciples are made, congregations are strengthened, leaders are equipped, and scriptural holiness continues to spread across the globe.
The meeting concluded with prayer offered by Sam Gregory and adjourned at 10:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time. The final meeting of the existing Connectional Council was scheduled for Monday, October 26, 2026, at 9:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time.
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Detailed Minutes
CALL TO ORDER
• Time: 9:00 AM EDT
• Presiding: Jessica LaGrone, chair
• Opening Prayer: John Beyers
APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER 28, 2026 MINUTES
• Cara Nicklas moved approval.
• Sam Gregory seconded.
• Unanimously approved.
BUSINESS ITEMS:
• ENDORSING MINISTRIES
• Ministry expansion and succession plan presented by Gary Clore with a request for part time associate director funding.
• Gene Floore moved to refer to the Ministry and Higher Education Commission. • Debra Davis seconded.
• Unanimously approved.
• FINANCE, ADMINISTRATION, AND BENEFITS COMMISSION
• Budget building process presented by Matt Conover.
• Harrison Bell, Gene Floore, Matt Concover appointed to review the budget requests. • Unanimously Approved
• COMMISSION EVALUATIONS
• Commission by commission review asking:
• What did you find remarkable or surprising?
• How does the review affect future work?
• Conferences Commission
• Remarkable/Surprising
• High favorability
• Clarity of goals
• How does the review affect future work?
• Clarity of goals
• Does the commission relate to established conferences?
• Permission to seek input beyond commission membership.
• Discipleship, Doctrine, and Just Ministry
• Remarkable/Surprising
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• How does the review affect future work?
• Develop resources.
• Ecumenical Relationships Commission
• Remarkable/Surprising
• Purpose and focus of Commission.
• Finance, Administration, Pension, and Benefits
• Remarkable/Surprising
• Guidestone insurance financial burden on local churches
• How does the review affect future work?
• Change “Pension” to “Retirement”
• General Conference Commission
• Remarkable/Surprising
• Trust issues
• How does the review affect future work?
• Review the current voting system technology.
• Kingdom Advancement Commission
• Ministry and Higher Education Commission
• General Comments
• Concerns with each commission establishing their own finance committees. CLOSING
• Final Meeting of Current Connectional Council:
• Monday, October 26, 2026, at 9:00 AM EDT.
• Concluding Prayer: Sam Gregory
• Adjournment: 10:30 AM EDT
Minutes prepared by John Beyers.
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