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
September 8, 2025 | 9:00 AM EDT | Via Zoom
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Members Present: Asaba Chin Ali (Southern Nigeria), John Beyers (North Georgia), Arturo Cadar (Trinity), Bulus Audu Daniel (Southern Nigeria), Gene Floore (Alabama Emerald Coast), Erik Grayson (South Carolina), Sam Gregory (West Plains), Jeff Jernigan (North Georgia), Jessica LaGrone (Trinity), Paul Lawler (Mississippi–West Tennessee), Cara Nicklas (Heartland), Vida Mei Rivera (Mega Manila), Daniel Topalski (Bulgaria)
Members Not Present: Harrison Bell (Alabama Emerald Coast), Debra Davis (Trinity), Bishop Kimba Evariste (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Dan Gildner (Allegheny West), Tesia Mallory (Allegheny West), Henriette Okele (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Eugene Paik (Korean American), Bishop Mark Webb (USA)
Staff Members Present: Dianne Burnett (Executive Director of Communications), Matthew Conover (Executive Director of Finance), Mike Schafer (Connectional Operations Officer)
Executive Summary
The Connectional Council of the Global Methodist Church met on September 8, 2025, by Zoom, continuing its prayerful and purposeful work of governance, conference development, global representation, General Conference preparation, and connectional leadership in service to the Church’s mission: to make disciples of Jesus Christ and spread scriptural holiness across the globe.
The meeting was presided over by Chair Jessica LaGrone and opened with prayer offered by Matt Conover. The Council’s work reflected a Church continuing to grow in global reach, organizational clarity, and missional readiness. Each action before the Council served the larger purpose of strengthening the connection for faithful witness, disciplined governance, and worldwide Methodist mission.
The Council unanimously approved the August 18, 2025 meeting minutes, continuing its commitment to accurate recordkeeping, institutional continuity, and responsible corporate governance. In a growing
The Global Methodist Church exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ and spread scriptural holiness across the globe.
global denomination, faithful minutes help preserve trust, clarify decisions, and support accountable leadership across the connection.
A significant action of the meeting was the unanimous approval of the Conferences Commission recommendation to establish the Mexico Annual Conference. This decision marks an important milestone in the continuing development of the Global Methodist Church’s conference structure. The establishment of the Mexico Annual Conference reflects both the growth of the Church and the Council’s commitment to supporting regional identity, contextual ministry, and faithful connectional organization.
The Council also received and reviewed follow-up information from the Conferences Commission regarding the naming of annual conferences. This discussion reflected the importance of clear, consistent, and missionally appropriate naming practices as the Church continues to organize across nations, regions, languages, and cultures. Such work may appear administrative, but it serves the deeper purpose of helping the Church speak clearly, act faithfully, and organize wisely in a global context.
The Council then considered the nomination of an additional lay member to the Connectional Council in order to equalize lay and clergy representation. Two nominees were received, and Maxim Kvyatkovskiy (Central Russia) was unanimously approved. This action strengthened the Council’s representative balance and broadened its global perspective. His approval reflects the Church’s commitment to shared leadership, lay participation, and a Council that increasingly embodies the international breadth of the Global Methodist connection.
The Council also received a very positive report from Mike Schafer regarding his recent trip to Johannesburg with Becci Wood, General Conference Event Project Manager, for an onsite preview of the 2026 General Conference location. The report noted excellent transportation, hotel accommodations, conference space, and dining facilities, with no safety concerns identified. This encouraging update strengthened confidence in the preparations for the 2026 General Conference and affirmed that significant planning is underway for a historic global gathering of the Church.
The meeting concluded with prayer offered by Cara Nicklas and adjourned at 9:39 AM. Detailed Minutes
CALL TO ORDER
• Time: 9:01 AM EST
• Presiding: Jessica LaGrone, chair
• Opening Prayer: Matt Conover
APPROVAL OF AUGUST 18, 2025 MEETING MINUTES
• Unanimously approved.
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BUSINESS ITEMS
1. Conferences Commission Recommendation
• Establishing the Mexico Annual Conference
• Unanimously approved.
2. Conferences Commission Follow Up on Naming Annual Conferences
• Request for information received and reviewed.
3. New Lay Member Nomination for Connectional Council
• Additional Lay Person to Equalize with Clergy Persons
• Two nominees received.
• Maxim Kvyatkovskiy (Laity/Central Russia Annual Conference)
unanimously approved.
4. Report on Johannesburg Trip
• Mike Schafer offered a very positive update on his trip to Johannesburg with Becci Wood, General Conference Event Project Manager, for an onsite 2026 General Conference site preview.
• In summary: Excellent transportation, hotel, conference space, and dining facilities; no safety concerns noted.
CLOSING
• Next Meeting: Monday, September 15, 2025, at 9:45 AM EST
• Concluding Prayer: Cara Nicklas
• Adjournment: 9:39 AM EST
Minutes Prepared By: John Beyers
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