Meeting Minutes List

Describe the item or answer the question so that site visitors who are interested get more information. You can emphasiCommission on Finance, Administration, Pension, and Benefits
In-Person Meeting Minutes, January 23-24, 2026
15 ATTENDING:
1 Harrison Bell
2 Sam Gregory
3 Vivian Kinnear
4 Bishop Auta (NT)
Thursday, January 22:
5 Luvo Thwethwa (SAT)
6 Sung-Soo Kim
Jennifer Lineberry CONFLICT
7 Sherry Austin
11 Matt Conover
Herman Dick CONFLICT
12 Matt Seel
13 Rhonda Bourgeois Molly Williams CONFLICT 14 Richard Croll
15 Olandor Boyce (LT)
8 Chris Akers
9 Jim Nobel
10 Mike Schafer
All 15 who planned to attend arrived safely and were able to gather for dinner and fellowship at 7 pm. We coordinated ride shares from the hotel to Christ Church, The Woodlands, for a 9 am arrival on Friday.
Friday, January 23:
We gathered at 9 am as Rev. Heather Sims, Lead Pastor, Christ Church, The Woodlands, led us in a devotional and prayer, followed by Holy Communion.
Harrison then briefed us on an overview of our time together.
Our first order of business was to review the proposed 2026 Budget for the Connectional Council meeting scheduled for Monday, January 26. After Matthew led us through his foundation for both income and expense numbers, we unanimously approved the 2026 proposed budget for recommendation.
$7,174,222 (90% BDD per Restriction) $7,150,357
Income: Expenses: Net:
$ 23,865
We noted the significance of growth in Connectional Funding year over year due to more churches becoming GMC and the number of churches paying connectional funding increasing each year.
We also came to a consensus to advise the Connectional Council that, legally, individuals who appear to be connected like an employee cannot be contractors but should be considered employees, and that all employed staff report to Mike Shafer as the
Connectional Operations Officer.
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Mr. Tom Lambrecht, General Conference Secretary, joined us to give an overview of how a group is to write effective legislation and the process for correct petition submission. His presentation was followed by Q&A. We expressed our appreciation for joining us today.
After lunch, we prioritized our list of possible legislation topics and possible means to accomplish them, if not legislation.
Before breaking out, we practiced on Par. 807.4.d.
Then we broke into work groups to begin drafting the content.
One group worked on health benefits Par. 811.e
We returned to our large group and presented each group's work.
We adjourned at 5 pm, then gathered at 6 pm for dinner and fellowship. A weather advisory for ice and snow prompted several of us to adjust our return home travel plans.
Saturday, January 24:
Those of us who were able gathered at 9:00 am for devotion and Holy Communion led by
Harrison. He talked about Joseph as an example of a faithful executive (in contrast with Judas) in carrying out his administrative responsibilities and how we, too, can learn from his example. We also prayed for this movement and especially for Bishop Auta, whom we laid hands on in prayer.
Then, we gathered for an informal time, Harrison adjusting our agenda in light of those who could no longer be with us. We talked about:
The plan for the legislative process will be sent out by Harrison shortly after talking with Sam and Vivian. He envisions assigning small groups to work on them and deferring our commission meetings to monthly to give the small groups time to meet
and work.
The concern for ongoing progress this commission has made regarding what we have been called to do when most of the members may not return on November 1.
Let Harrison know if anyone feels a call to continue so that he can help
inform those who will be influencing the slate of nominations.
What things can we accomplish between now and November 1?
Financial statements
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Must have policies and procedures
o Maybe, a 2027 budget draft
Submit legislation as a group
What does the function of "administration" in the name of our commission mean?
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What does the function of "pension" in the name of our commission mean?
By 10:30 am, we adjourned the in-person gathering, praying for everyone's safe travel back to their homes. Some must extend their hotel stay until the weather clears. Some opted for driving back when their flights were cancelled. We will all remember the impact the weather had upon all of us, causing us to shorten our time together. But we will also remember how good it was to be face-to-face and to get to know one another beyond our meeting times, if only for a short while.
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