Meeting Minutes List

Describe the item or answer the question so that site visitors who are interested get more information. You can emphasiGeneral Conference Commission (GCC)
February 24, 2026
9am EST
Voting Members Present: Sterling Allen, Shalom Azabe, Mary Blagojevich, Beth Ann Cook, César Gazza, Jeff Greenway, Joy Griffin, Tsvetan Iliev, James Kawadza, Chipau Audu Kilyobas, Bridget Kirk, Carol Loeb, Norma Morrison, Nicolas Munongo, Davies Musigo, Mack Parker, Bill Patrick, Charles Puno, Stacy Taylor, Jay Therrell, Molly Williams
Non-Voting Members Present: Laura Ballinger, Rhonda Bourgeois, Mike Grant, Tom Lambrecht, Tesia Mallory, Lamar Oliver, Mike Schafer, Becci Wood
Not Present: Ginger Barbee, Tim Beardsley, Dianne Burnett, Elie Diko Opening Prayer: James
Minutes: Motion by Carol, seconded by Jay to approve minutes from February 10 meeting. Approved 17-0
Connectional Council Report, Mike Schafer:
• No report
Event Project Manager, Becci:
• 562 registrations to date
• Next wave of registration invitations - non US delegates. Volunteers and exhibitors will be in the next week or two, followed by reserve delegates.
• Finalizing sixth hotel this week.
• Heading toward maximum capacity (1100) for the conference center. Budgeted for 900 persons. Future conversation regarding observers and budget may be forthcoming.
Assembly of Bishops, Bishop Greenway:
• Finalizing plans for 5 bishops and one operational officer from the Korean Methodist Church, who will be coming to sign a convent agreement. (Scheduled for Thursday) They will be covering their own expenses. This will be followed by an ecumenical lunch, which Bishop Moore is organizing.
• Elie will need the names for the VISA list.
Chair, Mike G:
• Continuity on General Conference Commission - you are encouraged to put your name in for nomination (especially laity). Let your delegation know. James expressed concerned that all persons do not understand what the commissions do. 2026 begins year one of six year terms. 2/3 of the members of the commission are elected, 1/3 are selected by the GCC.
• Conversation regarding the GCC opinion of having a 4 or 6 year gap between General Conferences? Opinions varied! Whatever is decided and possibly communicated as a petition will only happen as the result of a super majority vote from the GCC.
Finance, Molly:
• $157,530.58 of unallocated contingency funds left.
Request 1: Approved 17-0-0
Becci requested $10,000 to be used for her work (see the details below). When the GC budget was created, there was no money set aside specifically for her and the work she is doing. She needs to be able to travel to meet with commission members when necessary and pay for any miscellaneous expenses that come up (office supplies, printing materials, etc.). The finance team moves that we approve Becci’s request of $10,000 to be funded from the Contingency.
AREA of
EXPENSE
AMOUNT
PURPOSE
NOTES
Postage & Shipping
$250.00
materials to GCC Members; potential sponsors
Supplies
$250.00
portfolios, binders, pens, printer ink
Printing
$125.00
materials for portfolios; sponsors
Travel
$8,000.00 meetings w/ GCC Members
airfare, lodging, meals, ground transportation
Gifts
$1,200.00
GCC Members - sympathy, appreciation; Vendors
Other
$175.00 Items that come up misc.
$10,000.00
Request 2: Approved 18-0-0
Mike Grant has been invited to an all-leaders gathering in March to represent the General Conference Commission. We’ve been told that travel for this needs to come from the General Conference designated fund. The finance team moves that we approve up to $2,500 for Mike Grant to travel to the all-leaders gathering to be funded from the Contingency.
Sponsorships, Mack:
• Updated Benefits Chart for exhibitors (below) that was approved by the Finance Team this week. The chart features moving to a “7” day exhibit space duration from “3” days. The exception is for Bronze Level and African Partners. The reason for the
change is to fill more exhibit spaces by providing greater incentives to exhibitors to make purchases. Approved 18-0-0
(2) REI/MISSION PARTNERS/PUBLIC: GMC General Conference JOHANNESBURG 2026 Sponsorship Levels and Benefits
BENEFITS REIs and MISSION PARTNERS PUBLIC PUBLIC PUBLIC PUBLIC REIs and MISSION PARTNERS REIs and MISSION PARTNERS PUBLIC African Partners (Up to 10)
DIAMOND
DIAMOND
PLATINUM
GOLD
SILVER
SILVER
BRONZE
$10,000.00
$25,000.00
$20,000.00
$15,000.00
$10,000.00
$5,000.00
NOT APPLICABLE
BRONZE$2,000.00
EXHIBIT SPACE
7 DAYS
7 DAYS
7 DAYS
7 DAYS
7 DAYS
7 DAYS (SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE)
3 DAYS (SCHOLARSHIPS MAY BE AVAILABLE)
Donations
Exhibitor Space (Six foot table with two chairs, and electric hookup)
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Ads on Convention Hall Screen (Slide Show Displayed before and
X
X
X
X
X
X
after Plenary Sessions and during Breaks)Sponsor Recognition on Social Media
X
X
X
X
X
General Conference Website Sponsor Page (Highlight Sponsor’s
X
X
X
X
X
Name, Mission and Vision Statement, Logo and their Promotion)Link to Sponsor’s WebsiteDistribute Sponsor Material in Delegate Registration Packet
X
X
X
X
X
Distribute Gifts at Each Delegate Seat
X
X
X
Full Page Ad in Pre-Conference Journal
X
X
X
X
Half Page Ad in Pre- Conference Journal
X
X
Tour Package
X
X
X
Caption
• For-Profit entities partnering in ministry with the Global Methodist Church (GMC) must demonstrate an alignment to the values of the GMC’s mission, doctrinal and social witness commitments. Participating businesses/organizations are asked to enter into a mutual agreement affirming their support of, and adherence to, the GMC Mission and Vision Statements. (Both will be listed in the agreement for the exhibitor to sign.)
The vetting process (not part of the motion - just information)
The Exhibit Committee working with the Finance Team will do the vetting. The vetting consist of, but not limited to reviewing the business’ website, and any public materials that may be available regarding their mission and vision
statements, etc.
• Approved 20-0-0
Legislation, Tom:
• Nominations for administrative committees ended yesterday. The legislative committee will bring the names to the GCC for endorsement.
• Currently 11 non US delegations - with a few more to come.
• Motion by Beth Ann, seconded by Jeff, that to be a delegate, all persons must have their passport by April 15, 2026 and application for a VISA by May 1, 2026. Approved 17-0-0
• Motion by Beth Ann, seconded by Jay, to submit Tom’s petition to amend paragraph 812.2 Administrative Committees. Approved 17-0-0
• Motion from Jay, seconded by Sterling, to submit Tom’s petition to amend paragraph 709.6, Clergy Eligibility. Approved 18-0-0
• Motion by Jay, seconded by Sterling, to bring Tom’s petition to amend paragraph 709.6, Order of Election, to the floor for amending. Amendment by Sterling, seconded by Beth Ann, to add the word NOT to “a conference may not recommend a slate of delegates”. (That addition subsequently eliminates the last sentence in the petition). Amendment Approved 17-1-0
• Motion by Jay, seconded by Sterling to approve submitting the amended petition regarding paragraph 709.6 from the GCC. Approved 16-1-0
• Motion by Beth Ann, seconded by Sterling, to set the requirement that any proposed legislation that has the GCC name on it, should be approved by the GCC by a 2/3 vote. Approved 18-0-0
Agenda, Norma:
• Should space be left on the agenda for video testimonies on sanctification? Mike G - leave it on for now.
Petitions, Lamar:
• Heard that some non US persons are looking for a little guidance in submitting petitions via the portal. Help is being given.
• Deadline is still April 30 for petitions submission.
• Other petitions from Lamar for the GCC will be forthcoming.
Worship Team, Tesia:
• Reaching out to Tom and Dianne regarding print materials.
• Working on speaker selections.
Translation/Interpretation, Bill:
• Officially contracted with Kudo. Had a kick off meeting with them on Monday. • Requesting a space/room at the Sandton Convention Center for the Kudo representative and a place for the interpretation team to gather. Becci thinks maybe the Communications room. She will check on it.
Communications, Dianne:
• No report
Credentialing/Registration, Carol:
• Finalizing name tags.
Hospitality/Volunteers, Stacy:
• Volunteer list has been finalized and sent to Conference Superintendents for review. Had a few people who were removed from this list after review. All volunteers have been notified - except Interpreters, who will be notified after non US delegates are registered.
Housing/Logistics, James:
• No report
Missions, Tim:
• No Report
Prayer, Laura:
• No Report
International Relations, Elie:
• No report
Next meeting: Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 9am EST
Motion to adjourn by Nicolas, seconded by Molly. Approved 15-0-0 Meeting closed in prayer by Mike S.
Minutes submitted by Stacy Taylorze this text with bullets, italics or bold, and add links.