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)
June 23, 2026
9am EST
Voting Members Present: Sterling Allen, Shalom Azabe, Tim Beardsley, Mary Blagojevich, Beth Ann Cook, Elie Diko, Joy Griffin, Tsvetan Iliev, James Kawadza, Chipau Audu Kilyobas, Bridget Kirk, Carol Loeb, Norma Morrison, Davies Musigo, Stacy Taylor, Molly Williams
Non-Voting Members Present: Ginger Barbee, Rhonda Bourgeois, Dianne Burnett, Mike Grant, Tom Lambrecht, Lamar Oliver, Mike Schafer, Becci Wood
Not Present: Laura Ballinger, Lyndsey Clark, César Gazza, Jeff Greenway, Tesia Mallory, Nicolas Munongo, Mack Parker, Bill Patrick, Charles Puno, Jay Therrell
Opening Prayer: Tim
Minutes: Motion by Mary, seconded by Carol to approve minutes from June 9. Approved 12-0
Event Project Manager, Becci:
• Becci will be on vacation from July 1 - July 16; She will let us know who the points of contact are while she is away.
• 1100 confirmed registrants. 1375 total invitations out.
• Finalizing flight arrangements for GMC pay.
• Deadline for any signage, designs or supplies is July 1.
• Ebola update: Western Europe, DRC (also being tested) and Uganda are subject to quarantine after travel.
Worship Team, Tesia:
• No report
Missions, Tim:
• Mission supplies have been secured and a deposit made
• A covenant for all mission experience volunteers has been written and will go to the connectional council for approval
• T-SHIRTS: report from Sterling - three quotes have been received: • $36,000 Gilead brand - company in South Africa
• $18,000 brand that is readily available in South Africa with European sizing • $15,000 Sterling’s company - ships from China - this includes shipping cost MOTION by James, seconded by Beth Ann to get t-shirts from Sterling’s company and take funds from mission budget to pay for duty and VAT associated with importation from China. Approved 11-0-3
Finance team, Sterling and Becci will meet and report final numbers
• Team Member Zac V. is not coming to Johannesburg, looking for replacement.
Finance, Molly:
• Reminder for any financial decisions to go to Finance team 72 hours in advance. • Team Leads - please look at your budget and make any adjustments. • Matt Conover has been researching the VAT (Value Added Tax) in South Africa and
determined that the $250,000 we were hoping would be refunded, will NOT be refunded. Money may have to taken from the seed money for next General Conference.
Legislative, Tom:
• Two legislative committees have met, the rest are scheduled.
• KUDO - must use the app when using an iPhone or iPad - a browser does not work. Dianne will send out information about the KUDO app.
• Rough draft of the pre conference workbook is on track for July 1.
Petitions, Lamar:
• 447 valid petitions, with a few duplicates; Ludek working the final translation edits; July 1 - petition report will be online.
• Advocating for people - meeting with someone whose petition was ruled out of order, as a courtesy.
Agenda, Norma:
• Working on a separate agenda that lists events that do not relate to business; ie: dinners.
• Will also make one agenda for mission experiences; will get with Tim to verify times.
International Relations, Elie:
• Continue to pray for positive outcomes for those who have applied for a VISA.
Housing/Logistics, James:
• All printing requests in by July 1.
• Copy Molly in on requests for quotation.
• Secured the Gautrain cards for US Citizens. Planning to get these to US participants somehow.
Hospitality/Volunteers, Stacy:
• Putting together volunteer’s schedules; will need to match arrivals with hotel check in to make sure a hospitality person is assigned to the hotels to welcome.
Communications, Dianne:
• Started the weekly newsletter.
• Continuing to produce podcasts.
• Delegate updates have been helpful.
Credentialing/Registration, Carol:
• Working on registration according to arrivals
• More requests for observers, checking references.
Connectional Council Report, Mike Schafer:
• Nothing from the Connectional Council
• Met with the Global Episcopacy Committee regarding reception for retiring bishops, gifts and the videos for the top five episcopal nominees.
Assembly of Bishops, Bishop Greenway:
• No report
Sponsorships, Mack:
• No report
Translation/Interpretation, Bill:
• Assisting Tom with Legislative committee meetings as needed
Prayer, Laura:
• No report
Next meeting: Tuesday, July 14, 2026 at 9am EST
Motion to adjourn by Carol, seconded by Chipau Approved 12-0
Meeting closed in prayer by Elie.
Minutes submitted by Stacy Taylorze this text with bullets, italics or bold, and add links.