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)
July 28, 2026
9am EST
Voting Members Present: Shalom Azabe, Tim Beardsley, Mary Blagojevich, Beth Ann Cook, Elie Diko, César Gazza, Mike Grant, Jeff Greenway, Tsvetan Iliev, Carol Loeb, James Kawadza, Bridget Kirk, Norma Morrison, Nicolas Munongo, Mack Parker, Bill Patrick, Charles Puno, Stacy Taylor, Jay Therrell, Molly Williams, Becci Wood
Non-Voting Members Present: Laura Ballinger, Dianne Burnett, Lyndsey Clark, Tom Lambrecht, Lamar Oliver, Mike Schafer
Not Present: Sterling Allen, Ginger Barbee, Rhonda Bourgeois, Joy Griffin, Chipau Audu Kilyobas, Tesia Mallory, Davies Musigo
Opening Prayer: Dianne
Minutes: Motion by James, Seconded by Nicolas to approve minutes from July 14. Approved 13-0
Connectional Council Report, Mike Schafer:
• Nominee (Lamar Oliver) for General Conference Secretary approved. Will be voted on at GC.
Assembly of Bishops, Bishop Greenway:
• Continuing to pray for General Conference Commission and General Conference.
Event Project Manager, Becci:
• Name badges went to printer today; will update each week
• Working to match registration names with hotel rooms
• Last balance due payment to the Sandton Convention Center will be made • Sandton Convention Center is reviewing the function sheet
• Responding to emails and What’s App messages
• August 10 will be the close of registration; there are still at least 200 open registrations.
Mike Grant:
• Hybrid process is moving forward; go no go date is August 6
• Motion by Beth Ann, seconded by Mack to empower Team Leaders to make Hybrid go or no go decision at their August 6 meeting. Approved 16-0
• Concerns from travelers from other Africa countries about safety and arriving late. Hospitality volunteers will be greeting, even if outside the Gautrain hours; • Delegations will be emailed an outline of what transportation will look like. If not using Uniglobe, travel details are needed. Becci, James and Stacy will have a
Uniglobe app that will allow access to real time flight arrivals. Dianne will also be communicating information through the Cvent app.
• Upcoming GCC meetings: August 11; Team leads: August 6 and August 20; Current GCC term ends on November 1. There will be a meeting following General Conference.
• Response to request to purchase items in the US to bring to South Africa: It’s ok to say no (especially if you don’t know the person); Suggest working with partner conference. Important to know customs rules and regulations regarding bringing items into SA.
Worship Team, Tesia: (per Jeff)
• Meeting with preachers this week. Worship is all planned.
Legislative, Tom:
• Tom received a request to print and circulate a book written by an alternate delegate in regard to a petition. Motion by Tim, seconded by Jeff, for Mike Grant to send a letter denying the request to sell this book (or any books) at General Conference. Approved 16-1-1
• Adoption of Plan of Organization for 2032 - proposed to the General Conference for approval. (Sent to GCC via email for review.); Dates are specific. Connectional Council has authority to modify dates; a new plan of organization will be prepared for 2038 (or next General Conference); Thank you Tom! Approved 15-0-0
Petitions, Lamar:
• Jeromy (IT) running through the petitions process as it comes out of legislative committee. “Stress testing”.
Agenda, Norma:
• Latest agenda was emailed 7/27/2026, let Norma know if there are any changes or corrections; delegation dinners scheduled for Thursday night.
Translation/Interpretation, Bill:
• Meeting with KUDO to revise original agreement - adding an additional 100 hours; • Working on KUDO training materials
• Looking for additional persons in legislative committees to help with KUDO. Stacy is asking volunteers.
Finance, Molly:
• Continuing to send payments to South Africa
• Request for General Conference Commission budget - should it be sent out publicly? Molly will respond to this email and give general categories by team and will offer more specifics later.
• Are we having any special offerings at General Conference and for what? Molly will check with Tesia to see if an offering has been scheduled;
• Motion by Stacy, seconded by Tim to have an offering at the African Celebration night and determine where it will go at the next meeting, August 11. Approved
13-0-1; Jay will get more information from the South Africa Conference Superintendent, and include Elie, Nicolas and Tim in the discussion, and send an email to the GCC with thoughts.
Exhibitors/Sponsors, Mack:
• Questions regarding the floor map and location of doors and what time doors will open
• All booths, except one were filled.
Hospitality/Volunteers, Stacy:
• Have had a few volunteers cancel
• Monitoring airport arrivals for Uniglobe arrivals and others, especially outside the Gautrain operating hours.
International Relations, Elie:
• Continuing to monitor the VISA situation. Nigerian Ambassador promised good results and will let us know. DRC - Lumbashi side is good and the Kinshasa side should be as well.
Missions, Tim:
• ZOOM meeting with volunteers and Mission Experience sub team on Saturday. • Supplies are slowly getting moved to where they need to be. Prayers for Pat who has been unwell and is working on this.
Housing/Logistics, James:
• All printing requests should be in by 7/31.
Credentialing/Registration, Carol:
• Registration materials will arrive at the Sandton Wednesday, and help will be needed to get it organized on Thursday and Friday.
Communications, Dianne:
• Big announcement regarding the Episcopal Nominees will be out on Friday (7/31) • Communication team meeting today
• Meeting in person with communications on site team to walk through General Conference.
Prayer, Laura:
• Thank you to communications team; continuing to pray for overcoming fear.
Next meeting: Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at 9am EST
August 28 at 1:30PM at the Sandton Convention Center
Team Leader’s meetings: August 6 & August 20 at 10am EST
Motion to adjourn by Charles, seconded by James. Approved 13-0
Meeting closed in prayer by Tsvetan. Minutes submitted by Stacy Taylorze this text with bullets, italics or bold, and add links.