Meeting Minutes List

Describe the item or answer the question so that site visitors who are interested get more information. You can emphasiMinistry and Higher Education Notes
February 16, 2026
Present: Debra Davis, Bridget Douglas, Jane Finley, Leslie Tomlison, Dan Gildner, Bishop Kenneth Levingston, Andrea Schadel, Andy Miller III, Margarita Todorova, Sherry Powers, Reuben Ososo
Absent: Burt Palmer, Brian Ebel, Bonface Wanyama, Daniella Massangu Ngoy, Diana Cabauatan
Staff Representative: Theresa Marcus and Dianne Burnett
Meeting Opened in Prayer
Review and Approve Minutes of 2/2/2026 Meeting: Motion to accept minutes, Jane Finley. Second, Margarita Todorova. Minutes approved.
Bishop Levingston Comments: John 15:5 Stay connected to the vine, bear the fruit, obey commandments, do the work of this committee, all from being connected to the vine. We can only bear fruit staying connected to the vine. Help us consider the fruit we bear, and let it be fruit from abiding in you. Let our fruit be real, not just a leafy look, but true fruit of the Spirit.
GMC Official Communication & Podcast: Report from Dianne Burnett the official podcast of the Global Methodist Church, will be called Across the Globe, and will expand upon the Monthly Newsletter. Official communication from the Ministry and Higher Eduction Commission will come through this medium. Commission members should notify the Chair if they are asked to discuss Commission business on other podcasts.
Subcommittee Reports:
CLM: Several applications have been submitted, there will likely be one brought before the next Commission meeting for approval status.
Committee on Approval: There are seminaries in every stage of the process. Communication with those seminaries continues now includes an extra layer of communication to the Bishops presiding over the area in which a University or Seminary is located.
Endorsing Ministries: Language was added to update paragraph p.12 WEDDINGS. Endorsed clergy may solemnize marriages after due counsel with the parties, in accordance with civil law and the BDD. In the event of any conflict between civil law and the BDD, the provisions of the BDD shall prevail for endorsed clergy. The decision to perform a ceremony rests with the clergy’s conscience. Endorsees should provide administrative/material support to all eligible constituents even when, for reasons of conscience, they cannot perform a requested ceremony, including referrals to appropriate religious support.
Motion to accept the above Language recommendation: Dan Gildner, Second Andy Miller III. Motion Carried
Motion to approve Endorsing Ministries guidebook including the approved language above: Leslie Tomlinson, second Dan Gildner. Motion Carried
Teresa Marcus: There is continual work to get the JotForm linked to Atlas created for the CLM-PCC application.
Next Meeting: March 2, 2026ze this text with bullets, italics or bold, and add links.