The Great Lakes Annual Conference (GLAC) of the Global Methodist Church is pleased to announce the successful completion of its strategic planning process, with the final strategic plan now ready for conference-wide communication and affirmation at the upcoming annual conference session in Spring Arbor, Michigan, this June. This announcement follows the previously completed Gathering Phase (January-March) and Refinement Phase (April-May), representing the culmination of months of prayerful discernment and collaborative effort. The implementation phase will span over the next 2-3 years. Forming for the Future Under the theme “Forming for the Future,” inspired by Isaiah 64:8 (NLT): "And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand," the strategic plan provides a comprehensive framework for the conference's continued formation in the coming years. “What began as a conference-wide conversation has transformed into a clear, Spirit-led roadmap for our future,” says Rev. Dr. Scott Pattison, GLAC Conference Superintendent. “The strategic plan reflects the collective wisdom and faithful insights of our conference community. We are confident the Holy Spirit has guided this process and that the resulting plan will serve as a powerful tool for advancing God’s mission for our conference in the years to come.” The Refinement Phase task team, composed of Jill Davis, Bridget Douglas, Ellen Harbin, Rev. Dr. Scott Pattison, Rev. Stan Pegram, Rev. Tyler Best, and Rev. Kara Bussabarger, completed their intensive work at the end of April. The team meticulously analyzed all input from the 120+ survey responses and feedback received from multiple brainstorming sessions, identifying key themes that emerged across the conference. “The level of consistency in the feedback we received was remarkable,” notes Rev. Tyler Best, GLAC Director of Operations. “Certain priorities and values clearly resonated throughout our conference, giving us confidence that this plan truly represents a collective vision and not just the perspectives of a small group.” The Leadership Council recently reviewed and voted to forward the plan for report and affirmation at the GLAC’s annual conference next month. The completed plan, which has a scope of at least two years, is structured around five strategic areas, each with five broad goals: Cultural Formation: Continuing development of a distinctive, Spirit-led Wesleyan identity and culture Discipleship Formation : Equipping faithful disciples who grow in their faith journey and make other disciples Leadership Formation : Identifying, equipping, and empowering leaders at all levels Local Church Formation: Strengthening existing churches and planting new ones Missional Formation: Facilitating the Great Commission in neighborhoods and nations “This isn't just a document that will sit on a shelf,” emphasizes Rev. Kara Bussabarger, task team member. “Our approach empowers those championing each goal to invest in the process by having ownership of the tactical steps and timelines for moving forward.” Implementation of the strategy will involve working alongside various teams, groups, and committees from the GLAC to articulate tactical objectives for each goal. Each objective will include clear metrics for success, responsible parties, resource requirements, and realistic timelines to ensure accountability and progress tracking. “By empowering our teams and committees to develop specific objectives, we create broader buy-in, leverage diverse expertise, and establish a culture of shared ownership in our strategic direction,” adds Jill Davis, strategic planning team lay member. “This ensures that we do not create a top-down plan from the Conference leadership to local churches, and that both clergy and laity who are gifted and passionate in these areas can contribute in developing the next steps to bring this vision to life.” We invite all conference members to review the plan with open hearts and bold imagination, coming to the annual conference session ready to pray, dream, find your place, and step into this vision together - because it’s not just a plan, it’s our future. We want to bring it to life together. Those with questions about the strategic plan or implementation process may contact Rev. Tyler Best at tyler.best@greatlakesgmc.org.
We are pleased to announce that the reports and proposed legislation for the upcoming Great Lakes Annual Conference are now available for review. The conference will be held in Spring Arbor, Michigan, from June 11 to 13, 2025. All conference delegates and interested parties can access these important documents by visiting the link below. We encourage everyone to review these materials before our gathering to ensure productive and informed discussions and decisions during our time together. While most reports are now available, we are still awaiting two important documents: Nominations Team Report Strategic Plan Report These remain ing reports are expected to be available later this month as we approach the conference date. We will announce that once they have been uploaded to the conference website. We want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Rev. Chris Gadlage for his exceptional leadership of our legislative efforts. Chris has devoted countless hours to ensuring our legislative process runs smoothly and efficiently. His dedication to organizing proposals, coordinating with committees, and maintaining clear communication has been invaluable to our conference preparation. We look forward to seeing you in Spring Arbor as we gather to worship, fellowship, and discuss the important work ahead for our conference.
Date: Tuesday, June 10, 2025 Time: 7:30 - 8:30 pm Location: Student Life Center Lower Level, Spring Arbor, MI (on the first evening of the Great Lakes Annual Conference) The Global Methodist Church (GM Church) is reimagining how mission work happens—instead of conference-level initiatives, we envision supporting and resourcing meaningful local church engagement. We invite you to a special evening of connection and inspiration at our Missions Meet and Greet, where you'll discover how your congregation can participate in this transformative approach. The GM Church believes real mission work happens through relationships, not bureaucracy. Rather than operating through church agencies with extensive budgets, the GM Church empowers local congregations to form meaningful partnerships and direct engagement with mission fields. This grassroots approach ensures that mission work creates a lasting spiritual impact for both those serving and those being served. Our bishops have specially called the Great Lakes Annual Conference to support two emerging annual conferences in challenging regions: Oasis Annual Conference Ethiopia Annual Conference We are honored to welcome superintendents from both conferences, who will share firsthand accounts of their ministries and needs. This is a unique opportunity to establish direct relationships with these partner conferences. Is your congregation involved in mission trips or activities other churches might join? Come ready to share your experiences and invite collaboration! This Meet and Greet provides the perfect space to: Learn what other GM churches are doing in missions Discover opportunities to experience cross-cultural ministry Identify authentic needs rather than presumed ones Explore mission work that has eternal significance The GM Church encourages churches to evaluate their mission efforts, ensuring they go beyond simply giving things away to facilitating experiences with eternal impact. This gathering will help you, as a church leader, discern how to engage in missions that transform lives, both for those receiving help and those providing it. Join us for an inspiring evening that will expand your vision of what's possible through your local church's mission work!
