Great Lakes Pastor Chris Roberts Ministers at 230 MPH
The Great Lakes Annual Conference (GLAC) is preparing for a historic moment in our denomination's history as we approach the 2026 General Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa. Self-nomination profiles for General Conference delegate nominees are now available on our conference website for your review and prayerful consideration. Current Nominees We currently have 23 clergy nominees and 18 lay nominees who have submitted their names and information for consideration. These dedicated individuals have stepped forward to potentially serve as our representatives at this momentous gathering. However, it's important to remember that eligible clergy and laity can still be nominated from the floor of annual conference before voting takes place, ensuring every qualified person has the opportunity to serve. A Historic General Conference The 2026 General Conference will be held from August 30 through September 5, 2026, at the Sandton Convention Centre in the heart of Johannesburg's vibrant financial district. This marks a watershed moment for our denomination—the first time the Global Methodist Church's General Conference will convene on the African continent. This historic decision powerfully affirms our commitment to being a truly global movement that spans continents and cultures. The gathering will center around the inspiring theme "The Beauty of Holiness – A Spirit-Filled Life. A Holy Calling," calling us to deeper spiritual formation and faithful service. Delegate Allocation for Great Lakes The General Conference Commission has released preliminary projections for delegate allocation. The Great Lakes Annual Conference is projected to have 18 delegates—nine lay people and nine clergy—representing a decrease from the 20 delegates we had at 2024's Convening General Conference. It's crucial to understand that these are preliminary numbers. The official delegate count for each annual conference will be finalized in February 2026, based on the actual number of churches and pastors as of January 1, 2026. To ensure adequate representation, our conference will elect sufficient alternate and reserve delegates in case our official allocation increases. The preliminary total allocation for General Conference in South Africa across all conferences is set at 420 delegates, which falls at the high end of the acceptable range established by the GM Church's Connectional Council. These numbers are based on estimated church and pastor counts submitted by conference superintendents. A Call to Prayer and Discernment As we approach this election, we invite all lay and clergy members to engage in intentional prayer and discernment. The delegates we elect will help shape the future direction of our global denomination during this pivotal gathering in South Africa. Take time to review the nominee profiles on our website, seek God's guidance in prayer, and prepare your heart for the critical decisions ahead. Together, we will select representatives who will faithfully serve our conference and advance the mission of the Global Methodist Church. The opportunity to participate in this historic General Conference—the first on African soil—reminds us of the beauty and breadth of our global connection. May we approach this election with wisdom, prayer, and a deep sense of our calling to holiness.
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.
