Housing at Green Lake Conference Center for this year’s Annual Conference has officially reached capacity, and we are so grateful for the incredible response! If you were unable to secure on-site accommodations, don’t worry! We’ve gathered a list of nearby off-site housing options to help make your planning as smooth as possible. Below, you’ll find a wide variety of off-site housing options including some larger hotel chains in regional cities. In addition, consider using Google, Airbnb, or Vrbo for bed and breakfast and other local lodging options near Green Lake, Wisconsin. Please note that the options below are provided for your information only. The Great Lakes Annual Conference is not specifically partnering or recommending any of the options listed. Green Lake (6 miles): McConnell Inn Heidel House Hotel & Conference Center Ripon (12 miles) : Cobblestone Suites Boarders Inn & Suites by Cobblestone Hotels Mapes Hotel Berlin (14 miles): Super 8 by Wyndham Oshkosh (30 miles): Cobblestone Suites Oshkosh Baymont Inn and Suites Oshkosh Comfort Suites Oshkosh West Wingate by Wyndham Oshkosh Hilton Garden Inn Oshkosh Fond du Lac (30 miles): Hampton Inn Fond du Lac Days Inn by Wyndham Fond du Lac Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Fond du Lac Holiday Inn Express and Suites Fond du Lac Comfort Inn Fond du Lac Radisson Hotel and Conference Center Fond du Lac
Scouting ministry is one way the Global Methodist Church (GM Church) walks alongside children, youth, and families as they grow in character, leadership, faith, and service. Through partnerships with scouting-type organizations, churches help create spaces where young people can experience adventure, build meaningful relationships with caring adults, and explore how faith connects with everyday life. Scouting ministry welcomes families from the community and offers opportunities for both youth and adults to grow spiritually while serving together. Many congregations partner with scouting-type organizations as part of their ministry with children and youth. Here are a few of the organizations they may work with: Scouting America (formerly the Boy Scouts of America) offers programs for children and youths from kindergarten through young adulthood: Cubs; Scouts; Venturers. Girl Scouts of the USA provides programs for girls from kindergarten through high school: Daisies; Brownies; Juniors; Cadettes; Seniors. American Heritage Girls provides programs for girls from kindergarten through high school: Pathfinders; Tenderhearts; Explorers; Pioneers; Patriots. Trail Life provides programs for boys from kindergarten through high school: The Woodlands Trail; Navigators; Adventurers. These organizations emphasize personal growth through outdoor adventure, achievement recognition, uniforms, adult role models, and more. These organizations share a common heritage in the youth movements of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In England, this was shaped by Muscular Christianity; in the United States, by Theodore Roosevelt’s idea of The Strenuous Life ; and in Germany, by the Wandervogel movement. The GM Church works with children, youth, and families involved in these programs to support their adventures. Congregations of the GM Church may sponsor units of these and similar organizations (e.g., 4-H, Camp Fire), and these units are part of our congregations’ portfolio of ministries. This means that all members and volunteers connected to these units, whether or not they belong to our church, are part of our ministry. GM Church congregations in other countries are connected to different scouting associations. As partners in ministry, we support their work with youth in their local contexts. Additionally, we subscribe to PRAY Publishing programs, which provide five short-term studies for children and youth: Jesus & Me (K–1st Grade); God & Me (2nd–3rd Grade); God & Family (4th–5th Grade); God & Church (middle school); God & Life (high school/young adult). These church-based recognition programs are available to all children and youth of the congregation; students do not need to be registered in a scouting-type organization. PRAY also recognizes adults who minister through scouting volunteering with the God & Service Award. Each organization has its own special days of observance, but churches may choose how to observe and recognize ministries. The GM Church encourages lifting up the accomplishments of youth involved in these programs and recognizing volunteers for their ministry. The Great Lakes Annual Conference offers a recognition program for adults who minister through any scouting-type organization. The Witness Award requires the candidate to have both a scouting mentor and a church mentor. The Great Lakes Conference School of Lay Ministry also offers a Specialty Course in Scouting Ministry. Our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ, and scouting-type programs serve as a means toward that end. The GLAC Discipleship Team is responsible for resourcing scouting as ministry in our area. If you would like more information, reach out to Art Collins, Discipleship Team Leader, who can be reached at art.collins@greatlakesgmc.org .
It has been nine months since the Great Lakes Annual Conference elected its delegates, alternates, and reserves for General Conference — the highest governing body of the Global Methodist Church. When it meets, delegates from around the world will represent more than 7,000 churches, including the Great Lakes Annual Conference. Although General Conference does not meet until August 30, the delegation has already begun its work on several decisions regarding the episcopacy. Episcopal Area Partnerships Delegations were asked to rank up to ten annual conferences as potential partners in sharing a bishop. The Great Lakes list, in order: Allegheny West, Oasis, Upper Midwest, MidSouth, Heartland, Ethiopia Nazrawiyan, Western Europe, Central Europe, North Georgia, and Virginia. The Global Episcopacy Committee and Area Episcopacy Committee will use these rankings to form episcopal areas of six to eight conferences, each led by a single bishop. Area Episcopacy Committee Representatives Each delegation elected one clergy and one lay member to serve on the Area Episcopacy Committee. The Great Lakes delegation elected Jen Wilson (clergy) and Mike Womack (lay). This committee will begin meeting in June to determine episcopal areas, assess what the Great Lakes Conference needs in a bishop, interview nominees, and make recommendations to the delegation. Bishop Nominations Each delegation could nominate up to one candidate from within its conference and one from outside. The Great Lakes delegation nominated Scott Pattison (Great Lakes) and Gabriella Kopas (Central Europe). Commissions, Councils, and Committees In January, the delegation invited your input to help identify potential members for various Global Methodist Church bodies. Those suggestions are under review, and the delegation plans to finalize its recommendations at its next meeting. Looking Ahead Because this is a brand-new process, these decisions have required significant discussion and prayerful consideration. All four were due March 15, and the delegation is grateful to report that it expects to meet that deadline. General Conference will meet August 30–September 5 in Johannesburg, South Africa . Four hundred twenty-two delegates will gather to confirm structural decisions, elect bishops, and elect members to the church's commissions, councils, and committees, among other legislative responsibilities. More information about the episcopal election process is available at beautyofholiness2026.org/preliminary-documents. Much challenging work remains ahead, and the delegation deeply covets your prayers. Your Great Lakes Delegation (in order of election) Clergy Delegates (9): Scott Pattison [Chair]; Samuel Padgett; Beth Ann Cook; Sarah Wanck; Chris Ritter; Chris Gadlage [Secretary]; Jeff Buck; Michael T. Sawicki; Megan Alamo Clergy Alternates (2): Stan Pegram; RC Muhlbaier Clergy Reserves (7): Matt Hook; Curtis Banker; Arun Paul; Jason Rice; Nate Cravillion; Jeanne Winter; Clifford Schroeder Lay Delegates (9): Mike Womack [Vice Chair]; Melissa Padgett; Joy Hook; Jill Davis; Daniel Buck; Ellen Harbin; Bridget Douglas; Kathleen Engelman; Lily Johnson Lay Alternates (2): John Cooper; Janice Hansen Lay Reserves (7): Patricia Sawicki; Steve Hill; Kevin Macy; Thomas Finley; David Dunn; David Doty; Kirsten Mains
