Official communication of the Global Methodist Church General Conference



View as Webpage

Daily Recap / Sunday, August 30, 2026

Holiness Begins with God: General Conference Opens in Johannesburg

The 2026 General Conference of the Global Methodist Church began not with the gavel, but with worship. On Sunday morning, delegates, bishops, and guests from across six continents filled the ballroom at the Sandton Convention Centre and lifted their voices together — the first time the denomination's chief decision-making body has ever gathered on the African continent. Under the conference theme, “The Beauty of Holiness,” the opening worship set the tone for the days of deliberation, election, and mission to come: before the Church does its work, it worships the One who calls it.

Gratitude and Challenge in the Episcopal Address

As delegates returned for Sunday's afternoon session at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, they were called back to their seats with the strains of “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.” What followed moved from gratitude to challenge — a celebration of how far God has carried a young movement, and a candid summons to become what it aspires to be.

The GMC's First Bishops, and the Path to Its Next

As the Global Methodist Church gathers in Johannesburg for General Conference 2026, it does so with gratitude for a group of leaders who accepted a particular and demanding calling: to serve as the denomination's first bishops during its formative years. Understanding who these leaders are, and how the Church has structured their possible continuation in office, offers a window into the care with which this young denomination is building its life together.

Watch the Livestream

Can't join us in Johannesburg? You can watch General Conference from home. Click the button below to watch the recorded livestream from today's session.

You can tune into the daily livestreams at beautyofholiness2026.org.

Watch the Recap Video – Day 1 at General Conference

Day 1 of the Beauty of Holiness is in the books. From worship and communion to approving the conference agenda, General Conference is off to a great start. Watch the recap of the first day and continue to pray and seek the Lord's will for our time together. We're just getting started!

Across the Globe: The Podcast

Tune In For Daily Updates

Beauty of Holiness Conference: Day 1 Recap

Jason Nix and Dianne Burnett recap Day 1 at the Beauty of Holiness General Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa. The day included an opening sermon from Bishop Kenneth Levingston, the episcopal address from Bishop Scott Jones, approval of the conference agenda, and a powerful time of opening worship and Holy Communion. They also discuss the affirmation of Bishops Moore and Auta as the conference begins its work and looks toward the days ahead.

Translating the Global Methodist Movement

Hear from Lamar Oliver and Luděk Janda as they discuss the daily work of translating eight major languages across the Global Methodist Church, the growing role of artificial intelligence in that process, and how their team is preparing to meet the translation and communication needs of the Beauty of Holiness General Conference.

Advancing the Kingdom Across Africa

Jason Nix sits down with Simon Mafunda, Africa Director for the GMC. Simon shares his personal testimony, stories from his ministry journey, and how he helped advocate for and coordinate the venue hosting the Beauty of Holiness Conference. Simon shares his heart and prayer for the future of the Global Methodist Church across Africa and around the world.

General Conference Day 1 Snapshots

Quick Links

Follow us on social media for in-the-moment General Conference updates: