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NEWS & UPDATES

November 1 Marks New Terms for Commissions and Councils

Members elected to the commissions and councils at General Conference will begin their six-year terms on November 1, 2026. As initial meetings are scheduled and new members prepare to serve, we invite you to pray for wisdom, discernment, and a smooth transition as they take up the important work of the denomination.


In accordance with the Book of Doctrines and Discipline, the Global Methodist Church is governed through a network of commissions, councils, committees, and other connectional bodies. These groups—made up of a majority of church members, both clergy and laity—work together to steward the life of the Church and advance our shared mission.

We give thanks for those completing the innaugural terms for the denomination. Their hard work laid the foundation for all that was accomplished during the GMC’s first few years. May God bless those concluding their service and guide those beginning the next chapter.

Visit the Councils and Commissions page to learn about the charge of each council and commission, its members, and their work. The website will be updated in the coming week to reflect the newly elected members. In the next week, councils and commissions will select leadership roles such as chair, secretary, and other designated positions. These positions will be added to the website as they become available.

Prayers for the Persecuted Church

On November 1, 2026 churches across the Global Methodist connection will observe the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) to unite in prayer for our brothers and sisters who suffer for their faith. According to the Open Doors 2026 World Watch List, an estimated 388 million Christians worldwide face high levels of persecution and discrimination because of their faith.

“The Church is so much bigger than our own congregation or even our own country,” said the Rev. Dr. Ashley Goad, International Ministries Chair for the Trinity Annual Conference and Pastor of Missions at the Woodlands Methodist Church. “We belong to one Body of Christ. When one part of the Body suffers, we all suffer.”

Established in 1996 by the World Evangelical Alliance, formerly known as the World Evangelical Fellowship, IDOP is observed on the first Sunday of November. The day of prayer coincides with the church’s observance of All Saints’ Day as we remember saints and martyrs on that Sunday. An alternate day of observance is November 8, 2026 and believers are encouraged to continue praying throughout the month of November.

Within the Global Methodist Church, many Christians, particularly in African and Asian countries, experience intimidation, injustice, oppression and violence because of their faith.

IDOP is an opportunity for churches and believers to stand in solidarity with the persecuted church as we pray alongside them. By intentionally setting aside a day to remember and pray, churches and believers are awakened to the very real and raw experiences of the persecuted church. Local churches are encouraged to participate in IDOP by setting aside time during worship on November 1 to pray for and bring awareness to the persecuted church.

Click the button below to learn more about IDOP and discover resources for observing the day with your local church or community.

Recent News: Ministry and Higher Education Commission Completes Review of United Theological Seminary

The Global Methodist Church’s Ministry and Higher Education Commission completed its review of United Theological Seminary and affirmed a decision not to approve the seminary for the future preparation of Global Methodist clergy. The review identified differences in doctrinal commitments, institutional alignment, and clergy formation that led the Commission to conclude that United does not sufficiently align with the Global Methodist Church’s specific standards for institutions preparing its clergy.

The Commission appreciates United’s dedication to theological education, teaching the gospel, and its contributions to preparing men and women for Christian ministry. The Global Methodist Church remains committed to ensuring that its future clergy receive preparation consistent with the Church’s doctrine and beliefs.

The review followed the Commission’s established process for evaluating educational institutions and included engagement with United’s leadership, faculty, and administration, including an onsite meeting on September 19, 2026. We are grateful for United’s gracious engagement throughout this process.

REMINDER: Review The Draft Liturgies of the Global Methodist Church

The three-month review period for The Draft Liturgies of the Global Methodist Church is underway, and your feedback is important. Pastors and church leaders are encouraged to review the drafts, use them in their local churches, and share feedback to help shape this resource for our denomination.

Please take the time to review the drafts and submit your feedback before the review period ends on December 31, 2026.

Visit the Draft Liturgies page to access all translations and the feedback submission link.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE SPOTLIGHT

VIETNAM ANNUAL CONFERENCE

The Vietnam Annual Conference held its convening annual conference in mid-September and has quickly moved into its work. With a focus on leadership training, congregational support and church planting, the conference is advancing its mission through outreach that spans local communities and international partnerships. “We believe our mission is to make disciples of Christ in our communities and throughout the world,” said Rev. Ma Linh, Conference Superintendent.

Leadership programs include coaching cohorts, pastoral training workshops and peer-learning groups, where clergy and ministry leaders exchange experiences and build connections. Church health assessments, consulting and revitalization help congregations examine their ministries, clarify their mission and identify community needs.

VIETNAM AT A GLANCE

ANNUAL CONFERENCE NEWS

Across the Connection: New Partnership Series

Starts in November

What started as an idea for collaboration between the MidTexas and Bulgaria annual conferences sparked into something much bigger—a family of believers, committed to serving alongside and supporting one another across oceans, language barriers and timezones.

In Across the Connection, you'll learn more about the partnership between the two conferences and hear from church leaders, elders, pastors and laity who are living in this unique community firsthand.

Each week, you'll receive an email that demonstrates an element of this special partnership. From a video filmed during a meeting of the conferences in Bulgaria, to a podcast episode with Bulgaria and MidTexas conference superintendents, you'll witness the global connection at work for God's glory.

ASSEMBLY

OF

BISHOPS

Newly Elected Bishops Gather for Prayer, Preparation, and Shared Leadership

The Global Methodist Church’s newly elected bishops gathered at First Methodist Church in Frisco, Texas, for their first in-person meeting since their election at the September 2026 General Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa. The gathering marked an important transition as the denomination prepares to welcome its first full-time Assembly of Bishops.

The week brought together the incoming and outgoing assemblies for worship, prayer, and preparation. Bishops who have served during the church’s formative years shared wisdom, practical tools, and information vital to the responsibilities of episcopal leadership. Their time together connected the experience of those who helped establish the church’s early course with the vision and calling of those entrusted to lead in this new season.

This exchange was more than an orientation to new responsibilities. It was an opportunity to strengthen relationships, share lessons learned in ministry, and prepare for the work of shepherding a growing global church. In her opening devotional message, Bishop Leah Gregory called on bishops to consider sitting at the feet of Jesus their primary responsibility.

Together, the bishops sought the Holy Spirit’s guidance and considered how their shared leadership could serve the Global Methodist Church’s mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ and spread scriptural holiness across the globe.

The Assembly’s covenant expresses its commitments to shared leadership, prayer, and faithful service. Read the covenant here.

Read more about the bishops’ committee assignments, leadership, and covenant.

On November 1, our newly elected bishops officially begin their terms and take up their new episcopal assignments. We welcome them and pray for God’s guidance as they begin this season of leadership and service. Watch this video to relive the moments the bishops were elected, and join us in praying for them as they lead and serve across the globe.

Below is a list of the bishops and their episcopal assignments. We ask God to grant them wisdom, discernment, and strength as they serve the Church and its mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ and spreading scriptural holiness across the globe.

GLOBAL OPERATIONS

Staff Spotlight: Lori Smith

Episcopal Operations Executive Assistant

As our Global Operations staff works to further the movement and mission of the Global Methodist Church, we want to serve you. Each month, learn about staff members on the Global Operations team and their areas of expertise and service. We strive to be an accessible and trusted resource and are excited for you to learn more about the team.

As the episcopal operations executive assistant, Lori serves as a strategic and trusted partner to the Assembly of Bishops. She provides operational and administrative support, assisting the Assembly with projects, meetings, travel logistics and other tasks.

With more than 40 years of accounting and financial experience, Lori Smith has served as an auditor for a public accounting firm and as a senior financial analyst and assistant vice president for a banking corporation. Her experience also includes service as a church administrator and as operations and events director for Christian World Missions.

Lori brings 35 years of ministry experience, including prayer, teaching, preaching, and worship leadership in the United States and internationally. More recently, she served as secretary of the Conferences Commission and led the Global Evaluation and Determination Team, which interviews international clergy applicants seeking to join the Global Methodist Church.

Continued MinistrySafe Partnership Benefits and Equips Local Churches

The Global Methodist Church has renewed its contract with MinistrySafe and will continue to partner with them to benefit local churches and reduce the risk of child sexual abuse. Ministry Safe resources include training, a library of videos, webinars, access to discounted background checks and more.

Upcoming Webinar:

November 17 | Creating Background Check Strategy - Part 2

Register for the November session.

On Demand Webinar Archives:

Recognizing the Risk: Understanding the Grooming Process

Building the System: Creating an Effective Child Safety Framework

...and more

View more webinars.

New Episodes of Across the Globe: The Podcast

While in Johannesburg for General Conference, we sat down with leaders from the connection to hear more about their roles in General Conference and how the Lord is moving throughout their local church or annual conference. This month, catch up on the stories of God's faithfulness through these special episodes.

Christ Died for People, Not Institutions

Keith Boyette

Answered Prayers in South Africa

Mbingeleli Elie Diko

Directing a Global Worship Team

Ryan Stueckemann

Building Bridges Across Cultures

Keihwan “Kevin” Ryoo

Leaders Trained & Sent in Central America

Luciano Pereira da Silva

Growing Deep Roots & Praying for Branches

Gabriella Kopas

Growing the Church in Rural Communities

Rick Enns

COMMISSIONS & COUNCILS

New Curriculum from the Ecumenical Relationships Commission

Holiness in Community: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building Local Partnerships with Other Christ-Followers

The mission of Christ is bigger than any one congregation.The Holiness in Community Guide helps local churches discover how partnering with other faithful Christ-followers can strengthen their witness, expand their impact, and more fully reflect the unity for which Jesus prayed.

WHO THIS GUIDE IS FOR

Global Methodists in local congregations — and other siblings in Christ — who want more from their church's walk with Jesus.



Use it with:

• Small groups and Sunday classes
• One-off study groups during Lent or after Pentecost
• Leadership gatherings, committees, and ministry teams
• Whole congregations

A great tool for conference superintendents and presiding elders to introduce throughout their conferences, this material adapts readily for district- or conference-wide clergy training, and can be recommended to local churches under your supervision. Where a congregation already belongs to a network of like-minded churches, the members can engage the study together — building on ecumenism already present rather than starting from scratch.

The guide and its videos are free and available in the six official languages of the Global Methodist Church.

The Global Messenger features devotionals and reflections submitted by members and friends of the Global Methodist Church. These messages offer a glimpse into how the Holy Spirit is moving in the life of the Church and in the hearts of our people around the world.

Please note: These writings are individual submissions and do not necessarily reflect the official positions or theological interpretations of the Global Methodist Church. They are shared to encourage, inspire, and foster connection across our global body.

Bwana Yesu Asifiwe! (Praise Be to God)

By Tyson Heins, Heartland Annual Conference

“Bwana Yesu asifiwe,” Swahili for “Praise be to the Lord Jesus,” was one of many things I learned while visiting Kenya after the 2026 General Conference of the Global Methodist Church.

I’m Tyson Heins, a lay member of Ebenezer GMC in Olpe, Kansas, Heartland General Conference delegate, and member of the Global Episcopacy Committee since 2024. I met Pastor Chrispus Ogari Aboki on WhatsApp while notifying Conference Superintendents of their assigned bishops. Our friendship grew, and he invited me to visit Nyarenda Fellowship Ebenezer Church and his village after General Conference.

The Rev. Everlyne Esther Kukah, Kenyan General Conference delegate and member of Maji International, accompanied me on the flight from Johannesburg to Nairobi and helped me reach my hotel. Maji International provides sustainable clean-water initiatives and hygiene education in Kenya. Before leaving Nairobi, we collected supplies from Maji’s office for a water filter distribution and purchased 48 Ekegusii Bibles from The Bible Society of Kenya to bring to a water hygiene training. The training at local churches demonstrated how to assemble, use, and maintain the filters. In addition to providing the water hygiene training and resources, we distributed Bibles, a gift from members of Ebenezer and Madison GMCs, praying over the Bibles and those receiving them.

General Conference is an Orchestration

Reflections from Johannesburg General Conference

By Rev. D. Rajan Immanuel, Pastor, Shekinah Global Methodist Church

The 2026 General Conference of the Global Methodist Church in Johannesburg, South Africa, was more than a conference for me. It was an experience of the global Body of Christ - different nations, colours, languages, cultures, and callings gathered with one unified heart around Jesus Christ.

As I worshipped, listened, prayed, and shared fellowship with brothers and sisters from around the world, one word came repeatedly to my heart: orchestration.

An orchestra has many instruments, but when they come together in harmony, they produce one beautiful sound. Johannesburg was like that—many voices, but one Gospel; many nations, but one Kingdom; many gifts, but one Spirit; many servants, but one Lord.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Beyond These Walls

Save the Date: February 25-27

The Woodlands, Texas, USA

Beyond These Walls conference will inspire and equip church leaders through the "best of the best" mission practices.

Download the flyer to post in your local church and encourage your congregations to join in on this opportunity.

SHOP GMC STORE

Grab a GMC journal for note taking or for your personal devotional time. Shop for official Global Methodist Church merchandise at The GMC Store—thoughtfully designed for everyday use. Conferences and local churches can also request custom orders to meet their specific needs.

Every purchase helps support the work we’re doing together. Take a moment to browse for yourself or find a meaningful gift for someone else.

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