Michigan Conference United Methodist Journal, 2025 - Volume 1 · MIUMC Archives

Michigan Conference United Methodist Journal, 2025 - Volume 1

Item

Media: 2025-Vol-1-Historical-Reports.pdf

Title: Michigan Conference United Methodist Journal, 2025 - Volume 1
extracted text: UNFINISHED
HISTORICAL REPORT
VOLUME 1

2025 MICHIGAN ANNUAL CONFERENCE
MAY 30 - JUNE 1
GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT
ACME MI

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Michigan Annual Conerence Agencies, Boards, Commitees, Commissions
Arican American Minisries……………………………………..………………………………………………………….………………….3
Archives and Hisory.…………………………………………….………………………….……………………………………………….…….4
Communicaons.…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….6
Conerence Secreary o Global Minisries …………………………………………………………………………………….…….….8
Board o Global Minisries……………………………………………………..………………………………………………………………..9
Voluneers in Mission…………………………………………………..……………………………………………………………..9
Hai Taskorce………………………………………………………………………………..……………………………………………………..10
Conneconal Minisries…………………………………………………………………………..………………………………..…………..11
ENGAGEMI……………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………..……… 13
Religion and Race………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….14
Episcopacy…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………………………….….14
Equiable Compensaon………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..15
Finance and Adminisraon……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………15
Laiy……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……….16
Lay Servan Minisries………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……..19
Board o Ordained Minisry………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………….19
Pensions and Healh Beneﬁs…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………21
Prior Year Beneﬁs-Relaed Balances…………………………………………………………………………………………22
Seps o Reremen…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..28
Conerence Healh Care Policies………………………………………………………………………………………………..29
Trusees……………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………………………………….35
Young People’s Minisries………………..…………………………………………………………………………………….………………38
Campus Minisries
Cenral Michigan Universiy Wesley Foundaon……………………………………………………………………….39
Ferris Sae Universiy Wesley House……………………………………………………………………………….……….40
Kalamazoo Wesley Foundaon…………………………………………………………………………………………..……..41
Michigan Sae Universiy Wesley Foundaon……………………………………………………………………..……42
Norhern Michigan Universiy Wesley Campus Minisry…………………………………………………..……….43
Unied Campus Chrisan Fellowship……………………………………………………………………………………….. 44
Universiy o Michigan Wesley Foundaon…………………………………………………………………….………...45
Division o Higher Educaon and Campus Minisry…………………………………………………………………………..……45

Disrics o he Michigan Annual Conerence
Eas Winds…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…49
Greaer Souhwes…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………50
Norhern Skies……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….50
Wesern Waers………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……51
Cenral Bay……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……51
Greaer Deroi…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………..51
Heriage……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………..51

Michigan Annual Conerence-Relaed and Oher Agencies
Afer The Sorm……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..51
Michigan Area Loan Fund…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………..52
1

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

Senior Living - Brio Living Services and UMCR-Porer Hills Foundaon……………………………………………..…….53
Uned Mehodis Foundaon o Michigan…………………………………………………………………………………….……….56

Unied Mehodis Theological Schools
Candler School o Theology………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 58
Drew Universiy Theological School……………………………………………………………………………………….……………….59
Duke Diviniy School…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………..60
Gammon Theological Seminary…………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….62
Garre Theological Seminary………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……..63
Mehodis Theological School in Ohio……………………………………………………………………………………………..…….64
Unied Theological Seminary…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……65

Unied Mehodis General Board o Higher Educaon and Minisry
Arica Universiy……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……..66

2

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

MICHIGAN ANNUAL CONFERENCE AGENCIES, BOARDS, COMMITTEES, COMISSIONS

The Commitee on Arican American Minisries
The Commiee on Arican American Minisries is composed o members o organizaons ha are
speciﬁcally oriened o Arican American minisries (An-Bias/An-Racism group; Black Mehodis or
Church Renewal (BMCR), Urban Youh Alliance/Urban Camp, Unied Mehodis Black Clergy o Michigan
(UMBCM), Black Seminarians, Sacred Sisers [NCJ Black Clergy Women]), as well as he Lay Servan/Lay
Minisers in he Michigan Conerence. We connue o collaborae wih oher minoriy minisries.
We srive o ensure ha he Arican American churches, clergy, and laiy are inormed o naonal and
jurisdiconal evens and raining wih Black Mehodis or Church Renewal and Srenghening he Black
Church or he 21s Cenury (SBC21). In addion, we sen ou noﬁcaons o he black churches and
communies abou raining, acvies, and oher evens ha are occurring a he disric, conerence,
and naonal levels. We wan he people o be inormed abou wha’s available o hem wih a ocus on
mission and minisry, bold and eﬀecve leaders and vibran congregaons. and he people are
responding.
We connue o connec wih he MI Conerence French Church o assis hem in parcipang in he
evens and acvies in oher churches and wih our organizaon. Since many o is church members
and he pasors are no rom he Unied Saes, i has given hem exposure o oher Arican/Arican
American churches, wha’s going on a he conerence and disric level, and included hem in our
communiy acvies.
In addion, we have been noying our consuens o opporunies or spiriual growh, ormaon, and
developmen, leadership raining, rereas, children, and youh acvies, including summer camp (Urban
Youh Alliance).
The Lay Servan/Lay Miniser minisry has been successully recruing Arican American laiy o
parcipae in is exensive raining program.
Major accomplishmens in 2024:
Provided grans ha included:
•
•
•
•

$1,000 o each o he hree Freedom Schools
$13,365.97 or clergy echnology, church echnology and connuing educaon
$8,400 or church emergencies
$2,000 o he Youh Alliance

Response o 2025 Annual Conerence “Unﬁnished: Growing Up and Ino Chris.”

3

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

We plan o have expanded conversaons wih our churches and communies o see wha hey will need
as we move ino unknown erriory afer he 2024 General Conerence. Financial resources may be
reduced, so we will be brainsorming on how o connue o do vibran minisry in new and diﬀeren
ways. We have been examining he possibiliy o oﬀering an annual COAAM Meeng day.
The Michigan chaper o BMCR will connue expanding is scope and revializing ha minisry hrough
learning evens relaed o he Conerence’s heme, celebrang Juneeenh and Black Hisory Monh.
UMBCM will connue oﬀering a vibran rerea or Black Clergy in he monh o May eauring gues
speakers on a variey o subjecs aligned wih he Conerence’s 4 Focus Areas. There will also be monhly
ZOOM meengs wih gues speakers as well. We will be supporng he Togeher Agains Povery (T.A.P.)
program, sared in 2018. T.A.P is a collaboraon o Gleaners, a ew churches, and he Islamic Cener o
Deroi (ICD) working ogeher o expand disribuon o oher churches who wan o become a
disribuon sie.
We are looking orward o wha God has or us o do in he coming year!!!

Michigan Conerence Commission on Archives and Hisory
The Commission on Archives and Hisory (CAH) connues o ace challenges in is minisry by working
wih he conerence rusees and oher adminisraon. In 2023, here was a 50% CAH budge cu ha
connues ino he 2025 CAH budge. This grealy reduced our ﬁnancial suppor or our wo par-me
archiviss and or archive mainenance. Anoher challenge has been acing he CAH or many years, in
dealing wih limied space remaining o keep he collecons. This space issue is complicaed by a me o
receiving maerials no only rom closed churches, bu rom disaﬃliaed churches as well.
Mos new maerials are kep a a conerence suie a Clark Corners in DeWi, and archiviss have done
grea work o process and organize ha space. The radional archival locaons are a Albion College
and Adrian College where, as menoned above, space is very limied. Archiviss have been eliminang
duplicae maerials beween hese archives o make some room. Archiviss have developed a new
websie or access o he collecons a miumcarchives.org or amily and Michigan UMC research.
Digizing Records
Alhough archiviss increase online access o records hrough digizaon, his is no a quick answer o
our lack o space or a leas wo reasons: (1) Some sugges ha once maerials are digized, hen paper
copies may be disposed o. This is no good archival pracce, since here would be no backup maerial i
somehing were o happen o he digial soring mechanisms. (2) Digizing is expensive. I akes many
hours and access o speciﬁc sofware and hardware o upload and sore he enre archival collecon.
Funding
The CAH connues o parner wih he Michigan Area UMC Hisorical Sociey o solici unds o
supplemen he CAH budge hrough donaons rom churches and individuals. Donaons are sen o he
MAUMCHS reasurer and moved o he CAH budge as needed.
4

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

Iniaves
The CAH is working o increase communicaons by making an archival checklis available o local
churches and conerences agencies or local archive sorage or o be sen he conerence archives. We
are excied o be working wih Annual Conerence planners o invie he GCAH General Secreary, Dr.
Ashley Boggan, o speak a he 2026 Michigan Annual Conerence. We encourage everyone o sudy and
ell he hisory o how God has been a work in he Michigan Conerence UMC and hereby gain
inspiraon or connued minisry.
Submied by,
Rev. Melanie Young, Chair
Michigan Conerence Commission on Archives and Hisory

Michigan Area Unied Mehodis Church Hisorical Sociey
The Michigan Area Unied Mehodis Church Hisorical Sociey (MAUMCHS) has been incorporaed
since 1958. The name was changed rom Michigan Mehodis Hisorical Sociey in 1975.
The purpose o he Sociey:
To compile, edi, publish, and disribue hisories o Michigan Unied Mehodism, is predecessor
denominaons, and any oher hisorical works ha may laer demand aenon; o solici,
acquire, and adminiser unds o accomplish such purposes and any oher acs as may be
deemed necessary o carry ou such purposes; and promoe, suppor, and nurure he
conerence archives.
Oher purposes may include organizing area-wide celebraons o hisorical evens and convocaons
which may involve parcipaon beyond he board o direcors; digizaon and disribuon o
hisorical maerials; awarding cerﬁcaes o recognion o local churches ha are celebrang
imporan milesones, awarding disnguished service awards o individuals and groups wihin
Michigan; recognizing and promong Unied Mehodis hisoric sies in he sae; helping conerence,
disric, and local church hisorians and archiviss hrough workshops and inormaon sharing; and
such oher acvies as are consisen wih he by-laws o he Hisorical Sociey o he Unied
Mehodis Church.
We relae o he Hisorical Sociey o he Unied Mehodis Church. We are now a Sociey member o he
Hisorical Sociey o Michigan.
The oﬃcers are Diana Spinale Miller - Presiden, Sharon Sco - Secreary, and Della Wilder - Treasurer.
Due o he Covid Pandemic, he oﬃcers ollowed oher agency proocol and sayed in place unl he
middle o 2024. They are usually eleced a a convocaon. There hasn’ been a convocaon or several
years so here has been no elecon. The oﬃcers have been willing o connue.
Board Meengs were held in 2024 on January 10, March 14, and November 7 by ZOOM. Each me he
Conerence Commission on Archives and Hisory me by Zoom he same day. We share several members
and were repeang business iems. The archiviss, who do such good work o manage our Archives and
5

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

keep us up o dae, are Elizabeh Palmer a Albion College and Rebecca McNi who works wih maerials
primarily based a Adrian College. They boh are working wih maerials ha are deposied a Clark Corners
in Lansing MI. This includes maerials rom closed churches.
Budge cus are making i more diﬃcul o und our archiviss and heir work. MAUMCHS has become a
501.c.3 organizaon so ha we can ake donaons oward he Archives budge. We hen can make grans
o heir budge. This was no necessary in 2024.
Afer several years o successul Roos and Branches Hisorical Convocaons in he spring, we did no
have one in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Since 2017, we have been presenng cerﬁcaes o churches, recognizing longeviy or 100, 125, 150,
175, or 200 years and some special requess. In 2024 here were a ew churches eligible, bu none were
given. We hope o cach up in 2025. We are connuing o work on our lis o churches and heir years
o beginning. Our liss o cerﬁcaes given are published on our websie:
hps://michiganumchisoricalsociey.wordpress.com/
I we have missed an anniversary or your church, le us know. Conac inormaon is available on he
websie under Board o Direcors.
Our group welcomes hisorians o churches, hose ineresed in church hisory and preserving i, clergy
and lay, o join he Sociey. Membership includes receiving news abou he Sociey acvies and ree
regisraon o our sponsored evens. A membership brochure is available on our websie.
Diana Spinale Miller, Presiden
Communicaons
Michigan Conerence Communicaons: 2024 Year in Review
In 2024, Michigan Conerence Communicaons had a as-paced and challenging year, sharing mission
and minisry sories wih local churches across Michigan and beyond. The communicaons eam—led by
Krisen Gillee, James Deaon, Valerie Mossman-Celesn, Adrienne Trupiano, and Mark Doyal—
collaboraed closely wih vendors, reelancers, and voluneers. They were suppored by he
Communicaons Commission and is members: Ali Belsky, Bishop David Bard, Dillon Burns, Jennier
Browne, Annee Erbes, Oneika Mobley, and he Rev. Vickie Prewi.
Using a variey o mediums—elecronic, prin, sreaming, and video—he eam worked o inorm and
engage every Michigan Unied Mehodis communiy, oﬀering crucial suppor and educaonal resources.
Their impac reached ens o housands o people weekly across 50 counries.
2024 Highlighs
March – Advocacy Day
The eam suppored Advocacy Day a he Sae Capiol in Lansing. Leading up o he even, hey wroe
arcles on menal healh coverage, produced wo live webinars in January and February, designed
signage and an even webpage, and issued press releases ha brough local and saewide media
aenon o he need or menal healh insurance reorm.

6

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

May – General Conerence
The ocus shifed o he hisoric 10-day General Conerence, where he eam worked 18-hour days o
provide live daily coverage. James Deaon, Mark Doyal, and Andrew Sange produced a daily newsleer,
social media updaes, a daily Facebook Live broadcas, and more. In addion o covering Michigan news,
he eam collaboraed wih oher conerences and he Unied Mehodis News eam.
June – Annual Conerence
Jus hree weeks afer General Conerence, he eam ransioned operaons o Traverse Ciy o provide
ull-day live coverage o he Michigan Annual Conerence. Leading up o he even, hey produced ﬁve
videos and numerous prin maerials. On-sie, hey managed a daily newsleer, social media updaes,
and even suppor.
July – Norh Cenral Jurisdicaon Conerence
Laer ha monh, he eam provided live coverage o he Norh Cenral Jurisdicon meeng in Sioux
Falls, Souh Dakoa. Over our days, hey collaboraed wih NCJ communicaors o produce daily
newsleer summaries, videos, and social media conen.
Augus – Annual Repor
The eam produced he ﬁrs Michigan Conerence Annual Repor o help members undersand he
imporance o Minisry Shares. The repor deailed how conerence apporonmens und mission and
minisry eﬀors across Michigan.
Sepember & Ocober – Websie Revamp
Final work on he MichiganUMC.org websie revamp was compleed, improving navigaon, search
uncons, and readabiliy in ﬁve languages. The updae sreamlined oudaed pages and maerials. In
Ocober, Mark Doyal aended his ﬁrs board meeng or Unied Mehodis Communicaons in
Nashville, where he was eleced o he Execuve Team and named chair o he Programming Commiee.
November – Adven & Bishop’s Lisening Tour
The eam produced Adven maerials or local churches, including a welcome message rom Bishop Bard
and a pos-Chrismas sermon. They also launched an Adven appeal o raise unds or disaser relie in
he U.S. Addionally, hey ran a wo-monh campaign promong he Bishop’s lisening our across he
sae.
December – Chrismas Oureach
The “Spend Chrismas a Our House” social media campaign brough more han 8,500 visiors o he
Michigan Conerence websie, connecng unaﬃliaed individuals wih online and in-person Chrismas
Eve services.

7

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

Ongoing Work & Impac
Beyond hese major projecs, he communicaons eam provides ongoing suppor o local churches,
assisng wih social media, even promoon, and websie issues. They also oﬀer crisis communicaon
suppor or churches acing sensive siuaons.
The eam produces:
•
•
•

12 issues o he For Your Beneﬁ newsleer
50 issues o he MIconnec weekly e-publicaon
50 issues o MIfaih

They also suppor conerence saﬀ, boards, and agencies in promong heir work. 2024 was a
demanding and rewarding year or Michigan Conerence Communicaons. The eam remains commied
o sharing he mission and minisry o he Unied Mehodis Church across Michigan and beyond.
Mark Doyal, Direcor o Communicaons.

Conerence Secreary o Global Minisries
The Conerence Board o Global Minisries led he conerence in growing up and ino Chris by
welcoming hree inerang missionaries o Michigan Conerence in 2024. Each o hese Unied
Mehodis missionaries shared abou heir work o ransormaon in he way o God’s kin-dom and
invied ohers ino ha growh in Chris.
In July, Princess Jusu, a nave o Sierra Leone, visied several Michigan congregaons o share abou her
work wih women’s empowermen a he Women’s Leadership Training Cener in Monrovia, Liberia.
Princess also parcipaed in Mission u, he Unied Women in Faih annual learning even in Moun
Pleasan, where she also shared abou her work and engaged in cross-culural relaonship-building.
In he Sepember, Florence and Emmanuel Meor, missionaries rom Nigeria, visied churches across he
Michigan Conerence. The Meors shared abou heir healh minisries work a he Old Muare Hospial
in Muare, Zimbabwe, where Emmanuel serves as a docor and Florence works as a nurse.
Boh longme supporers and new parner churches across he conerence collaboraed o hos hese
inerang missionaries. We celebrae he hospialiy o our Michigan Unied Mehodis Church and are
graeul or he ways ha our conneconal web has been srenghened or uure visis.
We also celebrae ha, a each o hese visis, sories o God’s ransormaon and mercy were shared,
and all were invied ino deeper connecon in minisry. All who parcipaed surely grew up and ino
Chris and were equipped or greaer service o God’s unﬁnished work o love. We look orward o many
new opporunies or connecon in 2025!
Audra Hudson Sone, CSGM

8

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

Board o Global Minisries
The Michigan Conerence Board o Global Minisries (CBGM) is commied o helping our local
congregaons share God’s love wih heir neighbors, righ nex door or hal a world away. As he link
beween he denominaon’s General Board o Global Minisries (GBGM) and our conerence’s local
mission leaders and voluneers, he CBGM is an imporan elemen o our Mehodis connecon and a
condui ha direcs our conerence’s missional eﬀors and resources or he good o he Church and he
good o he world.
As a board, our work consiss primarily o elling he sories o he Church’s impac and winess in he
world, nururing mission and minisry relaonships across he conerence, and supporng missional
oureach hrough raining and resources. We are joyul recipiens o he missional hear o our
Mehodis and Wesleyan heriage and are delighed o be repeaed winesses o he numerous liechanging minisries aking place wihin and hrough our conerence. We are glad o celebrae ha,
ogeher, he people o he Unied Mehodis Church in Michigan are embodying he love o Chris and
ransorming he world.
In 2024, he Michigan Conerence Board o Global Minisries celebraes he ollowing acvies and
achievemens:
•
•
•
•
•

$156,113 was raised or mission and minisry hrough EngageMI, he Mission Engagemen
Program or he Michigan Conerence
334 churches rom he Michigan Conerence gave a oal o $889,298 o GBGM projecs,
including General Advance Projecs, Missionary Suppor, and UMCOR
Hosng he Mission Fesval a he 2024 Annual Conerence, which provided an opporuniy or
members o he Annual Conerence o mee and develop relaonships wih a variey o mission
and minisry parners rom across he conerence
Iniang Abundan Healh MI, a local expression o he denominaon’s Abundan Healh
Nework, inended o empower and suppor churches as hey address he healh needs o heir
communies
Joining wih he Conerence Board o Jusce o begin implemenng a Green Iniave, inended
o encourage and recognize local congregaons engaging in environmenal sewardship and
creaon care

We look orward o he coming year and he new opporunies i will bring o embody God’s love
hrough our mission and minisry eﬀors, ha we migh ruly be Chris’s hands and ee in his world.
Thank you or your connued commimen o being he church in mission!
Rev. Dillon Burns, Chairperson

Michigan Voluneers in Mission
The Michigan UMC Voluneers in Mission program serves domesc and inernaonal minisries endorsed
by UMC parner churches and non -governmenal agencies in cooperaon wih local hoss. Voluneers
work as eams or individuals o provide work and suppor as requesed by mission hoss while building
relaonships. Mission eams should have a rained VIM leader, regiser wih Norh Cenral Jurisdicon
and provide insurance or all parcipans. We careully monior he saey levels o an area, which
deermines i a eam should ravel/work in a locaon and assis as needed.

9

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

Michigan oﬀers hree domesc mission sies: Newberry Michigan /GCCM, Randy Hildibrand Direcor
(rural povery), Cass Communiy (inner ciy Deroi) Sue Pehoud Voluneer Coordinaor and MoTown
Mission. All sies are open o eams rom around he US and reques calendaring in advance o eam
parcipaon. Sies are visied on an annual basis and mission eam parcipaon numbers are shared
across he Jurisdicon.
Norh Cenral Jurisdiconal Teams 2024 - Figures are aken rom eams requesng insurance and
regisering wih Norh Cenral Jurisdicon. MI Teams working a he Midwes Disribuon Cener (IL) bu
did no regiser as a VIM Team bu Midwes repors ﬁgures in a general caegory. Teams work in he
caegories o consrucon, healh care and Disaser Recovery.
Michigan Conerence had 57 eams ha served or 2024 (second highes in he Jurisdicon).
We are aware o a variey o sources eams (VIM). Long Term Recovery) serve bu decide no o regiser
heir groups. Teams are welcome o submi picures/arcles o he Conerence web sie abou heir
journeys and he NCJ Newsleer also welcomes repors.
Michigan resumed VIM raining Ocober (24) a he Saginaw UMC oﬀering ERT (9 parcipans) and
Voluneer in Mission (5 parcipans) and in 2025 Chelsea -Newburg, Whie Lake CMU Wesley, and
Cornersone (GR) will have rained beore Annual Conerence 2025.
Early Relie, Connecng Neighbors and Voluneer in Mission Training are available as needed by MI
conerence rainers. Michigan VIM oﬀers a $150 scholarship and reimbursemen or VIM insurance or
he ﬁrs me Michigan Conerence mission parcipans. Teams mus have a rained Voluneer in Mission
Team leader and apply hru he scholarship process wih he MI VIM Coordinaor .Inormaon is also on
he conerence web or by conacng Jody Pra MI VIM , pragji09@gmail.com .
Donaons o he MI VIM Firs Time Inernaonal Missioner Scholarship Fund can be made o:
Line 4413** , Michigan Conerence oﬃce. Scholarship unding is also lised as par o he ENGAGE
program.
Building relaonships as we hear, experience and live ou our mission journey is he call Chris placed in
our lives. Blessings on your lie and you consider a mission journey. Check he Norh Cenral Jurisdicon
sie lisng domesc and inernaonal opporunies, he Michigan Conerence Mission sie or conac MI
VIM Coordinaor Jody Pra :pragji09@gmail.com
Jody A. Pra, Michigan VIM Coordinaor / VIM-ERT Trainer
Norh Cenral Jurisdicon EX Board

Hai Task Force
The Michigan Unied Mehodis Hai Task Force (MUMHTF) exiss o provide congregaons wih
meaningul opporunies o engage in minisry wih he people o Hai. Our mission is o empower
Haians o ake an acve role in heir own recovery, reduce reliance on exernal aid, and demonsrae
Chris’s love hrough parnerships ha honor local leadership. We emphasize he imporance o a

10

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

conneconal aih communiy ha ranscends borders, working ogeher or he well-being o our
Haian brohers and sisers.
In 2024, MUMHTF presened a moon o he Michigan Annual Conerence, reaﬃrming is commimen
o he people o Hai. The approved moon esablished a vision or parnerships rooed in Chris’s love,
ocused on empowering Haian communies o improve heir qualiy o lie and achieve sel-suﬃciency.
Following his decision, MUMHTF developed a Conerence-wide campaign o address crical challenges
such as povery, chronic rauma, displacemen, immigraon, and ood insecuriy. This iniave seeks o
suppor hree EngageMI parners and a new Hai parner in providing essenal services, including
healhcare, educaon, housing, and economic developmen—osering long-erm sabiliy and
resilience.
Prepared by Valerie Mossman-Celesn, co-chair o MUMHTF
Oher MUMHTF members in 2024:
Tiﬀany Newsom, co-chair
Charles Woolley, reasurer
Mona Joslyn, Member-a-large
Gwen Bagley, Member-a-large

Conneconal Minisries Team
The Conneconal Minisries Team (CM Team), Laura Wikowski, Kahy Pienger, Lisa Baen, and Naomi
García, launched hree iniaves in 2024 Innovaon & Incubaon, Communies o Belonging and Faih
Formaon. These iniaves are equipping and connecng local churches and aih communies wih
essenal resources, suppor, and opporunies or growh. Here are some key highlighs:
Innovaon & Incubaon
Gran Workshops and Trainings equip congregaons wih praccal skills in undraising, poenally
leading o increased ﬁnancial sabiliy or local minisries. They have oﬀered a way or congregaons o
gain an undersanding o a heology o undraising. The raining empowers parcipans o pursue
innovave minisries and srenghen heir ﬁnancial oundaons.
Coaching oﬀers personalized suppor o UMC leaders, navigang he complexies o minisry in a
consanly changing landscape. Pasors, minisry saﬀ and church leaders are called o reimagine heir
minisries despie shrinking budges and less people power and shifing demographics o our
neighborhoods. Coaches oﬀer jus-in-me suppor by asking quesons and challenging he one being
coached o se and reach heir goals. The curren coaching program ocuses on hose in minisry
ransions, inerculural compeence and Seed o Harves parcipans.
Communies o Belonging
Communies o Belonging empower members o eel acceped, respeced, and inerconneced,
promong a sense o uniy and shared ideny ha ranscends individual diﬀerences. In 2024, he CM
11

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

Team hosed wo Communies o Belonging Days. An inviaon was sen o people o color under
appoinmen, in cross-racial and cross-culural appoinmens and on conerence boards and commiees.
Space was oﬀered or parcipans o share heir sories and reﬂec on wha i means o belong. An
imporan goal o hese gaherings is o le people o color pasors and leaders know ha hey are seen
and heard.
A one gahering, a draf o he Cross-Racial/Cross-Culural (CR/CC) Appoinmen Plan was presened and
parcipans provided valuable eedback based on heir own experiences. The CM Team and Appoinve
Cabine connue o collaborae on reﬁning and implemenng his plan. We are looking orward o
gaherings in 2025 and wha comes nex in his journey o belonging.
Faih Formaon
Faih Formaon rereas and cohors oﬀer parcipans opporunies or spiriual growh and
developmen. The CM Team undersands aih ormaon as a lielong journey o nururing and
deepening one's relaonship wih God hrough he sudy o Scripure, Chrisan pracces (i.e. prayer),
worship, and he Chrisan communiy. I empowers individuals o embody heir aih in service, love,
and ransormave acon in he world. In 2024, a variey o rereas and minisry cohors were oﬀered
including Lielong Faih, Young Adul Discernmen, and Conemplave experiences. These opporunies
provide parcipans wih space o explore and nurure heir spiriual lives in meaningul ways.
Looking Ahead
The CM Team's work aligns wih he Annual Conerence heme: "Unﬁnished: Growing Up and Ino
Chris." By ocusing on culvang environmens where individuals and congregaons can connue o
grow in heir relaonship wih Jesus and one anoher. In 2025, we look orward o connuing our hree
iniaves hrough new and exisng oﬀerings. We invie you o say conneced by vising:
michiganumc.org/cmeam regularly.
New cohors are orming, including Spiriual Pracces or Minisry Leaders and Seed o Harves.
Addionally, as we relaunch Fresh Expressions in Michigan, we are gahering a susainable minisry eam
o develop and implemen a process or creang new orms o church or hose no currenly conneced
o radional congregaons.
I is a privilege o serve in he Michigan Conerence o The Unied Mehodis Church. The Conneconal
Minisries Team remains commied o serving as sewards o The Holy One’s mission or he Church.
Grounded in Jesus Chris and guided by he Holy Spiri, we srive o equip, connec, and nurure
individuals and congregaons, encouraging spiriual growh and conribung o he ongoing work o
building he Kin-dom o God.
Laura Wikowski, Lead Associae Direcor o Conneconal Minisries
Kahy Pienger, Associae Direcor o Conneconal Minisries
Lisa Baen, Associae Direcor o Conneconal Minisries
Naomi García, Associae Direcor o Conneconal Minisries

12

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

ENGAGEMI
EngageMI is he mission engagemen program or he Michigan Conerence. EngageMI challenges
Michigan Conerence congregaons o comprehensive missional learning, giving, and acon wih he
goal o encouraging congregaons o shif rom ransaconal “minisry o” models o relaonal “minisry
wih” vulnerable people and communies. The EngageMI program consiss o hree ocus areas: Learn,
Give, Ac. Congregaons who mee he requiremens in all hree areas will be recognized as “EngageMI
Congregaons.” You can ﬁnd more inormaon abou he program online
a,www.michiganumc.org/engage-mi.
2024 ENGAGEMI CONGREGATIONS
All he ollowing churches submied repors. Congregaons ha compleed all he hree ocus areas are
EngageMI Congregaons and are idenﬁed by *.
NORTHERN SKIES – Escanaba Firs*, Gladsone Memorial*, Hancock Firs*, Iron Mounain Triniy*,
Ishpeming Wesley*, Lake Ciy*, Munising*, Wes Branch Firs
WESTERN WATERS – Georgeown*, Grand Rapids S Paul*, Grandville*, Grawn*, Lowell Firs*, Norh
Muskegon Communiy, Traverse Ciy Old Mission Peninsula*, Rockord*, Whie Cloud*
CENTRAL BAY – Auburn*, Beaveron Firs*, Coleman Faih*, Edmore Faih*, Farwell*, Riverdale Lincoln
Road*, Saginaw Firs*
EAST WINDS- Perry Faih Communiy*, Fenon, Flin Behel, Fosoria*, Gaines*, Grand Blanc*, Howarh,
Laingsburg*, Lexingon*, Marysville*, Osville*, Owendale*, Owosso Firs*, Pain Creek*, Pigeon Firs*,
Por Hope*, Por Huron Firs*, Romeo*, Sandusky Firs, Clio Unied in Chris*, Caro Warousville*
GREATER SOUTHWEST- Bale Creek Chapel Hill*, Cenreville*, Coldwaer, Colon, Gobles*, Kalamazoo
Weswood*, Lake Odessa Cenral*, Mendon, Nashville, Nashville Peace, Niles New Journey, Scos*
HERITAGE- Allen, Azalia, Bancrof*, Calhoun Couny Homer, Dixboro*, Eaon Rapids Firs*, Hillsdale
Firs*, Hol*, Howell Firs*, Jackson Firs*, Jerome, Lansing Grace*, Milord*, Morrice*, Norh Lake*, Oak
Grove*, Peersburg*, Saline Firs*, Ypsilan Firs, Ypsilan Lincoln Communiy*
GREATER DETROIT- Belleville, Carleon*, Dearborn Good Shepherd*, Denon Faih, Orchard*, Grosse
Poine*, Livonia S Mahew*, Monroe S Paul’s*, Moun Clemens Firs, New Balmore Grace, Norhville
Firs*, Troy Big Beaver*, Walled Lake*, Wes Bloomﬁeld*, Wyandoe Firs*
All he churches old God-ﬁlled sories o minisry. Congregaons shared how hey learned abou local
and global needs by meeng wih communiy members, UMC missionaries, and parcipang in sudy
groups. The Unied Mehodiss in Michigan are sll doing God’s work, locally and globally. All o he
Glory o God!
Laurie Kauman de la Garza, EngageMI Coordinaor
13

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

Division on Religion and Race
The Division o Religion and Race (DoRR), as cied in he Book o Discipline ¶643, has he responsibiliy
o provide resources hrough collaboraon and raining o enable he work o he local church minisry
area o Religion and Race wih parcular emphasis placed on pasors and congregaons involving cross
racial/cross culural minisry.
The Division o Religion and Race has submied a ormal reques o consul wih he Board o Ordained
Minisry and he cabine o ensure racial/ehnic inclusion and equaliy in he recruimen, credenaling,
and ineracy process o he Annual Conerence. The mandae o ¶643 saes “The Execuve commiee
o he Board o Ordained Minisry and cabine shall mee a leas once per year in join sessions wih he
commission on Religion and Race o creae and address long-erm plans or idenying, and developing
clergy leaders who will serve he growing racial and ehnic populaons o he church.”
To complemen and enhance our work, Chair Tina (Ernesne) Campbell serves on he Bishop’s ABAR
(An Bias/An Racism) commiee. This commiee seeks o equip he Michigan Conerence o lead in a
way ha recognizes he desire o live as a Beloved Communiy and is inormed by our Mehodis hisory
in he abolionis movemen.
The commiee on DoRR has compleed is meeng daes or he Conerence year and does mee
regularly while exending inviaons o oher conerence agencies seeking o inegrae conceps o
inerculural compeency and explore he agenda o he Unied Mehodis Church.
In His Peace! Tina Campbell, Chair Division on Religion and Race
Episcopacy
The year 2024 was an evenul year or he Michigan Commiee on Episcopacy as we prepared or and
received he re-assignmen o Bishop David Bard o he Michigan Area.
The Mi COE was responsible or urning in resuls o a leadership survey done wih diverse Conerence
leaders ha was needed by June. This documen was hen used by he Norh Cenral Jurisdicon COE in
July o inorm an episcopal assignmen.
Our wo Commiees work ogeher in ha process as well as suppor resourcing or he Bishop and Julie
and he Assisan o he Bishop, Jennie Browne. We also include suppor or Deana Nelson he Bishop’s
Adminisrave Assisan.
We celebrae he re-assignmen o Bishop Bard o Michigan and o a join assignmen wih Bishop
Kenneha Brigham-Tsai o he Illinois Grea Rivers Conerence or he nex quadrennium.
Nichea VerVeer Guy, Chair and Elber Dulworh, Vice Chair worked closely wih Bishop Bard as he
designed his work plan or he nex year, regarding saﬀ impacs, logiscs and ravel.
Due o he Bishop’s dual responsibilies, he and he saﬀ have reconﬁgured some episcopal
responsibilies. The Mi COE submied a reques or a gran rom he Norh Cenral Jurisdicon o help
us hire an addional saﬀ posion o enable he work o he episcopal oﬃce o run eﬀecvely. We
14

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

received he gran and Rev. Leslee Friz was brough on board par me. The gran covers $30,000 a year
or wo years.
The Mi COE mees wice annually as a commiee o hear repors rom he episcopal oﬃce, hear
updaes/concerns on episcopal housing and encourage sel-care or episcopal saﬀ. Ongoing suppor
occurs hroughou he year o say on op o any episcopal needs and concerns ha may arise.
Rev. Elber Dulworh, Vice-Chair and Nichea VerVeer Guy, Chair, jus began our leadership roles his year.
We look orward o working ino our commimen o enable he necessary changes and o respond o
concerns ha may arise as we design he uure o he episcopal oﬃce o he US Unied Mehodis
Church.
Equiable Compensaon
The year o 2024 brough challenges o he Commission on Equiable Compensaon. The Commission
received requess or grans rom weny-nine congregaons, oally a lile over $200,000. Our ask o
award grans in our budge o $95,000 was diﬃcul. We are graeul o Disric Superinendens who
were willing o gran eiher rom heir Disric general unds or Disaﬃliaon unds $19,500. The
Commission realizes ha hose unds will no be available in 2025. Even wih he help o he Disrics,
here were churches ha we had o decline heir enre reques or gran only a poron o he reques
submied. This is diﬃcul work and prayers or congregaons are lifed as hey ace ﬁnancial insecuries.
We give hanks or he aihulness o every church in he Michigan Conerence as we connue o pray
or economic sabiliy or each church and he Conerence. As we connue o move ino he uure, we
rus ha God is a work in all o us.
Rev. Dr. Mona K. Joslyn, Chair, Michigan Conerence Commission On Equiable Compensaon.
Council on Finance and Adminisraon
The Council on Finance and Adminisraon (CFA) has worked o connue he careul and eﬀecve
managemen o he ﬁnances o our Michigan Conerence. Tasks assigned o CFA are underaken wih
purpose and ocus.
Signiﬁcan accomplishmens in 2024:
-

The audi was compleed and came back clean.
The release o designaed unds or Camping and New Church Sar has been ﬁnalized in keeping
wih he erms in which i was raised and will connue in perpeuiy.
Many residual designaed/orphaned accouns were addressed and resolved.

The underpaymen o Minisry Shares connues o plague our shared minisry. In 2022, o he
$12,099,984 budge, 73% was received. In 2023, o he $10,343,419 budge, 72.7% was received. In
2024, o he $9,272,698 budge, 72.1% o he budge was received. In 2024, i he Minisry Shares paid
by disaﬃliang churches were pulled ou, he percenage received would all o 71.1%. While he
budge connues o go down, he paymen rae also connues o go down.

15

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

We have encouraged our saﬀ and agencies o be rugal in spending, and we sll mus spend reserves o
ﬁll he gap beween wha is expended and wha is received. Connuing o spend more han is received
is no a sraegy or long-erm success, nor are he reserves limiless.
We connue o have congregaons and clergy who careully priorize paying heir Minisry Shares or
srive o ge close o paying in ull. We also connue o have congregaons and clergy who choose oher
priories insead o paying anyhing close o he poron o he Conerence budge apporoned o heir
church. Paragraph 812 o he 2020/2024 Book of Discipline makes clear expecaons: “The World
Service Fund is basic in he ﬁnancial program o The Unied Mehodis Church. World Service
apporonmen represens he minimum needs o he general agencies o he Church. Paymen in ull o
hese apporonmens by local churches and annual conerences is he ﬁrs benevolen responsibiliy o
he Church.”
Near he end o 2024, he Appoinve Cabine srived o encourage pasors and churches o pay more
oward heir Minisry Shares. Their eﬀors appeared o produce resuls. CFA is pleased ha a susained
program o change he culure and make plain he expecaon o ull Minisry Share paymens will begin
in 2025. Wihou i, our Annual Conerence will connue o sruggle o mee is ﬁnancial obligaons and
und is budge.

Don Goham, Presiden, Council on Finance and Adminisraon

Board o Laiy
The Board o Laiy’s purpose is o:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Build and grow awareness o he role o he laiy in he church and minisry
Provide suppor and direcon or he minisry o he laiy a all levels o he church
Provide raining or lay members o he Michigan Annual Conerence
Provide organizaonal suppor or he developmen o local church lay leadership
Seek o equip and develop Bold and Eﬀecve lay leadership across he Michigan Conerence
Seek o make disciples or Jesus Chris or he ransormaon o he world hrough our prayers,
our presence, our gifs, our service and our winess (New)
Foser awareness o he laiy’s role in he church (New)
Develop and promoe sewardship wihin he annual conerence
Provide raining and suppor or lay members and leaders
Advocae or laiy needs across all church levels
Suppor he Lay Servan ‘s Minisry Program

The Boad o laiy once again held wo virual Laiy orienaon sessions or Lay Members o he annual
conerence o share key inormaon, direc parcipans o conerence websies or maerials, orm
connecons and answer quesons prior o he annual conerence. The online sessions were led by
16

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

members o he Board o Laiy in collaboraon wih he commission on annual conerence sessions and
provided laiy wih he ools needed o serve as Bold, eﬀecve and inormed laiy o annual conerence.
The Board o Laiy was inspired a he Laiy Perspecve even by sories o Michigan Conerence Laiy as
hey shared abou heir new minisry endeavors and how God had srenghened hem and led hem
orward o reach ou in aih, oﬀer healing hrough ar and God’s word, and hrough advocacy and
educaon o promoe environmenal jusce. These sories demonsraed how some o our laiy
members are becoming Bold and Eﬀecve leaders.
Following he Laiy Perspecve even, we were blessed o mee dozens o our EngageMI Minisry
Parners rom all over he world a he Firs Mission Fesval, held in Plaza. Many new and renewed ideas
were gained rom aending his even. There was also desser, live music, games, giveaways and above
all, good old Unied Mehodis connecons and neworking.
The 2024 Board o Laiy Training and Resource Grans (up o $500.00) were oﬀered or he ourh annual
year o equip leadership, provide connued educaon and oﬀer he resources or aih ormaon or
laiy. There were 13 applicaons received, and seven gran recipiens were seleced and unds approved
by he end o he calendar year. We hank God or hese excing and diverse minisries suppored by
hese grans. We are looking orward wih grea ancipaon or he summaries his Spring elling o he
progress o hese new minisries. We connue o pray or God’s bounul blessings upon hese minisries
and he impac o our communies. Grans awarded include:
Wesley oundaon - Kalamazoo (Greaer Souhwes) Enneagram raining wih coaching (5 scholarships);
Unied Mehodis Urban Youh Alliance (Greaer Deroi) UMCRM gahering; Mancheser UMC
(Heriage), Emoonal, healh, and spiriual – sudy; FUMC Eaon Rapids (Heriage) Leadership raining in
Kansas); Marysville UMC (Eas Winds) 2025 Fresh Expression Gahering; Flin Freedom school
collaborave (Eas Winds) - ABAR Resource Educaon; and Farwell UMC (Cenral Bay), Grandparenng –
Bring Grandchildren o Chris.
Celebraon: The Board o Laiy connues o celebrae he minisry o he Laiy as he Co- Lay leaders,
one or boh aended all o Bishop Bard’s winer lisening ours. From he gaherings, we are opmisc
ha we are Fearless as we are embracing our new Fuure. We aended he Marn Luher King Jr 30h
Anniversary as we connue o build and suppor he “Beloved Communiy.” We will connue o suppor
Advocacy Day conerence wide. We will connue o move orward as we work collecvely o engage
more laiy as we “Seek o Make Disciples or Jesus Chris or he Transormaon o he World,” hrough
our prayers, our presence, our gifs, our service and our winess.

Addional minisry eﬀors include he selecon o lay equalizaon members o he annual conerence,
and he ongoing suppor o increase awareness o he Lay Servan Minisry Program.
New members were welcomed o he Board o Laiy. We gave God he glory or elecng wo Co-Lay
leaders or he conerence as we have much work o do. They are as ollows:
MEMBERS WHO JOINED THE BOARD OF LAITY IN 2024
Taylorie Bailey, Conerence Co-Lay Leader and Chair o BOL
Denny Wissinger, Conerence Co-Lay Leader (had been Co-Lay Leader, Cenral Bay Disric)
Rev. John Kasper, Cabine Represenave
Peer Blinkilde, Co-Lay Leader, Cenral Bay Disric
Adrian Black, Youh Coordinaor
Celia Peers, Young Adul Coordinaor (Formerly he Youh Coordinaor)
17

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

Sharon Smih, Unied Women o Faih
We also celebraed he service o deparng members o he Board as we said ond arewells o:
MEMBERS WHO DEPARTED FROM THE BOARD OF LAITY IN 2024
Annee Erbes, Michigan Conerence Lay Leader
Ron Blaisdell, Scoung Coordinaor
Dwayne Bagley, Cabine Represenave
Celia Peers, Youh Coordinaor
Gordon Grigg, Young Adul Coordinaor
Rick Gregg, Disric Co-Lay Leader, Norhern Skies
Julia Paradine-Rice, Unied Women o Faih
Taylorie Bailey and Denny Wissinger assumed heir dues as Conerence Co-Lay Leaders on July 1, 2024.
This is he ﬁrs me ha our Conerence had co-lay leaders eleced in is hisory. One reason or his
change is he ac ha we experienced a reducon in saﬀ as a resul o church disaﬃliaons which
resuled in ﬁnancial shoralls. To help alleviae some o he workloads o he Co-Lay Leaders, he
ollowing assignmens were made:
Shared Membership on Michigan Conerence Agencies
Board o Laiy
Expanded Cabine
Commission on he Annual Conerence
Commission on Communicaons
Commiee on he Episcopacy
Conerence Leadership Council
Commiee on Nominaons
Board o Ordained Minisry
Conerence Commiee on Lay Servan Minisries

Denny and w/Taylorie as Chair
Denny and Taylorie
Denny
Denny
Taylorie
Denny and Taylorie
Denny
Taylorie
Denny and Taylorie

OTHER
Associaon o Annual Conerence Lay Leaders Denny and Taylorie
Denny Wissinger - Co-Lay Leader , Taylorie Bailey – Co-Lay Leader - Chairperson o he Board o Laiy
2024 began wih a new Conerence Direcor o Lay Servan Minisries. The year has been spen
rebuilding. Much o he year was spen getng o know one anoher and learning how disrics manage
heir Lay Servan Minisries program.
Top hree Accomplishmens:
1. Having a able a he Minisry Fair a he 2024 Annual Conerence. We spoke wih many individuals
abou Lay Servan Minisries. Several individuals signed up o receive more inormaon on Lay Servan
Minisries and he disric Lay Servan Minisry direcors were able o ollow up. There will be a able a
he 2025 Michigan Conerence wih inormaon abou Lay Servan Minisries.

18

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

2. Hearing deails o Lay Servan Minisries rom disric direcors has led o many shared “bes
pracces”. This will connue.
3. Approving hose who have compleed he process o be Cerﬁed Lay Speakers or Cerﬁed Lay
Minisers.
Moving orward, he plan is o enhance and promoe Lay Servan Minisries in he Michigan Conerence,
is disrics, and churches. I would be wonderul o have a leas one Cerﬁed Lay Servan in every
Unied Mehodis Church in he Michigan Conerence.
Respecully submied, Colleen L. Croxall, Ph.D, Conerence Direcor o Lay Servan Minisries
Chair, Norhern Skies Disric Leadership Team

Lay Servan Minisries
A new Conerence Direcor o Lay Servan Minisries was appoined a he beginning o 2024. The year
has been spen rebuilding, getng o know one anoher and learning how disrics manage heir Lay
Servan Minisries program.
Top hree Accomplishmens:
1. Having a able a he Minisry Fair a he 2024 Annual Conerence. We spoke wih many individuals
abou Lay Servan Minisries. Several individuals signed up o receive more inormaon on Lay Servan
Minisries and he disric Lay Servan Minisry direcors were able o ollow up. There will be a able a
he 2025 Michigan Conerence wih inormaon abou Lay Servan Minisries.
2. Hearing deails o Lay Servan Minisries rom disric direcors has led o many shared “bes
pracces”. This will connue.
3. Approving hose who have compleed he process o be Cerﬁed Lay Speakers or Cerﬁed Lay
Minisers.
Moving orward, he plan is o enhance and promoe Lay Servan Minisries in he Michigan Conerence,
is disrics, and churches. I would be wonderul o have a leas one Cerﬁed Lay Servan in every
Unied Mehodis Church in he Michigan Conerence.
Colleen L. Croxall, Ph.D
Conerence Direcor o Lay Servan Minisries

Board o Ordained Minisry

The Board o Ordained Minisry, in 2024, connued o work wihin he bounds o our core missions o
credenaling called persons or proessional minisry, and supporng hose in minisry.
19

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

Clergy Session o Annual Conerence raﬁed he many recommendaons o he Board. Two new
Provisional Deacons were gifed o he church, one individual ranserred as a Provisional Elder, six
Provisional Elders, one ranserred as a Full Elder, wo recognized as Full Elders, one Full Deacon, and six
Full Elders. Once again, he work o Clergy Session moved along well wih he connued use o a
consen calendar or more “proorma” iems in he Clergy Session Business o Annual Conerence. In
addion o Associae, Provisional and Full Members, he BOM carried he work and recommendaon o
he Disric Commiees on Minisry o he Clergy Session. We celebraed hree persons who compleed
Course o Sudy and have served he congregaons o Michigan so very well.

In he evening, afer Clergy Session, we celebraed he rerees who have served so aihully or so many
years. Rev. Mike Desoel, MC’ed a un nigh o music, poery, video esmonies o lives and minisries
well-lived, assised by Rev. Thom Davenpor, Rev. Caleb Williams, and Rev. Sari Brown provided music.
Rev. Jenaba Waggy, Rev. Jeremy Peers, and Rev. Dillon Burns oﬀered hough- provoking poery, while
he rerees gave esmony via video o heir lives o aih and service. An awesome recepon wih
dessers and beverages ollowed he even.

Membership on he Board o Ordained Minisry is in our-year erms, wih a wo-erm run being
common and a hree-erm run being possible wih he aﬃrmaon o he Bishop. In 2023-24, we
celebraed he minisries o, and said arewell o Rev. Ted Whiley, Rev. Sandra Bibliomo, Rev. Amy
Terhune (who served so well as he BOM Secreary), Lay Member Kelly Ross (our BOM Treasurer or
many years), Rev. Mark Erbes (who served wih admirable aenon o deail as Conerence Relaons
Commiee chair and Vice-Chair o he Board.

We welcomed Rev. Sean Kidd, Lay Member Judy Enenman, Rev. Alber Rush, Lay Member Taylorie
Bailey, Rev. Seve Perrine, Rev. Kahy Pienger.

The Board o Ordained Minisry connues o be abou working wih individuals who eel he call o God
in heir lives, and o discern wheher ha call is, indeed, wihin The Unied Mehodis Church. We also
suppor hose called and hose in minisry wih educaon and connuing educaon unds. We
undersand ha his all is a sacred rus given o us by he Michigan Conerence hrough Bishop David A.
Bard. The work we are abou would no be possible wihou our inenonal bahing o ha work in
prayer and deep rus in he work o he Holy Spiri. On behal o he BOM, I hank you or he rus you
place in us.

Barry Perucci, Chair

20

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

Conerence Board o Pension and Healh Beneﬁs

Michigan Conerence Beneﬁs
The Michigan Conerence is blessed in is abiliy o provide a srong and valuable minisry o caring
hrough is beneﬁs programs.
Beneﬁs Billings (BB)
Beneﬁs Billings (BB) are billed monhly o every local church o und curren conerence reremen and
welare plan liabilies as well as all minisries hrough he Conerence Board o Pension & Healh
Beneﬁs/Beneﬁs Oﬃce (CBOPHB). The amoun o he Beneﬁs Billing is calculaed using a ﬁxed
percenage o each church’s clergy compensaon. The percenage is deermined on an annual basis and
adjused o reﬂec appoinmens o hal me or less, reree appoinmens, or Disric Superinenden
Assignmens. The monhly BB amoun will be based on a ﬂa rae or a local church wih no appoinmen
or assignmen.
The Beneﬁs Oﬃce made a concered eﬀor his year o collec on pas due balances or o wrie oﬀ long
sanding pas due amouns ha canno realiscally be colleced. This has resuled in a oal pas due o
$1,267,092 on December 31, 2024 versus $1,701,805 on December 31, 2023. We expec his work o
connue in 2025.
Healh Care
The CBOPHB reaﬃrms is commimen o providing a comprehensive, susainable group healh care plan
or acves and rerees while consanly assessing he ﬁnancial realies required by all. Healh insurance
expenses are billed monhly.
We had o move our rerees on he Pos-65 plan January 1, 2024 because o an over 200% increase in
premiums rom he carrier we were wih, Humana. We moved he group o Unied Healhcare wih
nearly idencal beneﬁs. The Medicare landscape connues o be a complex one and we know ha
some parcipans have aced rusraon in navigang i. We connue o be commied o helping
parcipans and advocang or hem o he exen we can wihin Medicare laws.

Commimen o Educaton
The new Direcor o Beneﬁs, Joel Walher, has made i a prioriy o educae clergy on heir beneﬁs. We
already do a pre-reremen seminar each year o prepare people or reremen. However, his year he
Beneﬁs Oﬃce will hold an Early Minisry Beneﬁs Seminar a he Annual Conerence Session. In
addion, Rev. Walher has aended meengs wih pasors in he provisional process and hopes o
21

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

connec wih Local Pasors as well. He has also spoken wih one Disric gahering and is willing o be
available o any group o clergy ha would like o learn more abou beneﬁs.
The Beneﬁs Oﬃce also sared a monhly beneﬁs newsleer o connue o communicae and educae
clergy.
New Pension
The CBOPHB and he Beneﬁs Oﬃce are working diligenly o be prepared or he new pension program,
Compass, o ake eﬀec January 1, 2026.
One poron o Compass is ha all personal conribuons ha clergy make are currenly colleced by
Wespah rom local churches, bu under Compass will be colleced by he Conerence and remied as a
whole o Wespah. To prepare or his change, raher han make i January 1, 2026, we are moving
orward wih his change July 1, 2025. This will hopeully be a less busy ransion me han he end o
he year. Communicaons abou his change are being communicaed wih local church leadership.
New Initatves
The Beneﬁs Oﬃce and he CBOPHB have always ocused on pensions and healh insurance (hence he
PHB in is name). However, we are aware ha he needs o clergy are wide ranging and so we connue
o look or new ways o beneﬁ clergy.
In July o 2024 he CBOPHB insued a guaraneed parenal leave policy. Parenal leave is guaraneed in
he discipline, bu here is no mechanism or helping make sure clergy can ake ha me. The policy ha
he CBOPHB pu orh provides pulpi supply and pasoral suppor unds as long as he church connues
o pay heir pasor during heir parenal leave. A he me o he wring o his repor, our clergy have
aken advanage o his new program!
II. PRIOR YEAR BENEFITS-RELATED BALANCES
Billings generaed by he CBOPHB are direcly associaed wih curren liabilies or clergy/employee
beneﬁs or deerred compensaon. Any paymens no reimbursed o he CBOPHB by he local church or
oher agencies, by deaul, are absorbed by he CBOPHB and ulmaely he Annual Conerence or he
expenses incurred. Thereore, permanen records o ousanding balances or reremen plan
conribuons, welare plan premiums and healh care expenses are kep on ﬁle by he CBOPHB wih he
inenon o recover he balances in he uure.

Hisorically, BB receips have been remied a a high level, usually well above 90%. 2024 was no
diﬀeren wih an average collecon rae beween healh insurance and BB o jus over 96%. The CBOPHB
is graeul or he connued prioriy ha mos churches make BB and healh insurance premiums.
The ollowing lis includes he balances on record as o January 1, 2025 or boh BB and healh insurance
premiums. Please know ha hese are o he bes o our knowledge. I you believe here is an error in
his lis, please conac The Conerence Beneﬁs Oﬃce.
22

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

I lef unaddressed, hese balances mus become par o a local church’s ﬁnancial plan when a local
church considers building expansion, merger, separaon, or closure. Please conac he Conerence
Beneﬁs Oﬃce o discuss paymen opons or prior year amouns.
Hisorically we have lised he churches wih heir MI ID Number. We are phasing his ou and will move
o lisng heir GCFA ID number. This year you will see boh and moving orward only he GCFA ID.

Conf.
No.

Church

38001

Adrian: First

39001

Benefits
Billings

Health

Total

$2,437

$0

$2,437

Algonac: Trinity

$479

$0

$479

31001

Algonquin

$532

$0

$532

32004

Alpena: First

$1,315

$0

$1,315

37006

Bangor: Simpson

$2,833

$36,433

$39,266

34004

Barryton: Faith

$1,880

$0

$1,880

37010

Battle Creek: Christ

$244

$22,032

$22,276

37012

Battle Creek: First

$2,868

$1,003

$3,871

37016

Battle Creek: Washington Hts

$1,500

$0

$1,500

33006

Bay Port

$463

$0

$463

34007

Big Rapids: First

$3,527

$0

$3,527

33009

Birch Run

$0

$13,964

$13,964

33010

Blanchard-Pine River

$1,875

$0

$1,875

34009

Bowne Center

$154

$0

$154

34010

Bradley: Indian Mission

$12,191

$0

$12,191

37021

Bridgman: Faith

$1,935

$0

$1,935

37026

Burr Oak

$775

$0

$775

31005

Calumet

$141

$84

$225

35011

Carson City

$1,914

$0

$1,914

33014

Cass City

$941

$2,019

$2,960

34015

Cedar Springs

$0

$1,901

$1,901

32017

Central Lake

$2,166

$0

$2,166
23

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

36013

Central Lakeport

32019

Charlevoix: Greensky Hill

32020

Historical Reports

$150

$0

$150

$12,750

$13,302

$26,052

Chase: Barton

$7,085

$0

$7,085

38023

Concord

$1,979

$0

$1,979

34017

Coopersville

$8,145

$0

$8,145

31007

Crystal Falls: Christ

$11,442

$1,415

$12,857

39011

Detroit: Cass Community

$45,862

$0

$45,862

39013

Detroit: Centro Familiar Cristiano

$0

$105,333

$105,333

39014

Detroit: Conant Avenue

$22,094

$0

$22,094

39021

Detroit: Grace Community

$9,747

$14,171

$23,918

39016

Detroit: Metropolitan

$1,625

$0

$1,625

39018

Detroit: Peoples

$44,611

$13,818

$58,429

39019

Detroit: Resurrection

$17,453

$0

$17,453

39022

Detroit: St. Paul

$30,991

$20,380

$51,371

34020

Dorr: Crosswind Cmnty

$1,270

$2,031

$3,301

35022

Eaton Rapids

$2,363

$0

$2,363

35023

Elsie

$969

$0

$969

38029

Erie

$5,415

$0

$5,415

32026

Evart

$0

$8,420

$8,420

39027

Farmington First

$1,625

$0

$1,625

37039

Fennville

$0

$10,050

$10,050

39030

Ferndale: First

$971

$11,602

$12,573

36027

Flint: Asbury

$3,853

$0

$3,853

36029

Flint: Bristol

$2,681

$0

$2,681

35026

Fowlerville: Trinity

$214

$0

$214

32029

Free Soil-Fountain

$1,510

$0

$1,510

37041

Galesburg

$130

$0

$130

39034

Garden City

$4,276

$0

$4,276

32030

Gaylord First

$968

$0

$968
24

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

37047

Gobles

34033

Historical Reports

$250

$0

$250

Grand Rapids: La Nueva
Esperanza

$15,970

$61,934

$77,904

34034

Grand Rapids: Northlawn

$0

$7,536

$7,536

34037

Grand Rapids: South

$498

$0

$498

32032

Grawn

$1,198

$0

$1,198

39035

Grosse Point

$2,249

$0

$2,249

36043

Halsey

$3,870

$0

$3,870

31019

Hancock: First

$654

$0

$654

39036

Harper Woods: Redeemer

$565

$0

$565

39037

Hazel Park: First

$1,271

$0

$1,271

39038

Howarth

$0

$12,600

$12,600

31022

Hulbert: Tahquamenon

$100

$0

$100

38044

Jackson: Trinity

$4,284

$0

$4,284

32045

Kingsley

$3,837

$0

$3,837

37058

Lacota

$370

$0

$370

32046

Lake Ann

$10,022

$0

$10,022

37059

Lawrence

$5,624

$0

$5,624

34054

Lowell: First

$2,607

$0

$2,607

34055

Lowell: Vergennes

$0

$5,553

$5,553

39043

Madison Heights

$3,742

$0

$3,742

32055

Manton

$13,867

$7,284

$21,151

34057

Marne

$3,839

$0

$3,839

37063

Martin

$12,003

$16,833

$28,836

32058

Mesick

$2,018

$10,539

$12,557

31034

Michigamme: Woodland

$600

$0

$600

35055

Millville

$1,357

$0

$1,357

37065

Monterey Center

$9,728

$0

$9,728

38066

Morenci

$9,648

$0

$9,648

25

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

36064

Mt. Morris: First

33049

Mt. Pleasant: Chippewa Indian

33050

Historical Reports

$0

$35,821

$35,821

$480

$0

$480

Mt. Pleasant: Countryside

$2,530

$0

$2,530

33052

Mt. Pleasant: Trinity

$2,944

$0

$2,944

34064

Muskegon: Crestwood

$1,655

$0

$1,655

34067

Newaygo

$7,125

$5,593

$12,718

37069

Niles: Portage Prairie

$24,702

$0

$24,702

38071

North Parma

$575

$0

$575

32062

Norwood

$1,440

$0

$1,440

37074

Otsego

$1,250

$0

$1,250

35066

Owosso: Trinity

$432

$0

$432

37077

Paw Paw

$3,359

$28,706

$32,065

34072

Pentwater: Centenary

$286

$0

$286

38076

Pinckney: Arise

$31,469

$0

$31,469

39051

Pontiac: Grace & Peace
Community

$1,935

$17,439

$19,374

39052

Pontiac: St. John

$1,400

$0

$1,400

36072

Port Hope

$1,575

$0

$1,575

37081

Portage: Chapel Hill

$1,739

$8,200

$9,939

39055

Riverview

$1,570

$710

$2,280

35073

Robbins

$466

$0

$466

33064

Rose City: Trinity

$0

$1,848

$1,848

38083

Salem Grove

$1,660

$0

$1,660

34077

Salem: Indian Mission

$15,645

$3,135

$18,780

37085

Schoolcraft

$0

$3,000

$3,000

34079

Shelby

$6,935

$37,565

$44,500

35075

Shepardsville

$4,174

$0

$4,174

37091

South Haven: First

$613

$0

$613

39061

Southfield: Hope

$11,977

$0

$11,977

26

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

36089

Thomas

33080

Historical Reports

$545

$0

$545

Vassar: First

$1,165

$0

$1,165

37102

Vicksburg

$2,227

$0

$2,227

35082

Wacousta Community

$1,283

$0

$1,283

39070

Washington

$1,418

$0

$1,418

39072

Waterford: Four Towns

$17,570

$0

$17,570

39073

Waterford: Trinity

$250

$4,262

$4,512

38096

Wellsville

$2,398

$0

$2,398

36094

West Vienna

$518

$0

$518

36096

Yale

$1,680

$0

$1,680

$525

$0

$525

$33,603

$0

$33,603

$0

$15

$15

$36,705

$0

$36,705

$0

$350

$350

Closed Churches
37007

Battle Creek: Baseline

39017

Detroit: Mt. Hope

36023

Duffield

36033

Flint: Faith

34032

Grand Rapids: Genesis

38103

Jackson: Community

$650

$0

$650

37054

Kalamazoo: Northwest

$575

$0

$575

34050

Kent City: Chapel Hill

$0

$9,975

$9,975

38051

Litchfield

$871

$3,940

$4,811

38053

Lulu

$3,087

$0

$3,087

Melvindale: New Hope

$2,557

$12,501

$15,058

37073

Oshtemo: Lifespring

$7,709

$15,179

$22,888

38077

Pleasant Lake

$517

$0

$517

36075

Port Huron: Washington Avenue

$4,241

$0

$4,241

33066

Saginaw: Ames

$2,108

$0

$2,108

33070

Saginaw: State Street

$2,773

$4,325

$7,098

Shelby Twp: New Hope

$2,949

$0

$2,949

9550

6096

27

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

32075

Traverse City: Mosaic

$1,041

$13,218

$14,259

34085

Twin Lake

$7,185

$0

$7,185

38098

Whitmore Lake: Wesley

$6,467

$0

$6,467

$661,073

$606,019

$1,267,092

Conference Totals

III. STEPS TO RETIREMENT
The ollowing inormaon should be examined by anyone conemplang reremen wihin he nex en
years.
1. Review the 2020/2024 Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church, ¶358, pertaining to
retirement.
2. Attend a pre-retirement seminar within 10 years of retirement.
3. Confirm your service record with Wespath Benefits & Investments to assure that it is accurate.
This is especially important with respect to pre-1982 service and the post-2006 Clergy
Retirement Security Program (CRSP) Plans since these benefits are calculated based upon years
of service. Often it takes significant time to correct a special situation or service record error.
4. Confirm your Social Security record to be certain that all payments have been properly credited.
The Social Security Administration is not required to correct errors over 3 years old.
5. Noiy in wriing he ollowing persons by January 1 or he ollowing year’s July reiremen
season:
a. Resident Bishop
b. Your District Superintendent
c. Rev. Joel Walther, Director of Conference Benefits & Coordinator of Human Resources
d. Rev. Deborah Johnson, Chairperson of Committee on Conference Relations of the Board
of Ordained Ministry (BOM)
6. Once your intention to retire is confirmed in writing by the Office of the Bishop, the Benefits
Office notifies Wespath Benefits & Investments and materials are sent directly to the participant
from Wespath detailing retirement plan payment options. A pension projection is available
anytime through the Wespath at 800-851-2201 or www.benefitsaccess.org.
7. Review and update all beneficiary designations on your Retirement and Welfare Accounts at
Wespath Benefits & Investments.
8. Health Insurance
a. Review the conference eligibility and cost sharing requirements for health care coverage
in reiremen. I is he subscriber’s responsibiliy o undersand he speciic rules
relaing o eligibiliy or coverage in reiremen prior o he subscriber’s reirement date.
This information is available in the Conference Health Care Policy, printed in the
Conference Board of Pension and Health Benefits Annual Historical Report annually. The
most recent copy of the Health Care Policy can be obtained by contacting the Benefits
Office.
b. If you are retiring at age 65 or older, you are eligible for Medicare. You (and your spouse
if Medicare eligible) must enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B effective the date of your
retirement to qualify for the Conference Retiree Group Coverage. If you opted out of
28

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

Social Security, you must arrange to purchase Medicare Benefits in order to be eligible
for coverage under the Conference Retiree Group Coverage. Send photocopies of
Medicare cards for you and your spouse to the Conference Benefits Office as soon as
they become available. This is essential in order to coordinate health care coverage and
avoid lengthy delays and/or denials of medical claims. If you do not have Medicare
coverage within 30 days after your retirement date, coverage may be terminated and
once terminated cannot be reinstated.
c. If you are retiring earlier than age 65, you (and your spouse) must enroll in Medicare
Part A and Part B when reaching age 65 in order to continue health coverage through
the conference. Send photocopies of Medicare cards for you and your spouse to the
Conference Benefits Office as soon as they become available. This is essential in order to
coordinate health care coverage and avoid lengthy delays and/or denials of medical
claims. If you do not have Medicare coverage within 30 days after turning 65, coverage
may be terminated and once terminated cannot be reinstated.
IV. CONFERENCE HEALTH CARE POLICIES
Introduction: This section describes the provisions and requirements of the Michigan Conference group
health care plans. All available benefits are at all times subject to and may be limited, denied, or
terminated based on applicable underwriting provisions, contract terms, eligibility rules, and premium
payment requirements. All required submissions, underwriting, and payments must be remitted in a
timely manner. I is he subscriber’s responsibiliy o undersand he specific rules relaing o
eligibility for coverage both while active and in retirement. Questions may be directed to the
Conference Benefits Office or submitted in writing to the Conference Board of Pension & Health
Benefits. Do not rely on verbal responses to questions raised in informational meetings or provided
by representatives other than the Board of Pension & Health Benefits.

ACTIVE GROUP HEALTH CARE PLAN
Enrollment/Effective Date of Coverage: Health Care eligibility begins the first day of a new
appointment/hire, change in appointment/employment status, or a life-qualifying event (i.e. loss of
other health coverage), provided all required submissions, underwriting, and payments have been
remitted in a timely manner. All available benefits are at all times subject to and may be limited,
denied, or terminated based on applicable underwriting provisions, contract terms, eligibility rules, and
premium payment requirements. It is the responsibility of the subscriber to submit enrollment forms
within the required timeframe. If the enrollment process is not completed within 30 days of eligibility,
the subscriber must wait until the next open enrollment period.
Eligible Subscribers: Active Plan eligible classes include the following:
(Full-time for health coverage eligibility is defined as regularly working at least 30 hours per week)
1. Full-time Clergy (Ordained Clergy and Local Pastors) under Episcopal appointment with the
Michigan Conference as the responsible agency for providing benefits.
2. Full-time Lay Employees of the Michigan Conference and its approved, related agencies.
3. Full-time Lay Employees of a local church (including District Superintendent Assignments) until
the employee turns age 65 provided the local church lay employee policy offers health care to
all eligible full-time lay employees. All conference eligibility requirements must be observed. The
local church is the responsible agency for all lay employee health insurance premiums.
29

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

Premium-sharing schedules may be determined by local church employee policies, but must
meet employee affordability requirements as defined by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
4. Clergy and Conference/Related Agency Lay Employees on Medical Leave receiving disability
benefits, provided the subscriber was enrolled in the Michigan Conference Group Active Health
Care Plan at the time they were granted Medical leave.
a. The subscriber must enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B at the date of first eligibility.
b. The subscriber is responsible or submiing a copy o he subscriber’s Medicare card o
the Conference Benefits Office at the time of Medicare enrollment to assure the proper
coordination of benefits.
5. Dependents of deceased Clergy and Conference/Related Agency Lay Employee subscribers
provided the dependents were enrolled in the group active health care plan at the time of the
subscriber’s deah.
a. Dependents of a retired subscriber will continue health coverage under the same
eligibility and funding provisions as the subscriber.
b. A surviving spouse that remarries will continue to receive the health care benefit.
However, the new spouse is not eligible for coverage.
6. Enrolled dependents of deceased Local Church employee subscribers as allowable by the health
care plan if continued coverage is a provision of the local church employee policy, and if the
local church maintains responsibility for the health insurance premiums.
Eligible Dependents:
1. Spouse.
2. Children and Legal Dependents under age 26.
3. Qualifying Adult Children with disabilities. (Per insurance regulations, Adult Children with
disabilities may not continue on the conference plan after the subscriber is deceased.)
Changes in Eligibility: All changes in appointment, employee, or family status that affect eligibility in
health coverage must be submitted within 30 days of the date the change occurs, otherwise loss,
lapses, or gaps in coverage may occur. Subscribers are responsible for providing family status changes
(including marriages, births, adoptions, legal guardianships) in writing to the Conference Benefits
Office. A delay in notification could mean a delay or denial of coverage until the next open enrollment
period.
Working Aged 65: Active Clergy under eligible Michigan Conference Appointment and Conference Lay
Employees in Conference/Related Agency employment retain eligibility status in the conference active
group health care plan.
1. The conerence acive group plan coninues o be he subscriber’s primary coverage.
2. Subscribers and dependents must enroll in Medicare Part A at the time they turn age 65, but are
no required o enroll in Medicare Par B unil he eecive dae o he subscriber’s reiremen.
3. The subscriber is responsible for submitting a copy of the subscriber/dependent Medicare card
to the Conference Benefits Officer at the time of Medicare enrollment to assure the proper
coordination of benefits.
Funding of Active Health Care Policies:
1. Active Clergy and Conference/Related Agency Employees: Health insurance premiums are
shared by the salary-paying unit (Michigan Conference, Conference Related Agency, or Local
Church) and the subscriber according to the contribution schedule as established by the
Conference Board of Pension & Health Benefits action.
30

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

2. Disabled Clergy and Conference/Related Agency Employees: Health insurance premiums are
paid by the Michigan Conference to the extent established by CBOPHB action.
3. Dependents of deceased Clergy and Conference/Related Agency Lay Employee subscribers:
Health insurance premiums are paid by the Michigan Conference to the extent established by
CBOPHB action.
Termination:
1. A subscriber may volunarily erminae a subscriber’s healh insurance policy by submiing a
request in writing to the Conference Benefits Office.
2. Healh insurance policies are erminaed he dae o a subscriber’s erminaion rom an eligible
Clergy Appointment or Conference/Related Agency employment.
a. Coverage for terminated employees cannot be extended since COBRA coverage is not
offered through the Michigan Conference.
b. Under special provisions of the CBOPHB, a policy will be extended for up to one year for
a clergyperson appointed to an eligible leave of absence status. Eligible leaves of
absence include Medical Leave and Sabbatical Leave only.
3. Health Insurance policies for a local church employee are terminated effective:
a. The termination date of local church employment. Coverage cannot be extended since
COBRA coverage is not offered through the Michigan Conference.
b. The first of the month in which the subscriber turns age 65.
4. Health Insurance policies will be terminated for non-payment of premiums according to the
following schedule:
a. Policy may be terminated at six months in arrears.
b. In a delinquency situation involving a clergyperson appointed to a local church, a
repayment plan must be submitted to and approved by the Executive Committee of The
Board of Pension & Health Benefits to extend coverage past the six-month period.
c. A terminated policy may be reinstated within 30 days of termination if the outstanding
balance has been remitted in full.
Waiver of Coverage:
1. Mandatory Enrollment: The active group health care plan is generally a mandatory plan for all
eligible appointed clergy. Appointed clergy may waive coverage if they have alternate health
care coverage from any of the following sources:
a. A spouse’s employer’s plan (mus be a group plan)
b. A military plan
c. A ormer employer’s plan
d. A Medicaid plan
2. Enrollment of eligible dependents is optional as determined by the subscriber.
3. Eligible Clergy and Conference/Related Agency Lay Employees that waive conference health
care coverage must have a Waiver of Coverage form on file in the Michigan Conference Benefits
Office.
4. Persons waiving coverage have the opportunity to enroll themselves and eligible dependents in
the conference health care plan annually during open enrollment or at the time of a lifequalifying event.
LONG TERM DISABILITY HEALTH CARE PLAN
31

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

When a participant moves to long term disability, they are expected to apply for Supplemental Security
Income (SSI) through the federal government. While they are in the process of applying for SSI, they
and their dependents will remain on the Active Health Care Plan. Once they are approved for SSI, they
move to our Retiree Medicare Advantage program and their dependents move to our Pre-65 Preferred
Provider Organization (PPO) Plan until they reach the age of 65, at which time they will move to the
Retiree Medicare Advantage Program, or they reach the age where they are no longer covered as a
dependent.
The participant and their dependents are able to stay on the active plan for up to 12 months while they
apply for SSI. If the application process takes longer than 12 months, then after 12 months they and
their dependents will be moved to the Pre-65 PPO Plan, unless a dependent is already age 65 or
greater, in which case they will move to the Retiree Medicare Advantage Program while the participant
and the rest of the dependents under 65 will be on the Pre-65 PPO Plan. The participant will remain on
the Pre-65 PPO Plan until their SSI application is complete and then will move to the Retiree Medicare
Advantage Program.
If a participant does not plan to apply for SSI for some reason, they and their dependents will be moved
to the Pre-65 PPO Plan until they and their dependents reach the age of 65, at which time they move to
the Retiree Medicare Advantage Program, or their dependents reach the age where they are no longer
covered as a dependent.

RETIREE GROUP HEALTH CARE PLAN
Introduction:
This section describes the provisions and requirements of the Michigan Conference retiree group
health care plan. All available benefits are at all times subject to and may be limited, denied, or
terminated based on applicable underwriting provisions, contract terms, eligibility rules, and premium
payment requirements. All required submissions, underwriting, and payments must be remitted in a
timely manner. I is he subscriber’s responsibiliy o undersand he specific rules relaing o
eligibility for coverage in reiremen prior o he subscriber’s reiremen dae. Quesions may be
directed to the Conference Benefits Office or submitted in writing to the Board of Pension & Health
Benefits. Do not rely on verbal responses to questions raised in informational meetings or provided
by representatives other than the Board of Pension & Health Benefits.
It is crucial that clergy who have served appointments during their career in Extension Ministries or
another Annual Conference are knowledgeable regarding years of service credit, coverage, and cost
sharing in order to effectively plan for retirement.

Eligibility and Cost Sharing:
1. The Parcipan mus be a member o Michigan Conerence a me o reremen o be eligible.
2. The Parcipan mus have served or he 10 years immediaely prior o reremen in Episcopal
appoinmen where he Michigan Conerence (or predecessor conerences) is he responsible
agency or parcipan beneﬁs.
3. Parcipan & dependens mus be enrolled in he Michigan Conerence acve healh care plan
prior o reremen. In mos cases, his means a leas since he open enrollmen period
immediaely preceding reremen.
32

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

4. Grand-parened populaons have been esablished or clergy members/conerence employees
o he ormer Deroi and Wes Michigan Conerences or all curren rerees and all acve
parcipans who are eligible o rere by January 1, 2024. “Eligible o Rere” reers o he
deﬁnions as deﬁned by he 2020-2024 Book of Discipline of The Unied Mehodis Church.
5. To be eligible, he Parcipan mus also have he ollowing Toal Years o Service:
a. Grandahered Deroi Conerence members = 10 years
b. Grandahered Wes Michigan Conerence members = 15 years
c. Non-grandahered Michigan Conerence members = 15 years
6. Grand-parened populaons will ollow he provisions o heir respecve ormer conerence ha
were in place December 31, 2018 in deermining pos-reremen cos sharing, as ollows:
a. Deroi Conerence Grandahered Populaon
• Parcipan premium share based on years o service per legacy policy: pre-2007
(0%-60%) or 2007-pos (10%-70%)*
b. Wes Michigan Conerence Grandahered Populaon
• Parcipan premium share based on years o service per legacy policy (30%-60%)*
7. Pos-reremen healh care eligibiliy and cos sharing or parcipans no included in eiher
grand-parened populaon are deermined per he healh care policy as esablished by he
CBOPHB and are currenly:
a. Parcipan premium share will be based on he lesser o eiher:
• Years o service a me o reremen (30%-60%)*
• Premium share percenage in eﬀec December 31, 2018
8. I a parcipan reres under he 20-year rule:
b. The requiremens he same as early or normal reremen, plus:
• Parcipan mus remain on he conerence plan a parcipan’s expense unl age 65
• A age 65, he Michigan Conerence pays a poron o premium based on Years o
Service*
9. I a clergy person rered or lef he minisry or he reason ha hey are a member o he
LGBTQIA+ communiy, and he sance o he Unied Mehodis Church beore he General
Conerence held in 2024 prevened hem rom connuing in minisry, hen hey reurned o
minisry in he Michigan Conerence o The Unied Mehodis Church ollowing he change o
he church’s sance, heir senioriy will be bridged in regards o healh care in reremen as long
as hey remain in acve service in a Michigan Conerence o The Unied Mehodis Church
qualiying appoinmen (see inser secon here or) unl hey rere and will be eligible or he
reree healh insurance subsidy based on hose bridged years o service as a oal.
10. Conerence Lay Employees mus have 30 years o service or reach age 62, and have been
employed 15 years immediaely prior o reremen o be eligible or healh care.
11. Local Church Lay Employees are no eligible in reremen.
12. Individuals may conac he Conerence Beneﬁs Oﬃce o conﬁrm eligibiliy and speciﬁc cos
sharing a he me o reremen.
*Years of service in oher Conferences are no included when calculang he credi owards posreremen healh insurance.
Enrollmen:

33

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

Regardless o wheher a parcipan reres under he 20-year rule, early reremen or ull reremen as
se orh by he Book of Discipline, he parcipan, i eligible, will be enrolled in a plan based on heir age
a reremen. Parcipans mus noy he Bishop and ohers as required by he Book of Discipline a
leas 120 days prior o he dae on which reremen is o be eﬀecve, which is also required by he Book
of Discipline and also gives he parcipan enough me o ransion o Medicare i needed, or hey will
no be eligible or Reree Healh Care Coverage. Those ha mee he above requiremens will be
enrolled as ollows:
1. I a parcipan or dependen is under 65 years o age, hey will be enrolled in a Pre-65 Reree
plan. This reree plan includes medical, denal, vision and prescripon coverage. The parcipan
and any dependen under he age o 65 will remain on his plan unl hey urn 65 or hey reach
he age where hey are no longer covered as a dependen.
a. Approximaely hree monhs beore a parcipan or dependen urns 65, hey should
apply or Medicare Par A & B or a sar dae on he 1s o he monh in which hey urn
65. The Beneﬁs Oﬃce makes is bes eﬀor o aler people o his ransion as i can
ake a leas hree monhs o be approved.
b. Once he person urning 65 has received heir Medicare Card, hey mus provide a copy
o he card o he Beneﬁs Oﬃce prior o he 1s o he monh in which hey urn 65.
c. I a person urning 65 is unable o apply or Medicare by he 1s o he monh in which
hey urn 65, hey will be allowed a 30 day grace period where hey will connue on
he Pre-65 Reree plan. Afer his 30 day window, i Medicare coverage is no in place,
he parcipan and any dependens’ coverage may be erminaed and once erminaed
canno be reinsaed.
2. I a parcipan or dependen is age 65 or older, hey will be enrolled in a Pos- 65 Reree plan.
This reree plan includes medical, denal, vision and prescripon coverage.
a. Approximaely hree monhs prior o he parcipan’s reremen any parcipan or
dependen age 65 or older should apply or Medicare Par A & B, i hey have no
previously applied or Par A. I hey have previously applied or Medicare Par A, hey
should apply or Par B. They should apply wih a sar dae on he 1s o he monh in
which he parcipan is rering. The Beneﬁs Oﬃce begins noying people o heir
need o sar his applicaon process a leas hree monhs beore heir reremen
because i can ake ha long o be approved.
b. Once any parcipan or dependen who is 65 or older has received heir Medicare
Card, hey mus provide a copy o he card o he Beneﬁs Oﬃce prior o he 1s o he
monh in which he parcipan reres.
c. I any parcipan or dependen is unable o apply or Medicare by he 1s o he monh
in which he parcipan reres, hey will be allowed a 30 day grace period where hey
will connue on he Acve plan. However, hey will be responsible or he ull cos o
ha monh o coverage including any poron heir church paid on a monhly basis or
heir healh insurance a he me o heir reremen as well as he monhly employee
premium conribuon rae ha was in place a he me o ha parcipan’s
reremen. Afer his 30 day window, i Medicare coverage is no in place, he
parcipan and any dependens’ coverage may be erminaed and once erminaed
canno be reinsaed.
Termination:
1. A subscriber may terminate their health insurance policy during retirement at any time.
However, the termination is non-revocable and a subscriber cannot re-enroll at a future date.
34

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

2. The health insurance policy of a retired ordained minister whose clergy membership is
terminated with the Michigan Conference for any reason will be terminated the effective date
o he erminaion o he subscriber’s clergy membership.
3. Health insurance policies will be terminated for non-payment of premiums according to the
following schedule:
Policy may be terminated at six months in arrears.
a. A terminated policy may be reinstated within 30 days of termination if the
outstanding balance has been remitted in full.
b. Since termination of a retiree policy is permanent following the 30 day window
for reinstatement, subscribers in a delinquency situation are strongly
encouraged to initiate communication with the Executive Committee of The
Board of Pension & Health Benefits to negotiate a realistic repayment schedule
prior to the date of termination.
The Conerence Board o Pension and Healh Beneﬁs (CBOPHB) is auhorized by he Michigan Annual
Conerence o negoae, compromise, submi o arbiraon, or reain legal counsel regarding any claims
or beneﬁs ha may arise under he Michigan Conerence Beneﬁs Plans. This includes he curren
Michigan Conerence Group Healh Care Plan, he Michigan Conerence Lay Employee Reremen and
Welare plans, he Unied Mehodis Clergy Reremen and Welare Plans, as well as oher plans
insued in he uure. The CBOPHB will be considered he ﬁnal appeal and have ﬁnal auhoriy o
decide any issue in he even o a dispue or disagreemen by a parcipan.

Presened by The Michigan Conerence Board o Pension & Healh Beneﬁs
Rev. Amy E. Mayo-Moyle, Presiden
Rev. Joel L. Walher, Direcor o Conerence Beneﬁs & Coordinaor o Human Resources

Board of Trustees
The conerence Board o Trusees (“BoT”) is he ﬁduciary or he Conerence. The Board enjoys he
blessing o acve parcipaon o six clergy and six laiy rusees, plus a vong clergy liaison rom he
Cabine. Several conerence commiees and conerence saﬀ serve on he commiee wih voice bu no
voe. We currenly divide our responsibilies beween hese ocus areas: Conerence Properes, Closing
Churches, Sale o Closed Properes, Risk Managemen and Legal Issues.
Meeng quarerly, we gaher in person and/or virually making parcipaon more complee and
inclusive. As our ocus areas indicae, he responsibilies and issues are signiﬁcan, including such
maers as conerence asses, ﬁnancial sress on congregaons, and diﬃcul decisions o bring a church’s
minisry o a close.
35

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

Work review:
Conerence Properes
Properes owned and ulized by he Conerence (oﬃces and parsonages) are managed and mainained
by he Board o Trusees. The major eﬀor or 2024 was he consolidaon o he Conerence Oﬃces a
212 Clark Corners ino he Oﬃce Building on Norhcres Road in Lansing. This move required some
modiﬁcaons o he Conerence Oﬃce Building and a grea deal o ﬂexibiliy on he par o conerence
saﬀ. The consolidaon is complee, and Suie 212 is no longer leased by he conerence.
Parsonages saw some invesmen in mainenance and necessary upgrades during 2024.
A review o he needs o each propery is inorming he developmen o an invesmen sraegy o
address heavy mainenance and capial improvemen needs a he properes. Firs on he lis is an
invesmen in ﬂooring, pain, and oher small improvemens a he Norhern Skies Parsonage o be
med wih he change in Disric Superinenden.
Closed Churches
During he 2024 reporng period, eigh congregaons made he diﬃcul decisions o cease heir
minisry and close heir church. Mos ofen he reason or he decision was relaed o ﬁnancial and
leadership issues relaed o declining membership. These congregaon celebraed heir ﬁnal worship
service in 2024 and heir buildings were deconsecraed. Hisorical records, membership liss, and church
asses were addressed according o exisng guidelines. Lised below are he closed churches ha will be
celebraed a he 2025 Annual Conerence.
Ashon
Belding
Cenral Lakepor
Forreser
Owosso: Triniy
Shelby
Turk lake
Williamson Crossroads
Addionally, during 2024 oureen churches ha were no longer unconing as Unied Mehodis Houses
o Worship closed and lef he Conerence under he provisions o Chaper 2549. These churches are
lised below:
Arden
Barnard
Boyne Ciy: Compass Communiy
Caledonia
Eas Jordan
36

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

Edwardsburg: Hope
Hinchman
Horon Bay
Kalkaska
Ludingon: S. Paul
Mayville
Merri-Buerﬁeld
Mooresown-Ssville
Townline
Church Sales
The Board o Trusees has been acvely markeng he closed churches and associaed parsonages rom
previous years and hose rom he curren year. Churches are a specialy propery and ofen mes ake
signiﬁcan me o ﬁnd a buyer. When churches properes are sold, hey proceeds are disribued
according o exisng guidelines.
The ollowing churches and parsonages have been sold or have sales pending as o his wring:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Ashon (sale pending)
Belding Parsonage
Forreser
Murano Drive Beneﬁs Oﬃcer Parsonage
Owosso: Triniy
Rodney
Saginaw Ames (sale pending)
Silverwood
Turk Lake Parsonage
Ubly

The ollowing properes are currenly in our closed church invenory and are eiher lised or sale or
being evaluaed or oher use:
•
•
•
•
•
•

Belding
Cenral Lakepor
Saginaw Ames Parsonage
Shelby
Turk Lake
Williamson Crossroads

Risk Managemen and Legal Issues

37

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

The Board o Trusees conduced he annual “Risk Managemen” review wih Church Muual Insurance
in a ull board meeng. There were once again no maerial claim-issues raised and he relaonship
connues o be solid. Local churches may have diﬀeren insurance providers, bu he availabiliy and
cos o insurance coverage will connue o be a major poin o ocus and ﬁnancial sress in he coming
years. One iem is parcularly clear, regular communicaon wih your insurance provider is crical. A
he very leas, churches should annually explore how adjusmens o deducbles and claims avoidance
sraegies can be used o ensure connued coverage.
No signiﬁcan new ligaon was presen during 2024. The Boy Scous o American selemen is sll in
process o ﬁnalizaon bu we do no expec any signiﬁcan issues wih ha will require addional acon
on he par o he Conerence.
Ma DeLong, Chair o he Michigan Conerence Board o Trusees
Board o Young People’s Minisries
As always, he Board o Young People’s Minisries sough o empower local churches in providing
opporunies or minisry wih youh and young aduls, hus srenghening leadership in our local
communies. The Board is predominanly a unding board, so we work hard o und minisries wih boh
our budgeed money and our designaed unds. We believe ha in our suppor o campus minisry,
inernship programs, rereas, and more we have done a lo o srenghen he reach and winess o
Unied Mehodism in our Conerence, and beyond.
Top hree accomplishmens in 2024:
1) Launching Connexion inernships. Afer sunsetng previous inernship programs, he Board o
Young People’s Minisry pivoed oward creang and supporng a more grassroos syle
inernship. Local churches or church aﬃliaed organizaons ideny young aduls in heir
communies and work wih hose young aduls o craf a seven week long inernship experience
in he summer. Some o our inerns worked wih children’s programming. Some worked in
communiy gardens. Some wih mission and oureach minisries. Each week, inerns would mee
in order o discuss joys and challenges in minisry, as well as walk hough a discernmen process.
We are pleased wih how Connexion urned ou in his summer, and are looking orward o
seeing how his program evolves and grows o mee he needs o Michigan Mehodiss.
2) Campus Minisry Fund Task Force: Wih he overwhelming backing o he Michigan Annual
Conerence, we creaed a Task Force in order o ﬁnd creave ways o help und campus minisry.
The ask orce has been regularly meeng, under he guidance o one o our board members. In
he ask orce, we have inenonally brough ogeher people rom diﬀeren Conerence
agencies, young aduls, campus minisers, and ohers involved wih campus minisry. We are

38

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

hoping ha he suggesons or ideas rom he ask orce help our Conerence embrace and
suppor campus minisry or years o come.
3) Working wih a reduced budge: Budge was reduced rom $340,000 in 2023 o $260,000 in
2024. We are proud ha we ound ways o connue supporng our various minisries, even wih
a reduced budge. By making hard decisions o sunse cerain programs, ﬁnding unding rom
oher sources, and being judicious in wha we could suppor, we connued o do good minisry,
even in a me o scarciy in our Conerence. We also learned how o connue supporng our
vial minisries in a season where budge cus are, likely, going o connue being a realiy in our
Conerence. We are proud ha we looked or ways o be ﬁnancially susainable, ouside o
simply making cus, like our Conerence seems so won o do.
Response o 2025 Annual Conerence Theme – “Unﬁnished: Growing Up and Ino Chris.”
Quie simply, we’re rusng in Chris. Even hough we have aced a lo o insuonal roadblocks,
parcularly ﬁnancial roadblocks, we connue o move orward in he ways ha he Spiri is calling us.
Somemes his is hard work, bu i’s worh i. No only are we helping our young people grow in heir
aih and relaonship wih Chris, we are rying hard o be an example o our insuon o how we need
o do beer, be visionary, and seek creave soluons or he unique challenges o our presen momen.

CAMPUS MINISTRIES
Cenral Michigan Universiy Wesley Foundaon
The Wesley Foundaon a Cenral Michigan Universiy (Wesley a CMU) is a hisoric, Unied Mehodis
campus minisry in Moun Pleasan, Michigan. A Wesley a CMU, we value openness and auhenciy
and commi ourselves o building God’s beloved communiy on earh. Our hope is or all people o know
hemselves as God’s beloved and o go be God’s love in he world.
In 2024, we celebraed our niney-eighh year o minisry a CMU. We connued our core minisries o
creave worship, small groups, ree weekly communiy meals, service projecs, connecve communiybuilding evens, and leadership developmen all while creang new minisry iniaves or young people
o grow up and ino Chris.
This spring, our suden-led “Free Food Shel” minisry celebraed a ull year o service o he
communiy. I provides ood saples, hygiene iems, and household basics o sudens in need in
parnership wih area congregaons and supporers who keep he shel socked wih donaons. This
eﬀor o comba ood insecuriy on campus comes alongside our long-sanding meal minisry, which
currenly oﬀers a ree communiy lunch each Wednesday o he school year.

39

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

In March, CMU Wesley parnered wih FSU Wesley House o ake wo dozen college sudens o rural
Kenucky or a week o service-learning. There, our young aduls learned abou he realies o rural
povery and engaged in service projecs ranging rom ood and clohing panry work o suppor or
nursing home residens and local elemenary school libraries. Sudens deepened heir undersanding o
Jesus’ care or hose on he margins and grew ino more maure Chrisan idenes in service o ohers.
Wesley a CMU also engaged in creave parnership building wih oher communies in our Unied
Mehodis connecon. Throughou he year, our pasor and sudens visied several local churches or
special mission Sundays; his summer, he Moun Pleasan-area UMCs hosed a communiy-wide bike
ride undraiser or Wesley; and in he all, several congregaons voluneered o provide ood or our ree
lunches. In November, Wesley a CMU also parnered wih WMU Wesley o hos a compeve
undraiser during he CMU-WMU rivalry ooball game, raising over $11,000 or our minisries. Each o
hose parnerships suppored our ongoing work o caring or sudens and helping hem o grow in
discipleship wih Chris.
As we ener ino anoher year o minisry in 2025, we go wih he knowledge ha God’s work is
unﬁnished and unolding in our mids. We give hanks or our beloved communiy a CMU and pray or a
uure ha looks more and more like he kin-dom Chris invied us ino.
Audra Hudson Sone, Pasor and Direcor
Ferris Sae Universiy Wesly House
2024 was a year o incredible growh, deepened vision, and srenghened connecons or Ferris Sae
Wesley!
One o he mos signiﬁcan ransions his year was wih our ood panry program. As i grew o serve
hundreds o sudens on campus, we recognized ha susaining i as a voluneer-led iniave was no
longer easible. Afer years o sitng on commiees a Ferris, we ound ourselves in a new role—
menors—guiding he ransion o our panry o universiy managemen. While we connue o mainain
a small panry, his shif has been a blessing. Wih a dedicaed saﬀ posion, a more cenral locaon, and
increased universiy suppor, he panry is now beer equipped han ever o serve sudens in need.
Bu our growing parnership wih he universiy is jus one o many connecons ha have ﬂourished his
year! During Spring Break, we raveled o Big Creek, Kenucky, or a service and learning rip alongside
our riends rom Cenral Michigan Universiy. Immersed in he Appalachian communiy, we winessed
he power o people coming ogeher o care or heir neighbors in meaningul ways. In he all, we
hosed a rerea wih campus minisries rom across he sae, ocusing on he sacred pracce o being
spiriually presen in a as-paced, chaoc world.
Beyond hese ouward connecons, we’ve also been nururing he growh o our sudens hrough
worship, eaching, small groups, and service opporunies. We’ve walked alongside hem as hey’ve
wresled wih quesons, lifed prayers, and sepped boldly ino heir aih. We’ve seen young aduls

40

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

recognize heir place in he body o Chris and begin o bear good rui—and ha is somehing worh
celebrang!
None o his would be possible wihou he unwavering suppor o so many aihul people. We are
prooundly graeul or our 18 covenan parner churches, as well as our srong es o he Wesern
Waers and Cenral Bay Disrics. Wheher ﬁlling pulpis, aending disric conerences, or sharing sories
o ransormaon, we are connually reminded o how your generosiy and prayers are changing lives
hrough he minisry o he Wesley House.
Our minisry looks diﬀeren every day, and we know i will connue o evolve. Bu one hing remains
consan: Wesley will always be a winess o he lie-changing power o he Holy Spiri—moving hrough
us, among us, and wihin us.
Thank you or believing in, cheering or, and invesng in he aih and uures o young aduls. We can’
wai o see wha God has in sore or 2025!
Rev. Kim Bos
Campus Pasor & Execuve Direcor

Wesley Foundation of Kalamazoo
The Wesley Foundation of Kalamazoo continues to be a place where students find community,
explore faith, and seek justice. As we navigate a changing campus landscape, we remain committed
to creating a space that is safe enough for students to be brave—where they can express
themselves, connect with others, and be fed both physically and spiritually.
Throughout 2024, Wesley at WMU launched new initiatives and strengthened partnerships to better
serve our students. One of the highlights of the year was our student-led Study Week, which provided
a welcoming space with food and support for students leading up to finals. Our new Student
Engagement and Hospitality Coordinator played a key role in this and other programs, by bringing
expertise in social media connections, campus marketing, and hospitality to enhance our outreach.
Our residence (the Wesley Intentional Living Center) is under the leadership of a new Resident
Director who is continuing the work of developing and providing a safe space for students to live and
be in communiy wih one anoher. This isn’ jus a place o live, it is a place to deepen faith and
relationships with those who are living together in the same space.
Beyond campus, we continue to deepen our engagement with local district congregations. In
November, we hosted an all-day ABAR (Anti-Bias, Anti-Racist) Study Hall, equipping clergy and church
leaders with resources, guidance, and collaborative opportunities to engage in this critical work. We
also participated in a friendly yet competitive fundraiser with the Wesley Foundation of Central
Michigan University during the CMU-WMU rivalry games, which surpased our main goal and aided in
the reconnection with many of our alumni!
Looking ahead, we continue to discern the future of ministry on campus, adapting to the needs of
41

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

our new generations while maintaining our historic commitment to justice and community. As we
move forward, we celebrate the ways God continues to work through Wesley at WMU and look with
hope toward the future.
Andrew Stange, Director
The Wesley Foundaon a Michigan Sae Universiy
The Wesley Foundaon a Michigan Sae Universiy, also known as MSU Wesley, experienced an
incredible year in 2024—one marked by growh, discovery, and new opporunies. Afer houghul and
prayerul discernmen, he MSU Wesley Board decided o pause programming or he 2023-2024
academic year. This inenonal break provided he necessary space o reimagine he minisry, reﬁne
MSU Wesley’s mission and vision, and begin he search or a new execuve direcor and campus pasor.
During his me, in he rue spiri o Mehodis conneconalism, he needs o sudens were me
hrough parnerships wih local churches and campus minisries in Greaer Lansing. We are deeply
graeul or hese relaonships and recognize ha minisry is never done in isolaon—we could no have
walked his journey wihou our parners in aih!
In May, Rev. Sonrisa Cores was hired as he new Execuve Direcor and Campus Pasor or MSU Wesley,
oﬃcially beginning her role on July 1. The MSU Wesley Board o Direcors was impressed wih Sonrisa’s
passion or creang a sae and nururing environmen where sudens are empowered o navigae heir
own aih journeys, oser relaonships and urher develop leadership skills and her energy and ideas
or helping o revive and reshape his imporan minisry.
Tha same monh, MSU Wesley received a maching gran rom he Board o Young People’s Minisry.
The challenge was se: raise $10,000. Thanks o he generosiy o our supporers, we no only me his
goal—we exceeded i by July! This gran, along wih ongoing ﬁnancial suppor, has become he lieblood
o our revializaon, allowing MSU Wesley o live ully ino is mission: o be an open, accepng, and
aﬃrming space ha nurures he spiriual and menal well-being o college sudens.
This all, MSU Wesley inroduced hree weekly opporunies or sudens o connec:
Monday Meldown – A weekly shared meal osering ellowship and conversaon around he
inersecon o menal healh, spiriualiy, aih, and religion. Thursday Treks – A mindul, one-hour walk
hrough he MSU Children’s Garden where sudens were invied o “walk and alk” abou anyhing on
heir minds. Sudy Hall – Our mos unique and successul iniave. In parnership wih Blue Owl Coﬀee,
MSU Wesley provided ree coﬀee o sudens every Tuesday during designaed hours. The only
requiremen? A valid college ID.
Rev. Sonrisa was presen each week a Sudy Hall, creang a welcoming “Care Corner” wih a sign o
inroducon, coloring pages, ﬁdges, suckers, and an open inviaon or conversaon, prayer, a joke, or
simply a place o pause. A he sar o he semeser, we ancipaed around 30 sudens per week—bu

42

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

parcipaon ar surpassed expecaons. By he end o he semeser, we were reaching nearly 80
sudens weekly!
The impac o Sudy Hall was undeniable. In he ﬁnal week o 2024, Rev. Sonrisa colleced over 50
esmonials rom sudens, reﬂecng on how his space had suppored hem. Common hemes included
graude, communiy-building, a sense o securiy, and improved menal healh—all rom one semeser
o ree coﬀee and connecon.
MSU Wesley is now seeking parner churches o sponsor Tuesday Sudy Hall, wih a commimen o $500
per sponsored Tuesday. This ﬁnancial suppor will help susain and expand his impacul program,
ensuring sudens connue o have a welcoming space o gaher, be heard, and experience God’s love in
angible ways.
I you’d like o learn more abou our programming, know a Sparan (or uure Sparan) looking or an
accepng communiy, or would like o invie Rev. Sonrisa o speak a your church, please conac her a
msuwesley@gmail.com or (734) 489-1224.
Togeher, we are building somehing new—and we are so graeul or your suppor in his journey.

Norhern Michigan Universiy Wesley Campus Minisry (aka Sacred Space Campus Minisry)
Greengs rom he shores o Lake Superior! NMU Wesley is now Sacred Space Campus Minisry! Sacred
Space is a collecve communiy o sudens and minisry leaders. We srive o walk alongside one
anoher in aih and in lie as we grow and develop. We ask quesons and seek answers, we welcome all
o be wih us jus as hey are, and we suppor one anoher hrough he highs and lows o college lie.
Our moo is “Love Everyone” and we seek o embody his hrough inenonal expansive communiy
ha allows young aduls o explore and live ou heir aih in everyday acons and words. We are
graeul or he suppor o DHECM, Marquee Hope, and individual donors ha allow Sacred Space o
hrive.
Sacred Space Campus Minisry is he collaboraon o NMU Wesley, NMU Luheran Campus Minisry
(ELCA), and NMU Episcopal Campus Minisry a Norhern Michigan Universiy. We run all our evens
ogeher and share he space ha Marquee Hope Unied Mehodis Mul-Sie Faih Communiy
provides us. This space is also where CommonGrounds Coﬀee House is locaed. CommonGrounds is our
exension minisry in parnership wih he Luheran Campus Minisry where we oﬀer a space o hang
ou, sudy, and relax wih ree coﬀee, ree wi-ﬁ, ree snacks and occasionally pups o love on.
Our op hree celebraons o 2024 include he Spring break service rip o Sanibel Island, producing our
newsleer wih greaer suden wrien maerial, and beginning o creae communiy connecons
hrough service in Marquee and local congregaons hrough voluneering and hosng polucks.
In he 2024 Spring semeser, we reurned o Sanibel Island o help wih connued Hurricane Ian
Recovery eﬀors. We spen some o our me wih Sanibel Capva Conservaon Foundaon, resoring a
43

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

naure preserve ha was used as a debris sorage sie afer Ian. We also parnered wih S. Michael’s and
All he Angels Episcopal Church again, helping resore heir memorial garden. We also enjoyed a Lenen
poluck wih hem. We reurned o help F.I.S.H o SanCap wih sorng donaons and preparing or a
parade.
Our saple programs include Sunday Dinner and Devoons - a homecooked meal wih a suden or
minisry leader run devoon me; Thursday evening gaherings or Word and Worship or Time wih
Marna – a simple worship me wih scripure and conversaon. Theology on Tap – gahering a a local
brewery or heological conversaons on various opics or scripure; Oudoor Advenures – hikes wih
pups on he miles and miles o rails surrounding Norhern; And suden led pop-up evens like movie
nighs, game nighs, breakas, craf projecs, and more.
I you have a young adul who is considering aending NMU or is already aending NMU, we would love
o ge conneced wih hem and welcome hem o he Sacred Space communiy. Our bi-annual
newsleer is a grea way o hear more abou wha we are up o. Reach ou o Rev. Erica Thomas, NMU
Wesley Direcor wih Sacred Space a wesley@mqhope.com or 805-710-4752 or head o
www.mqhope.com/NMUWesley
Unied Campus Chrisan Fellowship
Unied Campus Chrisan Fellowship (UCCF - uccmi.org), connues o grow and mainain our
parnerships wih he ELCA, Episcopal Church, PCUSA, and UMC. This mul-campus, muldenominaonal campus minisry is serving sudens, aculy and saﬀ a Grand Valley Sae Universiy,
Grand Rapids Communiy College, and Kendall College o Ar and Design. This unique syle o
collaborave campus minisry has allowed us o grow and we engage wih 60 sudens a week on
average.
This year, our suden evens have ocused on eeding and advocacy. Every week, we hos “Open
Table.” Lunch is oﬀered or our wo commuer, downown campuses, and dinner is oﬀered or GVSU. Per
he Naonal Cener on Sae Supporve Learning Cener, one in hree college sudens across he counry
experience ood insecuriy. Our church parners help us comba his realiy by providing meals or
sudens, aculy, and saﬀ.
We connue o oﬀer worship, Bible sudy, he Lisening Spo, and one on one meengs. Our
sudens have waned o dig ino how he Bible calls us o advocacy and caring or he marginalized. Our
ocus or our me ogeher has been surrounding Jesus’ call o care or he leas o hese and o love our
neighbors as ourselves. UCCF connues o be he only LGBTQIA+ aﬃrming campus minisry on our hree
campuses, and he only campus minisry or wo o hem. Our commimen o osering ineraih
undersanding and cooperaon is anoher disncve mark o our minisry.
Unied Campus Chrisan Fellowship embraces and celebraes our church parnerships which
allow us o be ecumenical, collaborave, and radically inclusive. In 2025, we are commied o engaging
wih a leas our new local churches, in addion o our curren parners, o bring hem along in God’s
mission or campus minisry.

44

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

Thank you, Michigan Conerence, or supporng his work and he work o all campus minisries
in 2024!
The Wesley Foundaon a he Universiy o Michigan
Greetings from the Wesley Foundation at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor!
At Wesley, we strive to be a spiritual home on campus—a welcoming and nurturing space where
students can grow in faith, explore their callings, and build meaningful relationships. Through worship,
fellowship, study, and service, we are cultivating an open and diverse Christian community where all are
valued and encouraged in their faith journey.
Our weekly programs include worship, shared meals, Bible studies, small group discussions, service
opportunities, and fellowship. Additionally, we have partnered with U-M Student Life and the new staff
member for Secular, Spiritual, Religious, and Interfaith Engagements to offer campus-wide workshops
that foster deep and meaningful theological conversations across our many differences.
We continue to strengthen our partnerships with local churches to support the growing needs of our
community. Through student internships, service projects, collaborative study, worship experiences, and
social justice initiatives, our students and church leaders are learning from one another and combining
their gifts for impactful ministry.
A key ocus o our work is helping sudens discern God’s call in heir lives. We encourage hem o
explore their unique gifts and graces and discover how to live them out in faithful ways within their
communities.
We are also excited to continue sharing Sacred Ink, our traveling art installation featuring portraits and
stories of young adults whose tattoos hold deep spiritual meaning. It has been a pleasure to bring this
exhibit to local churches, small galleries, and nearby theological seminaries.
It is a privilege to witness how God is moving in the lives of these young people. As they seek to embody
and proclaim God’s presence in he world, le us join in supporing hem—through prayer,
encouragement, and shared ministry.
Thank you for your ongoing prayers and support!
~ Rev. Tim Kobler, Chaplain

Division o Higher Educaon and Campus Minisry
The Division o Higher Educaon and Campus Minisry (DHECM) is a par o he Board o Young People’s
Minisries (BYPM) and is charged wih advocang or campus minisry work hroughou he Michigan
45

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

Conerence conneconal srucure o secure primary ﬁnancial resources and o provide accounabiliy
and evaluaon or our UM campus minisries. In 2024, Rev. Jeﬀ Williams connued o lead he division
as chairperson and was suppored by our oher members: Lauren Canary, Gordon Grigg, Dr. Sarah
Hercula, Rev. Mary Ivanov, Rick Miller and Rev. Brian Seele. Rev. Sco Marsh also joined as an advocae
laer in he year afer Dr. Hercula had o sep down since she is married o Pasor Andrew Sange, he
new Campus Miniser a Kalamazoo Wesley and ha would have creaed a conﬂic o ineres.
Afer Annual Conerence, we ancipae ha Rev. Marsh will oﬃcially join he division and become he
chairperson as Rev. Williams erm has expired. The division has been exremely blessed by Rev. Williams
leadership and presence or years, and he has our hearel hanks.
To learn more abou how you can parner wih our campus minisries and heir laes evens, you can
check ou heir web sies social media links below. Please ollow hem o say conneced!
●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

All Michigan Unied Mehodis Campus Minisries:
○ Facebook Page: hps://www.acebook.com/umconcampus/
○ Websie:: hps://www.wihwesleymiumc.org/
Wesley a Cenral Michigan Universiy
○ Websie: hps://cmuwes.org/
○ Facebook: hps://www.acebook.com/wesleyacmu
○ Insagram: hps://www.insagram.com/cmu_wesley/
Big Rapids Wesley House
○ Websie: hps://www.suwesleyhouse.org/
○ Facebook: hps://www.acebook.com/BigRapidsWesleyHouse
○ Insagram: hps://www.insagram.com/suwesleyhouse/
Unied Campus Chrisan Fellowship (Grand Valley Sae Universiy, Grand Rapids Communiy
College and Kendall College)
○ Websie: hps://www.uccmi.org/
○ Facebook: hps://www.acebook.com/uccmi1
○ Insagram: hps://www.insagram.com/uccmi1
Michigan Sae Wesley Foundaon
○ Websie: hps://msuwesleyorg.wordpress.com/
○ Facebook: hps://www.acebook.com/msuwesley
○ Insagram: hps://www.insagram.com/msuwesley/
Moor Ciy Wesley (Mero Deroi)
○ Websie: hps://www.moorciywesley.org/
○ Facebook: hps://www.acebook.com/moorciywesley
○ Insagram: hps://www.insagram.com/moorciywesley/
Norhern Michigan Universiy Wesley
○ Websie: hp://www.mqhope.com/nmu-wesley.hml
○ Insagram: hps://www.insagram.com/nmuwesley/
Wesley Foundaon a he Universiy o Michigan
○ Websie: hps://www.umichwesley.org/
○ Facebook: hps://www.acebook.com/wesleyaumich
○ Insagram: hps://www.insagram.com/umichwesley/
Wesley Foundaon o Kalamazoo
○ Websie: hps://wesleykzoo.org/
○ Facebook: hps://www.acebook.com/wesleyoundaonkzoo
○ Insagram: hps://www.insagram.com/wesleykzoowmu/
46

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

You can also read each campus minisry’s individual repor in his volume o he Conference Journal. I
you would like o give direcly o he Division, you can do so by clicking here. Also, any scholarship ino
or sudens can be ound here: hps://www.gbhem.org/scholarships/
In he Unied Mehodis Church, campus minisries are exension minisries o he Church, as oulined in
The Book of Discipline (2016, Par IV, 120): “The mission o he Church is o make disciples o Jesus Chris
or he ransormaon o he world. Local churches and exension minisries o he Church provide he
mos signiﬁcan arenas hrough which disciple-making occurs” (emphasis added). As such, campus
minisries are among he Michigan Conerence’s and he Unied Mehodis Church’s mos signiﬁcan
disciple-making communies. Inenonal UM campus aih communies make bold and eﬀecve young
adul leaders and disciples or he Church and he world by promong he healhy spiriual and social
developmen o young aduls on campus and beyond.
We appreciae he parnership we have wih local churches o exend he minisry o he Church o our
sudens. Wih he suppor o local churches, he Unied Mehodis Church prepares and equips campus
spiriual communies o suppor and encouragemen or young aduls o ollow God's leading during his
imporan sage o heir lives. DHECM has been old sories o how when young aduls and sudens visi
local churches and experience welcome, hey discover ha he church can sll have a place or hem and
ha hey are acceped.
Every local church has a role o play in connecng young aduls wih campus minisry. Local churches
repor inormaon abou heir incoming college and universiy sudens every year as par o our Church
Conerence process. These repors go ino a daabase ha our campus minisers can hen use o make
personal conac wih sudens o provide spiriual communiy and guidance as hey ransion o
campus lie. All churches in our conerence help o play a role in making hese connecons ha remind
young aduls ha here is sll a place or hem in he church.
Individual laiy and clergy also make considerable impacs on campus minisry. Tha is why we awarded
Connie Swinger wih he Francis Asbury award in 2024. The Francis Asbury Award is an annual
recognion given by he DHECM. The General Board o Higher Educaon and Minisry (GBHEM)
describes he award as ollows: "he award recognizes individuals who have made a signiﬁcan
conribuon o osering he church’s minisries in higher educaon a he local, disric, or annual
conerence level o he church. The award is named or Bishop Asbury and is based on his admonion o
he people called Mehodis o erec a school in he viciniy o every church.”
Connie serves on he board a Unied Campus Chrisan Fellowship and was insrumenal in he creaon
o UCCF and hus revializing a UMC presence in campus minisry in Grand Rapids. Connie has osered
invaluable relaonships wih Unied Women in Faih and ecumenical minisries. We were delighed o
presen Connie wih his award and am graeul or her connued service o campus minisry.
One o he bes ways Unied Mehodiss and our churches can suppor young aduls in minisry is
hrough Unied Mehodis Suden Day, which helps o raise unds or scholarships or undergraduae
and graduae sudens. Several o hose who have received scholarships are now serving as clergy in he
Michigan Conerence. Your gifs ruly do make a diﬀerence in empowering he nex generaon o
Chrisan leaders.
When you give o campus minisries, you are resourcing minisries or sudens who can’ ﬁnd spiriual
belonging elsewhere. For example, his pas year CMU celebraed he one-year anniversary o heir
Queer Chrisan Connecon, which creaes space and communiy or queer-idenﬁed Chrisans. This
47

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

allows sudens o explore he inersecons o heir aih and ideny in ways ha oher minisries
around campus would no allow hem o. In addion o small groups orming, sudens ouside he aih
realm also ﬁnd belonging a all he campus minisries. For example, a he Big Rapids Wesley House hey
had a suden who came or heir more un and low-key evens and hen showed up during ﬁnal weeks
where hey asked o alk o someone privaely. In ha conversaon, suppor sysems were shared wih
him. Then he sared showing up o every even Wesley had.
I’s minisries like hese ha are he seedbed or he uure church, and we give hanks or heir boldness
and aihulness. These minisries do no happen wihou he suppor o he conerence or our churches.
From collaborave mission rips ha each he imporance o service o privae conversaons o handing
ou ﬁnals goodie bags and cookies o sudens on campus, hese minisries show ha young aduls are
sll ineresed in living a lie o aih, even i i’s diﬀeren han how we have seen i radionally done.
This pas year, DHECM member Brian Seele and advocae Sco Marsh joined he Task Force approved a
he 2024 Annual Conerence o help ﬁnd susainable unding or our campus minisries. These
conversaons have been ruiul, and he Task Force is in he mids o developing a mul-prong approach
ha allows Campus Minisry o be unded by diversiﬁed sources as he realiy o a smaller conerence
budge becomes he norm. The Task Force looks orward o poenally sharing heir plan a he 2026
Annual Conerence.
Anoher posive rom his pas year is ha DHECM asked each direcor o se a speciﬁc goal or heir
minisry ha would represen a 10% increase in donaons/gifs or donors as compared o he previous
year. DHECM used his as a meric or disribung a 10% mach in unds or 2024. Each campus miniser
rose o he occasion, and we were able o disburse he unds, showcasing some posive ﬁnancial
movemen ino 2025.
Since DHECM comes under he umbrella o he Board o Young People’s Minisries, we also wan o
highligh he adminisrave beneﬁ Rev. Cora Glass has brough in providing adminisrave services o
our campus minisers so ha hey can keep heir ocus on he relaonal side o minisry and connecng
wih sudens. Rev. Glass mees wih each campus miniser monhly and uses a projec managemen
websie so each minisry can communicae wih her clearly and direcly.
The work o campus minisry is always “unﬁnished”, our heme or his year’s annual conerence. Every
year, our campus minisers sar resh in helping new young people grow ino who God has called hem
o be. The increase in religious rauma presens our campus minisries wih challenges and
opporunies. Our campus minisers connue o overcome signiﬁcan hurdles o reach new sudens
and mee hem wherever hey are on heir spiriual journeys. This is sacred work. Through God’s
prevenien and sancying grace, young aduls across Michigan are growing up ino Chris and
discovering ha hey can have a spiriual home in he Unied Mehodis Church.
Wihou he aih and leadership developmen ha campus minisries provide, our conerence will lose a
key unnel or uure parcipans, members, lay leaders, and clergy. Funding he salaries o our campus
minisers will allow our campus minisers o do he work necessary o keep our conerence as a vial
agen o he work o Jesus Chris in he world.

We praise God and hank you, Michigan Conerence, or supporng personal and direc minisry wih he
mos concenraed populaons o young aduls in our culure.
Peace, Rev. Jeﬀ Williams, DHECM Chair, Rev. Brian Seele, DHECM Member
48

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

DISTRICTS OF THE MICHIGAN ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Eas Winds Disric
Members o he Eas Winds Disric have been busy his pas year, as we rededicae ourselves o he
people we serve in our aih communies and neighborhoods.
The heme o our November Disric Conerence was Sow Big, Dream Big. Togeher we explored how we
can creae new mission and minisry opporunies as we look orward o being vial and vibran.
Workshops during he even included he Fresh Expressions program and how people can become Lay
Servans Lay Speakers or Cerﬁed Lay Minisers, Mission Insie and Discipleship. Our Keynoe Speaker
was Rev. Jon Reynolds who serves he wo campuses o Brighon Unied Mehodis Church. His message
invied all o us o build relaonships wih one anoher as we seek o ollow he calling o our Lord upon
our lives.
As he Disric Superinenden, I have he honor and privilege o speaking wih each aih communiy and
some o he lay leaders each year hrough One on Ones and Saﬀ Parish meengs. There is exciemen
happening wihin our Disric. Many laypersons and pasors have alked abou he ac ha new people
are vising heir churches, new members are joining, and bapsms are happening or people o all ages.
During our conversaons, I learned ha people are looking orward o creang new ways o connec and
engage wih people inside our church walls and in our neighborhoods. Some churches are choosing o
resar dinners, evens and programs because people in he communiy have le hem know ha hey
miss gahering in our spaces or a meal, a conversaon, music and prayer.
Our laiy are presen and serving in our communies. Many have aken a leas one lay speaking class in
he pas year. Our Disric Unied Women in Faih connue o connec wih one anoher o creae new
ways hey can be servans o and or our Lord. We are reaching ou o one anoher and working o show
ohers we care by sending cards, calling, and exng. Laiy help wih clohes closes, hrif shops, ood
panries, soup kichens, ree lunches, and dinners. We connue o pack our Samarian’s Purse
shoeboxes. We are asking ourselves wha more we can do and creang new and innovave ways o
answer he queson.
Our Disric Minisry Shares help us o suppor he ollowing Disric missions: he Souh Flin Soup
Kichen, The Blue Waer Free Sore and Minisry Cener, Campus Minisry a UM-Flin, Family Promise o
Genesee Couny. Grans have been awarded o Inervarsiy Chrisan Fellowship Chapers a communiy
colleges in Flin and Por Huron and helped o cover he cos o a mission rip o Lavia. We have
suppored projecs in Hai and Liberia.
Rev. Dr. Margie R. Craword, Eas Winds Disric Superinenden
Carol Kandell, Eas Winds Disric Leadership Chairperson
Cynhia Rossman, Eas Winds Disric Lay Leader

49

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

Greater Southwest District
The Greater Southwest District, filled with joy, presents this historical report as we reflect on a
transformative and blessed year. We celebrated the exemplary leadership of Rev. Dwayne Bagley, our
District Superintendent. Under Rev. Bagley’s guidance, the district experienced two expansions, the
establishment of a new Annual Conference, and the provision of stability during the pandemic. Rev.
Bagley’s work and ministry will forever be cherished and appreciated by the people of the Greater
Southwest District.
One of the significant additions to the Greater Southwest District is the Latinx New Church Start. Rev.
Cesar Garcia Rodriguez and Rev. Miriam Peralta De Garcia extend the church with boundless hospitality.
They are taking the church to places where English may be a second language, yet the love of Jesus
Christ is profound and life-giving.
In July 2024, Rev. Dean Prentiss was appointed as the Greater Southwest District Superintendent. His
Installation Service was held on September 22, with over fifty people participating, including Rev.
Preniss’ parents. Rev. Prentiss organized the district into twelve branches, inspired by Chris’s words, “I
am the Vine, you are the branches.” The focus has been on maintaining a strong connection to the Vine
and one another.
District Leadership Teams are currently undergoing reformulation. We envision collaborative efforts,
mutual support, and celebrating God’s abundant grace that surrounds us. 2024 has been a time of
refocusing on our connection to the Vine. In 2025, we will shift our focus to the nurturing soil that
sustains the Vine and deepen our understanding of Discipleship and embracing the essence of being
United Methodists.

Norhern Skies Disric
Congregaons and clergy o he Norhern Skies Disric connued he work o relaonship building in our
expanded disric. Wih leadership rom he norhern and souhern regions, he disric connues o ﬁnd
new ways o work ogeher and suppor one anoher wih iniaves and projecs. Holding wo in-person
disric conerences (norhern region and souhern region) is one example o his commimen o creae
one connecon across many miles. A Glennie UMC where he souhern region gahered or disric
conerence, he ﬁlm “Warrior Lawyers: Deenders o Sacred Jusce” was presened by producer Audry
Guyer ollowed by Q&A. The ﬁlm was also presened a he norhern disric conerence.
In Ocober our Unied Women in Faih came ogeher in one locaon or heir Annual Celebraon in S.
Ignace. The day was well aended and aﬃrming o our ongoing work hroughou he disric. Our clergy
rerea was once again also held in wo locaons, Lake Louise and Forune Lake, and oﬀered me or
res, devoon, and connecon. Our disric breakas during Annual Conerence was once again a
highligh. Emerging and Creave minisries grans were awarded or innovave projecs and growing
minisries across he disric. Sories o how our churches work and enrich heir communies connue
o inspire and srenghen us.
The disric was honored o hos he ﬁrs sop in Bishop Bard’s all Lisening Tour a Marquee
50

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

Hope. Many rom he Disric came o hear he Bishop’s words abou uure direcon or he Michigan
Conerence, and o ask houghul quesons. The Norhern Skies Disric celebraes he ways we have
grown ogeher over he pas year. Alhough we look orward o opporunies o gaher ogeher in
person, we connue o seek creave ways o live and work as one body across he miles.
Respecully submied by Rev. Kris Hinz
No Repors Submited
Wesern Waers
Cenral Bay
Greaer Deroi
Heriage

MICHIGAN CONFERENCE-RELATED AND OTHER AGENCIES

Afer he Sorm
Disaster Case Management, the activity that After the Storm provides, is a client-centered approach to
assisting survivors of natural disasters achieve their long-term recovery goals. Disaster Case Managers
meet with clients for assessment and setting goals, help clients in accessing federal, state, and local
assistance, coordinate home repair and rebuild projects, and refer to other social services as needed.
2024 was an incredibly impactful year for After the Storm. In May, when tornadoes struck Kalamazoo
County, we swiftly partnered with the state, local officials, and other nonprofit organizations to support
recovery efforts. Thanks to a grant from the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, we were able to deploy
two Disaster Case Managers and address unmet needs within the community. By the end of 2024, we
had assisted over 100 families, provided volunteer labor valued at more than $30,000, and facilitated
over $300,000 worth of referrals and repairs.
Additionally, After the Storm continued its vital work through the Metro Detroit Flood Recovery Project.
With generous funding from UMCOR, we were able to sustain Disaster Case Management Services
through the end of the year, bridging the gap when federal funding ended in July. Nearly 1,700 cases
were opened, helping survivors navigate the complex recovery process, while almost 9,000 households
were reached to assess their need for services. Through this initiative, we facilitated $2.6 million in
referrals and home repairs, empowering survivors to fully recover. Although there are still ongoing
challenges—such as mold in basements, lack of hot water, and heating issues—After the Storm has
strengthened its partnerships with DTE and the Detroit Home Repair Fund to ensure these needs are
met.
Aer he Sorm has rapidly become Michigan’s leading disaser recovery organizaion. Following several
signiican evens, we’ve been called upon or consulaion and immediae response. These included
tornadoes and high winds in Muskegon, a fire in Iosco County, and the federal declaration for the 2023
storms, among others.

51

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

As we continue to grow, After the Storm has fostered strong relationships with the Michigan
Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, FEMA, Michigan VOAD, and other key
partners. We also remain dedicated to outreach and education, speaking at churches and community
meetings to raise awareness about our work and help build community resilience in calm periods as
well.
Michigan Area Loan Fund
The Michigan Area Loan Fund, an essenal minisry o he Unied Mehodis Foundaon o Michigan,
connues o provide valuable ﬁnancial suppor o churches across he sae. Esablished in 1969, he
Fund is rooed in he belie ha access o aﬀordable, aih-driven ﬁnancial resources can empower
churches o ulﬁll heir minisry and service goals. The Fund remains a vial resource or churches seeking
o enhance heir minisries and serve heir communies. In 2024, he Fund issued a oal o $681,000 in
new loans, assisng local congregaons in a variey o ways, including aciliy updaes, echnology
upgrades, and minisry expansion.
Fund invesors play a crical role in making hese loans possible. By invesng in he Fund, individuals and
organizaons receive a saed rae o reurn while simulaneously supporng he imporan work o local
churches. These invesmens provide he ﬁnancial oundaon needed or churches o address heir
immediae needs and connue o grow in aih and service o heir communies.
Key Financial Services
The Fund is designed o oﬀer aﬀordable ﬁnancial soluons or churches wih a broad range o needs. The
Fund’s porolio has included loans or:
• Renovaons & Faciliy Updaes: Many churches sough loans o enhance heir buildings,
modernize acilies, or address deerred mainenance.
• Technology Upgrades: Wih he rise o digial engagemen and virual services, churches were
able o secure loans or updaed equipmen, sofware, and inrasrucure o improve minisry
reach.
• New Minisry Launches: The Fund suppored several churches as hey embarked on launching
new minisries o mee he evolving needs o heir communies.
• Emergency Repairs: Wheher due o unoreseen disasers or naural wear-and-ear, emergency
loans helped congregaons resore heir acilies swifly and eﬀecvely.
Every church has is own unique needs and goals. Thereore, he Fund oﬀers a ﬂexible approach and
works closely wih congregaons o develop ailored loan erms ha sui heir speciﬁc siuaons.
Wheher churches are looking o reﬁnance exisng deb or ﬁnance new projecs, he MALF eam is here
o help ﬁnding he bes soluon or a church’s needs.
Loan Fund Impac
The Fund no only suppors churches wih loans bu also provides a comprehensive range o services
designed o srenghen he ﬁnancial healh o our aih communies. These include:
• Capial Campaign Sraegy Developmen: MALF assiss churches in planning and execung
successul capial campaigns o raise unds or signiﬁcan building projecs and minisry
iniaves.

52

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

•

Annual Sewardship Campaigns: Eﬀecve sewardship is essenal or long-erm church
susainabiliy. MALF oﬀers ools, guidance, and consulng services o help churches implemen
successul annual sewardship campaigns.
• Susainable Invesmen Sraegies: MALF works wih churches o develop invesmen porolios
ha align wih heir values and mission, ensuring ha heir ﬁnancial resources are used in ways
o suppor heir minisry goals.
In addion o hese services, he Fund provides opporunies or individuals and organizaons o inves
in he Fund, ensuring ha he cycle o minisry suppor connues o grow. These invesmens no only
provide a solid reurn bu serve o suppor he greaer mission o he Church.
Looking Ahead
The Fund remains commied o is mission o provide churches wih he ﬁnancial ools and resources
needed o hrive. Wheher a church is considering a loan, exploring invesmen opons, or looking or
advice on minisry growh, he MALF eam is here o suppor every sep o he way.
MALF remains seadas in he dedicaon o he ongoing vialiy o he church. The Fund work wih
churches o navigae he complexies o ﬁnancial sewardship, undraising, and susainable minisry
developmen. Togeher, MALF can help churches remain srong, relevan, and impacul in heir
communies or generaons o come.
Conac Informaon
We look orward o he connued opporuniy o serve and suppor your church's ﬁnancial sewardship
needs. For addional deails abou loan opons, invesmen opporunies, and oher ﬁnancial services,
please visi our websie: www.UMFMichigan.org. For a one-on-one consulaon abou how we can
suppor your church’s minisry goals, please reach ou o:
Karen Thompson, Senior Direcor o Loan Services
Rev. Dr. David S. Bell, Presiden and Residen Agen, Michigan Area Loan Fund

Brio Living Services and UMRC-Porer Hills Foundaon
Brio Living Services, ormerly Unied Mehodis Reremen Communies (UMRC) and Porer Hills, has
been a leader in caring or older aduls since is aihul ounding in 1906. We are delighed o share our
accomplishmens over he pas year. Thank you or he prayers and suppor o he Michigan Unied
Mehodis Church Conerence as we serve older aduls across lower Michigan.
How he work o UMRC impaced Michigan Unied Mehodiss, our local churches, and/or local
communies across Michigan and/or around he world:
Each year, Brio Living Services serves approximaely 8,000 older aduls across Michigan. Our aih-based,
nonproﬁ organizaon encompasses no only radional, marke-rae residenal communies or older
aduls, bu aﬀordable living and home- and communiy-based services as well. Brio Living Services serves
he mos economically diverse populaon o older aduls in he sae. In ac, he majoriy o our 22
53

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

locaons and service lines provide care or low-income older aduls. Brio Living Services is proud o help
older aduls a all income levels o live heir bes lives.
Our home- and communiy-based services accoun or 70% o he older aduls we serve, helping hem
live as independenly and saely as possible in heir own homes and communies. This includes over
1,100 older aduls each year hrough our our PACE, or Program o All-inclusive Care or he Elderly, sies
across he sae. PACE serves he psycho-social, medical, and supporve needs o low-income, nursing
home-eligible aduls, ages 55 and up. Mos parcipans are dually eligible or Medicare and Medicaid
and pay no addional ees or PACE services, which include: comprehensive medical, occupaonal and
physical herapy, pharmacy needs, nurion and meals, healh educaon, social and recreaonal
acvies, and door-o-door ransporaon. In 2024, we celebraed he 10h anniversary o Huron Valley
PACE wih is Day Cener in Ypsilan, as well as he expansion o our LieCircles PACE Day Cener in
Holland.
Brio Living Services launched Balanced Living a is ﬂagship campuses o Chelsea Reremen
Communiy and Porer Hills Village. The goal o Balanced Living is o help our residens live lie o he
ulles, across our connuum o care a each communiy. Balanced Living ocuses on he Eigh
Dimensions o Healh and Wellness: Environmenal, Inellecual, Vocaonal, Emoonal, Spiriual,
Physical, Financial, and Social. By nururing each o hese areas, we help o creae meaningul
opporunies or connecon, purpose, and lielong learning or hose we serve.
Providing he highes qualiy care or hose living wih demena is also a commimen o Brio Living
Services. To ensure he proper raining or our direc care eam members, Brio parners wih he Positve
Approach o Care® (PAC), an innovave, evidence inormed, demena educaon program ounded by
Teepa Snow. This raining is ongoing a our primary campuses or our eam members who care or
people living wih demena, as well as or heir amily members and he wider communiy.
Top hree accomplishmens in 2024:
Brio Living Services and he UMRC-Porer Hills Foundaon earned EAGLE reaccrediaon wih
commendaon, he highes possible level, rom he EAGLE Accrediaon Commission o he Mehodis
Minisries Nework. EAGLE, or Educaonal Assessmen Guidelines Leading oward Excellence, is he only
aih-based accreding body in he world ha ocuses on minisries or older aduls and children. Brio
Living Services is one o jus eigh older adul minisries in he naon o achieve EAGLE accrediaon and
he only one in Michigan. The our-person EAGLE peer review eam spen hree days on Brio’s campuses
and scored Brio a 677.7 ou o a possible 645 poins, or 105%. Findings are hen shared wih he EAGLE
Accrediaon Commission, which makes he ﬁnal decision. One EAGLE Commissioner saed ha “Brio
cerainly is he gold sandard!”
Oher accolades ha Brio Living Services received included being named a Bes and Brighes Company
o Work For® in Wes Michigan, or 22 consecuve years and one o he Bes and Brighes Companies o
Work For® in he Naon or he second year in a row. In addion, due o our ongoing work wih PAC
raining, Chelsea Reremen Communiy earned Designaed Organizaon saus a he Aware Level rom
Posive Approach o Care®. Aware level means an organizaon is aligned wih he PAC philosophy and
54

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

echniques or demena care and are working o apply hese skills consisenly wih all saﬀ in he
organizaon.
In 2024, we celebraed he 10h anniversary o Huron Valley PACE, which serves Washenaw and
Monroe counes as well as pars o Livingson, Oakland, and Wayne counes. We also celebraed a $1
million, 6,620-square-oo expansion a LieCircles PACE Day Cener in Holland. This includes sae-ohe-ar herapy acilies and communiy spaces which will allow us o serve even more older aduls.
Response o he 2025 Annual Conerence heme is Unﬁnished: Growing Up and Ino Chris.
While our eams a Brio Living Services have accomplished so much over he pas year, here is sll
much o do! Our mission o care and service o older aduls is crical o mee he needs o an evergrowing populaon o aging aduls across Michigan. Already his year, in 2025, Michigan’s older aduls
aged 65 and up ounumber children aged 18 and younger or he ﬁrs me in our sae’s hisory, and a
decade ahead o he naonal aging projecon. By 2044, he populaon o aduls over 75 will DOUBLE.
Hal o Baby Boomers have no reremen savings, 49% expec o work pas he age o 70, and more are
living wih chronic healh condions han previous generaons.
A Brio Living Services we see boh he opporuniy and he responsibiliy ha lies beore us o serve and
care or he older aduls who once cared or us. In 2024, Brio Living Services broke ground on The
Ravines, a new independen living addion on he Porer Hills Village campus in Grand Rapids. We relaunched Avenues by Brio Living Services, a lie plan communiy a home program or older aduls,
ocusing on healh and wellness and providing navigaon services or is members o remain living
independenly in heir own home.
A Huron Valley PACE, plans are underway o creae aﬀordable living aparmens or older aduls who
could beneﬁ rom proximiy o PACE services. We are also idenying locaons or addional PACE Day
Ceners so we can serve more low-income, nursing home-eligible older aduls hrough our exisng PACE
programs.
A our Chelsea Reremen Communiy campus, plans o renovae and expand our 70-year-old Chapel
will allow us o beer serve our residens by providing greaer accessibiliy and o serve as a welcoming
space or he communiy. A Porer Hills Village in Grand Rapids, we are also working o renovae and reimagine his campus, buil in 1970, o mach he ousanding care we provide or older aduls.
The UMRC-Porer Hills Foundaon, he chariable arm or Brio Living Services, connues o seek unds o
make hese plans a realiy hrough is our Fundraising Pillars o: Capial Improvemens, Lie Enrichmen
Programming or older aduls, Team Member Suppor Services, providing Scholarships and Emergency
Aid or our dedicaed eam members, and Benevolen Care, our cornersone, ensuring ha eligible Brio
residens always have a home where hey are loved and reasured.
We are graeul or our aih-based hisory which connues o guide he uure o Brio Living Services.
Thank you or your prayers and suppor in helping us provide loving communies, care, and services or
older aduls. We look orward o meeng wih churches and aﬃliae groups over he coming year o

55

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

share he good work you are helping us accomplish on behal o older aduls and heir amilies, as well
as our eam members. Thank you or your commimen o our mission o service o older aduls.
Respecully submied,
Seve Feyko, Presiden & CEO Brio Living Services
Kelli Smih, CFRE, Presiden & CEO, UMRC-Porer Hills Foundaon

Unied Mehodis Foundaon o Michigan
The Unied Mehodis Foundaon o Michigan is dedicaed o advancing he minisries and missions o
The Unied Mehodis Church hroughou Michigan. We aim o provide ﬁnancial resources, sewardship
educaon, and sraegic invesmens o suppor churches, minisries, and individuals in creang lasng
impacs across our connecon. Our work remains grounded in aih wih a ocus on empowering ohers
o live ou heir God-given purpose. This pas year, we have experienced a remarkable period o growh,
commimen, and oureach. Below, we highligh he year’s key achievemens and underscore our
mission and he ways in which we connue o empower he Michigan Unied Mehodis communiy.
Invesmen Accouns & Perormance
A he hear o he Foundaon’s work is our commimen o helping congregaons, minisries, and
individuals inves in heir uure. We are pleased o repor ha we managed 697 invesmen accouns a
he end o 2024. These accouns serve as a esamen o he rus and collaboraon ha we have
culvaed over he years. These accouns primarily serve churches and minisries by providing a pahway
o long-erm, aih-driven ﬁnancial susainabiliy.
In line wih our sraegy, all invesmen reurns have ouperormed benchmarks his pas year. This
demonsraes our commimen o ﬁnancial sewardship and our abiliy o navigae a dynamic and everchanging invesmen landscape. The Foundaon akes pride in oﬀering invesmen opons ha help our
cliens achieve heir ﬁnancial goals while saying aligned wih heir values and aih.
Our invesmen porolio has generaed signiﬁcan reurns, ensuring ha our endowmens connue o
suppor our mission. These reurns are reinvesed ino our core minisry acvies, allowing us o expand
our reach, susain our programs, and provide crical grans and scholarships o hose in need.
Innovave Minisry Grans
As par o our ongoing commimen o osering innovaon and ransormaon, we disribued $84,000
in innovave minisry grans his pas year. These grans were designed o suppor new and creave
minisry iniaves hroughou Michigan and encourage he growh o aih-based programs ha have a
lasng impac in communies.
These grans enabled a variey o ransormave projecs, including youh oureach programs, church
revializaon eﬀors, new worship experiences, and social jusce iniaves. By supporng hese
innovave minisries, he Foundaon is helping o culvae a vibran, dynamic, and inclusive church
56

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

culure ha reaches beyond he walls o radional minisry setngs. We are excied o see how hese
unds will connue o bear rui in he coming years as hey empower individuals and communies o
embody Chris’s love in bold and creave ways.
Scholarships and Educaonal Suppor
Educaon plays a crical role in preparing he nex generaon o church leaders and aihul servans.
This year, he Foundaon awarded scholarships o 22 recipiens, helping sudens pursue higher
educaon wih a ocus on minisry, service, and leadership. These scholarships provide ﬁnancial relie o
sudens and encourage hem o pursue heir calling wihou he burden o excessive deb.
The recipiens o hese scholarships represen a diverse group o individuals rom various backgrounds
and regions o Michigan. Their commimen o heir aih and educaon reﬂecs he Foundaon’s
ongoing dedicaon o supporng uure leaders who will connue he work o Chris in our
communies. We are proud o be able o help equip hese high capaciy leaders wih he resources hey
need o succeed and lead he Church in new and excing direcons.
Saving Grace Grans
Anoher key iniave o he Foundaon is he Saving Grace gran program. This year, he Foundaon
awarded 12 Saving Grace grans o assis individuals in overcoming ﬁnancial challenges and achieving
long-erm susainabiliy.
Pasoral Leader Cohors and Lunch Program
The Foundaon also places grea emphasis on leadership developmen. This year, we hosed mulple
learning cohors. These iniaves provide a unique opporuniy or church leaders o connec, share
ideas, and grow in heir leadership abilies. They oser an environmen o collaboraon, suppor, and
muual learning by equipping pasors wih ools o be eﬀecve and ransormave in heir minisries.
The Leaders Lunch program has proven o be a powerul space or leaders o build neworks, engage in
houghul conversaons, and learn rom one anoher’s experiences. The Foundaon is commied o
nururing he developmen o leaders who will guide our church ino a brigh and hopeul uure.
Looking Ahead
As we look o he uure, he Unied Mehodis Foundaon o Michigan is excied abou he
opporunies o deepen our impac and expand our reach. Wih your connued suppor, we will
connue o inves in innovave minisries, provide scholarships, suppor church leaders, and ensure ha
he Unied Mehodis Church in Michigan remains a beacon o hope and ransormaon in he world.
Thank you or your ongoing parnership and commimen o he work we do. Togeher, we are making a
diﬀerence in he lives o counless individuals, churches, and communies across Michigan. We look
orward o connuing his journey o aih, sewardship, and service in he year ahead.
Rev. Dr. David S. Bell, Presiden & Execuve Direcor

57

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

UNITED METHODIST TEHOLOGICAL SCHOOLS
Candler School o Theology
Since 1914, Candler School o Theology a Emory Universiy has educaed aihul and creave leaders
or he church’s minisries hroughou he world. An oﬃcial seminary o The Unied Mehodis Church,
Candler holds rue o he Wesleyan value o ecumenical openness, welcoming sudens rom more han
40 denominaons. Our suden body reﬂecs he diversiy and breadh o he Chrisan aihul, wih an
enrollmen o 416 rom 13 counries, 41 saes, 32 annual conerences, and 43% persons o color. We see
his diversiy as a blessing, enriching our lie ogeher and providing he perec conex or raining or
relevan minisry in he 21s cenury—minisry ha culvaes communiy across diﬀerence, welcomes all
o conribue and belong, and embodies Chris’s love in and among us.
Candler oﬀers six degrees (Maser o Diviniy, Maser o Theological Sudies, Maser o Ars in Religion
and Leadership, Maser o Religion and Public Lie, Maser o Theology, Docor o Minisry), mos o
which are available in hybrid or online ormas. Response o our hybrid-orma Maser o Diviniy,
blending online classes and in-person inensives, connues o be srong: 63% o 2024’s MDiv enering
class chose he hybrid model. Nearly a quarer o MDiv sudens parcipae in Candler’s Teaching Parish
program, earning conexual educaon credi by serving as suden pasors in local churches. And our
proven DMin program—wih a near 90% compleon rae—is 90% online. These ﬂexible opons along
wih Candler’s recognized academic excellence and hands-on learning opporunies are opening
possibilies or more people o ollow God’s call o minisry.
Generous ﬁnancial aid is a op prioriy or Candler. In 2024-2025, we are on rack o award nearly $6.5
million in scholarship suppor across all degree programs. All MDiv sudens receive scholarship suppor,
and hose who are cerﬁed candidaes or ordained minisry in he UMC receive ull-uion scholarships.
Plus, a remarkable gif his year o $20 million rom he O. Wayne Rollins Foundaon promises o have a
ransormave impac on he school and uure sudens alike, ueling a considerable expansion o our
scholarship program and reducing ﬁnancial barriers o high-qualiy heological educaon.
Several programs beyond our ormal degrees make Candler a hub o Chrisan learning or an expanding
audience. Those who are no seeking a graduae degree can engage in learning hrough The Candler
Foundry, which oﬀers in-person and online shor courses, evens, and cerﬁcae programs; he Unied
Mehodis Course o Sudy or educang licensed local pasors; he Candler Cener or Chrisan
Leadership or reﬁning business skills o Unied Mehodis leaders; and La Mesa Academy, oﬀering a
graduae cerﬁcae in heological sudies via a wo-year hybrid program wih courses in Spanish, English,
and Korean.
Candler connued o srenghen he already robus Unied Mehodis presence among our aculy wih
our key appoinmens his year: Geordan Hammond, associae proessor o Mehodis and Wesleyan
sudies; Soren Hessler, assisan proessor in he pracce o leadership and adminisraon; Jennier
Quigley, assisan proessor o New Tesamen; and Bishop Hope Morgan Ward, who joined us as bishopin-residence ollowing he reremen o Bishop Larry Goodpaser.

58

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

Jonahan Srom became dean o Candler in Augus 2024, when ormer dean Jan Love reurned o he
aculy. Srom has served on Candler’s aculy since 1997 as proessor o church hisory, wih nearly a
decade as senior associae dean o aculy and academic aﬀairs, and a number o years as direcor o
inernaonal iniaves. He is commied o nururing he school’s deep connecon wih The Unied
Mehodis Church.
Candler is srenghened by your prayers, parnership, and suppor. Thank you or he counless ways you
advance his vial minisry in he lie o he church. We invie you o visi us online a candler.emory.edu
and ollow us on social media o say inormed o all we oﬀer hroughou he year.

—Oﬃce of Communicaons Candler School of Theology, Emory Universiy

Drew Universiy Theological School

Drew Universiy Theological School educaes and menors pasors, preachers, deacons, acviss,
eachers, hough leaders, and change agens or minisry and service in he church, sociey, and he
wider world. Building upon is Wesleyan and Mehodis oundaons, Drew Theological School is diverse
in heology, vocaons, age, as well as racial, ehnic, naonal, and inernaonal idenes o is aculy,
sudens, and saﬀ. Many Drew sudens are jus beginning heir minisry, while ohers come o graduae
heological educaon wih prior minisry experience. The laer reﬂecs a growing rend among all
heological schools in he Unied Saes and Canada. In providing heological educaon o he world,
Drew holds in-person classes in Madison, New Jersey, classes ha mee exclusively online, while ohers
mee in hybrid ashion, i.e., parally online, parally in-person, as well as in-person Docor o Minisry
cohor in Souh Korea and a pilo in-person Maser o Diviniy cohor in Liberia. Regular chapel worship
originaes on campus in Seminary Hall, bu also is live-sreamed so ha sudens, alumni, and riends
around he world can parcipae. Drew Theological School is a global seminary wih a global suden
populaon serving he worldwide church.
In Fall 2024 Drew Theological School welcomed 94 new sudens in all degree programs, wih oal
suden enrollmen (by headcoun) in Fall 2024 semeser being 388. Enrollmen o inernaonal sudens
a Drew increased rom 120 sudens in Fall 2021 o 157 sudens in Fall 2024. This number includes
sudens who are sudying ull-me in he U.S.A. on a suden Visa, sudens who are sudying online
rom heir home counry, and sudens in he Souh Korean Cohor o he Docor o Minisry program.
Drew’s inerdisciplinary degree programs provide real-world apprenceships, promoe adapve
leadership skills, and encourage innovaon hrough eam-augh core courses as well as a variey o
elecves ha inegrae heological disciplines and aih pracces. The Drew aculy’s shared values are
inused across all aspecs o he eaching, learning, and he ormaon o sudens: 1) a commimen o
an-racism; 2) gender and sexual-ideny equaliy; 3) eco-susainabiliy and environmenal jusce; and
4) ineraih undersanding and cooperaon. Drew Theological School has an increase in Unied
59

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

Mehodis sudens, addionally, Drew has many Unied Mehodis Global Fellows pursuing urher
educaon or minisry. UMC graduaes are serving in conerences across he Unied Saes, and
especially wihin nearby regional episcopal areas o The Unied Mehodis Church in he annual
conerences o Greaer New Jersey, Easern Pennsylvania, Susquehanna, Upper New York, New York, and
New England.
Rev. Edwin David Apone, PhD, ThD (honorary)
Dean and Proessor o Religion & Culure

Duke Diviniy School

In he all o 2024, Duke Diviniy School celebraed is 98h Opening Convocaon wih hese words rom
Dean Edgardo Colón-Emeric: “There are poenal pulpis across his universiy and hroughou his land.
… I you are here sudying how o become a pasor or a chaplain, you are a Penecos preacher. I you are
here sudying o be a heologically ormed social worker or healh care provider, you are a Penecos
preacher. I you are here as an aspiring scholar or merely as a Chrisan, you are a Penecos preacher.”
Through God’s susaining grace and aihulness, we connue o welcome sudens rom across he
naon and around he world o be rained or minisries ranging rom rural church pasoraes o hospial
and prison chaplains o communiy service leaders o heological educaors. In 2024, we were joined by
224 sudens rom 41 U.S. saes and he Disric o Columbia as well as new sudens who hold eiher
primary or secondary cizenship in 11 oher counries. The Maser o Diviniy program gained 108 new
sudens, including 62 residenal sudens (up rom 54 he year beore) and 46 in he hybrid program.
The Maser o Ars in Chrisan Pracce enrolled eigh new sudens; he Docor o Minisry, 39 (up rom
22 las year); Maser o Theology, 10; Maser o Theological Sudies, 27; he Docor o Theology
welcomed ﬁve new sudens o campus. The Cerﬁcae in Theology and Healh Care welcomed ﬁve
residenal sudens o campus and 21 o he hybrid program.
We are graeul ha God connues o bring people wih a diversiy o backgrounds and gifs o Duke
Diviniy School. O he new residenal M.Div. sudens, 42 percen repored one or more non-whie
racial/ehnic idenes, and emale sudens make up 50 percen o incoming residenal M.Div. sudens.
For new hybrid M.Div. sudens, 33 percen repored one or more non-whie racial/ehnic; and emale
sudens make up 63 percen o incoming hybrid M.Div. sudens.
This has been a year o cenennial celebraons or Duke Universiy and The Duke Endowmen. The
Diviniy School was honored o parcipae in a Founders’ Weekend chapel service, held in Duke Chapel,
in which boh Unied Mehodis Church bishops in Norh Carolina (Bishop Connie Shelon and Bishop
Ken Carer) parcipaed in leading he service, along wih Dean Colón-Emeric. Diviniy sudens and
alumni conribued prayers and music, and o parcular noe were hree women in our Maser o
Theology program who oﬀered prayers in Mandarin, Hindi, and Korean. I is a joy o share hese gifs
rom our global communiy wih he universiy campus.
60

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

Duke Diviniy School connues o inves in ways o suppor Mehodis leadership and pasoral ormaon.
Our D.Min. program welcomed wo new cohors, one in Tradional Leadership and one in Missional
Leadership, wih suppor rom he Parish Minisry Fund and The Duke Endowmen. These 39 sudens
are srenghening heir capaciy or leadership, esablishing new aih communies, and meeng he
challenges conronng churches and communies.
Maser o Diviniy sudens in he UMC had he opporuniy in he spring 2024 semeser o enroll in a
course designed o prepare hem o be observers a he UMC General Conerence, held in Charloe, N.C.
So many sudens were ineresed ha he enrollmen cap had o be raised. Sudens me weekly wih
Duke Diviniy aculy who are ordained elders in he UMC as well as wih nearly hal a dozen bishops and
denominaonal leaders. As one suden (pursuing ordinaon in he Virginia Conerence) said: “I is a
me when we hold as o our convicons and ideny wha is unique o he Unied Mehodis Church.
Wha is our role, currenly and in he uure? I’s amazing: our mission is o make disciples or Jesus
Chris or he ransormaon o he world. I am excied abou my minisry journey and he uure o he
UMC.”
Duke Diviniy connues o build on our connecon o Mehodis churches around he world hrough a
ormal parnership wih Mehodis Theological Universiy in Seoul, Souh Korea. This agreemen, signed
on Sep. 21, 2024, suppors he creaon o pahways or he exchange o sudens, aculy, and academic
programming.

Our aculy connue o excel in heir commied service o eaching, research, and minisry. Two scholars
joined our aculy his year: Aaron Griﬃh, assisan proessor o American church hisory, and Kevin
Har, Jo Rae Wrigh Universiy Disnguished Proessor, wih a join appoinmen in he Duke Universiy
deparmen o English. William Turner Jr., James T. and Alice Mead Cleland Proessor Emerius o he
Pracce o Preaching, received he Duke Universiy Medal or Disnguished Meriorious Service, he
highes honor besowed by he universiy.
Duke Diviniy commemoraed he 50h anniversary o he Women’s Cener a he school wih a gues
preacher and celebraon dinner. Wih a $5 million gif rom The Duke Endowmen, we are srenghening
our Oﬃce o Black Church Sudies hrough recruing a senior scholar and supporng academic,
heological research. A $1.25 million gran rom Lilly Endowmen Inc., par o heir Nururing Children
hrough Worship and Prayer Iniave, will help launch a Duke Diviniy program o sudy how
congregaons more ully and inenonally engage children in inergeneraonal corporae worship and
prayer pracces. The program, “Le he Children Come,” is a regional parnership o congregaons and
leaders rom across he souheasern Unied Saes.
Duke Diviniy School connues o be graeul or our ongoing parcipaon in The Unied Mehodis
Church and parnership wih his annual conerence. We look orward o our ongoing work wih you as
we join he leading o God’s Spiri in he ask o preparing people or Chrisan minisry. To learn more
abou Duke Diviniy School, please visi our websie a www.diviniy.duke.edu.

61

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

Respecully submied by Edgardo Colón-Emeric
Dean o Duke Diviniy School

Gammon Theological Seminary
Gammon Theological Seminary is he only Hisorically Black Theological Insuon (HBTI) o The Unied
Mehodis Church. Gammon’s Mission is o help prepare or he pracce o Chrisan minisry and public
leadership individuals who undersand heir vocaon as working in parnership wih God in orming a
jus and generave world or all.
GTS is currenly an “exended uni” o he Inerdenominaonal Theological Cener. As a consuen
member o he ITC who is accredied hrough he Souhern Associaon o Colleges and Schools
Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), GTS has conerred degrees in parnership wih he ITC or Gammon
Theological Seminary graduaes since 1959. Gammon Theological Seminary seeks separae accrediaon
hrough SACSCOC and he Associaon o Theological Schools in he Unied Saes and Canada (ATS).
We are excied o share Academic and Operaonal updaes or 2024.
●

In June 2024, we hired a world-renowned heologian and scholar, Dr. Renia J. Weems, as our
Chie Academic Oﬃcer.

●

This Fall 2024, we launched sae-o-he-ar renovaons o he Gammon building. The
renovaons ransormed he aciliy ino a place or our in-person class sessions, upgrading all
meeng spaces wih sae-o-he-ar echnology and urnishings.

●

In Sepember 2024, he Board o Trusees o Gammon Theological Seminary approved he
submission o our applicaon o begin he SACSCOC Accrediaon process. This hisoric decision
included Gammon launching our Independen MDIV degree program in Sepember 2024.

Here are a ew o his year's minisry and und developmen highlighs.
●

In Spring 2024, Gammon hosed our 2nd Annual Suden Scholarship Fundraiser Gol
Tournamen, which received $70,000 in donaons oward he scholarship und.

●

The Rev. Waler H. McKelvey Endowed Scholarship The und, which was launched by Dr. Lorea
F. McKelvey (wie o he lae Rev. McKelvey) and Dr. Waler Kimbrough, connues o grow wih
maching gifs in parnership wih he Souh Carolina Unied Mehodis Foundaon.

●

In June 2024, he Florida Conerence’s Rev. Geraldine McClellan Endowed Scholarship Fund,
which is now ully endowed a he Florida Unied Mehodis Foundaon, connued o grow wih
donaons or 2024. Now, he und balance exceeds $130,000.00, and Dr. Geraldine McClellan
was honored a our 2024 Founder’s Day/Pasors and Leaders Conerence Gala banque wih our
Icon o Excellence Award.

●

Gammon hosed he Ebony Exploraon Even or 75 young aduls under he age o 35. The
sudens explored heir sense o call and vocaonal discernmen.
62

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

●

In December 2024, Gammon celebraed our 141s Founder’s Day and Pasors and Leaders
Conerence. We hosed over hree hundred people aending workshops (in person and virual)
and our Scholarship Gala Dinner a IMPACT Church in Alana, GA.

●

Gammon received wo $10,000 donaons or wo new endowed unds rom Dr. James H. Salley,
in honor o his parens in he Souh Carolina Conerence, and rom Rev. Dr. Michael McQueen,
Disric Superinenden or he Norh Georgia Cenral Norh Disric.

Respecully Submied, Dr. Candace M. Lewis, Presiden – CEO

Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary continues to live into its mission of Forming courageous
leaders in the way of Jesus to cultivate communities of justice, compassion, and hope…for the thriving of
the Church and the healing of the world. We do this work in partnership with the annual conferences of
the United Methodist Church and other partners who share our values. Now in our 172nd year of
ministry to the church, the academy, and the world, Garrett is a strong, growing, thriving community of
faith and learning that represents the fullness of the global church’s witness.
During this past academic year, Garrett welcomed it largest entering class in over a decade for a fifth
straight year, with 135 new students, and a current enrollment of 324 students representing 38 states
and 24 nations from across the globe. We continue to see growth in our student body from Asia, Africa,
and Latin America, adding to an already richly diverse student body. While our denominational diversity
also continues to grow, we also proudly welcomed growth in our United Methodist students who
constitute more than half of our student body. Or faculty also reflect this regional and global diversity,
with fully half originating from nations outside the United States.
Our growth in recent years continues to reflect patterns seen across theological education, mainly in
distance and online learners. For the first time in our history, distance learners in the entering class
outnumbered residential students. This has allowed for truly global learning spaces that have enriched
our conversations and our overall learning environment. We’re blessed to have the world represented
in our classrooms, which also impacts how our faculty teach, what they research, and for whom.
Over the last year Garrett has also been blessed by multiple major grants to fund faculty research and
institutional priorities. A major grant is funding the work of our Center for Ecological Regeneration,
allowing the seminary to partner with local congregations in the Midwest to equip them to respond to
climate change in their communities and the disproportionate impact it tends to have on the poor and
local economies. Another major grant is funding work in our Centro Raices Latinas to strengthen
Hispanic-Latiné pastoral leaders and congregations, helping clergy and communities build institutional
capacity and expand their ministries. Yet another grant is helping to expand the reach and impact of our
Garrett Collective, our lifelong learning and resource platform that seeks to make theological education
accessible and affordable to a significantly broader audience.
Garre’s world-class faculty continue developing curricular innovations that are responsive to the
church’s growing needs, while also contributing a significant body of scholarly work to their respective
fields. They are also partnering with annual conferences and local churches in delivering much needed
programming for leadership development and faith formation, an expanding focus of our Strategic
63

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

Initiatives and Partnerships division. Garrett is proud to be a United Methodist institution, and proud to
continue to deepen its partnership and programming with annual conferences around the globe.
Mehodis Theological School in Ohio

Field educaon sudens will beneﬁ rom Liurgy and Leadership Cohor Program
To equip he nex generaon o leaders wih he abiliy o navigae complexiy wih resilience and
adapve leadership skills, MTSO has developed he Liurgy and Leadership Field Educaon Cohor
Program. Funded wih a gran rom he General Board o Higher Educaon and Minisry hrough he
Miniserial Educaon Fund, he program is presened by Unied Mehodis pasors Rachel Billups and
Ma Rawle, buil upon heir deep-rooed dedicaon o creaviy and innovaon wihin he church. Over
he course o hree academic years, we are convening hree cohors o seven promising minisry
candidaes o immerse hem in he mehodologies ha oser church growh and communiy impac.
Lisa Allen-McLaurin and Beh Sroud eleced o aculy
We began he 2024 Fall Semeser wih wo newly eleced aculy members. Assisan Proessor o Hisory
Beh Sroud, an ordained Unied Mehodis elder, comes o MTSO rom Princeon Universiy, where she
served as a lecurer in he Princeon Wring Program. She also has augh a Union Theological
Seminary, Princeon Theological Seminary and Sarah Lawrence College.
Proessor o Worship, Music and Spiriualiy Lisa Allen-McLaurin, an ordained elder in he Chrisan
Mehodis Episcopal Church, is he auhor o Worship Maters! A Collecon of Essays on he Praccal
and Spiriual Discipline of Worship. Prior o her elecon o he aculy, Dr. Allen-McLaurin served under
appoinmen a MTSO sarng in July 2023. Previously, she chaired he Church Music and Worship
Deparmen a Inerdenominaonal Theological Cener.
Racial Resilience projec launched
Beginning in April, MTSO brough ogeher congregaonal clergy, lay leaders and youh or raining
around an-racism and jusce as par o a new projec, Culvang Racial Resilience, made possible by a
gran rom he Lilly Endowmen Inc. Pahways or Tomorrow Iniave. While many an-racism raining
programs ask parcipans o se aside he complex eelings abou race and racism, his program reas
hose eelings are eﬀecve guideposs or susainable an-racis work. Three cohors will parcipae in
Culvang Racial Resilience over he nex wo o hree years.
Respecully submied,
Danny Russell, direcor o communicaons

64

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

Unied Theological Seminary
Since 1871, Unied Theological Seminary has prepared aihul and ruiul Chrisan leaders who make
disciples o Jesus Chris. Unied welcomes all who are ollowing God’s call on heir lives, and many are
answering God’s call! In he 2023-2024 academic year, he seminary served 595 graduae sudens,
making i he second larges o he hireen Unied Mehodis seminaries in he Unied Saes, according
o he Associaon o Theological Schools.
A diverse communiy o many denominaons, races and naonalies, Unied welcomed sudens rom
35 saes, 21 naons, and 48 denominaons, wih Unied Mehodiss represenng he larges group a
30 percen o he suden body.i
Academics
In large par, enrollmen growh is due o connued ineres in Unied’s Houses o Sudy programs,
which oﬀer maser’s and cerﬁcae racks o equip sudens or he unique minisry needs o he
communies, movemens, and denominaons in which hey serve.
In summer 2024, Unied welcomed is inaugural cohor o Docor o Theology sudens. The advanced
research degree program is conduced primarily rom a disance, requiring only our weeks o in-person
inensives during he hree-year program. During heir program, sudens develop original research wih
a ocus on church renewal.
Unied’s Docor o Minisry program connues o arac sudens looking or an advanced proessional
degree o expand heir miniserial and leadership capabilies. In he 2023-2024 school year, 267
sudens parcipaed in he menor-led program.
Finances
Unied celebraed becoming deb ree in May 2024, afer making is las paymen on a $3.3 million deb
o is endowmen. In addion o eliminang he seminary’s deb, Unied has been ocused on reducing
he educaonal deb o is sudens. The Fresh Wind campaign o raise $10 million or he endowmen
will expand scholarship opporunies or sudens or generaons o come. Wih he increase in
scholarship gifs rom he Fresh Wind campaign and he reducon o Unied’s own deb, he seminary
has signiﬁcanly increased scholarship suppor or Unied sudens.
Innovaon Cener
The Bishop Bruce Ough Innovaon Cener celebraed he hird anniversary since is launch as Unied’s
“research and developmen” hub or minisry praconers and hough leaders seeking o creae and
provide innovave resourcing or congregaons. In 2024, he Innovaon Cener engaged over 2,200
parcipans hrough more han 30 live webinars, raining evens and courses.
In Romans 10:14, S. Paul wries: “How shall hey call on him in whom hey have no believed? And how
shall hey believe in him o whom hey have no heard? And how shall hey hear wihou a preacher?”
Unied’s sudens and graduaes are going ou ino he world o proclaim he Good News o God’s
uncondional love. Thanks be o God!
65

2025

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

Dr. Ken Millard, Presiden
ATS 2023-2024 Annual Daa Tables (Table 2.12 and Table 2.2-A) on all 2023 enrollmen.
Suden daa represen unduplicaed headcoun enrollmen or he 2023-2024 academic year. Demographic ﬁgures
represen hose who responded.

UNITED METHODIST GENERAL BOARD OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND MINISTRY
AFRICA UNIVERSITY REPORT
Greengs and hanks o you, he members o he Michigan Annual Conerence, or your love o Arica
Universiy! Your love, lived ou in he local church, and across every level o The Unied Mehodis Church
worldwide, is a source o hope and ransormaon.
Arica Universiy's sudens, aculy, saﬀ, rusees, and alumni are deeply hankul o local congregaons
o he Michigan Conerence or graciously invesng 56.4 percen o he asking o he Arica Universiy Fund
apporonmen in 2024.
As 2025 unolds, Arica Universiy is urging Michigan Conerence congregaons o:
•
•

Mainain heir suppor or he Arica Universiy Fund (AUF) a he 2016 budge level and srive o
reurn heir conerence o he lis o conerences ha radionally achieve 100% invesmen o
he AUF each year.
Explore becoming a “Keysone Congregaon” or Arica Universiy by making a mulyear
commimen o $7,000 a year o provide a scholarship or one undergraduae suden.

Through heir prayers and gifs in suppor o he minisry o Arica Universiy, Michigan Unied Mehodiss
nurure servan leaders wih ehics, empahy, and an audacious, can-do mindse. Currenly, Arica
Universiy has more han 2,490 sudens rom 24 Arican counries pursuing proessional and leadership
raining in our colleges and one school. More han 12,000 graduaes are a work in 32 Arican counries,
serving in pivoal roles wihin and beyond The Unied Mehodis Church.
Having experienced God’s grace hrough your love in acon, Arica Universiy sudens grow in aih and
spiriual mauriy, embrace new, shared possibilies, and become more eﬀecve in heir winess. Here are
2024 highlighs o he impac o Arica Universiy sudens, aculy, and adminisraors:
•

•

Arica Universiy sar-up, Reagan Technologies, earned a semi-ﬁnal ﬁnish in he Hul Prize Global
Acceleraor compeon. Known as he ‘Nobel prize cones for sudens’ he hree-suden AU
eam impressed he Hul Prize judges wih an innovave concep or generang elecriciy rom
ooseps. The eam’s climae-smar pavemen les sood ou agains he compeon rom more
han 60 universies.
Anoher AU rio is ransorming educaon by bridging he digial divide in Arica. Three sudens
majoring in compuer science won he op prize a he UbunuNe Alliance Women’s Hackahon
wih FUNDISA. I's a chabo ha delivers insan, curriculum-aligned explanaons o sudens
66

2025

•

Michigan Annual Conference Journal, Volume 1

Historical Reports

who lack inerne access, bu have phones wih SMS unconaliy. The chabo enables sudens
o simply send a ex o a shor code o receive educaonal suppor.
Arica Universiy’s Docor o Minisry program, a ﬁrs or he connen o Arica, was accredied
by he Zimbabwe Council or Higher Educaon, wih opons or specializaon in Mission and
Evangelism, Liurgical Theology, Church Adminisraon, Church and Sociey, and Chaplaincy
Minisry. A pioneer group o 10 senior oﬃcers in he miliary, prisons and policing rom Boswana,
Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have compleed he program, hanks o a collaboraon beween
Arica Universiy and Wesley Theological Seminary. Their docoral research projecs generaed
new knowledge ha addresses deploymen rauma, reducing drug abuse among oﬃcers, and he
use o psalms o lamen or aciliang healing in amilies o inmaes.

This is he ransormaon sory ha Michigan Conerence Unied Mehodiss, in heir aihulness, are
wring as hey journey in mission and minisry wih Arica Universiy. Thank you or showing up, Michigan
Conerence, so ha promise, calling, and a jus uure can be ully realized. Le us push orward, ogeher,
o ﬁnish he work. Thank you.
James H. Salley, Presiden/CEO of Africa Universiy (Tennessee) Inc. and Associae Vice Chancellor for
Insuonal Advancemen, Africa Universiy.

67

Item sets: United Methodist Journals

Site pages: Michigan Conference United Methodist Journals; test250916