MISSIONS
Thank you all once again for a wonderful pot luck luncheon on June 14th, as we welcomed West Michigan Adult and Teen challenge!! I can’t speak enough about the generosity of this church as we also raised $267 above our set donation to this invaluable outreach program. GOD IS GOOD!
For July we will have a donation table in the fellowship hall to help fill the needs of The Ladder in Shelby. There will be literature and information about the items requested on the designated back table. They offer meals, Adult, Family, and Youth activities, along with fitness programs to the Oceana Community all in the hopes of sharing their Love for Jesus through this outreach facility. Please plan to have your donations completed by the last Sunday in July. Thank you again for all the love and support you offer to our friends in Christ.
2026 ANNUAL
CONFERENCE REPORT
Annual Conference was held in Traverse City again this year. I found it uplifting, educational, touching, spiritual, and exhausting. Following are a few of my “take-aways:”
- Theme this year was Love Boldly, Serve Joyfully, Lead Courageously.
- Bishop Bard’s opening worship service sermon “Confessions of an Accidental Methodist” invited us to explore growth in grace and love, which lies at the heart of the Wesleyan way of following Jesus. As usual, he did not disappoint and kept us laughing and crying along with every other emotion in between.
- The General Board of Global Ministries announced that the Michigan Conference led the denomination in giving in 2025, with gifts totaling $1,274,931 which supported nineteen missionaries and helped with feeding and migration ministries, disaster response, and multiethnic ministry.
- Because we need to balance ministry needs with current financial capacity, we approved a resolution which called for reducing the number of districts from seven to four, effective July 1, 2026. The current and proposed 2027 budgets will fund five superintendents, one for each district and a fifth conference superintendent will collaborate with and resource the four district superintendents. Our new District name will be Central Shores District.
- One year after approving the $215,000 Gardens of Hope campaign for ministry in Haiti it was reported that we were able to send $110,000. This money was used for such things as vocational courses, provided healthcare to three hundred patients, offered fifteen scholarships, held three clinics, and many other crucial uses. One hundred, fifty-one Michigan congregations out of 500+ congregations have participated. We voted to extend the campaign another year in hopes of reaching our goal because as Rob Nystrom stated, “loving boldly sometimes takes a little longer.” There will be two different bike rides to raise money for this campaign, if anyone is interested. They also are taking individual donations if you wish to contribute. (CUMC has sent $350 from our general fund for this mission this year.)
- Membership in the Michigan Conference is down 46% largely due to churches closing or disaffiliation.
- The clergy for the Michigan Conference have been involved in Anti-Bias/Anti-Racism Education and Training for the past two years and will be continuing education and training in the future. It was well received by the Conference and decided that program would be made available to local church leadership and laity of the Michigan Conference.
- During the legislative sessions we voted on thirteen different resolutions. Some of them were a quick, unanimous vote while others took much discussion, but all was done politely and respectfully. I have copies of the resolutions if anyone would like to see them.
- The Finance Committee reported they were able to balance the budget for 2027 and it will remain the same as it was in 2026 – $8,032,538, which I find encouraging.
These are just a few things that made it into my notes from the conference. If you would like to watch a video or read any other reports given, please see me or Pastor Gary. We would be happy to share.
As in past years, I thank CUMC for sending me to our conference. I hope I have served you well in my voting and have represented our church in a way that honors your trust in me. I was proud to do so. As in years past, I
took part in the business of the UMC but I also grew personally.
Thank You!
Pastor Gary, Reba, and Konnie
Claybanks United Methodist Church 