Report on 2025 Michigan Annual Conference by Reba and Gary Peterson.
This year Reba Peterson expanded her participation as an equalization member to the Annual Conference because of health concerns and availability. Reba substituted for Konnie Grant, the Claybanks United Methodist Church Lay Representative to Annual Conference. This report is a composite of thoughts from Reba and Pastor Gary on the annual conference in Traverse City for 2025. This recently convened conference was again an amazing experience because you could see God working through people for the church. Over fourteen hundred lay and clergy were in attendance. Friday, May 29th was the first day of the conference and it began that morning with over three hundred volunteers assembling 45,000 meals to be distributed during this year by our United Methodist Committee On Relief. Our first session included a worship time together, and as always, what a joyous worship it is when so many United Methodists are able to praise God with music and song. Bishop Bard delivered our opening message, “Unfinished Business Growing Up And Into Christ,” which was the theme of this year’s Annual Conference.
Following a few organizational details, we as a conference took action to affirm four Constitutional Amendments that all Annual Conferences must vote on this year. These amendments come from the 2020/2024 General Conference and must be approved by 2/3 of the Annual Conferences. We as a conference affirmed and approved four pieces of legislation. Reorganization for the Central Conference (Which the United States is part of) was the first piece of legislation. Inclusiveness of the church and Racial Justice Amendments were approved that better clarify the intent of our constitution. The last piece of the Constitutional Amendments detailed the educational requirements for clergy which will allow clergy, while attending seminary, to select from a number of different paths in which to be ordained or licensed in the United Methodist Church.
We then moved on to approved legislation for our Michigan Annual Conference which included a number of authorizations to the budget that will allow our annual conference to meet our financial requirements in the future. We also deliberated and passed a number of other resolutions concerning Holy Land Excursions, encouraging boycotts of large corporations that do not include the right of dignity and human rights for all. We also passed legislation around the Mandatory Protection Policy and Ethics Training for Clergy. Our final important piece of legislation was to establish a budget and an equitable compensation schedule for clergy.
Each day at conference, either in the beginning or at the end of the day, we took time to be in worship together culminating in a worship service of ordination and licensing for clergy. We also recognized those from clergy, We also recognized those from clergy, staff and laity who were retiring after many distinguished years of service to the United Methodist Church and the Michigan Area Conference. During these worship times, we paused to remember clergy and laity who have passed away during the past year.
Our last one was to affirm that we would once again gather as the Michigan Area United Methodist Church in Traverse City in 2026 where we will continue to work as disciples growing up and into Christ.
Reba Peterson – Lay Representative
Gary Peterson – Pastor
Claybanks United Methodist Church 