United Methodists from all over Michigan gather every year to conduct the business of the church. Policies and social action resolutions are voted up or down. Clergy and laity share worship and teaching times. We sing, we dance, we reconnect and lift each other up for another year of ministry. We ask (through song) “And Are We Yet Alive?”

The Laity Perspective spotlighted Flint Court Street UMC, with its pastor and laity sharing how they have experienced a resurgence in membership by cultivating a culture of welcome and engagement.

Teaching session: Rev. Dr. Jasmine Smothers, lead pastor at Atlanta (GA) FUMC, presented compelling and challenging concepts based on her book “Blank Slate.” “What if somebody put a pencil in your hand and said, ‘Forget everything you think you know about church. Design a church to reach your current and future contexts. What would that look like?’”

Read the Michigan Conference summary of Annual Conference

Legislation Included:

Voting on four Constitutional Amendments coming out of the 2024 General Conference. Results will be tallied and announced in the fall by the Council of Bishops. The spirit of the four amendments aligned with major decisions made at the 2020/2024 General Conference, which called for greater inclusion, reinforced the church’s commitment to anti-racism and building God’s beloved community, and took steps toward restructuring the denomination to promote greater equity among annual conferences worldwide.

There were eleven resolutions (view resolutions), in addition to amendments provided in the legislative committee report (view report). The following synopsis come from the Michigan Conference website.

1. Haiti Garden of Hope (approved on Consent Calendar) approved a year-long $215,000 campaign which will strengthen the ministries of three EngageMI partners — Grace Children’s Hospital, Haitian Assets for Peace International (HAPI), and Jeremie Rising. In addition, a new Haitian partner, Grassroots Community Voices Foundation, will build solidarity in Mizak and Jeremie through a community-based microfinance and savings program. Each congregation in the Michigan Conference is invited to contribute $350 (roughly $7.50 per church attendee) to this effort. The Gardens of Hope campaign is scheduled to begin in August 2025.
2. Mandatory Protection Policy and Ethics Training for Clergy (approved on the Consent Calendar)
3. R#2025-6, “Generative Artificial Intelligence,” was referred to the bishoped office for further consideration.
4. Three dealt with topics related to salaries and benefits. Two resolutions (R#2025-1 and R#2025-2) came from the Board of Pension and Health Benefits related to the Past Service Rate (PSR) for the Ministers’ Reserve Pension Fund and the Housing/Rental Allowance for retired or clergy on medical leave status receiving disability benefits. One resolution (R#2025-10) from the Commission on Equitable Compensation dealt with the 2026 Minimum Salary Schedule. An amendment to this resolution requires all Staff-Parish Relations Committees to calculate the suggested minimum compensation for their clergy before determining final compensation.
5. Three resolutions related to the ongoing war between Israel and Palestine, a boycott of Chevron, and a boycott of tours visiting the Holy Land were debated and approved, with amendments, on Saturday: R#2025-7, “Call for Two States: Israel and Palestine,” R#2025-9, “Chevron Boycott,” and R#2025-10, “Holy Land Excursion Boycott.” R#2025-4, “Re-Prioritize Federal Spending from the Military to Human Security,” calls for Michigan United Methodists to advocate for federal spending on national defense and the military to be reduced to better support health care, education, housing, and climate change mitigation. Recommendations for action are outlined in the resolution (click to read).

Suzanne Everett, Director of Missions and Justice Engagement, has offered to draft our church’s response to the justice action items.