We had a wonderful time at Annual Conference 2025. It was great to see everyone and I hope you met a few more people who are serving alongside you in the Upper Midwest. We had 8 people ordained as elders into the Conference. We elected our 2026 General Conference Delegation. We learned and grew in many breakout sessions. And we worshipped and prayed together for the ancient paths and the right way to go.
Thank you to everyone who made this Annual Conference possible. All of the work of our teams and committees. Especially our Sessions Committee that poured in months of planning and preparation, with days of selfless service. Thank you.
My one regret was not having more time to chat with more people.
I did want to share a portion of my message from Friday night, that I hope the whole conference can engage in our consultative process of appointments. We are entering a season of cultural transformation in how we approach pastoral appointments. The vision is to shift from an Old Testament model—where a select few discern on behalf of the many—to a Pentecost model, where the whole body of Christ is actively listening to the same Holy Spirit. We’re moving from Mount Sinai to the Upper Room.
This change invites every church and every pastor to seek God’s direction with open hands and hearts, not merely asking, “What do I want?” but instead praying, “Holy Spirit, where are You leading?” Consultation in this new framework means consulting with the Spirit—not just being consulted by others.
We acknowledge that this shift won’t happen overnight. It’s a deep change, requiring trust, humility, and growth in spiritual discernment. There will be times when the pastor we want is not the one we need, and when the church we prefer may not be the one we’re called to serve. But when pastors, churches, and cabinets all listen deeply—even from different perspectives—we believe the Holy Spirit will make the right path clear.
We are longing for appointments not decided by preference, but by prayerful, Spirit-led discernment. Imagine churches saying, “We’ve been praying and we believe God is leading us to a pastor from Korea or South Africa.” Imagine pastors saying, “This church needs someone else to lead them in this season.”
Even Jesus stood at a crossroads in Gethsemane. He prayed, “Not my will, but yours be done.” That’s our model.
This journey will take time, patience, and shared learning. But if we walk together, rooted in prayer and open to the Spirit, we will find our way. Together, let’s make space for God to speak clearly in our consultative appointment process—and let’s respond with faith, humility, and courage.
