The name of the first month of the year derives from the Roman god, Janus; a double faced symbol representing doorways, gates, and any portal that could be entered from opposite directions. January fittingly signifies a passageway to a new year while building on the old. We, Carl Brothers, Oscar Garza, and Sarah Kreutziger, wish you all the best in 2026 as we work to add to a positive foundation from the past few years.
One component of our current conference foundation is the Presiding Elder(PE); clergy who oversee the ministry of the clergy and churches in the eleven geographical Areas throughout our three states. More recently, we celebrated the addition of Equipping Elders who offer resources for our dynamic, growing movement. Each position brings additional talents and energy for the mission of the Global Methodist Church.
The Connectional Council accordingly formed a task force to look into creating another building block. The position of Area Lay Leader was presented for the purpose of furthering "the mission of the Global Methodist Church" in collaborative partnership with the PE and local churches of their Area. The Rev. Vivian Kinnear agreed to convene the group. Mitch Forrest, Laura Holcomb, Shanda Kahla, Sue Sullivan, Rev. Ben McGehee, and the three of us volunteered to serve. The Task Force met five times and plans to present the fruits of our efforts, the Guidelines for Area Lay Leaders, to the Connectional Council this month…and if approved, to the Annual Conference in June.
The Guidelines cover core responsibilities and requirements for the position centered on discipleship and regular collaboration, terms of service, and the nomination process. The "Spirit-led disciple…on fire for Jesus…with a passion for sharing the Gospel through word and action" will coordinate their efforts with the Conference Lay Leaders for maximum mutual connection to conference resources and communication. The primary vision guiding our work is to foster closer community ties among our churches in order to more effectively Make Disciples of Jesus Christ and Spread Scriptural Holiness Across the Globe. Please stay tuned for additional updates. In the meantime, have a wonderful, spirit-filled new year with all the blessings that God can provide.
Your Conference Lay Leaders,
Carl, Oscar, and Sarah
