AC DAILY

Thursday, June 5, 2025

Palmer kicks off 2025 annual
conference with powerful sermon

 Bishop Gregory Palmer kicked off the 2025 Great Plains Annual Conference Thursday afternoon with a highly charged and powerful sermon challenging both clergy and laity to take action and not accept the status quo.

"We've got this notion that we want to go to church and we don't want to be disturbed," said Bishop Palmer, who retired in 2024 after serving the Iowa, Illinois Great Rivers and West Ohio conferences.

Bishop Palmer challenged those at the conference to love their neighbor, their neighborhood and their entire community.

"What if the United Methodist Church said, 'We're gonna love the zip code and we're going to know everybody by name'?" he asked.

Palmer, who in retirement serves as the executive of the Council of Bishops, received a gift from Bishop David Wilson: A custom-made pair of Converse sneakers with the United Methodist cross-and-flame on one side and the episcopal logo on the other, identical to the pair Bishop Wilson had made for himself last year.

 

CF&A introduces 2026 budget,
with zero increase wth from current year

The conference Council on Finance & Administration laid the groundwork for the 2026 budget during its presentation Thursday afternoon.

Because of decreased mission shares, said Rev. Amy Lippoldt, CF&A president, churches contributed about $10.4 million of the nearly $12.28 million anticipated 2024 spending plan. The eventual deficit of $775,000 — the first in the history of the Great Plains Conference — was covered with reserves. Lippoldt said while the conference should be thankful for the resources to cover the deficit, the budget should not be supplemented in such a way regularly.

Early in the 2025 budget year, conference staff members were asked to reduce their budgets to meet a spending plan that would assume an adjusted mission shares payout rate of 85%.

 

KWU president welcomes conference
to campus, pitches UMC colleges

Kansas Wesleyan President Matt Thompson welcomed clergy and laity of the Great Plains Conference to campus Wednesday afternoon, and gave a pitch to potential students and parents not only to attend KWU, but other United Methodist-based colleges in Kansas and Nebraska.

The student population at the Salina campus grew by more than 405 over the past four years, he said, and is over 1,000 for the first time in its history.

Under Thompson, every sport and activity at KWU has its own campus minister, some of them coming from churches in the Salina area.

"We're so proud of what's happening in the spiritual growth of our students," he said.

 

600-plus attend Thursday morning workshops on Wesleyan campus

More than 625 clergy and laity attended workshops Thursday morning, a new addition to the conference schedule.

Workshops were conduction on immigration advocacy, evangelism, church hospitality and the Compass clergy retirement plan.

Many of these presentations will be repeated later this year during the Ministry in Motion workshops, coming to North Platte, Lincoln, Scott City, Parsons and Wichita.

 

Ashley Boggan takes MFSA
into history of organization

Dr. Ashley Boggan, general secretary of the General Council of Archives & History, explained to members of the Methodists for Social Action a bit of the organization's past Thursday night at Salina Trinity UMC.

MFSA was founded in the early 20th century when America was in economic disparity, she said, drawing comparisons to 2025. Currently, she said the top 1% controls 34% of the economy, and the bottom half controls less than 3%.

"Capitalism exploited greed and exploitation, while exploiting the poor," she said of the economy 125 years ago.

Rev. Anne Gahn of MFSA praised Boggan's presentation and its connection to present day.

"It's 2025 and our world is rocked in ways we don't know the extent of yet," said Gahn, who will begin July 1 as interim mercy and justice coordinator. "It's important for people of faith to dig deep and do the hard things."

MFSA awarded the Chris Weedy and Rev. Jimmy Creech Profile of Justice Scholarship to Diana Fajardo, who is developing a multicultural worship experience called The Tent in Omaha.

 

Minimum compensation for
clergy approved by conference

A minimum compensation recommendation for clergy, presented by Rev. Kay Scarbrough, chair of the personnel committee, was approved unanimously.

Minimums for 2025-2026 are:

• Full elders and deacons -- $53,086
• Provisional deacons and elders -- $50,209
• Associate members -- $47,332
• Licensed local pastors -- $44.455

 

More youth than ever
bring energy to conference

With exuberant energy, partially fueled by candy and carbs, over 40 youth delegates and adult leaders descended upon Annual Conference at Kansas Wesleyan University. Under the leadership of Rev. Melissa Gepford, the Intergenerational Discipleship Coordinator for the conference, they gathered this morning to meet new friends, grow in their faith, and plan their grand finale: a youth-led worship service on Saturday at 8:15 a.m.

If you see a youth, ask them about their “SideQuest” and be prepared to tell them your favorite pizza topping! If you would like a “SideQuest” challenge, please find Gepford and pull a card. If you’re lucky, you will be challenged to an early bedtime!

The Connecting Council voted last month to increase the number of youth from 17, one for each of the former districts, to 30, three for each of the current 10 districts.

 

Laity tell how vision statement
is already at work in their churches

Laity talked about how they're already living out the new United Methodist vision of living boldly, serving joyfully and leading courageously during the laity session Thursday afternoon, in a session led by Lisa Maupin, conference lay leader.

Examples included social justice groups, digging wells for water in Africa and local food pantries.

 

 

Blue heart on altar
carries meaning, symbolism

The blue heart on the altar of this year's conference symbolizes our love for God. It is made out of an old book of worship, an old hymnal, liturgical art sketches (including the design of this altar), and mission trip notes. It shows some of the many ways we show our love for God.

The blue fabric symbolizes a stream that represents the living water of Christ that nourishes us all.

 

Here's a look at our AC
photo album after the first day

Click on photo to see our gallery of nearly 100 pictures.

Photographers include Michael Turner, Will Ravenstein, Shontell Marshall, Michelle Ferris and David Burke.

 

Friday's schedule

8 a.m.	Morning Worship — Mabee Arena and Muir Gym
8:30 a.m.	Call to Order Introduction of the Bishop Episcopal Address
9:15 a.m.	Business Session 2 Focus on the state of the conference Our Shared Ministry reports
10:00 a.m.	Break United Women in Faith Meeting (10 -11:30) — Pioneer Hall Room 325
10:30 a.m.	Keynote speaker: Dr. Ashley Boggan, general secretary, General Commission on Archives & History
11:25 a.m.	Announcements
11:30 a.m.	Lunch on your own or have lunch onsite (please pre-register) Boxed lunch in Muir Gym Buffet lunch in campus dining hall View special lunches here
1:30 p.m.	Memorial and Remembrance Service in Mabee Arena
2:15 p.m.	Laity Address
2:30 p.m.	Youth Address
2:45 p.m.	Announcements and the Greeting of the Latino Pastors and Students of the Biblical Institute Break
3:15 p.m..	Business Session 3 — focus on constitutional amendments votes Regionalization Inclusiveness of the Church Racial Justice Clergy Education and Voting Rights
4 p.m.	Business Session 4 COMPASS pension plan and pension recommendations Resolutions Budget approval Other business
4:30 p.m.	Celebration of retirees and baptism service in Mabee Arena
5 p.m..	Time of fellowship and connection with affordable meal options on campus or on your own off-site. Food trucks will be  in the Peter Science Hall parking lot.
5:30 p.m.	Retiree dinner celebration at Muir Gym Childcare closes
6:30 p.m.	Childcare reopens
7 p.m.	Business Session 4 in Mabee Arena (KWU only) Transition to Clean Energy Christian Nationalism Establishing a Caretaker of God’s Creation Coordinator Affirming Call to End the Genocide in Palestine  Medicaid Expansion in Kansas      6.  Great Plains Conference Parental Leave Policy Other resolutions and business as needed