The 153rd session of the General Board of The Wesleyan Church (TWC) was held at the Waterline Church, Pendleton, Indiana, May 6-7, 2025. General Superintendent Dr. Wayne Schmidt opened the meeting by introducing Waterline Pastor Scott Rhyno who welcomed and prayed for the General Board.
Dr. Rick Christman, president-elect of Kingswood University was introduced. Dr. Christman takes office on July 1, 2025. Kingswood President Dr. Steve Lennox was honored for his dedicated and visionary leadership, an example of which is Kingswood Learn.
Atlantic District Superintendent Peter Moore provided a devotional the first morning. He focused on the lives of Caleb and Uriah the Hittite, noting their roles as supporting cast members guided by God’s sovereignty, reminding Board members of Proverbs 19:21: “You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.” The second day, Sherry Keye, lay member of Browers Wesleyan Church, North Carolina East District, shared her testimony of how a little Wesleyan church can change a person’s life. Keye came to know Christ as Savior through a “little Wesleyan church,” its outreach to neighborhood kids and its funding for her to go to camp where she gave her life to Christ. Keye remains active in Wesleyan church and camp ministries.
Dr. Wayne Schmidt began his address stating that the most important time for The Wesleyan Church lies ahead. It is his prayer that any pivot made by TWC happens as a result of God’s prompting. Schmidt spotlighted three necessities:
- Prayer: General Board member Jeff Clark and his colleagues, Ryan Ott and Trent Dailey, explained reasons for their development of the “Praying on Offense” app. All three men are laity who recognized the desire for and ministry potential within a lay community empowered through prayer. Their goal is to build such a community through the app’s easy-to-use, interactive platform.
- Flexibility for fruitfulness: Schmidt noted his desire to seek to reallocate resources to those who are being fruitful in ministry.
- Partnership with the church around the world: Schmidt explained that if TWC is going to have a prayer movement, it needs to be in partnership with the global church.
Significant time was spent on six topics prioritized by the General Board in preparation for the 15th General Conference, May 17-20, 2026:
- Discerning future leadership: Preparing for the General Superintendent nominee(s) selection in November 2025, desired qualities were identified and ranked. The General Superintendent nomination process will begin in September.
- Cabinet restructure: Ensuring maximum General Church leadership effectiveness included consideration of the Executive Cabinet organizational structure, and its appointment and accountability.
- General Board election: Ensuring the most effective member composition included a review of its election process.
- Leadership pipeline: Addressing barriers to a robust TWC leadership pipeline included consideration of shared General Church, district and local church oversight of ordination, ministerial students, licensed ministers and lay ministers.
- General USF/EIF refinement: Exploring the most effective ways of stewarding TWC’s financial resources for mission fulfillment included consideration of two funding models.
- Trust/Unity issues: Mountain Plains District Superintendent Billy Wilson provided input on issues potentially polarizing to TWC.
After updating the General Board on increasing obstacles to churches seeking banking services, Wesleyan Investment Foundation Chief Executive Officer Craig Dunn shared WIF’s desire to help ease church funding barriers. Dunn retires on December 31, 2025. Upon Dunn’s retirement, Norwood Davis will become the WIF CEO.
Updates were presented on the three position paper study committees. Their completed work will be presented at the November General Board meeting.
- Immigration Study Committee Chair Zach Szmara reported the completion of a first draft emphasizing Biblical principles.
- Racial Reconciliation Study Committee Chair Dr. Wayne Lewis reported the position paper’s focus expanding to address race and racism.
- Gender Identity Study Committee member Dr. Jonathan Morgan reported the committee’s desire to produce a document that is compassionate, approachable, enduring and clear.
Each presenter expressed confidence in meeting the November deadline.
The Wesleyan Education Council spent considerable time and effort editing “The General Board Policy Standards of The Wesleyan Church for Educational Institutions.” All recommended policy changes were approved for immediate insertion into the “General Board Policy.”
The following annual reports were submitted for review: General Superintendent, Communication and Administration, Church Multiplication and Discipleship, Education and Clergy Development, Global Partners, Hephzibah62:4, Immigrant Connection, Wesleyan Bible Conference Association, Wesleyan Financial Holdings and Wesleyan Pension Fund.
General Secretary Janelle Vernon provided an overview of the General Board’s timeline regarding the 15th General Conference, EMPOWERED, scheduled for May 17-20, 2026, at Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, Indiana. She also invited the General Board to participate in EMPOWERED: A 15th General Conference Prayer Initiative.
Vernon then reported on a collaborative team overseeing the Canada National Conference seeking General Conference status.
The meeting ended with a time of prayer.
The November General Board meeting is scheduled for November 18-20, 2025, at Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, Indiana.
Janelle Vernon is the executive director of Communication and Administration for The Wesleyan Church.
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