The 15th General Conference of The Wesleyan Church concluded Wednesday, May 20, with the installation of a new General Superintendent, general officers and General Board members for the 2026–2030 term, including the church’s new assistant General Superintendent role.
The Council of Three — Interim General Superintendents Dr. Jo Anne Lyon, Dr. H.C. Wilson and Reverend Isaac Smith — presided over the service. As they did in the church in Antioch, the leaders were set apart for the work to which they were called (Acts 13).
Dr. Lyon reminded us all again of the theme that ran through the conference of the need to return to the altar. “We started at the altar, and we are concluding at the altar,” she said as the service began in the Chapel Auditorium. Lyon explained that in Acts 13 the first church was sent out. “Today, we are going to be sent out.”
As she began the installation proceedings by installing Reverend Dr. Jim Dunn as General Superintendent, she noted that leaders must be blameless in heart, not overbearing and committed to uprightness and holiness. “The church has called you to its most honored and responsible place of leadership,” she said, adding a personal note that she believes Dunn’s parents and grandparents were cheering him on from heaven.
Reverend Isaac Smith then led the installation of the Executive Leadership Band, a newly adopted term, and admonished its members to serve the ‘bride of Christ.’ “May your leadership always inspire such confidence to the glory of God. May you be strong to do God’s will and have great joy in your labors.”
Installed were Michael Skor as assistant General Superintendent, a newly created role; Dr. Wayne Otto, executive director of Church Multiplication and Discipleship; Reverend Nikki Nettleton as executive director of Global Partners; and Kory Pence as executive director of Communications. Janelle Vernon was reelected as general secretary and leads Wesleyan Publishing House. Steve Glueck was elected general treasurer by the General Board in September 2025.
Also installed were Wesleyan Investment Foundation (WIF) Chief Executive Officer Norwood Davis and the Wesleyan Pension Fund (WPF) Chief Executive Officer Craig Dunn.
Installed next were the 24 men and women, lay and clergy, elected to the General Board for the next four years, who agreed to faithfully serve the church. The audience was then asked for their commitment to prayerfully support all the newly installed leaders.
The newly installed General Board members are:
Northeastern Representative Area
Lay: Emily Last, Tammy Leonard, Earl McJett
Ministerial: Anita Eastlack, Mike Hilson, Caleb Carr
North Central Representative Area
Lay: Jeff Clark, Arianna Eckart, Timi Olutade
Ministerial: Ken Murphy, Chris Conrad, Emily Vermilya
Southern Representative Area
Lay: Scott Drury, Marsha Flinchum, Sherry Keye
Ministerial: Tim Jones, Josh Ratliff, Matt Mitchell
Western Representative Area
Lay: Dan Farmer, Yorty Clark, Patti Rust
Ministerial: Wesley Smith, Phill Tague, William (Billy) Wilson
General Superintendent Dunn addressed the crowd and spoke about Pentecost, asking the audience to embrace the power of the Holy Spirit in all they do to lead the denomination. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom and supernatural work,” he said, and “everyone around us needs this power.” It is the Holy Spirit, he said, that is the evidence in our lives of the fullness of God.
The newly elected general officers and General Board members were given baskets of anointing oil to disburse through the crowd. “To be able to take oil, which represents the power of God in Scripture, it is the unction of God to be poured out on us,” said Dunn. He asked that those present use this as a time of reconciliation and encouraged them to be the first to cross the room and say “I’m sorry,” or be the first to forgive. “We believe in reconciliation, in transformation to the core.” All Global Partners missionaries were called to the front for special prayer and anointing, along with anyone who felt called to mission work.
As Lyon gaveled the 15th General Conference to a close, many remained in the Chapel Auditorium praying, anointing one another and fellowshipping together, carrying forward the conference’s call to consecration, reconciliations and Spirit-empowered service.
Jennifer Jones is a World Hope International Marketing and Communications team member, journalist and pastor’s wife serving as the North Carolina East District administrator of The Wesleyan Church.
