Global Ministries’ board of directors to gather for fall meeting

By Marcy Heinz
October 7, 2019 | ATLANTA

Global Ministries is holding its biannual board of directors meeting October 10-12 at its Atlanta headquarters. The fall meeting’s theme is “Mission in a Fractured World and Church,” and Bishop Hector F. Ortiz Vidal, leader of the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico, will preach on that theme at an opening worship service.

Board members will travel from eight international locations, Puerto Rico and the United States to conduct agency business and celebrate milestones. One milestone includes the success of the Encounter with Christ in Latin America and the Caribbean fund as it has passed the million-dollar mark for project support. Started in 1992, Encounter with Christ is a board-related fund that supports mission in the Latin American region and builds international Methodist solidarity. It provides financial support of shared missions with Methodist churches in 26 different countries.

As this is the first meeting since the board of directors unanimously affirmed the “Call For Unity in God’s Mission” statement in April, the importance of mission is likely to be discussed. The statement, initiated by Katie Dawson, affirms Global Ministries’ commitment to continue “God’s work” despite the challenges The United Methodist Church is facing.

Global Ministries’ general secretary, Thomas Kemper, asked that prayer be a part of preparation for the meeting in a letter to board members: “As we approach our 2019 annual meeting, please pray for the whole church, for Global Ministries and our staff and missionaries, and that all United Methodists will be faithful to the missio Dei – God’s mission – in a fractured world and church.”

Follow along on our website and social media for forthcoming news and stories from the board meeting.

Marcy Heinz is the senior communications manager for Global Ministries.