Reports for information

Africa University thanks North Georgia congregations for supporting the Africa University Fund and reports a year of strong growth. In June 2025 AU graduated its largest class ever, and the fall brought its most diverse incoming class. The report urges churches to maintain AUF support and become Keystone Congregations.

The North and South Georgia Episcopacy Committees celebrate Bishop Robin Dease's ministry across the One Georgia Area. The report notes her healing presence after disaffiliation, the Thriving Leadership Initiative, and the submission of the Georgia Unification plan in March 2026.

Faith Connection Federal Credit Union, founded in 1960 to serve Georgia Methodist pastors, now has over 3,000 members across the Georgia/Florida/southern Alabama connection. The report includes a 2025 financial statement showing total assets of about $32.1 million.

Gammon, the UMC's only Historically Black Theological Institution, reports progress toward independent accreditation, enrollment of 41 students, and major grant support for its "Gammon 3.0" expansion.

Georgia Pastors' School met July 14–17, 2025, at Epworth By The Sea under the theme "Reigniting Joy." Bishop Dease preached, and worship offerings of $2,191.86 went to UMCOR for Texas flood victims.

Hinton Rural Life Center, a mission and retreat center in western North Carolina, reports extensive 2025 volunteer service and rural outreach serving 1,287 neighbors in Appalachia.

Lake Junaluska Assembly reports on its Sharing Our Gifts Capital Campaign (now in its fifth and final year, with over $16 million committed), a 2025 financial surplus, and upcoming 2026 worship and ministry programs.

PAUMCS, established in 1982 under GCFA, provides administrative professionals across United Methodism with fellowship, professional development, and certification. The Georgia Chapter hopes to revive its in-person conference.

Candler School of Theology, an official UMC seminary, reports a diverse student body and continued commitment to Wesleyan and ecumenical formation for ministry in the 21st century.

Drew University Theological School is a global seminary educating leaders for the worldwide church. In Fall 2025 it welcomed 88 new students for a total headcount of 365, including 140 international students.

Duke Divinity School celebrated its 99th Opening Convocation in 2025 and commemorated the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed. It welcomed 219 new students, including 120 in the Master of Divinity program (10% growth), and four new faculty.

Garrett-Evangelical reports a fifth consecutive year of enrollment growth, the launch of The Garrett Collective digital learning platform, and a historic agreement with Northwestern University to relocate to new campus facilities.

This report compiles campus-ministry highlights from Georgia's United Methodist colleges, universities, and Wesley Foundations, including worship, discipleship, mission trips, and community service across roughly twenty campuses.

United Theological Seminary, founded in 1871, served 642 graduate students in 2024-25, reflecting about 30% enrollment growth since 2021. It introduced a Doctor of Theology degree and reports President Kent Millard's retirement effective June 30, 2026.

The Barnes Evaluation and Administrative Team (BEAT) reports a sixth year of grant-making for innovative ministries. Since 2020 BEAT has funded over $5.7 million to 114 recipients; in 2025 it awarded 18 grants totaling $1,084,271.

The Center for Clergy Excellence supports credentialing, cultivation, and sustaining of clergy. It reports Ministerial Education Fund scholarships, candidacy growth, clergy renewal retreats, and includes subsections from the Board of Ordained Ministry and the Orders of Deacons and Elders.

The Conference Communications Office handles internal and external communications via the website, e-newsletters, social media, and video. This year it focused on the unification effort and welcomed new communications director Meghan Walters.

The Conference Statistician reports 2025 end-of-year figures: 401 churches, 196,836 members, average worship attendance of 38,896, with professions of faith and baptisms both up from 2024.

The Housing and Homeless Council supports congregations serving people experiencing poverty and homelessness through education, advocacy, and grants. In 2025 it awarded $100,400 in grants to 21 ministries, with the annual Homeless Offering raising $74,593.

The Director of Connectional Ministries reports on Regional Developers deployed through a Lilly Endowment Thriving Congregations grant, district trainings, and the growth of the Thriving Leadership Initiative. The report folds in the conference Safe Sanctuary policy.

The Connectional Ministries Team (CMT) organizes its work around the Connectional Table's five areas of focus and three responsibilities (advocacy, discipleship, resources/stewardship). It evaluates grants and presents Church of Excellence Awards.

The Advocacy Committee pledged to "amplify advocacy" in the conference, establishing an advocacy web page and engaging issues including the death penalty, environmental justice, Medicaid, SNAP, poverty, and gun safety.

The Conference Commission on Religion and Race (CCORR) works to dismantle systemic racism. It reports a new Facebook page, participation in nominations, the Racial Justice and Healing Academy, reparations work moving to a Committee on Jubilee, and advocacy for an Inclusion and Advocacy staff position.

COSROW advocates for the full and equal participation of women in the church. It reports an adopted clergy parental leave policy, a clergywomen mentoring program, support for those affected by sexual ethics violations, and the 70th anniversary of women's ordination in the UMC.

Disaster Response Ministries reports a major UMCOR-led Hurricane Helene recovery effort in the Augusta area, the addition of a Disaster Response Associate, and warehouse/Early Response Team work in partnership with the South Georgia Conference.

The Conference Secretaries of Global Ministries report that 19 North Georgia churches sent UMVIM mission teams internationally in 2025, and North Georgia giving to Global Ministries and UMCOR was nearly $518,000.

Aldersgate Homes serves the disabilities community through advocacy, education, and recreation, including the accessible Collinswood retreat center on Lake Oconee. It is hosting the Annual Conference "We Are Able" 5K and marks 35 years of ministry.

The Methodist Foundation for Retired Ministers maintains an endowment to provide for retired ministers and the families of deceased ministers. With its last acquired home sold in 2025, investment income is now its only revenue source.

Murphy-Harpst Children's Centers serves vulnerable youth on its Cedartown campus, in Evolve homes, and through foster care. The report describes expanded Evolve and residential programs and the MindVox therapeutic model, with about 20% of its budget from private donations.

North Georgia Camp & Retreat Ministries (NGCRM) focuses on helping campers discover they are loved children of God. Glisson retreat ministries grew slightly in 2025 (8,430 guests), while camp attendance declined 2%.

Wellroot Family Services, the United Methodist Children's Home in North Georgia for 155 years, reports impacting 3,843 lives in Fiscal Year 2025 through family therapy, new-mother support, foster care, and trauma training, supported by 186 churches.

Wesley Woods creates communities of connection, well-being, and promise for older adults. In the past year it provided more than $1,400,000 in rent or meal assistance and chaplains made more than 12,000 connections with residents and families.

Conference Lay Leader Kim Powell reflects on two years of service, the Board of Laity's district training events, and work on the One Georgia Task Force toward conference unification.

Lay Servant Ministries equips laity for leading, communicating, and caring. In 2025 the conference had 74 Certified Lay Speakers and over 400 Certified Lay Servants, who provided over 458 pulpit fills.

The Order of Deaconess/Home Missioner continues a legacy of love, justice, and service. North Georgia has eleven active and three retired Deaconess/Home Missioners serving under appointment.

The North Georgia UM Committee on Scouting supports Scouting as a church ministry, focusing on starting and maintaining Scout units and encouraging faith-based programs. It hosted the Bishop's Scout Lunch in September 2025 with 50+ churches attending.

North Georgia United Methodist Men reports on its purpose and covenant, the outgoing president's final term, and goals for 2026–2027 including increasing charters. It notes about 20% of roughly 440 churches contribute dues and is working toward One Georgia consolidation.

North Georgia United Women in Faith reports a year of growth, discipleship, and impact under the theme "Acting Boldly, Practicing Hope, Showing Up, Making a Difference," with district retreats, Mission U, racial justice work, and planning for One Georgia unification.

The North Georgia Caucus of Black Methodists for Church Renewal (NGBMCR) supports Black churches in the conference through town halls, the Hush Arbor, a Camp Glisson scholarship program, and participation in CCORR and the Reparations Task Force.