Connectional Ministries focused on getting into churches and creating new ministry pathways. Five Regional Developers (RDs), funded through the Lilly Endowment's Thriving Congregations Initiative grant for the 24/25 and 25/26 conference years, built relationships in their assigned districts and focused on areas including Next Gen ministries, Black church development, discipleship and Fresh Expressions, Hispanic/Latine church development and immigration support, and the Thriving Leadership Initiative. The team offered coaching and trainings (church council, SPRC, trustees, finance, stewardship) and district-specific in-person events.
The Thriving Leadership Initiative (TLI) grew into a transformational learning community integrating clergy and laity through in-person events and monthly online Learning Labs on adaptive leadership, financial wellness, conflict transformation, discipleship, and community engagement. Submitted by Rev. Laurie Moeller.
The report also includes the conference Policy for Reducing the Risk of Abuse for Children, Youth, and Vulnerable Adults (Safe Sanctuary), which sets recruiting and screening standards (background checks, character references, minimum ages, six-month membership), mandatory training, two-adult supervision, and reporting procedures that follow Georgia law. Originally adopted in 1998, the policy was reviewed and updated for the 2026 session.