, 2025
General Superintendent
Max Edwards
Two weeks ago, I shared with you that the General Council of the EMC will meet together in September for their annual face-to-face gathering in Indianapolis. The Council works cohesively to ensure that the policies and procedures of the denomination are adequate and that we are operating properly under them. The Council also has the charge to cast vision for the future, guiding the denomination as a whole when it gathers in General Conference sessions. This charge is given in ¶608 of the EMC Discipline: “The duties of the General Council shall be: (1) To give direction to the church presenting creative and practical programs to the General Conference for adoption, seeking to anticipate the future needs and continued growth of the church.”
And, as you know, we asked YOU - - our EMC pastors, credential holders, board chairpersons, and key leaders - - to respond to a survey regarding some General Conference decision-making. Those survey responses are still trickling in, and the General Council will review all of them in September, but here are some current data points that the responses are conveying:
Almost two-thirds of those responding are telling us that they will plan to check in early on the Monday evening before Conference begins on Tuesday if that is offered to them. Therefore, we will surely provide that option.
Be sure to look for more information about early check-in and open house on Monday, July 20th, 2026.
On the issue of the number of General Superintendents to elect: The Council will take your responses seriously as they consider what to recommend, and nearly half of you are indicating an openness to electing an Assistant General Superintendent for the next quadrennium. When taken together with those who stated no particular preference, about 80% of survey respondents indicate a general openness to hearing how the Council might lead in that regard.
We appreciate you taking the time to answer. Your opinions matter! The Council and I thank you very much.