General Conference Briefing: Proposed Articles of Faith
June 11, 2026
Disclaimer: This briefing was prepared for the South Georgia GMC delegation using NotebookLM to synthesize information from multiple sources. It is intended to summarize the proposed Articles of Faith legislation and the major conversations surrounding it. It does not represent an official position of the South Georgia Conference or its delegation. Readers are encouraged to consult the original sources listed below.
One of the most significant pieces of legislation coming before the 2026 General Conference is Petition 1441, the proposed Articles of Faith.
The legislation would replace the Global Methodist Church’s two inherited doctrinal standards—the Methodist Articles of Religion and the Evangelical United Brethren (EUB) Confession of Faith—with a single unified statement of faith. The proposal was developed by a writing team working under the Commission on Discipleship, Doctrine, and Just Ministry in response to action taken by the Convening General Conference in 2024.
Why Was This Proposal Created?
When the Global Methodist Church was formed, it inherited two doctrinal standards from its Methodist roots. While both documents have served the church well, General Conference directed the Commission to develop a single statement that could serve as a unified doctrinal standard for the denomination moving forward.
Supporters of the proposal argue that a single document provides greater clarity, accessibility, and consistency for a growing global church. Critics generally agree with the goal of a unified statement but have raised questions about whether the Commission produced a simple combination of the two existing documents or created a broader theological synthesis.
Major Conversations Surrounding the Proposal
1. The Doctrine of Scripture
The most discussed portion of the proposal is Article VIII on Holy Scripture. The article describes Scripture as “without error in all it affirms.”
Supporters argue that this language reflects historic Christian teaching, aligns with statements such as the Lausanne Covenant, and is consistent with many classical Methodist theologians.
Critics argue that the language imports categories more commonly associated with modern evangelical or Reformed debates. They contend that Wesleyan theology has traditionally emphasized Scripture’s role in forming holy people and revealing God’s saving truth rather than focusing on philosophical questions about errorlessness.
2. Human Nature and the Image of God
Earlier drafts described humanity as “fundamentally good.” Some readers expressed concern that the phrase could weaken the doctrine of humanity’s fallen condition or imply a Pelagian understanding of human nature.
The writing team responded that the phrase was intended to affirm the continuing reality of the image of God in every person, not deny humanity’s fallenness. In response to feedback, the final language was revised to describe humanity as “created good” or “originally good.”
3. Combination or New Synthesis?
Another significant discussion centers on the Commission’s mandate.
Some have argued that General Conference requested a combination of the Articles of Religion and the EUB Confession of Faith and that the proposal goes beyond that instruction by introducing substantial new language.
The Commission has responded that a simple merger of two nineteenth- and twentieth-century documents would not adequately serve the church’s present mission. They argue that the proposal remains faithful to the historic doctrines of Methodism while presenting them in a clearer and more unified form.
4. Ecumenical Language
The proposal also removes several anti-Roman Catholic statements found in older doctrinal documents.
Supporters view this as an expression of ecumenical maturity that allows the church to affirm historic Christian doctrine without retaining polemical language from earlier centuries.
Others worry that removing such language may blur important theological distinctions that earlier Methodists believed were necessary to maintain.
How We Arrived Here
- 2024: The Convening General Conference directs the Commission to develop a unified doctrinal statement.
- Spring 2026: Drafts are released for public comment and reviewed by both a designated review team and the wider church.
- April–June 2026: Articles, webinars, panel discussions, and online conversations generate extensive feedback.
- May 2026: Final revisions are completed and submitted as Petition 1441.
- September 2026: Delegates to General Conference in Johannesburg will consider the legislation.
Questions Delegates Should Consider
As delegates prepare for General Conference, several questions may be helpful:
- Does the proposed document faithfully express the historic doctrine of Methodism?
- Does it fulfill the mandate given by the Convening General Conference?
- Does it provide greater clarity for future generations of Global Methodists?
- Are the revisions to the language on Scripture, humanity, and other doctrines improvements over the current standards?
- Will a single doctrinal statement strengthen the church’s witness and unity?
Whatever one’s position, Petition 1441 represents an important conversation about the theological identity of the Global Methodist Church and how we articulate our faith for future generations.
Sources
Here is a bibliography of the sources provided, organized by medium and date where available.
Articles and Webpages
- Fugate, Nate. “Lost in Translation: How the Commission Misread Its Mandate.” Rev.’s Substack, May 5, 2026.
- Fugate, Nate. “The Weight of a Word.” Rev.’s Substack, May 16, 2026.
- Green, Joel B. “A More Excellent Way: Wesley, Scripture, and the Limits of Inerrancy Language.” Firebrand Magazine, June 2, 2026.
- Kisker, Scott T. “The Global Methodist Proposed Article on Holy Scripture: A Critique.” Firebrand Magazine, May 19, 2026.
- O’Reilly, Matt. “An Even More Excellent Way: A Response to Joel Green on the Bible in Global Methodism.” Theology Project, June 2026 (Published following Joel Green’s June 2 article).
- O’Reilly, Matt. “Global Methodists and Holy Scripture: A Response to Scott Kisker.” Firebrand Magazine, May 26, 2026.
- O’Reilly, Matt. “How Should We Speak of Human Nature? A Question for the Global Methodist Church.” Firebrand Magazine, April 14, 2026.
- O’Reilly, Matt. “Three Takeaways from Today’s Panel on the Proposed Articles of Faith (Global Methodist Church).” Theology Project, June 1, 2026.
- Watson, David F. “The Proposed Global Methodist Articles of Faith: Addressing a Legacy of Unfinished Business.” Firebrand Magazine, April 28, 2026.
Video Transcripts (YouTube)
- Global Methodist Church. “Connectional Conversations | Articles of Faith, June 1, 2026 – English.” Panel featuring Bishop Scott Jones, David Watson, Jason Vickers, and Matt O’Reilly.
- Miller, Andy. “Inerrancy and the GMC, the Articles of Faith, and the SBC.” More to the Story Podcast, 2026.
- O’Reilly, Matt, and David Watson. “Why are we talking about NEW Articles of Faith in the Global Methodist Church? with Dr. David Watson.” Theology Project, 2026.
- Rickman, Jeffrey. “GMC Articles of Faith Panel – April 10, 2026.” PlainSpoken. Panel featuring Vic Reasoner, Quattro Jones, Tyler Lee, and Sean Hamilton.
- Rickman, Jeffrey. “GMC Articles of Faith Panel #2 – April 17, 2026.” PlainSpoken. Panel featuring Matt O’Reilly, Mark Olson, Joshua Pearsall, and Adam Duarte.
- Rickman, Jeffrey. “Articles of Faith – Panel 3 (Republished w/ Missing Half).” PlainSpoken. Panel featuring Tim Prather, Chris Lortoer, Richie Clark, and Daniel Rickman.
- Rickman, Jeffrey. “GMC Articles of Faith Panel #4 – May 1, 2026.” PlainSpoken. Panel featuring Scott Kisker, Shane Raynor, and Courtney Eubanks.
Denominational Documents
- Global Methodist Church. “Petition 1441: Articles of Faith of the Global Methodist Church.” Proposed legislation for the 2026 General Conference, submitted by the Commission on Discipleship, Doctrine, and Just Ministry.
Printable PDF version
From Sanderson to Solzhenitsyn: My 2025 Reading Journey
December 31, 2025
One of the unexpected gifts of this year was just how much reading I was able to do. In hindsight, I think it was partly a trauma response to the relentless push of finishing my doctoral work. Reading for pleasure became an escape from the constant cycle of academic reading, writing, and editing. As a result, this turned into the most productive reading year of my life. Below is a list of the books I read throughout the year, with links to each one and a few brief reflections along the way.
January 2025
- Frankenstein — Mary Shelley
- I was pleased by how much I enjoyed the “monster” in the story. Several of these books exceeded the amount of fun and joy I expected. This was one of them.
- One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich — Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
- This is my book of the year. The brutality, simplicity, and hope here stunned me. I do not think many people would enjoy it as much as I did. This book makes me want to read more Russian literature.
- The Thin Man — Dashiell Hammett
- I read this for a local book club I joined. It was fine. The characters were morally ambiguous. I was not sure who we were supposed to cheer for.
- Raise Your Ebenezer: A Field Guide to Suffering — Ted Goshorn
- Run and get this book! My buddy Ted wrote it.
- Also listen to my interview with him.
February 2025
- Five Views on the Gospel — Michael Horton (ed.)
- This was a huge blessing. I got to read an advance copy of these and offer an endorsement inside the book. This is a great series of books which present different Christian views on topics.
- I have an interview with David deSilva to publish about this book. Dr. deSilva does a marvelous job describing the Wesleyan view of the Gospel.
- If you are theology student or want to know more about different interpretations, I encourage you to check it out.
March 2025
- Grace Rediscovered: Finding Hope and Healing Through Faith and Recovery — Ben Gosden
- Ben is one of my best friends. I have not stopped thinking about this book and have quoted it several times.
- Run to guy buy his book!
April 2025
- Mistborn: The Final Empire — Brandon Sanderson
- This series was given to me by Paul Griffin. I have thanked him several times for introducing me to Sanderson. It took me awhile to finish the first in this trilogy. Since then I have read a total of five Sanderson books.
- The Little Prince — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
- I read this with one of my children. I would not say it was one of my favorite books. However, it was fun to discuss and read together.
May 2025
- Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage — Alfred Lansing
- This was one of those books I would tell myself, “If this is fiction I would not be able to suspend my disbelief.” The number of times these gentlemen should have died and did not is incredible. My favorite genre is historical narrative. This book is one of the reasons why.
- A Change of Heart: A Personal and Theological Memoir — Thomas C. Oden
- I wish I would have read this book at the start of seminary. I loved getting to hear more about the insights of academics. It’s also great to hear how a liberal professor found his way back to orthodoxy and to know the difference he has made in my academic life.
June 2025
- The Well of Ascension — Brandon Sanderson
- This was my favorite in the Mistborn trilogy. I am probably in the minority here and that’s fine. I really enjoyed seeing how certain characters stepped up and grew in leadership.
- Project Hail Mary — Andy Weir
- Do not watch the movie trailer if you want to read the book. A great book. Maybe a little overhyped by social media but still a very enjoyable read.
July 2025
- The Hero of Ages — Brandon Sanderson
- The conclusion of the Mistborn trilogy did not disappoint. What a fun ride for my first journey in Sanderson’s universe called the Cosmere.
- The Sunlit Man — Brandon Sanderson (Audio Book)
- This was a fun self contained story on a unique planet.
- Slow Productivity — Cal Newport (Audio Book)
- There was a lot of walking and driving this May, June, and July. I was able to complete two audio books. I like Cal Newport’s podcast. So I gave his book a listen. I enjoyed it. He actually narrates this one which was cool.
August 2025
- The Book Thief — Markus Zusak
- I thought I read somewhere this was one of the most read or highest rated books on Goodreads. I saw it ready to check out on the Libby app and gave it a read. I liked, but did not love it. Historical fiction is not my favorite genre.
- Educated — Tara Westover
- About 2/3 of this book were incredible. It is the story of someone coming up without education and overcoming some incredible odds. However, learning how the author’s mom has also written somewhat of a rebuttal to this work made it seem more complex than the narrative here.
- This was also a book I got because it was popular and available on the Libby app.
September 2025
- The Women — Kristin Hannah
- This is a story about a nurse sent to the front areas of the Vietnam war. I enjoyed this one so much I purchased it for my mom for her birthday. Even though I read it for free through the Libby app.
- Deep Work — Cal Newport (Audio)
- This was another Newport book on slowing down and doing less to focus on creating better content and having a richer life.
- I missed now having Newport read the audio.
- Born to Run — Christopher McDougall (Audio)
- This was the perfect book to listen to why’ll training for a half marathon. Turns out we are born to run long distances… according to the author. It follows a running tribe in Mexico. Great writing which keeps you captivated.
- The Call of the Wild — Jack London
- This was a re-read for me. I read it with one of my children. The brutality in the beginning made them want to quit. However, the payoffs were more than worth it.
October 2025
- Africa Is Not a Country — Dipo Faloyin
- This was the first of two books on Africa I read this year. I am preparing to head to Africa as a delegate of the Global Methodist Church to our general conference. I plan to read a couple more books next year on Africa.
- Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind — Yuval Noah Harari (Audio)
- I have a growing fascination with pre-history. While this covers more than that time it does a good job of scratching that itch.
- The Giver — Lois Lowry
- I read this with one of my children. Actually, I purchased this after hearing Bishop Robert Barron review the movie and thought the book sounded interesting. I never got around to reading it until this year.
- Small spoiler: I enjoyed the world building and the role of the giver. The ambiguous ending fell flat for me. It was a book which said so much. I think I’m jaded by J.J. Abrams story telling which usually does not have much have an ending. It’s hard to feel like with an ambiguous ending they might have just ran out of steam.
- 11/22/63 — Stephen King
- This was my first King novel. Side story: A had a friend who was a house sitter for him. She reached out and asked him if he wanted to come on the David Donnan Podcast. It was a no…
- Great thick book. Over 850 pages. The pacing was good. It did slow down a little bit at parts but overall great. It is not a horror book but more of a time travel sci-fi story. It did introduce me to the town of Derry which a friend told me is where a lot of the stories King writes are set.
November 2025
- The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey — Candice Millard (Audio)
- This month looks thin but we had a lot cooking which wrapped up in December.
- The River of Doubt is another narrative non-fiction/historical narrative. Not as good as Endurance from above but it still is great.
December 2025
- Lonesome Dove — Larry McMurtry
- This another book over 850 pages. My longest book of the year. Honestly, it could have been another 300 pages. I wanted more time with Call, Augustus, and the gang. I even talked about July Johnson in a sermon recently. Several people mentioned they were fans of the TV miniseries which came out.
- The President Is Missing — Bill Clinton & James Patterson
- I got bogged down on this one. However, the audio was available on Libby so I did some immersion reading with it. Dennis Quaid is the narrator. It was so good. I’ve heard the other books in this series are better but I’ll just take everyone’s word on this.
- Jurassic Park — Michael Crichton
- I wanted to read this just to visit the park and story I knew from the movies. I was surprised how much different and, in many ways better it was. It starts out more of a mystery. I was hooked right away. Not all the characters share the same outcomes as in the movie which kept me on the edge of seat.
- Mistborn: Secret History — Brandon Sanderson
- This was a fun end to Mistborn. We got to visit with one of the characters for a little longer. It really made me want to jump into the Wax and Wayne series but I think there are other series I will try next year. I also think my journey back into the Cosmere might be to tackle the thousands of pages in Stormlight Archive.
- The Splendid and the Vile — Erik Larson (Audio)
- This was a great listen. I went ahead and added Erik Larson’s books to my want to read lists. This covers the leadership of Winston Churchill during the bombing campaing against the British in WWII as well as his attempts to recruit the Americans to help more.
- Cry, the Beloved Country — Alan Paton
- If you hate quotations around speakers, you will love this. Set in Johannesburg, South Africa in the 1950s it follows a minister from the rural regions going into the city to help find his family.
- The River Is Waiting — Wally Lamb
- This was a book which was on Libby and popular so I gave it a shot. I was shocked by how hard it was to read at the start. Just brutal start. I almost did not finish it. I was so glad I did. While I did not do a full number list, I think this would make my top five on the year.
- Gift and Giver: The Holy Spirit for Today — Craig S. Keener
- This had about 40 pages left so I knocked it out to pump up my 2025 numbers. Keener is a clear and passionate writer. I enjoyed his study on the Holy Spirit.
Well, the night is young. Maybe I can knock out another book before midnight. Happy New Year!
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About David Wesley Donnan
I write online about Methodism, devotional insights, and personal reflections. My primary goal is to organize my thoughts and explore meaningful topics. Along the way, I hope my writing inspires and encourages others on their journey.
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Remembering Rev. Dr. Charles L. Houston
October 21, 2024
Last night I found out my good friend and mentor Charles Houston passed away yesterday. Pastor Charles was the pastor at Statesboro First Methodist in 2006 when I was the interim youth director. I remained on staff as an intern and worked with Pastor Charles for another year.
Charles was the first pastor I saw up close as I considered what it meant to be a good pastor, leader, and preacher. It was by God’s providence I got to learn so much from him and his wife Elizabeth.
While I still have a ways to go to be refined it was even more so as a teenager working on the church staff. Charles was always graceful with my shenanigans and willing to look for opportunities to pay me back. There was one youth scavenger hunt he still owes me payback for.
I had talked briefly with Pastor Charles several weeks ago after I saw on facebook he and Mrs. Elizabeth had been in a car accident.
In a recent staff meeting at the church I pastor, we recently had prayed for Charles’ ministry as he was at Apalachee High School as the teachers returned after the school shooting there.
The past couple of days I reflected on some of the important moments I will remember about Pastor Charles.
He was there for me in one of my toughest moments
In late summer of 2006, I found out one of my parents was moving out and my family was going to look a lot different. Even though I was at college this was still very distressing.
I found this out on a Saturday afternoon. I don’t remember talking to anyone until I went to church the next morning.
The church had a prayer and communion service before we began the regular worship service. I went early and Pastor Charles was the first person I ran into. He could tell I was upset and asked what was wrong. He listened. We held hands and prayed. He served me communion. I don’t remember what he said. I do remember he was there and a means of God’s grace for me in a very hard moment.
Charles preached for me the day Luke was born
Even though I worked as a staff person for Charles for around 14 months I was around often in Methodist circles.
Early on in my pastoral ministry I was going to need someone to cover the Sunday my son was born. I was honored to have Pastor Charles fill my pulpit that morning.
The closing hymn this Sunday was Because He Lives. The bulletin prescribed the congregation to sing the first and the last verse. However, He made sure they sang the middle verse on the day Luke was born.
How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!
It was a sweet touch to a special Sunday.
Charles Loved Serving Law Enforcement
As part of my time as a divinity student at Asbury Theological seminary we had to take a class called Mentored Ministry. We were to serve in an area outside of our church. Charles let me help serve at the International Conference of Police Chaplains conference he was helping lead. Charles lit up at this conference. He loved seeing pastors learn how to better serve law enforcement.
Charles really enjoyed serving law enforcement. He particularly enjoyed serving the Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Natural Resources. He had a very strong, vibrant, and fruitful ministry called Caring Connection Chaplaincy.
Later on, while serving as chaplain for a local fire department, Charles was a resource I would lean on and call when I had questions handling tough situations. He helped me to get proper denominational credentialing so I could serve as a fire chaplain well.
Charles Loved People
Charles loved people. While his work with the police allowed him to serve law enforcement it also allowed him to come into contact with the people law enforcement served. Usually this meant some of the people were having the worst day of their lives.
One day at Statesboro First Methodist another youth staff member and I were called and told there was someone threatening they had a bomb with them inside the church. The other staff person and I were ready to go down stairs and combat this intruder. While we were creeping up behind the individual, Charles came around the corner and said hello to the person. Charles took them outside to talk with the person and the police. It was smooth, loving, caring, and Christ-like. He moved the person away from everyone and got them the help they needed with dignity.
I’m sad I will not see my friend again this side of heaven. I am grateful for the time we had together. I also realize these few snapshots are just a small part of the decades of years and thousands of people he came in contact with.
Thanks be to God for the life of the Rev. Dr. Charles L. Houston.
