FAQs

Leadership Structure & Relational Accessibility

  • If both the Pacific Northwest Conference (PNWC) and the Oregon Conference vote yes on creating a new conference, there will be a transition period. During this time, the PNWC and Oregon Superintendents will continue to serve their own conferences separately, while together overseeing the creation of the new conference. The old conferences will be wound down during this same period.

    Once the new conference is created, and the PNWC and Oregon Conferences are ready to be wound down and legally dissolved, a superintendent selection process will begin, following the Book of Discipline.

    While that process is underway, the Bishop will appoint the PNWC and Oregon Superintendents as interim co-superintendents of the new conference.

    Once the selection process is complete and a candidate or candidates are recommended, the new conference will vote on the recommendation. After that vote, the new superintendent(s) will lead the new conference.

  • Leadership will be shared among multiple leaders to ensure availability and relational connection.

  • The new conference will implement a structured leadership framework—including the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendents, Regional Leaders, and task forces—with defined lines of accountability and support. This will help ensure effectiveness, reduce overlap, and foster healthy collaboration across all levels of leadership.

  • Yes. The appointment system remains unchanged and will follow the Book of Discipline. MAC will continue to vet and recommend appointments with oversight from the Superintendent and the Bishop.

  • By assigning Regional Leaders and creating smaller connection points, such as districts and affinity groups, and other cohorts, every pastor and church will remain personally supported.

  • Conference leadership will remain committed to fostering strong, relational connections with pastors and churches. The new conference's leadership structure will be designed with this priority in mind, creating space for meaningful support and engagement. The goal is to cultivate a leadership culture that values both strategic direction and personal, pastoral presence, ensuring churches feel seen, supported, and encouraged in their unique contexts.

Free Methodist Identity & Mission Alignment

  • No. We are not leaving behind our identity—we are leaning into it more fully. This new structure is designed to help us live out the Free Methodist Way with greater clarity and consistency. Our core values—Life-Giving Holiness, Love-Driven Justice, Christ-Compelled Multiplication, Cross-Cultural Collaboration, and God-Given Revelation—will continue to shape everything we do.

  • The goal is not to erase what makes us unique; we want to bring the best of each of our conferences together. The new conference will reflect the best of both Oregon and the Pacific Northwest—our stories, values, and ways of doing ministry—woven into a common mission and vision. This is not just a structural change; it’s about working together to help more people encounter Jesus, follow Jesus, and experience transformed lives in Him. We are building something stronger together.

  • The new conference will not impose a one-size-fits-all approach. While the methods may vary, the mission remains the same. Each church is encouraged to follow its own unique calling and context around our shared mission. This includes being accountable to the key FMC Missional Measures that help us know we are succeeding. These include: Spirit-aliveness, evangelistic disciplemaking systems, mentoring pipelines, and multiplication steps. Practically, churches will be encouraged to show fruit in areas such as baptisms, new conversions, making disciples, identifying and raising up leaders who can be mobilized into ministry and their calling, and determining their next multiplication step. 

    Churches will be supported and resourced to meet these goals, with regular check-ins and encouragement to stay aligned with the mission of making disciples and growing the Kingdom.

  • Worship styles will continue to reflect the unique culture and context of each local church. The new conference will honor this diversity of expression while encouraging all churches to stay rooted in our shared mission and values.

Church Property, Assets & Oversight

  • All campgrounds, buildings, and assets will become part of the new conference. Transitional boards and leadership teams will review these collaboratively, with guidance from the Bishop, focusing on sustainability, stewardship, and mission alignment.

  • Yes. According to Free Methodist polity and the trust clause in the Book of Discipline, property is held in trust for the denomination, but managed by local societies. This will not change. Any closures, mergers, or property sales will follow established processes with appropriate oversight.

Financial Strategy & Transparency

  • Financial planning will be transparent and shaped with input from both conference superintendents, boards, and leadership teams to reflect and support the new conference's shared mission and vision. Finances will be stewarded to align with the mission and values of the Free Methodist Church and to strengthen our collective impact.

  • They will continue to support the new conference's core work and shared mission. This includes resourcing pastors and churches, providing leadership development and care, offering training and connection opportunities, and supporting the vision of making disciples, growing healthy churches, and advancing the Kingdom.

  • We are building a brand-new unified financial strategy from the ground up. This is not a budget merger but a reimagining of financial alignment around shared mission.

  • By reducing overlap and inefficiencies, we will steward every dollar to directly support the multiplication of disciples, leaders, and churches.

Communication, Trust & Representation

  • Churches will be included through town halls, updates, and delegate voting processes.

  • Task forces, BOA, MEG, and conference leaders will collaborate to make decisions, with the Bishop and national BOA providing final oversight.

  • The conference that votes no must present an alternative plan to the Bishops that meets the expectations for a healthy, mission-aligned structure. This plan must be approved by the Board of Bishops and the national BOA.

  • Local church members will continue to elect delegates to represent them. Voting will occur during the annual conference sessions, where both elected ministerial and lay members will consider and act on motions. All voting procedures will remain consistent with the guidelines and requirements set forth in the Book of Discipline of the Free Methodist Church.

  • This is an opportunity to start fresh. While we will learn from the past, existing systems will not automatically carry over. Instead, we will design new structures, processes, and tools that remove unnecessary barriers and accelerate our shared mission to multiply disciples, leaders, and churches.

Spiritual Discernment & Unity

  • This process is rooted in prayer, fasting, and spiritual discernment at every stage. We are listening together for God’s direction. We are asking God to guide not only our decisions, but our attitudes, conversations, and timing.

  • We understand that unity does not mean we agree on everything. Protecting spiritual unity means making room for real conversations, regular prayer, open communication, and staying honest and respectful with one another. Even with different viewpoints, staying focused on Jesus and the mission we share is what will bring unity.

Implementation Timeline & What’s Next

  • A transitional leadership team made up of clergy and lay members of both conferences will lead implementation with oversight from the Bishop and national leadership.

    We will focus on clear communication, practical support, and a thoughtful timeline to ensure a stable, transparent transition for all churches and leaders involved.

  • We are working from a general timeline, but flexibility is important to ensure a healthy, Spirit-led process. Adjustments will be made as discernment, feedback, and circumstances guide the way forward.

    To roll this out, here is a tentative timeline: 

    Late 2026/Early 2027: Superintendents, Task Forces, Boards of Administration, and Bishop continue work on the timeline and other details needed to prepare for the vote. Broader communication with pastors and churches will focus on timeline updates, the meaning of the vote, and lead pastor Connect Groups.

    Spring 2027: Each conference votes separately on whether to create a new conference together. A yes vote begins the transition work; it does not immediately establish the new conference.

    2027–2028: If approved, PNWC and Oregon continue operating as existing conferences while legal, financial, governance, staffing, and operational work prepares the new conference for launch.

    Spring 2028: The Convening Annual Conference formally launches the new conference, which begins operating as the new entity. The formal superintendent search begins after the new conference is convened and the appropriate leadership bodies are in place.

    2028–2029: The new conference operates while remaining transition work is completed, systems are refined, existing conference structures are unwound, and annual conference members vote on the new superintendent after the search process concludes.

    • Formation of transition teams with representation from both conferences.

    • Continue coordinated implementation planning and timeline alignment.

    • Begin planning leadership structure and financial plans.

    • Continued clear communication with churches

    This will all be done with oversight and guidance from the Bishop.

Additional Key Questions

  • No. This is not a reactive fix but a proactive step toward multiplication and long-term mission impact.

  • The question isn’t whether we can grow alone but whether we can do more together. This is about stewarding missional opportunities. We can be more effective when we align our strengths, collaborate, and empower leaders with diverse gifts to lead and equip the Church for a greater impact in the Kingdom.

  • Every step of this process follows the Book of Discipline and Free Methodist polity. Creating a new conference requires formal approval by both affected conferences and the national Board of Administration. Local churches will continue to elect delegates and participate fully in Annual Conference decisions. The process is being carried out with transparency and alignment to both local and denominational governance.

  • A name has not yet been decided. Naming will be part of the transition process, and we will invite input as we move forward. The goal will be to select a name that reflects our shared identity and communicates a clear vision for the future.

  • We have not determined any location for a physical location. Most of our work as a conference will continue to be conducted remotely. Our focus will be less on a physical location and more on ensuring that pastors and churches throughout the new conference are well-supported, well-connected, and equipped for ministry, regardless of geography.

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