Conference Hears Calls to Invest in Leaders, Young Adults and the Future of the Church
The final morning of the 2026 Arkansas Annual Conference opened with prayer and a reminder of the conference theme, The Way of Love: Flowing as One, before members heard reports highlighting theological education, young adult ministry, United Methodist institutions and the church’s ongoing work of leadership development.
The morning began with an update on the denomination’s Miracle Sunday offering, a worldwide effort to strengthen theological education for United Methodist pastors outside the United States. The Rev. Roy Smith shared that only about 5 percent of clergy serving outside the United States hold a master’s degree, compared with roughly 75 percent of clergy in the U.S., underscoring the need for educational resources and leadership development.
Bishop Mande Muyombo of the North Katanga and Tanzania Episcopal Area thanked Arkansas United Methodists for their support and described the challenges facing theological education in Africa, including leadership training, curriculum development and infrastructure needs. He emphasized that theological education is essential for developing strong leaders and sustaining the church’s mission of building congregations, schools, clinics and water projects throughout the region.
Conference members also learned about the Arkansas Conference Council of Young Adults. Through retreats, book studies, Zoom gatherings and annual conference events, the ministry has connected young adults across Arkansas and provided community for those who may be the only young adult in their local congregation. Leaders reported that the ministry continues to create opportunities for fellowship, spiritual growth and leadership development among United Methodists ages 18 to 35.
Representatives from two United Methodist-related educational institutions also shared updates.
Dr. Carla Cardoza, president of Lydia Patterson Institute in El Paso, Texas, reported that the school achieved a 100 percent graduation rate and 100 percent college acceptance rate for its most recent graduating class. She highlighted the challenges many students face while crossing the U.S.-Mexico border daily to attend school and thanked Arkansas churches for their continued support of the ministry.
Dr. Karen Petersen, president of Hendrix College, spoke about the college’s upcoming 150th anniversary and a new curriculum that will require every student to complete a professional work experience integrated into their liberal arts education. Petersen encouraged churches to introduce students to Hendrix and emphasized the college’s ongoing commitment to preparing young people for leadership and service.
Rev. Mark Norman, co-chair of the Conference Episcopacy Committee, presented Bishop Laura Merrill with a gift on behalf of the committee and expressed gratitude for her leadership during a season of significant change across Arkansas, Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference.
In his report, Rev. Zach Roberts, dean of the Cabinet and Northeast District superintendent, reflected on the appointment-making process and encouraged clergy and laity alike to actively nurture future leaders. Comparing annual conference to “a little Pentecost,” Roberts challenged attendees to have at least one conversation each month with someone about God’s call on their life and future ministry.
The morning concluded with the second teaching session led by the Rev. Dr. Paul Chilcote. Building on themes introduced earlier in the conference, Chilcote described a Wesleyan vision of love marked by wide embrace, Christlike service, deep engagement with Scripture, spiritual growth and a commitment to compassion and justice. He reminded conference members that “true religion is the love of God and our neighbor” and challenged Arkansas United Methodists to embody that love in ways that bring hope to the world.
“As people called Methodist,” Chilcote said, “we are people who sow seeds of hope.”
Conference Remembers Faithful Saints and Celebrates Their Legacy
Members of the Arkansas Annual Conference gathered Wednesday morning for a Service of Remembrance, honoring clergy and conference members who died during the past conference year and celebrating lives of faithful service that continue to shape the church.
Family members of those being remembered were welcomed as honored guests during the service, which focused on gratitude, legacy and the promise of God’s enduring presence. Conference leaders invited worshipers to reflect on those who had “waded into deep water for the sake of the gospel” and to give thanks for the ways their ministries continue to bear fruit.
Rev. Beth Perdue, a member of the retiring class of 2026, delivered the sermon. Drawing from Genesis 1:27-31, she reminded worshipers that every person is created in the image of God and called to reflect God’s love and goodness in the world.
Perdue shared the story of a beloved church member whose ministry to children left a lasting impact on her community. She compared that woman to the character Miss Tizzy from a children’s book, describing how simple acts of kindness, encouragement and love create legacies that endure long after a person is gone.
“We carry on the good based on what we’ve been taught and shown in our lives,” Perdue said. “Everything we say and do reflects on our God, who created us in God’s own image.”
Throughout the service, names of clergy and conference members who died between June 2, 2025, and June 1, 2026, were read aloud. Those in the audience were invited to receive prayer shawls as a reminder of the love and prayers of the Arkansas Annual Conference.
The service concluded with a blessing and sending forth, encouraging conference members to continue the legacy of those who came before them by bearing witness to God’s love in the world.
Roll of Remembrance
The Arkansas Annual Conference remembered the following saints whose lives and ministries were celebrated during the Service of Remembrance:
- Andrew Anderson
- Fred Arnold
- Robert “Bob” Burnham
- Ann Clayton
- Doris Cruce
- William Elder
- John Farley
- Joe Glover
- Sean Guston
- Ida Hewitt
- Ed Kerr
- Lynn Lindsay
- Spencer Plumlee
- Francis Ross
- David Smith
- Gary Sneed
- Elizabeth Siegel
- Jimmy Dell Thrasher
- Henry Turner
- Jimmy “Jim” West
- Samuel Williams
Conference Concludes with Gratitude, Hope and a Call to Continue the Work
The 2026 Arkansas Annual Conference concluded Wednesday afternoon with words of gratitude, celebration and a reminder that the work of ministry continues long after conference members leave Hot Springs.
Before entering into the closing worship service and setting of appointments, conference leaders reflected on the ministries, partnerships and shared experiences that shaped this year’s gathering under the theme, The Way of Love: Flowing as One.
Conference members recognized the work of disaster response volunteers, camp ministries and the many laity, clergy and volunteers whose service made the annual conference possible. Bishop Laura Merrill offered special thanks to lay members and part-time clergy who sacrificed work and personal time to participate in the gathering.
An update on the Miracle Sunday offering revealed that more than $12,000 had already been received to support theological education and leadership development throughout the global United Methodist Church, with additional gifts and church offerings still being collected.
The conference also heard a report on the upcoming Council of Bishops Leadership Gathering scheduled for October in Calgary, Canada. Representing Arkansas will be Rev. Chad Hornsby and Michael Roberts, who described the event as an opportunity for young adults, clergy, bishops and lay leaders from across the denomination to imagine the future of The United Methodist Church together.
Organized around the theme Emboldened by the Spirit: Imagining a Church Yet to Be, the gathering will focus on discipleship, leadership, stewardship, accountability and global connection. Participants encouraged Arkansas United Methodists to pray for the process and to embrace their role as “good ancestors” who help shape the church for future generations.
“Our young people are watching us,” Rev. Roberts said. “They’re watching how we handle conflict, how we care for creation and whether love boldly, serve joyfully and lead courageously is simply a vision statement or an honest description of our life together.”
A highlight of the afternoon was a presentation on the Arkansas Conference’s statewide Following Jesus, Loving People, Sharing Grace campaign. Kelli Reep of Flywrite Communications reported that the initiative generated more than 8.2 million outdoor advertising impressions, more than 332,000 streaming television impressions and nearly one million social media impressions while helping tell the stories of local churches across Arkansas.
Reep emphasized that the campaign’s greatest success was not found in statistics but in helping congregations reclaim and share their identity through authentic local ministry.