The Michigan Conference announced difficult changes that impact its staffing and structure as the conference seeks to align with a reduced 2026 budget.
JAMES DEATON
Content Editor
On July 17, 2025, staff members of the Michigan Conference of The United Methodist Church were informed about forthcoming changes in the coming months that will impact the staffing and structure of the conference. The staffing realignment reflects the conference’s financial capacity and commitment to mission, as the church enters a new season of ministry.
“These changes are hard,” as Bishop David Bard expressed in an email that was sent following the staff meeting, “but they are necessary as we work to align with the 2026 budget approved at Annual Conference.” At the 2025 Michigan Annual Conference, lay and clergy members passed a reduced conference budget that was $458,398 less than the current year.
Over the last decade, the Michigan Conference has experienced a sharp decline in membership and its annual budget (nearly 50% for both in 10 years). Disaffiliation, the COVID-19 pandemic, along with broader changes in the religious landscape of Christianity within the United States, have exacerbated this trend. Read this backstory summary to learn more.
The Michigan Conference has also experienced district and staffing reductions and realignments since 2015, when there were 12 districts and 59 staff members across both previous Detroit and West Michigan Annual Conferences. Currently, there are 7 districts and 37 staff members.
Generous local United Methodist churches gave more than $8 million in 2024 through Ministry Shares to support the mission and ministry of the conference. Ministry Shares fund the conference budget. However, the total pay-in rate for last year was only 72% of the conference goal. As a result, cash reserves have dwindled to a critical point ($10 million spent since 2019, with about $5 million remaining), and restructuring and realignment are necessary.
Michigan Conference leadership is grateful for the financial support local churches have given through Ministry Shares and acknowledges the difficulties some churches have had in paying. However, leadership is confident that the financial situation can stabilize if each church contributes its share, even if it’s a partial amount, and gets the overall pay-in rate closer to 100%. Read the 2025 Annual Report to learn about the impact Ministry Shares have on conference ministries.
See what percentage of Ministry Shares your church has contributed so far in 2025.
At the July 17 meeting, the plan for restructuring and staff realignment was revealed to staff members. At the district level, changes will be proposed at the 2026 Michigan Annual Conference that will reduce the total number of districts from seven to four, which will impact the number of superintendents and executive assistants, effective July 1, 2026.
The plan also calls for the appointment of a new Conference Superintendent, who will support district and connectional ministries staff as they seek to better align their work with the conference’s mission and vision. Other annual conferences have such a role in place.
The realignment will also impact connectional ministries staff. The current combined role of Clergy Assistant to the Bishop and Director of Connectional Ministries will be separated into two roles, as was the case prior to July 1, 2023. The Clergy Assistant, an appointed position, will assume additional responsibilities related to church development, and a full-time Director of Connectional Ministries will be hired to focus on vision, budgeting, and anti-racism initiatives.
Two Associate Directors of Connectional Ministries will be hired to join the director and carry out ministry programming to support local churches. Each associate director will have a clear role with shared responsibilities. Support staff for the connectional ministries team will also be realigned. The changes to the connectional ministries team go into effect January 1, 2026.
There will also be changes and realignments of duties within other departments, which will impact staffing and the division of responsibilities, particularly in the communications and meeting planning department. A couple of roles will end, some positions will change from full-time to part-time status, and others will transition to contracted services.
Conference leadership noted to staff: “Our goal is to preserve essential ministry functions with modifications. You may see some changes in supervisory responsibilities or how services are delivered, but our commitment to serving local churches remains unchanged.”
This realignment, although necessary, is painful since it affects the employment of talented and dedicated persons who continue to serve the conference and Christ’s church through their skills and spiritual gifts. Conference leadership expressed deep appreciation for each person and assured staff members impacted by the realignment that they will be treated with dignity and given support, including severance packages based on years of service, as eligible; outplacement services to assist with job searches; and counseling support, if desired.
Those staff members who will lose employment are encouraged to apply for any of the new or restructured non-appointed positions that match their skills and calling. Job descriptions and the application process will be posted online on August 15, with applications due by September 15. Decisions will be announced October 15. New hires will begin January 1, 2026.
The realignment was the result of a small group of conference leaders who met July 1-3, 2025, to work through this complex task. Bishop Bard assembled this task force with the goal of making recommendations that align the conference staff structure with the realities of the 2026 budget.
A message to staff in a related communication explained further how leadership came to their recommendations. The primary goal of the bishop’s task force was to make adjustments to the structure of conference staff to “best equip our local churches to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” The conference’s four priorities — Sharing God’s Love, Building Beloved Community, Developing Leaders, and working toward Financial Sustainability — also guided the task force’s work and final recommendations.
The message concluded: “We understand this is difficult news. Each person on our team has contributed meaningfully to our shared mission. This realignment is not a reflection of any one person’s worth — it is a reflection of a changing church and our need to adapt. Thank you for your service and your continued commitment to ministry during this transition.”
Last Updated on July 31, 2025