The Michigan Conference’s communications team reviews the top news stories from last year.
JAMES DEATON
Content Editor
Last year was a time of restructuring and recalibration at the annual conference staff level, and several of the top news stories of 2025 point to this reality.
Annual conference leaders — and the denomination as a whole — are continuing to readjust to the lingering effects of disaffiliation, the COVID-19 pandemic, and a reduced budget, yet remain hopeful, planting seeds for future ministry and for the good things God has in store for United Methodism in Michigan.
The United Methodist Church is entering a new season, following historic polity changes at the 2020 / 2024 General Conference, the overwhelming support for worldwide regionalization across our global denomination, and a new vision statement that aims to propel United Methodist ministry into the future.
As we begin a new year with renewed focus on claiming our United Methodist identity, take a few minutes to review the top 10 stories / blog posts that shaped our news coverage last year.
1 – Camp Michigamme suspends operations
In October, the Northern Skies District announced that Camp Michigamme, a district-owned camp in the Upper Peninsula that has operated for more than 100 years, will not reopen in 2026 due to declining membership, reduced attendance, rising maintenance costs, and insufficient reserves. This marks the fifth United Methodist camp to close in Michigan since 2019.
2 – Staff realignment announced
On July 17, staff members of the Michigan Conference were informed of changes that would affect the conference’s structure and staffing, including a proposed reduction in the number of districts from seven to four and the hiring of a full-time Director of Connectional Ministries. The staffing realignment reflects the conference’s financial capacity and commitment to mission as the church enters a new season of ministry.
3 – Conference presses on in love
At the 2025 Michigan Annual Conference, some 1,300 United Methodists were encouraged to face the challenges of ministry by growing into the fullness of Christ through God’s transforming love. Business highlights included voting to ratify several amendments to the United Methodist Constitution approved by the 2020 / 2024 General Conference and launching the Gardens of Hope campaign to raise funds for EngageMI ministry partners in Haiti.
4 – Disaffiliation fund to grow ministry
In September, the Michigan Conference announced a new grant program financed through the Ministry Innovation Fund, which was created to capture a percentage of the proceeds the conference received from the disaffiliation process. The purpose of this grant program, which will be available annually, is to invest in local United Methodist congregations and ministry partners seeking to develop new, innovative ministries.
5 – Register now for Advocacy Day
This article launched registration for Advocacy Day 2025, hosted by the Michigan Conference in March, following the success of the previous two Advocacy Days, which dealt with gun violence prevention and improving mental health access in our state. The topic for 2025 focused on modifications to state auto insurance laws enacted in 2019 that have created a crisis in access to care.
Early in the year, Bishop David Bard announced the appointment of Rev. Kristi Hintz as the next superintendent of the Northern Skies District. Rev. Hintz previously served as co-pastor of Marquette: Hope UMC. She succeeded Rev. Scott Harmon, who served a maximum of eight consecutive years as a district superintendent. Hintz began her appointment on July 1.
7 – Update on conference staff structure
In this October letter, the first announcements regarding Michigan Conference staffing changes were made, effective January 1, 2026. Naomi García would retire from her position as Associate Director of Connectional Ministries. Laura Witkowski would begin as Director of Connectional Ministries. And Lisa Batten and Rev. Kathy Pittenger would start in new roles as Connectional Ministry Facilitators.
8 – Order your copy of new Book of Discipline
Cokesbury announced that printed and downloadable copies of the 2020 / 2024 Book of Discipline, incorporating legislative actions adopted at the historic General Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2024, were now available for purchase. This new edition contains the recently revised Social Principles. The new Book of Resolutions is also available.
9 – Fritz selected for new conference position
In January, the conference announced the hiring of Rev. Leslee Fritz as the new Special Assistant to the Bishop for Mission and Budget, along with other staffing changes. The Special Assistant for Mission and Budget position was created in the wake of Bishop David Bard’s assignment to serve two annual conferences, Michigan and Illinois Great Rivers, which was announced at the 2024 North Central Jurisdictional Conference.
10 – We must speak the truth in love
In response to recent incidents of violence in our country, Bishop David Bard wrote in his September blog about the call we have as Christians to speak the truth in love and wrestle with the complexities that doing so means. Bishop Bard then wrote a timely addendum following the September 28 act of violence on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the community of Grand Blanc, Michigan.
Last Updated on January 12, 2026