New Michigan Conference
On Friday, June 20, 2025, the three Michigan conference delegations met in their respective business sessions and voted to dissolve their individual conferences in order to form a new, united statewide conference.
This is a unique and exciting opportunity to reshape the culture, systems, and structures needed to saturate Michigan with the love of Jesus. This page will be updated as new details become available. Thank you for your continued prayers for the superintendent teams, the leadership boards, and Bishop Kaye as she leads this important process.
SUPERINTENDENT ELECTION
My Dear Michigan Free Methodist Brothers and Sisters,
It is my joy to inform you that with an overwhelming majority of the vote, Rev. Erick Ewaskowitz has been elected as Superintendent of the new Michigan Conference. We expect him to begin in part-time capacity in November 2025 and full-time in January 2026.
I am confident in Superintendent Erick's gifts and abilities to lead us into a whole new season of fruitfulness as we journey in ministry together across our state. Please be in prayer for Superintendent Erick and the transition board during this season.
Also, I want to thank our current superintendents, Joanna DeWolf, Jeff Ford, Bruce Rhodes, and Dale Woods, for their excellent leadership through this season of creation and transition. They have led as faithful servants of Jesus, and Jeff Ford and Bruce Rhodes will serve alongside Superintendent Erick until our next annual conference in June 2026. Join me in thanking them when you have opportunity.
We enter this season with great hope and optimism in the Lord to bring new things through the Free Methodist Church in Michigan. Stay tuned for an announcement about the name of our new conference!
May the Lord bless you all abundantly.
Bishop Kaye A. Kolde
10/01 Update from Pre-incorporation Board - Ministry Share
Dear friends in Christ,
As you are aware, the transition board of the new Michigan conference has been meeting regularly to organize the new conference. In our previous update, we informed you that one of the specific items the board would be discussing was the ministry rate for the new conference and when that rate will take effect. Moving forward, the new conference will use the term “ministry share,” which is in alignment with the preferred language of our Board of Bishops for all FMCUSA conferences. Language creates culture, and therefore, we want to communicate a shared value of partnering together to resource the mission of Jesus across our conference and denomination.
At our most recent board meeting, some important decisions were made that will affect each of our churches throughout 2026. First, each conference will continue operations for the first half of 2026. Second, each conference will fund its budget through the collection of its regular ministry share rates through June 30, 2026. Beginning July 1, ministry shares for the new yet to be named Michigan Conference will be 7.6% (4.4% for the conference plus the current EPP of 3.2%).
We wanted to get this information to you now so that you can have this information for your churches budgeting process for 2026. Details regarding how the new conference ministry share will be assessed and collected will be communicated in the coming months as new accounting systems and processes are developed. If you have any questions regarding ministry share plans for 2026, please reach out to your current Superintendent.
The transition board will meet again on October 14th. Thank you for your ongoing prayers for this team and for the upcoming Superintendent election.
09/10 Update from Pre-incorporation Board
The Pre-incorporation Board, representing two leaders from each of our three conferences, continues to meet with our Bishop. Our most recent meeting was held on September 3rd. The first half of the meeting, the Board, also serving as the Superintendent Search Committee, interviewed a candidate. Afterwards, Superintendents Bruce Rhodes, Jeff Ford, and Erick Ewaskowitz joined the call to discuss some important issues going forward.
The World Ministry Center has hired Lisa Woods, who will serve as an organizational consultant, helping us with necessary technical work. We discussed ministry share rates (conference apportionments), merging health insurance plans, and planning for the 2026 calendar. No decisions about any of these matters have been made, as more research and conversation are needed. The 2026 Annual Conference was set for June 19–20 at The Arbor Church in Spring Arbor.
Bishop Kaye plans to have a Superintendent elected mid-October. The Board has also received the submission of many potential names for the new conference. They anticipate discussing these submissions and choosing a name this fall, once the new Superintendent has been elected. Having the new Superintendent identified to give input and direction on this and other issues under consideration seems like the wisest course going forward.
Our next meeting will be September 24th. Thank you for your ongoing prayers for this important season of transition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions discussed during our Spring Town Hall meetings about the potential formation of a new Michigan Conference. This FAQ addresses key topics and provides clarity as we prayerfully consider the path ahead. Click below to view and download the FAQ.