Gateway Conference Standing Committees

The Gateway Conference administration is comprised of three standing committees:

the Board of Administration, the Ministerial Appointments Committee,

and the Ministerial Education and Guidance Board.

The Superintendent serves as ex-officio of all committees.

BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION

Each annual conference elects a minimum of four people, lay and clergy, as the standing Administrative Committee of the conference to care for routine business and items specifically delegated to it by the conference such as (but not limited to) world missions, Christian discipleship, church planting, and social action.


See ¶5200 p105 of the FMCUSA 2023 Book of Discipline for complete Description

    2026-2027 BOA Members


    • David Hooks, Treasurer (Lay, Cowden)

      Steve Neville (Elder, Lamar)

      Wendy Shuffett (Elder, Foundation, Centralia)

    • Mike Aden, Chair (Elder, The Bridge, Edwardsville)

      Ashley Alm (Lay, Hillsboro)

      Mark Whitlock (Lay, Knox Knolls, Springfield)

    • Chris Smith (Elder, Emmanuel, Alton)

      Andy Davis (Lay, Foundation, Centralia)

    Ministerial Appointments Committee (MAC)

    Each annual conference elects a standing Ministerial Appointments Committee (MAC) composed at least of the bishop as chair, a superintendent as vice chair, and one lay member. The Nominating Committee or the Board of Administration prepares nominations for election of the MAC and delineates the scope of responsibilities within the MAC membership according to that annual conference’s structure of oversight and the superintendency. The committee appoints pastors for an indefinite tenure and monitors progress and makes changes at each annual conference when deemed necessary.


    See ¶5220 beginning on p105 of the 2023 Book of Discipline FMCUSA

    2026-2027 MAC Members


    • Christy Coates (Lay, Knox Knolls, Springfield)

      Gustavo Cruz (Lay, MAPS)

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    • Barb Sands (Lay, Hillsboro)

      Brian Hartley (Elder, Greenville)

      C.J. Dyas (Elder, Hillsboro)

    Ministerial Education and Guidance Board (MEG)

    Each annual conference has a standing Ministerial Education and Guidance Board, composed of the members of the Ministerial Appointments Committee and additional members as determined by the electing body with due regard to a proper division between laypersons and ministers. The Board is responsible to screen candidates for reception into the conference and/or for ordination and has final responsibility for the approval of conference ministerial candidates. The Board guides and counsels those who are received so that they may be able to meet the demands of pastoral ministry. The Board gives consideration to the integrity and Christian discipleship of each ministerial member and the performance of duty of each appointed pastor of the conference as well as affirms the integrity and Christian discipleship of located deacons and located elders.


    See ¶5230 beginning on p107 of the 2023 Book of Discipline FMCUSA

    MEG Board Members


    • Christy Coates (Lay, Knox Knolls, Springfield)

      Gustavo Cruz (Lay, MAPS)

      Laurel (Lolly) Shaw (Lay, Greenville)

    • Brian Eckhardt (Elder, Mt. Olivet)

      Robyn Florian (Lay, Greenville)

      Joe Shuffett (Elder, Foundation, Centralia)

    • Barb Sands (Lay, Hillsboro)

      Brian Hartley (Elder, Greenville)

      C.J. Dyas (Elder, Hillsboro)