Skip to content
Northeast Annual Conference
  • 2025 Annual Conference
  • Meet Us
    • About
    • Vision
    • Leaders
  • Resources
    • Camping Ministry
    • Clergy Forms
    • Church Forms
    • Connectional Funding
    • Discipleship
      • Devotionals
    • FAQs
    • GMC Digital Resources
    • How to Join
    • Lessons in Scriptural Holiness
  • Find a Church
  • Donate
  • Connect
    • Contact
    • News
    • Events
    • GMC Store
Northeast Annual Conference
  • 2025 Annual Conference
  • Meet Us
    • About
    • Vision
    • Leaders
  • Resources
    • Camping Ministry
    • Clergy Forms
    • Church Forms
    • Connectional Funding
    • Discipleship
      • Devotionals
    • FAQs
    • GMC Digital Resources
    • How to Join
    • Lessons in Scriptural Holiness
  • Find a Church
  • Donate
  • Connect
    • Contact
    • News
    • Events
    • GMC Store
2025 Annual Conference Press Release

May 8-10, 2025 - Grace Christian Fellowship , Cortland, NY

Welcome to the official site for the Northeast Global Methodist Church Annual Conference! There have been hundreds of hours of planning and many passionate volunteers who have committed to making the vision of the Northeast Global Methodist Church a reality and we are honored that you are considering attending this historic event where we will transition from a Provisional Annual Conference to an Annual Conference. The two- and one-half day event is in-person and will be live-streamed for remote attendance. This site is designed to answer all your questions about attending the event.

2025 Northeast GMC Annual Conference Guide & Other Documents

Conference Workbook - 5/6/25 updated version
2026 Laity Delegate Nominees to General Conference
2026 Clergy Delegate Nominees to General Conference
2025 Annual Conference Lay Equalization Members
NEGMC 2025/2026 Proposed Budget

Photos from our 2024 Convening Annual Conference

Have photos from the 2025 Northeast Annual Conference session you are willing to share?

You can click the button below or scan the QR code to access our GoogleDrive folder and upload photos from our 2025 Annual Conference session. 
*The Northeast Annual Conference of the GMC reserves the right to use and publish any photos you upload to this folder.

2025 Annual Conference Photo Upload

Preparing for our 2025 Annual Conference:

The Global Methodist Church, now two years old, is experiencing remarkable growth worldwide. In the Northeast United States, the church comprises 187 congregations spanning 13 states, from Maine to West Virginia. Officially launched in January 2024, the Northeast region held its inaugural Convening Annual Conference in April. The Conference is now fully operational and preparing for its 2025 Annual Conference, where members and leaders will come together to worship, celebrate ministry growth, and recommit to the mission of “making disciples of Jesus Christ and spreading scriptural holiness across the globe.” The Reverend Steven Taylor, Conference Superintendent of the Northeast Global Methodist Church, has announced that the 2025 Annual Conference will take place at Grace Christian Fellowship in Cortland, NY. This annual gathering is a cornerstone event for the church, bringing together leaders and volunteers for prayer, worship, strategic planning, and administrative actions.

The Annual Conference is an important time in the life of the church as leaders and volunteers come together for prayer, worship, administrative actions and planning for priorities. Reverend Taylor shared, “After many years of work, we are now able to focus on further refining our systems and strengthening our systems to support continued growth throughout the Northeast.”

The theme for the 2025 Conference is “Fanning the Flame”, inspired by 2 Timothy 1:6-8: “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.”

More information about the 2025 Annual Conference agenda, keynote speakers, leaders, and arrangements, are available below. 

Questions about our 2025 Conference can be directed to: [email protected]

Agenda & Speakers

Conference Agenda
Ms. Cara Nicklas
Rev. Guillem Correa
Rev. Steven Taylor
Rev. Terry Tekyl
Bishop Leah Hidde-Gregory
Conference Agenda

* Please note all times are tentative and could change.

Thursday May 8, 2025
  • 8:30am: Ordinand Registration begins
  • 9:00am
    • Registration Opens for all attendees
    • Ordinand meeting with Bishop Gregory
  • 10:30am
    • Clergy Session
    • Laity Session
  • 11:30am: Lunch
  • 1:30pm: Opening Worship with Ms. Cara Nicklas, GMC Connectional Council
  • 3:15pm: Plenary I
  • 5:00pm: Dinner
  • 7:00pm: Plenary II
  • 8:00pm: Closing Worship with Rev. Guillem Correa, Spain Conference Superintendent
Friday May 9, 2025
  • 8:00am: Registration Opens
  • 8:30am:
    • Bible Study
    • Prayer Meeting
  • 9:30am: Opening Worship with Rev. Steven Taylor, Northeast Conference Superintendent
  • 10:30am: Plenary III
  • 12:00pm: Lunch
  • 1:30pm: Plenary IV
  • 3:15pm: Breakout Sessions
    • More information to come
  • 5:00pm: Dinner
  • 7:00pm: Worship with Rev. Terry Teykl
  • 8:45pm: Ordination Rehearsal
Saturday May 10, 2025
  • 7:30am: Ordinands arrive and robe
  • 7:45am: Ordination Picture
  • 8:30am: All other clergy arrive and robe
  • 9:00am: Ordination Service with Bishop Leah Hidde-Gregory
  • 12:00pm: Annual Conference Closes.
Ms. Cara Nicklas

Cara Nicklas is a life-long Methodist who was born in Fort Eustis, Virginia, and raised in Oologah, a small town in northeast Oklahoma.  After graduating with her bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma and her juris doctorate degree from Oklahoma City University in 1990, Cara began the practice of law, got married to Tim, and had two sons, Connor and Evan.  Connor and his wife, Michelle, have blessed “Grannie” with a granddaughter, Isla, and another granddaughter due in June. Currently, Cara is a partner in the law firm, McAlister, McAlister & Nicklas PLLC, in Edmond, Oklahoma.  She practices in the area of business and trust litigation, as well as estate planning, probates and guardianships.  She is blessed to be partners with believers who support and encourage her expanded work within the church.  

Cara and her husband are members of North OKC Methodist Church, a new church formed in late 2023.   Cara teaches the youth in her church, serves as chair of the Church Council, plays the piano and plans worship each Sunday.  Church planting is hard! 

Cara currently serves on the Connectional Council after serving as chair of the Transitional Leadership Council.  Cara was a delegate to the convening General Conference of the GM Church, a much more fulfilling experience than her service as a General Conference delegate in the UMC.  

Cara is involved in the Congo Initiative’s efforts to promote the rule of law in Congo. She travels to Beni, Democratic Republic of Congo, (when Ebola, Covid-19, and violence is contained) to participate in a Justice Conference involving Christian lawyers in Eastern Congo who seek to elevate justice in the context of a broken system. 

Rev. Guillem Correa

I have been the Bishop of the Evangelical United Methodist Church of Spain until our integration into the Global Methodist Church. I am currently pastor of the Central Church of Barcelona and Superintendent of the IMG of Spain. 

In 2006, by the Grace of God, we planted the Methodist Church in Barcelona from which the Evangelical United Methodist Church, its current missions and its Abundant Life Groups were born. 

Currently our vision is to reach Western Europe for Jesus hand in hand with the Global Methodist Church. 

I am the Secretary General of the Evangelical Council of Catalonia, an entity that brings together the Evangelical Churches of the Area, I am part of the Steering Committee of the Plaza del Plantador de España (Church planter) and I am Director of the evangelical program on Catalan television “Nacer de Nuevo” (Born again). I have written about 30 books and hundreds of articles as a journalist.

I have not received any salary for having been the Bishop and pastor of the Methodist Church in Spain nor now for continuing as pastor of the central Church or for being Superintendent in the Global Methodist Church. I earn my living working in the NGO, Solidarity Initiatives, which I founded together with my wife. We also founded together a social economy company called Solidarity Resources. I have been president of the Social Economy Companies of Catalonia and Spain.

In the interreligious field I have been one of the founders of the Stable Group of Religions and Religions for Peace in Spain 20 years ago and of which I am still a member of the steering committee. 

I have a degree in journalism, a Master in Training Management and a Certificate in Human Resources Development. 

I have a Diploma in Theology and a Bachelor in Biblical Sciences.

I direct the John Wesley Ministerial Seminary: Methodist Bible Institute and the School of Discipleship and Missions.

I have been married for almost 50 years and have two children and two grandchildren.

Rev. Steven Taylor

Rev. Steven Taylor serves as the President Pro Tem of the Northeast Provisional Annual Conference. Steve has been a follower of Jesus his whole life, but felt Gods call on his life when he was 12 and again at age 28. He’s been a Methodist pastor for over 20 years, ordained as an elder in 2011. In March 2020, Steve became a founding member of the GMC’s Transitional Leadership Council, helping to shape and steer the new world-wide Methodist denomination.

Steve grew up in Lancaster, NY and was baptized, confirmed, and heard his call to ministry through the Methodist Church and Christian camping. Steve holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from SUNY ESF and a Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary. Prior to answering the call to pastoral ministry, Steve worked for 10 years at an international consulting firm as a professional environmental engineer. He has served on The Confessing Movement Board of Directors, the regional Wesleyan Covenant Association board, and multiple leadership teams. Steve and his wife, Stacy, have two grown and married children, three grandchildren and one due in July 2025, and now reside in Syracuse, New York. Steve enjoys flying his drone, disc golfing, hiking, archery hunting, motorcycle riding, and spending lots of time with family.

Rev. Terry Tekyl

Terry Teykl’s conversion experience was a little unusual. In March of 1967 his friends had a stillborn baby and after that crisis he made a bargain with God, if his baby due in September was born healthy, he would go to church.  September 1, 1967, his wife delivered a healthy baby boy, so he decided he should keep his part of the bargain and get to know God better. He found a quiet place to pray, sitting in their backyard on top of the doghouse. While sitting atop that doghouse he felt a call to preach. This call seemed exciting but also caused consternation because he had no church experience and had never stood in front of a group of people to pray, much less preach. Therefore, a desperation was born in him to begin this journey with prayer as his first response at every point. 

While pastoring his first small country church, he attended Sam Houston State University where miraculously he graduated with highest honors.  He then attended Perkins School of Theology at SMU and earned a Master’s in Theology. Two years later, his desperation only increased when his Bishop asked him to start a new church with only 8 attendees and a large debt. God told him, “Don’t look for people, look for Me and people will find you.” In a short time, the church grew to several hundred members and retired from that church, there were over 1200 in attendance.  This experience led him to write the book, The Presence Based Church, as opposed to the consumer-based church. Dr. Teykl has authored several books on prayer and his last book sums it all up: Praying in Jesus Name for 21 Centuries, a History of Prayer in the Christian movement. These and other resources can be found at www.prayerpointpress.com. He pastored for 28 years and during that time he earned a Doctor of Ministry from Oral Roberts University.  In 1996, he began to travel full time teaching prayer-evangelism.  It has been his privilege to help start prayer ministries in churches of all denominations all over the world.  His greatest achievement was starting a prayer movement he calls Praying The Lord’s Prayer at Noon which is now worldwide.

He has been married to his wife, Kay, for 59 years. They have four children, 11 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.  He now serves as a prayer consultant across denominations. And nothing has changed, he is still as desperate for God now as when he came off that doghouse!

Bishop Leah Hidde-Gregory

Bishop Leah Hidde-Gregory serves as the Conference Superintendent of the MidTexas Conference while serving as an episcopal leader and General Superintendent for the denomination.    During her ministry, she served as a laywoman in Oklahoma, a North and Central Texas pastor,  a district superintendent, and a new church development director. She is a founding leader of the MidTexas Conference.  For four years, she sat on the Transitional Leadership Council for the Global Methodist, serving as the chair for a season. 

Bishop Gregory serves as the episcopal leader for the Bulgaria, Northeast, and South Georgia Annual Conferences and the now-forming conference in Mexico.

She has a heart and passion for sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. Bishop Gregory has spent much of her ministry in church revitalization, revival, and church growth.  She is excited about the Global Methodist Church and the orthodox Wesleyan witness being awakened within our congregations.  

She holds a Doctorate in Ministry in Church Leadership Excellence from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.; a Masters of Divinity from Perkins School of Theology; and a Bachelors in Psychology and Sociology from Texas A&M Commerce. She is married to the love of her life, Stan.  Their family includes daughter Maddie and her husband Aaron, daughter Caroline and husband Zach, and their Will, who is still a senior in high school.

Location: Grace Christian Fellowship, Cortland, NY

The 2025 Annual Conference will be held at Grace Christian Fellowship, 1250 Fisher Ave, Cortland, NY

Hotel Accommodations
Additional Information
Hotel Accommodations

Syracuse and Ithaca are approximately 40 minutes from Cortland and have a wide range of lodging types at every price point; however, we have been able to secure a limited supply of blocked rooms at several Cortland hotels.

Reservations can be made by calling the hotel at the number provided and telling them that you are booking through the Northeast Conference of the Global Methodist Church 

Below you will find the Cortland hotels that have blocked rooms as well as pertinent booking information. The rooms have various configurations (King, double Queen, etc.)  that you will need to confirm at time of booking. All rates are per room/night.

All reservations are first come, first served until the number of blocked rooms is depleted. You are encouraged to make your reservations as soon as possible.

Lodging for the 2025 Annual Conference in Cortland, NY is the responsibility of each person attending. 

Best Western Finger Lakes Inn & Suites
3175 Fingerlake East Dr, Cortland, NY
(607) 756-2233
Dates Reserved: May 7, 8 & 9; must reserve by April 7
Cost:  King room: $180(5/7); $203(5/8); $237(5/9), breakfast included
King suite: $ 203(5/7); $237(5/8); $259(5/9), breakfast included

Clarion Inn & Suites University Area 
21,2 Locust Ave, Cortland, NY
(607) 753-7721
Dates Reserved: May 8 & May 9; must reserve by April 10
Cost: $140/night, breakfast included

Greek Peak Mountain Resort – Hope Lake Lodge
2000 NYS Rt 392, Cortland, NY
844-846-9575
Dates Reserved: May 7,8 & 9; must reserve by April 7
Cost: $237/night, breakfast not included. Does not include waterpark

Hampton Inn – Cortland
26 River St, Cortland, NY
(607) 662-0007
Dates Reserved: May 7,8 & 9; must reserve by April 16
Cost: $180/night, breakfast included

Holiday Inn Express Cortland
4.5 Locust Ave, Cortland, NY 13045
(607) 299-0099
Dates Reserved: May 8 & May 9; must reserve by April 10
Cost: $155/ night, breakfast included

Hometown Studios by RedRoof
2 River St, Bldg A, Cortland, NY 
(937) 327-6502
Dates Reserved: May 8 & May 9; must reserve by April 8
Cost: $102 (5/8) & $110 (5/9) based on 2 adults per room, breakfast is not included

Red Roof Inn – Cortland
2 River St, Bldg B, Cortland, NY
(937) 327-6543
Dates Reserved: May 8 & May 9; must reserve by April 8
Cost: $90/night (double full) & $98/night (King) based on 2 adults per room, breakfast not included

Additional Information

Coming Soon.

Quick Links

  • About
  • Contact
  • Events
  • How to Join
  • News

Copyright © 2025 Northeast Annual Conference

Mr. Arthur Kendall

Chief Financial Officer

Art Kendall Bio

David Watson

David F. Watson is Academic Dean and Professor of New Testament at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. He has authored or edited a number of publications, including Key United Methodist Beliefs (with William J. Abraham), Wesley, Wesleyans, and Reading Bible as Scripture (edited with Joel B. Green) and has written a variety of articles and book chapters. His most recent book is Scripture and the Life of God: Why the Bible Matters Today More than Ever (Seedbed, 2017).  At present he is working on a book on Methodism and the Bible. He serves as Lead Editor of Firebrand and is one of the hosts of the Firebrand Podcast. 

David is an elder in the Global Methodist Church and serves on its Transitional Leadership Council. He and his family attend Stillwater Church in Dayton, Ohio.

Ms. Emily Allen

Emily Allen is the Coordinator of Worship at Asbury Theological Seminary where she is a current MDiv student, planning to graduate in 2025. She is a 2020 graduate of Houghton University with her Bachelor of Arts in Theology and a minor in Biblical Studies.

Emily is passionate about worshiping Jesus and raising up leaders in the church to do the same. Her favorite part of her job is working collaboratively with the 15 person Chapel Intern Team, as together they learn the theology of worship and plan Chapel services. She also has interest in the fields of spiritual formation and discipleship, church music, outdoor leadership, and all things British!

Emily currently resides in Wilmore, KY but calls Penn Yan, New York home. She is “To Be Ordained”Deacon in the Northeast Provisional Annual Conference of the Global Methodist Church.

Rev. Steven Taylor

Rev. Steven Taylor serves as the President Pro Tem of the Northeast Provisional Annual Conference. Steve has been a follower of Jesus his whole life, but felt Gods call on his life when he was 12 and again at age 28. He’s been a Methodist pastor for over 20 years, ordained as an elder in 2011. In March 2020, Steve became a founding member of the GMC’s Transitional Leadership Council, helping to shape and steer the new world-wide Methodist denomination.

Steve grew up in Lancaster, NY and was baptized, confirmed, and heard his call to ministry through the Methodist Church and Christian camping. Steve holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from SUNY ESF and a Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary. Prior to answering the call to pastoral ministry, Steve worked for 10 years at an international consulting firm as a professional environmental engineer. He has served on The Confessing Movement Board of Directors, the regional Wesleyan Covenant Association board, and multiple leadership teams. Steve and his wife, Stacy, have two grown and married children, two grandchildren and one due in May 2024, and now reside in Syracuse, New York. Steve enjoys flying his drone, disc golfing, hiking, archery hunting, motorcycle riding, and spending lots of time with family.

Dr. Leah Hidde-Gregory

Dr. Leah Hidde-Gregory currently serves as the President Pro Tempore for the Global Methodist Church’s Mid Texas Annual Conference. After 30 years in the United Methodist Church, she became an Elder with the Global Methodist Church in June of 2022. During her ministry she has served as a laywoman in the Oklahoma Conference, as a pastor in the North Texas Conference and the Central Texas Conference.  Before leaving the UMC, she sat on the Central Texas Cabinet of the UMC as a District Superintendent for six years, including serving as Dean of the Cabinet for five years.

Leah has a heart and a passion for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.  She has spent much of her ministry in church revitalization, revival and church growth.  She is excited about the Global Methodist Church and the orthodox witness which is being awakened within our congregations as they discern their next faithful step.

She holds a Doctorate in Ministry in Church Leadership Excellence from Wesley Theological in Washington, D.C.; a Master of Divinity from Perkins School of Theology; and a bachelor’s in psychology and sociology from Texas A&M Commerce.   She is married to partner in ministry, Stan.  They have two daughters and sons-in-law and a son Will who is still at home.

Rev. Dr. Steve Cordle

Rev. Dr. Steve Cordle is the founding and lead pastor of Crossroads Church, a cell-based congregation with four locations in the Pittsburgh metro area.

He is also the Executive Director of The River Network International, a non-profit dedicated to starting and strengthening churches around the world. He also coaches pastors and church planters.

He is the author of three books: The Church in Many Houses; Hear It, See It, Risk It; and A Jesus-Shaped Life.

Steve was named Outstanding Doctoral Alumnus at United Theological Seminary and is a winner of the Denman Award for evangelism. He chaired the Church Multiplication Task Force for the Wesleyan Covenant Association.

Cordle is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and attended high school in Brussels, Belgium. It was there that he came to faith in Christ and sensed a call to ministry.

In his spare time, Steve likes to play softball, run, play classical piano, and cheer on any Pittsburgh sports team.

Cordle is a graduate of Wittenberg University (BME), Asbury Theological Seminary (MDiv), and United Theological Seminary (DMin).

Steve and his wife Linda have three grown sons, three daughters-in-love, and five grandchildren.

Bishop Mark Webb

Mark J. Webb currently serves as a bishop in The Global Methodist Church.

He was elected a bishop in The United Methodist Church and consecrated on July 20, 2012, at the Northeast Jurisdictional Conference. Mark served as the episcopal leader of the Upper New York Area of the United Methodist Church from September 1, 2012, until December 31, 2022. On January 2, 2023, he was received as an elder and bishop in The Global Methodist Church.

Mark holds a M. Div. from Asbury Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Shippensburg University. He also holds a graduate certificate in nonprofit management from the University of Connecticut.

He served pastorates at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Mechanicsburg, Pa. from 1994-2007, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Wormleysburg, Pa. from 1991-1994, and Linglestown United Methodist Church from 1989-1991. He served as District Superintendent of the York District of the Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church from 2007-2012.

Mark currently serves as a Trustee of United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.

He received the Harry Denman Evangelism Award in 2002 and in 2018, was named as one of the top 100 leaders by the John C. Maxwell Transformational Leadership Award.

Mark encourages clergy and laity to work together in the development of discipleship pathways that will point people to Jesus Christ and bear fruit for the kingdom of God. He has a passion for Christ-following leadership development, new faith communities and ensuring existing congregations grow in vitality and fulfill the mission of “making disciples of Jesus Christ who worship passionately, love extravagantly and witness boldly”.

He is a native of Williamsport, Pa., and is married to Jodi. Mark and Jodi live in Lititz, PA and have two sons, Tyler, who is married to Lyndsay and Benjamin, who is married to Mary.

Bishop Emeritus Young Jin Cho

Young Jin Cho (Bishop Emeritus) graduated from the Methodist Theological Seminary in Seoul, Korea (Th. B. and Th. M.) and came to the United States in 1979 and continued to study at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. (M. Div. and D. Min.). He was transferred to the Virginia Annual Conference in 1983 and served the Korean UMC of Greater Washington in N. Virginia for 22 years.

During his tenure the church grew into the largest United Methodist congregation in the Virginia Conference measured by worship attendance. In 2005 he was appointed to District Superintendent of the Arlington District, serving in that capacity for 7 years and overseeing the planting of several new faith communities. He was elected and consecrated as Bishop in the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference in 2012. He served the Virginia Annual Conference for four years and retired in 2016. His consistent message had been “No Spiritual Vitality, No vital Congregation.”

In retirement Bishop Emeritus Cho remains engaged in ministry and mission. From 2019 to 2022 he helped three Korean congregations as an interim pastor and has been serving as a co-mentor of the Bishop Cho Scholars (D. Min. Program) at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. He is also involved with Durihana Mission, which works with North Korean refugees in the United States.

Bishop Emeritus Cho has been married to Kiok Cho (Retired Deacon) for 48 years, and they have three adult children, Grace, Sophia and Chris and two grandchildren, Luke and Lily.