Staying in touch at General Conference: UM pastor uses nightly conference calls to keep connected

By Jessica Brodie

PORTLAND, Ore.—One General Conference alternate delegate has a unique way of staying connected to her church back home.

The Rev. Telley Lynnette Gadson pastors St. Mark United Methodist Church in Taylors, South Carolina, and she has scheduled a time of prayer via conference call every night with different ministries of her church. 

The “Prayer Time Partnership with Pastor T” started May 9 (her travel day) with a 7 a.m. call with her lay servants. Calls resumed May 10 with a 9 p.m. call with her children and youth team, and then every night with the other key church ministries — from young adults to older adults to the choir and more. They will end  May 21.

“Connection is essential, not only to our denominational work, but for the partnership of pastor and congregation,” Gadson said.  With me being such a hands-on spiritual coach, I needed to be in touch and in tune with those I have been called to serve.”

This is not the first time Gadson has connected with her church this way. As a member of the 2012 delegation, she implemented this system with her former church, St. Mark United Methodist Church in Sumter.  

“It proved to be extremely beneficial in maintaining the continuity of our relational work,” Gadson said.

Jessica Brodie is the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate. Follow her on Twitter @jessicajbrodie or connect with the Advocate at www.advocatesc.org or @AdvocateSC.


Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now
Social Concerns
Retired Bishop Peggy A. Johnson. Photo courtesy of the author.

Remembering who we are amid US budget fight

United Methodists should remember their Wesleyan heritage and seek to defend the marginalized people being targeted in the federal budget, writes retired Bishop Peggy Johnson.
Church Leadership
Participants in the 2025 United Methodist Church Deacons Gathering sing during opening worship at the Upper Room Chapel in Nashville, Tenn. From left are the Rev. Shannon Howard, the Rev. Tina Marie Rees, the Rev. Sherry Brady and Candace Brady. A focus of the event was deacons’ new sacramental authority approved at last year’s General Conference. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Deacons explore new sacramental authority

United Methodist deacons are discussing best practices now that General Conference has approved their new responsibility to preside at baptism and communion “when contextually appropriate.”
Church Leadership
The Rev. Dr. Darryl W. Stephens. Photo by Brian Tolbert.

Deacons serve diverse, specialized roles

The role of the deacon is gaining visibility and importance, but what do we really know about this ministry?

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2025 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved