Our Canadian General Conference is coming up in April 2027, and one of the business actions that typically takes place is the conducting of an affirmation vote for the incumbent bishop. This occurs if the sitting bishop is willing to serve the next term, and if the Board of Administration (BOA) has determined that the incumbent bishop is suitable for serving another term (Manual P860). A General Conference vote of a minimum 75% approval is required for the incumbent bishop to serve another term. If the incumbent bishop does not receive a General Conference vote of a minimum 75% approval, a Bishop Leadership Task Force is initiated.
The BOA has reviewed our current bishop’s Performance Appraisal and has evaluated other relevant information. Based on that assessment, the BOA believes Bishop Linda Adams is well positioned to serve another term, and that it would be in the denomination’s best interest to have her continue in her role for another three years. After prayerful consideration and discernment, Bishop Adams has indicated a willingness to serve a second term for the FMCIC.
While it has generally been the practice to hold bishop affirmation votes at our triennial General Conference, the BOA will arrange an online vote early in 2027, concordant with our previous bishop affirmation vote and our last bishop election. A pre-conference affirmation vote with a positive outcome will give reassurances to our incumbent bishop and her staff going into General Conference, and will prevent bishop vote-related distractions at General Conference. If the pre-conference affirmation vote has a negative outcome, there will be sufficient time to have a Bishop Leadership Task Force struck and underway by General Conference which would signal a new direction.
The BOA is aware of, and is working toward managing, some atypical circumstances associated with this recommendation. Bishop Adams’ Canadian work permit renewal process will be underway shortly but our immigration lawyer advises us that we may not know the outcome of that renewal process before the General Conference affirmation vote. In the unlikely event that the work permit is denied, the affirmation vote will be withdrawn and the BOA will set in place an interim bishop arrangement while proceeding with a Bishop Leadership Task Force to elect a new bishop.
Bishop Adams has indicated to the BOA that she and her husband, John, believe that her willingness to serve another term is God-honouring, and that she is fully committed to the FMCIC. However, she has requested that her working logistics be adjusted to accommodate her family’s desire to have John and her relocate to Virginia in the coming weeks to be closer to their grandchildren. Bishop Adams would continue to meet all in-person obligations of the Bishop’s job requirements across Canada and internationally, but most of her in-office work (telephone and online communications, video conferencing, training and counseling, hosting and attending virtual meetings, her own spiritual, devotional, and educational development) would be done at her home office in Virginia. The BOA has discussed the details of these logistics with Bishop Adams and we are satisfied that a feasible and efficacious arrangement can be made.
We invite all members of our FMCIC to join us in prayer over these matters and for continued Spirit-led guidance, and ask members of Conference to be prepared to participate in the online bishop affirmation vote. If you have any questions on any of this, please reach out to the BOA chair, Dave Kreutzweiser or any other BOA member.
