photos by Joscie Cutchens and Alyssa Fisher

TORRANCE, Calif. – March 26, 2025 – The General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) of The United Methodist Church gathered from March 16-19, 2025, at Faith United Methodist Church in Torrance, California, for its Spring 2025 Board Meeting. Under the theme “Sacred Resilience, Disciplined Hope,” the meeting focused on addressing urgent social justice issues, strengthening mission efforts, and envisioning the future of advocacy within the denomination.

On Sunday morning, as part of the Board meeting weekend, General Secretary Bishop Julius C. Trimble delivered the sermon, “Does God Answer Prayers?” (Isaiah 58:1-12), at Faith United Methodist Church in Torrance. The church, serving as the host for the Board meeting, is led by Rev. Allison Mark, President of GBCS.

The meeting then commenced with a listening session co-sponsored by the GBCS and the Cal-Pac JCEMT. The Sunday evening event provided board members the opportunity to hear firsthand from individuals and communities affected by the devastating recent wildfires in the LA area. The panel of United Methodists who were directly impacted included Rev. Andre and Heather Wilson of Altadena UMC, Taiann Knetge Forbes, Cameron Forbes, and Matt Knetge (Residents of Altadena). The program also included filmmaker Eric Dyson, member of First Pasadena UMC (Resident of Pasadena) and Rachel Gipson, LCSW, member of Westwood UMC, who spoke about mental health after immense loss. With a focus on reckoning with inequity, rebuilding with justice, the group gathered at Crenshaw United Methodist Church to share experiences and hear how those most impacted can best receive support.
On Monday, March 17, the board’s official business began with opening worship and communion, followed by plenary sessions during which board members engaged in vision-casting and goal-setting exercises along with reports and action planning, facilitated by the Kaleidoscope Institute’s Executive Director Julie Boleyn.

That evening, participants gathered for a Hunger Dinner. A longstanding tradition of the Board, the GBCS Hunger Dinner highlights local needs by serving Board members a simple meal. The funds typically allocated for the meal, along with additional donations from Board members, are then contributed to a designated cause. This year, the donation will support the Cal-Pac Wildfire Funds.

A highlight of the meeting was Tuesday’s field experience, during which members traveled across L.A. to witness the work of United Methodist churches and justice-focused organizations in action. Stops included:

• Baldwin Park United Methodist Church – A welcome center for migrants, where board members met with Pastors Toña and Rafael Rios to learn about the church’s role in providing hospitality and resources to newly arrived individuals and families.
• Altadena United Methodist Church – One of the two UMC congregations that lost their buildings in the recent wildfires, Pastor Rev. Andre Wilson and his spouse, Heather Wilson, discussed their continued sense of loss and hope at the opportunity to rethink “how we can reach the people that really need the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
• La Plaza United Methodist Church & Museum of Social Justice – Located at the historic Old Los Angeles Plaza, board members met with Domenica Castillo, Executive Director of the Museum of Social Justice, La Plaza’s Rev. Frank Wulf and Rev. Jennifer Gutierrez, the Executive Director of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE) a regional interfaith organization advocating for economic justice.

The board reconvened on Wednesday, March 19, for its closing worship, featuring Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank’s sermon on “Signs” from Matthew 16:1-4, Resident Bishop of the Los Angeles Episcopal area, and final plenary sessions, where committees presented reports and ongoing initiatives were solidified.

As the General Board of Church and Society continues its mission, this gathering in Los Angeles reinforced the vital role of community engagement, policy advocacy, and church-based action in addressing the pressing social justice challenges of our time.

About the General Board of Church and Society
The General Board of Church and Society is the social justice agency of The United Methodist Church, advocating for peace and justice in the church and the world. Rooted in the denomination’s Wesleyan commitment to social holiness, GBCS works to advance policies and initiatives that promote dignity, equity, and sustainability.
For more information, visit www.umcjustice.org.