LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (February 4, 2026)—Registration is now open for the Northwest Arkansas Methodist Lawyers Conference, a new, free continuing legal education event sponsored by the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas (MFA). The day-long, in-person conference is set for Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville.
Organizers have applied for the conference’s content to qualify for Continuing Legal Education credit through the Arkansas Supreme Court Office of Professional Programs.
This event expands the reach established by MFA’s annual Methodist lawyers gathering in Little Rock, which has long provided free continuing legal education for the Arkansas legal community. The topics covered in the Fayetteville-based program are different from those offered at the Little Rock event, providing an additional source of CLE credit each year.
Registration for the Northwest Arkansas Methodist Lawyers Conference is available on the Foundation’s website and will remain open through March 30. The agenda includes:
| 8:30 a.m. | Welcome & Opening Prayer – Rev. J. Wayne Clark, MFA President & CEO; Rev. Jennie Williams, Senior Pastor of Central UMC |
| 8:45 a.m. | Handling Matters Before the United Methodist Judicial Council – Bill Waddell, Vice President, United Methodist Judicial Council |
| 9:45 a.m. | Title to Church Property and The Revised Uniform Unincorporated Nonprofit Association Act – Tony Hilliard |
| 10:45 a.m. | Break |
| 11:00 a.m. | Church Guidance on Immigration Issues – David Lee |
| 12:00 p.m. | Lunch provided by MFA |
| 1:00 p.m. | Panel Discussion: Church Adoption/Merger – District Superintendent Rev. Roy Beth Kelley, NW District Chancellor Dalton Person, and CUMC Council President Todd Lewis |
| 2:00 p.m. | Employment Issues for Local Churches – Kerri Kobbeman |
| 3:00 p.m. | Break |
| 3:15 p.m. | Ethically and Legally Funding Ministries Outside of Tithes and Offerings – Tony Hilliard |
| 4:15 p.m. | Ethics: Seven Deadly Sins, Lawyers’ Edition – Professor Howard Brill |
| 5:15 p.m. | Celebration of Holy Communion – Rev. Roy Beth Kelley |
“The Foundation is so grateful for the community of attorneys that has helped bring about this expansion of our continuing legal education events,” said MFA President & CEO the Rev. J. Wayne Clark. “Those who use their legal expertise to serve churches need to be as prepared as possible, and MFA is pleased to offer this conference to help equip them for that work. And expanding to northwest Arkansas helps us reach even more legal professionals, broadening the legal resource base for local churches statewide.”
Register for the Northwest AR Lawyers Conference
About the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas
With a mission to establish and manage charitable funds to strengthen and expand Methodist ministries across Arkansas, the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas manages over $260 million in endowment funds and other charitable assets that benefit local churches and other United Methodist ministries. Founded in 1963, the Foundation has grown into one of the largest United Methodist foundations in the country, managing more than 800 funds that support Methodist ministries. To learn more, visit methodistfoundationAR.org.
