Call to Action: Not Just About the Legislation

“The most important changes will not result from legislative action but require different actions and patterns of leadership by bishops, clergy and laity in their conferences.  These changes must be grounded deeply in the spiritual disciplines of prayer and fasting.”

                       For the Sake of a New World, We See a New Church
                                           Council of Bishops, November 1, 2011


For months, leaders supportive of the Call to Action have said “It’s not just about the legislation.”  But for two weeks at General Conference, it WAS about the legislation, primarily Plan UMC.
 
While Plan UMC was a substitute for the Connectional Table’s original legislation, it did maintain a strong governance board and executive general secretary to give oversight to the work of the general agencies. This was in keeping with the Call to Action recommendation to “consolidate program and administrative agencies, align their work and resources with the priorities of the Church and the decade-long commitment to build vital congregations.”

Plan UMC passed by a vote of 567 to 384, a 60% majority. There’s no question that Judicial Council Decision 1210 came as a disappointing blow, proclaiming Plan UMC unconstitutional. 

But another expressed desire of Call to Action supporters was to at least come away from General Conference with some movement toward the directions proposed by the Interim Operations Team.  So did we?

The Call to Action lifted up the need for recruitment and training of young clergy, and recommended a shift in our resources to support this action.  Result at General Conference: Delegates approved two new line items in the World Service Fund, establishing a new $5 million fund for theological education in central conferences and allocating $7 million to recruit and train young clergy in the United States.

Another goal of the Call to Action was to support legislation proposed by the Ministry Study Commission regarding guaranteed appointments.  This was passed, providing for the following actions:

• Bishops and cabinets will be allowed to give elders less than full-time appointment.
• With approval of their cabinets, boards of ordained ministry and annual conference’s executive session, bishops and their cabinets could put elders on unpaid transitional leave up to 24 months. Clergy on transitional leave would be able to participate in their conference health program through their own contributions. 
• Each annual conference is asked to name a task force to develop a list of criteria to guide the cabinets and bishops as they make missional appointments. 
• The cabinets shall report to the executive committees of boards of ordained ministry the number of clergy without full-time appointments and their age, gender and ethnicity.Cabinets will also report their learning as appointment making is conducted in this new manner.

Reform of the Council of Bishops was another recommendation highlighted in the Call to Action. While the COB’s own legislation to allow for a full-time president received 55% of the vote, but not the required two-thirds for the constitutional amendment, the Council of Bishops made an important decision in their meeting preceding General Conference. Retired bishops will now meet with the COB only once a year; active bishops will focus on the adaptive challenge at their spring meeting.

And what about the Adaptive Challenge “to redirect the flow of attention, energy and resources to an intense concentration on fostering and sustaining an increase in the number of vital congregations effective in making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world?”  Congregations across the world were invited to set goals for the 2013-16 quadrennium. Seventy-three percent of our congregations submitted goals, committing to engage 3.8 million disciples in mission, give $3.6 billion to mission, and double the number of vital congregations.

Tiny steps towards the Call to Action proposals?  Perhaps. But for me they stand as signs of hope that move us toward a new church, for the sake of a new world.
 
The 2012 General Conference proved more than ever that “important changes will not result from legislative actions.” Beyond the hopes many of us had for creating significant change in how we do business and order our lives together are many complex, systemic issues which have caused deep divisions.

May we enter into a season of prayer, discernment and healing as we seek God’s leading into a future with hope. And that hope is built on nothing less than our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Finding True North

Jesus said to his disciples, “let us sail across the lake” (Luke 8:22). And he and his disciples set sail into the wind and the waves.

This is where we find our beloved United Methodist Church.  We are launching into strong head winds and challenging waters.  Yet, we have a divine vision and a true north that I believe will lead us safely to a new harbor.  As Bishop John Schol shared with us on Monday night, no matter what the legislative decisions made by the 2012 General Conference, change and transformation is already underway. 

At this General Conference, 72 United Methodist conferences representing 27,000 congregations around the world set discipleship goals in five key areas:

1. Make new disciples
2. Praise God in worship
3. Grow through small groups
4. Engage in mission in our communities and around the world
5. Give generously to mission

These commitments represent our future. In four years, these goals translate into an increase in worship attendance to 3.6 million people; nearly 800,000 new disciples; 443,952 small groups; engaging 806,770 disciples in mission teams; giving $3.6 billion to the missional needs in our communities and around the world; and we will double the number of vital congregations.

Imagine what would happen across the church if we got 100% participation in the goal setting.  These disciple-making congregations are God's instruments of transformation in the church and world! Please visit www.umvitalcongregations.org to learn more about this effort.

Bishop John Schol and the Rev. Amy Valdez Barker will be speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, May 2, 2012 at 1:30 p.m. in the General Conference Press Room to further discuss the statistics and the goals of the Vital Congregations Initiative. (The GC Press Room is open to credentialed media representatives only.)

Do We Believe It Is Possible?

Four years ago, we stood before the 2008 General Conference talking about shared vision and a unified direction for The United Methodist Church.  We didn't know what it would look like or what it would be called, but we all felt the need and urgency to make changes to ensure the relevancy of The UMC in the world moving forward.

As I listened to the Call to Action presentation last night at the 2012 General Conference, I am reassured that God's loving presence and wisdom has been a part of this journey for the Church.  One of the most important questions presenter Adam Hamilton, senior pastor of the Church of the Resurrection and member of the Interim Operations Team, asked was: "Do we believe it is possible?"

I simply say yes.

This quadrennium we have seen the great minds of the denomination come together, engage each other in heart to heart conversations and holy conferencing.  We agreed to disagree at times while still finding ways to pursue the ultimate goal of creating lasting positive change for the denomination.

Connectional Table Member, Benjamin Boruff, described a road map to start the change process:

1. A 10-year focus to create and sustain vital congregations;
2. Annual Conferences organize themselves to create and sustain vital congregations;
3. To ensure that our denominational boards are working together, in a nimble, responsive and streamlined structure; and
4. To raise up a new generation of Christian leaders.

No matter where you land on the spectrum of support for the Call to Action plan or the Connectional Table legislation, we can all agree that change is needed.  Because of the sincerity and care taken by the members of the Connectional Table in this evolution process, I'm certain we have already started a new paradigm in the life of The UMC. The conversations we have had over the past four years have changed us all.  The nature in which we have come together around mission, money and vision has taken us into a new phase of
operating as the church.  No matter how the denomination chooses to vote, I am grateful to have been a part of  the process and I simply say thanks to all of you who have struggled with these important issues on behalf of the denomination.

Twenty years from now, the General Conference of 2032 will look back at this time and I hope they recognize it as the turning point which led to renewed vitality within The United Methodist Church.

A Response to the Statement by the Africa United Methodist Movement

The Africa United Methodist Student Movement issued a statement in response to the Connectional Table's legislation on restructuring the general agencies. Click here to read their statement (PDF).

Two students, Ben Boruff and Rev. Amy Valdez Barker, who have served on the Call to Action Steering Team, responded to their statement. Their response is posted below.


Mr. Albert Otshudi Longe, Interim President
Student Representative Council
Africa University

Dear Mr. Longe,

Greetings of peace in the name of Christ!

We want to express our appreciation for the important points you raised in the statement responding to the Connectional Table proposal to restructure the general agencies, and offer some clarifications and alternative young people’s perspectives.

One of the most important clarifications we must make is that no portion of the proposal suggests reducing or eliminating current agency programs in Africa. Rather, the proposal is a first step toward creating a more effective governance structure that will allow us to increase and better coordinate our programmatic focus on fostering and sustaining vital congregations, including support for the growing church in Africa.

We have witnessed how our current systems can sometimes act as obstacles in our mission to make disciples of Christ for the transformation of the world. Our commitment to the Four Areas of Focus—combating the diseases of poverty by improving health globally, engaging in ministry with the poor, creating new places for new people, and developing principled Christian leaders—is constricted by an outdated structure. Globalization and technology are shaping the framework of our communities, and the United Methodist Church must adapt. The general level of our church is crucial to the connectional aspects of our denomination, and the connection is a key tool with which local communities can create vital congregations. Without an effective structure, our connection will struggle to meet the needs of those in our communities. We agree with your assessment that we need to develop new strategies for evangelism and expansion of the ministry of Christ. We also feel that these new strategies, together with a more coordinated structure, will help us create more vital congregations for the Kingdom of God.

We are encouraged by the CT’s proposal to establish an Advisory Committee on Ministries with Young People that will include three members who will sit on the proposed General Council for Strategy and Oversight (GCSO). The Advisory Committee will be made up of 54 young people from across the UMC, with seven youths and seven young adults from central conferences as well as three central conference adults. In addition, there are five seats for additional members which could be central conference members. The Advisory Committee will work alongside the GCSO and gives a strong voice to young people throughout the denomination. In addition, the GCSO continues the model of the current Connectional Table with a seat for a representative from each central conference. As young people, we appreciate the openness with which the proposed structures—one constituency-based group and one task-based group—will hear our voices and the intentionality with which they will respond.

The current representational model of our general church is not the only way to ensure diversity within our denominational leadership. Through a system of accountability and oversight, the recommendations ensure that the voices of all United Methodists, including young people, will be heard, and they offer a system with which these voices can make an effective impact. We don’t view this proposal as following only a corporate or “industrial” model of governance, but rather, a model that brings all of our current programmatic and administrative functions together into one coordinated body that can better serve the body of Christ. Our vision is that this unified body will free up more resources (staff, money, etc.) to be allocated toward the expansion of programs such as evangelism, leadership development and church growth.

Lastly, we must acknowledge the stark realities about the UMC in the United States when we talk about sustaining general church programs. Currently, the local churches in the United States fund most of the work of the general agencies through apportionment giving. The church in the US continues to grow older and membership is declining rapidly. Our current structure is not financially sustainable in the long-term. Therefore, this restructuring proposal is one of several recommendations by the Call to Action that seek to change some structural aspects, but more importantly, cultural aspects of our church to bring focus on increasing and sustaining the number of vital congregations in order to reverse the current trend of rapid decline. We believe this proposal will lead us toward a healthy, vital, missional church, which will continue to offer the much-needed support to the growing church in Africa.

In Christ,

Ben Boruff, Indiana University student, Connectional Table member and original member of the Call to Action Steering Team

Rev. Amy Valdez Barker, doctoral student at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and original member of the Call to Action Steering Team

A Closer Look at Connectional Table Legislation

The 2012 General Conference begins in less than two weeks! In preparation for our time together, the Connectional Table has prepared three briefing papers which take a closer look at three key points in proposed legislation to fulfill to the goal of creating vital congregations effective in making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Click on the titles below to read the PDF versions of these resources.

The UMC Non-Residential President of the Council of Bishops (COB) PDF

The proposed constitutional amendment calls for the President of the COB to be relieved of residential responsibilities during the time of holding office; the term would be increased from two to four years. The president would also be designated as the Ecumenical Officer of the COB. This briefing document explains the key role of the President of the Council of Bishops and the benefits to the church.

More Effective General Church Program Support by Consolidating Several Boards for Governance and Executive Administration PDF

The Connectional Table proposes to consolidate nine program and administrative agencies into one organization. The new Center for Connectional Mission and Ministry (CCMM) would be governed by a diverse and representative board of 15 directors. This briefing document outlines the proposed changes and the benefits of a smaller governing board.

An Increase in the Number of Vital Congregations PDF

This briefing document explores the Key Drivers of Vital Congregations, the importance of measuring vitality and how proposed Connectional Table legislation is critical in fulfilling the mission to create vital congregations over the next 10 years.

I invite you to review the documents and share them with your annual conference and church leaders as well as members of your delegation. More information is also available at www.umccalltoaction.org.

As Easter people in the service of the Risen Christ, may we be open to the Spirit’s leading! Please join me in daily prayers for the 2012 General Conference and United Methodist Church.

An Open Letter to the 2012 General Conference Delegates

The Rev. Adam Hamilton, along with 85 other United Methodist pastors, issued an open letter to the 2102 General Conference delegates expressing their support for the Connectional Table legislation stemming from the recommendations of the Call to Action work. They invite United Methodist clergy and laity to read and sign the letter also.

The letter begins:

“We are local church pastors and leaders in the United Methodist Church writing in support of the legislation being proposed by the Connectional Table related to the Call to Action. We love the church and want her to have a “future with hope.” We believe that the downward trends in church membership, attendance and giving will accelerate in the years ahead. If we do nothing, our church will be half the size she is today in twenty years. Now is the time for action.”

To date, the letter has so far garnered more than 1,700 signatures. We invite you to read this letter and consider signing it.

Read and Sign the Letter

Remember the Future: 30 Days of Preparation

In a little more than three weeks, United Methodists around the world will gather together in Tampa, Fla. for the 2012 General Conference. It has been quite a journey to get to this point in our collective history. I would like to recommend a new resource by Bishop Robert Schnase, "Remember the Future: 30 Days of Preparation" as we prepare to engage in holy conferencing to address the challenging issues facing our denomination. According to the blog, "these daily meditations explore the hope, purpose, leadership and making of disciples of Jesus Christ. "

Click here to sign up for these 30 days of inspirational messages.

Bishop Robert Schnase reminds us that General Conference is only one mechanism to help us reach our true destination, one with no walls. It's a spiritual destination where we have more profound connections with God and build up vital congregations to minister to a hurting world.

Excerpt from March 27, 2012: "The mission is not ours; it is God’s. The invitation is not ours; it is Christ’s. It’s not about us. It’s about God’s mission in Christ and how we embody that in our churches, and for that it makes sense for us to work to have as many vital, effective, fruitful congregations as possible. Otherwise, we will never reach the destination." Click here to read more of the blog post by Bishop Robert Schnase.