Changes Afoot

This coming Tuesday the United Methodist General Conference opens in Tampa, Florida. I doubt that the Post will cover it closely.  Even though United Methodist membership in the United States has declined 29% since 1968,  we are a major American church and a growing worldwide denomination that will consider several important and controversial issues.

Close to a thousand United Methodists from all over the world will gather for two weeks of work and worship.  Our own Virginia Conference is sending 26 delegates, equally divided between clergy and laity.

Most delegates have come to realize that the status quo is unsustainable, but obviously views differ on how to change it. Several key items are worth tracking.

A “Call to Action” initiative aims to restructure the denomination’s agencies for ministry. A proposed “United Methodist Center for Connectional Mission and Ministry” would combine the functions of nine current agencies into a far more centralized organization.  The membership of the governing boards would shrink from more than 400 people to 15.  Proponents believe the future organization would be “more nimble, cost-effective and focused,” while opponents fear it would minimize opportunities for racial and ethnic diversity befitting an international church.

The other key proposal would eliminate guaranteed appointments – also known as “security of appointment” – for ordained elders. Guaranteed appointments were introduced in 1956 as a way to protect the rights of women clergy, which the UMC began ordaining that year.  It has been in effect since then as a covenant of mutual commitment between clergy and the denomination. Many fear that eliminating this provision puts clergy at the arbitrary mercy of Bishops and Cabinets without adequate recourse.  Others believe that the church has been forced to rotate ineffective clergy for too long, to the detriment of local congregations, and that eliminating this guarantee encourages excellence in clergy leadership.

Another proposal would create a “set-aside bishop,” one who would lead the full Council of Bishops without having to simultaneously lead a geographical region of Methodists. Some feel this would allow the church to give more attention to national and global issues and to speak with a single, clearer voice.  Opponents fear it would shift too much power to bishops.

Other proposals will address various ethnic initiatives and shifts in representation to the worldwide church; a denominational budget for 2013-2016; changes to clergy pensions that would shift more of the risks in retirement preparation from annual conferences to individual clergy; and consideration of alternative wordings in the United Methodist Book of Discipline. Most observers predict that proposals to change the denomination’s stance on homosexuality, for example, will be offered but will not pass.

Other proposals will suggest changes to policies regarding membership, administration, property, and judicial proceedings. Revisions to The Book of Resolutions and the Social Principles will reflect current wisdom on how best to be faithful to the call of Christ in the 21^st century.

You can watch the proceedings of General Conference with live streaming of worship and conference sessions — and news stories, photos and videos will be available. You can learn more by going to <http://gc2012.umc.org>. Please keep our leaders and our denominational structures in your prayers in the days to come.

Pastor Larry