wfn.org | Connectional Issues Emerging

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (451
notes).

Note 451 by UMNS on Nov. 11, 1997 at 16:30 Eastern (3011 characters).

CONTACT: Thomas S. McAnally			  639(10-71B){451}
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470	Nov. 11, 1997

Connectional Process Team identifies emerging
themes after hearing bishops, agency executives

	LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. (UMNS) –- Following conversations with individuals and
groups throughout the church, members of a United Methodist Connectional
Process Team have begun to identify emerging themes that they plan to pursue
in the months ahead.
	The 38-member group was created by the 1996 General Conference to manage,
guide and promote a "transformational direction" for the United Methodist
Church and make recommendations to the next General Conference in the year
2000.
	After meeting here early in November with the Council of Bishops and
separately with the top staff executives of churchwide boards and agencies,
the team identified nine initial themes in no order of importance:
· "a clear articulation of a vision for the church;
· "an awareness of strengthening the body of Christ in all structures and
settings;
· "a movement from representative to participatory connectionalism;
· "empowerment and accountability of laity;
· "role, support and accountability of clergy;
· "role of episcopal leadership;
· "global/regional autonomy;
· "an organizational form that follows function."
	Bishop Sharon Brown Christopher, Springfield, Ill., chairwoman of the team,
said the identification of themes here does not rule out the addition of
others in the future.
	While the team has been asked by the General Conference to make
recommendations concerning organizational forms, it has resisted being pushed
quickly into a restructuring mode.  It has agreed that whatever the church
looks like beyond the year 2000, form must follow function and mission.
	The team hopes to have its report and recommendations completed in 1999,
leading up to the General Conference in Cleveland, Ohio, April 2-12, 2000.
	Purpose of the meetings with bishops and staff executives, according to
Christopher, was to "glean their understanding of the current situation of the
United Methodist Church and their vision that will contribute to a vital
church for the 21st century."
	The CPT has outlined a listening process across the church to seek the vision
to which God is calling the church.  The plan calls for listening to
congregations and reviewing the work of the Connectional Issues Study Task
force related to the General Council on Ministries and the Global Nature of
the Church study conducted by the Council of Bishops.
	The team also plans to listen to ecumenical bodies such as the World
Methodist Council and the Council of Evangelical Methodist Churches of Latin
America (CIEMAL).  Even people unrelated to the church will be heard,
according to Christopher.
	Next meeting of the team will be Jan. 22-26 at Epworth by the Sea, a
church-owned assembly at St. Simons Island, Ga.  Another meeting is scheduled
for July 10-12, but no location has been determined.
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