wfn.org | Methodist leaders prepare for 21st century

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
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Note 419 by UMNS on Oct. 30, 1997 at 16:18 Eastern (4509 characters).

CONTACT:	Ralph E. Baker						  605(10-71B){417}
		Nashville, Tenn.  (615) 742-5470			Oct. 29, 1997

Church leaders focus attention 
on God’s vision for 21st century

by Robert Lear*

     PITTSBURGH (UMNS) -- Seeking a glimpse of "God's preferred future" for
the United Methodist Church in the 21st century, 100 leaders of the
denomination gathered here Oct. 24-25 to explore visions of mission and
ministry.
    "We are here to focus our attention on sharing dreams about what is God's
vision for our church," Bishop J. Woodrow Hearn, Houston, president of the
denomination’s General Council on Ministries (GCOM) said.  "Vision is God's
preferred future."
    The consultation was called by GCOM, the denomination's top program
coordination and evaluation body.  In addition to lay and clergy directors of
GCOM, participants included top officials of 13 of the denomination's national
agencies, five racial/ethnic caucuses and two special General Conference
groups.
    By the time the consultation ended scores of comments had been recorded
focused on "what is God calling the United Methodist Church to be in the 21st
century?" "What are the realities of the world where we are to live out God's
vision for us?" "What will enable the United Methodist Church to move forward
toward the accomplishment of God's vision for us?"
    In preparation for the session here each of the church’s national agencies
was asked to complete an "input guide" dealing with questions such as what
would it take to accomplish your vision for the church in 2010, and "what
communication processes would you suggest for the future?"  Each agency also
was asked to design a page advertisement suitable for a national daily
newspaper.
    Among other uses, the material generated here will be made available to a
Connectional Process Team created by the 1996 General Conference.  That panel
already has concluded that nothing short of a basic shift in thinking is
required for the denomination to be faithful and effective beyond the year
2000.  Recommendations will be made to General Conference that year.
   Discussion here on each of the topics was fueled by a series of "prophetic
voices."  The consultation's design also provided frequent musical interludes
and breaks for creative "play" with "toys" on each of the participants' tables
such as crayons, balloons, noisemakers, pens and modeling clay.
   Typically, a youthful "prophetic voice" said "I want something to keep me
[in the church], something that explains to me why it is important." Another,
drawing on a sports analogy, asserted "the church today does not have the home
field advantage" where youth are concerned.
    An adult voice raised the question whether "God is calling the United
Methodist Church to be something apart from other churches."  One suggested
three "basic crises facing the church -- identity, faith and marketing," while
another said present structures are too rigid -- "no flexibility."
    On another topic, a prophetic voice asked whether the church can begin to
think coherently together as a movement?  "We live in a day when everything is
being contested by everyone."
    A need to coordinate planning was suggested:  "It's like we can never get
the main circus tent up because we are continually distracted by turf
sideshows."  Another voice said the church too often "sends out diffused
messages to preserve our institutions. ... In a post modern world we have to
find a path toward working together."
    There are people who believe in the amazing grace of God and the church,
the consultation was reminded.  Spiritual discipline, bible study and worship
was cited as essential to "scriptural holiness." 
    A sampling of comments from participants includes:  "People of the church
need to move to a new state of being.  . . .  We need to be a church that is
not afraid of doing the right thing.  . . . A lot of people turn away from the
church because they don't see a God who is good but one who wants to do us in.
 . . .  I feel a sadness that we are doing a little about a lot of things, but
not a lot about anything.  . . . It is time to be real.  . . . Let us
celebrate what we are doing."
    One voice, while looking to the future, took the present into
account: "Let us do well what we are doing while we wait for a new way of
doing."

#  #  #

	* Lear is retired director of the Washington office of United Methodist News
Service now living in Wernersville, Pa.

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