An overhaul for the church

The United Methodist Church cannot continue with the status quo if it wants to survive in the 21st century, say the denomination's bishops, who approved yesterday a set of "interventions" that will help break out of "institutional stuckness."

 

They can't do this alone, but they are at least offering leadership on moving forward.

 

In a nutshell, their Call to Action involves:

 

1. helping to develop measurable standards across the church that will break through institutional silos and help hold accountable agencies, the council itself and annual conferences to one another;

 

2. giving priority and energy to youth and young people with the goal of lowering the average age of United Methodist Christians by a decade within a decade (the average age in the U.S. now is 57).

 

3. working toward the elimination of guaranteed appointment for clergy.

 

4. reordering the structure of the church -- including the format and frequency of General Conference -- starting with an operation assessment at all levels.

 

According to the Book of Discipline (Par. 414), bishops are called to lead and oversee the church’s mission, ministry and structure. It's the last part they are moving on, saying the structure should follow the mission, not the other way around.

 

I'll have a full story in an upcoming edition of the Reporter.

 

 

Comments

[Larry]

Actually, the group making the recommendations includes laypersons, general secretaries and bishops. The report was to the Council of Bishops but is the product of members of the Connectional Table and General Secretaries Table, in addition to the Council of Bishops. This is not inconsequential, nor an exercise in turf. If the proposals are to gain traction, they will need to be viewed as the work of a broad group of persons in leadership and/or persons familiar with the church's mission, ministry, structure and budget.

Progress toward reform will also require a broad conversation in addition to broad support. Careful consideration of the mission and ministry of the church in the 21st Century demands nothing less.