12/7/2013 (Map)
THE WORLDWIDE NATURE
OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH STUDY COMMITTEE
PROPOSAL CONCERNING
THE STRUCTURE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
STUDY GUIDE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
United Methodists Around the World……………………………… Page 2
Introduction and Basic Recommendations………………………..
3
Overview………………………………………………………………
4
First Session: General Conference, Jurisdictions, and
Central Conferences………………………………………………..
5
Second Session: The Book of Discipline………………………….
6
Third Session: Boards, Agencies, and Finances…………………
9
Fourth Session: Education of Clergy and Laity;
The Proposal as a Whole………………………………………….
11
Questionnaire…………………………………………………………
13
Appendices
1. Definitions of United Methodist Terms………………………….
2. Listing of Boards and Agencies of The UMC………………….
3. The WWNUMC’s “What We Heard”……………………………
4. The WWNUMC’S Proposed Model…………………………….,
1
15
16
18
23
Membership of The United Methodist Church
By Jurisdiction or Central Conference
(2009)
Jurisdictions in the United States
North Central
Northeastern
South Central
Southeastern
Western
1,346,180
1,329,181
1,739,946
2,894,485
365,793
Central Conferences outside the United States
African Central
Central/Southern Europe
Congo
German
Northern Europe and Eurasia
Philippines
West Africa
450,695
16,162
2,231,726
32,305
15,293
145,642
1,508,696
2
THE WORLDWIDE NATURE
OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Background: The World Wide Nature of the Church Study Committee was
appointed by the 2008 General Conference to bring legislation to the 2012
General Conference that would facilitate the church living more fully into its
worldwide nature. In order to accomplish its task the study committee asked
each Central Conference to create a “listening post” where the committee could
hear Central Conference perspectives. The committee also consulted with
affiliated autonomous churches, united churches, and ecumenical bodies. A
summary of what was heard can be found in the “What We Heard” document
presented to the 2012 General Conference, and included on pages 17-21 of this
study guide. Portions of the committee’s work were adopted by the 2012
General Conference, with the major proposal of the committee regarding church
structure going to the Connectional Table, where it is now being considered. The
study committee also recommended that its proposal be studied by groups
throughout the connection, with the results of these studies being sent to the
Connectional Table. The Table will consider the responses to the study, along
with its own study, and determine what if any legislative proposals shall be
brought to the 2016 General Conference concerning the world wide structure of
The United Methodist Church.
Your participation in the study group is a very important part of this process.
Thank you for your prayerful and thoughtful consideration of the issues.
BASIC RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PROPOSAL
1. THAT THE UNITED STATES BECOME A CENTRAL CONFERENCE
2. THAT FOR REASONS SUCH AS LANGUAGE OR GEOGRAPHIC SIZE,
ANY CENTRAL CONFERENCE MAY CREATE JURISDICTIONS
WITHIN ITS BOUNDARIES.
3. THAT THE BOOK OF DISCIPLINE BE DIVIDED INTO TWO, WITH
VOLUME I APPLICABLE TO ALL CENTRAL CONFERENCES AND
VOLUME II LOCAL TO EACH CENTRAL CONFERENCE.
4. THAT SOME BOARDS AND AGENCIES REMAIN GLOBAL, AND
OTHERS BECOME LOCAL, WITH REPLICATIONS OF THE LOCAL
BOARDS OR AGENCIES IN CENTRAL CONFERENCES OR
GEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS OF CENTRAL CONFERENCES
3
OVERVIEW OF STUDY PROCESS
First Meeting: The current structure of The UMC, problems raised concerning
that structure. The focus is on General Conference.
Second Meeting: Continue discussion begun in Week I, with particular focus on
The Book of Discipline.
Third Meeting: Issues concerning problems within existing boards and agencies,
and within the financial structure of the church.
Fourth Meeting: Education for clergy and laity. Consideration of the proposal of
the WWNUMC study committee in relation to your own considerations. Send
results of your study to The Connectional Table.
4
FIRST SESSION: GENERAL CONFERENCE, JURISDICTIONS, AND
CENTRAL CONFERENCES
To the Leader: Begin the meeting by emphasizing the importance of the study to
the whole church, and presenting the four main aspects of the proposal as given
on page 2 of this study.
To the Class: Turn to the “What We Heard” document beginning on page 17 of
this study guide. Read Section I (“Issues Raised Concerning General
Conference”), and Section VI (“Issues Concerning Pan-Connectionalism”).
Discuss the issues listed below. Then consider the resolutions proposed by the
WWNUMC Study Committee.
Global Relevance for General Conference: Of the 988 delegates at the 2012
General Conference, 606 (61.3%) were from the US, 372 (37.7%) from Central
Conferences, and 10 from Concordat Churches. Most of the agenda, however,
dealt with issues generated by the US churches. Little time is devoted to issues
arising specifically from Central Conferences, even though the number of Central
Conference delegates increases each quadrennium, and the number of U.S.
delegates decreases. The 2016 General Conference will be reduced in size from
988 delegates to 864. The United States will have 504 delegates (58.3%) and the
Central Conferences, 350 (40.5%). Ten spaces are reserved for representatives
from affiliated churches.
The primary work of the General Conference is legislative action concerning
proposed changes to the Book of Discipline; the GC also devotes some time to
the mission of The UMC. Should the priority be reversed?
PROPOSALS MADE BY THE WWNUMC STUDY COMMITTEE
1. The United Methodist Church shall be composed of Central Conferences,
each of which is responsible to General Conference. The United States
shall be a Central Conference. There shall be parity among all Central
Conferences, including the right to form Jurisdictions where geographic
size or language differences make such Jurisdictions practical. Central
Conferences shall be decision-making bodies for initiatives, programs, and
matters related to their particular missional contexts.
2. Central Conferences shall meet either as a single Central Conference or
as a continental grouping of Central Conferences in conjunction with
General Conference. Central Conference meetings in conjunction with
General Conference shall be either before or after General Conference,
possibly with a four day meeting prior to GC, and a single day following
GC.
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3. General Conference shall meet for a period of five days for the purpose of
receiving reports from Central Conferences, considering legislation for
Volume I of the Book of Discipline, and determining matters of the
Church’s mission and ministry throughout the world.
Discuss: How does the Study Committee's proposal address the problems
raised? What improvements would you make to the Committee's
proposal?
6
SECOND SESSION: THE BOOK OF DISCIPLINE
Prior to the meeting, each member should read Section III (“Issues Raised
Concerning the Book of Discipline”) and Section IV (“Issues Raised Concerning
the Social Principles”) from the “What We Heard” document beginning on page
17 of this study guide.
Discuss the issues listed below. Then consider the resolutions proposed by the
WWNUMC Study Committee.
The Book of Discipline: Global or Local?
The primary work of General Conference involves legislative changes to The
Book of Discipline. Some requirements of The Book of Discipline, such as those
concerning educational standards for ordained ministry, are problematic in large
areas of the global church where access to theological education is greatly
restricted. Other items in The Book of Discipline relate primarily to U.S. culture.
General Conference has designated that certain paragraphs may be adapted by
Central Conferences to better suit their own cultures and circumstances. But
there is no formal mechanism by which the whole church learns of the
adaptations made by the Central Conferences.
Issue: We need a Book of Discipline that is applicable to the whole
church. Given variations due to Central Conference adaptations, we
need a way to maintain connectional relations at the level of the
Book of Discipline across cultures, learning from one another’s ways
of adapting the Book of Discipline to local culture.
The Social Principles: Universal or Particular?
The Social Principles were originally adopted in 1908; they grew out of social
justice concerns about exploitive and unsafe labor practices existing in the United
States at that time. Over the next century the Principles evolved, with some
dropped, others added, and adaptations made as deemed necessary. Every four
years the current statement of the Social Principles forms Part IV of The Book of
Discipline.
Issues: As developed in the culture of the United States, the
principles relate primarily to issues of social justice as they have
become important in U.S. culture. There are concerns arising in
Central Conference cultures, such as economic colonialism, that are
barely addressed in the Social Principles. Other positions, such as
the declaration that homosexuality is “incompatible with Christian
teaching,” are severely contested and polarize the church. Biblical
authority is claimed by all sides. As the Social Principles continue to
evolve, we are mindful of John Wesley’s wisdom: “do no harm,” “do
all the good you can,” and “attend the ordinances of God.”
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PROPOSALS MADE BY WWNUMC STUDY COMMITTEE
1. The Book of Discipline should be divided into two volumes. Volume I will
deal with United Methodist history, theology, social principles, and items
applicable to all churches regardless of culture. Volume II will deal with
adaptable items. Each Central Conference (or regional area of Central
Conferences, such as Africa and Eurasia) is responsible for developing its
own Volume II, guided by those paragraphs designated as adaptable.
Each Central Conference or group of Central Conferences shall submit
their Volume II of The Book of Discipline as a report to General
Conference one year prior to General Conference. Access to each
Volume II is made available to the whole church.
2. The Social Principles shall remain as part of Volume I, the Global Book of
Discipline. Modification of the Social Principles can only be done through
General Conference approval.
Discuss: How does the Study Committee's proposal address the problems
raised? What improvements would you make to the Committee's
proposal?
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THIRD SESSION: BOARDS, AGENCIES, AND FINANCES
Prior to the meeting, ask members to read Section II (“Issues Raised Concerning
Bishops”), Section V (“Issues Concerning Agencies”), and Section VII (“Issues
Concerning Finances”) from the “What We Heard” document (beginning on page
17 in this study guide).
Discuss the following issues in light of the World Wide Nature of the Church
Study Committee’s proposals.
Bishops
A number of persons in the Central Conferences raised the issue of bishops’
salaries in comparison to pastors’ salaries and in comparison to the economics of
the episcopal area in which each bishop serves. Pastors’ salaries are markedly
low, sometimes as low as $5 per year, whereas bishops’ salaries are akin to
salaries for bishops in the United States. This creates great inequality of wealth
within the church, and complicates the political process of selection of bishops.
Issues: Additional concerns related to the politicization of bishop
elections, and the disparity between whether the bishop is bishop for
life or for a specified term of office. There is no single policy in The
United Methodist Church.
Boards and Agencies
In an attempt to be more global in practice, the church has followed the
expedient of placing persons from cultures outside the United States on each of
its boards and agencies, and each board and agency has worked at being useful
to the whole church. However, differing cultural and economic realities require
agencies more clearly organized around the needs of different regional areas of
the church. The United Methodist Church in Europe, recognizing this reality, has
organized several of its own boards and agencies, such as Higher Education and
Ministry, dealing successfully with issues in Europe and Eurasia.
Issues: Problems in creating regional boards and agencies, should
the church decide to adopt the WWNUMC study committee’s
proposals, are fundamentally financial. How is it possible to finance
regional boards in Africa? The Philippines?
Finances
Finances are a recurring problem. 99% of UMC expenses throughout the
Connection are paid by the churches in the United States, but as these
churches decline in membership, financing is increasingly challenged.
Also, churches in Africa and the Philippines long to be greater economic
contributors to the support of the church’s mission.
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Issues: How can the global church help to increase the economic
wellbeing of Africa and the Philippines so that the churches there
can participate more fully in funding the mission and ministry of The
United Methodist Church? How are apportionments determined
within the United States and elsewhere? How can we reach toward a
more equitable sharing of financial needs?
PROPOSALS MADE BY THE WWNUMC STUDY COMMITTEE
1. There will be a reconfiguration of agencies including some agencies that
are global and others that are regional.
2. There will be a reconfiguration of connectional funding to the effect that
some funds will be global and under the authority of the General
Conference, and others be local and under the authority of the Central
Conferences.
3. Economics within episcopal areas shall be taken into account in
determining Bishops’ salaries.
Discuss: How does the Study Committee's proposal address the problems
raised? What improvements would you make to the Committee's
proposal?
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FOURTH SESSION
EDUCATION OF CLERGY AND LAITY; THE PROPOSAL AS A WHOLE
Prior to the meeting, members should read Section VIII (“Issues Concerning
Theological Education”), Section IX (“Issues Concerning Laity”), X (“Other
Issues…”), and Section XI (“Relations between The UMC and autonomous
Methodist churches.”) in the “What We Heard” document (pp. 17-21). Members
should also read through the WWNUMC proposal as a whole. It is reprinted in
this study guide on pages 22-24.
Spend one half of the session discussing issues from VIII, IX, X, and XI, and half
of the session on the proposal as a whole. The last ten minutes of the session
should be spent on the questionnaire.
Education
While those called to ministry in the United States and Europe have relatively
easy access to theological schools, this is not so in Africa and in some parts of
the Philippines. In Africa the problem is made worse by the difficulties of
intercontinental transportation.
Issue: Creation of additional educational institutions for clergy and
laity would go a long way toward meeting the need, but declining
resources argue against such huge projects.
Laity
Education is necessary for laity as well as for seminarians and clergy.
Issue: Can we or should we require that each Central Conference
develop programs for lay education?
SECTION X
This section deals with various items of concern to churches in the Philippines
and Africa.
SECTION XI
This section deals with how The United Methodist Church relates to other
Methodist churches, and to united churches (such as in Canada) where several
Protestant denominations have merged.
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PROPOSALS OF THE WWNUMC STUDY COMMITTEE
The proposal puts responsibility for educational standards and opportunities
for clergy and laity within the provenance of the Central Conferences.
The Committee’s proposal does not address the relation of The United
Methodist Church to other Methodist churches.
RESPONSE TO THE FULL WWNUMC PROPOSAL
Read the full proposal of the World Wide Nature of The United Methodist
Church Study Committee, given on pages 22-24 in this study guide. How
does your group evaluate the report in light of your study? Does your
group have different answers to the issues addressed by the proposal?
Complete the questionnaire, and hand it to your leader.
To the Leader: Compile the answers from members of your group into a
single group report. Send to Dr. Amy Valdez of the Connectional Table at
[email protected] and Bishop Patrick Streiff at [email protected].
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WORLDWIDE NATURE OF THE CHURCH STUDY
QUESTIONNAIRE
Yes
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Should the United States become a Central Conference?
If not, state why in the comments section.
Should each Central Conference meet every four years
in conjunction with General Conference in order to do
its own work?
Should time also be arranged for regional Central
Conferences to meet together (e.g, African CCs and
Eurasian CCs)?
Should the Book of Discipline be divided into two
separate volumes, a Global Book and a Central
Conference (local) Book?
Should each Central Conference submit its local Book
of Discipline to General Conference every four years?
Should General Conference receive the local books as
reports?
Should each local Book of Discipline be available to all
United Methodists by being published on The United
Methodist Church website?
Should the Social Principles be in the Global Book?
Should Central Conferences be able to develop
additional social principles for their own cultures?
Should General Conference, dealing only with
legislation for the Global Book, increase the time it
spends on the mission of The United Methodist
Church?
Should some boards and agencies be declared Global,
and others local?
Should we retain the current practice of including
persons from every culture on every Board and
Agency?
Should each Central Conference have some boards or
agencies specific to its own region?
Should the economics of a culture be taken into
consideration in determining bishops’ salaries?
Shall we reconfigure the formulae by which
apportionments are set in all Central Conferences
(including the United States, if this is approved).
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No
Maybe
COMMENTS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15
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DEFINITIONS OF SOME UMC STRUCTURAL TERMS
1. Charge Conference: Every local congregation is a Charge Conference.
2. District: This is a regional grouping of Charge Conferences, organized with a
District Superintendent.
3. Cabinet: This is a group of District Superintendents within an Annual
Conference working closely with the Bishop. Much of the work of the cabinet
involves making appointments of pastors to the charge conferences within
the Annual Conference.
4. Annual Conference is the organized ordering of all clergy serving at the will
of the Bishop within the regional Districts (and beyond, for some
appointments), and of an equal number of lay persons. The Annual
Conference meets annually to determine issues of relevance to the church,
and, every four years, to elect clergy and lay delegates to General Conference
and to the Jurisdiction.
5. Jurisdictions: The United Methodist Church in the United States is divided
into five Jurisdictions. These are geographical areas: Northeast, Southeast,
North Central, South Central, and Western. The Jurisdictions meet every four
years in the summer following General Conference, primarily for the election
of Bishops, but also to deal with matters of specific interest to the
Jurisdiction’s region. Fifty percent of Jurisdiction members are also members
of the General Conference.
6. Central Conferences are regional bodies of United Methodists beyond the
boundaries of the United States. In some ways they are analogous to
Jurisdictions, since a single Central Conference contains a number of Annual
Conferences. There are seven Central Conferences outside the United States:
Africa Central Conference, Congo Central Conference, West Africa Central
Conference, Central and Southern Europe Central Conference, Germany
Central Conference, Northern Europe Central Conference, and Philippines
Central Conference.
7. General Conference. Elected delegates from all Jurisdictions and Central
Conferences are members of the General Conference, which meets once
every four years to determine matters related to The Book of Discipline, and
to the general mission and ministry of The United Methodist Church.
8. The Book of Discipline is the codification of The United Methodist Church’s
policies regarding structure and practice. The Book of Discipline is binding
on all Annual Conferences within the United States; portions of The Book of
Discipline are adaptable by Central Conferences.
9. The Connectional Table: Created at the 2004 General Conference, the
Connectional Table was formed to serve as both the visioning body of the
church and the steward of resources to carry out the vision of the
denomination worldwide. Its purpose is to discern and articulate the vision
for the church and the stewardship of the mission, ministries, and resources
of The United Methodist Church as determined by General Conference and in
consultation with the Council of Bishops.
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10. Agencies: There are thirteen Boards, Agencies, and Commissions of The
United Methodist Church.
Boards and Agencies
General Council on Finance and Administration: Administers the finances and
operational needs of the denomination and serves as the general treasurer of the
denomination.
General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church:
Challenges United Methodists to work in areas of important social concern and
develops resources to inform, motivate, and train United Methodists on issues of
social justice in the society.
General Board of Discipleship: Provides leadership and resources in the areas of
spiritual growth and development, devotional literature, curriculum resources
Christian education, evangelism, worship, stewardship, and ministry of the laity.
The General Board of Discipleship oversees The Upper Room.
General Board of Global Ministries: Responsible to witness to Jesus Christ
throughout the world, to recruit and send missionaries, to raise the awareness and
support of persons in local churches for global mission, and to assist in the
development of Christian churches and leadership.
General Board of Higher Education and Ministry: Prepares and assists people to
fulfill their ordained ministries and to provide general oversight for campus
ministries and institutions of higher education.
General Board of Pension and Health Benefits of The United Methodist Church:
Supervises and administers the pension and benefits programs, plas, and funds of
The United Methodist church. It administers and disburses the retirement and
benefit funds of the various annual conferences.
General Commission on Archives and History: Gathers, preserves, and
disseminates materials on the history of The United Methodist Church and its
antecedents. It maintains archives and a library in which the historical records are
kept.
General Commission on Communication (United Methodist Communications):
Provides leadership for the denomination in the fields of communication, public
relations, and promotion of the general funds and programs of the denomination It
is the official news gathering and distribution agency of the denomination. It
provides resources and services to local churches and annual conferences in the
field of communications.
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United Methodist Women: Serves as the largest denominational faith organization
for wome with approximately 800,000 members. The organization fosters spiritual
growth, develops leaders and advocates for justice. They raise up to $20 million
each year for projects related to women, children and youth around the world.
General Commission on United Methodist Men: Involves en in a growing
relationship to Jesus Christ and his church and provides resources and support for
programs of evangelism, stewardship, and the needs of men.
General Commission on Religion and Race: Focuses on bringing about full and
equal participation of the racial and ethic constituencies of The United Methodist
Church. The commission carries out its work through advocacy of the isses and by
reviewing and monitoring the practices of the denomination.
General Commission on the Status and Role of Women: Challenges The United
Methodist Church to a commitment to the full participation of women in the
complete life and mission of the church. The commission serves as an advocate for
and on behalf of women, seeks to eliminate inequities in relation to women in te
church, and monitors the general agencies, institutions, and connectional structures
to ensure inclusiveness of women.
United Methodist Publishing House: The United Methodist Publishing House
distributes all the official publications, records, and forms of the denomination,
publishes books through Abingdon Press, and operates Cokesbury retail and online
stores, mail order service. It also publishes and distributes church school materials
and resources throughout the denomination.
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What We Heard
The Study Committee of the Worldwide Nature of The United Methodist Church held
listening posts in the Central Conferences and with Boards, Agencies, and interested
groups within the United States prior to developing its recommendations to the
2012 General Conference. We also received the report of the study committee
meeting with representatives of autonomous churches in Latin America and the
Caribbean. The following is a summary of what the study committee as a whole or
in small groups heard across the connection.
I. General Conference
1. GC should be limited to issues essential to identity and essence of UMC
(Philippines, Maputo).
2. Too much time is spent in GC on US issues (Philippines, Europe); Central
Conferences are forced into US issues (Europe).
3. Take cultural items out of GC and place them either in Central Conferences,
Annual Conferences, or Jurisdictions (Maputo).
4. US not sensitive enough about keeping cultural differences in mind
(Kamina/Lubumbashi)
5. We need time and space opportunities at GC for Central Conferences to meet
together around pan-continental Central Conference issues (Liberia).
6. Need opportunities at GC to share Central Conference issues with the whole
church, such as bringing issues that particularly affect African churches to
the whole church (Liberia).
7. Central Conference decisions made at the level of Central Conferences should
be presented to GC (Liberia).
8. We need greater transparency in Central Conference election of delegates to
GC, and training should be made available to help delegates to fulfill their
responsibilities (Zimbabwe).
9. We should de-politicize the election of delegates to GC (Philippines).
10. The varying cultures of the worldwide church should be taken into account
in GC worship services (Cote d’Ivoire).
11. The US location of GC, and the length of time it requires away from one’s
home responsibilities, are problematic both financially and missionally
(Philippines).
12. GC too focused on legislation and too occupied with parliamentary rules
(Europe).
13. We are too focused on doctrine and polity and not enough on mission and life
together (Europe).
II. Bishops
1. Consistency in election is critical; the diversity of term elections/elections
for life/re-election brings chaos to continent of Africa (Congo, Maputo).
Limit terms of office so that more people can become bishops (Liberia)
2. Need consistency in election practices across church (Philippines)
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3. Where there is no itineration of bishops, the affected Episcopal area does
the election (Zimbabwe)
4. Bishops should be able to itinerate (Maputo)
5. Inequality of salaries between bishops and pastors a problem (Philippines,
Liberia)
6. For the election of bishops, have a monitoring system with independent
observers who supervise the process from nomination through election
(Zimbabwe)
7. Necessity, given strong cultural and language differences, for AC’s to elect
their own bishops (Maputo, Kamina, Lubumbashi)
8. More bishops are needed, but episcopal funds are allocated to travel to US
for retired bishops rather than for appointment of more bishops as needed
(Zimbabwe)
9. College of African Bishops only has funding to meet once a year (Zimbabwe)
10. Elections of bishops highly politicized [partly due to salary inequities]
(Philippines)
11. District Superintendents are extensions of office of bishop, and should be
funded just as bishops are funded (Philippines)
III. Book of Discipline (BoD)
1. No common BoD in Africa (Zimbabwe, Congo)
2. Widespread unavailability of BoD leads to arbitrary decisions (Zimbabwe)
and to use of 1988 BoD as determinative (Maputo)
3. Need for more general global BoD (Zimbabwe, Congo, Liberia, Philippines,
Europe)
4. Central Conference persons should write CC adaptations of BoD (Liberia)
5. Central Conference adaptations should be in the language/s of the CC’s
(Congo)
6. Current ability to adapt BoD to CC’s very important (Congo, Philippines,
Europe)
7. Assimilate practices of Central Conferences into BoD (Liberia)
8. No functional BoD (Maputo)
9. What general church requires does not fit domestic and cultural needs of
Central Conferences; need freedom and power to adapt Discipline and
ministerial practices to local context (Philippines).
10. Current BoD does not reflect cultural diversity (Europe).
11. Current BoD overwhelmed with too detailed regulations (Europe)
12. Better to keep a global BoD for at least a ten year period, thus requiring
fewer translation and publishing costs (Europe).
13. A global BoD can only give general guidelines, not precise legal stipulations,
because of the wide differences of cultural and legal settings (Europe)
IV. Social Principles
1. Must be sensitive to cultural differences (Zimbabwe)
2. Very strong social ministry across African conferences and in Philippines
(noted in every area we heard from).
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3. Best to take cultural differences (homosexuality) out of Book of Discipline
and leave such issues to Central Conferences (Maputo)
4. Child labor an issue (Cote d’Ivoire); in Liberia, child apprenticeships. Work
with parents, such as family farms, a norm.
5. Human trafficking and sex trade an increasing problem (Cote d’Ivoire)
6. In US, “justice” orients mission; in Cote d’Ivoire, mission is to help people,
and to train people to help. Organized humanitarian work, and fight against
discrimination (Cote d’Ivoire)
7. Mission of church transcends races and regions (Philippines)
V. Agencies
1. Agencies/donors typically do not listen to needs and priorities of local
church. Ideally, AC leaders would meet, share and list concerns, organize
workshops together, then ask for funding. Programs are typically
determined by US; if a US group wants church to do something, money is
available, but if Zimbabwe initiates it, funding is difficult to find (Zimbabwe).
2. Why not African Board of Missions, funded by African conferences?
(Zimbabwe)
3. UMCOM training not applicable to African situation (Zimbabwe)
4. Some boards and agencies of GC are irrelevant to situation of CC’s
(Philippines)
5. Need for regional boards and agencies (Philippines)
6. Although GBOD has planted an Upper Room ministries office in South Africa,
the greater needs for educational/spiritual resource materials throughout
the continent outstrip the financial capacity to print, distribute, or purchase
them (GBOD)
7. GBOD experimenting with hiring local people for on site training systems;
“We need strong and robust regional efforts to build sustainable local
ministry efforts” (GBOD).
8. Boards and agencies U.S. oriented; come to European Central Conferences
with US-based perspective or resources. Difficult for them to understand
fully the cultural and social contexts of the Central Conferences (Europe).
VI. Pan-Connection Issues
1. Easier to travel to US than to various African AC’s/CC’s. Funding available
from US for former, not latter.
2. Need time and place and funds to meet
3. Appreciate ability to share experiences through Central Conferences (Cote
d’I)
4. There are regional issues, and the regions of the UMC need to gather to
address regional issues (GBOD).
VII. Finances
1. Poverty in Africa leads to financial dependence on US church
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2. Strong desire that US funds be used to start projects that will provide
sustainable source of African income so that African churches can be more
self-supporting (Liberia, Congo)
3. CCs must do their share in contributing financial resources to the whole
church (Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, Philippines)
4. Pastors are paid less than they can live on; necessary to provide pastors with
living wage (Congo, Liberia)
5. GCFA doesn’t cover travel within continent, but only to US (Zimbabwe)
6. Power and financial resources linked too strongly; hence non-monetary
resources of African church not recognized as valuable (Zimbabwe)
7. Rising new communities do not have the resources available to sustain
growth of the church (Maputo)
8. Churches in Europe give more per capita than US churches. European
Central Conferences contribute to general funds and to mission projects and
theological education. European Central Conferences do various ministries
cooperatively on equal terms (Europe).
VIII. Education
1. Ministerial education problematic and uneven across church (Philippines,
Liberia)
2. Accessible educational institutions a huge need (Liberia)
3. Difficulties of intra-African travel make participation in Africa University
difficult for non-Zimbabwean Africans.
4. Poverty makes tuition requirements a huge barrier (congo)
5. Lack of education and no common language are two of greatest barriers to
progress and ability to work within the connection (Congo)
6. Lack of basic structural needs, such as electricity, dormitories, and
mattresses for students in new UM University (Congo)
7. Need for lay education at all levels (Liberia, Zimbabwe)
8. Need for local educational resources (Zimbabwe)
9. Need for African developed educational resources for whole church
(zimbabwe)
10. Lack of clarity regarding relationship between the conference and Africa
University board (Zimbabwe)
11. Only a minority have internet access; need for hard copy accessibility
(Zimbabwe)
12. Need education for women, laity
IX. Laity
1. Association of Conference Lay Leaders US dominated; need regional
association of lay leaders (Zimbabwe)
2. Need for Council of Laity, parallel to Council of Bishops (Zimbabwe)
3. Education for laity—especially Staff Parish committees—essential (Liberia,
Zimbabwe)
4. Board of Laity holds seminars to train lay leaders; also, have a Lay
Leadership Academy (Cote d’Ivoire)
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X. Other
1. Legal issues in Maputo involving courts, break-away pastors
2. UMC presence in South Africa creating problems as Methodist Church of
South Africa members switch to UMC, especially because of its more
democratic structure (Maputo)
3. Need for greater transparency and greater democracy in all processes of
global and local church life, but especially in terms of pastoral appointments
(Maputo)
4. Disparity between nature and practice of Central Conference churches and
jurisdictional churches an enduring problem (Philippines)
5. Missionaries from Africa and Philippines to US (Philippines, Liberia)
6. Crucial for European churches to be and remain part of the worldwide UMC
in order to be fully recognized as a church and not a sect. Ecumenical
relations very important (Europe)
7. Current UMC structures too complex and place unnecessary strain on small
local congregations (Europe)
8. Need for clarity and details concerning any restructuring proposals, and for
teaching sessions across the church prior to any General Conference
legislation (Confessing Movement)
9. We promote our Catholicity by taking our diversity seriously, such as by
promoting regional boards and agencies in places other than the United
States (National Association of Asian American United Methodists)
IX. From the Report of the Study Committee on the Relationship Between The
United Methodist church and the Autonomous Methodist Churches in Latin
America and the Caribbean
1. Affirm a mutuality of mission, extending itself in both directions
2. Create a comprehensive committee on Connectional Program, to meet once
per quadrennium.
3. Encourage ongoing program of visitation of bishops and lay and clergy
leaders to facilitate mutual understanding of each partner’s context of
mission and ministry.
4. Support and enable direct relationships between local churches and Annual
Conferences.
5. Activate the Conference of Methodist Bishops
6. All communications between The UMC and the Methodist churches of Latin
America and the Caribbean be conducted through official lines of authority in
the official languages of the receiving churches.
7. Official Web pages include links to each other’s Web pages.
8. All GC documents be translated into Spanish and made available to delegates
whose language preference is Spanish.
9. That all our churches join in being a prophetic voice in the face of multiple
social justice issues, particularly to injustices caused directly and indirectly
by U.S. international policies.
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A Model for the Worldwide Structure
Of
The United Methodist Church
STRUCTURE
1. As the highest legislative body of The United Methodist Church, the General Conference has the
authority for all things distinctively connectional and is the only body that speaks for the
entire church.
2. The United Methodist Church shall consist ofcentral conferences.
3. A central conference shall be created in the United States comprising the five jurisdictions. The US
Central Conference shall have the rights and privileges defined by the Constitution except for the
election of bishops, which would continue to occur in jurisdictions. Central conferences would not
alter the Global Book of Discipline, which could be changed only by action of the General
Conference.
4. Existing central conferences will remain the same, except that a larger central conference
shall have the right to create jurisdictions within its boundaries.
5. Central conferences across the connection shall be decision-making bodies for initiatives, programs, and matters related to their particular missional contexts.
6. There will be a reconfiguration of agencies including some agencies that are global and others that are regional.
7. There will be a reconfiguration of connectional funding to the effect that some funds will be
global and under the authority of the General Conference, and others be local and under the
authority of the central conferences.
8. Economics within episcopal areas shall be taken into account in determining bishops’ salaries.
THE BOOK OF DISCIPLINE
1. The Book of Discipline shall be comprised of two volumes.
2. Volume I shall be the Global Book of Discipline, which is amendable only by the General
Conference. It shall consist of the following portions currently in the Book of Discipline.
Parts I-IV
• Constitution ¶¶ 1-61
• Doctrinal Standards and Our Theological Task ¶¶ 101-104
• The Ministry of All Christians ¶¶ 120-142
• Social Principles Preface, Preamble and ¶¶160-166
Part V
.• The Local Church and Church Membership ¶¶ 200-205
• The requirements, definition, and meaning of membership ¶¶ 214-242
• Local church organization ¶¶ 243-252, 259-260
• Ministry of the Ordained ¶¶ 301-341 (with the exception of ministerial educational standards), 343, 346-348, 353-369
• The Superintendency ¶¶ 401-417, 419-435
• The General and Central Conferences ¶¶ 501-11, 540-591
• The Annual Conference ¶¶ 601-612.1, 631, 635, 657-658
• Administrative Order
*General provisions ¶¶ 701
• Church Property ¶¶ 2501–2512, 2524, 2532
• Judicial Council ¶¶ 2601-2612, 2701-19
3. Volume II shall consist of all paragraphs not included in Volume I and be adaptable by the
central conferences in accordance with their missional and cultural contexts.
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FUNCTIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY
General Conference
• Worship and Worldwide Missional Celebration
• Maintaining the Connection
• The Global Book of Discipline (Volume I) including Social Principles
• Reports from the central conferences concerning changes made to their respective Volume II of the
Book of Discipline
• Opportunities for central conferences to engage with other central conferences in their geographical area to address common issues
• Election of Judicial Council
• General Church Programs and Initiatives
• Financial Action on Global Funds
• Accountability for Global Agencies
• Doctrines and Rituals for Worldwide Use
• Membership
• Opportunities to engage with Ecumenical Partners/
Affiliated Churches delegates
Central Conferences
• Central conferences shall have the right to create jurisdictions within their boundaries for reasons
such as the geographical size of the conference or different language areas within the conference.
• Election of Bishops and Episcopal Assignments in Central Conferences without Jurisdictions
• Establishment of Boundaries for Annual Conferences and Episcopal Areas in Central
Conferences without Jurisdictions
• Formulation of Petitions to General Conference for the Global Book of Discipline (Volume I) and
making changes in Volume II of the Book of Discipline
• Equitable Sharing in the Mission and Support of the General Church
• Financial action on central conference funds
• Accountability for relationships with regional agencies (United Methodist or ecumenical)
• Educational Standards and Opportunities for Clergy and Laity
• Lifting up Lay Leadership
• Existing central conferences may meet as they do currently; and the US Central Conference may
meet either before or after General Conference.
The general Church fund shall provide for the expenses of the sessions of central conferences.
• Judicial Court
Jurisdictions
• Election of Bishops and Episcopal Assignments
• Establishment of Boundaries for Annual Conferences and Episcopal Areas
• Formulation of Petitions to the Central Conference for changes in Volume II of the Book
of Discipline
Annual Conferences
• Election of Delegates to General, Central, and Jurisdictional Conferences
• Formulation of Petitions to General Conference for the Global Book of Discipline (Volume I) and
to Jurisdictions and/or Central Conference for changes in Volume II of the Book of Discipline
IMPLEMENTING PROCESS
1. The Study Committee on the Worldwide Nature of The United Methodist Church will present a
model for a new worldwide structure at the 2012 General Conference.
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2. The Study Committee will develop a study guide on the proposed worldwide structure of
The United Methodist Church for study and response by annual conferences during 20122014.
3. The Connectional Table shall enable a process to support the study and receive the results. In
the fall of 2014, the Connectional Table shall oversee the development of recommendations,
petitions, and constitutional amendments for the 2016 General Conference based on their consideration of the study results.
Membership of the Study Committee
Bishop Christian Alsted, Northern Europe Central Conference
Dr. David Beckley, Mississippi Annual Conference
Ms. Elisabeth Englund, Sweden Annual Conference
Rev. Ruby-Nell Estrella, Philippines Annual Conference
Ms. Sandra Ferguson, Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference
Dr. Richard Grounds, Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference
Bishop John Innis,West Africa Central Conference
Bishop Scott Jones, chairperson, South Central Jurisdiction
Rev. Dr. Ilunga Kandolo Kasolwa, North Katanga Annual Conference
Mr. Matthew Laferty, East Ohio Annual Conference
Rev. Forbes Matonga, West Zimbabwe Annual Conference
Rev. Dr. Timothy McClendon, South Carolina Annual Conference
Ms. Christina Mlambo, East Zimbabwe Annual Conference
Rev. Lyssette Perez, Greater New Jersey Annual Conference
Rev. Joon-Sik Park, West Ohio Annual Conference
Rev. Dr. Bruce Robbins, Minnesota Annual Conference
Bishop Leo Soriano, Philippines Central Conference
Rev. Dr. Cathy Stengel,
Upper New York Annual Conference
Dr. Marjorie Suchocki, California-Pacific Annual Conference
Ms. Monalisa Tuitahi, California-Pacific Annual Conference
Consultants:
Bishop Minerva Carcaño (Affiliated Autonomous Churches in Latin America)
Bishop Lindsey Davis (General Council on Finance and Administration)
Rev. H. Eddie Fox (World Methodist Council)
Bishop Larry Goodpaster (Council of Bishops)
Mr. Moses Kumar (General Council on Finance and Administration)
Bishop Bruce Ough (General Board of Global Ministries)
Bishop Gregory Palmer (Council of Bishops)
Mr. Thomas Kemper (General Board of Global Ministries)
Bishop Sharon Zimmerman Rader (Ecumenical Officer)
Bishop Roy Sano (Affiliated Autonomous Churches of Asia)
Rev. Stephen Sidorak (General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns)
Bishop Patrick Streiff (Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters)
Bishop Mary Ann Swenson (General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns)
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