The VISION for our Worldwide UMC

Standing Committee on Central Conference MattersPresentation to the U.S. delegates to GC2016January 2016 – Bishop Patrick Streiff; Benedita Penicela

NEW ¶¶101+125 SINCE GC 2012

General Conference 2012 established a new ¶101 for clarifying which parts of the BOD are global (without adaptation right) andwhich parts of the BOD may be adapted by central conferences.

Central conferences have a constitutional right to change and adapt the Discipline (¶ 31.5) „as the conditions in the respective areas may require, subject to the powers that have been or shall be vested in the GC“.

General Conference 2012 also established a new ¶125 with a covenant of mutual commitment as a worldwide UMC.

New ¶125 – Companion Litany to our Covenant for the worldwide UMC

Leader: In covenant with God and each other, we affirm our unity in Christ.

People: We will take faithful steps to live as a worldwide church in mission for the transformation of the world.

Leader: In covenant with God and each other, we commit ourselves to be in ministry with all people.

People: In faithfulness to the gospel, we will cross boundaries of language, culture, social or economic status as we grow in mutual love and trust.

Leader: In covenant with God and each other, we participate in God’s mission as partners in ministry.

People: We share our God-given gifts, experiences, and resources recognizing that they are of equal value, whether spiritual, financial, or missional.

Leader: In covenant with God and each other, we commit ourselves to full equality.

People: We uphold equity and accountability in our relationships, structures, and responsibilities for the denomination.

Leader: In covenant with God and each other, we enter afresh into a relationship of mutuality.

People: With God’s grace, we joyfully live out our worldwide connection in mission for the transformation of the world. AMEN!

New ¶125 – Companion Litany to our Covenant for the worldwide UMC

Collaborative effortfor our Worldwide UMC

Our understanding of Church (Faith & Order)Central conference apportionments (GCFA)World Wide Nature (CT)Global Social Principles (GBCS)Central Conference Theological Education (ComCCTE)StC-CCM: Plan for Africa + General Book of Discipline

Collaborative effortfor our Worldwide UMC

Our understanding of Church (Faith & Order)Central conference apportionments (GCFA)World Wide Nature (CT)Global Social Principles (GBCS)Central Conference Theological Education (ComCCTE)StC-CCM: Plan for Africa + General Book of Discipline

Wonder, Love and PraiseSharing a Vision of the Church

Presented to GC 2016 for church-wide study and official approval at GC 2020

Collaborative effort for our Worldwide UMCCommittee on Faith & Order

Collaborative effortfor our Worldwide UMC

Our understanding of Church (Faith & Order)

Central conference apportionments (GCFA)World Wide Nature (CT)Global Social Principles (GBCS)Central Conference Theological Education (ComCCTE)StC-CCM: Plan for Africa + General Book of Discipline

Collaborative effort for our Worldwide UMCCentral Conference Apportionments

Central Conference Apportionments shall support in addition to the Episcopal Fund also the General Administration Fund. Both funds are intimately linked to the worldwide nature of the UMC.A new formula for central conferences will be proposed to GC 2016 based on membership of an annual conference and an economic modifier per country (GDP) for these two funds.

Responsible: General Council on Finance and Administration

Collaborative effortfor our Worldwide UMC

Our understanding of Church (Faith & Order)Central conference apportionments (GCFA)

World Wide Nature (CT)Global Social Principles (GBCS)Central Conference Theological Education (ComCCTE)StC-CCM: Plan for Africa + General Book of Discipline

The Connectional Table “provides a forum for understanding and implementing the VISION, MISSION, and MINISTRIES of the global church.”- Vital Congregations- Four Areas of FocusAdditionally proposed mandates for 2017-2020:- Defining and enabling a jurisdictional process on where the U.S. will

make decisions on U.S. matters - Prepare the re-alignment of CT to become a geographically

representative, intergenerational body for the mission and ministry of a worldwide church for GC 2020.

Collaborative effort for our Worldwide UMCConnectional Table

Collaborative effortfor our Worldwide UMC

Our understanding of Church (Faith & Order)Central conference apportionments (GCFA)World Wide Nature (CT)

Global Social Principles (GBCS)Central Conference Theological Education (ComCCTE)StC-CCM: Plan for Africa + General Book of Discipline

• Mandated by GC 2012, the secretary of General Conference and GBCS held hearings in different parts of the world in 2013-15

• Samples of Global Social Principles were created for selected topics

• Continuation into 2017-20 quadrennium• Presentation of Global Social Principles at GC 2020

Responsible: General Board of Church and Society

Collaborative effort for our Worldwide UMCGlobal Social Principles

Collaborative effortfor our Worldwide UMC

Our understanding of Church (Faith & Order)Central conference apportionments (GCFA)World Wide Nature (CT)Global Social Principles (GBCS)

Central Conference Theological Education (ComCCTE)StC-CCM: Plan for Africa + General Book of Discipline

Collaborative effort for our Worldwide UMCCentral Conference Theological Education

• Mandated by GC 2012, a commission on central conference theological education was established in 2013.Membership (19): 9 from Africa, 3 from the Philippines, 3 from Europe, 2 from GBHEM, 2 from GBGM.

• Disbursement of USD 5 million for the quadrennium 2013-16; successfully completed for the years 2013 and 2014.

• Support for building up an Endowment Fund for theological education in Central Conferences.

• Request to continue with USD 5 million in 2017-2020.

Collaborative effortfor our Worldwide UMC

Our understanding of Church (Faith & Order)Central conference apportionments (GCFA)World Wide Nature (CT)Global Social Principles (GBCS)Central Conference Theological Education (ComCCTE)

StC-CCM: Plan for Africa + General Book of Discipline

Who is the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters?- A Standing Committee of General Conference- Membership (40 GC delegates and bishops):

Three persons (1 bishop, 1 clergy, 1 lay) fromeach of the 7 central conferences (outside US) 21 each of the 5 jurisdictional conferences (US only)

15the Board of Directors of GBGM (worldwide) 3

+ central conference bishop at GCFA (outside US) 1- Meeting at least twice during the quadrennium and at the

GC with direct reporting to the plenary of GC- No staff, but staff support from GBGM

STC-CCM: AFRICA PLANTwofold challenge, without short-cut answers (2013-15):

- number of episcopal areas BOD ¶404.1 criteria + evaluation- effectiveness of central conferences

At GC 2016: Petition for a comprehensive, collaborative plan for Africa (African membership: all active Bishops + 1 person from each annual conference; additionally 10 non-African members of StC-CCM) - increase of episcopal areas from 13 to 18 after GC 2020- propose new numbers and boundaries of central conferences

report and decision at GC 2020

STC-CCM & GBGM: SOUTHEAST ASIA AND

MONGOLIAPetition to create a Provisional central conference for Southeast Asia and Mongolia:- for connecting the new missions in Laos, Mongolia, Thailand, and Vietnam;- for facilitating their development towards becoming provisional annual conferences;- for establishing episcopal leadership designated by the Council of Bishops in consultation with GBGM (no election of an additional bishop).

STC-CCM: GLOBAL / GENERAL BODMANDATE FROM GC 2012 ¶101

NOT subject to change or adaptation are BOD, Parts I, III-V:• I. Constitution ¶¶ 1–61• III. Doctrinal Standards and Our Theological Task ¶¶ 102–105• IV. The Ministry of All Christians ¶¶ 120–143• V. Social Principles Preface, Preamble, and ¶¶160–166

“The Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters, in consultation with the Committee on Faith and Order, will bring recommendations to the 2016 General Conference as to which parts and paragraphs in Part VI of the Book of Discipline are not subject to change or adaptation.”

STC-CCM: GLOBAL / GENERAL BOD, PART VIOUR PROCESS 2013-15

September 2013: preparation at StC-CCM meetingMay 2014: St-CCM group meets with Faith&Order: Priority on chapters 1-4+6 for 2012-2016:

1 The Local Church ¶¶201-2712 The Ministry of the Ordained ¶¶ 301-3703 The Superintendency ¶¶ 401-4424 The Conferences ¶¶ 501-6726 Church Property ¶¶ 2501-2552

Postponed on chapters 5+7 for 2016-2020:5 Administrative Order ¶¶ 701-24017 Judicial Administration ¶¶ 2601-2719

February 2015: Draft of Part VI, chapters 1-4+6 approved

STC-CCM: GLOBAL / GENERAL BOD, PART VIDRAFT OF A GENERAL BOD AT GC 2016

At GC 2016: No disciplinary action on draft of Part VI, chapters 1-4+6!

Non-disciplinary petition for affirming the direction presented in the draft and planning a feed-back from annual conferences in 2017. Leading questions for the feed-back are:1. What is essential for the worldwide connection of The UMC that is missing in this draft?2. Where is this draft too detailed and in need of further prioritization of that which is truly essential? 3. What inconsistencies or inaccuracies are found in the draft and are thus in need of correction?

Establish draft of missing Part VI, chapters 5+7

Adaptable parts will not be lost!

2020, Part VI worldwide2012, Part VI2020, Part VII adaptable

STC-CCM: DISCIPLINARY ACTION:UPDATE BOD ¶101 FOR 2017-2020

AT GENERAL CONFERENCE 2016:CHRISTIAN CONFERENCING

At GC 2016, prior to the organizing meeting of legislative committees, the StC-CCM will lead through two hours of Christian conferencing, listening, and sharing in small, geographically divers groups on:

- what is your ministry setting and challenge in your context?- what is most important for a truly world wide Global / General BOD that undergirds and empowers the mission of the entire UMC?

Example of the episcopal area of central and southern Europe: A BOD has to be translated into more than 10 languages, for 7 annual conferences which cover together 16 countries, and needs to empower mission in very diverse cultural, religious, and legal settings.

The VISION for our Worldwide UMC

“In covenant with God and each other, we participate in God’s mission as partners in ministry.” (¶125 covenant)

Standing Committee on Central Conference MattersPresentation to the U.S. delegates to GC2016January 2016 – Bishop Patrick Streiff; Benedita Penicela