The UMC General Conference will meet May 5-15, 2020 in Minneapolis. In previous articles, I have offered ways to stay properly informed and aptly engage the facts as they come to us. The office of UMC Discipleship recently released guidance to assist church leaders in helping their congregations get ready for General Conference. Below, I have shared this information and felt affirmed, as we have already been doing many of these things. You may also follow the embedded links for resources and more information.
Pray – Be in prayer, as individuals and as a church community, for General Conference, delegates, and for discernment. Use the Upper Room prayer guide: Be Still and Know: 40 Days of Prayer for General Conference.
Get information from trusted news services. Sign up for the Daily Digest from the UM News Service. The United Methodist News Service is the authorized organization that reports news regarding The UMC. Their staff understands the complex procedures of The UMC, and able to provide the most accurate news. The United Methodist News Service has a chart of proposed plans about the structure of The United Methodist Church.
Learn the process of General Conference. General Conference is the only group that can speak on behalf of The United Methodist Church worldwide. It is composed of delegates from around the world and involves many nuanced procedures. Learn more about General Conference from this article from David Teel, Director of Lay Leadership.
Participate in town halls and conversations with your Bishop and General Conference Delegates. Our Bishop has town halls planned throughout North Georgia. Specifically for the Atlanta-Marietta and Atlanta-Roswell Districts, she is scheduled at Hillside UMC in Woodstock, March 1 at 3 p.m.
Build trust and relationships with one another. Now is not the time to be making decisions about the future of a local congregation’s denominational connection. No one can predict the outcome(s) of General Conference. Take this time to foster and deepen relationships with our brothers and sisters at Mt. Zion. Constructive conversations in small groups, Sunday School classes, etc., can center around questions such as, “Why are you a United Methodist?” or “When have you been most proud to be a United Methodist?” A helpful focus is learning from one another, instead of debating.
Maintain a focus on discipleship and faithful stewardship. Let us not lose focus that, regardless of what happens [or doesn’t] at General Conference, the ministry of making disciples and following God’s call in ministry for our church continues (Resource: Developing an Intentional Discipleship System: A Guide for Congregations).
Ministry and needs within the community will be ongoing long past General Conference. It is always good to remember that our giving is directed to God and ministry needs locally and globally. Our connectional responsibilities across the globe depend on our ongoing gifts; and, our surrounding community continues to need us, perhaps now more than ever. (Resource: Engaging Your Community: A Guide to Seeing All the People.)
I believe these are tangible actions we may engage together. Through it all, please do not neglect prayer, and remain open to the activity and revelation of God’s Spirit.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Harden
