Thoughts on Form and Focus...

Sometimes something right in front of you deserves a closer look. To put something under the magnifying glass is to do two things. First you focus on it. Your field of vision is narrowed to give attention to the thing you wish to examine. Secondly, to put something under the magnifying glass is to look for clarity and definition.

For the last two years we have been putting ourselves under the magnifying glass. There have been four (4) rounds of listening sessions around the Annual Conference. Two have dealt with stewardship and budget and two have explored our shared ministry and call. We talked about "open space" and our fears and passions as leaders. We explored our brokenness and the power of the "potter's hands." Parker Palmer's piece helped us explore our brokenness. We talked about self care. We shared visions of ministry and our diverse calls and passions for ministry. Then we explored Lovett Weems 10 Provocative Questions and found a great resonance around #8 "more people, more young people, and more diverse people.” We looked at Bishop Job's Three Simple Rules, and wrestled with "first do no harm."

We have learned so much together and continue to learn and grow.

In the midst of this, your Leadership team met in January to explore directions and vision for the coming year. There seemed to be three (3) areas of focus that emerged. First, it is time to reorder ourselves, but we must do it in a simple and transparent way. Secondly, this must be driven by God's spirit and the passion of the people. Thirdly, we must invite and include "more people, more young people, and more diverse people" in our leadership, ministries, and local churches.

So...what does this mean? As a result of the conferencing process we will invite members of Annual Conference to consider a new order. The truth is, it isn't new. In the midst of listening and learning, we have been becoming a 'new thing.' In June, the Annual Conference will seek to bring definition and clarity to this "new thing" through changes in the standing rules, nominations, and our order.

It doesn't seem like an exciting thing, but it is!

These tools will allow us to live into our mission," to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." The examination of our order and process has led us to a place we can magnify our mission.

Here is a thumbnail sketch:

1. Connectional Table: 20-25 Exceptional leaders challenged with keeping our Vision/Mission of "Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world" This table will look at the general challenge of inviting and including "more people, more young people, and more diverse people."
2. Core Tables: 5 tables focused on the core value you helped us discern as the areas we will direct our attention to help us carry out our mission. Each table will be convened by an excellent leader/process person and the table will gather groups and individuals focused around that core value.
1. Spiritual Leadership: This table will engage the challenge of helping people discover their call to leadership, grow in leadership skills, and develop procedures and tools to equip leaders in the home, congregation, district, and Annual Conference.
2. Mission: This table will gather to help individuals, congregations, districts, and the Annual Conference engage in the Kingdom work of serving a broken and needy world.
3. Reconciliation: This table will engage the areas of injustice and conflict. Racial Reconciliation, conflict resolution, peace and justice issues will be centered here. We will focus on "more diverse people" here.
4. Young Peoples' Ministry: This table will take youth and young adult ministries and the part of question 8,"more young people" Empowerment of the young will be at the heart of this table's work.
5. Stewardship: This table will focus on the broad spectrum of gifts God has entrusted us with to use for the building of the Kingdom. Financial stewardship, health and wellness, care for the earth, and human resources will all find their place at this table.
   

In addition to these tables there will be several standing committees as required by Discipline and practicality. The Board of Ministry, Conference Finance and Administration, Parish and community Development, Equitable Salary, and several others will serve to resource the Vision/Mission of our Annual Conference. All the appropriate connections will be provided to the General Church.

In order to facilitate this order, the Standing Rules Committee has been working hard to bring our rules into focus with this order. You will be invited to consider these at Annual Conference. Since this is a Quadrennial Year,we will be making several nominations. This year we have opened the process and invited people to self-nominate. I have been amazed at the response we have received. Over 150 people sent in their nominations. The nominated committee will meet the first week in May to fill the necessary (Required) committees, to select the Connectional Table, and to select conveners for the Core Tables. At Annual Conference, we all will have a chance to find our places at the Core tables. It is amazing what you discover when you begin to put something under the magnifying glass of God’s grace. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this.

We serve together in an incredible place and God is being magnified every day. Please be in prayer for us to find even greater clarity as we seek to fulfill our mission “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”

If you have questions or comments, please contact me at steve@mississippi-umc.org.

Live loved,

Steve