Call to Action

What is the Call to Action? This phrase has been getting a lot of play for the past year or so in our local churches, and we'll surely be hearing it a lot at General Conference. Below is a condensed overview, taken from The Call to Action Study Guide prepared by the Council of Bishops of the UMC.

In December, 2011, the Council of Bishops of the UMC issued a statement: "For the sake of a new world, we see a new church...A church that is clear about its mission and confident about its future; a church that is always reaching out, inviting, alive, agile, and resilient...Today, we call you to action, to join...in the adventure of becoming a New Church."

Specifically, the Council of Bishops are calling United Methodists to:

• Grow Vital Congregations
• Demonstrate Courageous Turnaround Leadership
• Take Risks
• Unite as One
• Set Visionary Goals

To do this, there is a call "to redirect the flow of attention, energy, and resources to an intense concentration" so that we may "increase in the number of vital congregations effective in making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” 

If we as a denomination are going to continue pursuing our mission to make disciples for the transformation of the world, it appears that we must first heed a call for transformative change: at General Conference, within the Council of Bishops, within the ministry of our General Agencies, within our Annual Conferences, within our Clergy Leaders, and within our Laity.

So, what does this look like?

Here's what the Call to Action proposes:

General Conference:

Here are some changes that are recommended to occur at General Conference this year:

• More freedom for Annual Conferences - less uniformity dictated by General Conference
• Revise guaranteed appointments - give Bishops and Cabinets the flexibility to make missional appointments that aid the growth of vital congregations and allow for grace-filled ways for ineffective pastors to transition to other employment
• Create one board - Since the merger that created the UMC over 40 years ago, we have created a governance structure that includes 13 different agencies. With the communication freedom of our current era, more of our mission is being done through congregations and annual conferences. Our current structure is cumbersome and does not take advantage of the networking abilities that are now available. Call to Action recommends the establishment of one board that integrates the leadership, mission, congregational development, justice and financial administration aspects of the UMC. In this proposed legislation, four agencies (who do not currently receive apportionment dollars or who receive less than 20 percent from apportionments) would continue as individual agencies: the General Board of Pensions and Health Benefits, the United Methodist Publishing House, the General Commission on United Methodist Men, and the Women's Division. More info on these proposed changes can be found here.
• Create an Executive Secretary position to head the new Center for Connectional Mission and Ministry
• Revise role of Council of Bishop's President - Create a "set-aside" President of the Council to help reform the Council to focus on growing vital congregations.
• Funds for Growth - Permit the mid-quadrennium reallocation of money from the General Church World Service and General Administration funds.

Clergy Leaders

• Lead congregations to be more vital by implementing the 16 drivers of vitality and carrying out the four areas of focus: 1) end deaths by malaria, 2) eliminate poverty, 3) start new faith communities, and 4) recruit younger clergy
• Develop and embrace metrics and goals to measure effectiveness, including the following areas:
• Disciples make new disciples: professions of faith
• Disciples worship - worship attendance
• Disciples grow and mature in their faith - number of small groups
• Disciple engage in mission - number of members engaged in mission
• Disciples give generously to mission - amount of money given to mission
• Grow leadership skills
• Pray for and work with laity, superintendent and bishop
• Encourage and mentor turnaround leaders to serve within the congregation and community

Laity

• Regularly practice and lead others to practice the means of grace
• Serve within your congregation so it becomes more vital
• Grow your leadership skills
• Embrace and develop metrics and goals
• Pray for and work with pastor(s), superintendent and bishop to grow unity within the congregation, conference and denomination
• Engage in listening and conversation with non-religious and nominally religious people in the commmunity

So...there's Call to Action in a nutshell. But this isn't the only restructuring plan on the table. Tomorrow, we'll hear about "Plan B."