Section VI. The Journey of a Connectional People
112. 1. Introduction.--Ever since John Wesley began to refer to the scattered Methodist classes, bands, and societies throughout eighteenth-century England as "the connexion," Methodists everywhere have embraced the idea that as a people of faith we journey together in connection and in covenant with one another. Expressing the high degree of cohesiveness and centralized organization among Methodists, the connectional principle became the distinguishing mark which set them apart from the normal patterns of Anglican ecclesiastical organization as well as the more loosely organized Protestant bodies of the day.
2. Roots--This acceptance of strong covenantal bonds among the Methodists was no accident. There were deep theological roots, including the concept and experience of covenant and the resulting emphasis on faith journeying in covenant with God and one another. The connectional idea is a style of relationship rather than simply an organizational or structural framework. As Bishop Paul Washburn once said, it is made up of "living, interdependent and interacting relationships . . . born in covenant-making events."
There were deep biblical roots as well. Images of the church, especially in the New Testament--the vine and the branches, the wedding feast, the household or commonwealth of God, the new humanity with cosmic and kingdom dimensions, the fellowship of the saints, the Body of Christ, and a host of others--supplemented the covenant concept. The very structure of the Apostolic church was connectional and covenantal. Paul realized very early the importance of superintending scattered congregations.
It is important to note that we are not a connectional people because of biblical or theological or even historical mandates. The evolution of our polity has, however, been a natural response to these elements in our background and they continue to inform and direct our efforts.
3. The Principle Itself--Let us simply state the connectional principle and its essential ingredients:
The United Methodist connectional principle, born out of our historical tradition, many biblical roots, and accepted theological ideas, is the basic form of our polity, the way in which we carry out God's mission as a people.
It is in essence a network of interdependent relationships among persons and groups throughout the life of the whole denomination.
It declares that our identity is in our wholeness together in Christ that each part is vital to the whole, that our mission is more effectively carried out by a connectional life which incorporates Wesleyan zeal into the life of the people.
A) Shared Vision--The principle provides a way to identify the gospel alive in today's world as a shared vision that inspires our actions on behalf of Christ. The lonely witness for salvation in Christ has its place but only when sustained and inspired by others sharing that vision.
B) Memory--The principle provides continued remembrance of the story of our heritage as United Methodist Christians in order that we might share more meaningfully in the experience and the mission of the universal church. As we know and share the common story of our faith journey, our witness to the world is strengthened.
C) Community--The principle provides for relationships of Holy Spirit-empowered community wherein support, supervision, healing, accountability, and growth can take place for persons and groups across the denomination. Our life together, with its mutual accountability and relationships, keeps us ever alert to being faithful to the gospel in all our efforts. Through it the whole system may be fueled with life-giving Spirit energy.
D) Discipline--The principle provides a life of voluntary compliance to a discipline which includes rights and privileges as well as responsibilities and obligations. Our mutual acceptance of a disciplined life together enables more effective ministry to the world.
E) Leadership--The principle provides a sharing of resources and resource persons for mission and ministry--for pastors and laypeople in local settings or beyond local settings. This is done through superintending pastors, boards, and agencies that serve the denomination in ways it may determine.
F) Mobilization--The principle provides coordinated missional mobilization and deployment in response to the gospel call. The intentional work of the entire body has the potential of greater influence on human life--in response to great social issues, in extending the gospel to new fields, in deploying the ordained in the most effective way. All parts of the Church are vessels of mission, bound together by a form, so an effective whole is developed.
G) Linkage--The principle provides an interdependent network of gathering points which brings us together in various ways to carry out our shared mission. In these "conferring" experiences we all celebrate together and together lay out our strategy for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. In this way corporate, compassionate power is released.
4. Affirmation and Stress--As United Methodist people we celebrate the fact that connectionalism has served us well in our mission and ministry, and we affirm Christ's central role in our lives and through Christ, the enabling of our connection and our life together. At the same time we recognize there are stresses that must be addressed if the connectional principle is to continue to serve us well in the future. The stresses include issues surrounding clergy itineracy and the appointment process, decision-making, apportionments and designated giving, episcopal leadership, and mutual accountability. It is important for connectionalism to bend, to have tolerance in a changing world, to be able to live in the new days ahead of us with freshness and new commitment.
5. The Challenge--Now we have the special opportunity to take this way of doing mission and ministry and to use it effectively in accomplishing our goals as a church. We have a unique avenue for witnessing and reaching out with the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ to the end that the world will indeed be reformed. The connectional principle should be interpreted to all our people in new and fresh ways and lifted up with enthusiasm as an effective instrument in our efforts to bring the world closer in harmony with the will and purpose of God as revealed in Jesus Christ.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
1992 Book of Discipline: ¶ 112
1996 United Methodist General Conference