Petition Text: 20158-GJ-NonDis-O

Understanding Petition Numbers

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Whereas, the costs of meetings of the General Council on Ministries and the four program boards take substantial funding from the vital mission and ministry of the Church as shown below:

Costs of General Program Board and GCOM Meetings

General Council on Ministries 133 members

1993 $192,789 (2 full board meetings)

1994 $219,703 (2 full board meetings)

General Board of Church and Society 82 members

1993 $132,000

1994 $137,500

General Board of Discipleship 99 members

1993 $126,254

1994 $128,408

General Board of Global Ministries 176 members

1993 $826,911 (2 full board meetings)

1994 $702,000 1 full board meeting, 1 executive committee meeting)

General Board of Higher Education and Ministry 98 members

1993 $57,236

1994 $61,376

Note: This does not include various committee meetings of these agencies, nor does it include the costs of bishops attending full board, council, or committee meetings of these agencies.

And whereas, the number of members of these agencies (see above) is excessive in making their organizations effective;

Be it resolved, that the General Council on Ministries be eliminated and replaced by a Coordinating Committee of General Agencies represented by the General Secretaries and Presidents of all general agencies. The Council of Bishops shall designate a bishop, who does not chair a general agency, to serve as chair of the Coordinating Committee. Other officers shall be elected by the members of the committee. The Coordinating Committee of General Agencies will make referrals to the various agencies and see that overlapping of programs is avoided. Financial matters coming to the committee shall be referred to GCFA for action. The Coordinating Committee shall have oversight responsibilities for the World Service Special Gifts program. All other matters which cannot be resolved shall be referred to the Executive Committee of the Council of Bishops for resolution and action.

Be it further resolved, that the General Boards of Church and Society, Discipleship, and Higher Education and Ministry have no more than sixty (60) members, and the Board of Global Ministry have no more than ninety (90) members, including members from the Women's Division. (See ¶1429 of 1992 The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church.)

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Petition Text: 20158-GJ-NonDis-O
1996 United Methodist General Conference