The Book of Discipline, 1992 (¶ 1006.18) gives to the General Council on Ministries the responsibility, in consultation with the Council of Bishops, to recommend to the General Conference plans for theme, missional priorities and/or special programs.
Process and Discernment
In the 1993-96 GCOM internal structure, the responsibility for exploring a possible theme, missional priority and special programs for the 1997-2000 quadrennium was with the Division on Missional Emphases and the full Council. Both the Division and the Council took this responsibility seriously by undertaking an intensive process of listening to varied and many voices throughout the connection in order to discern God's call.
At its October 1992 meeting, the Division began the discernment process by considering the following questions:
What will challenge the church?
What will capture the imagination?
What will make a difference?
What will enable people to respond in ministry and gifts?
How can we help people identify with real needs?
How can we move from band-aid responses to systemic cures?
How do we relate faith to societal wrongs/needs?
In 1993, the Division developed an action plan for the consideration of a theme, missional priority, and special programs for the next quadrennium. The plan included the following components:
discussions within the Division and Council at future meetings about the theme, missional priority and special program options;
a research study performed by GCOM's Office of Research to receive feedback from constituents about possible themes, missional priorities and special programs;
Research Components
The Division and Council took the following steps in their discernment process regarding a possible theme, missional priority(ies) and/or special programs:
1. Administered a survey to GCOM members on significant societal issues. The issues most identified by 25-45% of the members were poverty, socio-economic change; crime, violence; "isms" especially racism, health care, family issues (divorce, abuse, changing families).
2. The Division considered the various General Conference mandates assigned to GCOM (a missional priority on crisis, special emphasis on reclaiming the cities, and a major emphasis on youth and students) in its deliberation. The question "Where is God leading us?" was at the center of all discussions.
3. Conversations with members of the Council of Bishops occurred in an effort to strengthen and coordinate any agreed upon initiatives.
In 1994, the GCOM Office of Research polled the Survey of United Methodist Opinion panel to determine what United Methodists preferred concerning themes, missional priorities and special projects for the 1997-2000 quadrennium. Surveys were mailed to 2,319 clergy and lay members. The following results were reported:
Theme
In a majority of local churches, the "Celebrate and Witness" theme was not used or it may have been used in ways about which the person being surveyed was not aware. Only a fourth of the laity and 31% of the clergy reported use of the theme in their local church. Of the laity, 44% did not know if the theme was being used.
Annual conferences used the "Celebrate and Witness" theme according to 66% of the clergy respondents.
Seven out of ten lay members did not know if the annual conference had been using the "Celebrate and Witness" theme.
Missional Priorities and Special Programs
The clergy preferred an emphasis on The United Methodist Church followed by a focus on societal issues; however, the laity indicated an opposite preference. Issues named the most by respondents as possible missional priorities were: Focus on the Family; Hope for Youth; Outreach to Neighbors; Evangelism and Spirituality. Twenty percent of the respondents indicated a desire to have no missional priority. Forty-two percent of the clergy and 43% of the laity indicated a desire for special programs for 1997-2000. A plurality of laity believed that special programs would benefit their local congregation and 34% of the clergy agreed.
Outcome
In the fall of 1994, the Division brought to the Council a recommendation to adopt a proposal for a focus on youth and young adults for the 1997-2000 quadrennium with the understanding that additional discussion would occur to further define the direction of the proposal. The Council also approved recommending to General Conference that "Peace with Justice" be designated as a special program for 1997-2000. (See Report No. 12, page 634)
At the spring 1995 GCOM meeting, the Division brought forth the following recommendations which were adopted by the Council:
1. There will be no theme for 1997-2000;
2. A "Shared Mission Focus" on young people (as opposed to a "missional priority" on youth and young adults) is recommended to be adopted by the entire church. (See Report No. 4 page 599.)
3. Specific missional priorities on crisis or reclaiming the cities are not recommended because several critical urban initiatives are already underway and need to be supported, (e.g, Communities of Shalom, Holy Boldness, Substance Abuse and Related Violence) (See Reports No. 22 and 23, pages 663-665)
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 21695-GJ-NonDis-O
1996 United Methodist General Conference