Whereas, all leadership, including Black leadership, is developed through modeling, cultivating, and providing opportunities to develop and demonstrate leadership skills; and
Whereas, competent Black talent exists among the membership of local United Methodist churches but is often tapped only through meager attempts at inclusion amounting to little more than "tokenism;" and
Whereas, The United Methodist Church, with its resources of Black clergy and laity, has an opportunity to be an agent in demonstrating the effectiveness of culturally diverse leadership by truly integrating its congregations and pastors;
Therefore, be it resolved, that The United Methodist Church in all of its annual conferences will actively seek to identify Black clergy and laity for leadership positions at the local, district, annual conference, jurisdictional, and general Church levels. Such active identification may be accomplished through:
*The conducting of district leadership training seminars to which at least three members of each predominantly Black church have been invited; and
*The establishment of a "mentor system" in which an effective Black leader would become a mentor to a potential Black leader and would encourage and assist that person into the full development of his or her leadership skills; and
*The frequent fellowshipping of racial ethnic congregations leading to an understanding of racial differences; and
*Bishops and district superintendents actively choosing Black United Methodists to fill appointive positions in the annual conference, jurisdictional, and general Church levels.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 22193-CO-NonDis-O
1996 United Methodist General Conference