Petition Text: 22355-GJ-NonDis-O

Understanding Petition Numbers

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Whereas, The United Methodist Church in the United States has consistently declined in membership for more than a quarter of a century; and

Whereas, at the 1992 session of General Conference, The United Methodist Church expressed genuine concern for the growth of the Church; and

Whereas, urban centers of the United States are experiencing racial transition; and

Whereas, Black Americans are becoming new residents in these transitional communities and represent an excellent opportunity to plant new churches in established communities, utilizing existing buildings;

Therefore, be it resolved, that The United Methodist Church address racial transition as a model for building Black churches by providing denominational resources and pastors to cultivate and promote Black church growth; and

Be it further resolved, that each annual conference identify a test group of Black clergy/lay persons and empower the Boards of Discipleship and Higher Education and Ministry to train these selected persons for effective leadership in local churches, utilizing the most capable resource persons across denominational lines.

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Petition Text: 22355-GJ-NonDis-O
1996 United Methodist General Conference