The Committee recommends concurrence as amended as follows:
Add as a new Section XVI, paragraphs 2301 and following, a General Commission on United Methodist Men to the Discipline:
¶ 2301 Name.----There shall be a General Commission on United Methodist Men in The United Methodist Church.
The general commission shall be amenable to the General Conference of The United Methodist Church. Between sessions of the General Conference, the commission shall be accountable to the General Council on Ministries by reporting and interpreting activities in its purpose.
¶ 2302 Purpose.----The General Commission on United Methodist Men shall have primary oversight for the coordination and resourcing of men's work within The United Methodist Church.
1. To provide resources and support services to foster the development of units of United Methodist Men.
a) Provide specific and optional models for these units in the local church, district, annual conference, and jurisdiction.
b) Receive recommendations from the National Association of Conference Presidents of United Methodist Men and other national organizations representing the Central Conferences and other worldwide Methodist liaisons.
c) Promote the chartering and annual recertification of local church men's units with the General Commission on United Methodist Men.
2. To seek methods for involving men in a growing relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ and his Church.
a) Provide resources and support for programs of evangelism which are geared to men's needs in cooperation with the area of evangelism. To assist men to discover that witness is an integral part of daily life in the work place, the community, the parish, and the home.
b) Provide resources and support for programs of mission in cooperation with all areas of the church dealing with missional opportunities enabling men for outreach and service as an integral part of their Christian servanthood.
c) Provide resources and support for programs of spiritual life in cooperation with areas of faith development to assist men to realize that witness and outreach, mission and ministry, are extensions of their faith development and their relationship to God through Jesus Christ.
d) Provide resources and support for programs of stewardship in cooperation with the area of stewardship which will lead men to an understanding of their responsibility for stewardship, including time, talent, money, and prayer.
e) Seek resources and support for men as husbands and fathers in a rapidly changing society.
f) Continue in a constant search for new and better ways for The United Methodist Church to minister to and through men.
g) Provide resources and support for the office of scouting ministries and the national association of United Methodist Scouters for training of local church district, annual conference, jurisdictional scouting coordinators.
h) Be an active partner with The Upper Room in the Living Prayer Center ministry, with support for WATTS telephone service and promotion. At every level there shall be Prayer Coordinators in United Methodist Men.
i) United Methodist Men shall be partners with local churches with moving members. The program shall be called Moving United Methodist.
¶ 2303 Membership.
1. Two bishops elected by Council on Bishops. Four members elected
by each jurisdiction from the National Association of Conference Presidents,
one of whom will be the Jurisdictional President, two members elected by
jurisdiction conference which shall include one woman and one clergy, one of
whom shall be ethnic. The National Association of Conference Presidents will
assure that each ethnic group is represented on the commission (Asian American,
African American, Hispanic American, and Native American) as well as two young
adults (under 35) from their organizations. Ex officio members--(not eligible
to hold offices in GCOUMM) President of National Association of Conference
Presidents United Methodist Men, President of National Association of United
Methodist Scouters, and President of United Methodist Men
Foundation.The Commission shall consist of 43 voting members as
defined in ¶ 805 of the general provisions and ¶ 635. There
shall be 2 Bishops elected by the College of Bishops; 6 members elected by each
Jurisdictional Conference upon nomination by the Jurisdictional Committee on
United Methodist Men which will include at least one clergy, one woman, ethnic
representation, and the Jurisdictional President of United Methodist Men; 5
representatives of the National Association of Conference Presidents including
the National President; 1 elected president from a national organization of
United Methodist Men of a Central Conference or conferences who shall be
selected by the Commission on Central Conference Affairs; and 5
members-at-large which shall include at least two young adults. Ex officio
members with voice shall include the President of the United Methodist Men
Foundation and the President of the National Association of United Methodist
Scouters.
2. Vacancies.----Vacancies in the general commission membership shall be filled by procedures defined in ¶812 of the General Provisions.
3. Officers.----The General Commission on United Methodist Men shall elect as its officers a president, vice president, secretary, and other such officers as it shall deem necessary.
4. Staff.----The General Commission on United Methodist Men shall nominate for election by the General Council on Ministries its general secretary, who shall provide executive, administrative, and programmatic leadership (¶813). The commission shall elect such other staff members as needs require within the General Conference mandates and the authority vested in the commission to develop policies and programs directed toward the realization of its purpose.
5. Meetings.----The general commission shall meet annually with such additional meetings as needs demand.
[Delete 6. Funding and substitute.]The General Council on Finance and Administration shall make provision for the necessary support of the work of the Commission by transferring from the budget of the General Board of Discipleship those World Service Funds and direct United Methodist Men contributions (Charter fees and EMS memberships) allocated for United Methodist Men which include operating funds, office rent, equipment, service and directors travel for the next quadrennium. Also the office space and equipment currently used by the United Methodist Men Division would be transferred to the Commission. In the event that the Commission is not self-supporting after the first quadrennium, disposition will be at the direction of the General Conference.
Renumber remaining sections of Chapter Six. Administrative Order
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Calendar Item Text: 1681-NonDis-$1996 United Methodist General Conference