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Dear HFUMC Congregation Members,
As we continue to share the details of the work of the Education Committee to Discern the Way Forward (ECDWF), we want to share information from our 5th meeting, held on October 24, 2022. Ten of the committee members were present with two absent.
Dennis Cavin covered the purpose of the meeting:
- Finalize a short questionnaire to all members of the congregation
- Confirm timing and input for the Frequently Ask Questions pamphlet
- Determine interest in bringing in consultants from Brentwood UMC
- Confirm ECDWF meeting schedule
The committee had an in-depth discussion on an anonymous questionnaire to discern the background of congregation members within the United Methodist Church (UMC), and HFUMC. The committee concurred on preface language to the questionnaire, and the process for disseminating the questionnaire was finalized.
Church members age 13 and older will be receiving hard copies of the anonymous questionnaire in the mail with a self-addressed, postage paid, return envelope by the end of this week. The questionnaire will also soon be seen in our weekly newsletter. The questionnaire is scheduled to be mailed this Friday, with a request to return responses by Monday, November 28, 2022. The committee asks that each member of the congregation submit only one response, and instructions to do so anonymously are included in the letter you will receive. This is a very important element of the ECDWF’s discernment journey, and we earnestly request our congregation provide prayerful responses.
The ECDWF continued work to hone some Frequently Asked Questions, with the intent to publish a pamphlet that articulates the issues facing the UMC and HFUMC. The committee agreed that will include:
- Details about the ECDWF committee, its purpose, and objectives
- Issues facing the United Methodist Church
- Specific issues applicable to HFUMC
- The next steps for HFUMC
Laura Brantley and Sharon Cox are members of Brentwood UMC and assisted Brentwood and other churches in their discernment journey. Both have offered their assistance to the ECDWF committee. Our committee was asked to review the video “Managing Transitions” prior to Laura and Sharon meeting with us. That scheduled meeting date is set for November 14, 2022.
A proposed long-term calendar was presented to the committee for review. Given the holiday schedule the ECDWF will only meet once in the month of December.
The committee was also encouraged to watch YouTube videos by Rob Renfroe and Adam Hamilton. These two videos provide point-counterpoint positions on the major issues facing the UMC.
In Christ Service
Dennis D. Gavin
Chairman, ECDWF
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