Fellow HFUMC Congregation Members,

This is Dennis Cavin, and I am serving as chairman of the newly formed Education Committee for the Discernment of the Way Forward.

This note will serve as the first in what will be several and frequent reports of the deliberations of the committee. I want to strongly emphasize that the creation of the committee was approved by the HFUMC Council of Stewards and that our mission is to research the issues currently being addressed by the United Methodist Church and to ensure that our research is shared to the broadest extent possible with our total congregation.

I understand there may be some who are unsure of the mission of this committee. Let me be as honest and direct as I can possibly be, we are to educate the congregation in an unbiased, factual manner so that each member will have the available information on those issues we face together. We in NO WAY will we make a recommendation on whether the church takes a vote to disaffiliate or not. That is NOT our mission, and it is my responsibility to ensure we stay focused on our task.

REPORT #1—ECDWF meeting Sept. 6, 2022 at 7 PM.  

Three of the 12 members were not in attendance.

The focus of this meeting was to review activates since the formal committee appointment by the Council of Stewards. Those activities included adjustments to committee membership and the review of a historical record of the United Methodist Church prepared by Ted Brown. This document will be the base document used to bring our congregation up to speed on the history of the United Methodist Church, its structure, operating tenants, and outline of the Book of Discipline.

The committee also discussed the potential use of a consultant who has assisted other Methodist Church’s in their discernment process. More on that during our next report.

A great deal of time was spent discussing methods we might pursue to educate the congregation:

1. A small survey of the congregation
2. Production of a Frequently Asked Questions pamphlet
3. Discussions with Sunday School Classes
4. Greater use of email, and HFUMC social media links
5. Church wide meetings

The committee agree unanimously that it was critical to have minutes of all meetings and to provide a synopsis of those meeting to insure there is transparency to the committee’s process and progress.

The committee agreed to a formal meeting schedule which will take place on the 2^nd and 4^th Monday of each month.

Two books were recommended for committee members and members of the congregation to read for a better understanding of the issues the UMC faces:

• Are We Really Better Together? (Renfroe / Fenton)
• United Methodist Divided (McConkey)

The next meeting of the ECDWF will meet on 21 Sep due to conflicts with 26 Sep.

The committee welcomes dialog with anyone who has questions about our process and direction.

In Service to Christ,

Dennis D. Cavin

Chairman

Education Committee for the Discernment of the Way Forward