The Current Week in Review
March 11, 2022
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Bishop issues response to GC postponement
Bishop Frank J. Beard issued a response to the announced postponement of General Conference until May 2024.
"Because the conference has been 'postponed' and not canceled, one of the challenges facing us is determining whether the 2020 elected delegates will be seated at the 2024 General Conference or whether a new group of delegates will need to be elected. This is now a decision for the Judicial Council to make. There is nothing we can do or should be doing to address this issue. It will boil down to a matter of how The Book of Discipline is interpreted. The Judicial Council is responsible for final interpretation of the Discipline.
Bishop Beard also addressed the issue of disaffiliation.
"Another key issue that needs addressing is the issue of disaffiliation. The General Conference has pending legislation that would allow churches to leave the United Methodist denomination and unite with another denomination. This legislation, if approved, would relax the United Methodist “Trust Clause” and allow Congregations and Conferences the opportunity to keep property and assets and to leave gracefully. Annual Conferences have the final vote on whether a church can disaffiliate. Because the General Conference has been postponed there is currently no new legislation that has not been approved.
"Shortly before the postponement of General Conference an announcement that a new denomination, the Global Methodist Church, plans to launch a new denomination on May 1, 2022. This announcement is NOT a part of the United Methodist legislative process and has not been approved by our denomination."
Citing long wait times for visas, General Conference organizers announced that The United Methodist Church’s top lawmaking assembly — long postponed by pandemic — must wait until 2024.
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Bishop Beard to host open forums on disaffiliation March 28-29
Bishop Frank J. Beard is inviting clergy and laity to an open forum on disaffiliation on March 28 and 29. You will note that some of the sessions are for clergy only; others are for both clergy and laity.
Seating is limited to 500 persons and registration will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.
In an effort to be responsive to questions you might have, you have an opportunity to ask your questions by submitting them with your registration. Because we are dealing with matters that are complex and involve legal issues, Bishop Beard is requesting these questions be submitted in advance.
Persons may choose from the following four sessions:
- Clergy Only Sessions -- March 28 at 1 p.m. and March 29 at 6 p.m.
- Sessions for Everyone -- Clergy and Laity -- March 28 at 6 p.m. and March 29 at 10 a.m.
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Council of Bishops seeks Judicial Council's guidance on six questions
The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church is requesting a declaratory decision from the Judicial Council on whether an annual conference can separate from the denomination under the provision of the Book of Discipline.
During a special meeting COB held via Zoom and through electronic balloting, the bishops approved a request to ask the church’s top court to address six questions:
The bishops are asking for an expedited ruling so that there is consistency among the annual conferences and to avoid action by individual annual conferences that may violate the Discipline.
“Delay in issuing the request for declaratory decision will increase frustration and anxiety among persons within the UMC and will likely cause harm not only to the denomination but to local churches, districts, annual conference institutions and related entities, pastors, and jurisdictions,” stated the bishops’ request.
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Annual Conference childcare survey
If you are planning to use the Annual Conference childcare, please take the time to complete this form: https://forms.gle/Vpu62jCaiijppbmP8
With some changes in the structure, leadership, and resources for our childcare program, the Annual Conference Committee on Sessions is looking to gather additional information about options for childcare at our 2022 Session on June 9-11 in Peoria. We’re especially looking to know how our childcare users are planning to make use of the option to participate in Annual Conference on-line through a remote access on their personal device.
More information about childcare options will be available during Annual Conference registration in April, but this information is very important to our planning team. If you have additional questions, please feel free to reach out to Curtis Brown directly via email cbrown@igrc.org or telephone 217-529-2442.
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Denman, Cartwright award nominees sought
Nominations are now being accepted through April 25 for the Denman Evangelism Award for clergy, laity and youth, and for the Peter Cartwright Lifetime Achievement Award in Ministry. These awards are presented by the IGRC Evangelism Committee.
The Denman Evangelism Award honors an IGRC United Methodist lay, youth lay and clergy person who exhibits unusual and outstanding efforts for work in Christian evangelism by faithfully carrying out the mission of “making disciples of Jesus Christ.”
The Peter Cartwright Lifetime Evangelism Award of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference is awarded to someone who has exceptional leadership qualities to help our conference in making disciples of Jesus Christ. This person’s lifetime example challenges pastors and lay people to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others. Where the Denman award is given for a period of work, the Peter Cartwright Lifetime Evangelism Award is given to a retired pastor who has reflected this work throughout their ministry career.
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Ministry opportunity with UMRC
United Media Resource Center Director Jill Stone is retiring at the end of May and new UMRC management using volunteers will be needed.
Does your church or community feel a calling to serve churches by connecting them to a wide variety of resources for Christian education, leadership development, and personal spiritual growth? Do you live in the Springfield area OR have a large space for housing the UMRC’s collection and office?
Having a small group of volunteers to share responsibilities would be ideal.
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Celebrate UMCOR Sunday March 27
Without your generosity, this ministry could not be achieved! You gave $1,921,619 last year towards ministries funded by the UMCOR Special Sunday offering. Giving allows us to make a difference in the lives of communities and individuals whose lives have been upset by storms, wars, fires, displacement and climate change. This offering underwrites UMCOR’s “costs of doing business,” allowing UMCOR to keep the promise that 100% of any gift to a specific UMCOR project will go toward that project, not administrative costs.
This Special Sunday kit provides a full package of ready to use resources to help your church celebrate the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Special Sunday and define how we give, why we give and the impact we make through connectional efforts.
All resources are available in digital format and we encourage you to use them in the best format that works for your church. Use the worship material during the service, include the prewritten emails in newsletters, share videos during class, or post the social media graphics on your website and social channels. For those who still appreciate print resources, we have a special envelope and pew cards that can be ordered here. The resources are for you to engage in the ministry of Human Relations Day.
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United Methodist Center Contact Information |
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USPS (U.S. Postal Service)
P.O. Box 19207, Springfield, IL 62794-9207
Office Phone: 217-529-2040
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UPS and FedEx deliveries only use the street address:
United Methodist Center
5900 S. 2nd Street
Springfield, IL 62711
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