Pathways can lead to transformation
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Bishop Bruce Ough describes seven vision pathways as “the best qualities of who we are and the most fruitful practices of our discipleship” in an address to the
2008 General Conference. UMNS photos by Mike DuBose.
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By Neill Caldwell*
April 24, 2008 | FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS)
Offering examples of positive ministries, Ohio West Area Bishop Bruce Ough told General Conference 2008 delegates how clergy and lay members are helping cast a vision for the people of The United Methodist Church.
“Early in this quadrennium, (the Council of Bishops) looked across the landscape of United Methodism to seek out the best qualities of who we are and the most fruitful practices of our discipleship,” Ough said.
The bishops found the practices and qualities aligned along seven basic pathways:
- teaching the Wesleyan model of reaching and forming disciples of Jesus Christ;
- strengthening clergy and lay leadership;
- developing new congregations;
- transforming existing congregations;
- ending racism as we authentically expand racial and ethnic ministries;
- reaching and transforming the lives of new generations of children; and
- eliminating poverty in community with the poor.
“We found many examples of ministries fulfilling the church’s mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world,” he said and cited three:
- The Rev. Bau Dang of San Diego, Calif., spent 10 years translating the Bible into Vietnamese. Each Sunday he offers six services in four languages: Cambodian, Vietnamese, Spanish and English.
- The Rev. Kevin Kloster is the church planter who started Celebration United Methodist Church in Brandon, S.D. He began in 1999 with a newspaper advertisement seeking “young and energetic” people to start a new church; today more than 300 people attend worship services each week. Nearly two-thirds were previously unchurched.
- Utu Langi and First United Methodist Church in Honolulu started a program called H-5, “Hawaii Helping the Hungry Have Hope.” Old tour buses have been converted into mobile shelters that are parked in areas where the homeless congregate.
Seven pathways allow transformation
“It is along these seven pathways that we journey to build up the Body of Christ, so that we can be God’s transforming and healing presence in the world,” Ough continued.
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With United Methodist ministries illustrated above him, Bishop Bruce Ough describes seven vision pathways to the 2008 General Conference.
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“The seven Vision Pathways have led to an unprecedented spirit of collaboration and alignment around our shared mission. This has led to a burgeoning movement of God’s spirit across the church. The pathways give us insight and guidance on the things local churches, districts and annual conferences are doing that work to fulfill the mission of making disciples for Jesus Christ and to prepare us for feeding the world.”
In the April 24 morning address, Ough also spoke about the four areas of focus that have emerged for The United Methodist Church: 1) developing Christian leaders; 2) creating new faith communities for new people; 3) ministry with the poor; and 4) stamping out diseases of poverty.
“These focus areas are opportunities for all people to participate in God’s mission through The United Methodist Church,” he said. “The seven pathways are embedded in these four focus areas. The purpose of these focus areas is not to limit the great work of anyone, but to focus the great work of everyone, bringing context and deeper spiritual meaning to our immense capacity to spread scriptural holiness across the land.”
In a press conference after his address, the bishop said that the Council of Bishops sought ways to “best exercise our corporate resources and responsibilities. … How we might best lead the church to transform the world.”
*Neill Caldwell is editor of the Virginia United Methodist Advocate and a reporter for United Methodist News Service.
News media contact: Neill Caldwell, e-mail: newsdesk@umcom.org.
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