News Archives

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North Texas General Conference Delegation Endorses Call to Action
North Texas General Conference Delegation Endorses Call to Action

Building for the Future: Steps To Realign the Work of the General Agencies
There is hope that we would bring our faith and willingness to General Conference 2012.

Iowa Delegation Endorses Restructuring Plan
Delegation encourages thoughtful and prayerful consideration of this Call to Action.

2011 church restructure plan headed to vote
Concerns expressed as General Conference 2012 to consider plan to consolidate general agencies into new mission, ministry center.

Bishops endorse church restructure proposals
“We see a new church,” say bishops, who favor reallocating up to $60 million for vital congregations.

Ethnic delegates wary of restructuring plan
Northeastern Jurisdiction delegates to General Conference worry ‘many voices will be missing from the table’ under plan to consolidate.

Steps to Build a Vital Congregation
It's exciting to see the thoughtful vision developed out of the Call to Action Report begin to take shape in resources that will help our local congregations look to the future.

Press Release: The Connectional Table Proposes Legislation to Implement the Call to Action Recommendations
Petitions to be filed asking for the restructuring the governing boards of general agencies.

‘Bold’ changes proposed for church structure
Proposals include a new process for dismissing low-performing clergy and consolidation of 10 agencies to try to ‘simplify’ and ‘integrate.’

Vital Congregations site empowers churches
The site offers tools for churches to assess their health and set goals for becoming more vital. Churches can share stories of success.

Working Toward 2012 General Conference
We do not know yet what the future holds, but we live in the faith that God is leading us to our future with hope.

Church must ‘measure what we treasure’
Corporate America’s best practices don’t necessarily apply to reinventing The United Methodist Church.

Saving souls and bodies in Africa
Bishop shares how the church’s anti-malaria fight and Côte D’Ivoire radio station make disciples.

Leaders give church changes yellow light
Advisory panel asked to proceed with caution on proposals to add a new board and have agencies charge for services.

Denomination faces sizable budget cuts
For the first time in the history of The United Methodist Church, even the best-case budget projection called for a reduction in available funds.

Making Disciples, Transforming Lives
The United Methodist Church, with its distinctly Wesleyan heritage, is now looking anew at its calling.

Leadership Summit tackles church future
Thousands of United Methodists tuned in to learn how leaders plan to increase vital congregations.

Leadership Summit invites global sharing
April 6 webcast participants will consider future challenges for United Methodist churches and annual conferences.

Call to Action Interim Operations Team Named
A 7-member team will serve as a catalyst for implementing significant change in the denomination.

Understanding the Call to Action
Let us begin this bold process now and allow for Providence to move among us so that we are fulfilling the Church’s mission.

‘Advisory group on steroids’ tackles reform
Connectional Table approves creation of an Interim Operations Team, which will flesh out the Call to Action recommendations.

Fall 2010 Meeting of the Connectional Table
The Connectional Table gathers at Franklin First United Methodist Church for its semi-annual fall meeting.

Bishops urged to embrace change
In his address to the council, Bishop Larry Goodpaster asked leaders to abandon structures that are not working or face further church decline.

Call to Action report: Reform church in U.S.
Team suggests ways for church to reverse decline and says status quo is 'toxic.'

New Verse in a Timeless Song
The people of The United Methodist Church are in the midst of crafting a pivotal stanza that will shape the future of our denomination.

African churches desire equal voice
Study committee will explore ways to promote the faith in different cultures.

Keys to building vital congregations
Topical preaching, varied worship styles, effective lay leadership are characteristics of growing churches.

Worldwide UMC Study Group Headed to Africa; Listening Posts Set for Congo, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Liberia
“We are headed into a vital part of our work in Africa,” said Bishop Scott J. Jones, chair of the 32-member committee. The basic question the committee is addressing is: What will The United Methodist Church be like in 2020, 2040, 2050, and beyond?

Growth in Africa outpaces decline in U.S.
Bishop says young people are “interested in having a relationship with God and knowing more about Jesus.”

2010 State of the Church Report Now Available
"In this annual report, we see signs of hope," said Bishop John Hopkins, chairperson of the Connectional Table.

Keeping current across the connection
April was a busy month this year, with several significant meetings taking place across the denomination in preparation for General Conference 2012.

Bishops seek justice in Philippines
Bishops condemn killings, urge prayer, activism for people of Philippines.

Weaver to deliver Episcopal Address
Bishop Peter D. Weaver of the Boston Episcopal Area has been chosen to deliver the Episcopal Address at the 2012 General Conference in Tampa.

Group defers gay issue to 2012
International team also recommends granting more autonomy to regional church bodies.

Church addresses abuses in Philippines
Connectional Table condemns "extrajudicial killings."

Four Areas of Focus update
Boards and agencies describe how their collective work serves the 21st century church.

Momentum builds for major church change
Most people believe change “is long overdue,” Bishop John Hopkins says in a commentary.

'> UMPH's Neil Alexander Urges United Methodists to Take Call to Action Survey
The president and publisher of United Methodist Publishing House urges your participation in an online survey of United Methodist leaders.

Research shows support for Four Areas of Focus
Research reveals widespread denominational support for the Church’s four Areas of Focus.

Special session of General Conference unlikely
Leaders say there may not be enough time or money for an extra meeting.

The Connectional Table affirms plans for holisitic 21st century church
In the coming year, church leaders will be drafting the blueprints for the new architecture of The United Methodist Church.

Connectional Table OKs new plan to study church
Guaranteed appointments, size of church agencies among areas under consideration.

Connectional Table sets quadrennial priorities
On May 12-14, members of the Connectional Table met to set priorities for the church's mission, vision and stewardship.

United Methodist agencies coping with economic crisis
New programs launch amid cutbacks.

Change raises trust issues in church
Faith, grace overcome division, leaders say.

Palmer says church is in ‘sweet spot’ for change
Council of Bishops president urges denomination to be more nimble.

New group will study church’s worldwide nature
Twenty United Methodists from across the globe will develop recommendations for next General Conference.

United Methodist of the Year: Young girl puts spotlight on global health
Katherine Commale, of Downington, Pa., who has helped raise over $85,000 for Nothing but Nets, is named 2008 UM of the Year.

Connectional Table hones vision for next four years
Creating a place “for everyone born” was the mantra repeated throughout the meeting of the Connectional Table.

New commission aligns with areas of focus
The Commission on Religion and Race will integrate its work with the denomination’s four priority areas.

Introduction to the Four Areas of Focus
View this nine-minute video to learn how the Holy Spirit is leading the people called United Methodists.

General Conference 2008: A Journey with Hope into God’s Future
In less than two weeks The United Methodist Church will embark on a journey with hope into God's future.

Exploring the worldwide nature of the Church
A report and petitions to General Conference address the increasing growth of The United Methodist Church worldwide.

New conversations lay groundwork for season of hope
As a participant in the Connectional Table, I have been encouraged by the new conversations taking place in the Church.

State of the Church report encourages dialogue
Approximately 3,000 United Methodists were surveyed for a first-ever, comprehensive overview of the life of the church.

New Connectional Table plans state-of-church report
An annual state-of-the-church report will be presented to members of the United Methodist Church around the world.

Connectional Table discusses vision for church
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. (UMNS) - "What are the concerns facing the United Methodist Church all over the world?"

Connectional table considers church's 'global character'
United Methodists claim to be part of a "global church," but what does that phrase mean?

State of Church report will include inside, outside views
Views of United Methodists and of people outside the church will be incorporated into the denomination's first State of the Church report.

Research firm explores state of the United Methodist Church
What do United Methodists like about their denomination?

Connectional Table affirms four 'provocative proposals'
The Connectional Table, a 60-member group responsible for coordinating the mission, ministries and resources of the United Methodist Church, has proposed four goals for the 10 million-member denomination.

Researchers complete first phase of 'State of Church' report
Researchers have asked 300 United Methodist members, lay leaders and pastors how they define the denomination.

Church Creates Connectional Table to Lead General Agency Work
The United Methodist Church has decided to create a “Connectional Table” to guide the work of the denomination’s general agencies.

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State of the Church Report

"What does it mean to be United Methodist?"

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