Highlights of the Connectional Table Meeting on July 28-29, 2011

The purpose of the Connectional Table (CT) is for the discernment and articulation of the vision for the church and the stewardship of the mission, ministries, and resources of The United Methodist Church as determined by the actions of the General Conference and in consultation with the Council of Bishops. As part of the total mission of the church, the CT is to serve as a steward of the vision and resources for mission and ministry, provide fiscal responsibility, and establish policies and procedures to carry out the mission of the church. (¶904)

The fifteenth meeting of the Connectional Table was held at the Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville, TN on July 28-29, 2011. This meeting began the morning of July 28th and ended at 12:15pm on July 29^th.  The Connectional Table met jointly with GCFA for 2 hours the evening of July 28^th, and an hour and a half the morning of July 29^th. This meeting focused on the affirmations and recommendations being made by the Interim Operations Team (IOT).

The main focus of the Connectional Table meeting was to hear the recommendations of the Call to Action Interim Operations Team.

During their meeting, members of the Connectional Table:

• Heard the Call to Action – Interim Operations Team report presented by Bishop Palmer, Carolyn Byrd, Carol Tuthill and Vicki Palmer, with Laura Nichol and Adam Hamilton via video presentation.
• Engaged in small group discussions around the IOT recommendations. Groups divided to focus on the following key elements:

1. Clergy leadership & lay development, guaranteed appointment, set-aside bishop
2. Advisory Board, representation & diversity
3. Overall structure, transition & timing
4. Accountability & metrics
5. Revenue & spending

• Shared concerns, suggestions, and made amendments to the recommendations presented by the IOT.
• Approved the 4 affirmations and 5 recommendations as amended.
• Legislation task group was assigned to draft legislation for the CT to approve before September 1^st. (Members: Jay Brim, Ray Hamill, Forbes Matonga, Tim McClendon, Roy Sano, Lynn Scott)
• September 1, 2011 Update: The CT voted to approve legislation to submit to the 2012 General Conference.

Business in the Connectional Table plenary included:

• Re-committed to the covenant for how this body will work together, as created by the Covenant Task Group prior to the spring 2010 meeting.
• Recognition of General and Jurisdictional Conference Delegates.
• Reviewed and approved the final draft of the CT report to General Conference 2012.
• Approved 3 funding requests which were received by the WSCF task force; each was previously approved by the General Secretaries Table and the WSCF task force. Approved the WSCF task force’s recommendation to request reconsideration by GCFA for the funding request for Evaluation & Review software.
• Received the 2010 CT Audit Report as an official document of record.
• Heard reports from the Ministry Study Committee, Vital Congregations, Imagine No Malaria, and Path One.
• Approved an Emerging Ministries Fund request for the Vital Congregations team.
• Heard reports from the Advisory Team and the Legislation task group. 

Additional activities in which Connectional Table members participated included:

• Devotional services led by members and staff of the Connectional Table.
• Chaplain moments led by Rev. Lynn Scott
• Covenant Groups joined for conversation and fellowship.

During the joint meeting with GCFA, the members of GCFA and the Connectional Table:

• GCFA supported CT’s recommendation to set aside 3x3 recommendations and move forward with the CT’s direction for GCFA to allocate the original $603 million budget. Then the Board of Directors will determine how to use savings (of up to $60 million) toward the adaptive challenge.
• CT requested reconsideration by GCFA for funding of Evaluation & Review software.