News of the General Church

Beth Stroud Trial: Overturned

NE Jurisdiction overturns Beth Stroud's Verdict

Iliff Issues Joint Declaration

Iliff And President Emeritus David Maldonado, Jr. have issued a "Joint Declaration" regarding the departure of Dr. Maldonado from the active Iliff presidency in May, 2004.

The "Declaration" as a Portable Document Format (PDF) file is available on Iliff's Web site, along with many other documents and stories related to the departure of Dr. Maldonado and the subsequent investigation by the University Senate of the United Methodist and the General Commission on Religion and Race. http://www.iliff.edu/about_iliff/news.htm. There are also some related items on the RMCUMC.org web site: http://www.rmcumc.org/News/Communications/bbiliff-pres.htm

Iliff Special Review Team Report Released

The Special Review Team from The United Methodist University Senate and the General Commission on Religion and Race has released the final report of the team's findings and recommendations, Tuesday, November 2, at an Iliff Community Meeting. More...

Bishop Sharon Brown Christopher to Chair Connectional Table Transition;

Eight Persons Named to Transition Team for Ministry Coordination Across UMC

NASHVILLE - Bishop Sharon Brown Christopher, a former president of the Council of Bishops, has been designated to lead the team that will coordinate the process creating the new Connectional Table to oversee coordination of mission, ministries, and resources across The United Methodist Church.

The church's legislative body, the General Conference, voted in May to create the Connectional Table to replace the General Council on Ministries.

The transition team is balanced between lay and clergy. It includes representation from the U.S. jurisdictional conferences and the overseas central conferences, and reflects the gender and ethnic makeup of the church. The Council of Bishops, the current General Council on Ministries, and the Council on Finance and Administration appointed members.

"We have a unique opportunity to shape the General Conference's vision for ministry in the 21st Century," Christopher said. "There is much to be done in a short time."

In addition to Bishop Christopher, of Springfield, Ill., who leads the Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference, the transition team includes the following members:

  • Bishop John L. Hopkins of Minneapolis, Minn., bishop of the Minnesota Annual Conference. He is a Council of Bishops appointee.
  • Leveeda Morgan Battle of Birmingham, Ala., a General Council on Finance and Administration appointee.
  • Mary Hayenga of Andover, S. D., a General Council of Ministries appointee.
  • The Rev. Marilynn M. Huntington of Pasadena, Calif., a General Council of Ministries appointee.
  • Patrick Streiff of Nuechatel, Switzerland, a Council of Bishops appointee.
  • Gerald "Jay" Williams of New York City, a General Council of Ministries appointee.
  • The Rev. J. Phillip Wogaman of Washington, D.C., a General Council on Finance and Administration appointee.

Christopher said the transition team's responsibilities include:

  • Developing and implementing a plan to convene the Connectional Table;
  • Providing for the orientation and training of the Connectional Table;
  • Developing a process and designating persons to ensure the orderly reassignment of functions and responsibilities from the General Council on Ministries to the Connectional Table;
  • Transferring corporate assets and liabilities to the trustees of the denomination;
  • Developing a plan to care for personnel employed by the General Council on Ministries and
  • Resolving all other essential matters of transition.

The legislation creating the Connectional Table requires the transfer of responsibilities from the General Council on Ministries to the new organization by Jan. 1, 2005, with the General Council on Ministries dissolved on Dec. 1. The work of the transition team may continue into 2005. Christopher said she believes most of the team's work will be completed soon after the first of the year.

See also this UMNS Story.

General Conference Reports Available

Find reports, summaries, and highlights here. Results of RMC petitions are here also.

 

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