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Finance agency asks for special GC before 2012 Robin Russell, Dec 21, 2009
UMNS PHOTO BY MIKE DUBOSE
Delegates consider legislation during the 2008 United Methodist General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas.
By Robin Russell Managing Editor
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—The financial agency of the United Methodist Church is asking for a special session of General Conference (the church’s lawmaking body) to tackle economic hardships affecting the denomination.
The General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) voted to encourage the Council of Bishops at their May 2010 meeting to call a churchwide gathering before the 2012 General Conference. The special session would focus on restructuring the church and on funding U.S. clergy pensions, according to a Dec. 8 news release.
GCFA board members also approved working with the denomination’s General Board of Pension and Health Benefits to get an independent review of funds available for clergy pensions and to recommend ways to ease the burden on annual conferences to fund that plan.
The board’s resolutions were prompted by financial hardships due to a troubled economy—including a decline in connectional giving—experienced by local churches and annual conferences.
A churchwide gathering would also consider input from the denomination’s Call to Action Task Force on revamping the format of General Conference and eliminating guaranteed appointment for clergy.
At their fall meeting, United Methodist bishops said the church’s structure is no longer able to support its mission and ministry: Membership has declined over the last 40 years in the U.S. and is growing older than the national average.
A steering committee and an outside consultant are now seeking input from clergy and laity to assess how well church structures are functioning at all levels. A progress report will be given at the bishops’ May meeting.
Reordering the denomination’s structure might mean reducing the number of general agencies, or perhaps creating a coordinating denominational office to enhance United Methodist ministries around the world.
“We are still trying to fit new wine in wineskins from 40 years ago,” said Bishop Larry Goodpaster at the council’s fall meeting. “The mission is paramount; the mission is everything. Structure follows mission.”
According to the Book of Discipline, the bishops may call a special session of the General Conference. It would be composed of delegates to the 2008 gathering, unless conferences decide to hold a new election.
The last special session of general conference in 1970 focused on the 1968 merger with the Evangelical United Brethren Church, which created the United Methodist Church.
UMNS PHOTO BY MIKE DUBOSE
A churchwide gathering would also consider input from the denomination’s Call to Action Task Force on revamping the format of General Conference and eliminating guaranteed appointment for clergy. 
