Bishop Takes Proposed Legislation on 'Rethink Conference' Tour

3/11/2010


Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. (speaking at Los Gatos UMC on March 7, 2010.) Photo by Sue Larson.

"It is time for us to return to our calling"

Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. has scheduled a series of "Rethink Conference" events to outline his vision for the conference, along with some legislative changes to be put before Annual Conference Session in June.
 
Beginning this Sunday, March 14 in Redding (First UMC of Redding, 3-5 p.m.), the bishop will engage with United Methodists across California and in Nevada to cast his vision for the conference, detail a series of proposals, and answer questions.
 
In a letter to United Methodists conference-wide, the bishop says we have been inconsistent in our covenant to be disciples who make a difference, and says, "It is time that we recommit to living the Wesleyan way."
 
"This is not a time to be timid," he continues. "We must take responsibility to make the future to which we are called."
 
The Conference Council on Ministries is calling for a suspension of the conference rules governing program, organization, and administrative practices; the Cabinet, for realignment and consolidation of districts; the Clergy Benefits Task Force, for direct billing for pastor pension costs; and the Commission on Equitable Salaries, for adjustments to the plan and structure for minimum salary.
 
The proposed legislation is designed to help the conference become both mission-focused and fiscally responsible.
 
"These changes will help us shape our future," the bishop writes.
 
"I invite you to attend one of the six gatherings … as we have conversations about how we may live in a new way of being servants together," he concludes.
 
The other "Rethink Conference" dates and locations are:
 
       April 10 (Saturday)     Stockton, Central UMC      3-5 p.m.
 
       April 17 (Saturday)     Livermore, Asbury UMC    10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
 
       April 18 (Sunday)       Palo Alto, First UMC          3-5:30 p.m.*
 
       April 24 (Saturday)     Visalia UMC                      9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
 
       May 1 (Saturday)       Sparks UMC                     10 a.m.-noon
 
*arrive early - parking will be a challenge
 
Read the bishop's letter, Returning to Our Calling, in its entirety here.
 
Or click on "Bishop" on the main navigation bar at the top of the conference website Home Page at cnumc.org, then click on "Bishop's Articles" in the menu on the right.

Comments

1. Randy Smith wrote on 3/12/2010 2:11:10 PM
Thank you, Bishop, for doing this. I hope that these will be times for great conversation among us!
2. Ursula Morgenstern - Burlingame UMC wrote on 3/12/2010 2:29:55 PM
I am assuming that members and constituents of all congregations may attend.
3. Rob Dunning - Chair CCOM wrote on 3/12/2010 3:15:55 PM
I would strongly urge all who are planning to attend Annual Conferece to go to one of these meetings first.
4. F. Don Burkhart, retired pastor wrote on 3/13/2010 7:19:05 PM
Bishop Brown's plea to "Living the Wesleyan Way" can mean nothing less than our experiencing a powerful movement of the Holy Spirit, leading us, His Body, to holiness of life and the winning of the lost to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
5. Shim Habte wrote on 3/16/2010 3:15:33 PM
I agree with Rev. Burkhart - we need the fire of the Holy Spirit to be revived and to thrive as John Wesley did and we all know the effect of his ministry. Harvey Cox of Harvard - wrote a book called "Fire From Heaven" showing how the Holy Spirit is causing incredible growth in Latin America, Africa and Asia. We too are called to make disicples of Jesus Christ but I don't know how we can make discples of Jesus Christ without introducing people to him by words and deed. Thank you Bishop for calling us back to our main goal.