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The Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters partners with entities across The United Methodist Church to advise on matters pertaining to Central Conferences.
How does The United Methodist Church witness to the one gospel of Jesus Christ within 130 contextually unique countries worldwide?
The Worldwide Regionalization Plan proposes the creation of nine regional conferences — 4 in Africa, 3 in Europe, 1 in the Philippines and 1 in the U.S. — all possessing the ability to pass legislation that is missionally appropriate and effective in their own regions in addition to adapting the Book of Discipline.
The package of eight petitions submitted by the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters was approved by the General Conference, April 23-May 3, 2024. The petition containing Constitutional Amendments must now be ratified by annual conferences across the connection over the next several months. To aid in this process, the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters is partnering with the Council of Bishops, Connectional Table and members of the Christmas Covenant to provide resources to educate annual conference members around what Worldwide Regionalization does and does not do.
The Standing Committee is also tasked with developing a truly global Book of Discipline, called the General Book of Discipline. Feedback on the draft is welcome through 2024. See details below.
General Conference delegations have committed to providing a way for leaders in each annual conference to provide feedback to the Standing Committee regarding the current draft. Contact your conference secretary or delegation chair to find out how you can participate.
As you reflect on the current draft, use these questions as a guide:
What in the first five parts of the General Book of Discipline should only be adapted by the General Conference, therefore, be non-adaptable by all regions of The United Methodist Church? (Like the Constitution, Our Theological Task, etc.) What do you believe should be able to be adapted by Regional Conferences within the first five parts?
Pay particular attention to Part 6 on General Organization and Administration. Are there parts that could be adaptable which are currently included in the non-adaptable section? Is there anything missing which is important for our connection? Are there inaccuracies in what is written in the draft?
If you have questions, contact the Rev. Dee Stickley-Miner, secretary for the Standing Committee, and George Howard, Global Ministries’ staff support for the Standing Committee, at scccm@umcmission.org.
Watch the report on regionalization from members of the Standing Committee at General Conference in English, French or Portuguese.
Access resources in English, French and Portuguese on Worldwide Regionalization legislation and the General Book of Discipline, as led by the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters.
Access drafts in multiple languages (ADCA Volume 2, Section 2, beginning at page 731)
McDowell County is one of the poorest in the U.S., and the communities of Anawalt, Leckie and Gary are some of the hardest hit by the current six-year water crisis. All have Methodist churches that are part of the Welch Charge.
To ease the burden of residents who have to purchase many gallons of drinking water weekly, the Welch Charge contacted the West Virginia Conference Disaster Response Coordinator, Jim McCune, for help. McCune’s United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) connection put him in touch with Global Ministries’ Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) program.
A WASH grant allowed them to obtain a 500-gallon “water buffalo.” The conference disaster response team arranged to fill the portable water buffalo from the Welch water system, the county seat of McDowell, and transport it to Gary, where residents have been supplied with refillable containers. Residents of all three towns can come to get water, and volunteers will also continue deliveries for those who need it. Meanwhile, residents, including church members, continue to advocate state and local officials for a permanent solution to their aging, compromised water infrastructure. Full Story
