1996 Book of Discipline: Paragraph 1111| General Conference 2000

¶ 1111. Evangelism Responsibilities--In response to God's love in Jesus Christ, the board shall have general oversight of the evangelism ministries of The United Methodist Church by the envisioning and developing of resources and by training and consultation in various settings. The board shall:

1. Set forth an adequate biblical and theological basis and understanding for the personal, corporate, and social aspects of evangelism, consistent with the doctrine and tradition of The United Methodist Church, and it shall communicate and interpret the same to the membership of the Church.

2. Give emphasis to the development, interpretation, and promotion of ministries of evangelism at the conference, district, and local church levels so that persons who are not active Christian disciples through any local church will be invited and cared for by a United Methodist church.

3. Provide resources and training for strategies, ministries, and programs in evangelism, including resources for the local church ministry of evangelism (¶ 256).

4. Cooperate with other program agencies of the Church in supporting and equipping both clergy and laity at all levels in involvement in evangelism, church growth, and new congregational development.

5. Provide and encourage research in what creative congregations of various membership sizes and settings are doing in effective evangelism that can serve as models for other churches, and foster experimentation and demonstration of additional evangelistic approaches, consistent with the nature of the Christian gospel and the Church, at all levels of the Church's life, including new congregations and all racial and cultural groups.

6. Provide resources and services for those serving as pastors, diaconal ministers, directors of evangelism, general evangelists, and other professionals in evangelism in local churches.

7. Set minimal standards for elders desiring to serve as general evangelists. The board shall send copies of these standards quadrennially to the bishops, district superintendents, conference boards of discipleship, and general evangelists. An elder who feels called by God to be a general evangelist should prepare definitely for such service under the guidance of the annual conference to which that person belongs.

8. Maintain and service the General Military Roll for The United Methodist Church and work in cooperation with the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry so that United Methodist chaplains may be aware of and informed concerning all forms and phases of evangelism. The name of any person who has been on the General Military Roll (¶ 224) for more than eight years and for whom a current mailing address cannot be obtained shall be removed from the General Military Roll.

9. Relate and provide liaison services to denominational and ecumenical associations and fellowships of evangelism.

10. Seek mutual cooperation among and with the seminaries of the Church and the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry in the training and nurturing of persons for ministry and in continuing education where the responsibilities intersect.

11. Communicate with other agencies in whose programs the subject matter of evangelism would be included, and provide counsel, guidance, and resources for the implementation of such programs.

12. Participate in and cooperate with the work of the Curriculum Resources Committee of the board for the inclusion of evangelism concepts and resources in local church study curriculum.

13. Provide consultation with conferences, districts, local congregations, and other agencies to develop strategies in evangelism for outreach, church revitalization, and new congregational development.

14. Work with the General Board of Global Ministries for the extension of the Church. To this end there shall be a Joint Committee on Congregational Development with equal representation of members from the General Board of Discipleship and the General Board of Global Ministries, which shall meet regularly for mutual learning, developing strategies for Church extension, and providing resources and assistance to conferences and districts in the field of new congregational development and congregational revitalization.



	1996 Discipline ¶ 1111
	`¶ 1111. Evangelism Responsibilities--In response to God's love in Jesus Christ, the board shall have general oversight of the evangelism ministries of The United Methodist Church by the envisioning and developing of resources and by training and consultation in various settings. The board shall:` `1. Set forth an adequate biblical and theological basis and understanding for the personal, corporate, and social aspects of evangelism, consistent with the doctrine and tradition of The United Methodist Church, and it shall communicate and interpret the same to the membership of the Church.` `2. Give emphasis to the development, interpretation, and promotion of ministries of evangelism at the conference, district, and local church levels so that persons who are not active Christian disciples through any local church will be invited and cared for by a United Methodist church.` `3. Provide resources and training for strategies, ministries, and programs in evangelism, including resources for the local church ministry of evangelism (¶ 256).` `4. Cooperate with other program agencies of the Church in supporting and equipping both clergy and laity at all levels in involvement in evangelism, church growth, and new congregational development.` `5. Provide and encourage research in what creative congregations of various membership sizes and settings are doing in effective evangelism that can serve as models for other churches, and foster experimentation and demonstration of additional evangelistic approaches, consistent with the nature of the Christian gospel and the Church, at all levels of the Church's life, including new congregations and all racial and cultural groups.` `6. Provide resources and services for those serving as pastors, diaconal ministers, directors of evangelism, general evangelists, and other professionals in evangelism in local churches.` `7. Set minimal standards for elders desiring to serve as general evangelists. The board shall send copies of these standards quadrennially to the bishops, district superintendents, conference boards of discipleship, and general evangelists. An elder who feels called by God to be a general evangelist should prepare definitely for such service under the guidance of the annual conference to which that person belongs.` `8. Maintain and service the General Military Roll for The United Methodist Church and work in cooperation with the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry so that United Methodist chaplains may be aware of and informed concerning all forms and phases of evangelism. The name of any person who has been on the General Military Roll (¶ 224) for more than eight years and for whom a current mailing address cannot be obtained shall be removed from the General Military Roll.` `9. Relate and provide liaison services to denominational and ecumenical associations and fellowships of evangelism.` `10. Seek mutual cooperation among and with the seminaries of the Church and the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry in the training and nurturing of persons for ministry and in continuing education where the responsibilities intersect.` `11. Communicate with other agencies in whose programs the subject matter of evangelism would be included, and provide counsel, guidance, and resources for the implementation of such programs.` `12. Participate in and cooperate with the work of the Curriculum Resources Committee of the board for the inclusion of evangelism concepts and resources in local church study curriculum.` `13. Provide consultation with conferences, districts, local congregations, and other agencies to develop strategies in evangelism for outreach, church revitalization, and new congregational development.` 14. Work with the General Board of Global Ministries for the extension of the Church. To this end there shall be a Joint Committee on Congregational Development with equal representation of members from the General Board of Discipleship and the General Board of Global Ministries, which shall meet regularly for mutual learning, developing strategies for Church extension, and providing resources and assistance to conferences and districts in the field of new congregational development and congregational revitalization.
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1996 Discipline ¶ 1111