Text of: 850-NonDis

The Committee recommends concurrence as amended as follows:

Whereas, cooperative parish ministry is an intentional plan of team ministry which enables groups of congregations and pastors in a defined geographic area, both as United Methodists and ecumenically, to work together in nurturing, outreach, and prophetic ministries; and

Whereas, ecumenical shared ministry is a way by which a local United Methodist church and one or more local congregations of other Christian traditions may form an ecumenical congregation; and

Whereas, cooperative parish ministry and ecumenical shared ministry offer a means by which groups of churches, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, intentionally and intensively witness to the unity of the church in Christ through more effective response to both local and global issues and needs; and

Whereas, cooperative parish ministry and ecumenical shared ministry enable local congregations to work together to enhance ministry, utilize wise stewardship of limited resources and live out the ecumenical spirit in creative ways responsive to the needs of God's peoples as well as to opportunities for expanded mission and ministry; and

Whereas, the consultation on Ecumenical Shared Ministries was held in February, 1998, in Syracuse, New York, and attended by representatives of the denominations engaged in Ecumenical Shared Ministries; and

Whereas, the bishops, laity and clergy present at the Fifth Consultation on Cooperative Parish Ministry, which met in November of 1999, affirmed cooperative ministry as one of the primary forms of ministry for United Methodism at the present time and in the future; and

Whereas, The Book of Discipline directs bishops, district superintendents and conference staff to develop and implement strategies designed to enable cooperative parish ministry,

Therefore, be it resolved, that annual conferences be called on to develop recommendations to enable the implementation of United Methodist and ecumenical cooperative ministries; and

Be it further resolved, that the Council of Bishops and the general church boards and agencies be called on to provide resources for the annual conferences as they engage in a continuing process of training and development of cooperative parish ministry and ecumenical shared ministry; and

Be it further resolved, that the Council of Bishops develop policies, organizational structures, and processes that will facilitate more effective appointment-making to cooperative parish ministries; and

Be it further resolved, that the Council of Bishops create a continuing process for the training and regular updating of bishops and district superintendents regarding the cooperative parish ministry paradigm, and

Be it further resolved, that the Council of Bishops develop recommendations for the initiation, ongoing development, and support of United Methodist and ecumenical cooperative parish ministries within their episcopal areas; and

Be it further resolved, that the General Board of Global Ministries, and other related boards and agencies continue to provide encouragement and financial support for the ongoing work of the National Cooperative Parish Ministry Leadership Team; and

Be it further resolved, that the General Board of Global Ministries and other related boards and agencies undergird the leadership team as it coordinates a Sixth Consultation on Cooperative Parish Ministry the last year of the quadrennium, 2000-2004.

 

 

 

 

Info About Calendar Item 850-NonDis

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